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By VAN ROSE vanrose@leader.net
Sunday, February 06, 2000 Page: 1C
As far as Sean Fesh is concerned, success breeds success. That’s why he’s
confident the Red Barons will again be pennant contenders, despite losing
several key players who helped Scranton/Wilkes-Barre win a division title in
1999. “I think a lot of exciting things are going to happen this year,”
said Fesh, a 27-year-old relief pitcher, before the Barons’ caravan visit
Saturday to the Wyoming Valley Mall. “We built a solid foundation last
season.” Fesh and teammate Gene Schall greeted fans and signed autographs
during the annual stop. Fesh appeared in 45 games last season for
Philadelphia’s AAA team, mostly as a middle reliever. The left-hander was 4-3
with a 4.39 ERA and one save. He struck out 38 in 53 innings. “Last season
was fantastic because we made it to the postseason,” said Fesh, who resides
in Danbury, Conn. “We brought in a lot of free agents, who were quality
players and quality people.” Fesh said the team had something else in common
– unselfishness. “Certain guys were thrown into roles they weren’t used to,
but everyone responded in a positive manner. That was a big reason we won, and
that’s a tribute to the coaching staff.” Fesh, who only three years ago
couldn’t find a job despite posting a 3-1 record at Binghamton in 1997, said
he’s pleased with his performance last season. “Overall, it was a successful
season for me. I thought I really stayed very consistent throughout the year.
Obviously, I would liked to have been in more games down the stretch, but you
have to go with guys who have a hot hand at the time.” Fesh appeared in only
one game of the playoffs, in which the Red Barons lost to Charlotte 3-2 in a
best-of-five series. Drafted by the Houston Astros in 1991, Fesh became a
sidearm pitcher in 1998 after it appeared he was out of baseball. “According
to baseball people, I didn’t throw hard enough,” Fesh said. “I had to go
back to the drawing board after the ’97 season.” Fesh said he came up with a
new arm angle, very similar to that of former St. Louis Cardinals pitcher John
Tudor. “It’s not submarine, it’s just a three-quarter sidearm style. I get
tremendous sink from that arm angle. Hitters don’t like to see a sinkerball.”
Fesh developed a tremendous following among Red Barons fans last season. His
fan club showed up at each home game carrying a large sign that read “Fesh
Fan Club.” “At first, it was just a couple of guys who came to a game after
they read the Sports Illustrated article about me being out of baseball for a
while,” Fesh said. “They really appreciated my determination. “I threw
them a baseball, then I started talking with them. We developed a bit of a
friendship. It skyrocketed into about 25 people joining the fan club. They
were just great for the stadium and the team.” Several key players are gone
from last year’s team. They include Jon Zuber, Torey Lovullo, Bobby Estalella,
Billy McMillon and Lou Lucca. However, the Phillies signed 22 minor league
free agents during the off season, including Schall. Many of them are expected
to start the 2000 season with the Red Barons. Schall, a former Red Baron, is
a potential impact player. The first baseman/outfielder returns to the
Phillies organization, where he spent six seasons before signing with the
Chicago White Sox in 1997. Schall, 29, still ranks near the top in many career
Red Barons’ offensive categories. He’s third in home runs (49), second in RBI
(235), third in extra-base hits (145) and fourth in doubles (82). “I’m
looking forward to coming back to Scranton,” said Schall, who spent the last
two seasons at Richmond. “It means a lot to me. I came up with the Phillies
and I have a lot of great memories about playing for the Red Barons.”
Schall’s presence provides a power hitter to protect rookie slugger Pat
Burrell in the Red Barons’ batting order. Marc Bombard, the winningest active
manager in the International League, returns for his fourth year as the
Barons’ skipper. Fesh said Bombard was the driving force behind the Barons’
success last season. “It doesn’t really matter what kind of staff he has,
the coaches feed off him,” Fesh said. “No matter what situation he’s in,
he’ll always be a winner.” The Red Barons open the season on April 6 at home
against Rochester.