Here’s Casey Crosby with the West Michigan Whitecaps in 2009. Tonight he will make his major league debut for the Detroit Tigers against the New York Yankees.
Jeff Holm - West Michigan Whitecaps
2011 Big Ten Player Of The Year - Michigan State Spartans
Colin Kaline - Third Base - West Michigan Whitecaps - Grandson of Hall of Famer Al Kaline
Yesterday was the home opener for the West Michigan Whitecaps. It was a pretty, but very windy day at Fifth Third Ballpark. The Whitecaps won 4-0 over the Bowling Green Hot Rods. The new Whitecaps played well. Hopefully that will continue all season.
I didn’t get a ton of photos. A good portion of the ballpark is under a shadow as the game starts. Getting action shots in the shadows can be tricky. Hopefully I’ll get some better shots in the days ahead.
I’ve started my 2012 Whitecaps set on Flickr. Feel free to check it out periodically throughout the season.
I took this photo of Rob Brantly last summer. It’s a personal favorite. I was going to have him sign it, but by the time I got around to getting a print, he was promoted to Lakeland. Oh well. It was a one shot take. So many people let the shutter button fly and “cheat”. I was quite proud of my timing.
Nick Castellanos - West Michigan Whitecaps - 2011 Detroit Tigers Minor League Player of the Year
One year ago today Detroit Tiger Brandon Inge was getting ready to come off of the disabled list, when he made a rehab start with the Class A West Michigan Whitecaps. It was sort of a homecoming because he played there as a catcher in 1999, and had rehabbed there before. Who would have thought that one year later he would be demoted and playing in the minors full-time for AAA Toledo?
For two straight summers the Detroit Tigers have traded a lefty pitcher from the Whitecaps. Last year Giovanni Soto got us Jhonny Peralta. This time Antonio Cruz was half of trade for Wilson Betemit. Hopefully that deal will be cool too. The ‘Caps are home playing Kane County right now. The Cougars are a Royals affiliate. I wonder if, like Soto last season, he’ll simply make the walk to the other side of the field to join his new team?
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I did some research after I pondered this question, and yes he’s with Kane County. That’s got to feel awkward.
Congratulations to former West Michigan Whitecaps Jair Jurrjens, Matt Joyce, and Alex Avila on their 2011 MLB All-Star Selections.
I don’t think the Whitecaps have ever had three MLB all-stars at the same time!
