Vermilyea in command on the mound
Goldeyes closer's two-seam fastball too much for opposition's hitters
Advertisement
Read this article for free:
or
Already have an account? Log in here »
To continue reading, please subscribe:
Monthly Digital Subscription
$1 per week for 24 weeks*
- Enjoy unlimited reading on winnipegfreepress.com
- Read the E-Edition, our digital replica newspaper
- Access News Break, our award-winning app
- Play interactive puzzles
*Billed as $4.00 plus GST every four weeks. After 24 weeks, price increases to the regular rate of $19.95 plus GST every four weeks. Offer available to new and qualified returning subscribers only. Cancel any time.
Monthly Digital Subscription
$4.99/week*
- Enjoy unlimited reading on winnipegfreepress.com
- Read the E-Edition, our digital replica newspaper
- Access News Break, our award-winning app
- Play interactive puzzles
*Billed as $19.95 plus GST every four weeks. Cancel any time.
To continue reading, please subscribe:
Add Free Press access to your Brandon Sun subscription for only an additional
$1 for the first 4 weeks*
*Your next subscription payment will increase by $1.00 and you will be charged $16.99 plus GST for four weeks. After four weeks, your payment will increase to $23.99 plus GST every four weeks.
Read unlimited articles for free today:
or
Already have an account? Log in here »
Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 18/05/2011 (5449 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. — Winnipeg Goldeyes right-hander Jamie Vermilyea has a no-hitter going. Not for a game — the entire season.
The 29-year-old Goldeyes closer has yet to give up so much as a hit in three ninth-inning appearances in 2011 and is now a perfect three-for-three in save opportunities in this young American Association season.
Vermilyea’s perfect game was spoiled when a batter reached on an error in his second outing last weekend. But aside from that, only one batter has even gotten a ball out of the infield off Vermilyea this season.
The former Toronto Blue Jay — he pitched six scoreless innings for the big club as a September call-up in 2007 — has so far this season yielded one outfield fly ball, two infield pop-ups, five ground balls and a strikeout in a performance that is already a new Goldeyes franchise record.
Goldeyes broadcaster Paul Edmonds went through the records yesterday and discovered that no Goldeyes reliever has ever recorded three saves to start the season in faster time. Until now, that record has belonged to longtime former Fish closer Steve Thomas, who recorded three saves in the first eight games of the 2003 season.
Vermilyea has reached the same milestone in just five games.
“He’s thrown to me three times,” Goldeyes catcher Alan Rick said Tuesday. “And he’s thrown maybe 30 pitches altogether. And I doubt more than five of those were off-speed.
“Everything’s just fastball two-seamers with him. He’s got great command of it and he’s got great movement. He doesn’t throw anything that’s straight. And that’s what makes him so effective.
“There are other closers in the league that throw harder than him, but his ball moves all over the place. He can not only throw it pinpoint, he can move it wherever he wants. That’s just the perfect ground-ball pitcher.”
Drafted by the Jays in the ninth round of the 2003 MLB draft, Vermilyea spent six seasons playing at every level in the Jays organization, including that brief stint with the major league club.
He was released by the Jays in 2008 and thought about retiring, but has used his baseball abilities as a travel card instead. In 2009, he played in the Italian Baseball League for the Montepaschi Orioles Grosseto. The Jays re-signed him last season and he pitched briefly with their AAA affiliate in Las Vegas before he got released again and moved on to an even more exotic baseball locale, spending the 2010 season pitching for the Maui, Hawaii franchise of the Golden League.
This year, it’s Canada, the Goldeyes and an impressive start to the season.
While he has big league experience, Vermilyea is quick to point out he hasn’t been over-matching hitters in the American Association.
“It’s not like I’m striking everyone out,” he notes. “I’m just getting ground balls and the defence is playing good behind me. I’m mainly just a sinker ball guy — I want the batter to put the ball in play early and get my defence involved.
“I’m not taking anyone lightly. Everyone in this league has some organized ball experience. So they can hit — they wouldn’t be here if they couldn’t hit.”
About that no-hitter…
“The hits are going to happen,” Vermilyea laughs. “You can’t go a whole season without a hit happening. So it will come and when they do, I hope I can get a ground ball or a double-play right afterward.”
Rick Forney is betting on that
“He’s a pro, man,” the Goldeyes manager says. “He comes to work every day and very quietly goes about his business. He goes out there and competes and that’s what you look for as a manager — someone who is the same way every day, no matter what.”
Rick wonders if in the long run, Vermilyea might simply be too good to play in the American Association.
“I have no idea why he’s here, but I’m glad he is here,” says Rick. “I hope he goes (back to an organization) because he’s a great guy and a great pitcher.
“But he’s just one of those guys on your team that you’d hate to see go.”
paul.wiecek@freepress.mb.ca