Sweet Plans
Portland anticipating big things for 2003 PCL campaign.
The calendar has turned to 2003 and maybe that is a good omen for the Portland Beavers. The last two league champions (co-champion, Tacoma in 2001 and Edmonton last year) have come from the PCL's Northern Division. Couple that with the fact that Calgary has left the division and maybe the way is clear for the Beavers to grab the crown.
"Hey, that's a good way to look at it," said Beavers manager Rick Sweet from his off-season home in Vancouver, WA, "maybe it is our turn and I'm sure anticipating the opportunity."
You can already feel the excitement for a pennant run when you talk baseball with Sweet.
"Now that the holidays are over, it's baseball season," noted the third year Beavers skipper, "I've had guys already calling me to ask what's happening, what's going on and that is fun. I feel the same way that it's time to get going. I'm in my 29th year in professional baseball and I never feel I've worked a day in my life."
Sweet may be feel he has never worked a day in his life, but the stress level at times had to be high in 2002. The parent Padres paraded a major league record 59 players through the major league roster, including 22 position players and a record 37 pitchers.
"Three times I had my starting pitcher pulled just before the game and that's tough. It seemed we spent most of the year short a player or two. We also had a young club and a lot of injuries. With all of that we were probably forced to rush a lot of guys to the major league level where they gained experience, but that's pretty tough."
The constant strain of shuffling players led to a tough time on the road where the Beavers were near the bottom in road play in 2002.
"With that young team, the travel can be adverse," he added, "but now we will have a lot of returning guys and they (San Diego) have been signing a lot of older guys."
Should a pennant materialize in Portland this year, no one would enjoy it more than Sweet. His home in Vancouver, WA is about 20 minutes from PGE Park in Portland.
"This is ideal," he smiled, "in baseball, things like this don't happen very often. It is a thrill to be in the hometown and in the community. It works real well for both of us. I love the PCL. I played in it for three years and I've managed in five years."
Sweet's previous PCL managing stint came in Tucson where he won a championship in 1993.
"There is so much fun at the ballpark (PGE) and it's a beautiful facility. We do well. I'm looking forward to things."
Fans in Portland are also looking forward to the 2003 season. They will be seeing to see if the league champion again emerges from the Northern Division. This time, they hope, with Portland's name on top of the standings.
