| JUDGING A TEAM BY THE PLAYERS THEY KEEP |
The Pelicans are an asset to this community. They provide us with another professional sport of high quality. I know a little something about the game and these guys play it very well. It is minor league baseball at its very best. The Pelicans also field some very high character young men. It's all part of doing something with class. From time to time we'll try to profile some of the Pelican players. I don't do hero worship but if you spend enough time around the Pelicans you'll learn to appreciate these fine young men. The community should be proud of them.
RICARDO
CORDOVA
Ricardo Cordova is a player with a future. Nice guys sometimes do finish first. I wouldn't count on him being around Pensacola for very long as Major League organizations are going to come calling for this versatile infielder. Both Major League and minor league rosters are in a state of flux these days. Free agency creates demands and I can imagine Ricardo Cordova being a candidate for advancement soon. A shortstop who hits .336 and steals 14 bases while playing one of the more difficult defensive positions with only 12 errors (in minor league playing conditions) has to be on many a general manager's wish list. Let's allow some photos to talk for him.
Power!
Cordova hit 8 triples.
Note the concentration.
Another solid swing
Cordova lays down a bunt.
An invisible bat? Blame
it on the climate. Players frequently lose their grip on the bat
in this humid weather. Please notice the older man sitting behind
Cordova in the opponent's dugout with his arms crossed. It is
Alan "Dirty Al" Gallagher, a former Major League infielder with the San
Francisco Giants. He is one of several former big leaguers who
coach, manage, play and serve as general managers in the American
Association.
Driving the ball
More concentration.
Left: Trino Aguilar at third and Ricardo Cordova get ready for a pitch.
Follow through
Fouling off a pitch
Driving the ball
More concentration.
Left: Trino Aguilar at third and Ricardo Cordova get ready for a pitch.
Follow through
Fouling off a pitch
Ricardo Cordova is an excellent
player. He combines a powerful swing with good foot speed.
He has an accurate arm and good range in the field. He can play
second and short and wouldn't embarrass anyone in the outfield or at
first or third. Maybe his greatest characteristic is his
character. He works hard and hustles and if you meet him you'd
immediately realize what I said earlier is true. Nice guys can
finish first. Ricardo is from Edo Aragua, Venezuela and continues
a long tradition of excellent shortstops from that country.
(Think I'm exaggerating? Try these names: Chico Carrasquel,
Miguel Cabrera, Dave Concepcion, Omar Visquel, Ozzie Guillen, Luis
Aparcicio.)
BO
WILLIAMS
Bo
Williams is another of the good young players on the Pelican's
roster. Bo knows baseball...and power hitting...and
fielding...and clutch hitting...and base running. This UWF
graduate is another guy with character and ability. Though a big
man, he's not afraid to run the bases or make the tough fielding plays
at first base. He delivered some clutch hits in his first year of
professional baseball.
A fearless base runner
A solid fielder
Using the whole body to gain power
Bo drives an extra base hit!
Note the powerful follow through!
Concentration
Pure power
Despite hitting for power, he has a good eye at the plate.
Intensity!
A fearless base runner
A solid fielder
Using the whole body to gain power
Bo drives an extra base hit!
Note the powerful follow through!
Concentration
Pure power
Despite hitting for power, he has a good eye at the plate.