Interview: Chris Varney

In an attempt to gain a better understanding of the league, we will try and preview each Wingnuts’ series with several questions answered by personnel from each opponent. Chris Varney, the Explorers’ Director of Broadcasting, was kind enough to take some time and let us know what’s going on in Sioux City as the season begins.

SS: What have your first impressions been of Les Lancaster? Have you already noticed anything in Les’s style or approach that differs from former manager Ed Nottle?

CV: The short answer to your question is yes, there has been a significant difference. Les is pretty much hands on in all aspects of how a team is run. During practice, he’s out hitting fungos, throwing BP, very much pro active and shouting instructions. Camp has been a lot more work than it has been in the past. I think the players are buying into it. Les has their respect because he has the track record to prove it. Seven strong years in the major leagues, 7 years as a manager and has made the playoffs in 5 of them. And I think Les has something to prove in this league after the Lincoln Saltdogs let him go. I think Les is a winner and everything else is secondary. He’s not afraid to get his hands dirty; heck, the other day, he was helping us hang the outfield fence ad signs. Not many other managers would be willing to do that. It has been a real pleasure working with him.

 

SS: The four returning teams in the North seem to have an unusually high number of returnees, certainly compared to years past. Is this just a coincidence, or is this the start of a new pattern in indy ball? If so, what do you think the reason is?

Well, I think Lincoln has totally redone their team which is unusual and St. Paul has a lot of people back which is also unusual. For the most part, you want to create a core group of guys and piece together a team around them.  The Saltdogs did that with Josh Patton, Bryan Warner, Pichi Balet, etc. Ft. Worth did that and won 2 championships in a row. But, everybody hits that wall and guys retire or you decide to break things up. Lincoln decided to break things up this year. Sioux Falls looks strong with Steve Shirley building his team around Pat Mahomes, Ben Van Iderstine and others. The Saints seem stacked with Balet, Marcel Longmire, Brent Krause, and Brian Sprout. I think we can play with any team in the league. We’re building our team around vets like Alex Llanos, Jason Tuttle and Pete Pirman and young players like Nick McCoola. And then you add a Juan Camacho, Abner Arroyo, and Dusty Bergmann and suddenly you have something.

 

SS: The infield looks very solid with McCoola and Llanos returning up the middle. And I’m sure you have to be excited to bring in Juan Camacho who finished third in RBIs last year?

We are ECSTATIC to have Juan Camacho in Sioux City. Last year, we went down to El Paso and he hit 3 HR in 3 games against. Just pretty much tore up our pitching. I was watching him in practice the other day and the ball just jumps off his bat. Without a doubt, one of the best hitters in the league. And a great guy too. Llanos is simply a professional and a great hitter. I think him and Josh Patton are pretty much the same type of player with the same type of production. Nick is a guy who will have a big year this season. He made the All-Star team as a true professional rookie last year and then hurt his hamstring and didn’t see much action in the second half. If we had him healthy last year, we might have made a run at St. Paul. Then, you add Abner Arroyo to the mix and our infield is as good as anybody’s. Abner is playing with the Puerto Rican Olympic team right now and will miss the first couple of series, but we expect him in the line up in mid May.

 

SS: Do you know much yet about newly acquired lefty, and veteran, Dusty Bergman?

Dusty is a great guy. Very down to earth and easy going. He doesn’t throw really hard but you don’t have to throw hard to have success in this league. He’s very savvy, does tend to give up a few hits, but never panics and is a very good leader on and off the field. He pitched for Les last year in Reno and there is no doubt that they work will together. I think he’s going to eat up a lot of innings and bring a great dimension to our rotation.

 

SS: In addition to Bergman, it seems like it’s the pitching that’s gone under the biggest overhaul?

Well, when your team ERA a year ago was 5.09 and dead last in the league, you’d overhaul it too. Les has worked hard to bring in some great arms this year. Nick Singleton has had some success out west in the Golden League the last couple of years and should be our number 2 starter. Paul Fagan has looked really good in camp and threw 4 innings of scoreless ball against Lincoln the other night. He’s #3. That pushes Alexander Francisco to the number 4 spot. #5 right now is up in the air with Les giving Brett Reid a chance to win that spot. Brett has never started in his career and has great stuff; its just a matter of whether he will start or relieve. Our bullpen has great depth this year with Kevin Fitzgerald, Tony O’Donnell, Garvis Romero, Cameron Cheek, and maybe Reid in the mix. O’Donnell and Cheek can also start. Les has a lot of flexibility in this pitching staff. The closer’s spot is up for grabs. Fitzgerald had 27saves for North Shore 2 years but bounced around last year. Reid could be the closer. Romero could close. I think once Les figures out where he wants to use Reid, the other roles will work themselves out. Brett was a great acquisition for us last year and I think he’s going to be a key ingredient for us this year.

 

SS: How about Alexander Francisco? I know his numbers weren’t the prettiest last year, but everyone raves about his stuff. Can he put it all together this year?

Last year, Francisco became just the 5th pitcher in Sioux City Explorers history to win at least 10 games in a season. He does have great stuff, good exploding slider and a strong fastball. His problem was he turned into a 5 inning pitcher and didn’t learn how to pitch. He gets bothered easy and wears his emotions on his sleeve. I definately think he’s a project for Les and our pitching coach Darwin Marrero. Francisco would run into problems after he went through the batting order once. At one point, Ed Nottle was thinking about putting him into the bullpen. I think experience will help him and not having to face the other team’s best starter and moving down in the rotation will help him.

 

SS: Who are two or three guys that you think could be pleasant surprises that fans might not be familiar with yet?

Chad Gabriel is one guy to watch. He has shown a lot of power in practice and brings a lot to the table. He can run, hit for power and has a decent arm in LF. He came in the Jorge Moreno trade so I think the fans will draw a lot of comparisons, which may be unfair. Moreno was a special player and will be tough to replace but I think Gabriel will be a pleasant surprise to people. He’ll have to adjust coming from the Can-Am League to here but I expect good things. Another guy is Pete Pirman. He kind of flies under the radar sometimes. He was our best hitter in the 2nd half last season and is a key again this year. He’s a 5 tool guy. If Gabriel and Pirman have big seasons, our line up will be very, very dangerous.

 

SS: The X’s bounced back really well from a tough first half, and if not for some “questionable” ground rules, you may have outlasted St. Paul for the second half title. Are people within the organization or fans still upset over the controversial “snow fence” games in St. Paul last year?

I don’t think there was any controversy at all. I think the Saints just had our number last year; you can’t point to just one game. St. Paul went 9-1 against us in the 2nd half and 15-4 against us for the entire year. That just can’t happen. That was why we didn’t win the 2nd half. I don’t think they were that much better, I think they just got in our heads a little. Les won’t let that happen this year.

 

SS: Are you happy that you will not have to return to the St. Joe press box this year?

That depends — do you have air conditioning at Lawerence-Dumont? Hope everyone comes out and supports the Wingnuts this year. Looking forward to coming to Wichita.

…once again, special thanks to Chris who did a phenomenol job on this interview. the weather forecast for thursday is a good one, so take two of opening night is hopefully on its way…