Firebaugh: "I know we have the makings
of a great team."
of a great team."
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La Porte, IN 2/17/09
Even though the decision was made weeks ago, Chris
Firebaugh made it official on Tuesday. He is returning to
the Street Kids/Suburban South team for the 2009 season.
"I don't think we finished what we set out to do last year,"
the 2008 gold glove winner said. "Its like we were just
starting to gel toward the end of the season. With the
additions that this team has made, I think we are even
more dangerous this year. We have many more options
at almost every position and everyone on this team is
committed to winning."
Firebaugh had stated back in October that he was unsure
he would return to SKS for another season, and wanted to test "free agency" for other options before
making a decision. In November, after speaking with pitcher Lanny Fisher, who he calls his mentor, he
basically said "whatever you do, I will do." When Fisher resigned with the team in November, Firebaugh
still was not sure he wanted to commit that early.
"I knew that TJ (Jorgensen) wanted to get the team
in place before the new year, so I wanted to take
the holidays to think it over," the Tennessee native
explained. "So by the first of the year, I told TJ that
I was 80% returning to the team, but I needed to
work out some personal issues first. I didn't think
those issues would take this long, but I am glad he
and the team was patient and now we have this
deal in place and ready to move forward."
Firebaugh won the 2008 gold glove award, given
to the best player defensively and chosen only by
the teammates, by one vote over Tony Hardiman.
He started out the 2008 season slow offensively,
at one point his batting average was under .500 in
tournaments.
"I remember Chris calling me in May telling me to not give up on him," Jorgensen recalls. "I told him I was
not worried and that I knew he would work it out. We practice a lot throughout the year, but outside of
Jake Underwood, Chris probably takes more batting practice than anyone, often driving an hour late at
night to take swings in 40 degree weather. He wanted to improve himself, and he did."
His strong second half enabled him to finish with a .659 average (on base percentage), but slugged a
robust .729 OB% from July on. He finished with 26 home runs, 160 rbi, 26 doubles and a team record 22
triples, in about 200 less at bats than the overall leader.
When asked about his famous outbreak at a fall league game in South Bend last year, which led many to
believe he would never play in a SK uniform again, Firebaugh was not shy about his actions.
"I can't take it back but I am sorry it happened. I apologized to those that were bothered by my actions
and its over with," Firebaugh explained. "Basically, I was having a really bad week and under a lot of
pressure, and it just sort of boiled over that night in South Bend."
Even though the decision was made weeks ago, Chris
Firebaugh made it official on Tuesday. He is returning to
the Street Kids/Suburban South team for the 2009 season.
"I don't think we finished what we set out to do last year,"
the 2008 gold glove winner said. "Its like we were just
starting to gel toward the end of the season. With the
additions that this team has made, I think we are even
more dangerous this year. We have many more options
at almost every position and everyone on this team is
committed to winning."
Firebaugh had stated back in October that he was unsure
he would return to SKS for another season, and wanted to test "free agency" for other options before
making a decision. In November, after speaking with pitcher Lanny Fisher, who he calls his mentor, he
basically said "whatever you do, I will do." When Fisher resigned with the team in November, Firebaugh
still was not sure he wanted to commit that early.
"I knew that TJ (Jorgensen) wanted to get the team
in place before the new year, so I wanted to take
the holidays to think it over," the Tennessee native
explained. "So by the first of the year, I told TJ that
I was 80% returning to the team, but I needed to
work out some personal issues first. I didn't think
those issues would take this long, but I am glad he
and the team was patient and now we have this
deal in place and ready to move forward."
Firebaugh won the 2008 gold glove award, given
to the best player defensively and chosen only by
the teammates, by one vote over Tony Hardiman.
He started out the 2008 season slow offensively,
at one point his batting average was under .500 in
tournaments.
"I remember Chris calling me in May telling me to not give up on him," Jorgensen recalls. "I told him I was
not worried and that I knew he would work it out. We practice a lot throughout the year, but outside of
Jake Underwood, Chris probably takes more batting practice than anyone, often driving an hour late at
night to take swings in 40 degree weather. He wanted to improve himself, and he did."
His strong second half enabled him to finish with a .659 average (on base percentage), but slugged a
robust .729 OB% from July on. He finished with 26 home runs, 160 rbi, 26 doubles and a team record 22
triples, in about 200 less at bats than the overall leader.
When asked about his famous outbreak at a fall league game in South Bend last year, which led many to
believe he would never play in a SK uniform again, Firebaugh was not shy about his actions.
"I can't take it back but I am sorry it happened. I apologized to those that were bothered by my actions
and its over with," Firebaugh explained. "Basically, I was having a really bad week and under a lot of
pressure, and it just sort of boiled over that night in South Bend."
| Firebaugh looks at pitcher Lanny Fisher, seen together here at the ASA Class B State Tournament in 2008, as his mentor. |