By BOB PUTNAM, Times wires
Published June 29, 2003
The Clearwater Phillies will be well represented at the Futures All-Star Game, scheduled July 13 at Chicago's U.S. Cellular Field as part of Major League Baseball's All-Star festivities.
First baseman Ryan Howard and right-handed pitcher Gavin Floyd are on the U.S. team.
Howard, who was selected to the Florida State League All-Star Game, is batting .289 with 13 home runs. Gavin, the Phillies' first-round pick in the 2001 draft, also was a FSL all-star and is second in the league with 77 strikeouts.
The two are the only Phillies represented, a rare feat considering each major-league team is only allowed to have two minor-leaguers on the roster. The last Clearwater player to make the U.S. squad was Chase Utley in 2001.
"The organization is thrilled because some clubs don't even have a player selected," Clearwater ticketing and media coordinator Jason Adams said.
The only other area player to make the game was Tampa second baseman Robinson Cano, who will represent the World team. Cano, a FSL all-star, is batting .290 and has 14 doubles.
The seven-inning game, which features the top U.S. and international players, starts at 5:30 p.m. and will be televised on ESPN2.
There have been 76 futures alumni that made it onto American and National League rosters. MLB, in conjunction with its 30 clubs and Baseball America, selected the 25-man roster for each team.
RAIN, RAIN GO AWAY: Last week's torrential downpours wreaked havoc on area clubs' schedules.
Clearwater, Dunedin and Tampa had a combined 16 games washed out since the second half began June 16. Most of those will be made up as doubleheaders in August, a grueling way to end the season.
One team that wishes the rain would stay is Clearwater. The Phillies, who were 2-0, have dropped three straight this week.
ALL-STAR GAME: There were few bright spots in the West Division's 4-2 loss in the FSL All-Star Game, held June 14 at Hammond Stadium in Fort Myers.
Dunedin outfielder Tyrell Godwin provided most of them.
Godwin, a former two-sport star at the University of North Carolina taken by the Blue Jays in the third round of the 2001 draft, had a run-scoring triple in the seventh inning and made two diving catches.
Tampa catcher Dioner Navarro, who was promoted to Double-A Trenton two weeks ago, scored the West's other run in the eighth inning.
YOU AGAIN: Playing its final game against St. Lucie was a welcome sight for Tampa.
That's because the Yankees no longer have to face left-hander Chad Elliott.
Elliott, making his first start of the season Thursday after 11 relief appearances, did not allow a hit in six innings against Tampa. He retired the first nine batters, walked two, then retired the last seven before leaving with a 4-0 lead.
Elliott has not allowed a hit in nine innings against Tampa.
TAMPA: Two weeks after losing their top closer, the Yankees bid farewell to their ace.
Left-hander Brad Halsey, a former University of Texas standout, was promoted to Double-A Trenton.
Drafted in the eighth round by the Yankees in 2002, Halsey has climbed the organizational ladder steadily. He was part of a stellar staff that led Class-A Staten Island to the short-season New York Penn League title last season.
Sent to Tampa this season, Halsey established himself as the workhorse of a lean rotation that has been decimated by promotions.
His wins accounted for nearly a third of the team's total, and he has started more games (13) and pitched more innings (84) than anyone on the staff. Given his numbers, it was no surprise he was the only starting pitcher from Tampa to be selected to the league all-star game.
Halsey's success has continued at the next level. He pitched eight scoreless innings Wednesday for his first win with Trenton.
CLEARWATER: Layne Dawson, a right-handed pitcher who was selected to the FSL All-Star Game, was promoted to Double-A Reading.
Dawson was 6-3 with a 3.24 ERA at Clearwater.
The move was made after left-hander Bud Smith was put on the disabled list.
