Chicago Dogs — Baseball Bench Coach

What’s your favorite Chicago Dog? A hot dog with mustard (yes), ketchup (oh my gosh, no!) and how about real Chicago style, grilled with peppers and onions (now we’re talking)! At Wrigley Field that of course means a stop at the Marquee Grill. But today I’m putting the MLB focus gently aside for a week. In its place, let’s pay a visit to minor league baseball and my new favorite dog delight, the Chicago Dogs, a professional, independent baseball club that will feed your baseball hunger for sure.

The Dogs play at fan-friendly Impact Field, a brand new 6,300 seat stadium near O’Hare Airport, voted the Best of Ballparks 2018 in its first year of existence. Impact Field is intimate and beautiful with easy to access covered parking adjacent to the field (always a Chicago must!) and affordable concessions. It’s a go to for young families and certainly baseball junkies like me.

The baseball Dogs are in the American Association, a league of twelve teams in the central corridor, as far north as Winnipeg and as far south as Texas. The Dogs compete in the six-team North Division. By American Association rules, rosters are limited to 23 players, of which a maximum of five may be veterans (a player with 6 or more years of service) and a minimum of five may be rookies. As such, rosters turn over year-to-year, and so hopes run high for each team as the 100-game season begins.

Butch Hobson, a former big league third baseman whose MLB playing career spanned three teams, the Red Sox, Angels, and Yankees, over eight seasons (1975-1982), is the Dogs’ manager. In Hobson’s post-playing career he managed Boston for three seasons. A South Division opponent, the Texas AirHogs, is managed by a former major league catcher, Chris Bando (1981-1989). The AirHogs’ roster is the only one in the league that is expanded, providing spots for the Chinese national team players. Hobson and Bando not only give credence to the league, but hope for the players to make it to the Show someday.

2019 is just the second year for the Dogs in the American Association. The Association was actually founded fifteen years ago, providing opportunities for players on the way up. Among its success stories is a current Cub, relief pitcher Brandon Kintzler. Kintzler played for the North Division’s Winnipeg Goldeyes in 2007-2008 and St. Paul Saints in 2009, and was signed by the Milwaukee Brewers in 2009. Kintzler has played on four major league teams since 2010. Indeed, Kintzler, as a Washington National, made the NL All-Star team in 2017.

The Dogs’ current roster features a former Cub great, Carlos Zambrano, a 3-time All-Star pitcher over his 12 MLB seasons. Zambrano’s lifetime MLB statistics are impressive, a 132-91 win-loss record as a starter with an ERA of 3.66. The Big Z was also a big-time hitter for a pitcher with a lifetime average of .238. Zambrano is on the other side of the Association ladder, attempting a big league comeback at the age of 38 as a relief pitcher. Zambrano’s early days as a Chicago Dog have been successful, giving up just 3 runs in 6 relief appearances and even serving as the Dogs’ designated hitter in one game!

In my recent visit to a Dogs’ game, three rising stars stood out. Starting pitcher Luke Westphal began his season with no-hit ball and continued his mastery from the mound a start later, also giving up no hits! Westphal has pounced on the 2019 scene with 17 2/3 innings, 0 runs, three hits and 23 K’s! On the field the spotlight shines brightly on second baseman, Edwin Arroyo, for his stick (currently batting .302) and stellar defense. Arroyo last year was sixth in the Association in hitting at .325! Slugging outfielder Victor Roache has been pounding the ball too with a .357 average in the early season.

And have I mentioned that going to a Chicago Dogs game is just plain FUN! Like many minor league ballparks, the between inning activities for fans make it even more enjoyable to be at the ballpark. Led by Nikki Huber, who is energy personified on the field, student interns stage all sorts of events through the evening, such as Sumo wrestling and a race between mascots Squeeze and Ketchup. A nice touch is when the crowd sings Happy Birthday to those celebrants at the game.

My night at Impact Field a few weeks ago was a wonderful success as the Dogs downed the Gary Southshore Railcats 5-1. The Dogs came within one out of recording their first combined no-hitter. The post-game celebration featured fireworks and the raising of Impact Field’s version of the “W” at Wrigley, a “V” flag (standing for “Victory”) in the outfield. Before I left for the parking lot, I checked the schedule for my next visit, and quickly selected those Texas AirHogs visiting next week. Join me for winning baseball (the Dogs’ 10-5 record currently leads the Association) and fun at the old (I mean new!) ballpark soon!

Special thanks to Sam Brief, Broadcast and Media Relations Manager, and Chuck Heftman, statistician, for allowing me this inside look at my new favorite Chicago Dogs!

Until next Monday,

Your Baseball Bench Coach