‘Jacks manager has 2 rules Beauchamp stressing hard work

BANGOR – If they don’t know this already, the 22 players on the Bangor Lumberjacks’ roster will soon enough.

Their manager has a lot of signs, but very few rules to learn … And if they miss or break any of them, there’s plenty of room in Kash Beauchamp’s doghouse. If they continually mess with them, there are plenty of other players where they came from.

“I don’t think it’s too much to ask a player to show up on time and bust his ass all the time. Those are my two main rules,” Beauchamp said. “I also want them to be professional, on and off the field. You’re representing yourself, your family, your teammates and your team.

“I don’t care how good you are. I’ll take someone with less ability and more drive and work ethic than someone with all the talent who doesn’t want to work and follow the rules.”

During a 12-year minor league career, Beauchamp played for several managers he didn’t like, but he still respected them. It’s respect, not popularity, that he wants to win. Well, that and ballgames.

“I don’t care if my players like me or not. I really don’t, as long as they respect me,” he said. “I’m not going to go out and drink and party with them, but I want them to be able to come into my office and discuss anything.”

The 40-year-old Beauchamp won’t begrudge the occasional error – mental, fielding, or throwing – but if a player makes too many, he won’t be around too long.

“The bottom line is this. I love and respect the game of baseball, and you do that by giving it all you have,” he said. “I don’t like mental errors. That thing that [Red Sox right fielder] Trot Nixon did the other night was ridiculous.”

Expectations from the first overall pick in the 1982 Major League Baseball amateur draft may sound a bit lofty, but Beauchamp says as long as he keeps himself grounded, they shouldn’t be unrealistic.

“I just try to remember what it was like when I was playing. It’s important to have good team chemistry, on and off the field,” he said. “I don’t think I ask any more of my players than I was asked to do when I played.”

Hit the money mitt

Anyone who has been to a Portland Sea Dogs game has likely noticed the larger-than-life, inflatable catcher’s mitt located just over and behind the right field fence.

A sign on it exhorts hitters to “Hit the mitt”.

Ever wonder how many, if any, hitters have actually hit it since the Sea Dogs began play in 1994?

Surprisingly, only two players have accomplished the feat. In 1998, outfielder Jaime Jones, a 1995 first-round pick of the Florida Marlins, became the first to do it.

The second player to do it was left fielder Luke Wilcox in 2001. Shortly after the Marlins acquired him from the New York Yankees in a trade and assigned him to Portland, Wilcox belted a pinch-hit grand slam with former President George Bush in the stands.

In both cases, the players split an ever-increasing jackpot with Portland-area charity Youth Alternatives. Jones’ take was $1,350 and Wilcox split a total pot of $6,900.

Owens EL Player of Week

Portland Sea Dogs center fielder Jeremy Owens is the Eastern League’s Player of the Week after batting .552 (16-for-29) with five doubles, a triple, three home runs, 12 RBIs, six runs and six stolen bases. The 26-year-old leads the league in doubles (14), slugging percentage (.626) and extra-base hits (23).

Andrew Neff can be reached at 990-8205, 1-800-310-8600, or aneff@bangordailynews.net