Miami Pace

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/sports/highschool/orl-spthsbase17041704apr17,1,7980596.story?coll=orl-sports-headlines-hs
Pace wins Catholic Challenge
By Austin Lyon
Special to the Sentinel

April 17, 2004

Bishop Moore junior Rick Marlin said he has faced a number of great pitchers in his 11 years of playing baseball. None compare to the left-hander from Miami Monsignor Pace he went up against Friday night.

Giovanny Gonzalez threw the third no-hitter of his career, striking out 16, to lead Pace to a 6-0 victory over Bishop Moore in the championship game of the inaugural Catholic Challenge at Bishop Moore.

Gonzalez' fastball topped at 96 mph and had a devastating curveball that had Hornets' hitters swinging at balls that were in the dirt all night. He issued three walks, but none of the runners advanced past first base.

"His curveball was the best pitch I had ever seen," Marlin said. "He has great presence and he just keeps coming after you."

A home run by Chris Marrero in the top of the second inning gave Monsignor Pace, ranked No. 1 in the nation by Baseball America and No. 1 in Class 3A in Florida, a 1-0 lead. The Spartans broke the game open in the third with a grand slam by junior Chris Dominguez.

Adrian Cardenas reached on an error and DiPhilip Mason drew a walk in the third before Jose Jimenez singled to right field, loading the bases for Dominguez, who sent the ball over the left field wall.

"You can't afford to make any mistakes against a team like that, but this was a good opportunity for us to play against the highest level of competition," said Bishop Moore Coach Dave Wheeler, whose team is ranked No. 7 in 3A and No. 2 in the Sentinel's Super Six.

Marlin and Max Sapp from Bishop Moore (18-3) made the all-tournament team, while the Hornets' John Alonso was awarded the outstanding hitting performance for his pinch-hit home run against Pensacola Catholic in the semifinals.

Monsignor Pace 6, Bishop Moore 0

Monsignor Pace 0 1 4 0 0 1 0 - - 6 5 0

Bishop Moore 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 -- 0 0 2

Pitchers -- MP: Gonzalez (W, 5-0) and Jimenez; BM: Horton (L, 5-2) and Helms. Top hitters -- MP: Dominguez 1-2 (GS, 4 RBI), Marrero 1-3 (HR), Alvarez 1-1 (RBI); BM: None. Records -- MP: 22-0; BM: 18-3.

Congrats Gio...what an incredible performance. As to the reference to Kazmir...I can say I have seen you both and the comparisons are justified. You da man Gio!

Check This out:

Pace is absoutely LOADED !!!

Those guys and many more on that team are players that will play baseball for a very long time.

If you get a chance to see this team play, you should, they may be the best high school team in a very long time.

They will only lose a game this year if as a team they come out flat and "take a game off" as they are deep 1-9, pitching wise and great coaching !!!!

See them if you can !!!

Palm Beach Gardens; 3-1. Here is a link to an article from the Palm Beach Post. (Didn't see anything in the Miami or Ft. Lauderdale papers)

PBG v. Pace

Trouble in paradise? This is in today's Miami Herald!

BASEBALL

Pace suspends star pitcher: Giovanny Gonzalez, the top-rated pitcher in Dade County, and his brother Max were dismissed from the Monsignor Pace baseball team on Thursday night after the Spartans' 8-0 victory over Florida Christian.

Coach Tom Duffin said the brothers violated team policy.

The brothers, who transfered from Hialeah to Pace after last season, had helped the the Spartans to a 23-1 record and a No. 1 ranking in Baseball America. Giovanny Gonzalez was 5-0 with a 0.93 ERA.

''They [Max and Gio] broke team policy and the integrity of my program will not be questioned or threatened,'' Duffin said. ``The bottom line is no one is above the program.''

-- ROMAN O. GARCIA, JR.

Ooops! thats too bad.

What IS this world coming to ?

Jeff Allison's problems*,
Tom Whilhelmsmen's problems,
Neil Walker's problems (http://www.postgazette.com/pg/04119/307749.stm)and NOW Gio AND his brother ?

Don't these young men realize how much they have at stake ?

To be successful, to make the maximum from their God given talents, these young men MUST seperate themselves from the world, it's temptations and it's pitfalls.

Wrong place, wrong time (Brandon McArthur, fall of 2003, Gainesville, Fl.) and incidents like this are simply ashamed.

I know there are myriads of temptations to these teenage young men, but, SEE THE BIG PICTURE, be grateful for the talent bestowed to you and make the MOST of it !!!! Don't sell it all for a party!!!!!!!!!!


*ALLISON DUE

Right-hander Jeff Allison, the Marlins' first-round draft pick last summer, is due in minor league camp today after missing the first three weeks for personal reasons.

According to industry sources, Allison has agreed to two years of random drug testing and a restructuring of his signing bonus payout. The remaining half of Allison's $1.85 million bonus will be paid over the next four years, sources said.

While back home in Massachusetts, Allison, the Marlins' No. 3 prospect, had been caring for his ailing mother as well.

Jeff Berry, one of the pitcher's representatives, declined comment
*Jeffrey Allison Update
By Mark Doring Publisher
Date: Mar 31, 2004

Catch the latest news on the Marlins 1st Round pick in 2003 whose absence from spring drills as well as the lack of an explanation from both the Marlins and Allison has led to some wild speculation

March 31, 2002

Jupiter, Florida
2003 1st round draft pick RHP Jeffrey Allison’s #51 jersey still hangs in his otherwise empty locker. Allison has missed all three weeks of spring drills and scrimmages with a team excused absence. The fact that the reason for his absence, while excused, is undisclosed has led to many rumors ranging from everything from family illness to substance abuse, to injury. Neither the Marlins nor Allison’s representation have offered to calm any of the rumors only saying that everything is fine with Jeffrey and his absence is excused.

The Ft. Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel reported on Tuesday that Allison has agreed to random drug testing for the next two years as well as a restructuring of his $1.85 million signing bonus.

Allison did make his first appearance at Marlins camp in Jupiter, Florida on Tuesday, March 31st taking a tour of the practice facility and having a meeting with Marlins officials with both his father and his agent present. It is still unclear however when exactly Allison will begin participating in spring drills in the prospect camp.

Heading into the 2003 draft, Allison was considered not only the top high school pitcher in the draft but one of the top three overall prospects. He slid to the Marlins at the 16th spot due to questions as to signability and the inherent risks of paying top dollar to a high school pitching prospect. Jeffrey was considered to have both the best fastball and curveball of any pitcher in the draft. Although he only made 3 appearances in the Gulf Coast Rookie League in 2003 due to a sore shoulder, Allison was considered the most impressive pitcher in the league by scouts after striking out 11 hitters and giving up only 1 run in 9 innings of work.

The road up the ladder is littered with unfocused very talented players. More than one big leaguer will say that the climb is more a war of attrition lost by players with a lack of focus and/or weak ligaments.

AMEN !!!!!!!!!!!

Well said !!!

This is sad, but, true !!!

My hope is that others will see, read and learn from this and NOT fall to these temptations, but, stay the course of maximizing their talent they are blessed with !!!

Posted on Sat, May. 01, 2004




PACE BASEBALL


Argument led to Gonzalez's dismissal

Gio and Max Gonzalez's former teammates said frustration over Max's status as a reserve player ultimately led to the brothers' dismissal.

BY ANDRE C. FERNANDEZ

acfernandez@herald.com


A day after star pitcher Gio Gonzalez and his brother, reserve outfielder Max Gonzalez, were dismissed from the Pace baseball team for violating a team rule, two former teammates said an argument following Thursday night's win over Florida Christian led to the players' dismissal.

''After the game, bad things happened [in the clubhouse],'' Pace captain Jose Jimenez said Friday. ``Coach [Tom Duffin] had been hearing [negative] stuff all season long. After the game, Gio and his brother blew up in front of the whole team. So Coach told them to get out. I know Gio didn't mean a lot of the things he said.''

The loss is a major blow for Pace (24-1), the top-ranked team in the nation, according to Baseball America. Gio, who led Hialeah to two state titles before transferring last summer, is considered a first-round draft prospect. He also has a scholarship to the University of Miami if he decides to postpone his pro career.

However, Max's lack of playing time was an issue at Hialeah, according to T-Breds coach Carlos Marti, and it became an issue at Pace, according to Jimenez and others.

But in a brief phone conversation on Friday, Gio and Max's father, Max Gonzalez Sr., said he was not sure why his sons had been thrown off the team.

''I still haven't been told exactly what rule they broke,'' he said.

`TOUGH DECISION'

Duffin declined to elaborate on the reason, but he did defend the decision.

''Anyone in their right mind knows I would be crazy to dismiss such a talented player as Gio if he wouldn't have broken a rule,'' he said. ``I had to make a tough decision, and the school backed me up completely.

``All my players know the rules when they sign up to play for the school.''

Max Gonzalez Sr. expressed disappointment over the dismissals and what led to them.

''When my sons first went there last year, I thought now they would both get a chance to play,'' he said. ``But Max never started any of their games this season.''

Jimenez, however, said Max started the season in left field but was demoted to a backup role because he wasn't producing.

Hialeah coach Marti said Max's playing time was a key factor in Max and his brother leaving the T-Breds program for Pace.

''People thought we had lost Gio because [Pace's] program was in better shape,'' Marti said. ``When Gio was here, his brother got him into trouble.

``There was an incident two years ago in which Max was suspended after he told off one of our assistant coaches. Gio might have taken that personally. He sat out the next game. I think he was trying to send a message.''

Marti said there was a similar incident last season, a week before Gio led the T-Breds to their third consecutive state Final Four. Marti said Max was kicked off the team, resulting in Gio's transfer to Pace at season's end.

Max was not available for comment. Gio declined to comment.

Thursday's news sent shock waves locally as well as nationally. But UM coach Jim Morris said he doesn't expect the news to affect his program.

''I'd be surprised if he ends up playing at the college level because he most likely will be picked in the first round,'' said Morris of Gio, who was 5-0 this season with a 0.93 ERA and 81 strikeouts in 37 innings.

PLAYOFFS NEXT

With Pace set to open the district playoffs on Tuesday against Archbishop McCarthy, Gonzalez's former teammates are hoping it doesn't become a distraction.

''To tell you the truth, it is going to affect us because it is a loss,'' Pace right fielder Christian Marrero said. ``I feel bad for [Gio] and the team. But we still feel we've got three solid pitchers, and we don't plan on quitting.''

READY FOR DRAFT

Meanwhile, Gio will now prepare for the draft. A Major League Baseball scout, who spoke on the condition his name not be used, said Gio's dismissal could hurt his draft status.

''If it is close between Gio and another player and the other player has a normal situation, it could potentially cost him,'' the scout said. ``I talked to Gio's advisors today, and they are concerned.''

The scout, however, added that Gio has had a ''phenomenal'' season and is still a good bet to be drafted high.

''This year's draft is heavy with right-handed pitchers,'' he said. ``They aren't many guys like Gio. He is the highest rated [prep] left-handed pitcher in the nation.

``As far as what he can do with a baseball on the mound, he's done everything to help himself this year. He's had maybe 10 starts, and each time out there were a minimum of 15 scouts and as many as 55 or 60, including all the heavyweights. Some kids would [break] with so much pressure, but not Gio.''

It is sad when the father of players can't seperate the facts when one of the sons is much more talented than the other. In the case of these young men, Gio is a master on the mound. He knows HOW to pitch, he IS a pitcher and he's one of the best I've seen. However, truth is Max is a good, but, not GREAT player. Pace is LOADED with elite players and in that senario, Max simply would not start anyway. It appears that the coach was putting his "best 9" on the field and Mr. Gonzalez was being selfish like a child by his actions of "I'll take my toys and go elsewhere" when they transfered from the T-breds. Seems like he was trying to "work behind the scenes" at Pace as well, but, the coach wouldn't go for it.

Personally, I applaud the coach, however, he should have probably known (and may have) the potential of this happening BEFORE these young men came to Pace. They've put together a very special ball club and when you have an ELITE, talented team, people need to understand that average or marginal players simply won't get the playing time that "daddy" wants. There's NO place for "daddy" ball outside little league and daddy's all across America should learn this. In the long run, players benefit from being coached by REAL coaches and benefit from their "daddy's" not being in the middle of running a high school (or above) program.

Let the coaches coach, the players play and the daddy's and momma's watch, enjoy and appreciate the talent their sons show on the field. However, when you put together the #1 high school team in America, a non-elite player won't get primary playing time !!! When you put something special like that together, it's about winning, competition and exposure, which it should be.

I know Gio very well and have ONLY known him to be all smiles, very classy and FANTASTIC on the bump. I know in the past he has NOT played on certain teams because Max would not get playing time (understandably)on those teams, it appears in this case, we have the same intent on behalf of the father, only the coach was tired of putting up with the father "working against him" behind the scenes.

I wish the BEST for Gio, Max and their family, most of all, I hope they've learned a lesson from this. But above this, I wish the BEST for the Pace team, they are LOADED and have a fantastic concentration of elite talent and class young men on their team!!!

The BEST to all !!!

Maybe Mr. Gonzalez and others like him across America should read this article:

http://www.hsbaseballweb.com/parent_syndrome.htm

Very insightful and timely appropriate!!!

I think that what we fail to realize in all of these unfortunate situations is that these are 18/19 year old boys who have not been fully prepared to handle the sudden attention, fame or life changing money that has come their way. It is normal for teens to think that nothing bad could happen to them, they still do stupid kid things once in a while, still experience peer pressure, why would sudden fame and fortune change that?

It takes a very smart parent to be able to watch carefully for signs that things may be getting out of control. Unfortunetly, lots of parents are also caught up in what is happening and lose sight of what really is important.

They naturally expect that their teen is going to suddenly not do things kids their age do because they may be famous some day. Not so.

Okay, now that everyone has read the papers, here's the real story. First of all, Gio and Max did not get kicked off the team because they blew up....they blew up after the coach had told them quote, "you're mother has been causing to many problems around here, so you guys won't be able to wear this uniform any more". This was not said in a private meeting with the players, this was said in front of everyone. So the players felt they had to do what any player who felt that their mother was being insulted in front of the team did, they let the coach have it(after they were told they had been kicked off) And as far as Max's playing time.. He did not expect to start all the games, not even half(which he was told at the beginning of the season he would rotate at catcher) but he at least wanted a few starts, which should have not been a suprise to anyone who has seen the team play, and knows that their starting catcher has not had a rest all season. The sad part of all of this is that a kid is getting a reputation for being bad, when in reality he, and his family were manipulated by the coach. And if anyone doubts this, just take a look at the pitch counts of most of Gio's starts. The bottom line is that the Gonzalez family was sold a lie that both there sons would be given an oppurtunity to fight for there starting position, and this was not the case. My main message is don't believe everything you read in the papers, it is extremely manipulated sometimes.

Based on experience, I take everything I read in the paper with a grain of salt. I have no idea what transpired. I wasn't there. I do know that one of the best lefties in high school is not on his team anymore. Who are the adults? Who are the children? Who is the professional? The coaches have all the authority. They should accept the responsibilty when things go south. It sounds like the coach did and is moving on.

The reason that I posted the information is to show what can happen when things and egos get out of control. Just a sad situation.

Hey Guys check out this follow up article on the whole situation-this one is written from Gio's point of view. http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/sports/

One learns to play with the team. The team does not learn to play with the player. He would have been better off staying with his former highschool and learn early on the life lesson of dynamic equilibrium with ones' peers. He would have been a better person and ball player had he not transferred, in spite of perhaps inferior instruction or team talent. The fact that this kid transferred schools for Atheletic reasons is an embarassment to the educational system in Florida or any state which might permit this without a one year sit- out-sanction. As I read the posts, am I to assume that the league in which Pace plays is independent of the State atheletic association?

Squarepeg;

Florida's governing association, the Florida High School Athletics Association (Pace is a member) does permit transfers, without having to sit out a year. In fact, rather than requiring the tranferring student to sit out a year except in certain circumstances,they have it backwards. The FHSAA requires proof that the player was recruited by the coach or school officials to act to prevent the transferee from playing. Parents and other boosters, if not acting with the coach's or school's knowledge or direction, are free to recruit with impunity, and they do. It's a terrible system, and it is common knowledge that in addition to the parents and boosters recruiting, many private, and some public, schools "recruit" with the coach's blessing or even his active involvement. Many players change schools 2, 3, or even 4 times during high school and who can blame them if it's legal and they think the opportunities are better elsewhere.

Do some states do it the way you suggest? That is, in some states is the transferring player required to sit for a year before playing for the new school unless he fits into an exception (such as he moved, needs special program not available at his former school, etc.)? Maybe the FHSAA should consider changing the rule.

The only way you can transfer w/out being sanctioned by the FHSAA is to go from a public school to a private or visa versa. It is a wierd situation we have in southern Florida. I don't know if this happens in the rest of the nation, but down here there are many coaches that forget that the players are what make a program good...not the coaches, and as long as a player is doing his job on the field, and abiding by team rules, he should not be sanctioned for things out of his control.