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If you can't beat him, buy him

Pichi Balet was a tough out whenever the Saints faced Lincoln, so they paid cash to acquire him from the Saltdogs.

By BRIAN STENSAAS, Star Tribune

Last update: May 8, 2008 - 6:51 AM

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question.....

we call these guys the st. paul saints right? so why can't we name our major league baseball team after minneapolis instead of "minnesota"? … read more same with the vikings, timberwolves and wild. never understood why some feel the need to name them after the entire state instead of the city in which they reside.

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ST. PAUL SAINTS PREVIEW

Season opener: 7:05 tonight vs.

Grand Prairie • Midway Stadium

More from Twins

The St. Paul Saints used to consider outfielder Pichi Balet a headache. Now they have a much nicer word for him: teammate.

Balet, a .346 hitter in three seasons with the Lincoln Saltdogs, was sold to St. Paul for an undisclosed amount in the offseason. He figures to make what was already a team strength -- the lineup -- even better as the Saints open their season against league newcomer Grand Prairie at 7:05 tonight at Midway Stadium.

"It's like, 'Yes! I don't have to pitch to him anymore,'" Saints righthander Charlie Ruud said. "He's one of the toughest outs in the league."

Balet's departure was part of a mass exodus in Lincoln. With the Saints, he joins a lineup that includes holdovers such as Brent Krause (.379 last season), Marcel Longmire (.324 with 16 home runs) and Brian Sprout (.304 with 52 RBI). The Saints hit .289 last season and return 15 players from a team that earned a second consecutive trip to the American Association Championship Series.

"You always want to be somewhere you want to play," said Balet, whose real first name is Frederico; Pichi is a nickname given to him by his mother. "At the same time, you want to be somewhere where somebody wants you to play for them."

Balet, the 2006 American Association Player of the Year after hitting .378, said he began hearing from manager George Tsamis almost immediately after being sent to St. Paul. That stands in contrast to his old team.

"In Lincoln, it was very much, 'See ya on the field' and not another word," Balet said.

After nearly giving up baseball for a career in firefighting, Balet is still in the game and hoping to make an impact with his new team. Having played with seven teams in his seven years as a pro, Balet's reputation has surely followed him to St. Paul. During an exhibition game Monday against Winnipeg, of the Northern League, Balet's final at-bat was a short one. He was thrown four pitches, all low and outside at 89 miles per hour. He didn't bite.

"Coming here has made my work ethic even better," Balet said. "Every guy protects the hitter in front of him. [The lineup] is that good."

Balet, 30, said he gives Lincoln credit for working with him on a change of location, which he sought out. Turns out, it was the Saints' pleasure to make the move.

"[Balet] brings a spark," Tsamis said. "Anybody can hit, but he's come up with so many clutch hits against us over the years. He has fun, he's glad to be here and that's important."

Etc.

• Mitch Wylie, who was brought into training camp this year to compete for a roster spot, instead has been named the team's pitching coach. It is possible Wylie still could pitch for the team later in the season.

• The Saints mascot for this season, once again a pig, will be named "Boarack Ohama."

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