Mike Couzens has been named manager of broadcasting and media relations, the Fort Wayne TinCaps announced today.
FORT WAYNE – The TinCaps are in the playoffs. And their opponent in the first round is set.
As the regular season winds down, manager Jose Flores said the team isn’t just playing out the string.
“We want to accomplish momentum,” Flores said. “We want to be able to have momentum going into the playoffs. It would be better for us. We are just trying to go out and have a good last (couple of) games at home before the first playoff game on (Wednesday) and see what happens.”
Fort Wayne’s final game of the regular season begins at 3:05 p.m. today against West Michigan.
The TinCaps qualified for the playoffs for the second straight year Aug. 28. They have struggled since, losing five of eight. Fort Wayne’s 3-6 hitters went 1 for 15 in Saturday’s 8-3 loss to the Whitecaps.
“We need to start building some momentum, especially with the bats,” third baseman/designated hitter Jedd Gyorko said. “The playoffs are going to be here before we know it. We need to start getting some momentum going.”
Fort Wayne will play Great Lakes in the first round Wednesday at Parkview Field.
Lake County is also in the playoffs, having qualified as the first-half champs. West Michigan earned the final playoff spot when Lake County defeated Lansing 8-6 in the first game of a Sunday doubleheader.
“From the very beginning of the year, we told them that last year was last year,” Flores said. “What we wanted to do was go out there and play hard and compete every night and see where that takes us. These guys answered the call.
“The accomplishment was making a playoff spot. I give a tribute to the guys to going out and competing and getting better every day and the end result was qualifying.”
Despite the recent struggles, Fort Wayne has won 27 of its last 42.
The TinCaps have also gotten the rotation in place for the playoffs. Fort Wayne will go with Matt Lollis in the opener, Jose De Paula in Game 2 and then Jerry Sullivan for Game 3, if necessary.
After going through a monthlong stretch of limiting innings as a way to protect the young arms going through a long season, Fort Wayne pitchers will be allowed to go deep into the playoff games.
“Everybody should be ready to go for the playoffs. The innings are back,” Flores said. “We saved some innings for this circumstance. They are all healthy and ready to go.”
