Fleet filling out new crew

Hey Fleet Fans,

Here's a look at a few of the signings the Armada has made for the 2009 season (from GBL website).  These are some of the players who will be coming to training camp on May 10.

Casey Garrison ... OF ... signed April 10

The former Outlaw comes to the Armada after playing 77 games for the Golden League's Chico franchise in 2008.  Garrison hit .302 with 11 homeruns and 54 RBI last season while also stealing 8 bases (8-for-10).  The 26-year-old outfielder went to San Francisco State University.

Omar Bramasco ... SS ... signed April 10

Bramasco joined the Armada toward the end of the 2008 season.  The shortstop hit .333 (15-for-45) with 4 extra-base hits and 4 RBI with the Armada.  His consistent hitting and strong fielding should provide stability in the middle infield this season.

Keith Ramsey ... LHP ... signed April 10

A former 10th round pick by the Cleveland Indians in 2002 (304th overall), Ramsey reached the Indians AAA club in 2004.  In seven minor league seasons, he has a career 53-46 record with a 4.08 ERA.  Last season he went 7-6 with a 4.01 ERA in the Atlantic League where he pitched 130.1 innings, striking out 71 and walking 38.  

Joshua Banda ... C ... April 8

Banda will help lead the Armada rotation from behind the plate in 2009.

Josh Womack ... OF ... April 3

The speedy, sweet-swinging outfielder was in AAA Tacoma and AA West Tennessee with the Seattle Mariners in 2008. Womack, 25, 6-1, 200 lbs, was signed in the 2nd round of the 2002 amateur draft by the Seattle Mariners after his senior year at Crawford High School in San Diego. He rose through the Mariner's farm system reaching AAA in 2008 where he hit .333.

Andrew Layfield ... RHP ... April 2

Layfield has played two professional seasons, both for the Armada, posted a 5-6 record and 4.95 ERA in his career.  Layfield served as a spot-starter for Long Beach in 2008, pitching 80.1 innings, striking out 40 while walking 31.  His return to the Armada for a third season should solidify the Fleet's rotation.

Jack Chapman ... INF/C ... March 31

In two professional seasons, Chapman has a career batting average of .236.  He spent 2007 playing for the Amarillo Dillas of the United League, appearing in 74 games and hitting .258 for the season.  Chapman comes to the Armada after a year in the Frontier League in '08.

Chad Miller ... 1B ... March 31

Ryan Claypool ... RHP ... March 31

Claypool returns to Long Beach as the only original member of the inaugural 2005 Armada team.  Claypool, who turns 27 on April 16, came to the Armada after pitching collegiately at Stony Brook University in 2003-04.  In four years with the Armada, he is 20-20 with a 4.77 ERA.

Jose Lima ... RHP ... March 27

IT'S LIMA TIME IN LONG BEACH! (read more here)

Brian Daly ... RHP ... March 27

The right-hander has spent the last three seasons playing in the United League.  Daly has a career record of 10-19 with a 6.16 ERA.  At 6'5" Daly will prove to be a tall task for opposing batters in 2009.

Bryan Beres ... C ... March 27

Rusty Jones ... LHP ... March 27

Wilmer Pino ... INF ... March 25

The Venezuelan infielder played primarily second base in three years in the Yankees organization from 2005-2007.  His most productive season at the plate came in 2006 when Pino hit .326 while driving in 32 runs in just 61 games.

Josh Jennings ... OF ... March 25

Scott Lonergan ... RHP ... March 25

Lonergan was drafted by the Boston Red Sox in the 37th round of the 2007 amateur draft.  The reliever pitched 42.1 innings in two seasons with the Red Sox, including a 4.1 inning appearance with the AAA Pawtucket Red Sox in 2007.  He has a career 6.41 ERA with 29 strike outs and 17 walks.  Lonergan played collegiately Santa Clara University in 2004-05 and at Rice University in 2007.

Juan Jiminez ... RHP ... March 23

Dustin Gober ... RHP ... March 23

The GBL's 2007 Rookie Pitcher of the Year returns to the Armada for his 3rd season in Long Beach.  A native to the community, Gober went to Lakewood High School.  He was a reliable starter for the Armada in 2008, starting 16 games going 5-8 with a 7.28 ERA and eating up 97.2 innings, second-most on the team.

Ben Fox ... LHP ... March 20

Fox returns to the GBL and manager Garry Templeton after a two-year hiatus.  Fox started 14 games for Templeton's Fullerton Flyers in 2005, going 9-2 with a 3.23 ERA.  He returned to the Flyers midway through the '07 season, starting 10 games and going 5-3 with a 2.99 ERA.  The left show be a reliable started for the Armada in 2009.  Fox was drafted by the Padres in the 10th round of the 2001 amateur draft.

Daryl Jones ... 1B ... March 20

Jones is another local talent to join the Armada in 2009.  He went to Westchester High School and was a 4th round draft pick of the Padres in 2004 (102 overall).  In five minor league seasons, he has a career .252 batting average.  Last season, Jones had one of his better seasons last year in the United League, hitting .288 with 11 homeruns and 53 RBI.  

Doug West ... OF ... March 20