The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

FROM the time they ventured into the professional ranks, it was always the dream of good friends and training partners Antoan Richardson and Albert Cartwright to either team up or compete against each other. The duo could get the latter opportunity on two different teams in the Minor League Double A Eastern Division if they are not called up to the Major League.

After they got the opportunity to suit up in the same uniform for Great Britain at the World Baseball Classic in Regensburg, Germany in September, Richardson is playing center field for the New Britain Rock Cats in the farm system of the Minnesota Twins organisation, while Cartwright is playing shortstop for the Reading Fightin Phils of the Philadelphia Phillies. They are scheduled to play against each other in June.

But in the lead up to the showdown, they are both making the best of their appearances for their respective teams.

“Everything is looking good. We’re still young, but the core of this team has been together for a while,” said Cartwright, who has a .261 batting average through the Fighin Phils’ first five games. “We’re familiar with each other, so the team chemistry is there. I think we’re just going out there and having fun.

“We have a different guy stepping up every night, getting that big hit or that big run to pull us through and we’re playing great defensively.”

Taking a 3-2 win loss record in their last game that was played on Tuesday night, Richardson said he’s playing well and making the necessary adjustments.

“I’m still trying to learn the system,” he said. “It’s still early in the season, so I’m just trying to get a feel of the strike zone and the umpires who are calling. But if there is any problem that I’m really concerned about, it’s the weather. It’s so cold out here. I’ve never been in this type of weather before. I have to wear at least three under-shirts, leggings and three socks. It’s crazy,” he said.

For 28-year-old Richardson, who is averaging .214 through their first five games with their 3-2 record as well, he’s making the most of his situation.

“We have a pretty good ball club. I think we have a chance to do well in this league,” he said. “Personally, I’m a little banged up from spring training, but I’m not banged up enough that I cannot play. I’m not 100 per cent, so I’m capable of doing all of the things that I’m capable of doing. But everything is going well. So far so good.”

On playing against each other, 24-year-old Cartwright said it’s a day that can’t come fast enough. “I’m looking forward to it. I can’t allow him to get the last word at the end of the day,” Richardson said. “Hopefully he doesn’t take too many hits away from me in center field.”

Richardson said it would be a dream come through if he can face Cartwright. “It will be a lot of fun. Hopefully we can do it in the majors, but if that doesn’t work out, we still have an opportunity in the minors sometime in June,” he said. “I think somebody will have to buy somebody dinner after the series. I just hope he doesn’t dive down any of my ground balls.”

Both Cartwright and Richardson said while they are delighted that they could finally get a chance to have two Bahamians playing against each other in the same game, they are more eager with the fact that a phone call or an injury that eventually lands them both in the major league - a thought they have been relishing more than the anticipated clash in the minor league.

“You never know if someone goes down (with an injury) or is released,” Cartwright said. “You could get that call one day. But you try not to think about it. You just go out there and play baseball and try to have fun, just like you did in Little League with no worries.

Having had a brief taste of the majors when he played briefly for the Atlanta Braves on September 4, 2011, and recorded his first career hit, a single to right field off of Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw before he signed a minor league contract with the Baltimore Orioles, Richardson said he’s enthused about making a return to the top.

“The general manager of the Twins spoke directly to us and our managers and he said over the years they called a lot of guys up to the major league and he wouldn’t be afraid to do it again this year,” Richardson said. “So we’re just one phone call away. So you just want to get off to a good start.”

They’re both just waiting for the phone to ring.