Diner's Guide: Meat Heads

Establishment: Meat Heads
On the Web: http://www.meatheadsburgers.com/index.html
Date: 6.13.08

What's in my belly: Cowabunga meal (double cheesburger) with cajun fries, cheese dip and a Pepsi. Brooksie ordered a Cowabunga meal with cheese, BBQ sauce and grilled onions, and had regular fries with a Diet Pepsi....or Root Beer.

The damage: Something like 17 bucks.

The scoop: Established in 2007, Meat Heads is a new joint but has a classic taste. It's nothing fancy - burgers, hot dogs, grilled cheese and hand cut fries - but what it lacks in pizazz it makes up for in substance. The place looks super cool, with the trendy industrial, rugged, clean look just like a Chipotle. We went at lunch and although the place was packed, we got through the line pretty quickly. "We like to do things fast," Kurt our order-taker/owner/manager looking guy would tell us later. With so little to choose from, ordering is super easy. We went with the double cheeseburger combo, affectionately called the Cowabunga, while a guy in front of us ordered the Petite Meat, a single patty and small fry, which the register embarrassingly called a "whimpy" - pretty funny.

This was my second trip to Meat Heads, having discovered the place with my sister Kathy on an apartment hunting trip earlier in the Spring. I informed Kurt that it was Brooksie's first time and he responded with "It's your new favorite restaurant" and gave her a fist pound. Kurt also informed us that he'd see us next week, or tomorrow but he didn't want to push us. Fun guy. Meat Heads might just be my favorite joint in town so far. It's simple and scrumptious. They use Angus beef and grill it up as you order. It's a better version of a Wendy's double cheeseburger, and Wendy's used to be my favorite burger. Definitely get the cajun fries. They're not real spicy, just have more flavor than the original. The cheese sauce, which I guess is a new menu item, is outstanding, although a little warm for some palettes. A little greasy, but that's a positive in my book.

Will we go again: Definitely, like Kurt said, it's our new favorite restaurant.

Life in Bloomington: The Beginning

Brooksie and I have successfully made the move the Bloomington, Ill., although there were a few hitches along the way with our apartment not being ready and the slight damage to our car bumper caused by the towing. We'll keep our first post positive and reflect on the rocky start at a later time. Life here, however, is good and we're settling in nicely.

If you know Brooksie and I, you've probably had a chance to dine with us...we love to eat and love eating with other people. One of the great things about Bloomington-Normal (twin cities, although Brooksie won't approve the nickname yet) is the city boasts that it has more restaurants per capita than anywhere in the United States. We haven't seen any statistics to confirm or deny this, so as new townies, we'll accept it as truth. During our first week here, we've already had a chance to eat at some fantastic joints and we have come up with a personal challenge to eat at as many different restaurants as we can. Along with that, we're going to try to write a little review of each place to keep you all informed and if you read often, maybe when you visit you'll know where you want to go with us.


The following is the preliminary list of restaurants we've eaten at. Full reviews for each will be written at a later time. We're also hoping to get a camera and post some photos too.

Conquered Restaurants
Alexander's Steak House
Avanti's
Bing's Wok
Bob Evans
Famous Dave's
La Peep
Meat Heads
Noodles and Company
Potbelly's
Pub II
Shannon's Five Star
TGI Friday's

I'm probably forgetting a couple, but Brooksie will correct me later...she's a great editor. That's all for now, stay tuned.

Sixteen Players with AIA Ties Selected in 2008 Draft

A day after Scott Bittle and Kirk Nieuwenhuis became the first Athletes in Action alumns drafted in the 2008 Major League Baseball Draft, 13 more players with AIA ties heard their names called by Major League teams. In all, 15 former or current AIA players were selected in the 2008 MLB Draft.

Robbie Weinart was the first former AIA player to go off the board on Friday as he was taken by the Detroit Tigers in the 10th round. Weinart played two seasons with the AIA Alaska Fire in 2005 and 2006 and played collegiately at Oklahoma State University. He was 6-0, 3.89 ERA in 25 appearances on the mound for the Cowboys in 2008 and helped the Big 12 team advance to NCAA Regional play. Weinart finished the spring with 70 strikeouts in 44 innings.

Tyson Bagley, a three-year AIA Texas veteran, was selected in the 11th round by the San Diego Padres. The Bakersfield, Calf., native pitched for AIA’s Mineral Wells Steam in the Texas Collegiate League in 2005, 2006 and 2007, and found great success as the closer for Dallas Baptist this spring. Bagley saved 11 games for the Patriots as they went 37-19 and advanced to NCAA Regional play. He went 4-2, 2.56 with 56 strikeouts in 38.2 innings.

Bagley was joined by former Steam teammate and former AIA Alaska player Blake Stouffer. The San Antonio, Texas, native was taken in the 13th round by the Washington Nationals after hitting .256 with 37 RBI and helping Texas A&M advance to NCAA Super Regional play. Stouffer was selected in the fourth round of the 2007 draft by the Cincinnati Reds after challenging for the numerous player of the year awards but decided to return to A&M for his senior season.

Brandon Moore, a right-handed pitcher for the 2007 AIA Texas team and Indiana Wesleyan, was picked up by the New York Mets in the 14th round. Moore, from Crawfordsville, Ind., was 10-3, 1.73 ERA and 10 complete games for IWU as he anchored the rotation this season. Moore started 14 games for IWU and struck out 131 while walking just 24 in 93.2 innings.

Thad Weber went to the Detroit Tigers in the 16th round. Weber pitched for AIA New York in 2004 while he was at Hutchinson Community College and later contributed at the University of Nebraska. A native of Friend, Neb., Weber was 9-5, 6.15 ERA in 14 starts this season for the Huskers and helped them advance to NCAA Regional play.

AJ Simunic was selected by the Houston Astros one round later in the 17th. The Tennessee infielder, played for AIA’s Central America team in 2005. Simunic batted .297 for the Volunteers and scored 47 runs this spring. Simunic, from Collierville, Tenn., was a menace on the base paths, swiping 20 bases on 23 attempts.

The St. Louis Cardinals snagged Xavier Scruggs, a 2006 AIA Alaska alumn, in the 19th round. The UNLV Rebel first baseman hit xxx while earning Louisville Slugger Second Team All-American Honors. Scruggs was named the Mountain West Conference Player of the Year as he won the MWC Triple Crown by leading the league in batting average (.379), home runs (20) and RBI (65).

Jericho Jones, who has committed to play for the AIA Alaska team in 2008, was taken in the 20th round by the Chicago Cubs. Jones, a Corinth, Texas, native, hit .364 for the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs and was second on the team with 13 home runs and 46 RBI. Jones also started 12 games for the Bulldogs and went 5-5 with a 5.80 ERA.

Aaron Murphree, a two-time member of the AIA Texas team, was tabbed in the 27th round and will join his former teammate Bagley with the San Diego Padres. Murphree, a smooth fielding corner outfielder and first baseman, clubbed 12 homers in the first several weeks of the spring for the Arkansas Razorbacks and finished the year with a .305 batting average, 14 homers and 40 RBI. Murphree’s .687 slugging percentage led the team and the Brock, Texas, native helped the Razorbacks advanced to the NCAA Regionals.

Three former AIA players were snagged in the 37th round. Memphis’ Chris Kirkland, who played briefly with the AIA Texas team in 2005, was the first to go when he was taken by the Seattle Mariners. A catcher for much of his career, Kirkland will get a chance to pitch in the minors. Kirkland Rivers, a member of the 2006 Texas team was drafted by the Houston Astros. Rivers was 0-1, 9.14 in 12 appearances as a lefty pitcher for Texas A&M this spring. Justin Harper, a 2007 AIA Alaska Alumn, was snagged by the Yankees. The Yavapai College pitcher was 2-1 with three saves and a 6.11 ERA. He also had 42 strikeouts in 35.1 innings.

The Texas Rangers drafted 2007 AIA Alaska alumn Jamie McGraw in the 40th round. The Corban College outfielder led the Warriors with 28 runs scored, two triples, 36 walks and 16 stolen bases.

Joel Staples was the last AIA player selected in the draft, going in the 44th round to the Florida Marlins. Staples played for the 2007 AIA Alaska squad that won the Alaska League Championship. The St. Marys College third baseman hit .292 with a pair of home runs and 27 RBI.

Several other AIA Alumns are expected to sign free agent contracts. Current AIA Alumns who have recently played in the Major Leagues include Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Jeremy Accardo, Chicago White Sox pitcher Lance Broadway, Milwaukee Brewers outfielder Mel Stocker, former Arizona Diamondbacks infielder Andy Green and Tampa Bay Rays infielder Ben Zobrist.

2008 AIA Alumns in the Draft
AIA Alaska
Kirk Nieuwenhuis, Azusa Pacific, 3rd Round by the Mets
Robbie Weinhart, , 10th Round by the Tigers
Blake Stouffer, Texas A&M, 13th Round by the Nationals
Xavier Scruggs, 19th Round by the Cardinals
Jericho Jones, 20th Round by the Cubs
Justin Harper, 37th Round by the Yankees
Jamie McGraw, 40th Round by the Rangers
Joel Staples, 44th Round by the Marlins

AIA Texas
Scott Bittle, Ole Miss, 2nd Round by the Yankees
Tyson Bagley, Dallas Baptist, 11th Round by the Padres
Blake Stouffer, Texas A&M, 13th Round by the Nationals
Brandon Moore, Indiana Wesleyan, 14th Round by the Mets
Aaron Murphree, Arkansas, 27th Round by the Padres
Chris Kirkland, Memphis, 37th Round by the Mariners
Kirkland Rivers, Texas A&M, 37th Round by the Astros

AIA New York
Thad Weber, Nebraska, 16th Round by the Tigers

AIA Central America
AJ Simunic, 17th Round by the Astros

Steam Baseball Alumni Report :: Minor Leagues :: 6.5.08

Garret Baker (San Francisco Giants): Baker's hitting .241 for the Class A South Atlantic League Augusta Green Jackets. The former Steam slugger has five homers and has driven in 26 runs. Baker is hitting .256 in his last 10 games and has driven in five runs.

Jay Brossman (Los Angeles Angels): A year after wrecking on pitchers in the Pioneer League, Brossman jumped out to a strong start in 2007 for the Low Class A Midwest League Cedar Rapids Kernals but has cooled as of late. The former Steam third baseman is hitting .241 with four homers and 27 RBI. He's showing signs of heating up again after going 2-for-4 with a solo home run on Wednesday night. Brossman is 10-for-37 (.270) in his last 10 games. A friend of mine recently caught a Kernals game in which Brossman doubled and made a couple nice defensive plays.

Jordan Craft (Boston Red Sox): Craft spent a year with the Steam while he transitioned from Pepperdine University to Dallas Baptist. The hard-throwing righty is now pitching for the Class A South Atlantic League Greenville Drive. A starter for much of his short professional career, Craft is working out of the bullpen for Greenville and is 0-3, 6.86 in 10 appearances this year. Craft has 13 Ks this season and has worked back-to-back scoreless appearances for the first time in his last two outings.

Parker Dalton (Los Angeles Dodgers): The mayor is stuck in a positional battle with a returning player at Low Class A Great Lakes but has shown his potential for the Loons when given the opportunity to play. Dalton is hitting .250 in 23 games with 6 extra base hits, including a two homers and a triple. During a recent six game stretch, Dalton hit safely in each game and is batting .278 over his last 10 games. I recently heckled the former Texas A&M and Steam middle infielder about his low stolen base totals...his response: I need to steal first more.

Cory Gearrin (Atlanta Braves): Perhaps no former Steam player has made a bigger improvement than Gearrin who also finds himself in Class A South Atlantic League with the Rome Braves. Gearrin was admittedly bad for the Steam in 2005 before his velocity increased and he tore up the Cape Cod league and the Atlantic Sun Conference while at Mercer. Gearrin was recently visited by future hall of famer John Smoltz, who rehabbed in Rome. Gearrin's Smoltz-esque strikeout numbers, 37 in 26.1 innings in 2007 and 20 in 13.2 this season, have yielded solid results for the sidearmer. Gearrin is 2-1 with a 3.29 ERA in 12 appearances this season.

Andrew Kerth (San Francisco Giants): Kerth, a 2004 Steam pitcher, has yet to make an appearance this season but pitched well in 15 appearances last season for the Rookie Level Arizona Giants. Kerth was 1-1 with a 3.91 with 16 strikeouts in 23 innings.

Chad Linder (Independent): One of my all-time favorite Steam pitchers, Linder is dealing for the Alexandria Aces in the United League. In four starts, the lefty is 1-1 with a 5.19 ERA but has fanned 24 and walked just six batters in 26 innings.

Steven Trout (Independent): Signed as a reserve utility infielder, Trout was inserted into the Northern League Kansas City T-Bones lineup early in the season because of an injury to a starter. Trout is batting .200 through 11 games with a double and a triple. I met up with Trout for dinner earlier this season and he was excited about the opportunity to keep playing ball.

Demetri White (Independent): White is pitching for the American Association's Wichita Wingnuts while he recovers from a blood clot in his arm. I saw Dimitri pitch against the Fort Worth Cats a couple weeks ago and he looked sharp at times but looked like a guy working his way back into form at others. White is 1-3, 9.18 in six appearances including four starts for the expansion team. He has 16 strikeouts in 16.2 innings but his lack of command is evident in a team-leading five hit-batsmen and 20 walks. Once he gets his command back, I don't think White will be pitching in Independent ball much longer.

Sprouting up on the farm....Scott Bittle, second round draft choice of the New York Yankees on Thursday.

I'm sure I missed a couple guys and I apologize. Please send me an email with comments or questions at kwmccar@ilstu.edu.

Yankees, Mets Tap Into AIA Alumni Pool on First Day of MLB Draft

Scott Bittle became the first Athletes in Action Alumn to be selected in the 2008 Major League Baseball draft when he was taken in the second round by the New York Yankees on Thursday and was joined by fellow AIA alumn Kirk Nieuwenhuis, who was drafted by the Mets in the third round.

Bittle was the 75th overall selection and highest AIA alumn taken since Josh Donaldson was selected by the Cubs as the No. 48 player in the supplemental first round in 2007. Nieuwenhuis was the No. 100 player taken overall and the 23rd pick in the third round by the Mets.

Bittle, who pitched for AIA’s Mineral Wells Steam in the Texas Collegiate League in the summer of 2006 and 2007, anchored the bullpen for Ole Miss this spring. The senior from Texarkana, Texas, notched eight saves with a 1.78 ERA while striking out 130 batters in 70.2 innings. Bittle was dominant for the Rebels in the post-season, striking out 12 of 13 batters faced in a 4.1 inning appearance against Missouri. Bittle also posted a 7-1 record in 2008 and limited hitters to a .145 batting average.

Bittle joined the Steam from Northeast Texas Community College in 2006 and made the TCL All-Star team as one of the team’s top pitchers. Bittle was limited but participated with the Steam again in 2007 and rejected a free agent contract from the Yankees before returning to Ole Miss for his senior campaign.

Bittle is the highest Mineral Wells Steam player to be drafted, surpassing Texas A&M’s Blake Stouffer and Mercer’s Cory Gearrin, who were both taken in the third round of last year’s draft.

Nieuwenhuis hit .400 over the course of his junior season at Azusa Pacific where he patrolled center field for the Cougars. The Highlands Ranch, Colo., native hit 15 homers and drove in 68 runs while helping the Cougars to a 46-12 record. Nieuwenhuis led the team with 84 runs scored and four triples and earned NAIA First Team All-American Honors.

Nieuwenhuis was the spark for the 2007 AIA Alaska Fire squad that captured the Alaska League Championship and earned league MVP honors after hitting .333 with four homers and four triples.

“I really had no idea who was going to pick me, or even if I would go the first day (of the 2-day draft),” Nieuwenhuis said on the Azusa Pacific Athletics website. “I had gotten calls from a lot of different teams, and I didn’t guess it would be the third round, but God is good, and it came earlier than I expected. I was ecstatic.

“Coming out of high school, everyone dreams of signing a professional contract for millions of dollars, but the biggest statement I want other prospective high school athletes to know is that I think I made the best decision of my life to go to Azusa Pacific. To go get a great Christian education while playing baseball at a highly competitive level, that’s something you can’t replace.”