Kevin Welch is the strength and conditioning coordinator for the Quad-Cities River Bandits, but his objective isn't to develop a dugout full of baseball players who can bench press 500 pounds.

"There's so much more to it than that," said Welch, a Walcott, Iowa, resident who is in his first season of work with the Cardinals organization.

His job does involve overseeing strength work - all River Bandits players lift two days each week during 2-hour morning sessions at a Davenport YMCA - but the majority of Welch's time is spent administering conditioning programs and providing nutritional information designed to help players pursue a healthy diet.

St. Louis designs the program used by each of its minor league clubs, and Welch's role is to oversee its implementation with players assigned to the Quad-Cities club.

The Cardinals were among the last handful of major league teams to add a strength and conditioning position to its staff at the Midwest League level, making it a full-time position before the 2008 season.

"It's the norm at this level now,'' River Bandits manager Steve Dillard said. "Times have changed. I remember in my first full year we didn't even have a trainer. It's a different game now, and in Kevin and (trainer Brian) Puchalski, we have two individuals who do a tremendous job working with our players.''

Welch was working on his masters' degree at Indiana State when he met his wife, Davenport West graduate and Sycamores softball pitcher Michelle Petersen.

The couple first moved to the Quad-City area in 1996, and Welch has worked with high school and college-age athletes since, including eight years as an assistant coach with softball programs at Butler, Loyola and Northern Illinois.

Since moving back to the area in 2005, he has worked in the strength and conditioning area with individuals at Heinsite Fitness Center in Durant, Iowa, and at the Spin Williams-run Spin Dogs baseball center in the Quad-Cities.

Welch was hired by St. Louis during the offseason after working in 2008 as the strength and conditioning coach with the Houston Astros' Class A affiliate at Salem, Va., on a staff headed by former River Bandits manager Jim Pankovits.

"I had always wanted to work in professional baseball, and since my playing days are over this is my chance,'' Welch said. "The staff here has been great to work with, and the players are committed. They have a serious approach to both their conditioning and the work we ask them to do in the weight room, and that has made my job easy. This group is professional in its approach.

"There was once a school of thought that baseball players didn't need to spend time in the weight room, but what we are looking to do is to provide strength in areas that benefit them at their positions.''

Most players signed out of college have at least some experience in the weight room, but Welch said it isn't uncommon for younger players to need an introduction to weight training.

Welch oversees the daily stretching that begins the River Bandits' team work before each game.

That is only a portion of the conditioning program that involves plenty of running and sprint work. Welch works with River Bandits pitching coach Ace Adams on programs tailored to the needs of pitchers.

"We spend a lot of time talking diet, too,'' Welch said. "We talk about eating healthy, and eating at times of the day when it is most beneficial to eat. With the hours these guys work, it's easy to grab fast food on the way home after a game, but that isn't the smart way to eat.''

One byproduct of being assigned to the Quad-City club this season is that Welch can spend more time at home with his wife and family.

"That's been great. Last year, I was able to get home for three days during the season. Now, I've had a chance to be home most of the summer and get to couple of my kids' games,'' Welch said.

"The 18-minute drive to the park is great. It lets me be dad and work at the same time, so I'm enjoying the best of both worlds right now.''

Around the Midwest League

Standing ovation

Quad-Cities was on the road when Arquimedes Nieto flirted with a no-hitter Saturday night, but the River Bandits right-hander received a standing ovation from a crowd of 5,002 at Cedar Rapids as he exited the field.

"It was deserved. He was great,'' Quad-Cities pitching coach Ace Adams said. "His best pitch is his change-up and he had that working the other day. When that's on, it only makes his fastball even more effective.''

Nieto took a no-hitter into the eighth inning before the Kernels' Angel Castillo deposited a two-run homer just inside the left-field foul pole at Veterans Memorial Stadium, the only blemish on an otherwise hit-free 71/3-inning outing.

Savoring the moment

After catching a ceremonial first pitch thrown by pro wrestling great Sgt. Slaughter prior to last Thursday's Quad-Cities game, River Bandits reliever Dave Carpenter paused for a quick snapshot on the field at Modern Woodmen Park with the guest of honor.

"That was outstanding,'' Carpenter said. "When I was a kid, he was the first action figure I ever had and I told him that he always won. He seemed to like that.''

Passing through

The list of major-league players spending rehab time with Midwest League clubs has grown in recent weeks. Reds first baseman Joey Votto spent time with Dayton and the Cubs assigned Reed Johnson and Aramis Ramirez to play for Peoria in holiday weekend games at Kane County and Peoria.

Chiefs manager Marty Pevey welcomed the major leaguers, telling the Peoria Journal-Star that his own team benefited simply by watching how Johnson and Ramirez went about their work from one day to the next.

"Even the way they took BP (batting practice), it is things that we've been harping on to these guys all year,'' Pevey said.

One for the books

Dayton's Byron Wiley tied a franchise record when he belted three homers Sunday in a game at West Michigan, but it wasn't enough.

The Dragons dropped a 20-11 decision to the Whitecaps, who set at least seven franchise records themselves in a game that saw West Michigan score 13 runs while sending 17 batters to the plate in the bottom of the first inning.

On deck this week

Quad-Cities River Bandits

Today-Friday

Opponent: Lansing Lugnuts

When: 7 p.m.

Where: Modern Woodmen Park

FYI: Today, Optimist Club Youth Night, Halloween in July, Rhythm City Guaranteed WINSDay and IH Mississippi Valley Credit Union Youth Night; Thursday, President Barack Obama bobblehead giveaway, Thirst-Day Thursday beverage discounts and Tribute to The Office; Friday, Gayle Sayers Appearance and postgame fireworks

Saturday-Monday

Opponent: Clinton LumberKings

When: Saturday-Sunday, 6 p.m.; Monday, 1 p.m.

Where: Modern Woodmen Park

FYI: Saturday, Steve Dillard bobblehead giveaway, Elvis Night and postgame concert by Elvis Himselvis; Sunday, Swiss Valley Farms River Bandits team poster giveaway, Tailz 'Er Waggin' Dog Days of Summer and US Bank Family Sunday; Monday, Summer Camp Day and Harry Potter Day

Clinton LumberKings

Today-Friday

Opponent: Dayton Dragons

When: 7 p.m.

Where: Alliant Energy Field, Clinton, Iowa

FYI: Today, McDonalds/Mediacom LumberKings baseball card strip giveaway No. 3 and kids eat free; Thursday, Thirsty Thursday beverage discounts; Friday, iWireless/WHBF LumberKings baseball cap giveaway and Turkey Leg Friday

Saturday-Monday

Opponent: Quad-Cities River Bandits

When: Saturday-Sunday, 6 p.m.; Monday, 1 p.m.

Where: Modern Woodmen Park, Davenport

By the numbers

4: Different jerseys worn by Cedar Rapids during their recent series with Quad-Cities, three of which were auctioned off - digital camouflage jerseys on Saturday, Hawkeye jerseys on Sunday and blue jerseys on Tuesday to benefit for MDA/ALS research. The Kernels even wore their actual home uniforms on Monday.

Around the horn

Peoria: Former Wisconsin pitcher Austin Bibens-Dirkx has joined the Chiefs. Bibens-Dirkx spent 2006 with the Timber Rattlers, but was signed by the Cubs as part of a series of moves that sent top prospect Josh Vitters and pitcher Chris Carpenter to high-A Daytona.

West Michigan: Swept Midwest League player and pitcher of the week honors. Third baseman Bryan Pounds was the player of the week after driving in six runs on three hits Sunday vs. Dayton, and right-hander Luke Putkonen earned pitching honors following a complete-game shutout of South Bend.

South Bend: Brad Wilson, a 33rd-round pick of the Diamondbacks, joined South Bend after going 1-0 in eight scoreless innings in five games with short-season Yakima. Wilson struck out 12 and walked one before being promoted.

Wisconsin: After just four games at short-season Helena, the Brewers have sent their first-round pick in 2009 to Wisconsin. Outfielder Peter Fatse was the 24th pick overall in last month's draft.

Just ask

Have a question pertaining to the Midwest League, the River Bandits or the LumberKings? Steve Batterson will find your answer.

You can email it to Steve at sbatterson@qctimes, snail mail it to him at Steve Batterson, Quad-City Times, P.O. Box 3828, Davenport IA 52801 or call him at (563) 383-2290