Call Ball: As promised, I called Atlantic City Surf manager Jeff Ball today. The former San Francisco Giant and I spoke for about 15 minutes, and the plan is still for him to return to the Surf in 2007.
However, and this is a big however, the Surf have granted him permission to pursue other opportunities in the Atlantic League and elsewhere if they were to arise.
With that said, at least one team has contacted him regarding an open Atlantic League managerial position. As for rumors that Ball wouldn't want to relocate to Newark, they aren't true. Ball has family in the area and his fiancee is also from the area, so that isn't a concern.
I personally think Newark would be a great fit for him. Ball has consistently shown he's one of the top skippers in the league, and I legitimately think a "turnaround" in Newark could springboard him to affiliated baseball.
However, Camden and York's positions are also open, so I'd be surprised if they didn't give him a look as well. - Mike Ashmore
Signed Baseball Contest: Have gotten a few e-mails about an issue with e-mail address for the contest. Just use mashmore@patriotsbaseball.com for now. I want to give these away, I swear!!!
St. Louis Named Most Dangerous City: The bad news for St. Louis was good for Camden, N.J., which in 2005 was named the most dangerous city for the second year in a row.
Camden Mayor Gwendolyn Faison said Sunday she was thrilled to learn that her city no longer topped the most-dangerous list.
"You made my day!" said Faison, who has served since 2000. "There's a new hope and a new spirit." - Mike Ashmore, Taken from the AP article
October 30, 2006
October 29, 2006
Off-Season Fluff: Nope, not even going to try to sugarcoat the purpose of this one.
Anyway, as someone who's seen a grand total of 239 Atlantic League games, I've got a lot of fond memories from my time covering the league. Rickey Henderson playing like Rickey Henderson during Joe Gannon's no-hitter, Lincoln Mikkelsen spinning a no-no of his own, any one of the dozens of Ryan Radmanovich bombs I've witnessed; all firmly etched into my mind.
But what's your favorite Atlantic League memory? What's the coolest thing you've ever seen at an Atlantic League game? As an example, there were a few triple plays in the AL this season, and I've still yet to see one of those in the roughly 350 games I've been to all over. Therefore, I'm envious of those who got to see one of them.
So, in order to use the comments section for what it's intended for (imagine that!) post your favorite AL moments.
Don't Forget: That you have until December 31st to register for your chance to win official Atlantic League baseballs signed by the 2006 Somerset Patriots. Fire off an e-mail to balls@mikeashmore.com with "Contest" in the subject, and you'll be entered into the contest.
I would loooooove to do this with other teams in the future, as it is our most popular contest and gets hundreds of entries each year we do it (this being the fourth season of the giveaway), so hopefully I can get some other teams on board for this contest for 2007. - Mike Ashmore
October 27, 2006
Not So Fast: While Surf officials expect Jeff Ball to return to the club when it debuts in the Can-Am League next season, don't be so sure about that.
As I said yesterday, I will contact the man himself to see what's really going on.
Bears Manager Search Narrows: The Newark Bears have narrowed their list of candidates for their new manager to a handful, and all have a common thread.
Previous managerial experience. Previous successful managerial experience, that is.
With that said, an announcement regarding the new skipper of the Bears is expected by the end of the year at the absolute very latest. - Mike Ashmore
October 26, 2006
Same Ball-Game in AC: As of now, Jeff Ball is expected to return to the Atlantic City Surf when they join the Can-Am League in 2007. I'll give the man himself a call in a few days once the dust settles, but that is the word out of Atlantic City.
I can also tell you the Surf believe strongly in the Can-Am League, and will have some sort of announcement in the next week or so regarding a new addition to the team. - Mike Ashmore
Scott's Take: I swear I didn't create a new post to take away from all the fun Surf talk you all were having yesterday -- you can still do it here.
I just wanted to mention something about the requiring of people to create user handles. This is nothing more than to create an identity for the many posters we have out there. Each day there were dozens of posts under anonymous and it's hard for people to tell who is posting what. You are still anonymous after you register -- no one will know who you are and we have no way of finding out. I honestly don't even care if you make up the information in the registration box. That's not why it is being done. I just want it to be a little more organized.
I'm so glad that there is this much discussion on the board so far this off-season. We've heard from numerous coaches, players and front office staff this off-season telling us how much they enjoy checking the site daily and I'm glad you do too. - Scott Stanchak
And thank you to all who keep clicking on the Google ad at the top of the page. It's definitely helping in getting more server space for an upgrade.
October 24-25, 2006
SURF LEAVING ATLANTIC LEAGUE: Straight from the press release...
DURHAM, NC-The Can-Am League and Atlantic League announced today that the Atlantic City Surf will be joining the Can-Am for the 2007 season. After nine years in the Atlantic League, Atlantic City will become the Can-Am's ninth member. The Can-Am League will add a road team as its 10th member.
"We discussed this move for a long time and are very excited to have Atlantic City in the Can-Am League," said Can-Am League Commissioner Miles Wolff. "They have a tremendous organization and are a great fit for us geographically."
Atlantic League CEO Frank Boulton also expressed his support for the switch. "Atlantic City has been a great member of our league, but the Can-Am schedule of Memorial Day to Labor Day makes sense for the summer population surge in Atlantic City." He added, "The great cooperation between our two leagues makes it all possible."
The Surf plays its home games at Bernie Robbins Stadium, as known as the "Sandcastle". This ballpark was funded by the Casino Reinvestment Development Authority(CRDA) and the city of Atlantic City and seats 5,900 guests, including 20 luxurious Castle Suites.
Atlantic City will join the Brockton Rox, Nashua Pride, New Haven County Cutters, North Shore Spirit, New Jersey Jackals, Quebec Capitales, Sussex Skyhawks and Worcester Tornadoes. The league will commence its 94-game schedule on May 24, 2007.
The York Revolution is the newest member of the Atlantic League and joins the Bridgeport Bluefish, Camden Riversharks, Lancaster Barnstormers, Long Island Ducks, Newark Bears, Road Warriors, And Somerset Patriots.
Other Notes: The Road Warriors will be returning next season, as is noted above. I am told there will be no changes on how the team is run, but am hoping to acquire the "specific set of rules" that teams use to acquire players from the team.
The perception around the league is that the Ducks are the only team that can use Road Warriors players, and I think acquiring the set of rules that teams need to abide by to acquire a Road Warrior would alleviate any confusion regarding that.
As for the Surf, I was told that a change in ownership had not been made yet...I'd assume that's imminent.
From the I told you so department, Southern Maryland is notoriously absent from the list of teams playing next year as well.
York, however, will be playing in 2007. However, they are expected to play the majority of their first half home games in Lancaster.
Announcement: In an effort to curtail things getting out of hand again, we are now requiring users to be registered to post comments on the website. For the majority of you, this won't be a problem because you already are. For those of you who aren't, follow the instructions about registering when attempting to post a comment.
I will also be more aggressive in deleting offensive postings in the future.
I will always encourage healthy discussion about the Atlantic League, POSITIVE OR NEGATIVE. If all you do is come on here and complain, as long as you do it constructively, that's fine. I WILL NOT have personal attacks between users of this board, and I will not have out-of-line personal comments made towards anyone associated with the league or its teams.
Not that I encourage it, but if you wanna say a player sucks or a team sucks, that's fine. Just avoid the personal stuff. - Mike Ashmore
October 20, 2006
Surf Decision Next Week: There is scheduled to be a board of directors meeting next week, after which the future of the Surf will be revealed. The league also expects to have their schedule ready and some sort of announcement regarding the status of the York Revolution for the first half of their "home" schedule.
The Can-Am League may be a part of this announcement, whether that's to establish a working relationship with the Atlantic League to basically replace the Road Warriors as the league's feeder system, or to announce that the Surf will be joining the league next season.
It is important to note that if the Surf were to join the Can-Am League in 2007, a road team would need to be established in that league, which Can-Am officials reportedly asked Surf ownership to fund during negotiations. Atlantic City brass supposedly refused to do this, and that's why we are where we are at the moment.
There is no such thing as a black and white "on the record" answer regarding the situation, no matter who I ask. Therefore, I can only go on what I've heard and what various sources have told me.
Whatever happens, however, an announcement is expected by the end of next week. When I know what's going on, you will too. - Mike Ashmore
October 19, 2006
Nine Things The Atlantic League Can Do To Improve: 2007 will mark the tenth season in Atlantic League history. The league has come a long way from the days where immortals like Craig Worthington put butts in the seats. But there are still many things the league could look into to further their lead as the best independent league in the country.
1) Put names on the backs of the jerseys
"Oh, I remember that guy" and "Didn't he used to play for" are not only things that the casual fan say about Atlantic League players, it's stuff I find myself saying frequently as well.
Nashua briefly had player names on the back of their home jerseys, and they looked great. They also let you know who was on the field without needing a roster at all times, and gave the one-time fan a better chance of associating a positive memory with a specific player and wanting to come back to see him play again.
2) Requiring each team has a radio deal, internet-only or not
There is absolutely no reason a professional baseball team should not have a radio guy. End of story. The Atlantic League is fortunate enough to have some very talented radio personalities such as Brian Bender, Jim Cerny, John Leon, Dave Collins and Chris King.
Patriots fans are lucky to have Ryan Dunleavy covering their team, as he's the only full-time beat writer in the league and does an excellent job of doing so. So whether you listen to the radio or read the paper, you're going to know what the Patriots are doing, and you're going to know a lot.
But if you like Bridgeport and Bridgeport's on the road...you're in trouble. Rich Elliott, who does a great job at the CT Post, usually only covers the team at Harbor Yard. Same with Camden, who get sporadic coverage from the Camden Courier-Post.
And if you like the Road Warriors...good freaking luck.
Making sure each team has a radio deal, or at least a signal available on the internet, gives your fans a way to connect with your team.
3) Acquire a National TV deal
Let's not be ridiculous with this one, you're not going to get a national network to broadcast all 140 games of your season. But the Frontier League, or at least one of their teams, has a deal with Fox Sports Net. The St. Paul Saints of the American Association have also had their games broadcast on FSN as well.
The Long Island Ducks would be considered AL pioneers if they were able to get a few games on FSNY. A deal like that could benefit the league as a whole, as you could likely sell FSN on the Atlantic League All-Star Game. This would also solve another problem...
4) If You're An All-Star, you're going.
It should be in the ever-popular standard AL contract that if you are chosen for the Atlantic League All-Star Game, you're playing in the Atlantic League All-Star Game.
And you can bet that if the game was televised, guys wouldn't be ducking out of the game.
When a quarter of the league is selected for the game, and a small percentage of that 25% doesn't show up, it only waters it down even further.
5) Update Your Website. Every Day. This Isn't My Job.
Some teams do an excellent job with keeping their fans updated through their websites. And some teams do a terrible job. No, wait...TERRIBLE.
If I find out a player signed with your team by seeing him on the field, that's a bad job by you. If you sign a player and don't add him to your roster, that's a bad job by you. If you release a player and don't take him off your roster, that's a bad job by you.
My personal favorite involves Joe Bigleaguer. When you sign Joe Bigleaguer, make a big deal out of it!!! Send out a press release, put it on your website, do something. Joe Bigleaguer signed with your team because he thinks you give him the best chance to get back to the bigs. If nobody knows he's there, not even the people who follow the team, you're doing the guy a big disservice (sic).
6) Let the fans in for free one day a year.
This has always been my suggestion for NBA and NHL teams hosting preseason games. Why am I paying regular season prices to see Joe Gettingcut, Bob Sucksalot and his buddies play?
The Atlantic League's dilemma is a different one. There are several teams with huge attendance problems, that's no secret. But if you let fans in totally free once a year, and promote the hell out of it, you might actually hook a few and boost your attendance long-term. And, if you pack the place, you could break theoretically break even or close to off of concessions.
A lot of what you'd get would be little kids; see Camp Days. As much as 6,000 screaming five-year-olds makes my job a nightmare, you should see the freaking lines at the concession stands. You can't even make it through the concourse without having a kid in heelie sneakers run into your kneecaps. Why do you think teams do Camp Days?
7) Utilize MySpace
The best free resource a team has, and the best free resource they never use. MySpace.com, for those of you unaware, is one of those friend/networking sites popular among teens and college age folks such as myself.
It's free.
In theory, a team could create a free page. Using the site's search engine, there are literally thousands of potential butts you could put in your seats out there, and you can search for them based on location. If you were the Somerset Patriots, for example, you could send a friend request to everyone within 25 miles of Bridgewater, then offer them a ticket discount to a game or a discount on concessions or something like that. Teams could compete for who has the most friends, you could have exclusive downloads and such on your page, etc.
And again, it's free. Teams should view it as a supplement to their standard webpages, not their main site.
8) Atlantic League Fantasy Baseball
Would this not be a hell of a lot of fun? Would I not take Ryan Radmanovich with my first pick? The AL needs to make this happen.
9) Player Salaries
This one is two-fold. First off, instead of this terminology about a salary cap or salary guidelines, why doesn't the league just say what the maximum player salary can be. And if there is, what is it?
Secondly, it's about time the Atlantic League start offering a little bit more money to their players. Some players still play for under $1,000 a month, which just isn't going to get it done when it comes to trying to support yourself or especially a family. Why do you think so many players are trying to catch on with baseball academies? To supplement their AL income. - Mike Ashmore
Scott's Take: Mike did a great job with all his suggestions. The only one I would add, and maybe this is because I'm media, is an all-time record book. It would feature all-time roster lists, stats, records, team info and more. What a better time than for their 10th season? In fact, Mike and I have thought about putting something together, but it was just a light conversation. - Scott Stanchak
October 18, 2006
Comments: Frank Boulton did not post any comments on our website yesterday. Although I would welcome him to do so at any time he wished, the first comment regarding my opinion on the Dowd move was not his, nor were any of the comments posted.
I apologize to him for the actions of those on this board, and encourage others to do so as well.
Secondly, the comments have gotten out of hand lately. Not just things directed at Mr. Boulton, who did not at all deserve anything he got from some of you by the way, but the in-fighting between regular readers of the site.
The comments section of the site has been one of the best ideas Scott's ever had, and I would hate to see it be modified because people can't control themselves or conduct themselves the way they would if the conversation were happening face to face.
To specifically address the first comment that many thought was Boulton's, but again wasn't...if Dowd was truly that bad at what he did, he absolutely would not have been hired by an affiliated baseball team in any role, no less the role of GM.
I have the benefit of also covering the Eastern League, which Dowd's new team is a member of, and people don't screw around there. While I only had limited interaction with Charlie, I thought he did a good job during his tenure with the Bluefish and wish him the best of luck with Connecticut.
Dowd and Mr. Cunningham were both integral parts of the Bluefish's success, and it didn't sit well with many people that both were let go, especially the way one of them was let go.
Doesn't it seem weird to anyone else that someone who just got fired from an independent league team was just able to secure the exact same position in the far more prestigious world of affiliated ball? The guy gets fired, but then moves up in the baseball world. That is, and always was my point.
To make it as simple as possible, here goes: You ask anyone whether they'd want to be the GM of the Bridgeport Bluefish or the Connecticut Defenders, and the answer is an obvious one. - Mike Ashmore
As For All Things Baseball:
Baseball America's 2006 All-Independent Leagues Team
Pos. Player, Team (League)
C Marcus Jensen, Reno (Golden)
1B Jesse Hoorelbeke, Fargo-Moorhead (Northern)
2B Alex Llanos, (American Association)
3B Eddie Lantigua, Quebec (Can-Am)
SS Stubby Clapp, Edmonton (Northern)
OF Ian Church, Kalamazoo (Frontier)
OF Ryan Radmanovich, Somerset (Atlantic)
OF Joe Mathis, Fargo-Moorhead (Northern)
DH Peanut Williams, Fullerton (Golden)
Pos. Pitcher, Team (League)
SP Lindsay Gulin, Lincoln (American Association)
SP Lincoln Mikkelsen, Atlantic City (Atlantic)
SP Kurt Hartfelder, Chillicothe (Frontier)
SP Bryan Morse, North Shore (Can-Am)
RP Tony Pierce, Pensacola (American Association)
Second Team: C—Craig Kuzmic, Chico (Golden). 1B—Pichi Balet, Lincoln (American Association). 2B—John Anderson, San Angelo (United). 3B—Joe Jianneti, Atlantic City (Atlantic). OF—Chad Hermansen, Sioux Falls (American Association); Fehlandt Lenti, Winnipeg (Northern) and Reggie Taylor, Lancaster (Atlantic). DH—Jeremy Todd, Lancaster (Atlantic). SP—Denny Harriger, Lancaster (Atlantic); Tony Casoli (Frontier); Junior Guerrero (Can-Am) and Andre Simpson, Long Beach (Golden). RP—Edwar Ramirez, Edinburg (United).
October 17, 2006
Dowd Named GM Of Connecticut Defenders: According to Rich Elliott of The Connecticut Post, who's been absolutely all over the front office missteps of the Bridgeport Bluefish this season, the Double-A Connecticut Defenders are set to announce Charlie Dowd will be their next General Manager.
When a front office member in the Atlantic League is fired, then named GM of an affiliated team, what does that mean?
It means the Atlantic League team screwed up. - Mike Ashmore
October 13, 2006
Bears Making Tracks: I'm a few days away from using "Do Bears s--- in the woods" as my headline, so hopefully I don't stop running out of bad puns.
I can't put his name in lights, but I can put his name in bold, as I spoke to Newark Bears assistant GM Jim Cerny about the team's open managerial position.
Cerny confirmed that the tean has spoken to "several" candidates, including those with and without ties to the Atlantic League. While people have speculated on bigger names fresh out of affiliated baseball, Cerny indicated it would be difficult to attract candidates such as those, but not impossible. Those a few years removed from affiliated ball would be the most likely candidates on that side of the ball, it seems.
The team hopes that by the end of next week, several of the candidates will be meeting in person with club officials in order to narrow down the search for the next Bears manager. Seems like a great idea for a reality show, by the way.
Regarding the coaching staff, it could be the same next year. Then again, it could be different. Both Pete Filson and Victor Torres remain with the team, but a new manager may wish to make different choices.
On a side note, Cerny and the Bears clearly get it. You'd be amazed how difficult it is how difficult it is to get people to work with you sometimes in the Atlantic League, and Jim is always someone who has helped both Scott and myself whenever we needed anything. The same can be said for John Brandt. - Mike Ashmore
Ducks Front Office Swap: From their press release...
The Long Island Ducks, members of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball, today announced that general manager Michael Hirsch has resigned to pursue career opportunities outside the sports industry. The team also announced the elevation of assistant general manager Michael Pfaff to interim general manager and the appointment of Doug Cohen to the position of assistant general manager/Senior VP of Sales.
--
Mike Pfaff is someone else who has also been very helpful to both Scott and myself throughout our time covering the league, even coming on Scott's radio show during a week I co-hosted. Congratulations to him on being named interim GM, hopefully a move that becomes permanent in the very near future. - Mike Ashmore
Hello, Key Quote. Good To See You There: From the York Revolution press release...
"Construction on the 5,300+ seat stadium is currently underway and is scheduled to be completed in July 2007."
So, if the season starts in April and the stadium won't be ready until July, I could certainly envision a scenario in which these are guys are the Road Warriors in Revolution uniforms for quite a while. Kind of a disaster for schedule-makers as well, since how do you know when to schedule home games for these guys. - Mike Ashmore
October 11, 2006
Cory Lidle Killed In Plane Crash: Cory Lidle, brother of former Somerset Patriots and Bridgeport Bluefish utility player Kevin Lidle, was killed when the plane he was piloting crashed into a building in New York City. 72nd Street and York Ave. was the site of the crash.
Road Warriors - Part Deux: This is the exact version that is set to run in the paper tonight/tomorrow. I simply didn't have time to write two separate versions this time.
I have a TON of stuff I didn't use, so I think I'll put together some supplemental online stuff later on this month to accompany the Road Warriors pieces.
I think this one was a little too short for my liking, but it's actually about 400 words more than what my paper usually allows me to do...
Enjoy.
------------
If independent baseball truly is the lowest rung of the baseball ladder, playing for the only traveling team in all of baseball must put you near the crust of the earth, right?
Not so fast.
The aptly named Road Warriors are one of eight teams in the independent Atlantic League and have been in existence since 2002. Created in order to give the league an even amount of teams and keep the schedule even, the playing field was far from even for the bus-bound squad.
When Lancaster joined the Atlantic League in 2005, the Road Warriors were dissolved and eight teams had a home for the first time in league history. But once Nashua left after the season, the team was revived and the bus was re-fueled.
Viewed as a developmental team -- essentially a minor league feeder team to the other seven teams in the league -- the team has never been anything short of awful. Early in the team's inception, calling them awful might have been an insult to all awful teams everywhere.
In fact, in 2004, they lost more games in that season (103), then they'd won in the past three seasons combined (87). All in all, the team went 87-289 from 2002 to 2004.
Accepting your fate as an independent league player is one thing, playing all 126 games on the road is completely different.
So what's it like to be a Road Warrior?
What's life like on the road?
How bad is it?
As I was about to find out, it's not bad at all.
After my "tryout" with the team, my day as a Road Warrior was far from over.
I was the first to board a blue, 56 seat bus after "our" loss to the Patriots. It was a sweet ride, perhaps sweeter than the team was used to.
"They don't usually ride with this kind of creature comfort," says Richard, our driver for the evening. "The only reason I was able to grab this bus was because the other one hadn't been fueled up."
It was the players who needed to fuel up after the game, with the bus stopping at McDonald's just a few minutes into our trip.
The dollar menu is a God-send for players in the Atlantic League, but especially the Road Warriors. Players on the team make little more than $1,000 a month for their efforts.
"You use whatever you've got saved up from the off-season," said Sheldon Fulse, one year removed from a five-figure salary as a Red Sox minor leaguer.
How Many Road Warriors Does It Take To Change A DVD?
Once the contents of the dollar menu are cleaned out at McDonald's, the bus re-starts. The entertainment does not...well, sort of.
Pitcher Elvin Nina attempts to put "Passion of the Christ" into the DVD player, but confusion runs wild as the movie is re-started three separate times.
"You need an instruction manual?" Fulse asked sarcastically.
But there was entertainment to be had. With the Spanish players primarily in the back of the bus, some of them started singing in unison, loud enough to be heard throughout the bus. Some players enjoyed it, while one pointed to his headphones and told me what a necessity they are.
Am I really a Road Warrior? No. But I did stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night.
The bus pulled into the hotel at 1:20 AM, and trainer Erin Hughes handed out the room keys. Former infielder Nick Ortiz' name was comically misspelled, his name turned into something not suitable for a family paper.
The players all carry their own luggage in, even former big leaguer Benito Baez, who pitched for the Florida Marlins several years ago. The Marlins and every other big league team have people who will carry players luggage for them.
"It's more humbling than it is anything else," Baez said.
Baez, who moved from the Dominican in 1997 and now lives in Michigan, speaks nearly flawless English. He also bears a slight, yet still unfortunate resemblance to comedian Wayne Brady.
But the Road Warriors best pitcher, who refuted an attempt by the Ducks to claim him earlier in the season, turns serious when it comes to the likely reason he's in the Atlantic League.
January 26th, 2003, he says, was the day of his Tommy John Surgery. It was also the day he decided on a life after baseball, a life that will involve becoming a missionary.
"It's not religion," Baez said, sitting on top of his teal Marlins equipment bag. "It's about having a relationship with Jesus."
Strong relationships are crucial to surviving a 126 game season on the road, and during my unsuccessful attempt to find a vending machine in the hotel lobby at 2:30 AM, Ortiz and pitcher Melvin Pizarro are sharing a computer and keeping in touch with family.
Eventually, I get to sleep, and presumably the players do as well. However, at 8:45 AM I find myself eating the hotel's complimentary breakfast by myself. There are no players to be found. A few of them start staggering in later, and I find out that only the hotel in Bridgeport doesn't offer a complimentary breakfast. Bridgeport is also one of two visiting clubhouses that don't have a television.
The other is the one manager Jeff Scott and I drove to after breakfast, Long Island's Citibank Park. Scott and I take a rented equipment van, carrying the players bags. Seemingly every Major League logo can be found on these bags, from Teuris Olivares' Yankees bag to Baez and his Marlins bag.
But one bag gets my attention for all the wrong reasons.
While helping Scott, I attempt to lift outfielder Jason Bryan's bag. It moves about an inch and my back instantly regrets attempting the move. Bryan, whose biceps you could comfortably display a movie on, brings his weights with him wherever he goes.
For Scott, who served as the Ducks pitching coach in 2005, the trip to Long Island is a familiar one.
"It's fun to come here and play," he said. "You know there's going to be big crowds and they do a good job. They take care of us here, they go out of their way to make us comfortable."
I took the bus, stayed at the hotel and carried the bags. My day as a Road Warrior has come to an end.
On the train ride home from Central Islip, I reach into my bag and put my Road Warriors shirt on. Several minutes later, the group of women in their 20's and 30's across from me offer me an adult beverage.
So, what's it like to be a Road Warrior?
It's not bad at all. - Mike Ashmore
October 10, 2006
Sharks & Skipper Park: The Camden Riversharks and manager Wayne Krenchicki, along with pitching coach Steve Foucault have all parted ways. Both had been with the team since it's first season in 2001.
Could this mean that a reuniting with former Sharks G.M. John Brandt? His new club, the Newark Bears, are looking for a new coaching staff. - Scott Stanchak
October 9, 2006
Surf To Stay?: The Atlantic City Surf have a good chance of staying in the Atlantic League for the 2007 season, at least according to a source.
The Surf and Mark Schuster apparently went to the Can-Am League on the notion that they would welcome the club with open arms since a team was probably leaving. That club ended up deciding to stay and now if the Surf go to the Can-Am, they are being "held hostage by the league." The Surf would give the Can-Am League an odd number of teams, so they are being told, if they want in, they must fund a Road Warriors-type team.
You can't tell me that the Surf, who are about two years away from a possible new stadium, would make more money funding another club, as well as their own, rather than staying in the Atlantic League. - Scott Stanchak
October 7, 2006
Ashmore Hands Out The Hardware: Head on over to MikeAshmore.com to find out who won the coveted Ashmore Awards on the Somerset Patriots.
Who wins the inaugural Ashmore Award for the team's Good Guy? Who's Mike's MVP? His Sparky Lyle Award winner?
Read to find out. - Mike Ashmore
October 6, 2006
I've Got Balls: And you can too. In conjunction with a contest slated to run in the October 12th edition of the Hunterdon County Democrat, atlanticleaguebaseball.com is set to start our most popular contest.
For the fourth consecutive season, we're proud to have some Somerset Patriots team-signed baseballs to give away, signed by more than 20 members of the team. Sparky Lyle, Ryan Radmanovich, Jeff Nettles and all your favorites are on there.
To enter, all you have to do is send an e-mail to balls@mikeashmore.com with "Contest" in the subject. - Mike Ashmore
October 5, 2006
Bear Trap: Jeff Ball might not be available to the Bears because the Surf might not be available to the Can-Am League. The latest indications are that Atlantic City may actually be staying in the league after all, and Ball would likely stay with the team if that were the case.
The logical progression would take you then to Wayne Krenchicki, but I will again reiterate that the Bears have not contacted anyone regarding the position yet. Honestly, it almost seems too obvious for it to happen, if that makes any sense.
It will also be curious to see how the dominoes fall in Camden, I'd assume Brad Strauss might be under some consideration for the position, but he also maintains a role in the front office as well, so I'm not sure he'd be willing to manage.
Fans around the league seem to want some new blood -- some names that aren't associated with the AL -- to be considered for these spots. That all depends on what you have in house, I think. Someone brought up Terry McGriff's name, and I think that would be an excellent choice...talk about a guy who's paid his dues.
But, also keep in mind that as silly as it sounds, having a big name at the manager position helps a LOT. Looking at it strictly from a marketing standpoint, having Sparky Lyle at the helm of the Patriots has been very beneficial for Somerset. If the Bears were able to get someone of Lyle's stature to manage the team -- and I think Joe Torre's occasional appearances with the team should not be overlooked from a connections standpoint -- it might be the best thing the franchise has done in years.
As an example, and this is absolutely just throwing names out there and nothing else...but can you imagine the publicity and interest in seeing Jose and Ozzie Canseco coaching the Bears? It would be an unqualified circus, sure...but it would generate an incredible amount of national interest in the team. Now, granted, that *cough* John Rocker *cough* doesn't always work out for the best, because they have to be able to perform as well.
If the Canseco's packed the house but Newark still finished last in their division, I don't think you could call that a success.
My point is, is that I'll be really curious to see how each team approaches their new hires. Will the Bears go with someone like Chick...a guy with a proven track record in the AL? Or will they bring in a big name, possibly a Yankee.
Will Camden look at someone like Terry McGriff, an "AL lifer" who's well-respected around the league, or will they bring in a former Phillie to lead the team.
And...well, nobody knows what York will do. However, if Jeff Scott wanted a position with the team, I'd love to see that happen. Ryan Minor's name has been thrown around a lot, but I continue to think he'll be in Maryland in 2008 and wouldn't manage a team for just one year.
However, if Lancaster's position opens up, as many suspect it might (including Jason Guarente of The Lancaster New Era) Minor's been rumored for that position as well. Certainly doesn't suck to be Ryan Minor right now, I will say that.
Doesn't suck to be an Atlantic League fan now, either. Looks like we're in line for eight home teams, a 140 game schedule and the most interesting off-season in league history. - Mike Ashmore
Stay tuned for our yearly contest for a Somerset Patriots team signed baseball...coming real soon to ALB.com
October 4, 2006
Bears Manager Search: The search for a new Newark Bears manager is on. I spoke to Bears Assistant GM Jim Cerny a little while ago, and he said that the team has not spoken to anyone yet regarding the position - despite what has been rumored to have happened.
The team is putting an emphasis on past coaching or managerial experience, and intends to talk to candidates from the Atlantic League, affiliated ball and independent ball.
The Bears did not contact any manager who was under contract during the season, and did not contact anyone while their own manager, Chris Jones, was under contract, although it was widely assumed that he'd be on his way out after the 2006 season.
Wayne Krenchicki would be an interesting choice for the team, as would Jeff Ball if he became available. However, the team hasn't contacted either and is compiling a list of candidates they'll consider for the position. I would assume that both would be on the list, however nobody is sure of Ball's status or the status of the Surf in the Atlantic League, so his name is only pure speculation at this point, as is Krenchicki's for that matter.
No idea when any sort of announcement will come from the Bears, but I'll keep working on this one. - Mike Ashmore
October 3, 2006
Bears And Jones Part Ways: To the surprise of no one, the Newark Bears announced today that they've parted ways with manager Chris Jones.
Jones had reportedly been on the way out since the second month of the season, and rumors were strong that Newark had been courting another current coach or manager to replace him, a move that the door is certainly open for based on current circumstances.
One former Bear told me that the team stopped playing for Jones after he was critical of some players in front of others, and it was reflected on the field.
Another former Bear appears to be the team's first choice for manager, but only time will tell whether he'll accept. No word on the fate of the rest of the coaching staff. - Mike Ashmore
October 2, 2006
Barnstormers Are The 2006 Champions: Congratulations to the Lancaster Barnstormers for winning their first championship in only their second season. Here's the press release:
It was a special night at Clipper Magazine Stadium, but above all, the night belonged to Denny Harriger.
It was rough at the beginning, but with some help from his infield in the early innings, the Barnstormers’ All-Star starter settled down and pitched Lancaster to the Atlantic League pennant with a 5-2 win over the Bridgeport Bluefish in front of 6,558 screaming fans at Clipper Magazine Stadium.
Harriger went the distance for the fifth time in 2006, holding the Bluefish to nine hits. He walked one and struck out five in the route going performance. But, it was a struggle early.
The veteran right-hander walked Bryant Nelson on five pitches to start the game, then needed a terrific double play started by third baseman Jose Ortiz to get him out of trouble before P.J. Rose drilled a double into the right center field alley.
Playoff MVP Jeremy Todd banged a two-out double to left center in the bottom of the first and rode home on a single to right by Ortiz for an early 1-0 lead.
Lancaster used three homers off T.J. Mathews (1-1) to the picnic deck in right in the third inning to produce all of its remaining offense. Lance Burkhart knocked a fly ball into the canopy to a 2-0 lead. Reggie Taylor followed with a line drive into the picnic pavilion. After Jason Bowers singled and moved to second on a passed ball, Todd smoked the third homer of the inning for a 5-0 lead.
For the second straight night, Bridgeport’s deep and experienced bullpen shut down the Barnstormers attack. Harriger was a rock with the lead and would not allow the Bluefish to wipe out the lead.
Bridgeport did answer with solo homers by Willis Otanez and Steve Hine in the fourth. Harriger, as was his tendency during the regular season and certainly into the playoffs, got tougher. He allowed two singles in the fifth but struck out the always-dangerous Otanez to get out of the threat. From there, the Bluefish never put a runner into scoring position again as Harriger set down 13 of the final 15 batters he faced.
He struck out pinch hitter Tony Mota looking for the final out. Lancaster had its pennant. Clipper Magazine Stadium erupted into pandemonium. And Harriger had his ride on the shoulder of his teammates, the club he had bolstered all year. It was a fitting end to an incredible run, both for Harriger and for the Barnstormers.
Re-Traded: Change around a few letters and...well, you get it.
American Association
LINCOLN SALTDOGS-Acquired INF Luis Lopez from Camden to complete an earlier trade.
PENSACOLA PELICANS-Acquired RHP Tony Pierce from Atlantic City to complete an earlier trade.
SHREVEPORT SPORTS-Acquired INF Enohel Polanco from Atlantic City to complete an earlier trade.
Can-Am League
BROCKTON ROX-Traded INF Jeff LaRue to Long Beach to complete an earlier trade.
NASHUA PRIDE-Acquired C Tommy Rojas and INF Elliot Ayala from Somerset to complete an earlier trade. Acquired RHP Josh Stevens from Lancaster to complete an earlier trade. - MA
October 1, 2006
Game Two Bluefish PR: The second game of the 2006 Atlantic League Championship series began much like the first: with a Lancaster Barnstormer barrage. The visitors erupted for eight runs in the first two innings off Bluefish starter Mike Porzio.
Unlike Friday night, the hometown Blues fought back. The ‘Fish firemen shut down the ‘Stormers over the next 5 innings, while the “o” broke out their own sticks. After Bryant Nelson scored in the first via a Willis Otanez safety, Damian Rolls and Norm Hutchins notched runs in the fifth. Three Park City Blues scores in the sixth made the count 8-6. The rally was sparked by a monster bases-clearing triple from Rolls.
But despite the offensive thrust of the home nine, they fell just short in a 4-hour, 43-minute, 12-inning marathon as Lancaster eked out a 9-8 win to go up 2-0 in the best-of-five series.
The Bluefish squandered an excellent opportunity in the sixth, leaving the sacks juiced with no runs to show for the effort.
Yet the goose eggs piled up in the upper half of the scoreboard at the Ballpark at Harbor Yard, as Matt Beech, Matt Anderson and Jason Simontacchi kept the Barnstormers at bay through the eighth.
P. J. Rose led off the home eighth with his fourth single of the night. After Barry Wesson was hit by a pitch, Steve Hine moved both runners over with a nifty sacrifice bunt. Centerfielder Norm Hutchins came to bat and smacked a 1-1 pitch right at first baseman Jeremy Todd … and the horsehide took an erratic hop and skipped out to right field for a single and two ribbies, tying the game.
Jimmy Journell came in to set down the Pennsy squad in the ninth, but the ‘Fish bats couldn’t finish it in regular frames, as Angel Espada hit into a twin killing that ended the ninth.
The Bluefish were robbed of the gamer in the bottom of the 11th as Deivi Cruz, with Norm Hutchins on second base, launched a blue darter seemingly over the head of Reggie Taylor in center field, only to have him snag the ball in a game-saving over-the-shoulder catch.
After being shut down for nine innings, the Barnstormers finally put the deciding run on the board in the top of the 12th when Norm Hutchins couldn’t hold onto a two-out fly ball from the bat of Eric Crozier, enabling Jeremy Todd to score from first. A Willis Otanez single and Angel Espada sacrifice couldn’t revive the ‘Fish as Steve Hine struck out to end the game.
The Bluefish outhit the opposition 20-15, but stranded 16 in a losing effort. Jimmy Journell suffered the hard-luck loss.
The teams now travel to Lancaster, where the Barnstormers need win only one of three to capture their first Atlantic League crown.
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