vs SOMERSET PATRIOTS
Brian Reith (2-3, 2.17 ERA) vs.
Josh Stevens (4-1, 1.28 ERA)
The Barnstormers end their 11-game homestand against Somerset. Stevens is the league leader in ERA. He has pitched back-to-back complete game shutouts and hasn’t allowed an earned run in 23 2/3 innings. Reith, who pitched in the big leagues with the Reds, is Somerset’s ERA leader.
Pre-game notes …
– Catcher Manny Santana was traded to Somerset.
– Chris Van Rossum’s suspension was reduced to two games.
Lineups …
Somerset (17-15) ………………… Lancaster (13-18)
Danny Garcia, 2B …………………..Quincy Foster, LF
Teuris Olivares, SS …………………Danny Gonzalez, SS
Mike Lockwood, CF …………………Jeremy Todd, 1B
Jeff Nettles, 3B ………………………Dominick Ambrosini, RF
Josh Pressley, 1B …………………..Lance Burkhart, C
Alan Zinter, RF ………………………Jutt Hileman, CF
Todd Leathers, DH ………………….Mike Woods, DH
Travis Anderson, C …………………Steve Van Note, 3B
Elliott Ayala, LF ……………………..Bo Hart, 2B
Scoring summary …
FINAL: Patriots 13, Barnstormers 7
Patriots 5th: Anderson’s double scores Leathers. Garcia’s home run scores Anderson.
Stormers 6th: Gonzalez hits solo home run. Hileman’s walk scores Todd. Woods’ walk scores Ambrosini. Van Note’s single scores Burkhart and Hileman. Foster’s single scores Woods and Van Note.
Patriots 7th: Lockwood’s home run scores Olivares. Zinter’s home run scores Nettles and Pressley.
Patriots 8th: Olivares’ sacrifice fly scores Ayala. Nettles’ home run scores Garcia and Lockwood. Pressley hits solo home run.
RECORD: 13-19
PLAYER OF THE GAME: Jeff Nettles (3-for-5, three RBIs and two runs scored). Somerset’s third baseman leads the league with 12 homers and 34 RBIs.
WHAT WENT RIGHT: Danny Gonzalez hit his sixth homer in a seven-run rally in the sixth inning that gave the Barnstormers a momentary 7-3 lead.
*It was a successful homestand. The Barnstormers went 7-4.
“We’re happy because it seems like the team is coming together and everybody is doing their job,” Gonzalez said. “We won a couple of games and it seems like we’re back on track even though we lost today.”
WHAT WENT WRONG: James Lira fell apart. The former closer allowed seven runs, walked four and surrendered three homers in 1 1/3 innings. Lira entered the game with the Barnstormers leading 7-5. When he left, they were losing 13-7.
“He just didn’t locate his pitches and they hammered them,” manager Frank Klebe said.
*Lira had a closed-door meeting with Klebe following the game. The reliever’s future with the team is in doubt. According to the manager, Lira is considering leaving Lancaster to play closer to home in Texas.
“A lot of it’s up to him,” Klebe said. “I want to help the kid out. If he wants to retire from us and go play close to home … I have to call Adam (Gladstone) about that. I can’t give a guy his outright release who we thought was going to have value here.”
*Will Lira travel with the team to Newark?
“I need an arm, so I’m hoping he makes the trip,” Klebe said. “I’m looking for that. I can’t abuse two or three guys in the bullpen every night.”
*Starter Josh Stevens had his streak of 27 2/3 scoreless innings snapped when Somerset scored three times in the fifth. The righthander allowed six runs in 6 2/3 innings as his ERA rose to 2.20.
*Catcher Manny Santana was traded to Somerset. Catcher Jeremy Deitrick retired.
*The Barnstormers lost two of three to Somerset and fell a season-high six games behind first-place Camden. The dreams of contending are fading fast.
“This was a tough loss,” manager Frank Klebe said. “Everybody is kind of down tonight. But you can’t over-dramatize one loss. We’ve got to forget about this.”
*As they move past the halfway point of the first half, the Barnstormers are six games under .500 — even though they’ve played 23 of their 32 games at home. They should spend the next 31 games trying to upgrade the roster for a second-half push.
I hope Josh is up to winning tonight if we are going to have a chance here in the 1st half…we sure need it.
all right ..nice 1st out..
All Right..Josh got them out..I feel he’ll get in his usual groove…now let’s hear from the Bats…
What’s with Quincy ..he used to hit some Homers…Gee
Come on Dom ..get a hit..
ah damn
what’s wrong with Jeremy? running to the dugout on a hit? wasted a possible big inning. This is my last post tonight since no one else is talking. I’ll be listening tho.
I don’t know how this could have happened…Todd really messed up.
Sorry Pitchfork. I was reading your posts. I just digesting the York stadium situation and attendance issues in Lancaster. Plus, the whole ODP thing bothers me. Hey Jason, would you do some investigative reporting and find out how much BASA is paid by ODP and how they are paid?
The Barnstormers are playing under protest. They are arguing — apparently — that Todd touched second base and it shouldn’t have been a force play, which means the run should count.
Hahahaha. That’s hilarious. Who can they appeal to? Obviously the umps are overmatched since they are operated by BASA…. so who else? Frank? Peter Kirk? Steve Kalafer? So sad this league has become. I can’t wait until the Phillies triple-A team moves to Allentown.
I have a feeling since Jeremy wasn’t arguing that he didn’t. To be honest, I really don’t think anybody knows, even the umps, except for Jeremy.
Crap, there goes the streak.
Stevens’ streak ended at 27 2/3 scoreless innings.
No matter what happens, that’s still a heck of an accomplishment.
We are having trouble with pitchers named Brian.
Dave, thanks for the information on a protest game. Has there every been a game in the AL replayed due to a protest won?
Put one out JT.
Ok Dominick, you hit one out.
Where’s dad?
Shades of Burt Hooton!
Jason, you weren’t singing. If we win the game can Frank remove the protest?
Dave, I feel along game and Tom nots here.
if the Barnstormers win, the protest is a mute point, no need to protest.
30 minutes have passed since the last out.
Hey everyone, I am going to the airport to pick up my son, sorry I’m not there, but I’m listening.
Go Stormers…..
Tom
Come on. Grand Slam.
Josh probably feels like this is his second start.
I feel another complete game for Josh. Go for it #30.
Crap, I jinxed him.
Where’s everyone at or is the blog under protest too.
I think they should wear the Sunday reds on the road. Couldn’t hurt.
They could wear the throwback uniforms on the road. Those throwback uniforms from the 2006 Championship year. Maybe that will bring them luck.
If you stayed for this whole game, you get a free Dave Collins bobblehead!
I may be a walking bobblehead. Got whiplash from the quick turnaround in the game.
Speechless! I just can’t believe it.
ugh
That about sums it up.
The glass is half full….Jason, I appreciated your line referring to Josh Stevens. After his worst outing “as his ERA rose to 2.20,” (in a year of mostly disappointing news) I will take a pitcher whose ERA is still way under 3.00. The fellow bloggers optimism has infected me. Hang in there Barnstormers
By the way Jason, why did Ambrosini bat fourth and Jutt sixth. Klebe stuck with the old batting lineup through such terrible times,. Why drop Hileman down for Ambrosini? Just because Dom hit one home run last night? I think Jutt is our best number four guy on the team. Ambrosini has not even hit his way into the lineup yet.
And why drop Van Note to eighth?? He actually has been one of the steadier hitters over the last half of the year. I am now believing in your comments of leaving the lineup constant instead of changing it EVERY night.
KALAMAZOO KINGS-Agreed to terms with 1B Robert Moron
It has absolutely nothing to do with anything, but perhaps that will take everyone’s mind off of the recent series…
Thanks Mike. What can I say. Fustrating times. Where do I sign up for the bobblehead or better yet, an autograph picture of Bosco would do.
BTW, can Bosco pitch. I don’t know how many of these up and down, and down games I can take. I have come to the realization that in this league you need good pitchers.
James’s head did not look like it was in the game at all, AND the glass IS still HALF full, but the glass is getting bigger.
A very long night in this home. But that’s nothing we will discuss here… at this time.
Jason, made you (lancasteronline.com) my official home page so you’ll get plenty more hits.
Still speechless… in Willow Street
WOW, I’m glad I wasn’t involved in this mega depressive think tank/ok blog, last night. Sounds like it was a tough one! I was busy watching Schilling loose a no-hitter in the ninth.
PS. Little B Jr. Sorry I missed your game last night! Dad was busy, but hey your birthday is coming up I promise I’ll cancel all my meetings that day!
Facing a righthanded pitcher at the Clip, Ambrosini is probably the best cleanup option the Barnstormers have. You could make a case that he’s the second-best hitter on the team. He batted .317 in this league last season.
Here’s the problem: Ambrosini had no spring training. Then once he got settled in, he was benched for five out of six games (in a great lefty hitters ballpark). When you play once in a week, it screws up your timing as a hitter.
The way Ambrosini has been used is baffling, but that’s how this team has been run through 32 games of the season. That’s one reason it only has 13 wins.
One other thing: Lira was hung out to dry last night. It was obvious he had nothing and he was allowed to walk four hitters and surrender three home runs before anyone was warming up in the bullpen.
Thanks for answering my questions. You seemed to have a lot better handle of things going on. I have wondered about the managing too. I realized the Barnstormers first year that good pitching really is the key to winning in this league.
And I have always wondered why in a close game that we dont have a second arm ready just in case we need one quickly. But I guess that is the manager doesnt want to tire out other pitchers if they are needed the next day. We have for 3 years never seem to be ready in the bullpen like I expected.
It was 8-7 in the eighth inning when Lira was on the mound. He walked three guys and gave up a sacrifice fly before Nettles came to the plate.
STILL no one was warming up. Nettles homered, Pressley homered and Lira somehow was left in to finish the inning.
What could the reasoning be for them hanging Lira out to dry? Was it just poor planning? Or a test for Lira? It’s hard to think that they would put the game on the line just so he would prove that he is not up to par. If only Radical would tell the inside story!
Klebe said he was trying to save his bullpen. He didn’t want to use Ackerman in the eighth inning and DePriest in the ninth … UNLESS the Barnstormers had the lead.
UPDATED TO CLARIFY.
I have noticed this season a lack of realizing when a pitcher is struggleing and getting the bullpen going. It seems that a pitcher is left in there one pitch too long and when they go to the bullpen, the releiver is not properly warmed up.
From being on the third base side, I see a lot of Frank & Rick and notice Rick sometimes look down to the bullpen when a reliever is warming up and doing a gester to hurry him up.
That is what I feel was wrong with Ross the other night. He was not properly warmed up and was hammered early. James was hung out to dry last night and I don’t agree at all how the bullpen has been handled. Pitchers are not getting regular work and when they are brought in, they struggle and the ones you bring in a lot are also struggling. I am ust a fan and not a coach so I may be wrong. If I am, please tell me.
BTW. Jason, thanks for letting us fans rant & rave every once in awhile. It helps with the way things are going. I hope people feel that this is not turning out to be a LOL type of webste.
Managing the bullpen is really difficult in this league, especially in the Barnstormers’ ballpark. Pitchers get knocked around a lot and sometimes you have to stick with them because you can’t have a merry-go-round on the mound.
Last night was an exception, I think. Lira needed to be removed.
I don’t know if I would want to stay around the team after the way he has been treated. From the beginning he was to be the closer and Frank made that very clear. He doesn’t play for several games, because we are getting our butts kicked, and then he is brought in, struggles, and is pulled before he can get out of it. Now there is hesitation that he is the closer. Then he is left in a game to get hammered.
How would like to go into the locker room and face Josh and tell him sorry. What do you say, I was off and didn’t have my stuff but was left to ’save the bullpen’.
I like Lira, but you are right, he did not have his “A Game” stuff and needed to be removed. You don’t pull this crap when a key game is on the line. Winning the game last night was a key to finishing your home stand, beating a team in front of you in the race, making a run at the first half champions, and going on the road, especially given your road record.
Now you have a pitcher that wants to leave and a team that their heads are hanging pretty low. I know the glass is suppose to be half full but my prayers go out to them to at least win one game this weekend.
I don’t want to see Lira go. Just like Norderum, he has the stuff and just needs to find his groove. If James goes, then why not Norderum.
Josh should have been taken out before the 7th started (although, I’m sure he said he was OK), his pitch count was already close to 100, he can’t always go a whole game, especially with that line up. The bullpen needs to be more ready to go in, if for nothing else but to show the opposition something different. Lira was hung out to dry, so sad for him, but if he is to be a closer, he needs get his head in the right frame of mind. Josh was in the bullpen for his first 5 years, he understands not keeping his team in the game, he would never say anything negative to the guys coming in for him. He more than likely tried to make Lira feel better. You can’t point fingers at any one person, they are a team, win or lose. These players are usually their own worse enemy. Let’s not forget this team leaves a lot guys on the bases. There are always ways to improve what’s happening, the glass is always half full or better.
I am also only a fan, not a coach. The first year of the Barnstormers I really thought Herr left his pitchers in way to long. He seemed to not even be warming people up in case the pitcher tired late in the game, which seems must like this year.
In the majors it seems the pitchers pitch maybe a part of an inning more frequently than ours do and then pitch more games. Here it seems the worry is always about but what will we do tomorrow. I agree that we need to win now, like in last night’s game.
I did not have the privlage of being there the whole first year to notice. Thanks Packmule for the information. I guess I saw Tommy’s good year.
We will get through this and hey, there is the second half. Let’s win all three this weekend and show us fans we were wrong.
GO STORMERS.
Hey, we are still looking for our first win on the road this year. Tonight is a good night to start. Go Stormers.
Stormin– you said you saw Tommy’s good year. I dont know who should get the credit for last year. ( I know, it is a team game and everybody gets credit.) But Tommy is not doing so well in his first year away from the Barnstormers.
And it sure is a lot easier to box seat manage than manage from the dugout, I admit that.
Thanks Packmule. From reading an article by ‘humble moderator’, coaching in the minor leagues is different then this league.
During Herr’s first season, the Barnstormers had a rotation that included four starters who had never pitched in affiliated ball (Patterson, Dooley, Scheuing and Clint Smith) and one pitcher recovering from elbow surgery (Peeples). He never had a chance to win in the first half.
Once they added a few even decent arms (Dawley and Pacheco — who, admittedly, weren’t great), and Herr traded for Jeremy Todd, the team went 37-33 in the second half.
Don’t forget adding Danny Gonzalez in late June solidified the infield and made a big difference in the 2nd half. Herr seemed to have an eye for what was needed and then getting it. He picked position players who were more interchangeable. I don’t think he would have 4 catchers on his rooster. Last year only 3 players played in more than 100 games. He got his players into the game. Nobody got stale and people got rested. This year we have four players who have played in at least 31. Think about it. At present, who is the b/up in CF or at SS. l