VS BRIDGEPORT BLUEFISH
Mike Porzio (7-5, 4.21 ERA) vs.
Rob Henkel (4-6, 5.13 ERA)
The Barnstormers are facing yet another left-handed pitcher tonight. It’s the eighth time in 10 games they’ve gone against a southpaw. They hope to have better luck against Porzio than they did against Matt Beech on Monday. This is the final game of Lancaster’s homestand before it plays six games in five days at York and Newark.
Pre-game notes:
– Beech is one of the few pitchers who has grown to like Clipper Magazine Stadium. As we noted here last night, the lefty has allowed two hits in his last 14 innings at the Clip. This is what Beech told Intell reporter Joel Schreiner after Monday night’s game.
“I think it’s a great stadium,” he said. “The fans are awesome. It’s an exciting atmosphere. Sometimes in this league, you don’t get as many fans as you normally would in Double-A or Triple-A, so it’s refreshing to come here and see the fans cheering. It’s a great stadium and a great playing surface. I wouldn’t say I look forward to going on the road, but if you have to be on the road it’s nice to be in a nice stadium with nice people.”
– Although Reggie Taylor said he wants to return to the Barnstormers, another Atlantic League team has contacted him. Lancaster owns Taylor’s rights and would have to pass on the CF before he could sign elsewhere. It will be interesting to see where Taylor ends up playing.
– Henkel is making his team-high 16th start. The lefty is 1-1 with a 6.04 ERA this month.
Lineups:
BLUEFISH (5-6): Junior Spivey, CF; Nick Ortiz, SS; Jay Caligiuri, 3B; Jesse Hoorelbeke, 1B; Bobby Malek, LF; Sandy Aracena, C; Lou Lucca, RF; Kelington Made, DH; Steve Hine, 2B.
STORMERS (3-8): Travis Hake, 2B; Danny Gonzalez, SS; Jutt Hileman, CF; Jeremy Todd, 1B; Felix Martinez, 3B; Lance Burkhart, C; Eric Crozier, RF; Russ Cleveland, DH; Chris Van Rossum, LF.
Scoring summary …
FINAL: Bluefish 11, Barnstormers 0
Bluefish 4th: Hoorelbeke hits solo home run.
Bluefish lead 1-0.
Bluefish 6th: Caligiuri’s double scores Ortiz.
Bluefish lead 2-0.
Bluefish 9th: Aracena scores on Chris Brock’s throwing error. Ortiz’s single scores Lucca and Made. Caligiuri’s sacrifice fly scores Spivey. Hoorelbeke’s home run scores Ortiz and Caligiuri. Lucca’s home run scores Aracena.
Bluefish lead 11-0.
RECORD: 3-9 (32-43)
PLAYER OF THE GAME: Mike Porzio (6 2/3 innings, 3 hits, no runs, 10 strikeouts) This was the sixth time in the last nine games that the Barnstormers were beaten by a lefthander who has reached the big leagues. That’s your worthless fact for the day.
WHAT WENT RIGHT: Rob Henkel pitched well. The lefty allowed two runs on five hits in seven innings. It was, as interim manager Rick Wise put it, a hard-luck loss. Since starting the season 2-0, Henkel has two wins in his last 14 outings.
*If you want a second positive item, Jutt Hileman had two hits and walked. That’s all I’ve got.
WHAT WENT WRONG: The Barnstormers had three hits and were shut out for the third time this season. In the last two games, the offense has managed one run on seven hits. None were for extra bases.
“Stuff like that comes and goes,” Wise said. “Right now it’s coming at us. We’ve got to fight our way out of it. We’ve had good BPs, we’ve had good at-bats. We’re just not finding holes and bunching our hits. We’ve got tough pitching coming at us. That combination leads to low offense.”
*Although Porzio and Matt Beech are quality pitchers, you’d expect the Barnstormers to muster more of an attack — especially at the Clip.
Why hasn’t it happened?
“It’s hard to figure out,” hitting coach Glenn Murray said. “It’s basically a fastball that we’re getting beat with. The last two nights we’ve faced two lefties and it’s the same thing. The only pitch they’re throwing for a strike is a fastball. I don’t know if guys are overswinging or they’re guessing something else.”
*Jeremy Todd is slumping. The first baseman is 5-for-32 since the All-Star break and hasn’t homered in a regular-season game since June 28.
*Chris Brock was clobbered. After working a spotless eighth inning, Brock allowed nine runs in the ninth — two of which were earned. This was the second nine-run inning against the Barnstormers during this homestand.
*Travis Hake went hitless in four at-bats. He is 0-for-12 since coming over from York, although he hit three balls hard in this game.
*Chris Van Rossum went 0-for-3 and dropped a fly ball.
*The Barnstormers have lost all four series in the second half. They are 11 games below .500 for the first time. Lancaster travels to York for a three-game series that starts Wednesday night. The Revs are in first place and lead the Stormers by six games.
Is there a sense of urgency for this series?
“As long as you’re not in first place, you have to do it right now,” Murray said. “That’s not to put pressure on the guys, but the bottom line is win.”
*No one commented on the cool Henkel photo.
Looking at the batting lineup…I sure hope Hake starts hitting tonight and Cleveland catchs better. Burkhart doesn’t let the ball get past him as much.
I guess everyone is being quiet so they don’t Jinx them HeHe
I don’t think we’ll have a problem with pass balls from cleveland because burkhart is catching and cleveland is dh
Jason, can you say who the other team is thats wanting Taylor?
If I was a betting man, I’d go with the team in town, the Bluefish. Mike was surprised Spivey was playing centerfield and they recently took Blue from the Stormers. So they are at the top of my guess list. Plus they are BASA, aren’t they.
Well, technically it’s tampering for a team to talk to a player whose rights belong to someone else, so I shouldn’t name the offending team without confirmation from an official.
I sure hope our hitters get it on…they are acting like mummies..and Jason ..what’s wrong with Todd? He hasn’t done much in the past month other than the All-Star game.
what a play. the duo is back. nice turn.
Jesse Hoorelbeke came within about 10 feet of hitting the ball out of the ballpark to left field. He’s got a little power.
Charlie Hesseltine (apparently) to Camden, if anyone cares…
Sitting at home plate, it looked like it was way gone. Hung up there forever. Hit the end of the hotdog on the kunzler sign.
Again Todd..failed to produce ..is he hurt more than they say..like the burkhart cutting himself thing?
I’m sitting next to a guy with a wireless jugs gun.
When did they start doing that? I’m assuming first row is more accurate than the press box mounted gun
scottie, what colored shirt are you wearing?
Todd’s struggling for sure. His slugging percentage is below .500 for the first time since he joined the Barnstormers.
Moving that gun should help readings. The key is to pick the ball up immediately out of the pitcher’s hand.
White, with the barnstormers cap they gave away on sunday.
Homeplate is a different view than section 1 where we usually sit. Not bad here. But the kids are never gonna get a ball back here
i wonder if the guy with the gun is with bridgeport or a scout?
were is the offence guys? 2 runs down in this league is not bad. let’s go stormers.
the guy behind the plate is charting the pitches. the gun is still at the radio press box.
good pitching tonight, both sides.
iz wonders if Ricky has got any sleep the last few nights?
chuma chuma hung DIIIINGAAA! YEAH!
Is there really only 3 of us here tonight?
Confirmed the guy is charting pitches. And he’s writing speeds down even when they’re not showing up on the big board.
Scouting, though – that’s a thought – maybe york? How much scouting do the AL teams do on their opponents?
Are you sure thats a “Radar Gun” and not some guy who is pissed at a ballplayer for getting his wife pregnant!
So iws at a bar this morning and youll nevers gess who walked in and plopped right next to me! …. FRANK!
In-game comments have dwindled as the season moved closer to the infinite abyss (yes, I’m going to keep using that reference).
bobs back. did you buy him a drink?
Eh, why flog a dead horse? This is starting to remind me of the movie Groundhog Day.
When it rains, it pours.
There is no way that BASA is going to give Lancaster studs. They’re probably going to try to help York break-in the stadium and generate interest with good players and a winning team.
Could someone answer this question for me???? If you are in a game only losing 2-0, why do you bring in the guy with an era of over 13???
Adj. 1. hapless – deserving or inciting pity; “a hapless victim”; “miserable victims of war”; “the shabby room struck her as extraordinarily pathetic”- Galsworthy; “piteous appeals for help”; “pitiable homeless children”; “a pitiful fate”; “Oh, you poor thing”; “his poor distorted limbs”; “a wretched life”
I think frank is calling the game from the bar with Bob
Taylor! Taylor! Taylor! Taylor! chanted to the Breadsticks chant of York.
BINGO!
Wait… don’t you have to have a few more hits to win that game, too?
Torturous.
The pulled pork was good tonight.
New name for FP… The Flirt Patrol. They all were sitting in the front row of Section 8, not paying attention to the game, and having a jolly good time. “Oh, wait. Is that a cheer I think we should be cheering to?” LOL
*sigh*
If Taylor goes to another BASA team I say we try and get another person fired!
Kidding again.
But how about Marks #29 Dark and semi-vague cut & Paste comment he left! I think we’re starting to see his poetic side. Go Mark!!
M&B–Sorry I missed all the Topps Gum talk. I’m on vacation so connecting is tuff. I still can’t wait to tear into some packs of cards at a game. I’ve been looking for a card shop out where I am so I can contribute to the box busting party at Jasons enchanted pulpit. I’m hoping to get a box of 87 Donruss to ad to the mix.
I read somewhere that Brock and Lance Odom worked out together in the off-season. Might explain some things…
Jason–Maybe I’ll bring you a pack of 89 Upperdeck so you can add another level of reminiscing. Remember when those “high end” cards came out!
Brock and Lance worked out together! Hay I’m all for tolerance but when it’s in your face like that GROSS!
Before someone else says it, yes Hay is for horses.
Six games back of York. I definitely didn’t see that coming.
Now this is a crucial 3 game series. What was that awful prediction you made not to long ago. Talk about a hex in a sport full of superstitition.
Mr B. save yourself some big money and look for ‘89 Donruss. The “kid” is back.
We have to 10-10 just to get to jason’s prediction of 13-19
don’t talk about section 8. i had a bad experience there tonight….
moved around the park like we usually do & set up shop behind the dugout at the top of the 9th inning and the usher came down 10 minutes later and kicked us out.
“sir, it’s not fair to the season ticket holders who paid for those seats”
“I am a season ticket holder”
“then you can go back to those seats”
1 out in the bottom of hte 9th, i saw him kick other people out from there too. I am soooooooo pissed…..
got kicked out of section 8 in the bottom of the ninth???? did you look like vagrants?? what is the deal with getting kicked out?? did he think the ticket holders were going come back and see the 12 run rally that hadnt started????
my favorite was when my wife and i came very early (when the gates opened) for a Herr bobblehead giveaway…then asked for a hand stamp (after the line disapearred) because we wanted to go out to get a real meal then come back. the ticket taker said in his most obnoxious tone—-”Dont think you are getting another bobblehead when you get back in!!”
I emailed Joe Pinto on that one–he said he happened to be standing nearby and heard him. might have. but that was totally uncalled for.
Power corrupts!!
but to add…that was an isolated incident and almost all other employees of the park have been totally delightful…
I do think it is funny that that man doesnt collect tickets anymore.. He is on guard duty so no one sneaks up the stairs. Good job for him
I’ve had very pleasant dealings with everyone at the Clip – from the box office guys that get my kids tickets (little league), to Lindsay, to Kevin, and the usher that works section 1 (he lets my kids stand there all game, every game and never asks for my stub). even the snooty reporters i the press box will sometimes let me talk to them
2 things about tonight – our regular tix are in section 16. That usher told us to move down to the first row in 15 after he heard the kids ask about empty seats.
second – my kids even noticed no one was sitting behind the stormers dugout, from the 3rd inning on. we waited until close to the end of the game just so we wouldn’t be taking anyone else’s seats.
Just to give credit where credit is due, that Odom/Brock note was from Jim Seip…
My seats are in section 9. There seems to be a lot of empty seats behind the dugout in section 8 every game late. Many games by the eighth inning there is a big empty section in 8 that seems to attract kids and they get souvenirs thrown their way. For awile last year, someone threw up batting gloves on a nightly basis to anyone sitting in that section.
It is amazing that anyone cared that you sat there.
My wife really laughs at the ushers who come down and “watch” the fans between innings at the bottom of the steps. She laughs that the only time anyone would pull anything would be between innings. I always wondered what they watch for –now I know— they watch for Scottie and his kids switch to illegal seating.
that’s the very reason why the kids wanted to sit there. Last season we spent a few late innings behind the dugout and got our first ball that way.
But for as bad as i thought it was kicking us out in the top of the 9th, for the usher to boot out 4 kids in the bottom with one out – was ridiculous.
The guy with the jug gun was from Bridgeport. Not sure what he was doing for the team. I was in Section 17 (Row R, seat 1 and 2) and right next to me (Section 16) was two girlfriends of Bridgeport players. He was talking with them for a while before the game and I heard a lot of what they were saying.
Packmule.. Brock ERA is a little out of place because he has not pitch a lot. Also, I really think the Barnstormers want to see if Brock can be a starter for them and they leave him in longer than they should the last two times. I think Ryan Harris has a better shot at being a starter than Brock.
These next three games are going to be big for us. If we go to York and lose 2 out of 3 or lose all three then the season is just about over in my opinion.
I just have a bad feeling the Taylor will not be in a Barnstomer uniform this year. I don’t trust BASA and I can see some crap being done with BASA.
This bingo game is not going to work if there is no hits. My wife (That is why I did not post more about the girlfriends of the bridgeport players
) was at the game with me and played the bingo and only had 3 spots done, not counting the free spots. That was total from her card and my card that I gave her.
When we went to see the Lowell Spinners, their advertising says that since the games are usually sold out,– if you buy standing room only tickets, the ushers will try to find you a seat from the no shows. Now, that is the exact opposite of the customer service that you experience in section 8.
I have no idea how this Taylor story is going to play out. I may know more tomorrow. I will be surprised if he ends up on another BASA team. That would be a PR debacle.
PTW–I understand Brock hasn’t pitched much–but still his last efforts have been like adding gasoline to fire. (I watched that 9 run fifth inning travesty and sorry for the cliche.) I dont think a 2-0 lead is where you take that chance while you are trying to get back in to contention. Since his last hold attempt didnt work, I wouldnt have pitched him tonight.
I dont think Taylor would like being traded to the trailer park setup by the Codorus Creek after being in Lancaster last year. That situation cant be one that anybody would volunteer for.
At this point, I’d be surprised if Taylor did NOT end up on another BASA team. The whole thing is set up to be a giant PR debacle. Taylor going to York (or Camden, or the first player signed in Southern Maryland) would just be another spoke in the wheel.
Well, the Mexican season is just about over. There is just 6 more games for Reggie (His team is 6 1/2 games out of the playoffs) so I think his season is going to be over after these 6 games. Something to think about. Taylor and Quincy teams just got done playing each other and they play the last three games of the regular season. I wonder if Quincy has told Reggie about the things going on up here.
I am not totally in belief that BASA fired Klebe if they werent going to try to improve the Barnstormers further. Why fire the first AL manager if you dont honestly care about how the team fares?? If you arent going to try to improve the Barnstormers, you leave Klebe fumble through the rest of the year.
Will Quincy and Reggie have those Mexican mustaches that you see in the westerns when they get back???????
Or will they just talk with a Mexican accent like Pedro from South of the Border???
Actually South of the Border has become more politically correct. Their signs arent as Mexican-offensive as they used to be.
photo caption contest: hey you kids, get out of those dugout seats!
Now, I know why the Lancaster Police are always at the game. —Scottie and his seat jumping kids.
Look at the positive side—At least you werent accused of stealing the baseballs that your kids receive.
When my daughter and I went from the York game to the Lancaster game in the same night, I wanted her to try to take into the Clip Joint the Turkey Hill tea that she bought at Sovereign Bank Stadium. Technically, it wasnt OUTSIDE food. We bought it at the York concession stand.
Sorry about that last post, I have been reading “101 Greatest George Carlin Quotes” and he got me thinking.
Packmule.. I been to a couple of those Mexican league games in my life time (don’t ask why
). The fans are crazy there. They really get into it. You can’t go for the visiting team out there. To be honest with you, I don’t know if all of the team’s fans are like that but the two games I saw they were crazy fans. I thought Mexico was a soccer country but the fans I saw sure made it look like a baseball country. Also, they make so much noise at those games that after the game you can’t hear real well.
d’oh!
actually – here i felt bad that my kids have a quite a collection of balls. 15, maybe 20. I really am working on them to know that it’s ok to leave the game without a ball (none tonight)
An usher that was actually friendly
was telling me there’s a kids that has collected 150+ this season!
that’s a little overboard – my wife would kill the whole lot of us, if we had 150 balls sitting around the house.
it’d be interesting to read some articles about playing in Mexico. Perhaps, when (of) Taylor comes back – Jason could do a sit-down with him. Compare and contrast the teams, fans, organization, type of ball that’s being played in Mexico vs. US
When you get to 150+, you can start a charity to give balls to kids who havent learned your kids’ secrets to obtaining those orbs.
Or you can throw them at the Fun Patrol when they throw out those soft ones……..just kidding………you dont have to wait for them to throw out the soft ones.
SCOTTIE, I liked your idea in post 67…that WOULD be interesting.
PTW–I thought it was interesting that a friend of my daughter’s was asked what country he was from when he bought a soccer ticket in England. They dont put rival countries in the same section. ( I bet tequila had something to do with those mexican games, didnt it??)
Well, yes and no. I was a teenager and was spending a couple of weeks with family in El Paso, Texas. A couple of family members and friends went over to Juarez for a day and we were having a good time (If you know what I mean
). Well, we see that there is a baseball game down the road so we went and watch the game and drink some more. They don’t have the team anymore. The other game I went to was in Monterrey to watch a buddy play that I know from my playing time in the minors. That was just a few years ago. It is a little scary at times but it can be fun to watch a baseball game down there. I may sometime go down there again and watch some baseball. I will also say that it is odd to be one of maybe 20 white people in pack stands even though I never had a problem with any fans or heard anything bad about me be white. They just love their baseball and really get into it.
Sounds like a good time……feverish baseball fans!!
Scottie
You really got kicked out of # 8? My usual seats are 13 but I ALWAYS go to 8. My friend owns 8, row D&E the first three in each row. I sit there almost every game. Plus I wander around to #5 to visit AA and dmb/russgirl then I head to the bull pen for a quick chat. I rarely sit in 13… If the stadium is full them I’m kinda stuck there though
Hell of a loss last night. I hope Chris turns things around cause it wasn’t pretty.
There were some VERY bad strike calls on on VanAwesome & Todd. At one point I did actually sit behind home and was shocked at the ump! to say the least.
ROAD TRIP today
Yippee. Hope they have good food in York.
Bakin Brownies … I smell a win !!!!
Come on Scottie… save up and purchase those dugout tickets so your kids can sit there all season. The you don’t have to play that game with the usher(s).
I guess the usher was just doing his job… have you ever tried to get to the seats behind the dugout at the Phils or Orioles games… forget it! If you haven’t paid the price, you don’t sit there… fact of life.
Pay for those dugout tickets at the gate… $12.
I guess all those who do pay for the dug out tickets and sit there are just fools. They should just buy the outfield tickets and wait to see which seats are left empty and move right on into those “more expensive” seats. It’s the American Way right?… Get something you didn’t pay for… Wrong.
By now, I believe that you can see I don’t agree with you moving into seats that are more expensive than the ones you paid for just because they are open.
I can understand that you want your children to have the experience of seeing the players up close and personal. I also can understand that you want your children to receive a ball that was in a game or signed by a favorite player.
I am not heartless despite what Radical Stomerfan may say…
As for the ushers standing down at the front b/w innings. I like the fact that their presence is being seen. There have been many kids and adults who come to that area and block the view of the others who are seated there. Not just b/w innings, but during the game. I’m not say anyone here does that, but I have witnessed it numerous times over the past three seasons.
That is just not right. I am sure anyone here who has had their view obstructed by a standing person at the game has either told the person to move, sit down, or just grumbled about it until they did.
Fan Etiqutte 101
You are not being “picked on” by the usher in Section 8. All of the dugout ushers are fully aware of fan behavior to seek out the empty seats behind the dugouts. Most will act upon it if they are aware that some one has taken a seat w/o paying the cost of that seat.
dad
p.s. By the way, be careful. I heard those fans and usher in Section Eight are crazy!
who said they were more expensive than the ones I paid for?
perhaps you missed the exchange from post #42
really – I understand the rule and why it’s in place. That being said, there’s also got to be a point where common sense comes in to play.
* From (at least – could have been longer, that’s just when i noticed no one was there) the 3rd inning on, they were empty. as were the 4 rows above it. as was the entire row, in sections 7 and 9 as well.
* we slid in there in the 9th inning – the end of the game. got booted out in the middle of the Bridgeport rally (so I was already in a swell mood
)
* it’s nonsense that the guy kicked 4 (unrelated to me) kids out in the bottom of the 9th with one out. What useful purpose does that kind of enforcement serve?
but I digress – I was just looking for a place to vent last night.
That’s not what this blog is about. I
t’s about getting managers fired and wondering how many personalities Mr. B. really has (and why he likes funnel cakes so much!)
I guess I will be on the chain gang with Scottie! Most games I am at I move around and sit with no problems. The only thing I was told was to wait until the 5th inning to make sure the people weren’t coming to the game. Last night I was sitting in section 10 row I (with a legitimate ticket I purchased dadTB) and from the 7th inning on kids were moving down close and nobody said anything. The bottom line is the tickets were already paid for and are counted in the announced attendance. Nobody is trying to steal anything; it’s just part of the fun. I remember doing it as a kid at the Vet which was a real challenge because you went in separate gates for the 600 – 700 levels and had to use commando tactics to get downstairs. As long as nobody is rude or gets hurt, who cares? As someone said in a post the other day, “life is too short”. Relax and enjoy the game!
Scottie – if I ever see you at a game I will be sure to point out empty seats in the section I am sitting.
LETS GO STORMERS!!!!!!
I have never moved to a different seat ever but I have to agree with Scottie on this. If it is the 9th (I even go with the 8th inning) inning and no one has sat there all night long then I don’t have a problem with someone moving into those seats. If it is the start of the game then I would have a problem with it but not the 8th or 9th inning. I had 3 groups of people move close to where I was sitting in the top or bottom of the 8th and had no problem with it.
I don’t see the harm in moving behind the dugout in the ninth. Young kids might get an extra souvenir. (It has happened before.) You paid to get in–I dont think it is stealing to watch the game from a better vantage point late in the game.
I dont think the Barnstormers are stealing from me if it rains in the sixth inning and I dont get to watch nine full innings. So, I dont think they mind if I watch the game from a little better view.
Back to Taylor and improving the team: You have to wonder if this situation is irreparable at this point. The Barnstormers are playing .427 ball through 75 games and would have to play .600 ball the rest of the season to even have a shot.
They showed no signs of improvement when they started the second half. After the manager was fired, they didn’t have any life. One run on seven hits in two games? Are you kidding?
Maybe this is just a lost season. It’s certainly not over, but it’s going to take an unbelievable reversal for the end of this schedule to have any meaning. I guess we’ll find out during this series with York.
Don’t worry about it, Scottie… It’s over and we now move on to Game 76.
I was holding hope that by being down by only two runs, we had a chance to come back in the ninth inning. I can imagine that Rob was holding onto that hope, too, as he sat on the bench watching the came.
Boy, I didn’t see that slaughter of a pitcher coming. So sad.
My wife and I had a great talk with Dave Cochran while we sat at batting practice. We reminisced about Stumpf Field and the players that past through Lancaster.
Thanks Dave for making the effort to come and speak with us.
I keep thinking we need one catalyst to jump start the whole team to get hot. I have not been able to figure what that spark though.
It wasnt Dom. It wasnt Jose. It is not Martinez. It doesnt seem to be a new manager. We can only hope it can be Taylor.
Jason..I know we are having trouble hitting right now but I still think if we can get the middle of the bullpen upgraded (To me that is the biggest problem in my eyes)then we have a chance but we need that help very fast because if we lose all 3 or 2 of 3 to your then york then we are in a hole that may be too big to get out of. I love to see Taylor or another starting pitcher here but I think the middle of the bullpen is what is most important right now.
The season is not lost but it is starting to walk into the think woods
where was Ambrosini last night?
I heard someone mention that he was MIA – and no one on the team knew where he was at last evening.
Middle Relief
Harris ERA: 5.56 Opp Avg: .370
Armitage ERA: 4.15 Opp Avg: .362
Peeples ERA: 4.95 Opp Avg: .265
Brock ERA: 13.50 OPP AVG: .333
Note: Stats I listed here does not include last night game because I have not updated them from last night.
I know some of these guys have not pitch a lot but those numbers are not going to cut it. You look at the other teams and they may have one or two guys with stats like these but not four like we do. This is just my opinion but I say we need to let go of Brock and Armitage. Armitage was hard for me because he has pitch good at times but I am just not sold on him. I really would like to see if Harris can be a starter and if not then let him go also. I don’t thin Harris is cut out for the bullpen. I like Peeples in the bullpen. Then the problem is if BASA can get us anything better for the bullpen.
The other way you can do this is try to bring in as much offense as you can and hope to outscore teams. They got to do something though fast
The middle relief has been a problem all season and BASA has failed to upgrade it. They’ve tried to an extent. I think Armitage could have been a good addition if he had some established workload, instead of getting used sporadically.
There are other problems: Todd’s not hitting like you expect. Martinez and Van Note don’t produce at the level you expect from a third baseman. The starting pitching has been erratic.
We’re at the 75-game mark and none of those things have shown signs of changing. You have to wonder if they ever will and — if they do — if it’s enough to make up so much ground. Six games is a lot.
We’ll see over the next three games. If the Barnstormers, who are 8-19 on the road, can win two of three at York, that will be a step forward.
As Larry King would do it ….. Any news on Ambrosini? I heard the same thing that he wasn’t at the park ….. I know Van Rossum has played left field before, but he sure looked unsure of himself last night, topped off by the dropped fly in the 9th….. Is it time to end the Travis Hake “reunion” and get Woods back in the lineup?
Henkel pitched a pretty good game last night and we still managed to lose 11 to NOTHING. If Taylor shows up here, Hake gets shipped back to anywhere else and 6th-9th inning pitching improves considerably one way or another, I’ll believe someone is taking this seriously and there’s still a chance to rescue Lancaster from total disaster. Otherwise, brace! brace! brace!
Hake bobbled the relay which probably would have kept the score 1-0. I think a good throw would have gotten the runner at home. Also I know he’s struggling but he needs to run out those ground balls. Anything can happen in this league!
I left in the 8th and didn’t see the error. What I did see was, early on, a popup hit foul on the 1st base side. Todd went after it, it looked catchable and it looked like he almost had it when…oops…what the f is Hake doing there? He has a hard enough time with 2b on a good day. He’d do better to leave the other positions to people already filling them. FWIW, it looked like Todd blew it off but Crozier did not, judging by the hand signal I saw aimed at Hake.
Can Travis be the player to be the “player named later” that was used to aquire him?
I am not sure that Jeremy could have caught that ball even if Hake wasnt there. He was going pretty close to the wall and the angle he was going in was ackward. Not to mention the bullpen and all that.
Up until the top of the 9th we were still in that thing. That was a heck of a game by Chris Brock wasnt it? It doesnt look like he’s the answer to any of our pitching woes.
Rob Henkel pitched a good game but once again..any chance of us being able to pull off a win…even with the lack of offense…was shot when Brock gave up that nine spot in the ninth.
That could be true Amy but he should not have been in the way. They were at the gate to section three and Jeremy had to stop to avoid running into him. On top of that Travis did not even go for the ball. You could see by the look on Eric’s face and the gesture for Travis to use his head. Travis may be a fan favorite but not this fan, even casual fans sitting behind us were wondering what he was doing back.
I think for this team one player can change the attitude. We saw it when Quincy left. We saw it when Russ came. I feel for the guys they look down. They look frustrated. One thing I did notice was how relaxed Russ and Steve looked in the dug out. They were laughing, they were joking and trying to get others to relax. That is something I have not seen in the dug out since last season.
I wasn’t sure if that foul was playable or not but it looked that way to me and, apparently, it looked that way to Jeremy since he was trying to make the catch. Next thing I know, he’s trying to not check Hake into the boards, Hake is trying to duck out of the way, the ball is bouncing off of something and I am confused. As mentioned above, whether the ball was actually catchable or not is academic. If the ball was dropping between 2nd and 1st, that would be one thing and I’d still trust Todd to catch it before Hake, but it was dropping to the right of 1st and Hake had no business being there. It seemed Crozier thought so, too. I admit I’m no fan of Hake and I was glad to see him go. I’m thinking perhaps they should finally bury that John Denver song and start playing something more appropriate from Beck.
Hake hasn’t been an asset yet, but Mike Woods has yet to perform at a higher level yet either. His speed has not benefited the Barnstormers on a regular basis either.
I know the front office thinks they have upgraded third base. I think second base should be on the list to upgrade also. So far I dont see either candidate making himself the starter.
Mike has not been the greatest, but he has improved. Travis has not improved since last year. Steve is still sporatic but he has improved as well. Felix got better pants, can hit at times but is not the big bat needed. When Steve is hitting his bat is bigger (and his pants a better).
Amy I agree, the game was winnable up until the 9th but little mistakes can cause a pitcher to lose concentration and giving up an easy out will do that.
Giving up an out seems to make a difference many times. In the Lowell game that I went to, the winnng ( and only runs) were off a home run that was hit one pitch after the left fielder dropped a foul fly that he did have to run a long way for. But was definitely catchable. He got there (and it hit off his glove), but he was probably distracted by the bullpen pitching mound that he was close to.
Still silence on the MIA (Missing In left field Ambrosini)
I would try Martinez at 2nd and Van Note at 3rd for a few games. People have to differentiate between being a favorite and a player. Everytime I would rip Pat Burrel over the last few years, my wife’s answer was always “yeah but he’s so cute!”. Cute doesn’t win games and this year she finally agrees that Pat has to go. I think the time has come for Travis too.
It was a play Hake should have made. He should have called Todd off the play.
I did hear Hake call the play and I did see Jeremy wave him off. Jeremy was there. Like Amy said it may have not been playable but it definately was not when they were in each others way.
Hake boggles the ball a lot and he just is not seeing it when hitting, I think all the guys could use the BP. With the exception of Dominic I do not notice anyone seeing the ball well.
Well, this is funny. Just a few days ago everyone (Except for one) was all for Travis being here and that it going to be great and now no one wants him here. How things change so fast. I am not going to stick up for Travis because I don’t know it he is the answer for this team and 2B but do remember he has played very few games this year because of him being hurt.
Now to the main part of my post. Why does everyone think Van Note is the answer at 3B. I am going to be the bad guy here but I don’t want him at 3B and maybe even on this team. I think Martinez will be a good player at 3B after a little time (He did not play very much 3B). I just don’t see why people like Van Note so much. He has the worst Batting Avg. on the team (.242). Second most strikeouts on the team (58), which is almost 1 a game for him. His on-base Avg. is .314 (Which is third worst on team (And Hake really has not had enough AB to get a fair read on is OBP so I could even say second worst on team). His fielding is nothing to get excited over. He also has 13 errors (Which leads the team). Van Note is not the answer at 3B.
When I left last night Eric Crozier was in the cage hitting balls off the tee. He was very upset. I guy and his son were in front of me and when the boy said to Eric “go get’em tomorrow”, Eric replied “I should have got’em tonight. Sorry for my performance”. Wow!!! At least I know there was one player not happy with the way he played last night.
Barney – you walk by the batting cage on your way out?
Cute doesnt win games, but there also something to be said for having a few guys around that add something intangible for the team or the fans. Everyone has their favorite!!
Hence, there wont always be an unanimous outcry to replace Travis , Steve and even Frank. BASA has to figure out what that variety is of fan favorites and the best ball players. Last year, they did have the right mix.
PTW–not everybody posts every day also. There is a posting of more people jumping off the Hake bandwagon, but I am sure he still has his fans.
Sometimes I leave that way
Regarding baseball bingo…..if the barnstormers only get 3 hits (2 by the same player), do they then also count errors??????
We had 3 last night. Now does anyone have baseball bingo????
I am still a Hake fan. Even when he went to York.
No bingo yet. What if we count strikeouts, that should do it. In all seriousness I always liked Baseball Bingo since the first time I played it at Reading. They would pay $50 on the ist Bingo. If nobody hit, they would $50 each time until it was hit. Don’t know what the biggest pot was, but I was close one night when it was $350. I wonder what the 10 prizes are that they will give out here. It was just an all around bad night at the Clip!
Van Note did a pretty good job as an all around dude on the field last year and he’s a nice guy. When Klebe decided to give him a shot at 3B, it seemed like a good idea to me. And he hasn’t been terrible. He did ok at 3B and, for a while, his batting average was picking up nicely. Martinez is better, however. His throws are faster, his dives are faster and he’s more accurate. At the plate, he was very good that first night and I’m hoping that wasn’t a fluke while Van Note has been slowly getting worse. I’m hoping they keep Martinez at 3B and have Van Note do what he did last year.
For the record, I guarantee you I wasn’t in favor of Hake returning. I know he was out hurt for a good chunk of the season but he wasn’t any different last year or the year before that. In fact, last year you’d occasionally hear people joke that part of the reason the team made it to the playoffs was because he had surgery and couldn’t play. He’s not the worst player I’ve ever seen, but he’s hardly the panacea everyone makes him out to be. We should be able to do better.
Spell Check ….. Pay $50 on the 1st Bingo. They would add $50 each time until it was hit.
The strikeout bingo would work well, but not at home. But if York did it tonight………
PTW…I was saying that all year. Van Note was Klebe’s Ideal 3rd baseman from day 1..but if you look at his 3yr. stats..he’s the Ideal Utility infielder which he was the last 2 yrs.and if he’d of been that..the infielders would have been getting a day off all season. I was amazed how some bloggers here criticized me for saying that all season long as well.
I guess I should have said everyone that posted the day Hake was sign to come back. Hey, I am one that still does not know if he can get the job done. I just thought it was funny how many people were happy to see him back and now people want to send him away.
I even post something that will make even more people mad but this is how I would upgrade 2b (and no it would never happen because you don’t have many trades in this league and also I don’t think the two teams would go for it). I would trade Todd for Javier Colina. Then I would put Eric Crozier at first. I really don’t want to trade Todd but Newark is not going to give Colina away so you have to give them someone that would make them do the trade. This is all for not because trade like these don’t happen in this league very much, if any. I know AA is not going to like this post, but again, I am not saying I want him traded. I am just saying that for us to get a Colina, we would have to trade someone big.
Just take it easy on the breadsticks. If the Kman strikes out 3 times do you get 3 orders of breadsticks?
I like what I’ve seen out of Martinez at third. (play – not the pants.) I’m not sure you’ll ever get him to try second with VanNote at third – so long as there’s 2 natural second baseman on the roster (and sitting, in that scenario).
The pants seem to have improved. They don’t look like spandex anymore, from what I can see.
My wife was looking forward to checking out the, errr – pants. Last night, they looked normal. And the disappointment ensued.
I wouldn’t mind having Jason Bowers back here right now hehe..I know he liked it here but he’s in affiliated ball now.The best Infield we ever had was when Ortiz was at 3rd..Bowers at SS…Danny at 2nd…and Todd at 1st.All 4 could hit as well..so we really are a lot inferior to last yrs. team.
Sunday night, the bullpen was mocking Felix’s pants, in that he had them down over the heel of the cleat and (somehow) held under under the shoe. They were trying to figure out how it stayed under. And then they figured it out – gum. ha
They also had the attitude that they were going to win..not try to..or hope to.
118 – After further review, I agree
119 – No spandex on 80’s night. At least the had a Van Halen video with David Lee Roth strutting around in his!
Aghhhhhhhh!!!! Mark what’s happening to us? We’re talking about dudes in spandex!!!
I think he will be an asset for us at 3rd
Felix looked comfortable playing there. He’s booted a few balls, but made some terrific plays on hard hits. I agree that he’ll be an asset.
I like Felix as well and think he has played third better than Steve has lately. I just like Steve more and I want to see him succeed, he is a nice guy who has worked hard for the team for three years. He was put in a tough position this year. New position and no back up. He may want to be a utility player and he may be more comfortable in that position. I thought Felix was brought in to play back up for third and short? If he goes to fulltime third we are still in need of a back up for Danny.
If Felix goes full-time at third, that would leave Steve in the more comfortable position of being the utility infielder.
As I said before Van Note spelled the entire infield last year at times including the SS once in awhile.
I agree with Mark’s comments regarding Steve in Post #112.
I would like to see where Steve stands statistically in the category of batting with runners in scoring positions.
He wasn’t siting too well in the stats that they have on the website today. 13 errors, lowest OBP of the original/remaining starting team , lowest in BA of original/remaining starting team, lowest number of hits (Lance excluded due to injury) among the original/remaining starters.
Does anyone know who has the most third strike looks on the team? I’m guessing that it’s Steve.
He is a good utility man. Because Steve does work hard, I believe that Frank felt that he owed him a look at third base. Franks gone and Steve is sitting on the bench once again.
PTW—I enjoyed your trade suggestion. I originally thought that I wouldnt want to lose Todd for Colina. But then I double checked Colina’s stats. WOW! 18hrs 60rbis .342 avg…. The Todd fans wouldnt have to worry. Newark wouldnt make that trade. Or would they??????
PTW–Get Newark to throw in a middle reliever while you are at it.