Bladergroen acquired
March 28, 2008 by Jason Guarente
SoMdNews.com has a story on the latest transactions by the Blue Crabs. The article notes the team has traded the rights to 1B Ian Bladergroen to the Barnstormers in exchange for future considerations.
That’s not the whole story.
The Barnstormers have acquired Bladergroen, who played with the Road Warriors last season. They actually traded the rights to P Josh Stevens in the deal, but – according to two sources – Stevens has opted to retire. For some reason, the trade was never announced. Rather than nix the deal, Lancaster still received Bladergroen’s rights. Instead of sending Stevens, they’ll either send a PTBNL or nothing.
What does this mean for the Barnstormers? Well, they haven’t officially signed Bladergroen yet. If they do, and they’re optimistic a deal will be reached, the team will have a 1B to replace Jeremy Todd. Bladergroen batted .275 with nine homers and 51 RBIs in 76 games for the Road Warriors last season.
Bladergroen is 25 and has never played above A ball. He was once a highly-touted prospect in the Mets’ system before a wrist injury in 2004 slowed his progress. He’s regarded as an excellent defensive player and – as a left-handed batter – should benefit if he gets to play 70 games at Clipper Magazine Stadium.
Check out his career stats here.
SS Jason Bowers, one of the few former Barnstormers toiling in affiliated ball, is headed back to Double-A Altoona, according to the team’s official site. The 11-year minor league vet batted .272 with eight homers and 51 RBIs in 113 games for Altoona last season. Bowers will serve as a utility guy playing SS and 2B.
Bowers is now 30, so his big-league chances are flickering if not extinguished. It’s a shame. Based on his defense alone, he could be a bench guy in the majors.
*That team from wrong side of the river has signed INF Jose Enrique Cruz and OF/1B Matt Padgett. Cruz is the son of former big leaguer Jose Cruz and the brother of Jose Cruz Jr. There’s a George Foreman quality to that family. Padgett could be the slugger the Revolution needs in the middle of the order. See Jeff Johnson’s blog for more.
*Somerset beat writer Ryan Dunleavy offers his take on the Patriots’ roster to date. Somerset could be the biggest obstacle standing between the Barnstormers and a division title.
A glimpse of what he says …
A quick glance at (Somerset’s) roster compared to what other Atlantic League teams boast at this point leads me to believe that the Patriots again will be near the top.
Look for the Lancaster Barnstormers to rebound from a dreadful season, the Newark Bears to viably defend their title and the Long Island Ducks to be strong for the zillionth season in a row.
Now thats a nice pickup!
I guess I better not say that the Bladergroen deal appears shady given the fact that the Crabs and ‘Stormers are both owned by Peter Kirk.
Is it too much to ask for a little integrity/transparency in the league when it comes to trades, etc?
SO Butch Hobson is going to use Derrick DePriest as a starter. We will see if Hobson is a genius or not with that move.
Derrick only had an ERA of 1 last year as a closer.
Hobson knows Derrick and Derrick knows, and…Trust’s Hobson.
I wish Big D all the best… Execpt when your throwing against Lancaster D !!!!
Today after the game, the Yanks break camp. Good luck Patty !!!
Jason
Is This The First Baseman (Ian Bladergroen) You’re Refering To That the Stormers are Going To Sign?
Or is there another One?
Ian Bladergroen is a great Guy i spoke with him at the last game the barnstormers played against the Road Warriors.
Bladergroen is one of two 1B the Barnstormers were hoping to sign. One will play 1B, the other will DH.
I don’t think the trade was shady. I think it’s an odd way to do things. The Barnstormers could have just signed Bladergroen in the first place and let Stevens become a free agent. I’m not sure why it unfolded this way. Based on what I’ve heard, Bladergroen wants to play in Lancaster. And I think he’ll play well here (assuming he signs).
I have my reservations about DePriest as a starter, but he seems excited about the opportunity. It wouldn’t surprise me if he ended up in the bullpen in the long run, just because he’s so effective there.
Ian wanting to play here is the kind of attitude I like. He may have a banner year here. Things are slowly looking up for this season and I’m anxiously awaiting opening day!
And here I thought a “PTBNL” and “nothing” were the same thing. I don’t recall a “PTBNL” ever actually finding their way to Lancaster in the past.
Oh well, let’s hope he contributes positively to the season.
I am a total mark for Bladergroen,so I’m thrilled he is a Stormer. Hopefully,he can take advantage of the short porch in right,with a great glove to boot.
It’s official. Just got the Barnstormer email. Bladergroen is a Barnstormer.
Last year he hit a ball into our section that nailed a old man right on the chin. They took him out on a stretcher. A few pitches later he sent one up into our section again and nailed my daughter in the rib cage. He later autographed a ball for her.
Real nice guy. Looking forward to him being a Barnstormer.
Oh yeah, I remember that! People were yelling to strike him out before he killed someone. Yeah, glad he’s on our side this time.
My Bladergroen memory comes from one at-bat against Jason Norderum. With the bases loaded, Norderum chucked one off the backstop, bounced one in the dirt, then drilled Bladergroen in the back. It was a hard-earned RBI.
That was not the hot day game on June 26 when the wheels fell off of the Barnstormer wagon. The final score was RW=a ton and Barnstomers=a few.
That was probably the worst game I have ever witnessed. I hope I do not have to go through that again.
I believe that game lasted 14 hours and it was 112 degrees that day. My memory is fuzzy, though.
Jason Norderum. Wow. How long before he qualifies as one of the illustrious arms of Barnstormers past…
Ouch….11-6 Washington over Philly. Never underestimate the potential of a Philly sports team to screw itself every chance it gets.