As spring training nears its conclusion, Von Hayes’ managerial style is coming into focus. The best way to describe him is demanding. The skipper wasn’t happy with his club today and it had little to do with the Barnstormers’ 10-8 loss to the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs at Charlie Gehringer Field.
Hayes wants to see better effort. That includes the fundamentals during the games and the preparation before them.
“I’m seeing some lackadaisical play and approach from some guys,” Hayes said. “Some guys will do that in spring training, take it easy and try to get loose. That’s not the type of team we have here. We have a very competitive team.”
This is a stark contrast from the Frank Klebe Era when job security never seemed in doubt for anyone. After the loss to Southern Maryland, Hayes reminded his players that there are other options out there and he’s not afraid to pursue them.
“These guys need to understand there’s no set team,” he said.
“There are people calling every day. There are people on my computer right now that are out there and only a phone call away. These guys need to realize that. They are in independent baseball. After this stage, there’s no place else to go. I can’t see why the effort is not going to be here on a daily basis just for that reason alone.”
While the hitting has been stellar during these exhibitions, the defense has been erratic and some players haven’t shown up for voluntary batting practice. In Hayes’ mind, voluntary “pretty much means you get your butt in there and get your swings in.”
The Barnstormers are 1-2-1 in exhibition play. They have a final game against Camden Monday and will be flying back to Lancaster Tuesday morning. The Tuesday game scheduled here has been canceled.
Roster news …
*No moves today. The Barnstormers invited P Rob Averette for a tryout and he seemed to impress. Averette has played in the Atlantic League before with Nashua in 2005 and Somerset in 2006. They haven’t decided if they’ll sign Averette.
*Head of baseball operations Keith Lupton is optimistic that P Sendy Rleal and INF Juan Francia will join the team in Lancaster prior to opening day. The team is less optimistic about P Jose Cabrera. No one has been able to contact him since camp opened.
*There could be some transactions Monday. It depends on an Atlantic League ruling. The league is considering allowing teams to carry 27 or 28 players in the early part of the season for evaluation purposes.
*There will be no update from Lakeland Monday. I’m flying back to Lancaster. If any news breaks, I’ll try to get it on here as soon as possible.
Scoring summary …
| Blue Crabs | 200 | 011 | 123 | 10 |
| Barnstormers | 000 | 033 | 200 | 8 |
Crabs 1st: Terrence McClain’s triple scores George Sandel. Curtis Pride’s groundout scores McClain.
Blue Crabs lead 2-0.
Crabs 5th: Patrick Osborn’s single scores Chad Ehrnsberger.
Blue Crabs lead 3-0.
Stormers 5th: Jutt Hileman’s triple scores Vasili Spanos and Ian Bladergroen. Dominick Ambrosini’s single scores Hileman.
Game tied at 3.
Crabs 6th: Pride’s double scores McClain.
Blue Crabs lead 4-3.
Stormers 6th: Matt LeCroy’s double scores Mike Woods and Brian Stavisky. Spanos’ double scores LeCroy.
Barnstormers lead 6-4.
Crabs 7th: Clinton Johnston’s sacrifice fly scores Greg Blosser.
Barnstormers lead 6-5.
Stormers 7th: Woods’ double scores Hileman and John Nelson.
Barnstormers lead 8-5.
Crabs 8th: Brandon Ketron hits solo home run. Kyle Nichols hits solo home run.
Barnstormers lead 8-7.
Crabs 9th: Christopher Maples’ double scores Blosser, Johnston and Osborn.
Blue Crabs lead 10-8.
Box score:
| Player | AB | R | H | BI |
| Mike Woods, 2B | 4 | 1 | 3 | 2 |
| Danny Gonzalez, SS | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Brian Stavisky, RF | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Matt LeCroy, DH | 4 | 1 | 2 | 2 |
| Lance Burkhart, C | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| sub-Manny Mejia, C | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Vasili Spanos, 3B | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Ian Bladergroen, 1B | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Jutt Hileman CF | 4 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| John Nelson, DH | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Dominick Ambrosini, LF | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Lloyd Turner, UT | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Totals | 39 | 8 | 11 | 8 |
Offensive highlights:
*Seemed like old times at the top of the batting order with Woods hitting leadoff and Gonzalez in the 2-hole. They played the entire game in the field. Nelson was unavailable for defense because of a tender arm. The Barnstormers may carry all three middle infielders and use Woods in the OF and Nelson at 3B on occasion.
*Woods came within a few feet of a grand slam in the seventh inning. He had to settle for a two-run double off the left-field fence.
*LeCroy is a monster. He’s going to hit a ton in this league.
*Ambrosini is off to a slow start. He’s 1-for-13 in the four games and was placed in the 10th slot Sunday.
*Former Stormer Eric Crozier batted cleanup for SoMd. Crozier went 1-for-4 with a single and played LF.
| Pitcher | IP | H | R | ER | BB | SO |
| Zack Parker | 4 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| Eric Ackerman | 3 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 1 |
| Ross Peeples | 2 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 3 |
Pitching highlights:
*Parker started slowly before retiring 10 of the last 11 batters he faced. He had just one walk and one extra-base hit allowed. He looks ready for opening day.
*Peeples was hit hard. He surrendered a pair of homers in the eighth and a three-run double in the ninth for a blown save.
“That’s a game we should have won,” Hayes said. “There’s no doubt about it. Obviously, in a game like that we’d have our closer in there who could hopefully protect that lead. Right now we’re just trying to get people their work in and get a look at these guys.”
*P Derrick DePriest (pictured above) worked a 1-2-3 eighth inning for the Blue Crabs. He retired LeCroy, Burkhart and Spanos. Looks like he’s a reliever again.
I made the trip down to Lakeland to see a couple of games (and a little needed vacation) and I must say to all the Lancaster girls…. ladies, John Nelson and Zack Parker are all mine. There are a few lookers but these 2 outshine all the other by far! As long as these guys are on the team it will be a great year!
Although there won’t be a game recap here Monday, there will be a Matt LeCroy interview posted. So please check back for that.
ALSO: Jason Perry went 3-for-3 with a home run in his debut for the Mississippi Braves. Congrats to Jason.
Very interesting story. It’s good to see Hayes trying to make the player’s accountable for their percieved lack of effort or poor fundamentals. It’s rather refreshing.
I hope your right about Lecroy,he reminds me somehat of Bucky Jacobson of the Ducks a couple of years ago.He was good,but I alway’s felt he could have been better. Just an opinion.
If LeCroy puts up Jacobsen’s numbers — 21 homers, .410 on-base, .506 slugging in 113 games — the Barnstormers would be happy. I think LeCroy is a better hitter than Jacobsen based on career stats and big-league time. And he gets to play in the Clip, which is a plus.
How does Gonzales compare to Nelson fielding wise??? Who is the better fielder??? Interesting problem the Barnstormers are starting with.
It’s hard to say since I’ve only seen Nelson play a few games. Based on that limited observation, I’d say Gonzalez is better defensively.
As much as I hate to say it.. Glad Derrick did good…even if it was against us. He will always be a Stormer in my heart!!!.
Barnstorming Lady.. don’t know who ya are but I am sooo Jealous !!!!
OK People.. we need the new arrival time for the bus on Tuesday !!!!!
Jason get on this right away
thanx
Matt LeCroy, Brian Stavisky, Vasili Spanos and Lloyd Turner sure are looking good. We really look good up the middle, too. With Burkhart catching, Woods at second, Hileman in center and Gonzalez at short. We are going to be ok.
The more I hear about Von Hayes. The more I like his managing style. Sounds like he is going to get 100% out of his players or else. That’s the sign of a good manager.
When the season starts the pitching will get better. That’s what happen in 2006 our Championship year. The first eight games in 2006 we won four and lost four. In the next eighteen games we wre 26 and 10. Our Spring Training is just too short. I haven’t lost any confidence in the Lancaster Barnstormers, yet!
GO STORMERS!
Not so sure about who is going to be here, MrC. I have a feeling that some of the malingerers are the hold overs from last year that have no idea what competetion for a job means. Just because they signed a contract doesn’t mean they have an automatic spot. Just because they played here for several years doesn’t mean they have an automatic spot.
I think that Jutt, Lance, Nelson, Stavisky and LeCroy are pretty much going to start. Woods will in do to his on base %. I think the pitching will be OK as long as the Bull pen will hold up. Just ask the Phillies fans about a trust worthy bull pen.
I think the Stormers will win one half of the season. I am looking at being the second half with a 500 record the first half.
Thanks
It’s interesting that Hayes is chastising his players, as a group, in the media before ever playing a game. This type of mind game occasionally works in college but is rarely used at the “pro” level with grown men.
I am a lot happier with that than making everyone feel they don’t need to put in any effort to keep their job, which was the problem the start of last year
I agree with you Dawes… the guys need to know that every play counts.
[...] to start the season — a possibility that was first reported by Jason Guarente of the New Era over at Barnstormin. The idea was initially brought up by Atlantic League executive director Joe Klein and its purpose [...]