The Barnstormers’ game against the Newark Bears was postponed because of rain. It was rescheduled as part of a doubleheader on Sunday at 1:35.
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Mike Nannini 0-2, 6.10 ERA |
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Will Cunnane 1-0, 6.55 ERA |
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The Barnstormers are still searching for that elusive first road win and their struggles are getting worse. What started out as a series of hard-luck losses has evolved into a pitching meltdown. The staff has allowed 23 runs in the past three games.
The bullpen remains the primary weakness. Counting the spot starts by Ricardo Gomez and Rob Averette, the collective ERA of the relief corps is 6.04. That doesn’t account for the inherited runners that scored or the nine unearned runs allowed. The team has been outscored 46-27 in the sixth inning or later. Basically, the Barnstormers can’t win a game that’s close in the late innings. You can’t win a division title if that’s the case.
Mike Nannini will try to end the road woes. The righthander has been hit-and-miss in his two outings. He pitched well at Long Island and faltered in Southern Maryland. Will Cunnane had a lengthy stay in the majors — recording 13 big-league wins.
In the big picture, it might be time to adjust expectations. While the Barnstormers rank third in the league in runs scored, they’re not the offensive juggernaut we thought they’d be because of all the departures. No Matt LeCroy, Dominick Ambrosini or Jason Perry. At the moment this is a good offensive team with a thin rotation and a bad bullpen. The bright spot is the rest of the Freedom Division is no great shakes, either.
Links:
*AL standings
*York is also 0-7 on the road. Maybe it’s something in the Susquehanna Valley water. The Revs have a collected OPS of .660. That’s like having an entire lineup filled with Eric Bruntletts.
C’mon Nannini!
If nothing else, at least Dave will have fun saying “Nannini”. Let’s hope he gets to keep saying it the entire game.
Dave rolls his r’s very well, as evidenced by last night’s “Herrera”.
Way to go Dave!
Yay!
No more pink quilts!
“In the big picture, it might be time to adjust expectations. While the Barnstormers rank third in the league in runs scored, they’re not the offensive juggernaut we thought they’d be because of all the departures.”
They don’t need to be. 5-0 in early innings is a pretty good show. Turning that into a 9-5 loss because the starter is pulled demonstrates that the bullpen is an embarrassment. I don’t miss Ambrosini or LeCroy or even DePriest, I miss Matt Knox and Charlie Weatherby. This team, as it stands now, will sink or swim on it’s bullpen and so far it can’t even tread water.
I remember last year Dave said he used to be a Spanish teacher which enplanes the fluidity of his rolling tongue.
My wife says that’s a hereditary thing. Either you CAN roll your r’s or you can NOT…there’s no way to learn it if you can’t already do it. I don’t buy it.
Of course, she can’t roll her r’s.
I wonder what Dave’s thoughts would be on that debate.
Cuz…it’s a pretty important topic these days. I’m sure he doesn’t have anything else to think about. He only works 3 hours a day.
Just kiddin’, Dave.
‘freedom division’
i’ll never get use to that.
I’m loosening my tongue up for tonight as we speak (or write). Let’s see. Rrr…rrr…Nuh-neeh-nee.
That is, if we play.
#6: Amen bruddah. I’m afraid that by the time the season is over, I’ll actually be sick of freedom. I will pine to be enslaved.
Jason,
Please ask ANY of the players if they have been drug tested this year…. and then PLEASE report on it!
southernalfan lives for drug testing!!
Can you believe we’re at game #14 already?
That’s 10% of the season.
dang, time flies when you’re bloggin’ away.
Game 14 already but only 6 home games. We start with a win tonight guys.
Rain, Rain, Go Away, Come Again Another Day. Hope we get this game in tonight.
Hey dj, in response to #5… Pregnancy did it for me.
Something happened and I could suddenly roll my Rrrr’s.. Now, I’m not saying you should all try it but ????
My wife has been pregnant 4 times already. If it hasn’t worked by now I say “So much for rollin’ your r’s, sweety”!
But that is interesting. Prrrrrregnancy….?
It’s quite impossible to type out the sound of a rolling r, wouldn’t you say?
“Yay! No more pink quilts!” – djspleen
Now I have a pink quilt… oh well, it is Lancaster County. Someday I’ll figure this avatar thing out and put one of my own up.
I hope things start to turn soon. I keep wishing, but my wishes have yet to be answered.
Go Stormers!
dadTB
Mr B, I’m beginning to believe Atlantic league teams travel to the song “Another one bites the dust” played in reverse. That’s why someone is obsessed with drug testing.
Well Desmond returned. Now will work on the user id.
Yesterday, my wife, daughter and I traveled to Daytona Bhttp://www.daytonacubs.com/ballpark-jackie.phpeach and had a great day. Even though we didnt get to see a Daytona Cub game (since they were out of town), we got a glimpse of Jackie Robinson Ballpark. It was not the newest, sharpest, best designed, nor most comfortable for fans, but it was definitely the most historic ball park that I have seen.
Around the park there were a score of plaques explaining Jackie’s path to the Major Leagues. This was the first park that Jackie had played in as a Major Leaguer. These plaques were very informative and this ball park is a must see for any ball fan.
You can read more detail about the park at this site.
http://www.daytonacubs.com/ballpark-jackie.php
One example of the information of the plaques talk about how in Florida Jackie could not play in a professional minor league game. One city padlocked the field so the game couldnt be played with Jackie participating. Another game was called because of lack of electricity to the lights–it was a DAY game. In another game, a policeman threw Jackie out of a game because of his color.
It was an enlightening day. Visit the ball park if you are ever in Daytona Beach.
Second post about my trip to Daytona Beach (first is in moderation as I type this one) is about a sporting event that I watched in Daytona Beach.
It was a minor league Arena Football League game. My whole family enjoyed the game. Much of the in between time was spent on fan events like a Barnstormer game, so that made us feel at home. They had some fans try field goals, a father-son team making catches further and further apart, the required mascot and emcee trivia games with the fans and other in between breaks “fan receiving prizes” games. My wife said the only thing missing was the Gochenour washer game.
The game is faster moving than the NFL and sport rules that favor the offense. But the one thing that I enjoyed most of all was basically being right next to the field. I bought tickets for the game at noon of the game and I got to sit two rows back of the midfield stripe. The action seemed right in front of me. Attendance was listed at 1537 and it seemed to be true since the small arena was very full.
The AF2 league’s motto is “action so real, you can feel it” The action was so close, the motto rang true. The football product on the field was very good. Very few sloppy plays, some very good hits and some very exciting offensive plays made for a very entertaining night.
Wilkes Barrre has a team and I thought I read in the program that Harrisburg is in the plans for a team. So, if any of you get a chance to see one of these games or the Arena Football League games I would recommend it, it was an entertaining game.
I would compare the closeness of the fans to the players like the closeness of the fans to the players in the Atlantic League. And the League seems to be very fan friendly.
Rained out tonight, guys. I can put my rolled R’s away for another day. Two Sunday. Can we hit the blogging post record?
To clarify post 18…first line should read, that …….
My wife, daughter and I traveled to Daytona Beach and had a great day. Sorry for a mis-type of the website in that first line. Please do click on that site for a short history of the ball park.
Thanks. Nice quilt Dave.
Thanks Dave. Too bad but no surprise. Maybe the day off will do the bullpen some good.
Flyers vs Penquins should provide decent entertainment. I’ll go with the Flyers.
Not that I am sticking up for Von Hayes’s reportedly bush league cut of Ross, but had he cut anyone else from last year’s team during this current season?????
pack…I think there was a guy by the name of Dominick Ambrosini…How soon we forget…haha.
what if Von is Bipolar? What if he thinks he’s better so off the meds he goes? This could be serious folks! What if he tries to fire Lupton but Lupton says “Excuse me, what are you doing”, and the Gladestone walks in and says “I’m in charge now” as he puts on a red BASA cap!
a r s fan……ha ha….you are right!!! I totally forgot about him. thanks for the reminder.
I looked through the whole roster and couldnt remember who Von Hayes had axed. I did forget about the .179 hitting Ambrosini.
GO PENS!!!!
Ross was a member of the Lancaster community and deserved better. Ambrosini was here a few months…I could get the time of day out of him!
I am looking to the next game. I hope they don’t get rained out again!!
When the Penguins and Flyers are on I’ll be watching it! This series will be BRUTAL!
Packmule I agree:
GO PENS!!!
Hockey is my first love. Being from Pittsburgh originally and having played hockey back in the late 60’s, Me like hockey!
I am kind of concerned about the Red Wings. I think it will be Penguins vs Red Wings.
I never really asked. I guess there are some ice hockey teams locally. Anyone help me out? Yes, I have been to a number of Hershey games.
As for the ‘Stormers (my second love), things ain’t looking too good. I’m starting to get a strong dislike for “Herr Field Marshal” Von Hayes!
Testing new avatar.
Pack & luelui …. Remember Les Binkley?
Congrats on last nights win. Although I am Flyers fan I am objective. The layoff killed the Flyers. It’s the easiest way to cool of a hot team. Sorry to say it but I think the Penguins in 6. The other thing that bothers me about the delay is I’m going to the Phillies game Tuesday night and will have an additional 20,000 people to deal with in traffic! Speakin of the Phightin’s, how about Jimmy Rollins return. I’m waiting to see if he plays today or if he is sore.
Go Stormers … Let’s turn things around with a win tonight!
I think I’ve had about enough of this “Hayes is the antichrist” crap. Maybe I’ll log in as “q foster” from now on and talk about how great Klebe was. Enjoy.
Mark I agree, it’s getting old (See post #90 under Peeples Released).
Jason – Any updates on Matt LeCroy? Is he traveling with the team?
Mark…I couldn’t agree more. These attacks on Hayes are totally unjustified. here we go again with all the Cheerleading for past Glory. Yes, Ross was a fine guy and upstanding citizen. Everyone Loved the guy. He was a class act.
OK, NOW GET OVER IT!!! Ross was having a terrible year and I do mean year. not just a game or a week….YEAR. He was terrible from the start. Maybe he wasn’t in shape. Maybe he thought he’d never get cut. Well, wake up and smell the coffee.
People…this is PROFESSIONAL Baseball. This isn’t the Local Beer League. Yeah, you can go have a Beer with the Guys after the Game…but if they don’t play very well, it’s NOT like ya gotta keep them because they are Employed by the Company.
Hayes has done NOTHING in my eyes to change my opinion of the guy. If you don’t play, you don’t stay….period!!
You want Klebe back?? You want Tommy the Buddy back??
Hayes knows how to Manage a Game better than either of the past guys. The guy is a Professional Manager. I’ll take him any day and 2x on Sunday.
These attacks on Hayes are just Bogus
Last I heard, LeCroy was supposed to rest the shoulder for several days and if the pain persisted, he was going to have an MRI to see if there is any structural damage. I don’t know if he’s in Newark since I’m not there, but since he was placed on the 7-day DL Monday, he’s not eligible to play this weekend.
I’ve gotten a couple of emails — one exceedingly nasty — about comments not showing up on the blog. If that happened to you, I apologize. It happens sometimes with Word Press, especially when traffic is heavy or if comments are posted back-to-back really quickly.
There have been some comments that I have deleted because I viewed them as either offensive or designed to cause an argument. That’s within my discretion since my employers look at this space and it’s my responsibility to keep the conversation civil. I try to make those instances rare because I want this place to be lively and — most importantly — fun. Thanks for your understanding.
Back to baseball.
Booby- You are showing more patience than the man that you revere. To even suggest that Von Hayes knows how to manage better than Tom is simply ludicrous. Where has he won? Affiliated baseball, where the squads are put together by higher ups and you are told who should play and how long. What’s his winning percentage in the Atlantic League? Herr has an unbelievable ability to judge talent.
We really haven’t seen enough of Hayes to make a judgment about his managerial style. There is one stark difference between Hayes and Herr that is obvious.
If Herr had a player he didn’t think was especially talented or a great fit, he would try to find a way to get the most out of that player by using him in the right situations. Herr only released eight guys in two seasons and those players were either completely incapable or weren’t good in the clubhouse.
If Hayes has a player he doesn’t think is especially talented or a great fit, he releases that player.
Jason, Is it up to Hayes to release a pitcher or is it up to the pitching coach?
Hayes has the final say. Rick Wise obviously has input. In this case, since Wise had coached Peeples for three years prior to this season and didn’t object to re-signing the pitcher, I suspect it was Hayes’ decision.
Jason: Thanks for not letting this turn into LOL, it’s very much appreciated.
Now then, perhaps the difference between Herr and Hayes is their available talent pool. Both seem to be fairly gruff and don’t seem terribly comfortable in a meet-n-greet situation. I’ve heard both can be demanding…uh….dictators. But Hayes showed up with a posse and apparently has more waiting in the wings while, as I recall, Herr didn’t show up with much other than himself which meant more work finding replacements. So perhaps Hayes can afford to release more players “on a whim” while Herr could not?
There are several stark differences in Managing a Game between Herr and Hayes.
1. Herr left Pitchers in long after they were effective. Hayes has a quicker hook.
2. Herr wasn’t as aggressive on the Bases as Hayes is. Not just in SB but also HitnRun.
3. Herr has this idea that your lineup had to be LRLRLR…regardless of effectiveness. Hayes is alot more flexible.
Tommy wins 1 time and he’s a God?? rofl I didn’t realize that winning in Organized ball didn’t count for anything?? lol Then why did Tommy leave here to get into an Organization??? Hmmmm
Judging talent and Managing a Game are 2 different things.
No, I don’t “revere” Hayes…rofl. I do like his style of Managing a Game .
Luelui, I am from Irwin. What part of Pittsburgh are you from???
Barney, sorry. I dont remember Les. Do you remember Pak our Korean defenseman from the 90s???
I have been a Penguins fan. But hangin around my brothers-in-law, I can appreciate the Flyers now and over the years.
I am sure it will be a great series.
Pack I’m from Mckeesport. Lived there 35 years. I went to the Hornet games before the Penquins took over. I even played hockey on the ice there. No pro but local league. I had 3 farm team offers but I think the salaries for a pro player then was like 8,000 a year. I also saw a picture bio of Gordie Hull and his face looked like he tried French kiss a Mack truck, LOL!
Here’s a little a little know tidbit about the Penguin mascot in those early days. They used to bring a live penguin from the zoo to waddle around on the ice. They had to stop after the third or fourth one died. They all caught colds and died because of the temperature changes and walking on the ice!
Do you remember Michele Briere? I was lucky enough to see him play.
I root for the Flyers whenever they aren’t conflicting with Pittsburgh