 |
Eric Ackerman 0-4, 3.83 ERA |
|
Donovan Osborne 0-0, 2.25 ERA |
|---|
The Ducks are starting to resemble the kind of team we’ve seen from them in recent years. The big names are gradually migrating to Central Islip, including P Donovan Osborne – who throws tonight – and OF Jay Gibbons.
Long Island looked more like a typical Atlantic League club for most of this season. Sure, the Ducks had Carl Everett, 
but the majority of their players were unfamiliar to casual fans. The Ducks’ lack of major-league cachet has translated into a lack of wins. They are 24-26 and 5½ games behind first-place Camden. That’s an unfamiliar position for a franchise has endured one losing season since 2001.
Gibbons is a potentially huge addition, considering his talent and apparent motivation to prove himself. The former Orioles OF sent a heartfelt letter every major-league team last month begging for a minor-league deal. He received no offers. The cloud of performance-enhancing drugs, combined with mediocre production last season, has made Gibbons a perceived risk.
“I have faith and hope that some team will give me the chance to prove that I can not only be a productive player but also be a stellar member of their organization,” Gibbons said in that letter. “My faith in a second chance has inspired me to work harder than I have at any time in my life. My faith has gotten me through this most difficult period in my life.”
Gibbons is only 31 and just one year removed from an above-average season in the majors. He played for parts of seven seasons with the Orioles and posted a slugging percentage over .450 five times. He could make his Atlantic League debut tonight and could make a big impact down the line.
Power outage:
Lance Burkhart is the Barnstormers’ leader in slugging percentage at .457. That ranks him 23rd in the league among hitters with at least 100 official at-bats. Every team except York has at least three players with a higher slugging percentage than Lancaster’s No. 1 guy. Think this team could use a middle-of-the-order bat? Or two?
Although the Barnstormers rank second in the league with 52 home runs, thanks in part to the cheapies they get at the Clip, their overall power production is poor. Their slugging percentage on the road is .378. Again, only York is worse away from its home ballpark.
Lineups …
(19-31) |
(24-26) |
|---|---|
| Juan Francia, 2B | Alex Sanchez, CF |
| Mike Woods, LF | Ray Navarrete, 2B |
| Danny Gonzalez, SS | Pete Rose, Jr., 1B |
| Manny Mejia, C | Kevin Haverbusch, RF |
| Jutt Hileman, CF | Jay Gibbons, DH |
| Greg Blosser, DH | Jamie Pogue, C |
| Lance Burkhart, 1B | Donaldo Mendez, SS |
| Ivanon Coffie, 3B | Pete Maestrales, LF |
| Lloyd Turner, RF | Damian Rolls, 3B |
Scoring summary …
| Barnstormers | 021 | 000 | 103 | 7 | 12 | 0 |
| Ducks | 000 | 101 | 001 | 3 | 6 | 0 |
-
WP: Eric Ackerman (1-4)
LP: Donovan Osborne (0-1)
FINAL: Barnstormers 7, Ducks 3
Stormers 2nd: Burkhart’s home run scores Hileman.
Lancaster leads 2-0.
Stormers 3rd: Gonzalez’s single scores Francia.
Lancaster leads 3-0.
Ducks 4th: Haverbusch’s sacrifice fly scores Navarrete.
Lancaster leads 3-1.
Ducks 6th: Navarrete hits solo home run.
Lancaster leads 3-2.
Stormers 7th: Jarred Ball’s double scores Turner.
Lancaster leads 4-2.
Stormers 9th: Turner’s double scores Burkhart. Ball’s single scores Coffie and Turner.
Lancaster leads 7-2.
Ducks 9th: Rose hits solo home run.
Lancaster wins 7-3.
Box score:
RECORD: 20-31
PLAYER OF THE GAME: Eric Ackerman
Finally, his first win and it was a gem:
| 8 IP | 4 H | 2 R | 2 ER | 0 BB | 6 K |
This was the best outing of Ackerman’s three-year Barnstormers career and it was his third quality start this season. The lefty only allowed two extra-base hits and didn’t issue a walk. Ackerman has lowered his ERA to 3.61. Only three starters still in the league – Newark’s Pat Stanley and Benito Baez and Camden’s Ryan Drese – have a better ERA.
The pitchers:
*Jose Cabrera allowed his first earned run of the season on Pete Rose Jr.’s solo homer in the ninth. He’ll have to live with a 0.71 ERA for now.
The hitters:
*Juan Francia was moved into the leadoff spot. It was a smart move considering the switch hitter’s success against lefties. Francia had two hits before leaving the game in the fourth inning with an apparent injury. The second baseman is hitting .345 in 15 games in June.
*Jarred Ball, who replaced Francia in the lineup, delivered an RBI double and a two-run single over a drawn-in infield. The team was 4-for-5 out of the No. 1 spot in the order.
*Lance Burkhart belted home run No. 10. Only Bridgeport’s Jesse Hoorelbeke and Long Island’s Ray Navarrete have more. Navarrete hit his 12th in this game. The Barnstormers would have been happy if Ray stayed in Mexico.
*Greg Blosser has started his Barnstormers career 0-for-10 with four strikeouts.
*As expected, Reggie Taylor has returned to the Mexican League with Olmecas de Tabasco. Interestingly, that was the team Navarrete joined for about a week. Taylor presumably took Navarrete’s roster spot.
The bottom line:
This was the Barnstormers’ first win in five games at CitiBank Park. If they can produce some runs, the pitching is usually good enough for this team to be successful. That was the case Tuesday night. Maybe people will finally acknowledge that Ackerman can be a starter in this league.
The Atlantic League page has York’s Matt Dryer placed on the inactive list. Maybe our pitchers were to tough on him.
I just read on Revolution Ramblings that it was due to a family illiness back in New York. Sorry for the negative comment Matt. Hope everything is OK.
Jason – In regards to Jay Gibbons, do you think any other AL team had a shot at him or do you think that the players feel LI is the quickest way back to affiliated ball. For once I think it’s safe to say in this case it wasn’t about the money. It’s a shame that he didn’t end up with the ‘Stormers. He probably could have put up some big numbers here with the short right field. It just might have been a quicker ticket for him. I was just wondering if we ever had a shot.
Hope It’s not too serious .. I may be against York but I do like Matt
Rad..hip surgery for his father.
Haha Barney..US have a chance at Gibbons?? If ODP even had a chance at him I am sure he would have been in York before here…being as they love that Oriole connection.
would like to wish the best for matt and his family and hope he is back soon.
Barney brings up a good point about how LI seams to be the fastest way back to affiliated ball, but my question is, how many LI Ducks have been signed verses other teams so far this year?
Sorry, “seems” instead of “seams”. Must have been thinking of sewing something.
Thanks.. hips surgery is getting pretty routine and the rehab isn’t too bad thee days. Best wishes our to Papa Dryer
Best of luck to Eric tonight and to the Stormers!!!
hope they can tame the Ducks!!!
To heck with taming them.. It’s huntin season boys .. Lock and load !!!
SiY – There is still another big lefthanded bat mentioned in the article above that is still looking for work. Maybe we give Mr Bonds and offer like Jay Gibbons?
Jason – Kidding about Bonds but would like your take on the Gibbons deal.
Hey Rad…..The guys should just rare back and let it all exploded tonight
The Barnstormers never inquired about Gibbons. York did. The Revs had a shot because Sam Snider, their third base coach, was the Orioles’ bullpen catcher when Gibbons was there. Gibbons chose Long Island instead.
I really don’t think it matters what team you play for as far as getting back to affiliated ball. The Ducks often have the most players signed because they have the most high-profile guys.
This year the Barnstormers have the most because they had some younger guys with Double-A and Triple-A success behind them. Scouting is overrated as far as getting out of this league. Guys get signed based on their backgrounds and their connections more than what scouts think.
Why is Lance playing first base and not DH?? Ok I am still trying to understand this game and moving everyone around. So someone please fill me in on the line up, i do not get it.
thanks Dave I understand better now.
Way to go Lance, 10th home run,
can someone tell me how juan did on his second at bat? i know he scored on danny.s single but i missed how he got there. thanks!
crazy-lance is hot tonight!
What happen to juan he got hurt, but I missed it.
I guess that is what they get for not letting Dave go along. He is the bull pen catcher but he can play. Now we have no extra players left.
Lets hope nothing else happens.
Is there anyone out there tonight ?
dave when did juan get hurt?
never mind i just heard it on the radio.
Way to go Lance on your homerun, come on guys!!!
Way to go guys to keep Eric in the game
Hope Juan is ok
are we the only ones here dawn? eric.s still in!
Nice try Jarred.
5 to 2 in the 9th looking good,
im here
It is AWESOME for Eric, he needed this. Great job Ack!!!
Way to go Jarred, now 7 to 2 no outs. keep it up guys
We just need to hold them
way to go! crazy 27 jarred.s having a great game too.
great job jarred!!! Way to go guys!!!
I hope jaun is ok, any news on what happened to him?
i bet he.ll smile tonight.
I wish I knew what is up with Juan, I haven’t heard anything
i missed how juan got hurt. he called today at 330 and felt great and wanted to get 3 hits tonight. whatever.s wrong it must have happened during the game. maybe when he tried to steal?
thanks 08!!
come on jose!!!
No way!! come on no more hits we just need 2 more outs..
this is drivin me crazy!!!!
oh my!
1 more, come on guys!!!
way to go eric!
Great job Eric!!! i am so excited!!!
Way to go Stormers!!!
yippie!
YES!!! nice game guys.. Keep us updated on Jaun, please.
The guys BEATN L.I. !!!
must be the full moon. nice going Ack
Great job guys!!!! Congrats to Eric!!!! Way to come back and get ‘em!
I must be bad karma cause they win when I’m busy
Nice night for a fire in the pit.. smoores and all!!
OK boys I will not be listening tomorrow night
nice job tonight. I just want to say good luck the rest of the year. I don’t think I will be blogging that much. some know why..
Francia felt some tightness in his hamstring. Nothing serious, probably day to day.
Kelly:
I hope you will reconsider and not let those who may be misguided, overeacting, and ill-informed pressure you to do something like leave the blog. You are an important part of the blog, make valuable contributions and keep things interesting. Don’t change! Don’t give up! And most importantly – Don’t leave the blog!
I love smores. Maybe we could have a blogers meeting at Rad’s place around the pit with all-you-can eat smores!
Kelly, don’t leave!! I will miss ya
rad-i talked to juan and he said he was going to bed early and felt a lot better. he should be ready to play tomorrow night. cross your fingers!
I am glad juan is ok.
Kelley stay please do not let those people get to you. You know they are just jealous, they think of the team as one not as individuals. They are a team but they are all so individuals and should be treated with respect.
Is anyone going to Md Saturday?? I think we are.
I hope the line up for Todays game is better.
Yeah right, those guys go to bed early after a big win…NOT !!!
No, don’t change the line up.. things were good last night and I love winning with a nice big cushion, it helps me breath better!!!!
Speaking of winning with a big cushion, how about them Celtics? Great ending last night
Hope all is okay with Juan and hope he feels better
Good game Eric and team. I am glad to see Eric get a win. He was so close the other times. 3.61 ERA. Very impressive. Must be the mohawk.
We finish those ducks off tonight. Duck Stamps for everyone.
I noticed that Lance is playing first.
With Nichols gone and LeCroy not 100%, I wonder what Von’s thoughts are at first base until Ian comes back? Lance is a great player, don’t get me wrong, but he is no first basemen.
We have 24 active spots taken on the roster. Do you think they need to re-activade Dave until Ian is back or are they still looking?
Just some questions and thoughts.
It’ll be Coffie at 1B and Turner at 3B unless someone is unavailable to play in the field and the team has to move Turner around.
In unrelated news, Revs OF Jason Aspito bumped an umpire last night and is headed for suspension. He should get an extra game or two for saying: “It is what it is.”
I agree lance is great but first base?? That is what I ment about a line up change. Love the man but he should be taller (not that he can help that) to play first base he needs to leave the base to get balls over his head. not good.
Janson Why did they not do that last night? Are they just up for changes??
If the throws are accurate it doesn’t matter how tall the frst baseman is.
12 hits is much better! Way to go, guys. You did what you had to do to get the job done last night.
I was listening to the game as I was driving home from a meeting last evening and we had the lead. I could hear the crowd screaming in the background, “Let’s go Ducks! Let’s go Ducks!” All I could think about was… Alright, we’re winning!
Another game with no errors… Very good!
Commentary:
This a community of bloggers who have a passion for baseball and love listening to and watching our hometown boys, The Barnstormers. There are many differences of opinions among us who blog and not all of us are going to agree with each other. Could you imagine how boring that would be!?
There’s a major difference b/w being rude and obnoxious to others and expressing one’s opinions.
I would hope that we all can express ourselves and opinions in appropriate ways.
If I find something personally offensive, I will and have let Jason know what I’m thinking. I trust him as a moderator of this great site to control the atmosphere.
I would hope that no one would leave.
dadTB
I just feel some people take some things to serious. I have said this many times this is a site to vent about the team and the players but some people think you should be positive all the time. If the whole world would be positive we would not be at war. If people do not like what they read here then they should not be logging on. We are all human and are able to speak freely..
I thought war was a bad thing.
Nicely put Dad.
I think Kells is going to be in for an anonymous name change.. that way she can voice HER opinion without HER name being used… even though some will think it’s her.. There should be nothing more said on this subject!!! PERIOD
Kelley- Your insight (although sometimes a bit bias) is always greatly appreciated. It’s not a secret that I’m a big fan of #23, or whatever number he is wearing. There are a lot of people on this blog that have no clue about baseball, and less about what is going on with the Stormers. I’ve tried to tune it down a bit lately, but I don’t want someone like you to shy away from sharing your feelings. I’m sure Ross wants you to keep at it.