Von Hayes’ first season with the Barnstormers was rocky, particularly at the beginning. The manager made a heavy-handed first impression when he released Dominick Ambrosini in spring training and other players in the first few weeks. The general feeling in the clubhouse was dissatisfaction. Players believed they deserved a longer look before getting cut loose.
It [...]
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During his meeting with the media last week, manager Von Hayes addressed one of the most difficult questions facing the Barnstormers this winter. Should they bring back C Lance Burkhart? The answer was yes, with a caveat.
Hayes said he’d like to see Burkhart return in a lesser role, playing perhaps two days a week instead [...]
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Von Hayes and Tom Herr met at Clipper Magazine Stadium Monday to begin the process of constructing the 2009 roster. While many, including myself, have wondered aloud how two accomplished skippers will handle being on the same staff, neither of those men think there’s any reason for concern.
Hayes pointed out that former managers become coaches [...]
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“This past season got me thinking a little bit – being released, going to independent ball. I have thought a little bit about what I’m going to do. For the time being, though, I want to put that on the back burner, especially now that things have worked out the way they have. This is [...]
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When Von Hayes begins his second season with the Barnstormers, there will be one fundamental difference from 2008. This time the manager chose the coaching staff. It was Hayes’ decision to bring Tom Herr aboard as bench coach and it was Hayes — in consultation with Herr and Keith Lupton — who decided to hire [...]
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Former Barnstormers pitcher Barry Armitage is listed on South Africa’s provisional roster for the World Baseball Classic, which will be played in March. Armitage allowed seven earned runs in three innings in the 2006 WBC, including an appearance against the U.S. team. The right-handed reliever went 2-4 with a 5.06 ERA in 23 games for [...]
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Bill Bliss has been named the second pitching coach in Barnstormers history.
The 39-year-old was most recently the pitching coach with the Phillies’ short-season rookie team in Batavia, N.Y. and Williamsport from 2006-08. He also ran extended spring training for the Phillies — helping players rehabilitate from injuries — and served as a scout for [...]
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Scanning through the transactions revealed an interesting nugget: Former Barnstormers shortstop Jason Bowers has signed with the Tampa Bay Rays. Bowers spent the previous two years in the Pirates system, splitting time between Double-A Altoona and Triple-A Indianapolis last season — when he hit a combined .253 with six homers and 43 RBIs in 120 [...]
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I’ve had the glory. I’ve been to the top. So why am I here? It’s gotta be the love for it. It can’t be nothing else.
Once it was announced that Lancaster was going to have an Atlantic League franchise, one of my first assignments was to cover the 2004 All-Star Game in Camden. The purpose [...]
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