Hagerstown in the Carolina League???

An interesting post today in Ballpark Digest mentions something that is a long shot, but one that could put Hagerstown back in the game for professional baseball.

I started this post yesterday, but with some personal things that popped up, this was delayed.

In any event, the Bakersfield franchise in the High A California League has watched its plans for a new ballpark fall through, and with recent changes in California restricting public funding for new ballparks is highly unlikely to be revived.

This then leads to the return of an idea from a few years back in which the California League would sell two of its franchises (Bakersfield and reportedly High Desert) to the Carolina League to increase the CL to ten teams.
Suddenly there would be two franchises available for two towns that had recently lost pro baseball in Kinston NC and yes, Hagerstown.
One of the reasons this idea did not work to begin with was a lack of cities to move those teams to and now, there are three cities (if you include Columbia SC, who wants back into affiliated baseball) that might have chances to grab these teams.

Imagine a scenario that sees Hagerstown go into the Carolina League, the league that returned baseball to Hagerstown and saw its greatest success along with the ability to create what locals have salivated over for years Hagerstown Suns and Frederick Keys in the same league.
Normally,I would say the Carolina League might not be thrilled about two teams in the same geographic footprint, but under these circumstances, they might not be so picky.

The CL could pair Hagerstown with Frederick scheduling-wise as they currently do with Potomac, but with an added bonus-with the two teams being closer together than the current arrangement, visiting teams could stay in the same hotel for six/seven days, save gas and lower the expenses all around.
Plus this could start a rivalry between two neighboring cities, see fans go to both ballparks and build interest in a high school turf type war.

Personally from a scouting and graphing standpoint, I'd be happy staying in the South Atlantic League, but this would be a great move on many parts and it also allows one more thing-the thrill of beating Bruce Quinn.
The man who said Hagerstown would be better suited for short-season baseball would not only watch the town he left to get a higher level of baseball but do it beating him as well.
If there is any one reason for the casual fan to get behind this idea, it might be to save baseball and beat Bruce Quinn to boot!

Another solution could be to work a deal where Quinn gets one of these teams in the Carolina League, sets up a similar setup with Potomac, and sells the Suns to gain capital to make the purchase.
I'd be fine with that as well!

This is a long shot, but I can dream, right?
Dave Gysberts needs to get word to the right people that Hagerstown will build a park for a team, provided it is given,
Gysberts doesn't strike me as the greenest bean in the pot, but perhaps someone can educate him and still keep baseball in town.
Hopefully, someone in the dimwitted city council will begin to explore this possibility and turn this into reality....

Devils avoid victory in Vancouver

For the second night in a row,the New Jersey Devils held a multiple goal lead on their Canadian road trip and for the second night in a row,the Devils failed to hold it as the Vancouver Canucks earned a 3-2 overtime victory over the Devils.
The Devils goals went to Jaromir Jagr (2) in the first period and Patrik Elias (2) in the second to build the lead before the Canuck comeback.
Cory Schneider finished with 29 saves in his return to British Columbia.
The Devils will get two days before a Friday night return to Alberta and the Calgary Flames.
Coverage of that will be limited as I will be at the road office....

Hell Raisers

1) The pregame hype was about the return of Cory Schneider to Vancouver and his battle with Roberto Luongo.
As far as that goes,it lived up to the hype.
Schneider played excellent and none of the three goals should be on him as one came off a deflection,another off a beautiful goal by Alexander Edlin and the game winner by Jason Garrison was one that Schneider was screened on.

2) I have been critical of Jaromir Jagr's speed and that is not a criticism,it's a fact,but another note is a fact too-His hands still rank among the best in the game.
Put Jagr in a position to finish and he does and he gets his shot released as fast as anyone in the game.

3) I know Peter DeBoer is getting piled on by some Devils fans (Rachel too),but he didn't help himself when he finally placed Mark Fayne in the lineup,which has been overdue.
The problem is that DeBoer selected the wrong person to scratch in Adam Larsson.
I didn't think Larsson played badly in Edmonton and instead DeBoer scratches Larsson and keeps the player that DID play badly against the Oilers in the lineup in Peter Harrold.
I have doubts that Harrold should even be on the team and he plays over Adam Larsson?

4) Adam Larsson is the one defenseman on the Devils that has the potential to be a top star in the league.
Larsson is also the best skater and along with maybe Andy Greene is the only blueliner that could be counted on both ends of the ice.
Why this is still happened with scratches makes me question Pete DeBoer and wonder if he will be the right coach when the next wave of prospects arrives in Newark...

5) The Patrik Elias-Jaromir Jagr combo looks to be heating up a bit with some chemistry.
The goal that Jagr scored was off a slick pass from Elias that left Roberto Luongo at the pairs mercy.
For the automatic assumption that the two had played together in international competition,they claim to have played very little as a line.
From what I have seen,the Devils are going to need more of what they had last night in Vancouver...

6) Thus far,not impressed with Ryane Clowe.
Clowe seems out of sync and downright (you guessed it) slow afoot.
Clowe hasn't created one scoring opportunity yet in four games and for his salary hit-the Devils need more than that.

7) Overall,I'm not ready to jump ship yet.
I know getting one point in three games in a row is not clearly as nice as getting two-but still points are points and it doesn't affect the Devils to be giving points to Western Conference foes nearly as much as it would to do so to Eastern opponents.
That said-I just don't feel good about this team defensively and that is supposed to be the strength of the team.
It's early,but wow-I am a little concerned....

Photo Credti:AP Photo

Dried up in Edmonton,Devils fall 5-4

For two periods,the New Jersey Devils looked good and played better in building a 3-0 lead and appeared to be on their way to their first victory of the season.
However, in a eight minute span,not only had the Devils been caught on the scoreboard,the team had been surpassed and looked to be in danger of not even gaining a point!
Patrik Elias' score with the team shorthanded (1 Shorthanded) allowed the Devils to tie the game and at least salvage a point before the Edmonton Oilers would win the shootout,the game and the extra point in a 5-4 Devils loss in Edmonton.
The Devils received other goals from Damien Brunner (3 Powerplay),Michael Ryder (2) and Jaromir Jagr (1).
New Jersey will not have time to sulk over the stunning defeat as they will return in Vancouver tonight...

Hell Raisers

1) Let's deal with the top story first-Unacceptable.
When you have the amount of veteran defensemen that this team carries and just blows a game like this something needs to be at least looked at and I don't care that its only the third game of the season.
When your youngest defenseman (Adam Larsson) has the best game on the night,then the vets need to shape up!
Bryce Salvador handed the Oilers a powerplay with a dumb penalty (puck over the glass) and generally played an awful final period.
Anton Volchenkov was generally bad and don't get me started on Peter Harrold!

2) Ok,you got me started on Peter Harrold.
Harrold must have something that this writer misses.
It's been a progression for ol' Pete.I went from wondering why he made the roster to why Harrold is playing and Mark Fayne is scratched to why so much ice time to why is Harrold on the specialty units to oh never mind...
Peter Harrold should be the 7th defenseman AT BEST and instead is a constant handicap to this team.

3) Martin Brodeur was brilliant for two periods,not so good in the third.
Not all the goals were on him,but not a good period for Brodeur-no matter how hard you try to excuse him....

4) The Patrik Elias goal to tie the game was the first of the year for a returning Devil.

5) I really like Damian Brunner.
He shoots the puck and might be the most creative player offensively on a team crying out for some!
I also like the lunchpail attitude as well...

6) And ditto for Michael Ryder.
I have always thought Ryder's game would make him a good Devil and he has been thus far.
His goal was a very pretty one and he goes to the net too,another plus on a team that can reluctant to hit the net....

7) Finally,I know some are already hitting the Peter DeBoer must go button.
I'm not-for now.
I am frustrated with the constant shaking up of lines at a time of year that consistency builds chemistry and I am sick of his devotion to some players-Peter Harrold,that are lucky to even be employed yet given key ice time,but let's look at it this way,If the Devils had split games in regulation,they would have the same two points that they have now.
I will admit that I don't like the way things are headed,but let's not move too quickly.
DeBoer didn't allow four goals and DeBoer isn't the guy that gets stoned on every shootout attempt (Devils 0 for 9 in the shootout) that the Devils take,so don't be hasty-there is plenty of time for that...

Photo Credit-AP Photo

Better late than never-Browns thoughts!

This will not really be a recap of the Browns win over the Bills last Thursday,it will be some thoughts on the Browns from recent days.


I know the Brian Hoyer injury is disheartening for Browns fans,but it does work for pro and con sides.
The Pro? Well,it does mean one final look at Brandon
Weeden,which means that the team could improve that first rounder but also makes sure that the team knows that Weeden is not "the guy".
I like to think anyone watching the games knew that last year,but I'm grasping for straws here.

The bad part is the loss of Hoyer,who had given Browns fans some hope in his starts,but it is also bad for Hoyer,who just saw any chance of grabbing the job and not letting go leave the wayside.
Hoyer will likely be just the backup to whatever young QB that the Browns draft next season.

Willis McGahee doesn't have the burst of old,but from what I saw against the Bills,he has enough left to get the team through the season.
Cleveland will still look for a back next season,but McGahee will get the team by for the year.

Greg Little added more frustration by bringing two kicks out from deep in the end zone and barely getting the ball to the ten.
Common sense says down the ball,but Little tried to make a big play and failed both times.

Trent Richardson continues to make Joe Banner look smart ( and the few of us that liked the deal) as he spent another game as a Colt averaging three yds a carry and doing the same thing he did as a Brown showing the plowhorse mentality.
The Colts are 4-1,so that pick looks to be in the 20's,but still I wager that Richardson would have brought nowhere near that if you project his final 2013 numbers.....

Travis Benjamin finished with 179 yards returning,which set a Browns record.
Benjamin broke the record of Eric Metcalf,who scored two TD's in a upset win over the Steelers in 1993.
Benjamin has the type of quickness that lends itself to more of a punt returner then the stronger build of a successful kickoff returner.....

This Sunday's game against the Lions will go a long to seeing if the Browns are contenders or pretenders.
After the Lions at home,the Browns then play three of the next four on the road against the Packers,the surprising 5-0 Chiefs and the Bengals with the Ravens being the only home game.
Looking at the schedule there,the Lions game looms as almost a must!

Escape in Evanston-Buckeyes win 40-30

The Ohio State Buckeyes made multiple mistakes against a strong opponent and as I chatted with my friend Ian during the game, more than once did each of us think that this may not be the Buckeyes night.
However,it was one man's night wearing white as Carlos Hyde pounded the Northwestern defense for 168 yards and three touchdowns and Ohio State escaped with a 40-30 victory at Ryan Field.
The escape enabled the Buckeyes to move to 6-0 overall and 2-0 in the Big Ten,which kept those pesky National Championship hopes alive.
Ohio State gets its in conference bye next week before the Iowa Hawkeyes on the following Saturday.

Olentangy Offerings

1) I know I've said that Jordan Hall is the best back on the team and I've also said that Hall gets injured far too easy.
Hall missed the game and Carlos Hyde stepped into the breach.
For a game plan such as this-Hyde would be the superior choice anyway as his bruising running style would be more likely to wear down the Wildcats

2) Hyde did just that and Ohio State needed him badly as this was not Braxton Miller's night.
Two fumbles and an interception (his arm was hit while throwing) may have ended any Heisman hopes.
Sometimes,you just have a bad game,but I do wonder if Urban Meyer was even mildly tempted to see what Kenny Guiton could do.

3) The Ohio State offense did not score an offensive touchdown until the second half and much of that has to be on red zone issues.
The problems in the first half was moving the ball and then using Carlos Hyde too much.
The time for a bruising back is late,not early and maybe Urban Meyer was a bit too conservative early on...

4) The hopes for a BCS run took a hit these last two weeks.
Both Wisconsin and Northwestern are good clubs and played tough,which may be the best thing in the long run,but will hurt the chances of getting to the big game.
The schedule shows no ranked teams until michigan and it looks like the hope is this -run the table and hope for some Pac 10 help with Oregon and Stanford beating each other up and the same in the ACC for Clemson and Florida State.
If you ask me,its unlikely...

5) I did like the blocked punt and following recovery for a touchdown by Bradley Roby.
Although if Roby did not get the block,about one of three other guys would have.
Hell,I think Brutus Buckeye was within a few inches away from the block!
Just too many players for the Wildcats to block on the play...

6) Speaking of Bradley Roby though,for the second week in a row,the All American had issues in coverage and allowed some big plays for his man.
Not the type of games that one expects from a player expected to be a first round NFL pick...

7) The stand that gave OSU the football on a 4th and 1 stand with two and a half minutes to play was the game ender,but I thought Kane Colter's knee was down before the line was even close.
I bet replays would have shown that as well....

8) Funny point of the night-the lateral plays on the final play that the Buckeyes fell on in the end zone for the touchdown and a ten point win,not a three point victory.
Brent Musberger brought it up without specifics about much money in the big monster known as sports gambling shifted hands from one column to another.
I laughed from the road office...

9) Another big play was an interception by Doran Grant that set the Carlos Hyde touchdown that gave Ohio State the lead.Grant gambled and unlike Bradley Roby-won...

10) Urban Meyer's fake punt inside their own territory failed,but it still was worth the risk in my opinion.
Ohio State shows that they will do anything at any time and keeps opponents on their toes for any possibility.
For one game,it backfired,but will be worth its weight down the road....

11) Northwestern has always been the lone wolf being a private school in a conference filled with state universities,but Northwestern did have a terrific atmosphere at Ryan Field and I love Pat Fitzgerald as a coach,
Ryan has problems rooting for other Big Ten teams other than his Badgers,but I have always had a soft spot for Wisconsin, Iowa,Purdue and now Northwestern under Pat Fitzgerald.

12) I referred to Buckeye title hopes above and what would be helpful would be for the Wildcats to run the table,finish with one loss and hope that michigan enters their big game with only that loss.
The Buckeyes are going need all the schedule strength that they can get....

I haven't forgotten the Browns recap from Thursday,so I hope to be back soon with some thoughts on that...

Photo Credit: Cleveland Plain Dealer.

Pirates even NLCS at one!

Gerrit Cole was dominant in six innings and Pedro Alvarez connected for another homer in the NLDS as the Pittsburgh Pirates cruised to a 7-1 win over the Cardinals in St.Louis.
Cole allowed just two hits over six innings and added an RBI single as well in the victory.

The series moves to Pittsburgh on Sunday with Joe Kelly for the Cardinals and Francisco Liriano for Pittsburgh.

Pirate Hooks

1) Gerrit Cole hit 100 MPH five times in the win and showed the type of effort that made him the first pick in the draft.
Cole was almost unhittable other than the Yadier Molina homer in the fifth and with that type of arm,Cole might be the difference in this series for a few innings if needed.

2) Pedro Alvarez might have hit a homer in garbage time in game one,but his bomb in game two set the stage for the Pirates win.
Alvarez might strike out a ton,but this season he has broken out with the type of power that again was expected when he was drafted....

3) The Pirates did what they needed a split in St.Louis,now the series is back to Pittsburgh and a key game three.
Win game three,I think you win the series...

Photo Credit:Peter Diana-PGH Post-Gazette

Quick PPM

With tons to write about,this is another quick PPM
Last Week 3-3
Season 21-9

College
Ohio State over Northwestern 32-21
Texas Tech over Kansas 42-21
Bowling Green over Massachusetts 27-19
Game of the Week
Stanford over Washington 27-21

Pros
Browns over Bills 17-13 (Picked before)
Saints over Bears 34-27
Game of the Week
Seahawks over Colts 31-19