Opening Night with the Suns

Lots to write about in the next 24 hours-Pirates,a Devil playoff preview and a look back to one of my childhood favorites in Mark "the bird" Fidrych,who continued a bad run of tragedy in passing yesterday.

But for now,The Hagerstown Suns kicked off their home schedule for 2009 last night against the visiting Delmarva Shorebirds through a damp and occasionally rainy night.
The game was well played (except for a few mind boggling base running mistakes by the Suns) in a 2-1 Delmarva win.
I was able to get a few things signed and I will do a on the signing front later in the week at the conclusion of the series with some results.

The opener was one of the five game package that the Suns combined together for fans to have all you can eat sandwiches off the grill and cans of soda.
This is a different format than Feed Your Face Monday,in which you have to have items from the concession and no grilled items.

Good News-The grilled chicken sandwiches were tremendous.Very tasty.
Bad News-The hamburgers were borderline cold,but considering the weather conditions,I can give them a pass today.

The format was that you had to go through a line and could only get one item at a time.
I think two items would worked better and kept lines moving,but this is a first effort and perhaps some tweaking could occur before the next attempt.

The best part of the evening was catching up with quite a few readers from both the mailing list and readers from off the list,its funny sometimes at games when I just talk about things and then to have people say that they know already because I wrote about whatever I said here.

Points to the Suns for rescinding the Smith/Himsworth policy and allowing collectors extra space as long as they aren't bothering patrons.
I asked Bob Flannery about this at the meet the team party and he saw no problem with the request.
The Suns backed it up-Good job,guys.

Some of the box seats are now screened a bit and after some of the hits that fans took last season,that is a great idea.
I am not a fan of completely screening the fans off,but the spots that the Suns worked on were bad spots and needed to be taken care of.

The Sunsations are back with the same tired and uninspired routine,but I wont whip that dead horse (for now).

The free pizza giveaway must have been a small casualty of the economic times as the pizza was reduced from a large to a medium and the sponsorship switched from Papa John's to Pizza Hut.
I prefer Papa John's,but the pizza around here is pretty bad anywhere.

Rain is in the forecast for the next two days,so I am hoping between the two days,we can get one game in.....

Bullpen Notes

Looks like my trip to West Virginia is off for now.
The chance of rain is just too damn high (Remember that line from the film Used Cars?) to drive 300 miles...


Picked up a win this weekend with Paul Williams unanimous win over Winky Wright.
Williams clearly won the bout,but there was more action in the match than I expected considering the defensive skills of both fighters....

And finally for those of you that remember Battlin Bob and his pal Drew Himsworth,check out this player created (not by me) that plays on our Simulation team.
Worth the click.

Until later today/tonight.

Pirate power attack bombs Reds 10-2

Ryan Doumit's grand slam (1) and Nate McLouth's two run shot(2) in the first inning were more than enough to ease the Pirates by Cincinnati 10-2 at Great American Ballpark.
Doumit's shot in the ninth inning turned the game into a romp and Adam LaRoche followed it with his first homer of the season.
Paul Maholm got the win (1-0) with a strong seven inning effort allowing one run and three hits.
The teams finish the series at 1:35.

Pitching Matchup
Pittsburgh:Ian Snell (0-1 13.50 ERA) at Cincinnati:Aaron Harang (0-1 1.80 ERA) 1:35

Pirate Hooks

1) Sorry that I cannot give any personal insight on the game from watching as I forgot about the ridiculous policy from FOX that even if you have the extra innings package all games are blacked out so that FOX can bring you the Yankee or Red Sox game of the week.
So I was unable to watch it.

2) Paul Maholm has thus far lived up to the new contract and dubbing as the number one starter.
Two top notch starts has the optimist side of me smiling a bit that the Pirates might have gotten one right....

3) Nyjer Morgan continued to add to his hot start with 3 hits and two steals.
Morgan still isn't my idea of a corner outfield starter and I still think he is more Tike Redman than Kenny Lofton,but I am open to being wrong.

4) Not sure on my scouting trip to West Virginia this Wed yet.
Forecast calls for rain and I am not wild about driving 295 miles to be rained out.

5) Pirate prospect Bryan Morris is on the DL with shoulder inflammation.
Morris would be a huge loss to the pitching poor system as Morris is one of two (Brad Lincoln) above average prospects that the Pirates have.

Bonus Round
Congrats to one of our favorites Jared Hughes as Jared threw six no hit innings last night against Erie,but the bullpen allowed two runs as Erie dropped Altoona 2-0.
Hopefully,this will be a big year for Jared as the Bucs can use all the hurlers that they can get!

Bullpen Notes

SportsBusinessJournal.com is reporting that ESPN is beginning to quietly talk to cable and satellite systems about switching ESPN Classic out in favor of the low carried ESPNU.
ESPNU is in a battle for market share with College Sports Network and has been having problems getting carried by systems.
ESPN Classic is not making any new programs and seems to be the logical choice to switch...

Quick pick on tonight's Paul Williams-Winky Wright fight.
This could be a dull fight unless Williams decides to make the fight.
Wright has been inactive and his style has never been known for great fights.
Williams by decision

Our record for the year:5-2-1 with 3 bonus points

Back tomorrow with the Devils win over Carolina and Williams vs Wright

Photo Credit
Doumit:Al Behrman-AP Photo

To An Athlete Dying Young

Not much Pirate news,so I thought that I would share this famous poem by AE Houseman as a tribute to the late Nick Adenhart.
Back later with Pirates-IF the rain ever leaves Cincinnati....

The time you won your town the race
We chaired you through the market-place;
Man and boy stood cheering by,
And home we brought you shoulder-high.

Today, the road all runners come,
Shoulder-high we bring you home,
And set you at your threshold down,
Townsman of a stiller town.

Smart lad, to slip betimes away
From fields where glory does not stay,
And early though the laurel grows
It withers quicker than the rose.

Eyes the shady night has shut
Cannot see the record cut,
And silence sounds no worse than cheers
After earth has stopped the ears:

Now you will not swell the rout
Of lads that wore their honours out,
Runners whom renown outran
And the name died before the man.

So set, before its echoes fade,
The fleet foot on the sill of shade,
And hold to the low lintel up
The still-defended challenge-cup.

And round that early-laurelled head
Will flock to gaze the strengthless dead,
And find unwithered on its curls
The garland briefer than a girl's.

Devils clinch Atlantic Division in shootout

Sorry,I am a bit behind today-I finally slept like a normal human being for a change!
The Pirates were rained out tonight in Cincinnati,so I will do the Devils game tonight and if I have time tomorrow morning,I will offer some Pirate thoughts before their game tomorrow.

The New Jersey Devils wobbled into Ottawa off a bad loss to Toronto and needed at least a point to clinch the Atlantic Division.
They would earn the point plus another in a 3-2 win in the shootout over the Senators,who have really seemed to turn things around after a coaching change.
Devils regulation goals to Brian Gionta (20) and Brian Rolston (15),while Zach Parise and Brendan Shanahan scored in the shootout.
The Devils finish their season tomorrow at 1 at the Rock against possible first round playoff opponent Carolina.

Bullpen Notes

The Devils first round opponent could be any of Carolina,Philadelphia or Pittsburgh.
All could be tough series and any of the three are more than capable,but if I had to say which I would like to play,I would say Philly.
Not because of an easy win,but because of the rivalry....

The Devil power play was not exactly sharp and put just five shots against Ottawa's Alex Auld.
That will not go far in the playoffs....

I liked the way Ottawa played in a game that was meaningless to them.
The Senators absence from the playoffs may be just a one year aberration.

The Devils recalled Pierre (3L) LeBlond from Lowell for the game and he played some minutes,most notably in a fight against the Senators Jesse Winchester.
With LeBlond in the lineup along with the return of Patrik Elias,Bobby Holik and Mike Rupp were healthy scratches.
Hint number one that Holik moves on unless he has an excellent playoff.

Brian Gionta showed some offensive verve with a goal and six shots.Gionta has been a bit of a disappointment this season,but has shown some life over the last few games.

The Defense still needs to pick up some aggression though.
Both Ottawa goals were scored around the net and the first Senator goal by Jarrko Ruutu was easily defended IF someone would have followed the puck and wiped someone out!

Bullpen Notes-

Catching up on some goodbyes

To:Former Giant and Cub manager Herman Franks at the age of 95.
Franks managed the Giants for four years with some of the greatest talent the game has seen and yet never won the National League pennant,finishing second each time.
Franks had a unsuccessful tenure with the Cubs in the mid-seventies and was a backup catcher for four different team in the 1940's.
Franks might be remembered as being the top lieutenant to Leo Durocher at most of "the Lip's" managing stops.

To: Former ABA and NBA center Marvin Webster at the age of 56.
Webster had been suffering from a chronic heart illness for quite a while and that was most likely the cause of death.
"The Human Eraser" was the third pick in the NBA draft by Atlanta,but Webster spurned the Hawks in favor of the ABA's Denver Nuggets.
After two seasons in Denver,Webster spent one season in Seattle that seemed to have Webster on the verge of becoming a elite center and signed a large contract with the Knicks.
Webster was unable to continue his offensive development and became a defensive,shot blocking specialist for the remainder of his career.

To: Former Texas Tech star linebacker Brad Hastings at the age of 44.
Hastings was a three time All-Southwest Conference performer in the mid 1980's and held the school tackling record for years.
Hastings ranks with Zach Thomas as the top linebackers in Tech history.
Knee problems kept Hastings from making the NFL,where had he been 100%,he would have likely been a productive player.....

Photo Credits
Brodeur:AP
Franks,Webster:Topps

Nick Adenhart

Tragic news from the world of baseball as Angel righthander Nick Adenhart was killed last night in a hit and run accident in Fullerton California.
Adenhart had pitched six scoreless innings against Oakland last night and was hit by a mini-van that ran a red light.
Nick Adenhart was a local product here,I coached Nick briefly in a youth all-star tournament,Ryan played against him,I know his parents from that time and this will be a big national story,but a huge local story.

Look for a future post on Nick when times permits and heartfelt condolences to the Adenhart and Gigeous families on their devastating and senseless loss...

Meeting the Suns

On Tuesday,I attended the first ever Meet the Suns team party at the Hager Hall facility and came away quite impressed by the organization.
As long time readers know,I have never shied away from criticizing the Suns and never backed down from anything that I wrote when I have seen Suns employees face to face,so I am far from the fan that looks at everything with rose colored glasses.

It wasn't as much the party itself as the energy that seems to be spreading through the people there.
The employees that have been there for a few years seem rejuvenated and I can only think that this comes down to new GM Bob Flannery.
Flannery was walked over to us (Battlin Bob and Ryan) after we asked about the continuation of the ridiculous Smith/Himsworth policy of staying out of certain areas.
To my surprise,it looks like as long as collectors move out of the area before gametime (I have never seen that be an issue),they are going to have further space.
Flannery talked to us about various things and stressed that the Suns want to hear our thoughts and that is a radical change from the past as with a few exceptions,it seemed like no one wanted hear any new ideas..

The Suns apparently have a new commitment to fan friendliness that goes beyond printing some t-shirts with a catch phrase that was furthest thing from the slogan.
The stadium has been cleaned up a large amount with removing peanut shells that have been there long enough to be composted and some fresh coats of paint as well.
You can only freshen up a warhorse like the Muni so much,but little things like removing ancient paint goes a long way to showing that the organization does care.
Ticket sales are increased from last season and considering the economy,that means the Suns are doing something positive.

New Suns boss Matt LeCroy spoke for a few minutes and talked about the two things that you will see from his club-a hard working,hustling ball club and that his team will always be respectful to the fans.
I thought Darnell Coles did a great job of stressing that last year (with the exception of Michael Burgess at times) and it is nice to see that LeCroy appears to be on the same wavelength.


Two other notes from the good news bad news department.
The good-The Suns bullpen will now be down the right field line by the clubhouses.
That will make Suns relievers far easier to get signatures,which Hagerstown bullpenners had always been the most difficult to get.
The visiting team will be in center field in the Suns old bullpen,which make visiting relievers the hardest to get,but I still like the change.
The bad-We have been told that where we sit at the Muni may have some changes,as a sports bar area under the grandstand is being installed.
Hopefully it will not take the entire area up and we can still sit near the top without sitting in front of a pole,which are many.
Sometimes,it can take some maneuvering to see the entire field,so hopefully that will still be able to be done.

I didn't get many autographs although the players were available.
The players were pleasant and were signing,I just kept it simple and was able to have Steve Sousa sign some cards from last year as the only addition.

All and all,a very nice start to the season and for the new Suns front office.
Finally,maybe I can write that the Sun really does shine in Hagerstown.

Now,if they can only fix the food.....

Bullpen Notes

Thanks to the different notes of concern on last nights cryptic closing on the blogs future.
My hours have been reduced at work and although that has a downside economically,it has another downside as well-Instead going to work at 11 Pm,I will be in at 10 on some nights and 10;30 on others.
This affects the end of Pirate games and sometimes,I will miss the end of Hagerstown games.
But there is good news as I will now be off three days instead of two,so if anything the blog should be stronger over the long haul.
My new schedule starts on May 3rd,so the change isn't immediate.
Thanks again for all the thoughts.

From last week,a bomb in St.Petersburg Russia blew a chunk out of a statue of the founder of the Soviet Union Vladimir Lenin.
Why is this a big deal?
Well the hole looks like it is right out of the seat of his pants!
Where is Battlin Bob when you need him???

Lefty talker Ed Schultz finally landed a TV gig with the "Ed show" (no,Battlin Bob,my dog didn't get his own television program) on MSNBC.
Schultz will begin the MSNBC liberal lineup with his show at 6 PM.

Still more Bullpen notes to go,but we will save some for tomorrow with Pirates-Cardinals and Devils-Senators.
I am not ignoring the Devs,although lately it could seem so,but the playoffs are around the corner.

Photo Credits
Baseball-Unknown
Lenin-BBC/AFP

A win is a win,but..............

The Pirates split games with the Cardinals on Tuesday and Wednesday,but no matter-the Pirates have not played very solid baseball.

Some thoughts on both the win and loss in Pirate hooks

Pirate Hooks

1) Zach Duke was very sharp in getting the win Wednesday.
Duke kept his pitch count low,stayed around the dish,but most importantly did not allow fat meaty pitches to be over the plate,which has been his fatal flaw the last few seasons....

2) Ian Snell,on the other hand,looked awful in his loss on Tuesday.

3) The Pirates did use two of their power armed wildmen in the loss as both Craig Hansen and Donald Veal appeared in the outing and lived up to expectations as both fanned three and walked a few as well...

4) Andy LaRoche dropped an easy pop up in the loss for his third error in two games.
I am not ready to shovel dirt on the guy yet,but does anyone else have the feeling when you watch LaRoche that he is almost child-like on the field???

5) LaRoche sat Wednesday for Ramon Vasquez and I give John Russell credit for attempting to stop the lackadaisical play ASAP instead of giving LaRoche chance after chance.

6) Freddy Sanchez is off to a sizzlin start with multi-hit games in each of the first three.
If Sanchez can continue a return to form,he could be a valuable trading chip at the deadline.

7) The Pirates finish their series in St.Louis today before a weekend series by the Ohio River against the Reds.

8) Nyjer Morgan is even doing well thus far.
I doubt it keeps up,but I will take it where I can....

Pitching Matchup
Pittsburgh:Ross Ohlendorf at St.Louis:Chris Carpenter 1;40

I hope to be back later with some Devils talk,Meet the Suns,a inbox filled with bullpen notes and some personal news will impact this blog....