Defenders debuted their new mascot and home uniform jersey..

today at Fort Trumbull in Groton. It was pouring rain and the event was held indoors instead of on the Coast Guard training barque Eagle. Too bad--I have never been on the Eagle before. Anyway a few observations:
1.) I like the home jersey. It's white; the way home jerseys should be. Patches on both sleeves--one a Giants logo and the other a Defenders logo. Simple but good looking patches. I disliked the black BP style uniforms the Navigators had been wearing as the primary home uniform for the last three years since becoming a Giants farm team. They looked too casual. The Navigators in their first year with the Giants had a nice cream colored home uniform like the parent team but it quickly fell out of favor with the players and were rarely worn ( once in 2004 for the home opener and twice in 2005 also the home opener and at the end of the 2005 season to be signed and sold as game used). I heard they were ill-fitting as well.
The Navigators as a Yankee farm team home uniforms changed over the course of their tenure but were very classy looking uniforms even the vest style ones. It's great to see a return to class. If they want to develop a Sunday only or home alternate later use the vest style; it's a sharp look if done right.
2.) The mascot. It's an American Eagle. It looks vaguely familar somehow but it's keeping with the motif of Defenders. They had Navy and Coast Guard folks at Fort Trumbull with the U.S.C.G. Eagle docked nearby. A nice tidy package--another plus. And the marketing people will have a school kid contest to name the bird and keep the interest level up in the off season. Get the Eagle into the schools and make those kids Defenders fans and have them drag their parents up to Dodd. Good thinking.
3.) The food. A nice spread at the conference provided by the new food vendor for the next two seasons, CulinArt. They will take over the concession stands and upgrade with food from Nathans and Carvels and others. This is the first time this company is in a minor baseball stadium. No word on the pricing. I give the team props for another improvement.
4.) Another improvement. They're updating the website. They had press conference pics and story already up same day.