Good Luck Jim Beaudoin! Jim resigned the other

day as Defender GM to move back to Maine. As I mentioned in another post, Jim always took time out to talk with me and I liked the path he was taking the franchise.

Congrats Pat Misch! Giants call up the

Defenders starting pitcher for Fresno. Pat had played most of this season with Connecticut

Congrats Billy Sadler! Called up to the show!

We'll watch for when the Defenders' closer makes his MLBB debut.

Congrats Fred Lewis! First MLBB hit in first AB!

The ex-Navigator outfielder is one season removed from Norwich. Batting a perfect 1.000

Another season in the books...but

the first as a Connecticut Defender team. The team split the DH yesterday winning the opener behind a Geno Espineli complete game shutout 2-0 and dropping the second game 4-1 with Quincy Foster getting the only two hits. Those scores pretty much sum up the Defender's season; not much offense, close games, good pitching and pretty good defense. The team finished 13 games under .500 and just avoided last place to the franchise that refuses to speak it's full name; the New Britain RockCats.
The team finished last again in Eastern League attendance with only a couple hundred fans more last last year as the Navigators. Weather was a factor in this as the team lost a bunch of Friday/Saturday/Sunday dates. The schedule was front loaded with home games early in the season. The 2007 schedule is more favorable to the team. The franchise will host the 2007 E.L. All-Star Game and can build around that.
The front office has completed year one of a three year process. The field was in the best shape it's been it a long time; Thanks Bill! The bobblehead promos pumped up the midweek attendance for those dates. GM Jim Beaudoin was always willing to take a couple of minutes for me and opened my eyes to his side of the world. Thanks Jim!
I ended up seeing 47 games; new personal regular season high. The blog got me in touch with the families of three Defenders and I enjoyed sending them pictures of their sons and enjoyed their insights.
The team promoted a bunch of guys to the bigs; Eliezer Alfonzo has become the regular catcher for the Giants. Jonathan Sanchez pitched great in relief for the big club and is being groomed as a starter. Travis Ishihawa had three tours of duty in S.F.
Defenders Nate Schierholtz (tied franchise record w/a 25 game hit streak and lead almost all offensive team categories as team MVP) and Billy Sadler (totally turned it on from July first on--almost unhittable) figure heavily in the Giants future plans.
Thanks to all the readers; 6300+ hits! This blog will go pretty much dark after October and will pick up in Spring 2007.

Take care,

Greg

Will post Tuesday.................

God Bless America

and they got the game in tonight and won!

OK, I saw enough of the Mets now; especially rounding

third as the Mets beat the Defs tonight 11-5. Defenders started pitcher Frolian Ramirez up from the AZ Rookie League to start for Chris Begg who has gone to pitch for Team Canada. Ramirez got thru the first without giving up a run thanks to a Quincy Foster to Jake Wald relay to catcher Andy Busch to nail a Met at home for the third out. In the second inning it fell apart as two walks, a HBP (his second) and another walk forced in a run with no outs. In came R.D. Spiehs, who had like two seconds to warm up. He got the first out and then the Mets got four straight hits to plate five runs in the inning.
The Mets who are fighting for the last playoff spot in the Eastern Division were very aggressive on the basepaths and that lead to Defender manager Dave Mac getting tossed arguing a play at third with a Met player called safe on the swipe of the bag. Mac threw his cap on the ground and ended up kicking it three times, getting some nice distance on the third kick totally entertaining the 5500 or so fans that included the Eastern League President.
Spiehs, who earlier in the season had a game winning walk-off walk, ended up going 2-2 in the game with a double and two RBIs. Brain Horwitz and D-Mac had three hits each.
Rain in the forecast this weekend so maybe there is a chance of a Labor Day DH; boy will the players hate that on the last day of the season. But with the Mets in a playoff chase it might come to that.
Misc Fan notes: The team displayed the logo for the 2007 E.L. All-Star Game for the first time tonight before the game. Also New York artist Scott LoBaido was putting the final touches on the American flag he is painting the the picnic pavilion roof. Very impressive, he is doing one roof in every state. And the USS sub Memphis was feted with a skybox named in their honor.
In other stuff, D-Mac is now wearing number 43 his third number of the season. Ramirez was wearing Pat Misch's old #16. Joe Bateman tried bunting his way on and man he is fast going down the line.
Standing in line at the box office everyone was cashing in vouchers, unused season tickets and people looking to give away tickets. Can't believe the season is almost over.
Scott Munter was called up by the Giants as the MLBB rosters expanded. Ex-Navigator Fred Lewis was one of six players from Fresno called up. Lewis has always been a subject of debate here in cyberspace.
I'm hoping Nate will get a chance to be called up after Monday!

Can't believe tonight will be........

the first time I see the Mets. A division team rival, the B-Mets came in for a three game set I missed ( the only series I missed this season until last weekend). Should be there tonight and Monday. Plan on giving Nate a standing O as his hitting streak came to an end last night.