I have to give the New London Day props for..

getting Defender manager Dave Machemer to write a blog for them. He's posting from the Giants spring training camp in AZ. Will Hernandez from the Norwich Bulletin did the same thing last year from AZ. for a few days in his blog. Will kept his blog going season long as the Bulletin beat reporter for the team.
I'm surprised the Day is showing interest in the team again. It's coverage the last few years has been weak. So weak in fact I orginally didn't bother putting a link to them on this site. Sometimes all you got was a box score and other times just an AP story. The Day went all out in the early years of the team. They had a supplement called the "Gator Guide" and always had a promo or two during the year. The newspaper also had a skybox at Dodd--I was a guest up there once and I'm not too sure if they still have the box. The Day promo now usually is a free newspaper when you enter the park. I started reading the Bulletin on line because of the lousy coverage the Day was giving. The Bulletin has done a far better job covering the team the last few years and I liked Will's blog. So it's good for the team that it is getting some cyber-ink from a nice source and hopefully that translates into some ticket sales. I wonder if the Defenders will end up with a blogger on their site once the season starts?

For whatever the reason there was a short article on the

Hartford Courant editorial page re: the New Britain RockCats. It touts them for having a great relationship with the Twins as evidence by a 20 year lease deal and the new scoreboard they are installing at their place. The interesting tibit was it mentioned that they have already SOLD OUT several dates in April and May. One date is probably their Opening Day which is a day game; smart move--the Defenders open at 6:35PM and it is always cold, cold, cold up there for the home Opener. Another day is probably a school camp date in May. Wonder how the Defenders pre-season sales are going? The promo schedule updates have stopped on the website. I guess that means they have nothing or someone hasn't gotten around to adding the info.

Cerenvak signs with the Kia Tigers of the ...

Korean Baseball Organization. This happy postscript provided by the good folks at SFdugout.com, a Giants fan web site. Good Luck Mike!

Three get their release including longtime....

popular and 4 year Gator INF Mike Cervenak who had been with Triple A Frenso last season. Also getting the ax were lightly used players 1B Brad Vericker (2004-2005) and OF Dan Trumble (2005). I was there for Dan's only home run; a shot down the left field line that hooked around the foul pole causing the umps to huddle up to try to figure out if it was a fair or foul ball and leaving Dan in suspense at second base until they decided to allow the home run.

"Cutter" is the mascot's new name....

which was revealed yesterday at the Mystic Aquarium as part of the Defenders Winter FanFest. I was out of state and unable to attend. When I did get home last night I thought the new name/press release would be on the website but it wasn't. Kind of disappointed about that. The pending snowstorm may have been the reason. The Day and Bulletin had coverage and pictures. Anyway the thinking is "cutter" is a baseball term and a nod to the Coast Guard/Navy (Defenders). Tater will still be around.

Mystery solved..the past sold and resold on eBay..

I've wondered a couple of times in these blogs about the fate of the Navigators alternate uniforms. Trolling eBay (where America now shops) a couple of days ago I got my answer. The team sold them all to a collector/seller who put some up for bid on eBay. I had some interaction with him on the listings and also another person who had a question about a specfic uniform and had found me thru the blogs. One of the uniforms sold for $151 and another sold for over $100. The black "Gators" home uniforms will be used during "Turn Back the Clock" game promotions this upcoming season.