"Clemente" by Robert Maraniss

just arrived in the mailbox today. Never got a chance to see him play except on TV in the World Series. A friend of mine suggested the book; bought it for one cent on Amazon plus $3.99 S&H.

Ellie...

Yankees soured on Vic Powers and Elston became their first black player on the MLBB level.

Chairman of the Board....

given their starting pitching lately Mr. Ford might be an option.

Ryan Enos.....

Ryan hit a team leading 4 homers in 2010. He batted .265 (63 for 238) in 63 games. He hit 9 doubles and knocked in 31 runs.

Miguel Mejia....

pitched in 13 games making two spot starts. He went 3-2 with 4 saves with an outstanding 1.02 ERA over 35.1 IP.

Next manager of the Mets???

Wally Backman, current manager of the Brooklyn Cyclones.

The continued creative use of the logo continues into the off season. Reminds me of concert posters from my youth. $25 at the door, $20 advance ticket and $10 if you're not drinking.

Tools of the trade...

Outside Doubleday Field....

from left to right: manager Howie Bushong, pitching coach Jorge Cordova and pitcher Kevan Hess on July 24th.. Hess was called up to single A West Michigan shortly after this; perhaps they are discussing travel plans for Hess.
Hess pitched in 12 games for the Tigers posting a 2-0 record with a save and a 2.87 ERA.

In a store window in Cooperstown...

having a legible signature is part of being a HOFer

Chao-Ting Tang...

the outfielder played in 42 games batting .197 (25 for 127) with 11 RBIs.

Yankees Stadium...

ARFan sent me a baseball book last year and basically got me reading about the sport again after quite a long hiatus away. Since this summer (hey it's still summer--first day of fall is Thursday) I've been just devouring baseball books.
I just finished "WrigleyWorld" by Kevin Kadul. The then 26 year old author quits his job and moves a couple of blocks away from the ivy walls and chronicles his adventures around the park and the Cubs during the 2005 season. A very easy and quick read. I suddenly want to visit Wrigley Field..
I'm now on "The Big Bam" by Leigh Montville a book about Babe Ruth that is starting off very well.
If you looking for bargin books go to Amazon.com and if you're in my neck of the woods the Book Barn in Niantic where you can just totally kill an afternoon browsing (like we did yesterday). Also they will buy your used books there....

He's GREAT!!!! But Tater is in my DNA....

and from today's Bulletin:

"The Connecticut Tigers, who play their home games at Dodd Stadium, are looking to start a tradition with the auto show, signing on to be a sponsor this year. Some game day offerings will be available to car show patrons, including the Tigers memorabilia shop, food vendors and the inflatables area, which is a big hit with children.

“We’re looking to get better connected to the people and businesses in the Norwich area and the auto show is a great way to do that,” said C.J. Knudsen, the baseball team’s vice president of operations."

The car show is Sunday at Dodd if you are in the area; there is an admission charge.

Starting lineup for the home opener....

on June 26, 2010...

Howie Bushong gone?????

that is the word from someone near the team.....nothing official I can find however.

Eric Roof....

Eric batted .232 (29 for 125) with 2 HRs and 16 RBIs. He appeared in 39 games.

Ryan Soares...

Ryan played in 38 games and batted .200 (28 for 127) with a homer and 8 RBIs.

Josh Ashenbrenner...

The Tigers 3B played in 63 games batting .260 (59 for 227). He hit 12 doubles and knocked in 18 RBIs.

Alexander Nunez....

The Tigers second baseman batted .223 (59 for 265) in 68 games with 2 Hrs and 27 RBIs.

Wanted: information leading to the whereabouts.....

Whatever became of the Defenders road jerseys of 2008 and 2009? They were offered on the milb.com auction site and sold poorly. They were not relisted and have not appeared on any seaches on eBay or elsehere. Anyone have any info??

The plaque in Monument Park, Yankee Stadium.

James Robbins....

The Tigers first baseman batted .251 with 3 HRs and a team leading 37 RBIS along with 12 doubles.

The hat dance...

Ok, most baseball fans and players develop superstions of some sort. I have several and one involves the cap I'm wearing at Dodd.
The cap on the left is a brand new Connecticut Tigers cap made by New Era. It is sold as a batting practice cap, it has a stretch head ban and it seems to be the choice of many fans over the traditional fitted game cap with the white lettered Old English "C."
The Defenders cap on the right is one the club gave away in 2008 if you signed up for a voucher plan. It's been worn heavily ever since; three baseball seasons at Dodd, the outdoor stuff I do, etc., etc.. I do my daily workouts with it on now (another post for another time). It's dirty, sweat stained and disgusting and it's been like that for some time now. Somehow my wife puts up with me wearing it as long as I'm not with her. This is in constrast to her stand on the Navigators cap I'm pictured wearing on my blog profile at the top of this page. That one, equally disgusting as the Defenders one, is on permant hiatus in the back of the closet.
Anyway I saw 20 Tigers games this past season. They were 13-7 in those games. 11 of those wins came with the Defs cap on. The one game I worn the Tigers cap, and this was during the playoff run, they lost. I quickly changed caps believing I was the cause for the loss and with the Defs cap on, they won two of the next 3 games.
Anyway my plan is to wear the Tigers cap for the first 5 games or so in 2011 and we'll see howthe cap is doing in terms of wins and losses. Hope they win.. I do like the way it looks...
Anyone care to share some ballpark superstitions? Meanwhile enjoy some Stevie Wonder...

Drew Gagnier.....

pitched in 19 games all out of the bullpen. He posted a 1-0 record and threw to a 2.95 ERA over 36.2 IP. He looks like he also lost a bet of some nature....

The name game....

Connecticut Tigers or Norwich Tigers or the Norwich fill in the blanks? The "name the team contest" never happened this season and likely for good reason; too many name changes in a short period of time. In 2005 it was the Norwich Navigators, in '06 the Connecticut Defenders, in 2010 the Connecticut Tigers and in 2011 the Norwich whatevers...just to many--stick with the Connecticut Tigers..
You can point out that it is the "Connecticut" Sun after all in the WNBA but the fact they play at a casino factors into the name there. Also you can point out that the Tigers are the only Connecticut team in the New York Penn league so why not the Connecticut Tigers?
My opinion is that it should have been the Norwich Tigers. The host city should see it's name it the league standings every day of the season and derive whatever good will and recognition that comes from that. But like I said too many name changes especially when the front office is trying to build a following in the off season and already has one season under their belts as the Connecticut Tigers.

Sub time.....

Some thoughts...

Got to admit it just felt different this season up at Dodd. Nothing bad mind you, just different. Maybe it was when the season started: in mid June it felt like I was late to the party or something. Maybe it was the quirks of the New York Penn League schedule: series that end on a Friday and two game series? Maybe it was a new MLBB affiliation: I don't have a "history" with the Tigers. Maybe it was a new league: Tri-City who, what? Hopefully I'll be able to look back on this paragraph one day and laugh.
The new front office started behind the 8 ball thanks to the politics of MLBB and minor league ball. They now have a full off season to work in getting more people up to Dodd and that is the task pure and simple.
Andrew, C.J., Eric, Jon and company are all very friendly people who made time for me and I wish them luck. They did stuff past front offices had not done before: billboards, town hall meetings, TV spots, advertising in the Courant, putting together a trip to Cooperstown, the Whaler tribute (and Brass Bonanza treatment) and a bunch of things I know I'm forgetting.
A big tip of the hat to the game day staff, Bob, Tom, Kim and everyone else who always are always smiling and are pleasure to know.
They did all that stuff and attendance this season can only be described as disappointing. I'm certain that the work on the 2011 season has already begun at 14 Stott Avenue and that 2010 serves as a stepping stone to a great and well attended 2011 season at Dodd and the hosting of the 2012 NYPL All-Star Game (my wish; nothing official). Hey, Connecticut Tigers six ticket and ten ticket voucher packs make great holiday stocking stuffers right?
More tomorrrow...

Bitter end...Tigers lose game and division....

all in one day. It's too brutal to blog about...a playoff game or two would have been nice. Long bus ride back I guess.

Misc fan notes: I'll have some thoughts about the season in general in a day or so....

Marcus Thames..Norwich Navigator...Yankee....

Tiger and now a Yankee again right before he hits the game winning homer today in the Bronx as the Yanks pick up their 8th straight victory 7-5 over the Blue Jays.
Great day at the stadium for yours truly but a tough day for UCONN football in the big house and the CT Tigers are losing 3-0 late as the ValleyCats have won so CT has to win Sunday and Tri-City has to lose for CT to win the division if things hold up.

***UPDATE: Tigers lose tonight 3-1 so it's real simple; Tri-City has to lose and the Tigers have to win on the last day of the season tomorrow for the Tigers to win the division and advance to the post season....

Also plenty of pics taken today in the Bronx so the off season picture of the day well is a lot deeper now...

Tigers hang on ...win 7-6..ValleyCats lose..

Tigers jump over the ValleyCats to take a half game lead of first place. The Lake Monster lose and are eliminated.

Tigers win home regular season finale...

1-0 tonight at Dodd beating the Aberdeen Ironbirds before 2,019 fans. CT scores a run without a hit in the first and that lone run stands up. PJ Polk walked and stole second to lead off the inning. Ryan Enos followed with his own walk. Enos and Polk then pulled a double steal to put runners on second and third with no outs. Alexander Nunez stuck out after working a 3-0 count to start off the at bat. Julio Rodriquez lifted a sac fly to score Polk with the only run of the game. Enos then stole third but was stranded there.
The Tigers managed just four hits in the game and their most of their base runners would end up picked off or thrown out stealing.

Meanwhile Tigers starter Rayni Guichardo went 6 IP allowing 5 hits. Drew Gagnier, Logan Hoch and Miguel Mejia finished up with Mejia getting his third save. Rayni improves to 4-5 on the season.

Tri-City won their game to remain a half game ahead of the Tigers for first place in the division. Vermont loses and drops 2.5 games behind Tri-City. The home sweep of the Iron Birds puts the Tigers two games over .500 at 37-35. CT wraps up the season on the road with the Ironbirds for a three game set.

Stay tuned!!

Misc fan notes: Everyone entering Dodd got a team photo; been a while since one of those has been passed out!
Special thanks to PJ Polk for tossing me a baseball from center field into the stands. First ball of the season!
Stayed tonight for fireworks which I rarely do and hey, it was a great show.

Pics top to bottom: Dixon Machado, Guichardo, Wilsen Palacios, Polk and Jeff Ferrell

Tigers rally and beat the Ironbirds in 10 innings 3-2...

as PJ Polk singled in Dixon Machado with the winning run. Polk went 3 for 5 with two RBIs and the newcomer Machado went 2 for 4 with two runs scored.
Tim Mowry gets the win to improve to 2-0 on the season. Another newcomer, Wilsen Palacios was impressive throwing 4 innings of shutout ball in relief of CT starter Patrick Lawson.
CT remains a half game behind Tri-City who also won tonight and VT is on the verge of a DH sweep so a half gamemight separate the three teams with four games left in the season.