Wednesday, May 25, 2011

NEWARK BEARS ~ OPENING DAY 2011


2011
CANADIAN-AMERICAN BASEBALL LEAGUE

OPENING DAY
Thursday, May 26, 2011
11:00am



Rockland Boulders
(SP - Bobby Blevins)
vs.
NEWARK BEARS
(SP - Jesse Estrada)



From Bears and Eagles Riverfront Stadium
in BRICK CITY


NEWARK BEARS BASEBALL CLUB



It's Game One in a Season Critical to the Future of Baseball in Newark.
 
 
After playing in the Atlantic League for 12 years, the Newark Bears open up their first campaign as members of the Canadian-American League of Baseball.  Their inaugural opponent will be a team also brand new to the league.  The Rockland Boulders from Ramapo, New York are an expansion organization and are officially open for business with a brand new park.


The Rockland Boulders are managed by former MLB pitcher, Dave LaPoint.  They've had a good pre-season.  In the first exhibition game in their history, they defeated the New York Federals.  The Boulders also defeated the Newark Bears both times they met for practice games.   Rockland will have to wait till June 16th however, to open up their new 4,300 seat stadium; Provident Bank Park.   They start the season by playing their first five series on the road.


The first thing different Bears' fans used to the Atlantic League will notice about the Can/Am League are the new Bears' start times. Thursday's Opening Day game starts at 11:00am. Some weekday games will start at 5:35pm. And some will start at the more traditional 7:05pm time.

The Newark Bear's returning General Manager is former MLB pitcher, Mike Torrez.  Tim Raines also returns as manager of the club with Ron Karkovice and 2011 appointment Jim Leyritz as his coaches.  Jim Leyritz played briefly for the Bears in 2001.  He'll be the team's pitching coach.


There will be three less players on the Bears roster to manage and coach this season.  Can/Am rosters are limited to 22 players versus the customary 25 player rosters.  It's just another aspect of the cost-cutting moves the Bears have had to undertake this season and why they're switching leagues.


There's a pair of Newark players you should keep in mind.  Tim Raines Jr. and Todd Gossage, the offspring of two former MLB greats, will be playing for the Bears this season.  Todd will be twenty-seven years old this season.  Tim Raines Jr. will be thirty-two in August.


The Bears will sport new uniforms this season.  Their home duds will be solid white with no pinstripes or piping. The navy blue N insignia will appear over the left chest.  A red number will be set on the right side of their uniform jersey but placed lower than the N.  The red, white, and blue uniform style is a tribute to our American Troops.  The team announced they would revert to their pinstriped home uniform when our Troops come home.


And now, I wish the new Front Office of the Bears much luck and success at the gate this season.  I hope the changes they've made entering this season start getting things turned around and headed in the right direction for the organization.  I'll be attending some games to lend my occasional support and do my best to keep Newark Bears Baseball a topic of conversation over here in Brooklyn.



Baseball Belongs In Newark.



Play Ball!



EXTRA INNINGS:

The New York Federals are a team comprised of players from the New York State League which maintains a lower-level relationship with the Can/Am League.  They will be a travel team only in order to accomadate an eight-team season schedule.


Check out the Newark Bears new uniforms : HERE.

Notable Team Managers:
Tim Raines ~ Newark
Bill Buckner ~ Brockton
Dave LaPoint ~ Rockland
 
 
Click the LINKS for updated rosters as/of May 25, 2011:
Newark Bears Roster
Rockland Boulders Roster


RELATED LINKS:
Rockland Boulders Website
Newark Bears Website
Can/Am League Website


RECENT POST:
Can-Am Preview, Welcome the Newark Bears - by Mike.BTB  -  With particular attention to the reasons why Newark needed to make this switch in Leagues.

Newark Bears; A Baseball City at a Crossroad...Again - by Mike.BTB - Attention to team history.



Mike.BTB

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