L.I. Ducks: Forty Games And Counting

From the desk of:  THE WEBBED SPIKES NINE


Long Island Ducks: The D-Train Has Left The Station. 

As you may have noticed, 2013 has been a tough year for The Trolley.  But that doesn't mean I haven't been paying attention to Long Island baseball.  Apparently, the first half of the season did not go so well for either one of us.  For me, post-Hurricane Sandy recovery still dictates my work schedule, and for the Ducks, it was a rough way to begin defense of the Atlantic League title.

Overall, the Ducks are still below .500 with a 49-52 record.  They finished the first half disappointingly, but managed, and I do mean managed to recoup a 30-40 record, good for second place, 7.5 games behind the South Maryland Blue Crabs.  I guess that recap was more for my benefit than yours.  But I see the second half has brought better times to the Pond.  Tuesday evening marked forty games left in the regular season.  So this is where I'll try and begin reconnecting with the team and Ducks fans.

The Ducks began a nine game road trip, beginning with Tuesday night's opening game (of three) against the Lancaster Barnstormers.  The Barnstormers scored four runs in the eighth inning, but the Ducks otherwise coasted to an easy 11-5 victory.  The rest of the season should go so smoothly.  They improved their second half record to 19-12, and own a 5.5 game lead over the second place Bridgeport Bluefish.  They now have thirty-nine games left to protect that lead and qualify for the playoffs.

With a middle of the pack offense, and without Dontrelle Willis, that will be no easy task.  The D-Train has left the station and is headed for Anaheim, acquired by the MLB Angles.  He was the undisputed anchor of Long Island's staff this season, and led the Atlantic League with a 2.57 earned run average before his contract was purchased on August 4th.




Mike.BTB