LONG ISLAND DUCKS
2000 20th SEASON 2019
ATLANTIC LEAGUE CHAMPIONS
2004 2012 2013
Congratulations to Buddy Harrelson, Michael Pfaff, and the entire Long Island Ducks organization as they embark on their 20th season of professional baseball.
The naysayers said it couldn't be done. Carving out a niche in and around the Big Apple - much less establishing a new independent league within the tri-state area - sounds as improbable now as I remember it then. Yet, two decades later here they are. With the unfortunate demise of the Bridgeport Bluefish (after the 2017 season), the Somerset Patriots became the lone remaining member club of the original Atlantic League charter, thus elevating the Ducks to second most senior team in the circuit.
Michael Pfaff's Quacks are backed by a passionate fan base stretching from Bensonhurst (yours truly) to Montauk Point whom consistently pack the Pond. The same can be said of the well entrenched Patriots and their stalwart New Jersey fan base. Suffice it say the rivalry between the two teams goes under-spoken, but is nonetheless epic. Somerset leads all clubs with six Atlantic League championships, but none since getting realigned out of the Freedom Division after the 2015 season and into the same division with Long Island. In each of the last three seasons, the Ducks have gone on to pull off amazing feats of victory in the Liberty Division playoffs over Somerset. The Ducks are three time Atlantic League champions, but not since winning back-to-back titles six and seven years ago. Although they've qualified for the finals the last three years running, they've fallen short each time; twice to a formidable Sugar Land Skeeters team, and once against the York Revolution.
If that alone does not serve to motivate the current cast of Quacks to greater altitudes, then Wally Backman will. The old Mets firebrand is back, and looking to ruffle Atlantic League competition. The man I longed to have piloting the New York Mets enters his first season as manager of the Long Island Ducks. I congratulate him, and I'm happy for him. As a manager he's both wild and wile, and a freak for small ball and fundamentals. Wally makes his position crystal clear. He's tough, demanding, and expects you to study your craft. But he's also straightforward, a good teacher, and exudes support for his guys. Everywhere he's been, players respected him, even lauded him. Authority figures, not so much. But I am no man's judge. That said I believe he possesses a brilliant baseball mind rivaling the great managers of not too long ago. I welcome him into the Flock's fold with wings wide open.
Ed Lynch, is not only one of my favorite Met pitchers of the time, he is likewise one of the most under rated Mets of all-time ... and he's from Brooklyn! He was a bright light through some dark years during the early 1980s at Shea Stadium. I felt terrible for him upon learning in 1986 he had been traded mid-season to the Cubs. He was an important pitcher during their early rise to prominence. Lynch rejoins his former teammate Wally Backman serving as team pitching coach.
Long Island now enters what I'll call the post John Brownell era. The organization's all-time record setting starting pitcher retired after last season. There's also no more Francisco Rodriguez in the bullpen. Gone too from this year's lineup are the bats of Emilio Bonifacio, Jordany Valdespin, Taylor Ard, and Travis Snider. The popular Cody Puckett is likewise gone, as is crowd favorite and long time shortstop Dan Lyons.
LINKS:
- MLB/Atlantic League Rule Changes
- Rules Update: Mound Distance
- Long Island Ducks
- Atlantic League
- Stats Baseball Reference
PITCHING STAFF
Tim Adleman (RHP)
- The 31-year old native New Yorker from Staten Island marks his first season with the Ducks. Tim was originally drafted in 2010 by the Orioles, then spent the 2012 and 2013 seasons pitching in the independent American Association, and CanAm League, respectively. By 2014 he was back to playing affiliated ball with the Cincinnati Reds organization. He has 43 games of major league experience including 33 starts over two seasons (2016-2017) with the Reds.
- Hailing from Mount Sinai, New York, the 26-year old was originally drafted in 2014 by the New York Mets. He owns a 12-13 record with a 3.79 ERA during four seasons of affiliated ball in the Mets and Arizona Diamondbacks organizations. Back for his first full season with the Ducks, Badamo spent parts of last season pitching for New Britain and Sugar Land before landing on Long Island, where he posted a 3-3 record with a 3.38 ERA through seven starts.
- The 27-year old independent league veteran returns for his third season, and second full season with the Ducks. Jake last year posted an 8-7 record with a 3.92 ERA with 107 strikeouts in 133.1 innings pitched.
- After making three appearances last year, Marshall returns for his first full season on Long Island. A Yankees farm product, he last played MiLB in 2016 for Tampa's double-A affiliate. Before joining the Ducks, he pitched parts of last season for Sugar Land and Southern Maryland. He posted a combined 6-9 record with a 4.56 ERA in 25 total starts, with 108 strikeouts in 132.1 innings pitched.
- After making nine starts in 2017 for the Ducks, Tim returns for a second campaign on Long Island. He spent last season pitching for Baltimore's triple-A affiliate where he made 14 starts and 40 overall appearances. The 29-year old owns a 4.67 ERA in 861.1 career minor league innings pitched.
- The 32-year old southpaw needs no introduction. Local fans know him very well. He was a member of the 2015 National League champion Mets. I suspect many Ducks/Mets fans will be flocking to Bethpage Ballpark throughout the upcoming season to watch him pitch - every pun intended. Niese spent nine season pitching in Queens, compiling a 61-62 record and 3.99 ERA, with 838 strikeouts through 1,079.1 innings pitched. He pitched his last MLB game in 2016 for the Pittsburgh Pirates. The upcoming season marks Jon Niese's return to baseball after a two year hiatus.
LHP Jon Niese becomes the first 2019 @LIDucks to have his contract purchased by an @MLB club - @Mariners have purchased & assigned him to their Triple-A affiliate. Congrats Jon!— Michael Pfaff (@LIDucksGM) April 24, 2019
Bennett Parry (LHP)
- Now entering his second season with the Ducks, Parry spent five seasons in the Baltimore Orioles organization before moving on to Lincoln of the American Association for two seasons. An Atlantic League all-start least season, he posted a 6-1 record with a 2.86 ERA in 14 starts, with 116 strikeouts in 85 innings pitched for a 12.3 K/9 average.
Enrique Burgos (RHP)
- He spent ten seasons in the Arizona Diamondbacks organization before moving on in 2017 to the Atlanta Braves triple-A affiliate. He spent last year pitching in Mexico. He owns a 6-4 record and 4.43 ERA through 91.1 innings at triple-A. Burgos has 73 games of MLB experience (2015-2016), all in relief for Arizona with a 5.27 ERA and 10.8 K/9 average in 68.1 innings pitched.
- The infielder turned relief pitcher is back for his second season with the Ducks. The 24-year old appeared in 22 games last season all in relief, posting a 2.38 ERA, with a 6.4 H/9 and 6.9 K/9 average in 22.2 innings pitched. Jose played for Grand Street High School in Brooklyn! The Milwaukee Brewers selected him in the 11th round of the 2015 draft.
- The 34-year old southpaw previously pitched on Long Island in 2015 and 2016, and now returns for his third season with the Ducks. He spent last season pitching in Mexico for Monterrey where he posted a 3.42 ERA in 26.1 innings pitched. He owns a 4.03 ERA through 764.1 career minor league innings pitched. Downs is a three year MLB veteran with a 4.76 ERA and 8.3 K/9 average in 90.2 career innings pitched.
- The soon to be 29-year old owns a career 3.24 ERA, 1.242 WHiP, with a 7.5 H/9 average and 11.3 K/9 average in 319.2 career innings mostly spent in the Oakland A's organization. He enters his first season on Long Island after making 20 appearances last year for Tacoma of the Pacific Coast League. All of his 249 career appearances have come in relief.
- The 27-year old Frontier League veteran of four seasons enters his first campaign with the Ducks. He owns a career 3.95 ERA, 1.338 WHiP, and 10.2 K/9 average through 95.2 innings pitched. He's coming off a breakout 2018 season, posting a 1.46 ERA with 55 strikeouts in 49.1 innings pitched, while allowing just 36 hits and seven walks for a 0.872 WHiP.
- The first time Duck was originally selected by the Oakland A's in the third round of the 2005 draft. A veteran of eight (2009-2016) MLB seasons, he owns a 24-23 career record and 4.79 ERA in 383 innings pitched. Of his 140 career appearances, 95 have been in relief. Last season he posted ten saves with a 1.76 ERA in 46 innings pitched for the New Jersey Jackals of the CanAm League. He surrendered just 33 hits and 10 walks for a 0.935 WHiP, with 44 strikeouts for an 8.6 K/9 average.
Alex Katz (LHP)
BEHIND THE PLATE- Another local born in Manhasset, New York, Alex attended St. John's University in Queens. The 24-year old owns a 3.95 ERA in 200.1 career innings pitching in the White Sox and Orioles respective systems. Last season he struck out 47 batters in 44.1 innings pitching for single-A Delmarva.
Ramon Cabrera (C)
- At 29-years of age, Ramon returns for a second season on Long Island. Last year he batted .268 in 84 games and 313 at-bats, with 21 doubles, three home runs, and 31 RBI. Over a ten year MiLB career he's a career .282 hitter, with a 24% rate of caught stealing, and .991 fielding average. Ramon played in 74 MLB games with the Cincinnati Reds.
- Now 29-years old, he spent last season playing for Sacramento of the Pacific Coast League. Over the course of seven (2011-2017) seasons, he slashed .238/.273/.367, with 59 extra base hits and 120 RBI through 347 games and 783 at-bats, and owned a .992 FA, with a 25% rate of caught stealing as a major league catcher. In 498 career MiLB games, he is a .286/.359/.449 career slasher with 52 home runs and 309 RBI in 1,700 at-bats.
- Sometimes pitcher, sometimes catcher - who knows - Gomez is another man of many, if not enigmatic talents. He enjoyed a brief cup of coffee late last year, and returns in search of a full season on Long Island. But in what capacity remains to be seen. He played two games last season in which he managed four at-bats, but also pitched and finished a game with one full inning of work. His five year minor league career with the Reds organization ended after 2014, after which he remained unlisted for three seasons until joining the Ducks.
AROUND THE HORN
David Washington (1B)
- David last season was Long Island's main sources of power. In 113 games and 399 at-bats, he hit 16 doubles, a team high 24 home runs, with 71 RBI, and eighteen stolen bases. For the 28-year old, his prime athletic years lay dead ahead.
- Drafted by the Giants in 2008, Frias last participated in affiliated ball in 2017 with Arizona's double-A club. Otherwise, the now 34-year old infielder spent the previous two seasons as a standout with the Lancaster Barnstormers. Last year he slashed .282/.350/.411, with 24 extra base hits and 39 RBI in 287 at-bats. He also stole 16 bases and was caught only twice.
- It seems as if Ivan has been playing forever. He was 18-years old in 2005 when he broke in with the Los Angeles Dodgers rookie league squad. He is a career .302 hitter through eight season at triple-A; and a career .300 hitter in 13 overall MiLB seasons. De Jesus is also a Winter League stalwart, and brings with him 228 games of major league experience. He played last season for the triple-A Pawtucket Red Sox. The soon to be 32-year old enters his first season playing independent baseball.
- The soon to be 27-year old, spent last season playing for the San Rafael Pacifics of the independent Pacific Association, where he slashed .305/.356/.432, with 33 extra base hots, and 55 RBI through 80 games and 354 at-bats. He scored 71 runs, and stole 25 bases while getting caught just once. Prior to that, he spent seven seasons in the San Francisco Giants organization.
- In six years of major league service, the 30-year old infielder slashed .260/.292/.333, with 43 extra base hits and 52 RBI in 291 games and 786 at-bats. He spent last season playing for Nashville of the Pacific Coast League where he batted .243 with 19 extra base hits and 42 RBI over 120 games. This season marks Steve's return to the Atlantic League. He previously played 40 games in 2016 for the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs where he slashed .367/.401/.428, with nine extra base hits and 20 RBI in 166 at-bats.
Mike Olt (1B/3B)
- Hailing from New Haven, Connecticut, Mike attended spring training with the Minnesota Twins. He spent the last two seasons in the Red Sox organization. In 2017 he hit 23 doubles and 16 home runs, with 57 RBI in 392 at-bats for double-A Portland. He has 135 games of MLB service. While with the Cubs in 2014, he hit 12 home runs with 33 RBI in 225 at-bats.
OUTFIELD
- Another familiar face, Matt has 166 major league games of experience most popularly with the Mets, along with the Nationals and Tigers. He owns an MLB slash of .223/.305/.337, with 27 extra base hits and 30 RBI through 368 big league at-bats. In 811 games over a nine year minor league career, he slashed .271/.335/.447 with 86 home runs and 401 RBI. Now 31-years old, he spent last season playing for Las Vegas of the Pacific Coast League.
- Back for his second season with the Ducks, Daniel last season slashed .267/.345/.425, with 21 doubles, nine home runs, 40 RBI, and 12 stolen bases through 96 games and 341 at-bats. He spent the 2017 season playing for the now defunct Bridgeport Bluefish, for whom he slashed .297/.387/.486, with 12 home runs and 51 RBI in 85 games. Originally drafted in 2009 by the Detroit Tigers, the 28-year old played his only ever MLB game in 2015, going 1 for 3, with a double.
- Drafted in the first round of the 2009 draft by the Boston Red Sox, Rey was later shipped to the San Diego Padres in 2010 as part of Boston's transaction to acquire first baseman Adrian Gonzalez. Now 28-years old, he has exactly 100 games of MLB experience. A perennial Winter League participant, he spent the last two seasons playing at Reno of the Pacific Coast League where last year he batted .265 in 2018 with 11 doubles, six home runs, and 39 RBI in 302 at-bats.
- Long Island welcomes another former Mets outfielder, the California dreamer himself. Since debuting for the Mets back in 2012, he remained active in major league baseball through the 2017 season. He spent last season playing for Tacoma of the Pacific Coast League. I caught my first glimpse of Kirk - like so many other Mets prospects - at Coney Island when he played for the Brooklyn Cyclones. He enjoyed his best season in 2016 while with Milwaukee where he hit 18 doubles and 13 home runs, with 44 RBI in 335 at-bats.
- The Texas born globetrotter returns to Long Island for his tenth season with the Ducks. Before making the Pond his permanent residence, Lew played on baseball diamonds across America, as well as Canada, Mexico, Dominican Republic, Venezuela, and across the Pacific in Japan. Oh, the stories he can tell. Now 42-years young, Ford is coming off one of his best seasons in which he slashed .293/.353/.432, with 33 doubles, ten home runs, and 73 RBI in 123 games and 468 at-bats. The trick was staying healthy after nagging injuries compromised both his 2016 and 2017 seasons.
Ducks: Spring Training Invitees
Long Island's season kicks off on the road against the Revolution at York, Pennsylvania on Friday. Their home opener at Bethpage Ballpark is scheduled for the following Friday, May 3, in a return series against the Revolution. The Ducks also have a new member club joining the Liberty Division. The High Point Rockers hailing out of North Carolina are now open for business. They replace the defunct Bridgeport Bluefish. The Sugar Land Skeeters are defending Atlantic League champions. They've won in two of the last three years, defeating the Long Island Ducks each time.
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