L.I. Ducks ~ Championship Series Shifts To York Tied 1-1

From the desk of:  THE WEBBED SPIKES NINE

ATLANTIC LEAGUE

Championship Series

FRIDAY

GAME THREE

LONG ISLAND DUCKS (1-1)

vs.

York Revolution (1-1)

From

Some Park out in Pennsylvania

LONG ISLAND DUCKS:  Things to Ponder on the Bus Ride to Game Three.


There's a tired overly used phrase that has probably never been more appropriate in describing the Ducks' post-season thus far.  They are following a similar script they followed in clinching round one.  With the Ducks hoping it's more a sign of good fortune ahead instead of an omen...,  there's an overwhelming sense of -  Here we go again.


With Mike Loree pitching a successful opening game victory in the divisional round, Josh Banks followed up with a disappointing start as the Ducks lost Game Two.  Long Island then went on the road after splitting the first two games at home and eliminated the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs in four games.


After Mike Loree's successful opening game victory in the Atlantic League Championship Series Wednesday night against the York Revolution, Josh Banks followed up with another abysmal start in Game Two.  The Ducks split the first two games at home, and by choice will take the now best two out of three series on the road to York, Pennsylvania where a League Champion will be crowned.


The start to both rounds almost mirror each other, but are all together unsettling for Duck Fans.  Long Island will send Bob Zimmermann to the mound looking to avoid getting put into an elimination situation on Saturday.  The strategy worked for them in the first round as the Ducks won the first two games on the road to clinch the Liberty Division pennant.  So, here's to hoping the plan works out for them again over the weekend.  Game Three is Friday night in a place the Ducks won four games and lost five during the regular season.


After Mike Loree halted the Revolution in Long Island Wednesday, York mounted a successful counter-attack Thursday evening with a 9-0 sacking of the Ducks.  Josh Banks lasted a mere 2.1 innings and faced only thirteen batters.  After a five hit power surge that netted York six earned runs, Ruddy Lugo was forced into long relief by the third inning.  But one run or nine runs would have sufficed for York.  The Long Island Ducks were held to zero in Game Two.


It may not happen often in a Championship Series; I don't know; but it's seems natural the League's best two teams could trade shut-outs over the first two games; that is, without knowing the particulars of this series.  But the Ducks have now officially been outscored 9-1 over two games.  So what gives?  The potent Long Island Nine have been effectively shut-down over the first two games by Nick Schumacher and Lorenzo Barcelo; not exactly Spahn and Saine.  Neither pitcher was York's best.  He's still coming.  The fact remains, Game Two's shut-out loss comes on the heals of getting held to one run on four hits in Game One.  The League's top offensive team has been held to ten hits in the series so far.


Mike Loree was able to make his lone run of Ducks' support hold up.  That's what aces do.  But Josh Banks had no such luck in Game Two.  Three home runs in the first three innings by the Revolution were more than enough to quiet the Ducks and their crowd who waved good-bye to their team knowing they face an uncertain trip to Pennsylvania with the series tied at a game apiece.


The Ducks haven't suffered through many offensive droughts this season; if any. And I'm sure the Long Island Nine would strongly concur this is the worst time for a sudden short circuit in production. But then again, offensive outages never happen at convenient times.  Do they?


The York Revolution still have their Ace; Corey Thurman; in reserve and maybe ready for Game Three or Four.  Then perhaps Shaun Garceau pitches a game.  As mentioned, the Ducks will pitch Bob Zimmermann tonight, who proved himself very capable when faced with this same situation in Round One.  It worked out that Long Island will only face Thurman once.  And apparently, they will not be seeing York's strikeout specialist, Matt DeSalvo this series either.   He last pitched on September 25th in a loss against Lancaster during the divisional round.


The Ducks will no doubt pitch Mike Loree again on short rest.  The question is do you pitch him in Game Four on two days' rest should the Ducks lose tonight and go down 2-1 in the series?  Ruddy Lugo and Mark Diapoules were pressed into relief duty last night.  After Banks and Loree, they are the only two pitchers left on the staff who have made regular starts this season.  Perhaps now, Valerio De Los Santos or Chris McCoy stand to make a start if the series should go the full five games.  Ruddy pitched 3.1 innings in relief of Josh Banks yesterday.  Diapoules pitched an inning, so he may be an option or be held back for long relief.  However, if the Ducks win Game Three behind Bob Zimmermann, do you give De Los Santos; McCoy; or Diapoules a start and the Ducks' bullpen a chance to close out the series with another win?  You would be saving Mike Loree, who will then be pitching on three days rest, for a possible Game Five scenario should the Ducks need it due to a loss over the next two games.


As the wheels on the bus go round and round on their way to York, Pennsylvania, so too do the thoughts of a one; Kevin Baez.







MIke.BTB

L.I. Ducks ~ The Final Stretch

From the desk of:  THE WEBBED SPIKES NINE




LONG ISLAND DUCKS:  After All The Rain; Recent Struggles; and Re-Signing Loree; Things Are Looking Bright  Again for the Playoffs.


They'll waddle to Southern Maryland for three games, then come home to Bethpage Park for the final series of the regular season and a showdown of sorts versus the Bridgeport Bluefish, in a match up that may very well decide which of the two teams win the Liberty Division's second-half title.


Monday's schedule was light and the Ducks were off.  But when the full Atlantic League schedule resumes Tuesday, the Ducks will be leading the Bluefish by a mere half-game for the division lead.  In the most recent series between Bridgeport and Long Island, the Bluefish gave the Ducks a taste of second place for a night.  But Long Island now seems to have stabilized.  They apparently corrected themselves out of a wild tailspin they found themselves in that started back in mid/late August.


Two of the biggest reasons for the recent turn-around no doubt have to be related to A) - the savvy signing of starting pitcher, Josh Banks; and B) - the return of starting pitcher, Mike Loree to the Ducks; with whom he's pitched exceptionally well this season; and matter of fact; dominated the Atlantic League until his contract was sold.  In his absence from the Ducks, his work still led the League in all three Triple Crown pitching categories.


With a somewhat formidable one-two punch again; unlike they had after Mike Parisi's contract was likewise sold earlier this season, the Ducks are now playing better overall baseball again while the supporting staff starters have definitely picked up as well.  It's the ol' "success breeds success" theory and guys like Mark Diapoulis should benefit.


With six games remaining before the post-season, things couldn't have come together better for Long Island than they have recently with regard to their starting pitching.  But on another note, it's imperative the Ducks get a healthy John Rodriguez; who's battled nagging injuries all season; and Ehren Wasserman; recently sidelined; back in time for the playoffs.


The absence of Rodriguez in the clean-up spot leaves a gaping hole in the Ducks' line-up.  When not injured, he was leading the League in RBI on two separate occasions.  Yet with all the games he's missed this season, he's still fourth in the League in RBI. 


And Ehren Wasserman has been nothing short of incredible out of the pen.  He leads Ducks' pitchers in appearances and is second in saves behind closer Bubby Buzachero with eleven.  In sixty-three innings pitched this season, Ehren struck out sixty-six; walked only twelve; with only fifty-four hits allowed.  It's imperative the Ducks get him back healthy and in time for a first round playoff series.




Mike.BTB

L.I. Ducks ~ Caught in a Maelstrom

From the desk of:  THE WEBBED SPIKES NINE




LONG ISLAND DUCKS:  The First Eleven Days of the Post Mike Loree Era Have Been Worrisome...At Best.

Long Island's pitching dilemma has now taken a very visible toll on the Ducks.  The Ducks no longer enjoy the lofty perch they've held for quite some time up in the .700 winning percentile.   Two other teams (Bridgeport and York) have joined them in the sixty win bracket, where for so long this season, the Ducks remained far ahead of the pack.


Hoping now, Mother Nature could have interceded a little longer and delayed this tail-spin the Ducks find themselves in, they couldn't avoid getting swept by the Somerset Patriots.  Before tonight, those last three losses in a row complimented a stretch where they lost eight of their last eleven games since losing Mike Loree to the Pirates organization.


Then came tonight.  On this Wednesday night, The Ducks started a road series against the York Revolution.  Ruddy Lugo took another turn on the mound, and promptly suffered his worst outing of the season; and perhaps the worst start to a game for the Ducks all year long.  It most probably ranks up there in all-time bad starts in Long Island history.  Before inducing the Revs into three outs, he walked two batters; gave up nine hits; and surrendered nine earned runs in the first inning of play.  The Ducks pitching gave up 21 hits in all.


The offense stepped in to make a game of it.  But the night ended in a 14-9 final.


In Tuesday's double-header, Mark Diapoules only lasted 4.1 innings, in a decent effort at best; as the Ducks lost 2-0 to Somerset in game one.  The Ducks failed new spot starter Bob Zimmermann who pitched a very good game.  But they dropped game two, 3-2, on their second offensive disappearance for the day.  On Monday, Valerio De Los Santos pitched five innings and gave up three earned runs in a 7-2 loss.  These are pedestrian numbers.  But they represent the absolute best the Ducks can do right now.


So just to update the worsening news, the Ducks are now losers of nine of their last twelve games.  It's official..;  The Ducks are now caught in a maelstrom.




Mike.BTB

L.I. Ducks ~ Ace; Mike Loree Sold To PITT Pirates

From the desk of:  THE WEBBED SPIKES NINE



LONG ISLAND DUCKS:  Mission Statement of the Atlantic League May Turn Out to be Long Island's Downfall.

Their Ace Pitcher; The Atlantic League's Triple Crown Leader; Gets Sold to Pirates.

Add MIKE LOREE to the List of Ducks Pitchers Gone-Bye...  The Contracts of the Ducks' Three Best Pitchers - Mike Loree; Mike Parisi; Shane Youman; all sold leaving the Ducks' Rotation Bare.



Duck Pond; We have a Problem.


On August 22nd, the Ducks' Ace; Long Island's new single season record holder for wins; All-Star Game starting pitcher; and the Atlantic League leader in all three pitching Triple Crown categories; Mike Loree; had his contract sold by the Long Island Ducks and purchased by the Pittsburgh Pirates.  He will be assigned to AA-Altoona Curve.


There-in lies the mission statement of the Atlantic League; ...to get guys back into the Major Leagues.  And I think we all knew it was just a matter of time before he got picked-up.  But, oh what a blow to the Ducks' championship hopes this is.


Matt Padgett saved Monday night's game with a big double in the eighth inning to give the Ducks their first lead of the game and a 5-4 final score over the Blue Crabs.  It was a statement game of sorts.  They seemed flat for most of the night upon learning their ace pitcher had been sold away earlier that day.  And they were fresh from getting swept in Camden over the weekend.  But they did what they've done for most of this season regardless of who is on the mound.  They pounded out three late runs in the eighth inning while their strong bullpen made the lead stand.


Yesterday, Valerio De Los Santos made the fill-in start in place of the departed Mike Loree.  And Valerio's performance echoed some things I said about the Ducks' Staff moving forward; and their outlook for the upcoming playoffs.  The loss of pitchers Mike Parisi and Shane Youman were huge blows to take.  Now, losing Mike Loree is crippling.


In Tuesday night's game against the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs; the last pitcher to win a game for the Long Island Ducks; Mark Diapoules took his regular turn in the rotation and promptly got hammered.  In two+ innings, he allowed four hits; eight runs; and walked three.  He left the game with his team behind 8-2 at the time.


As of right now, the Ducks are still clearly the best team in the League with an overall 67-33 record.  But their season just got very, very interesting.  I already expressed my concerns for this team in Monday's post.  Check that out.  But today, concerns just got upgraded to a really big problem.




Mike.BTB

L.I. Ducks ~ Sharks Feed on Ducks' One Weakness

From the desk of:  THE WEBBED SPIKES NINE





LONG ISLAND DUCKS:  The Webbed Nine Had Their Soft White Feathered Under Belly Exposed in Camden.


What's wrong with the Ducks?


Nothing.  They got swept by the Camden River Sharks; that's all.  When the team is going this well, you can't be taken aback by something like that.  It happens.  They lost a double-header Saturday and lost Sunday after getting rained out Friday evening down in Camden, N.J.


But what really happened to the Ducks besides meeting up with a Camden team playing well at the moment?  Camden is after all 22-12 in the second half, and in second place behind Long Island.


Last week, Mike Loree won his 14th game of the season.  That set the Long Island Ducks' single season record for victories; previously set by Troy Cate (13) in 2009.  He also struck out 10 batters in that game.  This season, Mike Loree is the Atlantic League's leader in wins; strikeouts; and ERA.  And he will be tonight's starter when the Ducks open up a series against Southern Maryland at Bethpage Park.


And now you can start talking about the Ducks' problems.  Between Loree starts, the Ducks are now officially thin.  And Camden caught Long Island within the void as Mike Loree pitched last  Wednesday and goes again tonight. 


Although seemingly moving right along, and continuing to win games at a 67% clip after the contracts of Mike Parisi and Shane Youman were sold, perhaps this is a glimpse into what kind of havoc lack of depth in the starting rotation can cause in a short series.  With the playoffs right around the corner, it's a scary glimpse I'm afraid.


In this most recent turn through the rotation, besides Mike Loree's victory last Wednesday, the only other Ducks' pitcher to record a win was Mark Diapoules; when he followed Loree last Thursday and completed a sweep of the Road Warriors.


With Long Island's need for starters, Diapoules stepped out of the bullpen and into a starting role.  As a relief pitcher through mid-June, he record was 1-1 and by then his ERA had grown to 3.96.  Since then, he's amazingly 6-0 as a starter, and his 4.06 ERA is not much higher than previous to starting his new role.


Then came a weekend series in Camden; a trio of loses; and three questions moving forward.


Regular starter; Joselo Diaz; pitched the first game of a double-header Saturday; ...well, technically anyway.  He lasted all of 1.1 innings and gave up seven runs; six earned.  It falls right in line with his overall struggles this season.  He's 5-7 as a starter this season with a 6.90 ERA.  He's walked almost as many as he's struck out in 19 starts for the Ducks.


In game two Saturday; staff regular; Ruddy Lugo took his turn and coughed-up 4.2 innings pitched.  He allowed 10 hits; 6 runs/4 earned.  In sixteen starts this season, Ruddy is 5-3 with a 5.91 ERA.  In 74 innings pitched, he too walks as many as he strikes out; 39/40.


Sunday, Dave Williams; like Diapoules who was summoned from the bullpen to start games; made his third start of the season, and eighteenth appearance over all.  Of the three weekend starting pitchers against Camden, Williams went the longest, but suffered the same fate as the others; he lost.  He pitched 6.0 innings, while surrendering five runs on eight hits.


Now tonight, Ducks' Ace Mike Loree; who is the League leader in all three Triple Crown categories for a pitcher; must also play stopper for Long Island.


But what could be wrong?  Southern Maryland can either expose the dilemma I spelled out, or put some of these anxieties to rest with this series opening up tonight.


We know how in the playoffs, what you have left to compete against is good pitching.  And the saying goes, good pitching stops good hitting.  The Ducks have basically been pounding opponents into submission with their offense; with League batting leaders, and League leaders in RBI.  They have the highest team batting and have scored the most team runs.


But their pitching is now depleted.  Will they be able to slug their way through the playoffs?  Ideally, Mike Loree only gets one start in a round of playoffs.  If he makes two starts, it's because the series went to a fifth and deciding game.


Are you comfortable with that?





Mike.BTB

L.I. Ducks ~ Continue to Roll in Lancaster

From the desk of:  THE WEBBED FEET NINE





LONG ISLAND DUCKS:  Win Again, But the Ducks Officially Have Problems Now.  Shane Youman is Headed to the Far East!

Ducks' pitcher Shane Youman's contract was purchased by a pro team from Taiwan back on August 10th...  Forgive me for being coy, but......., Really?


Really?


That makes Ducks' starting pitcher number three to have their contract purchased this season.  Lenny DiNardo was first at the very beginning of the season.  After the All-Star break, Mike Parisi was the next to go.  Even though the Ducks continued to roll along without Parisi, make no mistake, losing him was a huge blow.  And now losing Shane Youman, who had stepped up so marvelously, has to be considered a devastating blow.


In Mike Parisi's absence, veteran pitcher Shane Youman stepped in and established himself as the Ducks' most reliable and best starter behind Mike Loree.  In thirteen games pitched and seven starts for the Ducks this season, he dazzled opponents with a minuscule 0.66 ERA on his way to a 7-1 record.  In 54.1 innings pitched, he gave up thirty-nine hits and only walked nine batters while striking out forty-six.  Four earned runs were all he allowed during his time pitching for Long Island this season.  He did an incredible job.


So how do the Ducks manage the loss of two very key pitchers having very good seasons?  Their starting staff is paper thin now.  And as of this moment, I can only think a short series in the playoffs now presents one hell of a problem for Long Island.  If the bullpen has been masterful so far, now they will be called upon to be damn-near perfect the rest of the way.


As for Friday night's game against the Barnstormers in Lancaster, it opened a three game series in which the Ducks won game one.  Ray Navarrete hit his team leading 19th home run in the third inning (2-run shot) to knot the game at two.  Lancaster opened the scoring in the first inning with two runs.


Matt Esquivel doubled home Javier Colina and John Rodriguez in the sixth inning for a 4-2 lead.  Lancaster got one back in the seventh.  But the Ducks' lead held up.


If the Ducks' suddenly have pitching problems, Friday's starter; Mark Diapoulis; didn't seem to be listening.  He kept the Ducks swimming along with 6.2 strong innings pitched.  Lancaster got six hits and three earned runs off him.  He walked two and struck out four en route to winning his sixth game of the season against just one loss.


Jeremy Hill and Ehrin Wassermann combined to close out the game against the Barnstormers.  Wassermann earned his ninth save of the season.




Mike.BTB

L.I. DUCKS ~ Moving On Without Mike Parisi

From the desk of:  THE WEBBED SPIKES NINE


LONG ISLAND DUCKS:  A Ripple in the Pond or a Tidal Wave of Trouble?

As July winds down and I settle in for the second half of the season, the first half Champion Ducks are already 14 games into the tail end with a match against the Lancaster Barnstormers tonight in game two of a three game series; kicking off a six game home stand at Bethpage Park.

The Ducks are 9-4 in their first 13 second half games.  But that places them behind a suddenly hot Camden River Sharks in the Liberty Division, who have started 11-3 thus far.  Long Island is still the overall Atlantic League leader with a 49-27 record.

The biggest concern for the Ducks moving forward has to be the purchase of Atlantic League All-Star, Mike Parisi's contract by the L.A. Dodgers.  He and Mike Loree combined to create a formidable one-two punch at the top of the starting rotation for Long Island.  Parisi still ranks among the League leaders in strikeouts and ERA even 10 days after his acquisition by the Dodgers.

While I for one don't think Camden will keep up their recent play, and think South Maryland will still continue to pester Long Island in the division, the Ducks continued winning hints they will survive Parisi's departure. 

I say not so fast.  Come playoff time, everything changes.  We all know that.  But I think the York Revolution may have a clear edge in starting pitching now.  Of course time will tell.

Veteran hurler, Shane Youman however, has stepped in marvelously for Long Island since his Ducks' debut on June 8th.  He easily won the the third spot in the rotation prior to Parisi's departure.  He has appeared in eleven games thus far and started five.  While compiling a 5-1 record, he's done it sustaining a very low 0.87 ERA.


Tonight's starter for Long Island is Joselo Diaz.  Much more is needed from him.  He's struggled all season and is currently sporting an ERA above the 6.00 mark.  Between him, Mark Diapoulis, Heath Phillips, and Ruddy Lugo, the Ducks must hope they will be enough to get through a short series. 


I'm afraid the loss of Mike Parisi is very compromising to the Ducks' post-season picture.  Long Island GM Michael Pfaff has a lot of work ahead of him trying to sure-up his starting rotation before September's playoffs roll around.


The Ducks' potent offense is now required to remain just that; potent.  Once teams face the Ducks' fourth and fifth starters of this rotation, the Long Islanders will most likely have to slug their way through them.


The loss of Parisi also alters the way Coach Baez utilizes his (very solid) bullpen now.  Clearly, they will be handling a bit of a larger load.  They will be called upon more often without that solid one-two punch Loree and Parisi provided..., and giving the Pen a night off from time to time.


While the good times are rolling in Bethpage Park this season with a first half championship in their back pockets, the Ducks have officially entered a very interesting portion of the season.


NOTE:  The Long Island Ducks' 5,000,000th fan will pass through the turnstiles for a game during this home stand.




Mike.BTB