L.I. Ducks ~ Your Liberty Division Champions!

From the desk of:  THE WEBBED SPIKES NINE

Liberty Division Champions!

LONG ISLAND DUCKS:

Eliminate Wild Card Team.

Next Stop; Atlantic League Championship Series.

Related Posts:

Season Ends With Dual Division Titles ~ BTB

It's Playoff Time ~ BTB

Ducks Take Game One ~ BTB

Game Two Final; Off to Southern Maryland ~ BTB

Aiming to Clinch Sunday ~ BTB




Ducks defeat Blue Crabs in Game Four; Win Series 3-1.


The Ducks' offense scratched and clawed as best as their little Webbed Spikes could after their bullpen was rushed into near immediate action Sunday.  The Ducks were pressed for a response to Southern Maryland's alarmingly early onslaught against starter; Valerio De Los Santos; in Game Four of the Liberty Division Championship Series.




The day was looking promising when Kinard Jones led off the game with a triple and scored, giving the Ducks a 1-0 first inning lead.  But in their first turn at bat, Southern Maryland sent De Los Santos to the showers before he was able to complete a full inning of work.  After just 0.2 inning(s); four hits; a walk; and allowing four runs, Coach Baez was forced to remove his starter because this is not June when you can just let your starter correct himself on the fly.  At this time of year, time is of the essence and getting outs from your pitcher is paramount.  So deservedly, give Coach Baez heaps of credit for managing Sunday's outcome and maneuvering six pitchers throughout the game.


Four consecutive singles by Freddy Thon; Danny Lyons; Kinard Jones; and Ray Navarrete plated two more runs for Long Island in the top of the second.  That made it a 4-3 game.  However, just removing Valerio De Los Santos from the game didn't alleviate Long Island's problems.  The Blue Crabs continued their offensive against the next Ducks' pitcher; Chris McCoy.  The Crabs matched Long Island with another two runs in their half of the second making it a 6-3 game.


The Ducked remained quiet over the next three innings.  But in the bottom of the fifth, Southern Maryland tacked on another run against Chris McCoy to make the game 7-3; Crabs.


In the sixth, Blue Crabs' starter; Nick Green; prepared his exit from the game.  He faced four batters.  Matt Padgett singled; Matt Esquivel walked; and Freddie Thon singled to load the bases.  Dan Lyons worked out a walk to force in a run, and Nick Green was outta there.  Another run scored when Kinard Jones drew yet another walk with the bases loaded.   And Ray Navarrete then bounced into a double play with the third run of the inning scoring on the play.


The Ducks were within one run again in a 7-6 game after six completed innings.  In the next frame, the teams traded runs again.  J.R. House hit a solo home run for the Ducks.  But the Crabs still maintained an 8-7 lead after scoring against Tyler Walker.


But that's all they'd get; the Crabs that is.  The Ducks bullpen combined on a marvelous job keeping Southern Maryland sedated after their opening outburst.  Jason Monti; Tyler Walker; Bubbie Buzachero; and Jon Hunton combined on 4.1 innings pitched; one run; one hit; four walks; and six strikeouts.  Tyler Walker allowed the last run Southern Maryland would score.  Bubbie Buzachero was responsible for three of those walks allowed and which directly leads to the reason why it was up to the newly anointed Long Island closer; Jon Hunton; to ultimately shut the door on the Blue Crabs.  He struck out the last two batters of the game to end the night in grand style for the visiting Long Islanders.


Bubbie Buzachero, amusingly gets credited with Sunday's win.  Jon Hunton earned the save.


Indeed, it was the bullpen that kept the Ducks around long enough; enabling a comeback Long Island persistently mounted throughout this game.  They were still down 8-7 after seven.  But in the eighth inning, Mr. Long Island Duck himself; Ray Navarrete; continued his Swan Song of sorts, by launching a home run to tie the baseball game at eight runs apiece.  The All-Time Ducks' Home Run King may have never hit one bigger than this.  That remains to be discussed.  But coming when it did, where it did, there's nothing quite like making another team's crowd go silent.  It's the golden silence of rounding second base in the course of the home run trot, and the only audible noises are coming from your team mates in the dugout.  That's sweet.


And like a dominoes display falling perfectly as designed, the latest in a long line of Duck heroes this season; Freddie Thon; stepped in and finished off Southern Maryland with a two-out RBI double to score Erick Monzon (singled) with the go ahead; the game winning; and the Liberty Division Championship winning run.


Many team members have stated this Ducks team is a very tightly-knit group with a genuine affinity for one another.  And so it was, together as a team, they just didn't save themselves from having to play a decisive Game Five on the road by winning Sunday afternoon.  The Long Island Ducks mounted a comeback that laid to rest some second guessing; like deciding to potentially play three games on the road with just two games at home.  And choosing to do so when the Ducks have gone 0-7 since their last playoff win on the road; not to mention not playing very well in Southern Maryland this season either.  I questioned that.  The Long Island Ducks answered by winning two straight in Southern Maryland after splitting the first two games in Long Island.


They are moving on because offensively, the Ducks are relentless.  Sunday's win is a classic example of that.  But pitching was everything for Long Island in their three wins this series.  Mike Loree did his part by winning Game One.  And no, Josh Banks didn't have the success all parties concerned were looking for.  But it presented another moment to be seized upon.  That came in Game Three via Bob Zimmermann who pitched six, really superb innings Saturday night.  He allowed the Blue Crabs only one unearned run off three hits, while striking out six.  And then of course, Long Island's bullpen work in Game Four Sunday was, as it has been all season long; solid as a rock.


And now the Ducks get what the Ducks' players want; a chance to win a title..., Together.

Mike.BTB

L.I. Ducks ~ Take Opening Game

From the desk of:  THE WEBBED SPIKES NINE

LONG ISLAND DUCKS:   GAME ONE FINAL

S. Maryland Blue Crabs     3

LONG ISLAND DUCKS   6

Ducks Lead Series 1-0

Best of Five

 

The Webbed Nine Employ An Old Formula in Tonight's Win Over Southern Maryland.

 

In one of today's tabloids (Newsday), today's Long Island starter Mike Loree revealed that upon signing his contract with the Pirates organization, he requested he be allowed to pitch with the Ducks during their post-season run.  Of course, PITT kindly obliged.  Mike said the guys in the Ducks   clubhouse were a very tight bunch and that winning a Championship with them would be extremely special.  The idea is to excel and graduate from a team like the Ducks; hopefully up into affiliated Baseball.  But he wanted very much to be here; now; with the Long Island Ducks; where he pitched masterfully for them for most of the regular season, and now wants to see it all the way through.


Tonight was a step in the right direction.  Mike Loree hasn't been quite the same dominant hurler he was prior to leaving the Ducks.  Maybe lack of run support was to blame.  But it shouldn't be anything to be too concerned about.  Tonight, the Ducks had to settle for him just being damn good.  He was looking a little hittable early on.  Southern Maryland touched him for five hits and two runs over his first three innings pitched.  But Long Island didn't leave him pondering a 2-1 deficit on the mound for too long.  The Ducks scored five more times for Loree before the fourth inning even began.


In a sense, the game was a welcome return to a proven formula the Ducks relied on all season long.  As Mike Loree set down opponents and accumulated scoreless innings pitch, the Long Island offense was busy building up handsome leads.  The Blue Crabs actually out-hit the Ducks Wednesday 13-9; but Long Island was able to string theirs together consecutively and clearly more effectively.  And Matt Padgett was able to turn up some power for good measure.


In the Ducks' home first and with one out, Ray Navarrete doubled, then advanced to third on a wild pitch.  John Rodriguez; back in the clean-up spot; drove him home with a sac-fly to left for the first run of the game.  The Blue Crabs followed that up by making Mike Loree sweat through a tough second inning with four hits leading to two earned runs and a Blue Crab lead.


But like I said, the lead was short lived.  Long Island went to work against Southern Maryland starter; Virgil Vasquez in the bottom half of the second and effectively ended Vasquez' night.  With one out, Matt Padgett blasted the first home run of the series to tie the game at two apiece.  Three consecutive singles from Freddy Thon; Kraig Binnick; and Kinard Jones; and a Blue Crab throwing error allowed the Ducks' third run to score.  Then Ray Navarrete grounded out but Kraig Binnick scored an unearned run on the play to make it a 4-1 game heading into the third.


John Rodriguez led off the home third with a single.  J.R. House followed with another single.  A fielder's choice hit into by Matt Esquivel made it first and third with one out.  Then, Matt Padgett promptly singled to center driving in Rodriguez from third.  Kraig Binnick came up and slapped another Ducks' hit driving in Esquivel for the Ducks' second run of the third inning and a 6-2 lead.


Mike Loree settled down.  After the shaky start and striking out only one batter over the first three innings, he struck out three batters over his last three frames while allowing just three more hits and a walk after six completed trips to the mound.  He left the game staked to a 6-2 lead as Coach Baez decided to go to his bullpen and put the ball into the hands of Jeremy Hill for the seventh.


Jeremy Hill kept the Blue Crabs quiet over his two innings pitched.  Although he gave up three hits, he allowed Southern Maryland nothing more.


In to pitch the Long Island ninth inning came Jon Hunton.  It was a strange call in my opinion.  He was a late September acquisition who made three regular season appearances prior to the playoffs.  He allowed the Blue Crabs to get within 6-3, but then shut down the remaining batters to face him; and striking out the last.  A little bump withstanding; it was a good call....I guess.  But I do question Coach Baez' trust in Bubbie Buzachero right now.


The Long Island Ducks win Game One of the Liberty Division Championship Series.  Game Two of this best of five match-up is scheduled for Thursday evening at Bethpage Park, Long Island.

*   *   *   *   *

TONIGHT

THURSDAY

September 22, 2011

ATLANTIC LEAGUE

LIBERTY DIVISION CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES

Best of Five

AtlanticLeague.com

LongIslandDucks

GAME TWO

Southern Maryland Blue Crabs  (0-1)

vs.

LONG ISLAND DUCKS  (1-0)

From

The Ballpark at Bethpage

LONG ISLAND, N.Y.

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 ~ Turn Back The Road Warriors

From the desk of:  THE WEBBED SPIKES NINE



LONG ISLAND DUCKS:  Winning Streak Hits Seven Games.


A first inning 1-0 deficit meant little to Long Island.  Picking up where they left off before Monday's break in the schedule, the Ducks waisted no time erasing that deficit with two runs in the second inning, and for good measure, two more in the third.


Freddie Thon doubled home both runs for Long Island in the second inning scoring Matt Esquivel and Matt Padgett.  In the third inning, back-to-back doubles by J.T. House and Matt Esquivel scored Javier Colina and John Rodriguez respectively, making the game a 4-1 affair favoring the Ducks.


After that first inning, starting pitcher Dave Williams kept things quiet and departed the game on the winning side after five innings against the Road Warriors.  In only his second start for the Ducks in seventeen appearances this season, the Road Warriors touched him for eight hits, but only mustered the one run against him.  He walked one batter and struck out five before giving way to Bob Zimmermann for the sixth.


That's when the Road Warriors made things close.  After pitching a scoreless sixth inning, Zimmermann needed help from Valerio De Los Santos and Jeremy Hill to keep the Ducks on top after being charged with two earned runs in the top of the seventh inning.  De Los Santos allowed a hit and one of those runs while Hill allowed a hit and plunked a batter before getting the third out.


The Ducks struck again in the home half of the seventh.  Kinnard Jones led off the inning with a double.  He advanced to third and then scored on a Javier Colina sac-fly to make it a 5-3 game.


Jeremy Hill stayed in to pitch the eighth inning and struck out two of the three batters he faced.  Then, Ehren Wassermann was called upon to close the game for Long Island in the ninth inning.  The Road Warriors made a go of it.  But Wassermann finally closed out the game after giving up a run for his tenth save of the season.

The Ducks are now winners of seven straight.  They improved their second-half record to 24-7; 4.5 games ahead of second place Bridgeport.  Overall, the Ducks are now 64-30 this year.  So far this season, they are the only Atlantic League team above sixty victories.





Mike.BTB

L.I. Ducks ~ A Quack Attack in Lancaster

From the desk of:  WADDLING AROUND BROOKLYN



LONG ISLAND DUCKS:  Big John "STUD" Rodriguez Goes Boom as the Webbed Nine Roar Back in Biggest Comeback of the Season.


Long Island just sent the rest of the League a message of sorts.  They will not be denied.


The Ducks came back...; all the way back, from a 7-0 deficit to take an 8-7 lead in the seventh inning against the Barnstormers and then won it 13-10 in even more dramatic fashion than already provided.  In winning their fifth game in a row, and in defeating the Lancaster Barnstormers who were leading the Freedom Division before Saturday's game, in the first two games of this weekend series, the Long Island Ducks must have the rest of the League wondering, what will it take to slow this team down?


Point made.


With their starting pitching getting depleted by untimely contract purchases, this is what the Ducks will have to do from time to time in order to compensate for their staff losses.  Joselo Diaz wasn't exactly Cy Young out in Lancaster in game two; giving up seven runs to Lancaster over the first two innings of the game.  But the offense rose to the occasion to bail him out and take him off the loss column.


Valerio De Los Santos made a huge fielding gaffe when he didn't cover first base on a ground ball to Matt Padgett in the bottom of the seventh.  He almost got bailed out but Javier Colina couldn't turn a softly hit ball into a double play in time for the second out.  It was part of a bottom half inning in which the Ducks allowed the Barnstormers to tie the game again at 10-10 with three runs.


A booming home run in the top of the eighth by John Rodriguez gave the Ducks another lead, this time 11-10.  It was his third hit of the night; his 16th home run of the season; and his three RBI gave him 72; tops in the League.


Then, in the top of the ninth inning, Big John STUD uncorked his second home run of the game and 17th overall; a two run blast hit deep into the Lancaster night; to give the Ducks more insurance on their way to a 13-10 final.  In all, John Rodriguez was 4 for 5 on the night; 2 home runs; 5 RBI; a double; and 4 runs scored.  He upped his League leading RBI total yet again to 74 on the season.


Matt Padget went 3 for 3, with two RBI as well.  Ray Navarrete was 3 for 5, with three runs scored.  Bubbie Buzachero pitched the ninth inning earning his 16th save.  Valerio De Los Santos earned the win in relief.  To Joselo Diaz, a welcome no decision..., I'm sure.



As mentioned, that's now five wins in a row for the Ducks and are winners of eight out of their last ten.  They improved their record to 22-7 in the second half and remain 3.5 games in first place ahead of the Bridgeport Bluefish.  They increased their season record to 62-30 overall.  They'll go for the sweep Sunday in Lancaster.



Mike.BTB

L.I. DUCKS ~ Fifty Reasons To Quack For Joy

From the desk of:  THE WEBBED SPIKES NINE


LONG ISLAND DUCKS:  FIRST TO FIFTY!

In the rubber game between the two first-half division champs, the Long Island Ducks won their 50th game of the season Friday night by consistently pushing across two-out runs against opposing pitcher J.D. Durbin and the rest of the Lancaster Barnstormers.

In the second inning, Matt Padgett and Tom Pennino (his first) hit back-to-back home runs to tie the game at two after Lancaster touched-up Ducks' starter Ruddy Lugo for two runs in the top half of the frame.

The Ducks went ahead 4-2 in the third on RBI singles by John Rodriguez and Lew Ford.  In the fourth inning, Long Island posted another pair of runs to make the score 6-2 Ducks.  Kraig Binick singled home Dan Lyons who doubled; then stole second.  Ray Navarrete singled to drive home Binick.

After a rain delayed start to the game, Ducks' starter Ruddy Lugo put forth a respectable effort after Lancaster got to him in the second inning.  He pitched five innings and threw eighty-five pitches.  Allowing three hits overall, he gave up the two earned runs in the second inning but no more, while walking three batters and striking out four.  Ruddy left the game on the winning side of what stood to be his fifth win against two losses.

Bob Zimmermann entered the game in relief of Lugo in the sixth inning and promptly pitched himself into trouble.  He gave up a home run, a walk, and back-to-back singles before he received a trip to the mound from his pitching coach after Lancaster made it a 6-4 game.  The meeting on the mound didn't work.  Zimmermann gave up another single to make it a 6-5 game with the tying run and go ahead run still on base.  Coach Baez came out of the dugout this time and yanked his pitcher with two outs.

Enter Bubbie Buzachero in a rather early call for him these days.  He hit the first batter he faced to load the bases.  Then, a single by Lancaster's Tommy Everidge drove home two more runs for a 7-6 Lancaster lead.  And so much for Ruddy Lugo's fifth win of the season.  He got stuck with the no-decision after a ruinous five run sixth inning for the Ducks' bullpen.  All five runs were charged to Zimmermann.

With two outs, an RBI double by Kraig Binick in the bottom of the sixth tied the score for the Ducks at seven apiece.  Then all-time Duck, Ray Navarrete, singled home Binick with yet another two out RBI by the Ducks for an 8-7 lead.  All eight runs scored by the Ducks to this point were scored with two outs.

Bubbie Buzachero managed the seventh inning after allowing the lead-off batter to reach base.  He wasn't sharp; pitching behind the count to all batters he faced.  But he kept things very quiet in the eighth inning.  And looking back on the outing, he most certainly earned the win in relief of Friday's game for his 2+ innings of work.


"New" Ducks' closer; Eric Wassermann...(and why not?  He's pitching lights-out).....  came in to pitch the ninth inning.  And in commanding Closer fashion, gave up a hit, but struck out the side to secure his 7th Save and the Long Island Ducks' 50th win of the season.


The Ducks are now the proud owners of an overall League best 50-28 record.  They remain as the only Atlantic League team above .600, playing to a .641 percentage.  In the second-half standings, they gained a game on Camden who lost Friday, and are now just one game behind the River Sharks for first place in the Liberty Division.

On July 30, 2011

vs. the ROAD WARRIORS

The Long Island Ducks Will Welcome Their

5,000,000th Fan To The Ball Park!

Congratulations to my own personal favorite, Buddy Harrelson, and to the entire

LONG ISLAND DUCKS ORGANIZATION.

And,

Congratulations to the Baseball Fans of Long Island.

Pat yourselves and each other on the back Saturday.

Mike.BTB

L.I. Ducks ~ Waddling Towards A Playoff Spot

From the desk of:  THE WEBBED SPIKES NINE




LONG ISLAND DUCKS:  Magic Number Down To Five.

Playing their best ball of the season, The York Revolution were the hottest team in the Atlantic League at the time they showed up in Long Island for a three game series.  The Revolution have been giving the Lancaster Barnstormers a run for their money in the Liberty Division.  They were winners of nine out of their last ten games.   But all that changed when they stepped foot in The Pond Tuesday.


As they continue their own romp through the League tonight and winning the first two games of this series, fads like York matter not to the Ducks.  Not when they are now the hottest team in the Atlantic League; not to mention the League's best.  And speaking of the best; Mike Loree tossed another gem, as the Ducks elevated their League best record to 36-18, as they march towards a first half Liberty Division title.


It's OK to start talking Magic Numbers now.  The Ducks hold a five game edge over South Maryland with ten games to go before the first half standings get written in ink. 


And the Magic Number is?  Five.


Ducks' starting pitcher; Mike Loree; improved all his League leading numbers.  He is now 9-1 this season and has won his last seven straight decisions.  In his longest outing of the season, he pitched 8 full innings against York and allowed no runs; only five hits; no walks; and struck out four.  He threw 101 pitches and 69 of them went for strikes.  His 1.73 ERA is magically disappearing before our eyes.


Ehren Wassermann added another fine inning of relief to finish out Mike Loree's night.  He pitched the ninth; gave up a hit and struck out one in a non-save situation.


While Mike Loree was cruising along, the Ducks gave him three runs in the third inning to work with.  Kennard Jones singled to lead off the inning and Javier Colina doubled him over to third.  With Matt Esquivel up, a dropped strike three by the catcher resulted in Kennard scoring and Esquivel reaching first base.  Javier Colina scored when Matt Padgett grounded into a fielder's choice.  J.R. House doubled home Matt Padgett for a 3-0 lead.


In the eighth inning, Kraig Binick drove home Matt Esquivel with an RBI single.  Then Kennard Jones cleared the bases with a three RBI double to left for a 7-0 Long Island lead.



***John Rodriguez missed another game, perhaps due to a lingering thumb issue.






Mike.BTB