Newark Bears ~ GM Mike Torrez Making Changes

From the desk of:  THE BRICK CITY NINE



NEWARK BEARS:  New Names Contribute To Snap 6-Game Losing Streak.

Desperate times call for measures.  Or in the Bears' case, just playing with a sense of desperation will do.  They did that tonight.  But that's not to say Newark hasn't been playing hard.  Under Tim Raines Sr., they have.  But GM Mike Torrez decided this week changes were in order.  He made a flurry of signings while in the midst of a six game losing streak.


The Bears are looking for some stability at catcher.  Billy Alvino was behind the dish the last two games including today.  Recently signed Bobby Dombrowski; was Tuesday night's catcher.  And of course, Eric McGee has caught for the Bears this season.


Thursday, Tim Raines Jr. was moved into the infield again to play second base.   Mike Torrez just signed a 22 year old outfielder named Pat Biserta.  He started in center field in Raines' place.  Two infielders; Ryan Walsh and Brandon Young were also signed by Mike Torrez and have been inserted into the line-up this week at third and shortstop respectively.


With changes to the roster, the Bears' needed a change in fortune next. 


The Bears brushed away a 1-0 Pittsfield lead in the top half of the first inning and scored four times in the bottom half.  Pittsfield starter; Eric Katzman; didn't last very long.  After a lead-off single by Brandon Watson, Eric Katzman walked three of the next four batters to force home a run.  Then newly acquired Pat Biserta cleared the bases with a three run double giving the Bears a 4-1 lead.


Pittsfield scored their second run of the game in the top of the second.  Newark brushed that off also and reciprocated with three more runs in the bottom of the frame.  Another lead-off single by newly signed Ryan Walsh and two more walks by Pittfield's Eric Katzman loaded up the bases with Bears again.  Tim Raines Jr. grounded into a 4-6-3 double play but Ryan Walsh scored on the play.  Daryle Ward then doubled home Brandon Watson.  Danny Santiesteban followed with a single to score Daryle Ward.


In the fifth, Danny Santiesteban doubled and stole third.  He scored the Bears' eighth run on a fielder's choice.


Today's starting pitcher for the Bears; Chris Vasami; whom played for the Bears previously, was also resigned this week and made his first start of the season today against Pittsfield.  Over his first five innings, he gave up eight hits; two earned runs; one walk; and struck out one batter. 


But how would he fare in the sixth inning which has become Newark's starting pitcher kryptonite this season? 


Answer - He gave up a lead-off single and walked the next batter.  He got his first out on a fly to center.  Another single advanced everyone one base, but an error by Tim Raines Jr. at second base allowed the lead runner to score.  And that was the end of Chris Vasami's day.  It was off to the bullpen for Coach Raines again.


Another recent acquisition; Matt Fitton; was summoned by Coach Raines to douse Pittsfield in the sixth.  And he did.  But the seventh was a different story.  Fitton got himself into trouble by loading the bases.  So in came the Bears' third pitcher of the game; Anthony Pluta.  He got the third out of the inning via strikeout to prevent Newark's 9-3 lead from caving in on them.


Mikey Mehlich pitched the ninth inning and wrapped up Newark's first win in their last seven tries.  They finally attained their seventeenth victory of the season versus sixteen losses.  Most importantly, they avoided dropping under the .500 mark.


Gone from Newark's roster are OF-Kyle LaMotta; 3B- Todd Gossage; and OF- Burt Reynolds; all released this week by GM Mike Torrez.


The Bears will try and salvage a split of this four game series against Pittsfield tomorrow; Friday.





Mike.BTB

Newark Bears ~ Losing Streak Hits Six

From the desk of:  THE BRICK CITY NINE




NEWARK BEARS: With Bear Claws Losing Their Grip, Newark Is Losing Ground.

An early 1-0 Bears' lead turned into a four run deficit in the fifth inning.  Newark's starting pitcher; Casey Gaynor made his second start of the season and kept Pittsfield honest over his first four innings pitched.  But in the fifth, the Colonials hit him hard and often; capping off a big inning with the long ball.


Coach Raines stuck it out with Gaynor throughout the fifth inning though.  He's trying to squeeze at least that much out of his starting rotation.  He hasn't had a choice but to let a starter go too long on occasion.  Coach is having to utilize his bullpen for three and four innings per game because his starting pitching can't give him length.  As a staff, they are running into Brick walls entering the fifth innings of games.


But the bullpen has held up under the necessary work load.  They've done a great job keeping Newark in just about every game they've played.  And three innings into their nightly routine, it seemed like all systems were a go again.  But Wednesday's ninth inning is probably one they'd want to forget.  It's just a game you can't lay blame with the bullpen for blowing.  Their heavy usage almost warranted it.


The Bears clawed back with two runs in the bottom of the fifth and another pair in the sixth to tie the game at five.  Leading the offense, the bottom of the line-up came through with three RBI tonight.


Then, the Bears went into the top of the ninth inning and crumbled like a house of cards.  Chris Rollins and Mike Pontius combined to yield four runs to the Pittsfield Colonials.  And in failing to score any runs in the bottom of the inning, the Bears lost their sixth game in a row.


At 16-16, they have fallen down to the .500 level.  After tasting second place when they were still cruising with a 16-10 record, they found themselves precariously in fifth place even before Wednesday's game started.  The Bears are now looking up at Quebec; New Jersey; Pittsfield; and Brockton in that order.


There's two games left in this series.




Mike.BTB