L.I. Ducks: Flock Flying High After Completing Four Game Sweep Of Blue Crabs

From the desk of:  THE WEBBED SPIKES NINE

LONG ISLAND DUCKS: Flock Off To Go Mess With Texas.

Led by the bats of Cody Puckett and Adam Bailey, the Long Island Ducks completed a four game sweep of the visiting Southern Maryland Blue Crabs.  The Ducks rapped 13 hits against their opponents, and only fanned once in gaining an 8-3 victory in Thursday night's series finale.

Puckett was 2 for 4 with a double, a home run, and 3 RBI.  Bailey went 3 for 3, and likewise produced a double and his team leading 5th home run of the season to go along with a pair of RBI.  Lead-off batter Fehlandt Lentini also had a productive night at the plate, going 3 for 4, with a walk, an RBI and 2 runs scored.

Making his third start of the season, Jared Lansford climbed the hill for Long Island, and was opposed by Southern Maryland's Ian Marshall.  Jared pitched 5 innings, allowed 2 runs (but none earned) walked 3 and struck out 3 to earn his first victory of the season.  Ian Marshall was knocked out of the box after just 2.2 innings pitched, and allowing 5 earned runs on 8 hits.

The Blue Crabs picked up their third run of the game in the 6th off reliever Steve Garrison.  Otherwise, Josh Lansford continued his scoreless innings streak in the 7th, while Jon Meloan and Jeremy Accardo finished out the bullpen's contribution with 2 scoreless innings of work.

Defensively however, this was not one of Long Island's sharpest games, as they committed 4 errors.

With a 7-3 record over their last 10 games, the surging Ducks have transformed themselves into hottest team in the division, and now boast an overall 14-11 mark.  They remain 2.5 games behind the division leading Somerset Patriots (17-9), whom were Thursday night winners over Camden.

The Flock were forced into a hasty departure from Bethpage Park, as Friday evening they begin a four game Memorial Day Weekend series against Tracy McGrady and the Sugar Land Skeeters in Texas.




Mike.BTB

L.I. Ducks: Flock Rock! Sweep Blue Crabs; Will Face Somerset In Finals

From the desk of:   THE WEBBED SPIKES NINE

 

Ducks Sweep Liberty Division Series 3-0

I - Ducks 6; Blue Crabs 2

II - Ducks 6; Blue Crabs 5*

III - Ducks 4; Blue Crabs 1

*extra-innings

LONG ISLAND DUCKS: Veni, Vidi, Quack! - The Flock Sweeps Southern Maryland In Three Games For Chance To Defend Title Against The Somerset Patriots.

Over 5,100 fans showed up in Southern Maryland Friday night to witness the completion of a first round sweep.  After hosting, and winning the first two games in Long Island, the Ducks clinched their third straight Liberty Division crown on the road with haste.

In Game Three, third year Ducks pitcher, old reliable, thirty-one year old Bob Zimmermann hurled his Long Island team mates into the Atlantic League championship finals.  In six innings pitched, he limited the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs to just one earned run on four hits, walked two and struck out five before departing the game on the winning side of a 2-1 game.

The Ducks gave Zimmermann a 2-0 lead in the first inning and played superlative defense behind him, to include turning a huge inning ending 6-4-3 double-play in the sixth, with what was at the time, the tying run on third.  Josh Barfield then gave the Ducks a 3-1 lead in the top of the seventh when he deposited the first pitch he saw over the left/center field wall.  It was his eighth home run of the season and first of the playoffs.  Ryan Strieby drove in Long Island's two runs in the first and Adam Bailey had Long Island's fourth RBI.

Leo Rosales closed out the Blue Crabs season with a scoreless ninth inning.  The Ducks win the Liberty Division series three games to none.

They will now take on the winner of the Freedom Division finals.  As such, I told you! not to let the Somerset Patriots hear that talk of Sugar Land dominating the 2013 Atlantic League regular season.  The Skeeters have been swatted from the post-season.  While it is true, the Sugar Land Skeeters finished the regular season with a A.L. all-time best 95-45 record, the Patriots only finished 4.5 games behind then, in an equally record setting season for victories.  They too won up to ninety games this season, and on Friday night, likewise completed a three game sweep of the Skeeters to advance into the Atlantic League championship series.

The Ducks have now defeated Southern Maryland in each of the last three post-seasons to capture Liberty Division titles.  As such, this will be Long Island's third straight trip to the finals.  After the Long Island Ducks championship effort short circuited in the 2011 finals, they rebounded the very next season to capture the 2012 Atlantic League crown.  For the first time since winning the title in 2004, they will now have the opportunity to defend it.

The Somerset Patriots will attempt to improve upon their league record five Atlantic League championships.  They previously won titles after the 2001, 2003, and 2005 seasons, and back-to-back titles during the 2008-2009 seasons.



Mike.BTB

L.I. Ducks: Series Migrates South After Blue Crabs Hand Flock Game Two

From the desk of:   THE WEBBED SPIKES NINE

 

Ducks Lead Series 2-0

I - Ducks 6; Blue Crabs 2

II - Ducks 6; Blue Crabs 5*

III - @ Southern Maryland

*extra-innings

 

LONG ISLAND DUCKS: The Flock Is Heading South With A 2-0 Lead Over The Blue Crabs.

On the heels of Thursday night's extra-inning victory over the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs, the Long Island Ducks have secured a 2-0 series lead in the Liberty Division playoffs.  Having swept the first two games at Bethpage Park, the Ducks are now heading south of the Mason-Dixon line, where they will have three opportunities to win one game, and advance to the Atlantic League finals.

Southern Maryland all but handed Long Island their Game Two victory.  After seven innings played, the Blue Crabs held a 5-3 lead.  Shaun Marceau started on the hill for Long Island, and lasted 6.2 innings before needing bullpen relief.  He was charged with all five Blue Crabs runs, on ten hits.  He walked one and struck out five batters before departing the game to a no decision.

Southern Maryland starter Ian Marshall did himself no favors in the bottom of the second.  His error, the first of four the Crabs would commit, opened the door to a pair of Long Island runs.  Two sacrifice flies by Josh Barfield and Bryant Nelson drove in the two runs.  In the bottom of the seventh, the Ducks were helped out by another error, this time by second baseman Jake Opitz.

Five Long Island pitchers then combined to keep Southern Maryland scoreless over the next three innings.  The Ducks meanwhile, tied the game at five in the bottom of the eighth.  With two outs, Ryan Strieby and Kraig Binick connected on back to back doubles to bring the Ducks within one.  Yet another Blue Crabs error, by third baseman Renny Osuna then allowed Kraig Binick to score the game tying run.

In the bottom of the tenth inning, Ryan Strieby led things off with another base hit.  Coach Baez subbed-in P.J. Phillips as a pinch-hitter, who immediately stole second.  Southern Maryland's fourth error of the game, by catcher Alvin Colina let Phillips advance to third.  Then with Dan Lyons at the plate, Blue Crabs reliever Nick Sarianides unleashed a wild pitch allowing P.J. Phillips to cross the plate with the winning run.

Jared Lansford was credited with the victory in relief.  He pitched the tenth, allowed one hit and struck out two.

Game Three is scheduled for 7:05pm Friday evening.  Bob Zimmermann will climb the hill for the visiting Long Island Ducks.  He will be opposed by Southern Maryland's Logan Williamson.



Mike.BTB

L.I. Ducks: John Brownell Pitches Game One Gem Over Blue Crabs

From the desk of:   THE WEBBED SPIKES NINE

GAME ONE FINAL:

 

Blue Crabs  2

DUCKS       6

 

Ducks Lead Series 1-0

I - Ducks 6; Blue Crabs 2

II - Thursday @ Long Island

 

LONG ISLAND DUCKS: John Brownell Strikes Out Twelve Blue Crabs, Setting A New Long Island Ducks Playoff Record.

The Long Island Ducks hosted Game One of the Liberty Division playoffs this evening.  Pitcher John Brownell climbed the hill for the home team, opposed by Southern Maryland's Gaby Hernandez.

The Ducks got on the scoreboard first.  Doubles by Bill Hall and Ryan Strieby gave Long Island a 1-0 lead after two.  The Blue Crabs tied the game in the top of the fourth, but Long Island came right back to retake the lead in the bottom of the frame on Ramon Castro's sac-fly with the bases loaded, and Ryan Strieby's second RBI of the game.

Blue Crabs center fielder Jeremy Owens homered in the top of the sixth to make it a 3-2 game.  But,   Bryant Nelson went deep in the bottom of the frame to help Long Island regain a two run lead again.  Then in the bottom of the seventh, Josh Bailey's solo home run cleared the double-wall in right field to give the Ducks a 5-2 advantage.

Through six full innings, Gaby Hernandez allowed five earned runs on eight hits.  He walked one and struck out five before being relieved by Kyle Mertins in the bottom of the seventh.  For Long Island, John Brownell was still solid through seven innings pitched, allowing two earned runs on six hits.  He walked no batters and struck out nine. 

In the top of the eighth, John Brownell returned to the hill to fan his tenth and eleventh batters of the game - a new Long Island Ducks playoff record.  Former Ducks pitcher Mike Loree holds Long Island's regular season strikeout record.  With two outs, the Blue Crabs broke Brownell's string of ten straight retired batters.

The Ducks faced reliever Wade Korpi in the bottom of the eighth.  Then after retiring the lead-off batter, Southern Maryland turned to pitcher Tim Redding, who immediately allowed three straight base hits.  Dan Lyons' single scoring Ryan Strieby gave Long Island a 6-2 lead.

Down by four runs, Southern Maryland faced Long Island's starting pitcher John Brownell once again in the top of the ninth inning.  Brownell finally issued his first walk of the game, but with two outs in the inning, John Brownell completed a complete game victory when he fanned Sean Smith looking at strike three -  his twelfth strikeout of the game; a new team playoff record.  In going the distance, John was charged with two runs on seven hits, and walked one batter.

First baseman Ryan Strieby was 4 for 4, with a double, three singles, and two runs batted in.



Mike.BTB

L.I.Ducks: Let The Games Begin; First Round Preview

From the desk of:  THE WEBBED SPIKES NINE

 

2013

ATLANTIC LEAGUE PLAYOFFS

 

Liberty Division Series

Game One

 

Southern Maryland Blue Crabs

vs.

LONG ISLAND DUCKS

From

Bethpage Park

Long Island, New York

 

LONG ISLAND DUCKS: Reinforced Pitching Staff Set To Face Playoff Rival Southern Maryland In Round One.

Long Island's defense of their 2012 Atlantic League title begins, now.  But the Ducks weren't sure if they would get that chance, as the recently concluded regular season was a long rough road for last year's champs.  They weren't nearly the offensive juggernaut they were in 2012, and stumbled down the stretch with a 1-8 record before ultimately defeating the Somerset Patriots last Saturday evening, and thereby eliminating the Bridgeport Bluefish to capture the second half Liberty Division flag. 

The Long Island Ducks qualified for their third straight post-season with a 33-37 second half record, and finished below .500 for the season with an overall 63-77 mark.  This is the club's ninth playoff appearance since their inaugural 2000 season.  Over that time they have won two league crowns.

Their opponents in the first round are the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs, who won the Liberty Division first half title with a 37-32 record, but saw their fortunes take a second-half downturn to end the season with a 65-74 overall record, just 2.5 games better than the Ducks.

This will mark the third consecutive post-season these teams will face off for the Liberty Division crown.  Long Island won the regular season series over the Blue Crabs, eleven games to nine.

It is no wonder the Blue Crabs had a rough second half.  Their top slugger, Cyle Hankerd was scoffed up by the L.A./Anaheim Angels back in July.  He was having a big year for the Crabs and hit two home runs in his final game for them on July 20th.  Cyle left twenty-two home runs and sixty-one RBI behind.  Otherwise, Renny Colina assumed the team lead in home runs with thirteen and Sean Smith added thirteen.  As for the Ducks, they also suffered a big blow when they lost Joash Brodin to the Arizona Diamond Backs.  However, they benefitted from the return of Lew Ford after his stint with the Baltimore Orioles.  Bill Hill led Long Island with sixteen home runs and Adam Bailey added fifteen more.  In 450 at-bats, Southern Maryland's Renny Osuna was their best hitter with .296 average, while Bryant Nelson led the Ducks with a .298 mark in 483 at-bats.  Southern Maryland holds a clear speed advantage over the Ducks.  Sean Smith (36) and Renny Osuna (33) combined for sixty-nine stolen bases.  Joash Brodin left fourteen behind, while P.J. Phillips stole thirteen bases.

Long Island's John Brownell will climb the hill in Game One versus the Crabs Gaby Hernandez.  Brownell led the Ducks with nine wins and a 3.90 ERA.  He finished second in the Atlantic League with 133 strikeouts, but was number one in the circuit with seven complete games.  James Houser was Long Island's number two pitcher right up until August 24th, when he was slapped with a suspension.  He was second to Brownell with ninety-five strikeouts and eight wins.  The Ducks then went and acquired Shaun Marceau, Bobby Blevins, Derek Blacksher and Josh Strawn to bolster their pitching.

Long Island with host first two games of the Liberty Division series, beginning Wednesday evening.  Southern Maryland will then host games Three, Four and Five if necessary.

In Tuesday night's Freedom Division series opener, the Somerset Patriots took a one game lead over the Sugar Land Skeeters.



Mike.BTB

2013 Atlantic League Regular Season Wrap-Up

 

ATLANTIC LEAGUE:

2013 Regular Season Ends

 

The Final Four:

 

FREEDOM DIVISION SERIES

Sugar Land Skeeters vs. Somerset Patriots

 

LIBERTY DIVISION SERIES

Southern Maryland Blue Crabs vs. Long Island Ducks

 

With a .342 batting average, the Lancaster Barnstormers' Jerry Owens was the Atlantic League's top hitter.  With twenty-nine home runs and ninety-two runs batted in, his team mate Ryan Harvey was the league's leader in both.  On the hill, Lancaster's Dwayne Pollok was the Atlantic League's top winner with eighteen victories, and came in second with a 2.92 ERA, and was one of only two pitchers with an ERA under three.  With a 72-66 mark, the Lancaster Barnstormers finished the regular season with the Atlantic League's third best overall record behind only the Sugar Land Skeeters and Somerset Patriots.

...And there in lies Lancasters' end of the road.  Had they played in the Liberty Division, they would have assured themselves a playoff spot long ago; easy.  However, there will be no post-season for the Barnstormers this year.  Posting identical 36-33 records, they finished third behind the Skeeters and Patriots in both the Freedom Division's first and second halves.

The Sugar Land Skeeters were the undisputed Freedom Division champs, and set the new Atlantic League all-time mark with an overall 95-45 regular season record.  Who's record did they break?  Ironically, it was the 2012 Lancaster Barnstormers.  The Skeeters dominated the entire league from post to post.  Just do not let the Somerset Patriots hear that kind of talk.  Were it not for Sugar Land achieving the milestone first, the Somerset Patriots would have been credited with setting the new Atlantic League record for wins in a season.  With a 90-49 overall record, they finished second in the Freedom Division in each half behind Sugar Land.  Somerset will enter the post-season however, as the Wild Card.  Somerset and Sugar Land were the only two clubs with eighty victories or better, much less achieving ninety wins.

Simple accounting tells you all that winning took its toll somewhere else in the league.  The Liberty Division suffered the brunt of the damage, but truth is, every team outside of Sugar Land, Somerset and Lancaster finished the regular season below the .500 mark.

The Southern Maryland Blue Crabs won the Liberty Division's first half title with a 37-32 record, but stumbled mightily to a 27-42 record in the second half, and finished with an overall 64-74 regular season record.  The defending champion Long Island Ducks finished second, 7.5 games behind the Blue Crabs with a disappointing 30-40 first half record.  Long Island's struggles continued throughout the second half as well.  But in the second to final game of the regular season and with the Bridgeport Bluefish hot on their tail, Long Island finally clinched an opportunity to defend their title, by capturing the Liberty Division second half flag, finishing with a 33-37 record.  The Southern Maryland Blue Crabs finished the second half in last place.

The 2013 Atlantic League post-season is set.  The Sugar Land Skeeters will face the Somerset Patriots in a Freedom Division showdown between the league's top two teams, while the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs will play the defending champion Long Island Ducks for the Liberty Division crown.  The winners of each series will then play for the Atlantic League championship.

The games begin Wednesday night.



Mike.BTB

L.I. Ducks: Clinch Liberty Division Flag; Defense Of Title Awaits

From the desk of:   THE WEBBED SPIKES NINE

 

Long Island Ducks:

2012 Atlantic League Champions

LONG ISLAND DUCKS: Shaun Garceau Pitches Complete Game Two Hitter Over Patriots As The Flock Clinches Second Half Liberty Division Title.

LONG ISLAND WILL MEET THE SOUTHERN MARYLAND BLUE CRABS

IN THE FIRST ROUND OF THE 2013 ATLANTIC LEAGUE PLAYOFFS.

Sometimes when you need something done, you have to do it yourself.  That's perhaps what Long Island starting pitcher Shaun Garceau and the Ducks had in mind as they took on the Somerset Patriots.  They entered Saturday night's action with a magic number of one with two games to play.

While the Bridgeport Bluefish were keeping pace and putting a whooping on Camden, Shaun Gaeceau took the mound against the Somerset Patriots and fired seven full innings, allowed just one hit, walked one batter and struck out six.

Through five innings, the Ducks and Patriots played through a scoreless game.  Somerset starter Graham Taylor was almost as effective against Long Island, pitching six innings, allowing just one run on five hits.  He walked none and struck out two before being removed from the game.

Long Island scored the game's first run in the sixth inning when Lew Ford doubled, and later came around to score when Bryant Nelson grounded into a fielder's choice.  In the seventh inning, the Ducks score three times off reliever Jim Hoey - an unearned run and Lew Ford's two RBI gave the Ducks a 4-0 lead.

Shaun Garceau surrendered only his second hit in the bottom of the eighth, but was helped out with an inning ending double-play.  After the Ducks went down quietly in the top of the ninth, Shaun Garceau climbed the hill in the bottom of the final frame.  He struck out the final Patriots batter he faced to top-off a complete game, two hit shutout victory.  Garcaeu finished the game allowing just one walk and struck out eight.

Finally, in the second to last game of the season, the Long Island Ducks have captured the second half Liberty Division flag, and are headed for the 2013 post-season where they will attempt to defend their 2012 Atlantic League crown.



Mike.BTB

L.I. Ducks ~ Gearing Up For Another Run at Title

From the desk of:   THE WEBBED SPIKES NINE

LONG ISLAND DUCKS:  Refortifying The Pond - Calling In Reinforcements After Succumbing to Last Season's Revolution.

REMAINING SPRING TRAINING SCHEDULE:
April 23, 2012  -  Game Three ~ L.I. Black Sox (semi-pro) vs. Long Island
April 24, 2012  -  Game Four ~ NYPD vs. Long Island

FINALS:
April 21, 2012  -  Game Two ~ Long Island 7; Bridgeport 2
April 20, 2012  -  Game One ~ Long Island 7; Bridgeport 0

The Ducks encountered problems with pitching depth as the 2011 regular season wound down.  Their formidable one-two punch of Mike Parisi and Mike Loree were out of the fold after a near season-long dominance of the league.  Mike Parisi earned an affiliated promotion for his 2011 efforts and did not return.  However, Mike Loree did.  His fine season was rewarded in the form a contract from the Pirates organization.  But he was able to return to the Ducks in time for the post season run.  And with the League's 2011 Pitcher of the Year returning back atop the rotation, the Ducks seemingly still had enough starting pitching to get through two rounds of playoffs.


The Long Island Ducks' regular season was a virtual wire to wire party at The Pond.  They ended the 2011 campaign with the League's most potent line-up.  Many seemed sure the Ducks had more than enough offense to power them towards their first championship since the 2004 season.


Whether hitting lead-off, or lower in the order, Craig Binick had a tremendous season with the bat, winning the League's batting championship with a .343 mark.  Long time Duck favorite Ray Navarette set a few more all-time Ducks records last season as well.  After an early season slump, Ray finished strong and ranked second in the circuit with twenty-seven home runs.  The Long Island line-up featured four of the top six RBI producers last season.


Then, a Revolution ignited in Pennsylvania, picked up momentum, and spread from the streets of York.  The Road Warriors, Somerset, and eventually Lancaster, all fell to the Freedom Division winning Revolution.


After first round victories over Lancaster and Southern Maryland respectively, York and Long Island met in the championship round.  For York, they set out to defend their 2010 A.L. title.  While the Ducks were returning to the playoffs after missing the 2010 post season.


In the final series, the Ducks' bats ran into a buzz saw as the Revolution pitchers all but shut-down the Ducks' mighty offense.  And Long Island never even wound up facing York's ace hurler either.  With Long Island's season long hit parade stopped cold and muted, the Ducks watched York celebrate their second consecutive Atlantic League championship.


Say what you will however, last year's was still a tremendously successful regular season and a very entertaining one to boot.  Their seventy-eight wins topped the League.  Upon winning both halves of the division titles, they were resounding favorites to win their second ever Atlantic League championship.  But as we saw, Revolution was in the air.


Over the off-season, many changes have given the line-up that short-circuited in last year's playoffs a very different look.  Returning will be Ray Navarette and Craig Binick.  Lew Ford and Dan Lyons also return.  But gone from last season's Atlantic League leading line-up is catcher J.R. House.  Matt Padgett will be playing for the Blue Crabs this season.  The oft-injured John Rodriguez is off to the American Association.  Kennard Jones is off to Bridgeport.  And Matt Esquivel has been playing in Mexico.  Absent from this year's line-up will also be sweet hitting Javier Colina.  The Ducks will have to replace 252 RBI in the middle of the order with Colina, House, and Rodriguez, gone.


In the top story of the off-season, the ace of the staff; Mike Loree; will indeed be returning for another season with the Ducks.  He was last season's pitching triple crown winner with fourteen wins; 131 strikeouts; and a superlative 1.98 ERA.   Jason Monti returns looking to earn a starting spot.  Shane Youman, a youngster who showed up last season to give the Ducks big wins down the stretch, will not.


Bob Zimmerman and Jeremy Hill return to man the bullpen again.  Ehren Wasserman retired, and the heart-attack kid; Bubbie Buzachero; also will not be returning.


I'll take a closer look at the new Ducks' members in my next post.  The new look Long Island Ducks 2012 roster is linked:  HERE


The 2012 Long Island Ducks' season opens with a four game series, beginning on Thursday, April 26th, on the road against the Somerset Patriots.  This marks the Ducks' thirteenth season as an Atlantic League member.  The Somerset Patriots, after a rather disappointing 2011 season by their standards, begin their fifteenth season in the League.  Long Island's home Opener will eventually come on May 4th against the Camden River Sharks, after the Ducks follow up their opening series against Somerset, with three games in Bridgeport.




ATLANTIC LEAGUE:


The Road Warriors ball club can finally pull over and rest.  Their work is done.  The expansion Sugar Land Skeeters; from Texas; have arrived to restore the traditional feel of an eight team league again.  They will be managed by Gary Gaetti, the former Minnesota Twin favorite.  Former Chicago White Sox hurler; Britt Burns; will be their pitching coach.


The Atlantic League's expansion into Texas is an interesting move to say the least.  What comes first and foremost to my mind is how this will drive up club expenses.  I asked Corey at LIDucksBlog what he thought Sugar Land's impact on the League's economics might be?  And in the short term he agreed with me in that it will be a tough going, and maybe even a near fail.  But in the long run, he believes there is something to this and that the move west will pan out well for the League.


Keep an eye on Bridgeport.  They're in trouble.  Unless something changes at the gate, the future of the Bluefish is uncertain.  Minus the Newark Bears who took their leave from the circuit last season, over the last two seasons, the Bluefish are the only Atlantic League club not to draw over 200,000 fans, nor average above 3,000 per game.  Last season, more rumors started to circulate regarding the team's demise.


This will be the fifteenth season of Atlantic League Baseball.  Of the original circuit which started play in 1998, only two member clubs remain; the Somerset Patriots, and the Bridgeport Bluefish.  The Camden River Sharks, with beautiful Campbell's Field, and the Ducks, whom routinely lead the circuit in attendance, have given the Atlantic League great stability since joining in 2001 and 2000, respectively.


The newer teams in Pennsylvania are backed by strong fan bases as well.  The Lancaster Barnstormers and York Revolution are seven and five year members.  Recently, South Maryland has been suffering a dip in attendance since joining the league during the 2008 season.  And as mentioned, the Sugar Land Skeeters, this season's expansion team in Texas, rounds out the 2012 circuit.  There are still plans on the table for future expansion into Virginia for the 2013 season.


Camden's Campbell Field will host this season's Atlantic League All-Star Game.



ATLANTIC LEAGUE

LONG ISLAND DUCKS
Bridgeport Bluefish
Somerset Patriots
York Revolution
Lancaster Barnstormers
Southern Maryland Blue Crabs
Sugar Land Skeeters
Camden River Sharks






Mike.BTB

L.I. Ducks ~ Off to Southern Maryland for Game Three

From the desk of:  THE WEBBED SPIKES NINE

Update:  Sept. 24, 2011

Game Three scheduled for Friday evening was rained-out.

Game Three now scheduled for Saturday evening.

LONG ISLAND DUCKS:  After splitting two games at home; Ducks must now win 2 of 3 on the road.


Their Playoff History on the Road Says They Won't.


Signed back on August 29th; nine days after Mike Loree's contract was sold and shipped off to Altoona; MLB veteran, Josh Banks was brought in to stabilize and lead a pitching staff that had gotten picked apart like turkey scraps off the bone after a Thanksgiving dinner.  For a little while there, it looked like the Ducks' starting pitching was having to survive on just that; scraps. 


For all the Ducks' hard work this season; including their first and second half pennants; it seemed as if they were falling victim to one of the mission statements of the Atlantic League; which is to help players get back into affiliated baseball.


Then, with the fortuitous return of Mike Loree, he and Josh Banks were supposed to give Long Island that one-two punch needed to win a playoff short series.  Last night however, the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs had other ideas as they just stole a game on the road.  Sorry; they didn't steal it.  They pounded away at the Ducks early and made the lead last.  Let's be fair.  They slugged four doubles and two home runs.


In the second game of the Liberty Division Championship, the Blue Crabs tagged-up Josh Banks early and often to tie the series at one game apiece.  Long Island's #2 starter only lasted 2.2 innings Thursday night, and was charged with giving up six runs; five earned.  He allowed seven hits; walked two; and struck out two, before giving way to Ruddy Lugo with the Ducks behind 7-0 at the time.


The resilient Ducks started to mount a response in the bottom of the third inning with four runs; one of them unearned.  They picked up another pair of runs in the seventh inning.  And suddenly, it was a game again as the Ducks closed the gap to within a run.


Southern Maryland scored an insurance run in the eighth.  The Ducks were not without their chances this game.  And the ninth inning presented them with another.  They had the tying runs on first and second base with two outs.  But John Rodriguez ended Long Island's night with a weak tapper.


The Game Two final score was Blue Crabs 8; Ducks 6. 


This series is now tied.


Both teams will now battle it out in Southern Maryland where this series will conclude with a Liberty Division Champion.  As regular season champs, the Long Island Ducks had the option of playing the series' first two games in Long Island, or, play the first two games in Southern Maryland and have the series return to Long Island for the potential final three games.  The Ducks opted to play the first two games at home then take the series on the road.


That strategy just may have backfired on them last night.  The hope was to win two at home, then go to Southern Maryland with three chances to win one game.  With last night's Ducks loss, the Wild Card Blue Crabs now truly own home field advantage and will try and take two of the next three on their own turf.  And unfortunately for Long Islanders, the Ducks' two big starters, have already had their turn.


The Long Island Ducks' playoff history on the road is....; well..; bad.  In their twelve year history, they are 1-8 in playoff road games.  Their lone road win came during their 2004 Championship season.  Since then, it's been seven consecutive road losses.


You like those apples?  Check these out.  In three visits to Southern Maryland this season, the Ducks were swept once; lost 2 of 3 games; and won 2 of 3 games.  Want some good news now?  The Ducks were an above .500 road team during the regular season.


Let's hope the weather in Southern Maryland is better than it was in the Metro area today.  There's baseball to be played this evening.

TONIGHT

Atlantic League

LIBERTY DIVISION CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES

GAME THREE

Series Tied 1-1

LONG ISLAND DUCKS

vs.

Southern Maryland Blue Crabs

From

A Ballpark in Waldorf

Maryland

* * * FREEDOM DIVISION CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES * * *

York Revolution leads series over Lancaster Barnstormers

2-0

Game Three ~ Rained Out

Game Three to be played Saturday

 

York can complete a sweep tonight in Lancaster, PA.

Mike.BTB

L.I. Ducks ~ It's Playoff Time

From the desk of:  THE WEBBED SPIKES NINE

LONG ISLAND DUCKS:  The Second Season.


Ducks End of Year Report ~ BTB


The regular season is now history.  I hope you enjoyed it.  I had a blast following along.  But the second season starts now.  And losers go home.  The Long Island Ducks; winners of the first half and second half Liberty Division pennants; take on their division foe and this season's Wild Card team; the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs, for the Liberty Division Championship.


Southern Maryland defeated the Bridgeport Bluefish last night to earn their entry into this year's playoff tournament as a Wild Card.  In the Freedom Division, the Lancaster Barnstormers and York Revolution square off in their first round series.

ATLANTIC LEAGUE PLAYOFFS

LIBERTY DIVISION CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES

 

GAME ONE

Southern Maryland Blue Crabs

vs.

LONG ISLAND DUCKS

From

The Ballpark at Bethpage

LONG ISLAND, NY

Mike.BTB

L.I. DUCKS ~ Reaffirming First Place

From the desk of:  WEBBED SPIKES



LONG ISLAND DUCKS:  Veni; Vidi ; Quack!

Long Island Takes First Game In Series Between Liberty Division's Top Two Teams.


They came; The saw; And they Quacked Mightily.  Game one between the first place Ducks and second place Blue Crabs goes to the team invading South Maryland from Long Island.


The Ducks used the long ball; Mike Loree; and a strong effort by the bullpen to trap them some Maryland Blue Crabs Friday evening.  But they needed a mid-game comeback to do it. 


The Ducks and Mike Loree were trailing 2-0 after three innings.  Then in the fourth inning, Matt Esquivel doubled with one out.  Matt Padgett singled advancing Esquivel to third.  J.R. House grounded into a double play but Esquivel scored on the play.


The Ducks blew the game open in the fifth inning.  Javier Colina hit a two run home run scoring himself and Ray Navarrete who doubled.  John Rodriguez singled and scored on Long Island's second home run of the inning when Matt Esquivel pounded a Brian Slocum pitch over the wall for a 5-2 Ducks' lead.


South Maryland came back with a run in the bottom of the fifth, but the Ducks took it back in the sixth.  Leading off, J.R. House greeted new Blue Crabs pitcher; Jason Waddell; by crunching his 3-1 pitch for a solo home run and a 6-3 lead.


Another tack-on run in the ninth and South Maryland was officially 5 games back of Long Island in the first half standings.


The bullpen was dynamite in relief of Mike Loree.  Bob Zimmermann was first out of the pen and pitched two innings of no-hit ball and struck out two.  Ehren Wasserman closed out the game for the Ducks with two innings of one-hit ball.  He struck out one and earned his third save this season.


Ehren Wassermann continues to pitch with authority out of the bullpen.  In 30 innings pitched all in relief this season, he has 31 strikeouts while allowing just 24 hits and only two walks!  He's 3-0 with a 1.50 ERA.


Mike Loree won his League leading eighth game versus just one loss.  But he wasn't as sharp as he's been and got smacked around somewhat.  He surrendered eleven hits to the Blue Crabs and allowed them to get out to a 2-0 early lead.  He lasted only five innings Friday evening.  South Maryland scored three times against him but only two runs were earned.  While he was more hittable in this start, Mike Loree was still just as dominant all the same.  He limited himself to one walk allowed and struck out seven Blue Crabs.  His League leading ERA now stands at 1.99 and his League leading strikeout total now stands at sixty-four.



EXTRA INNING:
Kennard Jones went 0 for 5 which just might precipitate a switching of Kraig Binick from the nine-spot in the line-up, back to the lead-off spot; which is where he batted before suffering a facial injury.



LIBERTY DIVISION STANDINGS:
1st - Long Island Ducks................32-17    .653
2nd - S. Maryland Blue Crabs.....27-22    .551    5 Games Back

TODAY

GAME TWO

LONG ISLAND DUCKS

vs.

South Maryland Blue Crabs

From parts south of New York

Mike.BTB

L.I. DUCKS ~ Recapture First Place Over Weekend

From the desk of:  WADDLING THROUGH BROOKLYN




ATLANTIC LEAGUE WEEKEND RECAP;  LIBERTY DIVISION RACE:
South Maryland and Lancaster needed extra innings Saturday.

The Ducks had everything under control out in Bethpage Park Saturday making Lancaster versus the Blue Crabs as the game to keep tabs on.

In Lancaster, the Crabs put together three hits back in the second to build a 2-0 lead.   Lancaster tied it up at two each in the fourth.   In the top of the fifth, the Crabs scored on a passed ball.   And in the eighth, the Blue Crabs scored their fourth run on a sacrifice fly to give the Crabs a 4-2 lead.


South Maryland starter Virgil Vasquez was making strides towards a possible complete game.  He made it through seven innings, staying out of trouble after allowing Matt Watson of Lancaster to touch him for a two-run home run in the fourth.  But Vasquez kept the Barnstormers quiet otherwise.  It was decided he'd gone far enough while still owning a 4-2 lead in the eighth.  Blue Crab relief pitcher, Steve Palazzolo entered the game in relief of Virgil Vasquez.


And it was Crab's Steve Palazzolo who was the charitable one in relief.  He promptly relinquished the Blue Crabs' lead in the eighth inning by allowing Lancaster two runs on two hits; throw in an error by the catcher, and a walk.

They went into the ninth inning tied at four apiece.  The Blue Crabs did not score in their top half.  Charlie Manning came in to pitch for S. Maryland to end Lancaster's last licks.  Manning pitched a scoreless ninth walking one and striking out another.

While the fans in Lancaster were getting treated to extra inning free baseball, the Long Island Ducks were pounding the Somerset Partiots mercilessly in Bethpage Park Saturday night.  A Ducks win and a Crab loss would give Long Island sole possession of first place again.  But in Lancaster, the tenth inning came and went without incident as did South Maryland's top half of the eleventh inning. 

Then finally, in the bottom of  Lancaster's home eleventh inning, came the big news the Long Island Ducks wanted to hear.  Lancaster scored and defeated the South Maryland Blue Crabs 5-4 Saturday night in eleven innings.




Sunday, South Maryland Kept the Game Close, But Faired No Better.

The final score in Lancaster Sunday evening was Lancaster Barnstormers 3; South Maryland Blue Crabs 2.


But the damage was done the night prior.  The Ducks had their taste of first place; liked it; and pounced all over Somerset two nights running.  South Maryland meanwhile is realing right now while the Duck have gone full blown Mighty.  South Maryland had now dropped down to third place.




LONG ISLAND DUCKS:  Webbed Feet Gone Wild!

DUCKS SWEEP PATRIOTS
RAY NAVARRETE TOUCHES ANOTHER MILESTONE

The Long Island Ducks went hog-wild on the Somerset Patriots all weekend long.  Between Saturday and Sunday, the Ducks defeated the Patriots twice by a combined score of 31-11.


On Saturday, the Ducks went airborne.  In wave after wave, they made it rain runs all game long to the tune of a 20-8 Long Island carpet bombing of the Patriots.  Keeping score of the game would have made anyone's scorecard look like the bottom of a bird cage; in other words, a complete mess.


The Ducks smashed five home runs Saturday on their way to scoring twenty runs.  Scoring seven runs alone in the first inning should have served as a bad omen for the Somerset Patriots.   And as it played out, as suspected, it got quite ugly for the Patriots.

The Ducks enjoyed a very prosperous beginning in Saturday's game against Somerset.  There was the seven run first and after two innings of play, the Ducks had an 8-0 lead.  The Patriots scored four runs in their half of the fourth, but the Ducks came back with a pair in their half to put them up 10-4.  In the seventh inning, both teams exchanged a pair of runs again updating the score to 12-6.


Then the scorecard goes kaplooey.  The final was 20-8.  But more importantly it gave the Long Island Ducks a firmer hold on first place in the Liberty Division.


Sunday, while South Maryland was losing a close one to Lancaster, the Ducks just picked up where they left off.  They completed a three game sweep of Somerset and won their fifth game in a row all at home.


Ducks starter Ruddy Lugo got touched for 10 hits in five innings pitched.  But he limited Somerset to 3 earned runs.  Down 3-0 early, the Ducks' offense picked up their pitcher Lugo's tough start, tied the score, and gave him four more runs before handing the game over to the bullpen for the final four innings.  Somerset's Bill Pulsipher got roughed up for Long Island's seven run answer within his four innings pitched.


Ray Navarrete hit his 6th home run of the season as the Ducks continued their drubbing of the Patriots on their way to another double-digit scoring day.  This time they defeated the Patriots 11-3 in front of another packed house in Bethpage Park.  Also, Ray Nabarrete just put another dent in the Ducks' record books.  After becoming the Long Island Ducks all-time hits leader earlier this season, he ties the same player; Justin Davies; on the Ducks' all-time runs scored list with 426.


Kraig Binick crept up and away from the .400 mark and has his batting average back up to .409 again.


The Ducks indeed got healthy at home after a dismal road trip.  They've recaptured first place and are hotter than tube sox in a Fireman's boots right now.  They've managed to shake off the South Maryland Blue Crabs for the moment after running neck and neck with them for a week or so.  But with them out of the way, the Bridgeport Bluefish have now appeared to occupy second place.  They trail Long Island by only half a game as of Monday morning.


The Ducks are heading back on the road now.  Hopefully they will have a better go of it this time around.






Mike.BTB

Opening Day.....Again? the Atlantic League

That's right.  It's Opening Day....Again!

Kinda.

The ATLANTIC LEAGUE

of Professional Baseball
Independent
(rated comparative to AAA ball)

These guys are entering the League's 14th year. 
The Atlantic League was established in 1996 here in the NorthEast bringing baseball to areas under-served by Major and Minor League Baseball.  One of the main of many forces behind it's establishment was former Met Bud Harrelson.  Buddy has been with one of the league's most successful franchises, the Long Island Ducks, who play roughly 50 miles outside the city limits.

It's an eight team league:

Newark (N.J.) Bears 

Long Island (N.Y.) Ducks

Somerset (N.J.) Patriots 

Camden (N.J.) RiverSharks

Bridgeport (Conn.) BlueFish 

South Maryland BlueCrabs

York (Penn.) Revolution

Lancaster (Penn.) Barnstormers

Opening Day is Thursday April 22.

This league is a great opportunity to see former major leaguers manage and coach.  Sparky Lyle is the manager of Somerset.  Von Hayse was the manager of Lancaster when I visited last year.  HOF'r Gary Carter managed the Long Island Ducks last year.  Tommy John was managing Bridgeport.  HOF'r  Ricky Henderson was probably the biggest name to come through the league lately.  He managed the Newark Bears a couple of years ago. 

Many players who find themselves out of MLB for various reasons come here to work on their game or to gain some exposure in front of scouts for last chances to sign on with a big club.  Some sign on for just pure love of the game.  Carl Everette and Edgardo Alfonzo both former Mets spent time playing
for Long Island recently.  If you remember pitcher John Halama, he just signed with Southern Maryland's Blue Crabs.  Sidney Ponson?  He's here too.  That are a many more players with MLB experience here.

Then there are the kids. 

Pete Rose Jr., Charlie Hustle's son, was a perennial batting champ

playing most of his career in the A.L. with Long Island. 

The son of Craig Nettles plays as a big fan favorite in Somerset for the Patriots.

I root for the Newark Bears. 
They do a great job of keeping the old Newark Eagles Negro League team's memory alive.

The Somerset Patriots are the consummate winners of the league winning five titles.  In 2009 they captured their second consecutive championship.

I've driven to see all the teams and their parks with the exception of York and South Maryland.  I plan on tacking on those stops to a couple of road trips I have planned for this season.

I average about ten A.L. games a year not including the playoffs..  Between going to see the Mets, going to Coney Island and seeing my Cyclones (A), Yankee games, road trippin' and my own softball season,  I like to fill in the gaps in my season with Atlantic League games.  Newark and Somerset are too easy for me to get to.  It's just that much more baseball I have to keep me occupied all summer long.  The price, intimacy, relative closeness and over all relaxation I get at these games is worth every cent.  The every-so-often Big Name comes through and the opportunity to just be real and talk to these guys is one of the biggest unknown secrets of this league.  If you just take things at face value and keep sensible expectations; and if you like getting a litter closer to the game on a humanistic level, this is a very cool way to do it.

This league's rosters are manned by players with  minimum 6 years major and/or minor league experience.  They operate in full compliance with the National Agreement and are mandated to provide fields of no less than AAA requirements.

Here's a list of prior Champions:
2009  Somerset
2008  Somerset
2007    Newark
 2006  Lancaster
2005  Somerset
    2004  Long Island
2003  Somerset
2002    Newark
2001  Somerset

        2000  Nashua Pride (currently play in Can/Am League)

  1999  Bridgeport
             1998  Atlantic City Surf (switched to Can/Am league, then folded)

I went downstairs to "the Vault" (my basement)!  I pulled down a redFile marked Atlantic League and the date on the front was 2007.  So here goes folks; a couple of things I have from the 2007 season
and some other stuff.

The above trophy is what they play for.

The parks are very nice also.

I happen to think Camden's park is pretty darn nice indeed. 

It sits right at the base of the Ben Franklin Bridge.  During night games Philadelphia's skyline lights reflect off the river over the left field fence and the Bridge dominates the center to left field view.

When I figure out what box those pictures are in I'll be sure to post them.

I have more shoe boxes than FootLocker with pictures in them and each box is numbered.  Now that I want some pics I can't find the notebook I use to keep note of the contents there-in.

...hate when that happens.

While I dig those out, these pics of the Newark Bears' digs were in with the programs above.

Newark, N.J. folks. 

After the game with zero traffic, I'm home in 25 minutes.

That's Manhattan in the background.

Newark's Baseball History

And that's all she wrote.

Consider yourself updated on the

Atlantic League of Professional Baseball...(for now).

BTB

http://thebrooklyntrolleyblogger.blogspot.com/

http://thebrooklyntrolleyblogger.mlblogs.com/