Monthly Archives: April 2010

Another one of those nights that I recommend you “be prepared” for rain.

Weather.com shows that rain should start around 3:00pm and continue steadily throughout the night. Not a 100% chance as it was the other night but it could be one of those nagging on/off nights that will keep the game going and increase coffee and hot chocolate sales.

Pigs love mud right? 🙂

OINK!

I wasn’t going to go here again, see my photo post from yesterday featuring former Phillie Eric Bruntlett, but a fan told me Bruntlett blew off his 4 year old daughter for an autograph so I figured I could add one more photo of him…

The Pigs pulled out a game that didn’t seem as close as the score made it look to earn a series split against the Syracuse Chiefs. It feels like they have been playing the Chiefs forever…

CCP had a great feel to it today. The 7,098 in attendance were happy, content and really came alive when Scott Mathieson took the mound with a 2-0 lead in the 9th inning.

We also held our first ever outfield dance competition. Kevin Mench and Roger Bernadina accepted the challenge and after both displayed their talent, (or lack of it), the crowd applause chose Kevin Mench as the winner.

I should hopefully have the large Pig flag back in action tomorrow. Going flagpole hunting tomorrow and will not stop until I find one.

This week could be called the Rehab promotion week. Looking forward to seeing Dice K tomorrow and booing Brad Lidge on Thursday.

Plus’s

A loud boo emanated from CCP when, with a runner on first and no outs, the Chiefs intentionally walked John Mayberry to get to Ironpig’s all time HR leader Andy Tracy. These Ironpig fans are paying attention and know baseball. For those who want to know.. Tracy earned a walk as it seemed the Chiefs were pitching around him. Not sure of that strategy.

The Pig’s outfield arms could not have been stronger tonight! Gunning two runners out at home in the same inning.

Nate Bump recorded his 2nd victory of 2010 scattering 8 hits for no runs.

Zagurski is showing a lot of promise as a late reliever. A lot of promise.

Jason Anderson came in to earn a quick save on 1 pitch. Great confidence boost for one of the good guys.

Boo’s

For the first time ever, someone lost the Red Robin Hamburger shuffle contest. Three young men in the Bud Light Trough incorrectly guessed 2, going against the 7,000 strong chanting 1 to become the first person to lose this contest in 2+ years of the promotion. I guess you could expect that from the Beer Trough so late in the game…

JC Romero got through 1/3 of an inning tossing 14 pitches, 6 for strikes. He seemed to have trouble finding the strike zone and there was an air of frustration as he left the field.

Scott Mathieson couldn’t pull in the save after striking out the first 2 batters. He walked two before giving up a hit and a run to get himself taken out of the game. To his credit, I think he was throwing too hard tonight. He worked 0-2 and 1-2 counts full and the next few pitches would be nuclear hot heat about head level. This could have been a training inning for him to test if batters would bite at that pitch. Note to statisticians.. it didn’t.

Per the Ironpig’s website, the team announced that Brad Lidge will make a rehab appearance on Thursday!

Good stuff!

After watching the unappreciated performance of the home plate umpire last night at CCP you have to wonder if these guys stick together. Could you imagine the post game chat in the Umpire room?

“Man you were terrible tonight.. what’s the deal?”

“Ha ha, yeah those fans sure were upset!”

“You know when you get boo’ed we get boo’ed too man.”

“Lighten up, it’s just a game. Most of these guys won’t make the bigs anyways… did you see Hambone finished second in the Pork Race? I was rooting for the big hot dog.”

“Some of us actually care! Keep it up and we’ll have to take care of it ourselves!”

The umpires are people too. They are adults doing a job and trying to work their way to the Major Leagues. At this level they have been plying their trade for many many years and there has to be a few that have become career minor leaguers.

And really, we all have a bad day at work. I’ve had a few… have you?

Think about it though… you see “make up” calls here and there and you have to wonder if these guys are competative with each other or if they get along well. A couple years back I.L. umpire Andy Vincent must have set a record ejecting players and coaches from games. I have to give him credit, as he didn’t play favorites. He was an equal opportunity ejector, just was very quick to do so.

Is there ever a time when an umpire approaches another and criticizes them on their field conduct and performance? I’ve never met a professional umpire, at least not one who admitted to it. Maybe we will never know.

Four players from last year’s National League Championship team received their rings today. Andy Tracy, Paul Hoover and John Mayberry of the Ironpigs and Eric Bruntlett of the Chiefs were all presented their Championship rings before tonight’s game.

Some interesting photo’s from the game tonight by Noise Nation photographer, Heather Mastropieri:

The ballpark had an odd feel to it tonight. Although the clear sky revealed a crescent moon it felt like a full moon in CCP during the Pigs crazy antics to lose 2-3 to the Chiefs.

It could have been the cameraman that stalked us for the first 4 innings.

It could have been the dozen people we had to ask politely not to stand directly on top of our pile of K’s signs. (We’re making a box for them tomorrow, problem solved)

It could have been the general malaise by stadium employees. I overheard many folks mention that they felt people were unfriendly tonight. Granted, this has been a long and cold opening home stand.

It could have been home plate umpire, Vic Carapazza, who was horribly biased, more so as the game went on. Cody Ransom was ejected early for arguing balls and strikes as was DeWayne Wise later in the game only to be followed by Huppert in his defense. The play at first in the next inning was blatantly a make up call prompting the Chiefs to argue themselves.

It could have been Cheif’s outfielders Roger Bernadina and Kevin Mench being more interested in joking with us than they were the game.

It could have been the nonexistant wind or the occasional jet taking off with the exaust bathing CCP with the sound of a jumbo jet taking off. (Actually thankful for the lack of wind.. it would have been REALLY cold if it had shown up)

Plus’s
JC Romero fell off of the mound on his first pitch prompting a collective gasp from the crowd and a trainer to sprint to the mound. He was ok and it looked like he just caught his spikes on the grass.

Wise hit a monster shot over the trough to score the Ironpig’s first run.

The Pig’s pitchers combined for 11 K’s tonight.

Boo’s

John Mayberry came up with runners on first and second and no outs to ground into a double play on the first pitch.

The Chief’s scored their 2nd run without a hit. A walk, error and wild pitch took credit for it.

A botched double play attempt in that same inning would have prevented those antics from happening. (There was a great play by Andy Tracy at first to tag the runner ending the inning, keeping more runs off of the board)

Pig’s pitchers gave up 9 bases on balls

Relief Pitcher Brian Gordon was put into left field after Huppert was ejected. He must have been mad.. the last time he was ejected late in a game, Andy Tracy ended up pitching the final outs. Gordon ended the game at the plate popping out to the pitcher.

Announced attendance – 6,609
I really thought this would be higher with Dollar Hot Dog night…

Also got word that the sandwiches from the Pizza Stand were of high quality and taste. Bravo concessions… Bravo!

As we are roughly halfway in this monster 9 game home stand for the Ironpig’s, fear not, there is still more fun to come!

Tonight should be interesting as it combines college night with a $1 Hot dog promotion. I don’t know about you but Dollar dogs and College Dance teams just make me smile!

Tuesday night will feature an opportunity to get your photo taken with the Phillies 2008 World Series and 2009 National League Championship trophies. Be forewarned.. that line will be insane. Get there early and expect to wait. I regret not getting a photo last year (I don’t care much for lines) and plan on making an attempt this year. Photos will be taken by Frank Mitman. Great photographer and great person.

Tuesday also features the return of Ball Park Bingo. You can win some good prizes and also seniors have the opportunity to come in early at 5:00 pm to watch batting practice. Always the best opportunity to get a ball. We usually find a ball or two in the trough area before games.

Wednesday will be probably the biggest crowd of this year with Boston’s Dice K Matsuzaki making a rehab start with the Pawtucket Red Sox. This will be his 2nd rehab start at CCP and the team will most likely have some Japan related fun waiting for us.

Thursday wraps up this homestand and is also the “Go Green” night at the ballpark. Hey, it’s a horse everyone is hitching their wagon to these days. Not a bad idea at all.

That leaves us with about a week without the Ironpigs here at home. The Noise Nation faithful always listen to the Ironpig’s Radio Network with Matt Provence and Jon Schaffer with the call on ESPN Radio 1320 AM and 1230 AM. We also have a pretty strong competition for the daily trivia question so if you dare try to challenge our knowledge base.. we welcome the competition!

The Noise Nation will also make their first road trip on Sunday the 25th to see the Ironpigs take on the Scranton Yankees in Scranton. Last year we had a great time and althought the amenities were lacking (we are truly spoiled at CCP) the staff and stadium crew were overwhelmingly friendly and helpful

Good times had by all!

From the International League website:

The International League announced today that Lehigh Valley outfielder John Mayberry and Durham pitcher Jeremy Hellickson have been named the League’s Batter and Pitcher of the Week for the period from April 12-18.

JOHN MAYBERRY, Lehigh Valley IronPigs IL BATTER OF THE WEEK
Lehigh Valley’s John Mayberry led the International League with a .524 batting average (11-21), a .583 on-base percentage, and 8 runs scored during the past week. This came on the heels of a difficult first week for Mayberry, who hit just .167 in the season’s first four games and was dropped from third to seventh in the IronPigs batting order before Monday’s game at Pawtucket. Mayberry responded by collecting hits in all six games this week, including going 5-7 with a double, a triple, 2 RBI and three runs scored in Lehigh Valley’s two-game series at Pawtucket. On Saturday, Mayberry was returned to the three-hole in the lineup and promptly went 3-3 with three doubles, 2 RBI, and four runs scored against Syracuse. Mayberry is now the third member of the IronPigs ever to win an IL Batter of the Week award, joining Andy Tracy (a three-time winner since 2008) and
Michael Taylor (August 10-16, 2009). 26-year-old John Mayberry is in his sixth season of professional baseball. A former 1st round draft pick for Texas, Mayberry was dealt to Philadelphia prior to the 2009 season. Last year, he made his Major League debut for the Phillies, homering off of Andy Pettitte at Yankee Stadium for his first big league hit. Mayberry’s father, John Sr., was a two-time American League All-Star in the 1970’s.
Mayberry is a native of Kansas City, Missouri.

WAY TO GO JOHN!!!

Saturday John Mayberry played his first professional game positioned in center field. Yesterday he was in left field. We’ve always seen John in right field and it started to become one of those “hmmmm” moments.

When I turned my head in a different direction I heard Phillies fans mumbling about Shane Victorino. Not many details but it didn’t seem fans have been pleased with his performance so far this season. I haven’t gotten to see many games this year, (I am a DirecTV subscriber) and Comcast holds the rights to just about every game on TV.

Looking at Victorino’s stats so far in 2010:
12 Games
52 At Bats
8 Runs
12 Hits
1 Triple
3 HR
11 RBI
4 BB
1 SB
5 K
.231 Batting Average.

Ok, not great but he was hitting lower in the line up and now higher with Jimmy Rollins on the DL.

Now when we put the two together we think.. hmm. Why play Mayberry in centerfield? Werth is producing in right so he isn’t going anywhere until next year (as we all see Mayberry being groomed in case Werth jumps ship as a Free agent next year) and Ibanez is getting older in left field. Another thought it that Domenic Brown in Reading is squeezing Mayberry away from right field. Brown is going to be a force in the majors and being left handed he clearly has the advantage over Mayberry.

My personal thoughts… I think Victorino is dealing with a small injury and the Phillies are playing it as they see it. Hope it heals and if at worst, they call Mayberry up to cover if Victorino goes on the DL.

With Rollins, Blanton, Romero and Lidge all currently on rehab paths back from the DL, losing Victorino would be huge to the defending National League Champions. Phillie fans would start asking.. “Who’s next?”

I don’t have any inside info on this, just gut feeling. What are your thoughts?