Well this isn’t really a rumor.. just one that I heard and will now put to rest.
The rumor was purportedly that the Scranton and Lehigh Valley teams were thinking of trading affiliates. That’s right. Could you imaging the Phillies AAA in Scranton again and the marketing dream of an Ironpig gone to the “Yankees” name?
Well today it was announced that the Yankees have agreed to a deal to stay in Scranton until 2014. Rest well tonight Pigfans.. for tomorrow is another day.
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..Ty Taubenheim. As soon as he was done pitching last night he jumped on 222 and headed back to Reading. Replacing him on the Ironpigs is John Ennis, who is back from an extended stint on the DL. Ennis actually came in to today’s game and pitched alright.
The Pigs did put on a show for the 10,000 tickets sold this morning. Kids days are always exciting and 3 run homeruns by Cody Ransom and John Suomi led the team to an 8 to 4 victory.
Noticed Ransom playing catch with some children on the field after the game ended. Bonus points here.
Despite giving up 3 runs, another solid outing by Drew Carpenter and Scott Mathieson closed the game hitting 99 on the radar gun a few times. The same radar gun that clocked Chapman at 91 last night.. I wonder if the Bat’s radar clocked Mathieson at 110 today? Makes you wonder…
Getting a nice afternoon nap and we’ll see you tomorrow!
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Photo by Heather Mastropieri
The Pigs again failed to score until the 9th inning when they scored 2 and threatened more but were quickly shut down.
Savery – what can I say. This guy is just cannonballing. He went 6 innings allowing 3 runs on 7 hits and earned his 4th loss of the season. You can’t mention tonight’s game without noting that 2 of those runs were unearned as the infield botched a double play to load the bases then John Mayberry showed himself as he dropped a semi-routine fly ball. Chris Duffy saved Savery some more runs making an incredible catch on a line drive that would have cleared the loaded bases and only resulted in one tag up run.
Now the big news. I was at the broadcast table with Matt Provence and Jon Schaffer tonight when they got the news that Brian Schneider will make rehab appearances Friday, Saturday and Sunday with the Ironpigs. The Lehigh Valley native is in good shape and is doing some fine tuning until he is eligible to come off of the DL.
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Well we’ve had 2+ years to make a comparison between the two closest baseball organizations in the area and I think I’ve decided which I like best.
Granted, I grew up in Berks county and have some great memories of games in Reading before it took on the moniker “Baseballtown.”
I remember meeting Max Patkin in Reading.
Those humid summer nights tossing peanuts from the bleachers at girls we thought were cute.
The night, many years later, when I was offered free tickets to the game along with a few other Marines in uniform that afternoon. At that time there was a small private box hanging over the left field foul line and someone gave up 4 seats to us. Thanks to that guy.. I don’t recall his name.
The Crazy Hot Dog Vendor, The Tooth Fairy cleaning bases between innings, the pool beyond the right field wall.
The history of a multi-decade stadium. 🙂
When they renamed the stadium for marketing purposes. 😦
The vegetable races.
The train theme.
The “old ballpark” feel of the grandstand and concessions area.
A “real” main gate.
The players entrance widely available to stand near. (not hidden)
A chance to get a foul ball outside the stadium.
Free parking.
Many of things I have mentioned are tried and true practices at most ballparks these days and the connection between Reading and Lehigh Valley is solid.
Lehigh Valley has a brand new fan oriented park.
The Pork Races.
The Piglet races.
Big exploding Coke bottle.
About 100 more concessions options.
Open concourse for a nice walk and a lawn for families who would feel restained by seats. (Also nice for the folks who would be sitting around those families)
****
Now both teams are playing considerably poor this season.. the Lehigh Valley has better food but Reading comes a close second with all you can eat gluttony nights.
I honestly have to say.. Reading is hands down the promotions winner.
A Mr. Belding night (Saved by the Bell fans)
A Ryan Howard Garden nome give away!
Heck next Tuesday a baby T-rex dinosaur will throw out the first pitch! Land of the lost? I think not.
Given my location, I am closer to the Ironpigs by about an hours drive. (5 minutes from CCP) I choose to buy season tickets to Lehigh Valley.. but my heart is in Reading.
Unfortunately, the part of Reading that I prefer will soon be gone. An announcement earlier this year told us that the R-Phils plan to completely remodel the existing grandstand structure extending the locker room facilities into what is now concessions and placing all concessions into the right field courtyard.
I get that same feeling I did when they renamed their stadium away from the dedication to local Veterans and went with money instead.
Oh well.. For Love of the Game.
Again, just my opinions. Feel free to leave yours in the comment section of this post.
DK
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In 5.2 innings in 3 games at Reading Taubenheim is 0 and 1 with a 23.82 ERA and 3K’s and 6 BB.
No word on who will be deactivated on the Pig’s roster but it is looking like Andy Tracy might head to the DL.
Stay tuned.
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I was really hoping for a rain out today.. it was miserable. Cold with a fine mist most of the game. I was crabby, I was bored. I forgot my radio. Then the game went 16 innings.
Thanks to the friends who stayed for the long haul and hopefully I’ll be able to salvage some sleep tonight.
Thanks to Villareal who came in and promptly gave up a run to lose the game. He also blew a 4 run lead in last night’s 15 inning game. Maybe bring Anderson back and send Villareal back to.. somewhere else. Anderson has apparently been made into a starter again. Makes sense.. the Phillies need relievers and refuse to bring up Scott Mathieson so making a reliever a starter makes a lot of sense. I’m starting to think the Phillies front office is getting too full of themselves. 60+ consecutive sellouts will probably give you that money drunk feeling.
Enough of this for tonight. Good night Chesty Puller.. wherever you are.
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Many stars started their careers filling in for an injured teammate and today Jason Donald will be the starting shortstop for the Cleveland Indians in their game against the Tampa Bay Rays this afternoon.
Good luck Jason!
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Anyone who has attended an Ironpig’s game knows who fan favorite Andy Tracy is. Many a broken bats, balls and autographs have come out of that dugout to a smiling kid when Andy is around. He is the closest thing to a legend that the franchise has. When you think baseball in the Lehigh Valley you think Andy Tracy.
How much do you really know about him though. Yes, he hits home runs.. his name rhymes with the character “Casey” in the famous poem “Casey at the Bat” written in 1888 by Ernest Thayer. The broadcast team call him the Mighty Tracy and I’ve heard “Achilles” applied also. He is the hero that Ironpig fans needed over 2+ losing seasons.
Andy was born on December 11, 1973 in Bowling Green, Ohio. He attended Bowling Green State University where is was also the teams punter. A story related to me that Andy had the opportunity to play in one nationally televised bowl game in his football career and spent most of the game on the bench with a concussion after a touchdown saving tackle made early in the game. Thus began Andy’s baseball career.
Transactions:
June 1, 1995 : Drafted by the Cincinnati Reds in the 28th round of the 1995 amateur draft, but did not sign.June 4, 1996 : Drafted by the Montreal Expos in the 16th round of the 1996 amateur draft. Player signed June 10, 1996.
March 27, 2002 : Selected off waivers by the New York Mets from the Montreal Expos .
April 9, 2003 : Released by the New York Mets .
April 25, 2003 : Signed as a Free Agent with the Colorado Rockies .
October 15, 2003 : Granted Free Agency.
January 7, 2004 : Signed as a Free Agent with the Colorado Rockies .
October 6, 2004 : Granted Free Agency.
December 15, 2004 : Signed as a Free Agent with the Colorado Rockies .
October 15, 2005 : Granted Free Agency.
December 14, 2005 : Signed as a Free Agent with the Cleveland Indians .
February 18, 2006 : Sent to the Baltimore Orioles by the Cleveland Indians as part of a conditional deal.
October 15, 2006 : Granted Free Agency.
January 23, 2007 : Signed as a Free Agent with the New York Mets .
October 29, 2007 : Granted Free Agency.
November 20, 2007 : Signed as a Free Agent with the Philadelphia Phillies .
November 10, 2009 : Granted Free Agency.
November 18, 2009 : Signed as a Free Agent with the Philadelphia Phillies .
He certainly has traveled and earned a good deal of respect across minor league baseball.
You can’t forget the 2/3 an inning that Andy pitched for the Ironpig’s in 2008. He came on in the 9th after Les Walrond was ejected and struck out one batter and caused the other to pop out.
Major League Stats
Year Team G PA AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB CS BB SO BA 2000 MON 83 218 192 29 50 8 1 11 32 1 0 22 61 .260 2001 MON 38 63 55 4 6 1 0 2 8 0 0 6 26 .109 2004 COL 15 17 16 1 3 1 0 0 1 0 0 1 8 .188 2008 PHI 4 4 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 1 .000 2009 PHI 9 12 12 1 5 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 3 .417 5 Seasons 149 314 277 35 64 10 2 13 43 1 0 30 99 .231 PHI (2 yrs) 13 16 14 1 5 0 1 0 2 0 0 1 4 .357 MON (2 yrs) 121 281 247 33 56 9 1 13 40 1 0 28 87 .227 COL (1 yr) 15 17 16 1 3 1 0 0 1 0 0 1 8 .188
Who can forget Andy getting called up for the 2008 World Champion Phillies or the game winning RBI in the division clinching game in 2009. Andy broke hit wrist during batting practice before the playoffs began in 2008 but he got a ring regardless. What player doesn’t strive to get a World Series Championship ring? He’s got one!
Minor League Hitting Stats
1996 Vermont A- MON 57 212 175 26 47 11 1 4 24 1 1 32 37 .269 1997 Cape Fear A MON 59 236 210 31 63 9 2 8 43 6 1 21 47 .300 1998 2 Teams A+-AA MON 133 540 462 70 115 28 4 21 86 7 6 63 131 .249 1998 Jupiter A+ MON 71 298 251 37 67 16 1 11 53 6 4 39 69 .267 1998 Harrisburg AA MON 62 242 211 33 48 12 3 10 33 1 2 24 62 .227 1999 Harrisburg AA MON 134 573 493 96 135 26 2 37 128 6 1 70 139 .274 2000 Ottawa AAA MON 55 234 195 28 60 18 0 10 36 2 2 34 63 .308 2001 Ottawa AAA MON 53 217 190 17 39 11 1 4 19 4 2 24 72 .205 2002 Norfolk AAA NYM 125 491 432 61 86 16 1 20 61 4 1 56 123 .199 2003 Tulsa AA COL 106 432 384 75 115 24 1 25 62 3 3 41 116 .299 2004 Colorado Springs AAA COL 126 529 464 98 146 42 3 33 120 4 2 58 115 .315 2005 Colorado Springs AAA COL 12 55 40 14 13 1 1 4 13 2 1 15 12 .325 2006 Ottawa AAA BAL 132 534 455 64 108 29 1 20 73 7 6 69 107 .237 2007 New Orleans AAA NYM 135 574 472 88 128 24 1 23 87 2 3 89 110 .271 2008 Lehigh Valley AAA PHI 124 507 430 71 124 34 0 22 85 5 0 65 96 .288 2009 Lehigh Valley AAA PHI 129 540 453 76 115 23 1 26 96 7 1 74 110 .254 2010 Lehigh Valley AAA PHI 34 143 122 13 26 4 1 3 11 1 0 19 32 .213 15 Seasons 1414 5817 4977 828 1320 300 20 260 944 61 30 730 1310 .265 AAA (10 seasons) 925 3824 3253 530 845 202 10 165 601 38 18 503 840 .260 AA (3 seasons) 302 1247 1088 204 298 62 6 72 223 10 6 135 317 .274 A (1 season) 59 236 210 31 63 9 2 8 43 6 1 21 47 .300 A- (1 season) 57 212 175 26 47 11 1 4 24 1 1 32 37 .269 A+ (1 season) 71 298 251 37 67 16 1 11 53 6 4 39 69 .267
So why all the memories you’re wondering? Well, I thought it was time that the Noise Nation recognized him for his great career.
Thank you Andy Tracy! I can truly say that you are my personal favorite Ironpig!
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I guess I should send not-so-supportive posts out more often. After my earlier post about John Mayberry, he proceeded to go 4 for 6 with 3 RBI tonight. Wonder who out there reads my humble little blog 🙂
The Pigs took 3 hit by pitches in the 15th and John Mayberry scored the go ahead run on a sacrifice fly by Brian Bocock. Concepcion came on to close the game in his first appearance since returning from the DL.
This win is the first time in 2010 that the Pigs have won consecutive games!
The Pigs pulled off a win on their longest game (time and innings) in franchise history ending their road trip with a 3 and 5 record.
Both Mayberry and Ransom homered.
Duckworth struck out 8 in 5 innings allowing 2 runs on 4 hits.
Villareal gave up 4 runs in 1 inning pitched. The Pigs were up by 4 runs in the bottom of the 9th when he gave up those runs. He also had an error in this inning.
The Pigs have a 4:00am flight tomorrow and will return to face the Louisville Bats tomorrow night. Don’t expect cheerful faces tomorrow. These guys will be beat. Heck, I’m going to be groggy in the morning staying up this late again…
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Cuban defector Aroldis Chapman is slated to start at Coca Cola Park on Wednesday. The Ironpigs concessions, never to miss an opportunity, have brought out a Cuban sandwich for this night and this night only.. (unless they sell a lot of them.. then expect it to return)
The sales gimmick is that they will charge $4.63 per sandwich.. which happens to be Chapman’s current ERA! With Chapman getting shelled in his last outing against Rochester last week, his ERA jumped to 4.63 from 2.84. Too bad he didn’t pitch better against the Redwings or we would have had a cheap Cuban sandwich.. or would we?
The Ironpig’s website boasts of the Cuban sandwich as being available at only the Pizza stand (also home of the Pretzel roll sandwiches) and that the cost will be $4.63 + sales tax the final total being $5.00 even.
$5.00 even. Someone needs to get this to their statistician. Last I checked sales tax was $0.06 per dollar.
4.63 x .06 = 4.90
Where does the extra 10 cents go? Where? Yeah I know.. I know. I know all too well. 🙂
If anyone tries the Cuban.. let us know how it is.
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