Monthly Archives: June 2010

The Ironpigs took the game from Rochester tonight by a score of 6 to 4!

I knew this would be a great night when, during pregame preparations, the centerfield cameraman seemed to stumble or kick a sprinkler head… setting off the sprinkler and dousing himself for a cool 2 minutes before it went off. One of those “I wish I had my camera” moments. His Three Stooges antics that followed just added to the effect.

We also were treated to the Ironpigs Radio Network broadcast team table in Noise Nation where Jon Schaeffer and Matt Provence set up shop and made the call from the outfield with us. A few of us assisted in the broadcast and everyone had a great time. We even had a guest appearance by former Ironpig Radio Producer (and current Reading Phillies Media Director) Tommy Viola who treated us to one of his “Radiooooooo Network” calls. Good to see you Tommy and thanks to Matt and Jon for a fun night!

Also picked up on a new nickname for Domonic Brown. Matt Provence’s call of Brown’s home run came in as “Downtown Domonic Brown!” This instantly reminded me of the 1998 sequel to the movie Major League called “Major League: Back to the Minors” where a key character is known simply as Downtown. The movie is the third sequel and I think much better than the second but not close to the quality of the first.

As for stats tonight…

Andy Tracy had 2 hits and continues to close on .300. He stands at .290 as of the end of tonight’s game.

Domonic Brown continues to be a presence on the field at The Coke. He went 3 for 4 with 3 RBI and his second home run in as many games. Brown also intimidated a third base coach into not challenging his arm when a runner rounding third stopped dead when Brown retrieved a soft liner into right field. Last night he threw out one runner on third and turned a no doubt run scoring into a close play at home plate (the runner avoided the tag)

Newly aquired Aguila also hit his first home run at The Coke. Welcome aboard. Keep that up and the Lehigh Valley will embrace you!

Nate Bump (who was named to the IL All Star roster this afternoon) earned his 7th win of the season. He allowed 2 runs on 7 hits in 6 innings.

Ryan Vogelsong continues to struggle. In the top of the ninth he walked the bases loaded before being pulled for Scott Mathieson. Combine that with the blown save in Durham a few days ago and it doesn’t look good for the Kutztown University alumni.

Mathieson came in and finished the game earning his 14th save of the season. He also earned a spot on the IL All Star roster.

See you tomorrow!

Oink!

The International League has 4 Ironpigs on the roster!

International League (IL) Roster
1st base – Andy Tracy
2nd base – Chris Valaika
3rd base – Cody Ransom
Shortstop – Eduardo Nunez
Catcher – Tyler Flowers
Outfielders – Michael Brantley, Jeff Frazier, Dustin Martin
Starting Pitchers – Dan Hudsen, Carlos Torres
Relief Pitchers – Jonathan Albaladejo, Scott Mathieson
DH – Dan Johnson

Reserves
Erik Kratz
Jesus Montero
Barbaro Canizares
Joe Dillon
Elliot Johnson
Chase Lambin
Bubba Bell
Jose Constanza
Jeff Salazar
Nate Bump
Michael Dunn
Robert Manuel
Pat Misch
Jay Sborz
Anthony Slama
Chris Tillman
Travis Wood

Pacific Coast League (PCL) Roster will be announced tomorrow!

Per the Ironpig’s website:

The Triple-A All-Star Workout Day presented by Lehigh Valley Health Network on Tuesday, July 13 at Coca-Cola Park is free and open to the public, the IronPigs announced today. This ultimate-access event takes place from 2 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. and allows fans an up-close look at both the International League and Pacific Coast League stars as they prepare for Wednesday’s nationally-televised and sold-out Triple-A All-Star Game.
“Our fans are so loyal and passionate that we were adamant in hosting a free event for all of the Lehigh Valley and surrounding regions to enjoy,” remarked IronPigs General Manager Kurt Landes. “This is the perfect afternoon to ‘play hooky’ from work and enjoy a once-in-a-lifetime intimate opportunity to see these All-Stars up close.”
On-field stretching and batting practice will take place between 2:30 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. with the International League All-Stars taking the field first followed by the Pacific Coast League’s best. Make sure to bring your glove and be aware of home runs and souvenirs! Please note that the players are not expected to be available for autographs at any point during Workout Day.
No tickets are needed to attend this event and all seating is General Admission — granting fans access to the Field Level seating bowl, the Capital BlueCross Lawn and other areas on a first-come, first-serve basis. Gates will open at 2 p.m. and as an added bonus, there is no cost for on-site parking.
All in-park food and beverage locations will be open for the Triple-A All-Star Workout Day. For the safety of our fans, no outside food or beverage is permitted to be brought inside Coca-Cola Park.

The revamped Pigs looked pretty good tonight. JA Happ did not. He was all over the place wild in the first two innings. A post game interview was reported that he felt better than he has yet. Maybe they instructed him not to throw strikes or work on a certain pitch but it wasn’t pretty.

What can you say about Domonic Brown! This guy hit his first AAA Home run tonight, made a great catch and gunned a runner down at 3rd. He is quickly becoming a Lehigh Valley fan favorite!

The Pigs took the game 5 to 4 with a walk off victory when Neil Sellers singled in Domonic Brown to win the game.

Excitement aside.. this game was Andy Tracy. Seeing Tracy play air guitar with the Philly Phanatic wasn’t all he did tonight.. In the 4th inning Andy hit one of the longest home runs I have ever seen. The ball hit (and shattered) the neon lights just below the Service Electric sign atop the right field concourse. It had just started coming down and looked like a line drive most of the way. There was little arc. The ball hit and the Noise Nation was showered with glass shards and pieces of the moulding ala The Natural. I’ve done some calculations and using my judgement on height and distance from the fence… I estimated mathematically that, if unobstructed, that home run would have landed 471 feet from home plate. 471 feet! FOUR HUNDRED SEVENTY ONE FEET! This is going to become a legend at “The Coke.” People will be telling their grandkids when Andy Tracy hit a 471 foot homerun and broke a neon light. If you are interested in my calculation method, send me an email and I will share with you.

Game two.. Pigs lost 3 to 2. It was tied going into the 7th (and last) inning and Rochester scored, the Pigs did not. There were some highlights in this game but the team just looked worn out. That long bus trip showed its effect in this game. The team seemed to lag.

Also word on the street is that Cody Ransom was not selected to help out in the absence of Polanco in Philadelphia because of a problematic knee. In a strange lineup Ransom started at Shortstop, Neil Sellers played first and Andy Tracy played third base. Could Tracy be amidst a test to see about a promotion for him? Let’s hope it doesn’t happen before the All Star break for I have a feeling that when the All Star team rosters are announced tomorrow, he just might be one of two Ironpigs on the team. I see Mathieson and Tracy making the roster.

Tonight I also got a taste of the good life up in the club level for a few innings. Thanks to big Joe R for the invite. Indeed! It’s a nice place up there and talked to some good folks.

That’s about all I have for tonight. See you tomorrow.

OINK!

The Ironpig’s updated roster was just sent out and Willy Tavares is not on it. The team announced that the Phillies have released him.

What a day!

Let the commenting begin 🙂

The Ironpig’s will play 3 games against the Rochestor Redwings in the next 2 days. Double header tonight and one game tomorrow. The results could determine the worst record in the International League.

Currently the Ironpigs are carrying a 1.5 game lead over Rochester in the standings.

Ironpigs – 30 wins – 37 losses

Redwings – 29 wins – 49 losses

The next closest record to the two dwellers is Louisville with a 36 and 42 record.

It should get interesting, especially with all the roster moves going on. The gel that the Pigs have been forming has quickly dissolved and hopefully will give them a fresh breath of life.

More rumors circulating about who goes up the Phillies today. Utley seems to be sure to miss a few games with that injured thumb and Polanco reportedly could be headed to the DL as well. Mandy Houseknick of the Morning Call speculated that Cody Ransom could get his first trip to the Phillies if Polanco and Utley ultimately hit the DL this week.

We’ll see. Whoever goes to Philly today won’t get to see the Phanatic though.. as he will be visiting us here in the Lehigh Valley tonight! 🙂

Per Tommy Viola’s Twitter post…. Today Neil Sellers and Ty Taubenheim were promoted to the Ironpigs.

Phuture Phillies speculates that Greg Dobbs will be called to fill in for Chase Utley who injured a thumb late in last night’s game.

I did notice Taubenheim make a start in Reading so he might be added to the Pig’s starting rotation to solidify Savery’s move to the bullpen.

I honestly think that if this injury isn’t too bad to Utley, give Melvin Dorta the call and an opportunity to prove himself. Heck, he couldn’t do worse than Dobbs…

More updates will be posted as they come in.

OINK!

The Pigs are currently on a bus enroute to the Lehigh Valley from Durham. I do not envy those who travel with the team especially after the road trip they just had. Better things are to come.. at least for us fans!

Tomorrow we are treated to a double header at Coca Cola Park! We get to break out the semi-colon to separate games again and I’m hoping we get to push some K’s off the side of the new sign. With JA Happ making his final rehab start in game 1 there is a good possibility of that happening.

Did I mention the Philly Phanatic will be there too? A double header, JA Happ and the Phanatic! It’s going to be a long but fun night. Add in the pending 4th of July weekend and it will be a crazy time at The Coke (Yes, I’m starting this. From now on I will refer to Coca Cola Park as “The Coke!”)

Per Wikipedia:

Coke is the solid carbonaceous material derived from destructive distillation of low-ash, low-sulfur bituminous coal. Cokes from coal are grey, hard, and porous.

Volatile constituents of the coal—including water, coal-gas, and coal-tar—are driven off by baking in an airless furnace or oven at temperatures as high as 2,000 degrees Celsius.

2000 degrees Celsius… it will be hot this weekend, but not quite that hot. Remind me of that as I bake in the sun this week in right-center field.

Back to my original thought..

There will be Patriot themes.. there will be jersey auctions.. there will be Ballpark bingo on Tuesday night..

On Wednesday’s celebration of Hispanic culture there will be a TShirt giveaway to the first 3,000 adults. There will be dancers and other fun stuff to this theme.

Thursday features an 18 and older Red White and Blue hat giveaway to the first 3,000 adults. Thursday is also Pig Roast night with great (I will be having a few portions myself) pulled pork. A few have asked where to find this special treat and they can be found just inside the main gate.. look to your right.

Friday will be fireworks. Gotta love the fireworks.

The Pigs then head to Pawtucket to play one game there. One game, one day. Almost 1,000 traveling miles. Why, you ask? So the PawSox can have a home game over the 4th of July weekend.. for the fans you know.. not to boost their attendance…

Coming back on the 4th of July the Pigs the PawSox at home for a 4 game homestand! There will be fireworks and a jersey auction but that isn’t the main event. July 4th is also the 2nd Noise Nation Tailgate party of the year! We usually hang out in the lower LSI Lot but there has been interest in moving to the upper lot. I will post more info closer to Sunday on location. We strictly adhere to “The Coke” rules and tailgaiting guidelines so no charcoal and no alcohol is allowed in the parking area. Feel free to join us. We go with a Bring your own food and share if you’d like policy.

July 5th also has a night of fireworks.

July 6th brings us the second Pork Racer giveaway with Diggity being given to the first 2,000 children entering the park.

July 7th’s giveaway will be an ALL Star game souvenir glass giveaway to the first 3,000 adults.

***

I did want to take a moment to recognize a hard working group of people out there. These folks will be foregoing their holiday weekend to bring us Ironpigs baseball at home in the Coke (Catching on.. isnt it?) From the Front Office to concessions to parking to the interns pushing their baglady.. I mean lauch a ball cart around the park.. they all have a goal in common and that is to entertain us. In the midst of all the holiday fun these folks are also nearing the finish line of a great achievement in minor league baseball. The AAA All Star game. All the extra effort and tireless hours spent preparing for this one game has to be taxing on a personal life and to all of those involved.. I want to personally, and publically, thank you for your efforts. You are doing great things and we appreciate you.

***
Getting wordy tonight.. must be the new computer.

Also wanted to send out a shameless request for assistance to you, the readers of my blog. You’ve pained through my poor grammar (a friend corrected me on the spelling a few days ago) and sad sentence structure for almost 5 months now.

So the skinny of it… the Morning Call Website http://www.mcall.com has a Lehigh Valley Blogosphere that takes personal blogs and posts them for all to see. To get on the blogosphere readers need to recommend it to the Morning Call to add it to the list.

If you have a free moment, and feel our blog is deserving… please follow the below link and submit a recommendation for The Horn & Bell to be added to the Lehigh Valley Blogosphere. I really appreciate any assistance you can give.

http://www.mcall.com/news/opinion/all-oped-blogs-more-form,0,1240972.customform