Ozzie Chavez, who hit .219 in 55 games with the Ironpigs last season, signed with the Chicago White Sox.
Chavez and shortstop Brian Bocock centered a shaky Ironpig infield last year turning 44 double plays for the 2010 season.
OinK!
Monthly Archives: January 2011
Four Confirmed & a Bobblehead to be Named Later!
The Ironpigs have released their promotion schedule for 2011! Among them will be a proclaimed record 5 bobbleheads!
I don’t know if you all can remember how I feel about bobbleheads… so to remind you… I think it is wonderful for the organization to have give aways. It is nice. They don’t have to but they do. Myself, I could live without them. I wish other adults shared my feelings on that. Over the past 3 years I have witnessed tantrums from people aged 20 to 60 throwing a fit of rage that would make a 5 year old proud. All because they didn’t get a bobblehead. Leave the toys for the children. Anyways, today is a good day and I’m moving on.
The first four bobbleheads will honor Dave Huppert’s replacement Ryne Sandberg. In a comparison of popularity.. we never had a Huppert bobblehead.
There will also be bobbleheads of Harry Kalas, prospect Domonic Brown and another honoring the efforts of the Dancing Dirt Dudes groundscrew team which is being billed as a “chia” bobblehead. Very interesting. The 5th and final bobblehead will be named at a later date. Any thoughts of who you’d like to see as a bobblehead?
Special for frequent reader ‘redforkhippie’, the Ryne Sandberg bobblehead will be given out on April 26th.
I usually enjoy the distractions from losing baseball. Hopefully in 2011 the distractions will be pushed to the side of winning baseball.
OinK!
Full Article can be found at : http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20110119&content_id=16459312&vkey=news_t1410&fext=.jsp&sid=t1410
Or below
Innovative one-of-a-kind promotions – including bobbleheads of new IronPigs Manager Ryne Sandberg, legendary Phillies broadcaster Harry Kalas and Phillies top prospect Domonic Brown – highlight the IronPigs preliminary promotional schedule and weekly specials for the 2011 season. The 72-game home slate once again includes the Friday Night Fireworks Series as part of 16 total fireworks experiences; an overabundance of unique giveaway and theme nights; and appearances by the world-famous Phillie Phanatic and other high-profile live entertainment acts. Additionally, the IronPigs will continue to add and announce additional promotions prior to Opening Day.
“It’s an incredible feeling to witness a promotional calendar of this magnitude come to fruition,” exclaimed IronPigs General Manager Kurt Landes. “From Day One our goal was to reward our season ticket holders and loyal fans with novel and inventive promotions and giveaways that can’t be found anywhere else. Bar none, this is the best promotional schedule in Minor League Baseball!”
The 2011 season begins on Thursday, April 7, against the rival Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees with one of the IronPigs most-anticipated giveaways of all-time, the first-ever Coca-Cola Park Stadium Replica. The season opening celebrations continue throughout the weekend with Friday Night Fireworks (Friday, April 8), an appearance by the World Famous Phillie Phanatic (Saturday, April 9 and a Pork Racer Fleece Blanket giveaway (Sunday, April 10) that will coincide with the fourth annual “Bark in the Park” promotion. An additional “Bark in the Park” is scheduled for Monday, June 13, and features an IronPigs bandana giveaway for the first 3,500 fans.
A staple of IronPigs baseball since 2008, Friday Night Fireworks returns in 2011 and will follow every Friday night home game all season long. The IronPigs will celebrate Independence Day with back-to-back fireworks displays including a 3-D fireworks extravaganza on July 3. Another notable show is slated for Saturday, Sept. 3, following the final regular season game of the year and all of the other Fan Appreciation Day activities.
The IronPigs will give away a franchise-record five bobbleheads in 2011, beginning Tuesday, April 26, with a keepsake of baseball Hall of Famer and new IronPigs manager, Ryne Sandberg. Other bobbleheads include Phillies legendary broadcaster Harry Kalas (May 16) and Phillies top prospect and former IronPigs OF Domonic Brown (June 27). Staying true to the club’s goal of remaining as one of the most inventive teams in Minor League Baseball, the IronPigs will unveil a Dancing Dirt Dudes “Chia” bobblehead on Monday, May 2. The final bobblehead giveaway of the season is slated for Tuesday, July 26 and will be announced at a later date.
Theme Nights make their anticipated return and include Irish Heritage Night (April 20), Heroes Nights (April 7 and April 28), Dance Team Nights (April 19 and May 2), Faith Nights (May 14, June 23 and July 26) and Football Night (August 31) among others.
Several first-time giveaway items are scheduled for the 2011 season, such as a FeRROUS Replica Van giveaway (April 18), Bethlehem Steel Skyline Cap giveaway (April 28) in tribute to the area’s rich industrial history, IronPigs Oven Mitts (May 1), IronPigs Sweatbands (June 8), a FeRROUS Bobblehead Picture Frame (June 14), an IronPigs Beach Bag on the first day of summer (June 21), a FeRROUS and FeFe “Back to School” 3-Ring Binder (July 27) and a FeRROUS & FeFe Bank (Aug.14). Also new for 2011 is a Pink Jersey Purse Giveaway in celebration of Mother’s Day (May 15) and a Fan Vote T-shirt Giveaway on Sunday, August 28.
A number of other great promotional keepsakes are slated for the upcoming season, including an IronPigs Adult Cap Giveaway (April 19), Reusable Grocery Bags (April 21), IronPigs Youth Caps (May 22), Team Photo Giveaway and Autograph Session (June 7), an IronPigs Golf Visor in recognition of a belated Father’s Day (June 20), 2012 Magnet Schedules (August 29) and a high-quality 2012 Wall Calendar (August 30).
In addition to a pair of appearances by the Phillie Phanatic, the Team Ghost Riders and the Cowboy Monkey Rodeo will make their first-ever Coca-Cola Park appearance on Saturday, July 30. This incredibly unique act has been featured on America’s Funniest Home Videos as well as in Sports Illustrated. More information on this one-of-a-kind act is available at http://www.teamghostriders.com.
Also returning in 2011 is “Battlefield Challenge” – recently voted Minor League Baseball’s best in-game promotion. During all home games from June 7 through June 14, the actual playing field at Coca-Cola Park will be divided into six battle zones which the IronPigs and their opponent will try to gain control of in an effort to conquer the entire playing surface. If Lehigh Valley controlled all six zones at any point, all fans in attendance will be rewarded with a sizeable discount on all food and non-alcoholic beverages available at all concessions stands.
Regular starting times remain identical with 2010 as Saturday starting times remain at 6:35 p.m. Monday through Friday games remain predominately scheduled for 7:05 p.m. The only exceptions are for Education Day #1 on April 12 (10:35 a.m.), Education Day #2 on May 3 (10:35 a.m.), Education Day #3 on May 24 (10:35 a.m.) and Camp Day on July 28 (11:05 a.m.). Sunday games are scheduled for 1:35 p.m. through June 26, 6:35 p.m. for July 3 and 5:35 p.m. from July 24 until the end of the regular season.
Single-game tickets for the 2011 season go on sale during the club’s annual National Pig Day festivities at Coca-Cola Park on Saturday, February 26 at 9 a.m. Single-game tickets can also be purchased at ironpigsbaseball.com or by calling (610) 841-PIGS (7447) beginning on Feb. 26.
To renew or order season tickets and mini plans for the 2011 IronPigs season presented by Capital BlueCross, call (610) 841-PIGS or visit Coca-Cola Park’s ticket office during normal business hours. The Lehigh Valley IronPigs are dedicated to providing family-friendly entertainment and are the only Minor League team to offer bubbles to fans entering the AT&T Plaza and balloons for all children exiting Coca-Cola Park.
The preliminary promotional schedule (subject to change) is listed below.
Weekly Promotions:
Tuesdays: TD Bank Ballpark Bingo.
Thursdays: Ladies Night presented by Mezza Luna featuring discounts and giveaways!
Fridays: Friday Night Fireworks.
Saturdays: Shake, Rattle & Pork Roll Happy Hour Concert Series (4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.) featuring food and drink specials in the AT&T Plaza.
Sundays: Tootsee the Clown and Friends appearance featuring three hours of free balloon animals for kids! Also post-game, Kids Run the Bases presented by Lehigh Valley Health Network.
Nightly Promotions:April 7 (7:05 pm) – Coca-Cola Park Stadium Replica giveaway, Service Electric Cable TV & Communications (First 3,000 adults 18 and over) / Heroes Night #1
April 8 (7:05 pm) – Friday Night Fireworks
April 9 (6:35 pm) – 2011 Magnet Schedule giveaway (First 5,000 fans) / World Famous Phillie Phanatic appearance
April 10 (1:35 pm) – Dog Day # 1 (Bring Your Dog to the Park) / Pork Racer Fleece Blanket giveaway, Nestle Purina PetCare Mighty Dog (First 2,000 youth 17 and under and Dog Owners)
April 11 (7:05 p.m.) – Karate Night
April 12 (10:35 am) – Education Day #1
April 18 (7:05 pm) – FeRROUS Replica Van giveaway, ServiceMark (First 2,000 youth 17 and under)
April 19 (7:05 pm) – IronPigs Adult Cap giveaway, Harvey Building Products (First 3,000 adults 18 and over) / Dance Team Night #1
April 21 (7:05 pm) – Reusable Grocery Bag giveaway, PPL EnergyPlus (First 3,000 adults 18 and over) / Carbon Neutral Gas Night
April 26 (7:05 pm) – Ryan Sandberg Bobblehead giveaway, Coca-Cola (First 3,000 adults 18 and over)/ Karate Night
April 28 (7:05 pm) – IronPigs Bethlehem Steel Skyline Cap giveaway, TD Bank (First 3,000 adults 18 and over) / Heroes Night #2
April 29 (7:05 pm) – Friday Night Fireworks
April 30 (6:35 p.m.) – College Dance Team Night
May 1 (1:35 pm) – IronPigs Oven Mitts giveaway, National MS Society (First 3,000 adults 18 and over)
May 2 (7:05 pm) – Dancing Dirt Dudes “Chia” Bobblehead giveaway (First 3,000 adults 18 and over) / Dance Team Night #2
May 3 (10:35 am) – Education Day #2 presented by Lehigh Valley Health Network
May 13 (7:05 pm) – Friday Night Fireworks presented by Coors Light
May 14 (6:35 pm) – Faith Night
May 15 (1:35 pm) – Pink Jersey Purse giveaway (First 2,000 women 18 and older) / Red Hatter Day
May 16 (7:05 pm) – Harry Kalas Bobblehead giveaway (First 3,000 adults 18 and over) / Harry Kalas Tribute Night
May 22 (1:35 pm) – IronPigs Youth Cap giveaway, Capital BlueCross (First 2,000 youth 17 and under) / 4-H Agricultural Night
May 24 (10:35 am) – Education Day #3 presented by Lehigh Valley Health Network
May 27 (7:05 pm) – Friday Night Fireworks
May 28 (6:35 pm) – Fireworks
June 7 (7:05 pm) – Team Photo giveaway & Autograph Session, People First Federal Credit Union / (First 3,500 fans) / Battlefield Challenge Begins
June 8 (7:05 pm) – IronPigs Wristbands giveaway, AAA – East Penn (2,000 youth 17 and under) / Safety Patrol Night
June 9 (7:05 p.m.) – Health Fair Night presented by Lehigh Valley Health Network
June 10 (7:05 pm) – Friday Night Fireworks presented by The Crayola Factory
June 13 (7:05 pm) – Dog Day # 2 (Bring Your Dog to the Park) / IronPigs Bandana giveaway, Nestle Purina PetCare ALPO (First 3,500 fans)
June 14 (7:05 pm) – FeRROUS Bobblehead Picture Frame giveaway, Air Products (First 2,000 youth 17 and under) / Battlefield Challenge Ends
June 20 (7:05 pm) – IronPigs Fathers Day Golf Visor giveaway, Lutron (First 2,000 men 18 and over)
June 21 (7:05 pm) – IronPigs Beach Bag giveaway, Phoebe Ministries (First 3,000 adults 18 and over)
June 22 (7:05 pm) – World Famous Phillie Phanatic Appearance
June 23 (7:05 pm) – Faith Night
June 24 (7:05 pm) – Friday Night Fireworks presented by TD Bank / Girl Scouts Sleepover
June 27 (7:05 pm) – Domonic Brown Bobblehead giveaway, Nacci Printing (First 3,000 adults 18 and over)
July 2 (6:35 pm) – Fireworks presented by Coors Light
July 3 (6:35 pm) – 3-D Fireworks presented by AT&T (3-D glasses for first 7,000 fans)
July 14 (7:05 pm) – IronPigs Rally Towels (First 5,000 fans) / “White Out” Night
July 15 (7:05 pm) – Friday Night Fireworks presented by Pennsylvania Lottery / Boy Scouts Sleepover
July 22 (7:05 pm) – Friday Night Fireworks
July 24 (5:35 pm) – IronPigs Replica Jersey, Coca-Cola (First 2,000 youth 17 and under)
July 26 (7:05 pm) – TBA Bobblehead giveaway, Lehigh Valley Health Network (First 3,000 adults 18 and over)
July 27 (7:05 pm) – FeRROUS & FeFe “Back to School” 3-Ring Binder giveaway, The Morning Call (First 2,000 youth 17 and under)
July 28 (11:05 am) – Camp Day
July 29 (7:05 pm) – Friday Night Fireworks presented by Greenstar Recycling
July 30 (6:35 pm) – Cowboy Monkey Rodeo performance by Team Ghost Riders (For more info visit http://www.teamghostriders.com)
August 12 (7:05 pm) – Friday Night Fireworks presented by Phoebe Ministries
August 13 (6:35 pm) – Fireworks
August 14 (5:35 pm) – FeRROUS & FeFe Baseball Bank giveaway, Toyota (First 2,000 youth 17 and under)
August 15 (7:05 pm) – IronPigs “Man Cave” giveaway
August 28 (5:35 pm) – Fan Vote T-Shirt giveaway, Capital BlueCross (First 2,000 youth 17 and under)
August 29 (7:05 pm) – 2012 Magnet Schedule giveaway, Sacred Heart Hospital (First 5,000 fans)
August 30 (7:05 pm) – 2012 Wall Calendar, Nacci Printing (First 7,000 adults 18 and over)
August 31 (7:05 pm) – Football Night
September 2 (7:05 pm) – Friday Night Fireworks
September 3 (6:35 pm) – Fireworks / Fan Appreciation Night
Filed under Uncategorized
Ironpigs 2011 Part 4: Third Base
Any one of a number of players could claim the third base job for the Ironpigs in 2011. Right now it seems to me like the logical choice is Jeff Larish. Tagg Bozied and Pete Orr were profiled at first and second base respectively but both could also see playing time at the hot corner.
For three years I have talked about the jet stream to right field at Coca-Cola Park and the need for a lefty power hitter who could take advantage of it. Andy Tracy was terrific in his three years with the Ironpigs but he was more of a gap hitter than a pull hitter. That was never more evident than it was in the AAA homerun derby last year on July 12th. While Dan Johnson of the Durham Bulls was lofting homerun after homerun over the Bud Light Trough down the rightfield line, Andy was hitting balls just as far, maybe farther, that were either off the wall or landing on the warning track in right-center and centerfield. The tentative roster for 2011 appears to have more left-handed power than any of the previous Ironpigs teams and Larish is at the top of that list. He needs to be in the lineup somewhere, so why not at third base?
Jeff Larish
DOB 10/11/82, Iowa City, Iowa. 6’2″ 200. Bats/Throws: L/R
Jeff played baseball at Arizona State University and also played on the USA silver medal team at the 2003 Pan American Games. In his last year at Arizona State he became just the third player in College World Series history to hit 3 homeruns in one game. He was drafted by the Detroit Tigers in the 2005 amateur player draft and played briefly in the rookie league before being promoted to Oneonta in the New York Penn League where he hit .297 with 6 homeruns in just 64 at bats. In 2006 he played for Lakeland in the Florida State League and hit 18 homeruns. By 2007 he was in AA playing for Erie in the Eastern League where he hit .267 with 28 homeruns. In 2008 he hit 21 homeruns for the Toledo Mud Hens in the International League and also made his big league debut with the Tigers on May 30th. He hit .260 for the Tigers playing mostly third base and first base. He split the 2009 season between Toledo and Detroit and did the same in 2010 until he was selected off waivers by the Oakland A’s on August 3rd. He was granted free agency at the end of the season and signed with the Phillies on November 18, 2010. In his 3 seasons of AAA ball he hit .266 with 47 homeruns and 164 RBI’s. He played mostly first base in 2008 and 2009 mainly because of the presence of Mike Hessman at third but in 2010 he played 53 games at third base and 38 games at first base. He has a lifetime batting average of .333 (15-45) with 4 homeruns at Coca-Cola-Park. The 4 homers have come in his last 7 games at CCP and all of them were hit to right field. Whether he’s at third base, first base or DH, hopefully we will see plenty of those right field homers in 2011.
Cody Overbeck
DOB 6/5/86. Atoka, TN. 6’1″ 200. Bats/Throws: R/R
Cody attended the University of Mississippi and was drafted by the Phillies in the 9th round of the 2008 amateur player draft after his junior year. He was assigned to Williamsport where he hit .272 with 12 homeruns. In 2009 he bypassed Lakewood and moved up to Clearwater where he hit just .230 with 12 homeruns. He began the 2010 season back in Clearwater and hit .302 with 11 homeruns in just 215 at bats. He was picked to play in the Florida State League All Star game but was promoted to AA Reading just before the game was played. After a slow start at Reading he finished at .255 with 13 homeruns giving him a total of 24 homeruns between Clearwater and Reading, however, in 490 at bats last year he struck out 134 times. Pitch selection is an area where he needs to improve and that comes with playing time. My instincts tell me he begins 2011 back in Reading where he can continue to play everyday. If he does well, he could be with the Ironpigs by July or August.
Filed under From the Desk of Decal
Something for the Off Season
As there hasn’t been much baseball news this weekend, I’m going to talk about food for today.
In my pursuit of obtaining recipes from current and former Ironpigs, I ran into a blog run by the sister of a former Pig and I really enjoyed what she wrote.
Check it out if you get the chance.
http://www.cookinupdreams.com/2011/01/my-first-giveaway.html?spref=fb
Filed under Uncategorized
Welcome to the Steel Hawks!
This may be old news to some of you all, but I found out about it tonight…
The Lehigh Valley shrugged when the Outlaws indoor football team folded last year. I never attended a game but was curious about it. If a hockey arena is added to the Lehigh Valley I would imagine the indoor football team would follow suit and play there too.
I heard tonight that a new team has joined the Indoor Football League and will call its home Stabler Arena. The team’s name is Steel Hawks. Yeah, really. Maybe they spelled “Steel” from from its suggestive similarity to our beloved Ironpigs. It’s not the first time a team went along with an established team in the same city. The Chicago Bears were named as a larger and meaner version of the Chicago Cubs and before moving to San Francisco, New York had a football and baseball team named the Giants.
Anyways, football returns to the Lehigh Valley. Checking out the Wikipedia version of the team I found out the team is owned by Glenn Clark and will be led by head coach Richard Britt. The team will have 7 home games between February 26th and May 28th. (Something else to do before the Ironpigs start their season) Their two division foes will be the Reading Express and Richmond Revolution. Seeing this makes me smile as I’ve known the starting center for the Revolution since his high school days and remember the tailgate parties as we attended Richmond Spider games when they came within driving distance of the area.
The Steel Hawks do have a website – http://www.lvsteelhawks.com There is ticketing information, etc etc. Basic stuff a team has on their website. They also have a nice video of their dance team.
So we now have another team to root for.
What are your thoughts? Do you think a successful football franchise will help the powers to be to fund construction of the “hockey” arena? Do you think this team will stick around longer than the Outlawz?
We’ll see…
OinK!
Filed under Uncategorized
Transactions 1-13-2011
DeWayne Wise will join Mike Cervenak as he signed a contract with the Marlins.
The Oakland A’s traded Service Electric 2’s Ryan Kelly to the Rangers for Guillermo Moscoso.. wait, different Ryan Kelly.
That’s all for now folks!
OinK!
Filed under Uncategorized
Ironpigs 2011 Part 3: Second Base
No position better mirrors the struggles of the Ironpigs in their first three seasons more than second base. From Gookie Dawkins to Casey Smith to Oscar Robles to Pablo Ozuna to Miguel Cairo to David Newhan to J.J. Furmaniak to Luis Maza to Melvin Dorta to Ozzie Chavez, the Ironpigs have certainly gone through their share of second basemen in their 3 year history. And that was just the “short” list. Names like Jason Donald, Jorge Velandia, Joey Hammond and Keoni De Renne also come to mind. Last year, an injury to Jimmy Rollins bumped Wilson Valdez to the Phillies before he ever played a home game for the Ironpigs. Have the Ironpigs ever had a second baseman who returned for a second year? I can’t think of any. On paper it appears that the 2011 Ironpigs may have the best group of second basemen in their short history The top 3 candidates for 2011 are listed below. Keep in mind that it’s not a lock that Wilson Valdez makes the Phillies opening day roster this year so he could be back. Also, the Phillies pick in the Rule 5 Draft, Michael Martinez is primarily a second baseman. The Phillies would have to negotiate a deal with the Washington Nationals if Martinez doesn’t make the major league roster and stay there all year (ala David Herndon) but if that happens, he would be assigned to either AAA or AA. The Phillies also obtained second baseman Albert Cartwright from the Astros in exchange for Sergio Escalona but Cartwright is at least a year or two away from AAA.
The top 3:
Josh Barfield
DOB 12/17/82, Barquisimeto, Lara, Venezuela. 6’0″ 190. Bats/Throws: R/R
Josh is the son of former Toronto Blue Jays outfielder Jesse Barfield. He was born in Venezuela when his mother went to visit his dad who was playing baseball in the Venezuelan Winter League. Josh was a 4th round pick by the San Diego Padres in the 2001 draft. He hit .310 in the Rookie League in 2001 and followed it up by hitting .297 in 2002 and .337 with 16 homeruns in 2003. In 2004, Baseball America listed him as the #1 prospect in the Padres organization. Playing his first year at the AA level in ’04 he hit just .248 but blasted 18 homeruns. In 2005 he was again listed as the #1 prospect for the Padres and was promoted to AAA Portland where he hit .310 with 15 homeruns. In 2006 at the age of 23 he was in the major leagues with the Padres where he played 147 games at second base, hitting .280 with 13 homeruns while stealing 21 bases. However after the season ended he was traded to the Cleveland Indians in a deal that brought Kevin Kouzmanoff to the Padres. Josh played 120 games for the Indians in 2007 but saw his batting average drop to .243 with just 3 homeruns. He found himself back in the minors in 2008 where he hit just .251 at the AAA level. He also spent most of 2009 in AAA and hit .252. At the end of the ’09 season he was granted free agency and on February 19, 2010 he signed with his original team, the San Diego Padres. He spent the 2010 season at Portland in the Pacific Coast League and hit .294. At the end of the season he again became a free agent and on November 19, 2010 he was signed to a minor league contract by the Phillies with an invitation to major league spring training. Josh’s younger brother Jeremy is a highly rated outfielder in the Oakland organization.
Pointless trivia: Jesse Barfield, father of Josh Barfield and John Mayberry Sr., father of John Mayberry Jr., combined for a total of 496 major league homeruns.
Pete Orr
DOB 6/8/79, Richmond Hill, Ontario, Canada. 6’1″ 175. Bats/Throws: L/R
Peterson Thomas Gordon Orr was signed as an amateur free agent by the Atlanta Braves in 1999. In his minor league career he has played every position except catcher and first base with most of his games coming at second base, shortstop and third base. He slowly progressed through the Braves farm system reaching the AAA Richmond Braves in 2004 where he hit .320 with 24 stolen bases. He made his major league debut in 2005 and had 45 hits in 150 at bats for a .300 average. He was used primarily as a utility man with the Braves, playing games at second, third, shortstop and left field. He also spent the 2006 season with the Braves and hit .253 but most of his playing time came at second base. He split the 2007 season between AAA and the Braves. The Braves released him following the 2007 season and he was signed by the Washington Nationals on December, 15, 2009. He hit .253 in 75 at bats for the Nationals in ’09 but spent most of the year with the Syracuse Chiefs where he hit .245 with 9 homeruns. He played for Syracuse again in 2010 and hit .264 with 12 homeruns and 25 stolen bases. He was granted free agency on November 6, 2010 and was signed by the Phillies on November 10th. Pete played third base for Canada in the 2004 Summer Olympics. Expect to see him at second base, third base and shortstop this summer.
Pete Orr playing shortstop for Syracuse vs. John Mayberry & the Ironpigs
Harold Garcia
DOB 10/25/86, Maracaibo, Venezuela. 5’11” 164. Bats/Throws: S/R
Harold was signed by the Phillies as a non-drafted free agent on September 7, 2004. From 2005 to 2007 he played in the Venezuelan Development League and steadily improved each year. In 2008 he played in the Gulf Coast Rookie League and hit .299 with 5 homeruns. He moved up to Lakewood in 2009 and hit .291 with 8 homers but it wasn’t until 2010 that he really emerged as a highly regarded prospect. He began 2010 at Clearwater and hit .335 in 46 games. He had a 37 game hitting streak for the Threshers, breaking a Florida State League record that had been on the books since 1951. He earned a promotion to AA Reading where he hit .281 with 5 homeruns in 55 games. Harold recently finished his season in the Venezuela Winter League where he hit .286. He will likely begin 2010 at Reading but if he continues to improve he could move up at some point during the 2011 season.
Filed under From the Desk of Decal
Kris Benson Retires
“I’m done. I decided pretty much after this past season that I wasn’t going to pursue anything. I’ve been putting way too much into it and not getting enough out of it, as far as the rehab, working out, training, and then not getting the type of results I expect from myself.”
“I wanted to make this decision now, rather than go into another season on another minor-league deal. I didn’t want to go through the head games of, ‘Am I going to make the team?’ I don’t mind the pressure. I just don’t want to fall into another situation like I had the last couple years, where I busted my tail getting back and then got hurt again shortly after I made the team.”
Benson was 1-4 5.52 in 60 1/3 innings with the 2008 Ironpigs. In 1996 he was the first player taken in the MLB June amateur draft. He finishes his career with a 70-75 4.42 big league record, while pitching for the Pirates, Mets, Orioles, Rangers and Diamondbacks.
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Support the Noise Nation Winter Project (see post below for details).
Filed under From the Desk of Decal
We Need Your Help! Noise Nation Winter Project
It’s no secret that we’ve been working hard all winter to get a cook book together. Many folks have submitted recipes and we’ve got the book is just about ready.
Recipes have been sent in by:
Scott Mathieson
Andy and Tiffany Tracy
Mike Cervenak
Bubba Bell
Jessica Williams (of the National Pro Fastpitch softball league)
We have been promised recipes from many other Ironpigs and their families and the book is really coming together.
The help we need now is to find sponsors for the book. We have opened up close to 30 pages for advertising and so far we’ve got one.. yes ONE concerned and caring sponsor to help us publish this book. That business is already listed on this site as a sponsor and all ads would include an ad on the Horn and Bell for the 2011 season.
To rehash on WHY we are creating this cook book I have copied part of the letter from the charity we are raising funds for:
On behalf of the National Brain Tumor Society, thanks to you and the group Noise Nation for choosing to host a fundraising event in which your cookbook sales will go to support our programs. As an organization supported entirely by private and individual donations, the National Brain Tumor Society relies on the generosity of people like you to bring our services to the members of the brain tumor community.
National Brain Tumor Society is a nonprofit 501c3 organization bringing together the best of research and patient services to be a comprehensive resource for patients, caregivers, researchers, and medical professionals. To learn more about the National Brain Tumor Society, visit our website at http://www.braintumor.org. All donations made directly to NBTS are tax deductible to the fullest extent of the law.
If you know of any businesses or groups that would like an ad in our cook book, please let us know.
If you would like to personally make a contribution to the cost of printing, please let us know.
Please help us help the National Brain Tumor Society find a cure for this terrible disease. We’re trying to do something good here…
Filed under Uncategorized
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