Monthly Archives: May 2011

I was just parusing the stats for the Ironpigs. We recently passed the 1st quarter of the season mark and I was curious to see where they stood amongst the rest of the International League, stat-wise.

Hitting:
Batting average – 10th with a team .246 average
Doubles – 12th with 59
Triples – 12th with 5
HR – 6th with 37
RBI – 5th with 171

In fact the Ironpig’s have only one player breaking the top 5 in any positive stat for batters. That would be Rich Thompson, who leads the league with 16 Stolen Bases. The next closest would be Jeff Larish’s 8 HR for 7th in the standings.

Pitching:
ERA – 5th with a 3.66
Strike outs – 4th with 316

The other stats are pretty much the same, innings pitched, wins/losses, etc. Everyone plays the same number of innings and games, not relevant.

Looking at individual stats, keeping in mind minimum participation:
Mike Zagurski riding a solid 6th with 6 saves.
Michael Schwimer leading the league with a whopping 5 holds.

Holds and saves are situational, so it’s not really a great measure of performance and in regards to Schwimer and Zagurski it doesn’t reflect how well they have been pitching.

So barely 2 league leaders and the team stats riding towards the middle-bottom of the league for both hitting and pitching yet still holding the league’s 2nd best record…

How do we explain this?

Teamwork, good leadership, aggressive play and a whole lot of luck… but mostly teamwork.

Really appreciating the effort this team puts out each and every day! Thank you!

Received this info today.. are you up to it? The interview team may even show at the LV Steelhawks game this Saturday! See a game and tell your fan story!

We are casting a documentary on Diehard Phillies and/or Eagles fans… those who live for their teams and can’t get enough clothing and gear to show it; they would go to every game if they could; they schedule life plans around the teams’ games; they aren’t satisfied to watch highlights or read a box score, they need to be watching every pitch and down; they get worked up for every single game, living and dying with each outcome; their team is a religion and a way of life. If this sounds like you or someone you know…we want to hear from you ASAP. Email Sarah at phillydocu@gmail.com. Interviews are THIS WEEKEND in South Philly, location TBD. Looking for groups of people that always watch games together, who have a great rapport and dynamic…friends, families etc. The more the merrier! If your story is chosen, your crew will get kickass tickets to a game June 14,15,or 16!

In an early game, the Ironpigs won an extra inning game today beating the SWB Yankees 5 to 4 in Moosic.

The game went 11 innings and Domonic Brown needed all 11 of them to continue his now 18 game hitting streak. Brown’s single in the 11th scored Erik Kratz and Mike Zagurski came on to earn his 6th save of the season.

Again, these Ironpigs played as a team with no distinct standout player. Larish homered and Moss Hogg collected his first triple of the season.

Of note – the Ironpig’s left 22 runners on base.

With this win the Pigs increase their lead in the IL North to 2 games and guarantee a series split. Game 3 of the 4 game set is scheduled for tomorrow night.

How about this team!

GAME PREVIEW: GRIZZLIES AT STEELHAWKS

Alaska Team Continues East Coast Swing in Lehigh Valley

Bethlehem, PA: The Lehigh Valley Steelhawks welcome to the Stabler Arena this Saturday, the Fairbanks Grizzlies from the great state of Alaska. The two teams are the furthest west and furthest east teams in the league respectively. This will be the first meeting between the two non-conference opponents. The Grizzlies, who have won eight straight games since beginning the year 0-3, are fresh off a victory against the Reading Express last Sunday by a score of 60-45. The Steelhawks themselves were able to snap their seven game losing streak last weekend against the Richmond Revolution by a score of 38-35.
The Grizzlies currently sit in second place in the Pacific Division by just a half game behind the Tri-Cities Fever whose record is 8-2. They boast a talented squad with the IFL’s leading Running Back Romandre Gibbs. On the season, the Fairbanks runner has 650 yards on the ground and ten scores and has been a catalyst for a Grizzlies offense which is built on physicality up front and speed on the outsides. The Steelhawks will have to account for Gibbs and talented Wide Receiver Tony Taylor at all times.

The Steelhawks running game has been their strength all year, and that was no different in last weekend’s victory over the Richmond Revolution. Isaiah Grier added two more scores on the ground and Ryan Leafey and Dom Stewart added a rushing score each themselves as the three combined for over 130 yards rushing. The Steelhawks rank 6th in the league on the ground. New starting Quarterback Andre Sloan El will look to build the team’s first winning streak as he goes under center this Saturday.

“We’ve had some success on the ground of late,” stated Steelhawks Head Coach Rich Britt. “I don’t see us shying away from throwing the ball this weekend either, even though the Grizzlies boast one of the league’s top defensive units. We can’t be intimidated by their record, and what they’ve done lately. We just need to go out there and play our game and give max effort for four quarters.”

Kickoff for the game is slated for 7 p.m., Saturday May 21st with doors opening at 6 p.m. Fans coming to cheer on the Steelhawks are urged to wear their black and Vegas gold in support! Tickets for the game can be purchased by calling the Steelhawks front office at 610-282-3100, via the Steelhawks Website (www.lvsteelhawks.com), thru ticketmaster, or by visiting the Stabler Arena Box Office at 124 Goodman in Bethlehem. For further information on the Lehigh Valley Steelhawks please contact Executive Vice President Mike Clark at 610-282-3100.The game, deemed Race For Adam Night, will serve as a fundraiser for the Race for Adam. The Race for Adam Foundation, a volunteer non-profit organization dedicated to funding research projects to find a treatment and cure for Niemann-Pick Type C disease (NP-C) and related neurodegenerative disorders, began in 2005. In July of that year, Sean and Amy Recke’s seven-year old son, Adam, was diagnosed with NP-C, a genetic neurodegenerative disorder for which there is no cure. Due to the family’s kindness and respect for everyone, the community came together to help them; they are a family who has shown great patience, strength and hope in this time of urgency. Adam has touched the lives of everyone he has met, and continues to embrace life with a perfect smile. With the support of the community, a seed of hope has grown and continues to branch through events that will promote awareness and funding for research into NP-C and related neuro-degenerative disorders. The Foundation is named in honor of Adam Recke.

Season ticket flex packages, starting as low as $8 per game, are still available but great seats are limited so reserve your seats close to the action and call the team’s front office at 610-282-3100. Don’t miss out on the fun and exciting atmosphere that is Steelhawks Professional Indoor Football!

The Pigs played well as a team tonight and they was no clear cut individual effort tonight as the Pigs beat the SWB Yankees 7 to 3.

Looking good team! Looking real good!

Hopefully they can put some distance between themselves and SWB with 3 more games to go up in Moosic, PA.

Tomorrow is an early game, a 10:35am start so be sure to have your radio handy in the morning.

My apologies for the delay, here is the link:

http://www.coveritlive.com/index.php?option=com_altcaster&task=listliveevents&Itemid=223

Corrected link, just look for our chat and join.

With Vance Worley’s return to the Ironpig’s roster it leaves the team with 6 starters. Yes, International League pitcher of the week Brian Gordon, I consider a starter. The big question is, do the Phillies see him that way?

While Gordon has been great over the past couple weeks since coming off the disabled list, he may find himself in the bullpen yet again. This said even more so since Grilli was placed on the Disabled list this morning. It saves room on the roster (and saves Chapman a tank of gas) but it leaves the Pigs heavy on the starter side.

So far, Shoeless Eddie Bonine and Nate Bump have eaten the most innings with 37.1 each with Bass and Feierabend close behind.

The rotation:

1. Vance Worley – this is the no brainer. He’s going to continue. Depending on Joe Blanton’s recovery and success the Phillies want him throwing on schedule.

2. Eddie Bonine – Bonine had a great start to the season but is leveling off. His recent control problems are reason for worry but I don’t see him leaving the rotation just yet.

3. Brian Bass – Bass’ recent complete game is a glimpse of what he can do for the Pigs. He came through strong on a day they were thin in the bullpen and that speaks volumes for a quality pitcher. He has allowed 7 HR this season so far.

4. Nate Bump – While Bump’s stats are very close to Bass, I gave Bass the edge with his recent performance.

5. Ryan Feierabend – Like Bass, Feierabend has been victim to the HR allowing a team high of 8. He has done well for us but does have that April 28th shelling on his line.

6. Brian Gordon – With a 1-0 record, a 0.36 ERA, only 1 earned run in 24.2 innings and an IL Pitcher of the Week award showcasing his 2011 season, I still think the Phillies will push him into the bullpen.

While he will get more starts this season with injuries and callups he has only 13 career starts prior to this year. It stinks for him, it stinks for us.

That’s my guess.. what is yours?

Well theoretically, tonight’s 4-3 win over the Norfolk Tide combined with SWB Yankee’s rainout, place the Pigs in a tie with SWB for first place in the IL North division but they are not. With a 21-15 record, Scranton’s .583 is still better than the Pigs .579 record. (22-16)

I didn’t see much of the game tonight. Just spent it relaxing in the warm dry club level catching up with friends. The highlight of my evening was watching a slightly (ok maybe more than slightly) inebriated fan walk full speed into the glass wall a good 3 feet from the door. He went down, hat went flying and the Ironpig employee at the door tried hard to disguise his smile. With nothing more than his ego bruised, he got up put his hat on and went on his merry way. It would have been a good one for the blooper reel though.

Also heard our very own Worley Bird, Vance Worley will be returning to the Pigs tomorrow as Roy Oswalt has been reactivated to the Phils. In fact, Worley is slated to start in Scranton tomorrow! Yes, the two first place teams will meet in a 4 game series that could leave one team with a nice push towards the top. We will be heading up there on Friday and I’m hoping that I will be able to bring a broom along.

That’s all I got tonight. Until tomorrow…

Glancing at the weather it looks like tonight will be miserably wet. The radar shows a storm passing by to the North and a gathering system over the Baltimore area around 5:00pm. The temperature won’t be too bad, mid 60’s throughout the night but at 5:00pm the chance of rain begins at 20% then jumps to 50% at 7:00pm (7:05pm game time) and up to 60% by 8:00pm and later.

So, will we have a game? It will probably start. It might or might not continue. Chances are we could have a few delays as this will be the thunderstorm type of weather bringing bursts of heavy rains.

The ONLY thing for sure is that the gates WILL open and Harry Kalas Talking bobbleheads will be passed out. No doubts there. None. Also, if you really need to have one.. am I am very serious about this.. I would get there no later than 4:00pm. The weather might scare some folks away, but if the past has taught us anything.. put a piece of wobbly plastic in front of someone and they will wait hours for it in the rain, in the heat and in the cold the same.

I, however, will be enjoying the game from the Club level tonight. If it rains I will be sharing wonderful baseball banter with the upper echelon and enjoying a wider alcohol selection not available from the cheap seats. How did I get the ticket, you ask? I went online and looked. It seems not all club level tickets were sold as season tickets and can be purchased for individual games. Is that a good thing or a bad thing? For me… it’s a good thing 🙂

See you there and be prepared to endure some weather and possibly a delay.

Just heard that Brian Gordon was named the International League Pitcher of the Week!

Gordon has been doing a great job coming off the Disabled list for the Ironpigs and filling their need for an additional starter.

Congrats Brian and keep it up! We’re behind you!