Monthly Archives: June 2011

Voting has begun for the AAA All Star game in Salt Lake City!

From the IL website:

For the sixth consecutive season, fans will once again play a role in choosing the up-and-coming players to start in the Triple-A All-Star Game. The fan vote will count one-third (33%) of a player’s total and will be added to the votes of media (33%) and Triple-A Field/General Managers (33%) to select the starting players. Players on the ballot were active as of May 31, 2011. If your favorite player is not listed, please use the write in space at the bottom of the ballot.

You can vote 25 times! Make sure to vote for your favorite Ironpigs!

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/events/asg/y2011/ballot/ballot_reg.html

The Noise Nation Charity Cookbooks are in! Books are $20 each (many great coupons defray that cost) and can be mailed to you for $5 shipping.

For more details on the cookbook, click here.

Books will be sold by myself and the cookbook committee, we will have some with us at all times so don’t be afraid to stop us and ask.

Also, several businesses in the area will have them available as well. A list will be added to this post when books are delivered to them.

If you live in the Lehigh Valley, I can make arrangements to meet you for delivery.

Please fill out the below form and we will get back to you as soon as we can with more details on payment and delivery.

Our fundraiser will benefit the National Brain Tumor Society. Thanks to our wonderful sponsors (See links to the right) we were able to cover the print costs and all revenue from this cookbook sale will go directly to the charity!

National Brain Tumor Society (NBTS) is a leader in the brain tumor community, bringing together the best of research and patient services to be a comprehensive resource for patients, families, caregivers, researchers, and medical professionals. We have a national presence, with offices on both coasts and activities and influence around the United States.

We invest wisely and strategically across the research spectrum, seeking new therapeutic targets and improving existing treatments, which will ultimately lead to a cure. Our staff and advisory team encourage research that connects directly to patient care and enhances quality of life for all brain tumor patients.

National Brain Tumor Society offers top-notch resources and caring support for everyone affected by brain tumors. We provide education and information to help patients, families, and caregivers make informed decisions and develop strong support systems during every stage of the journey.

If you’d like to get involved, receive help, volunteer, or make a gift, contact us at 800.770.8287 or visit http://www.braintumor.org. National Brain Tumor Society is a 501 (c) (3) nonprofit organization.

Many many thanks to all who have assisted in this fundraiser and thank you for your support!

The Ironpigs took the lead early on home runs by Jeff Larish and Brandon Moss Hogg and let the pitchers take over.

Ryan Feierabend was on tonight going 6 innings only allowing 2 hits and no runs striking out 5.

Perez got a hold and Mathieson closed out the game for a 2 inning save.

The Pigs now hold a 33 and 20 record and improve their road record to 17 and 7.

The Pigs will travel to Charlotte tomorrow with a 7:15pm start.

On a side note, word on the street is that Martinez will be offered back to the Nationals when Victorino is activated.

http://www.lehighvalleylive.com/ironpigs/index.ssf/2011/06/lehigh_valley_ironpigs_blogger_1.html

Per Matt Provence:

IronPigs transactions today: LHP Les Walrond promoted to LHV from Reading. RHP Eddie Bonine placed on D.L. (rt elbow strain) retro to 6/1.

The below is fictional. It is not a true story. Just for your entertainment.

Setting – Cola Coca Park, 3:00pm

Larry – “OK, you guys know the deal right?”

Crunchy Pork Rind – “The deal? We run to win right?”

Dig Dug Dog – “Sure is hot out today…”

Red Eyed Gravy – “Why do I get the heaviest costume?”

Larry – “Yeah, you know… you do know how this works right?”

(Blank looks from the other three)

Larry – “Dig Dug Dog will win the race today. No exceptions! Understand?!”

Crunchy Pork Rind – (under his breath) “We’ll see about that….”

Larry – “Guys! This needs to happen this way! It’s scripted!”

Red Eyed Gravy – “What, like the pro wrestling?”

Larry – “Do you want to do this or not?”

All 3 in unison – “Yes, Larry…”

*** Larry leaves the room***

Crunchy Pork Rind – “Man, I really want to win this”

Red Eyed Gravy – “I’d be happy not to pass out”

Dig Dug Dog – “Yeah man, Crunchy.. you’re going to win”

Crunchy Pork Rind – “You guys sure?”

Red Eyed Gravy – “It’s cool man, we’re just having fun. What does it matter who wins?”

***The race is run and Crunchy Pork Rind comes in first***

Larry – “OK! What happened!!! I thought it was clear that Dig Dug Dog was going to win!”

(uncomfortable silence)

Dig Dug Dog – “Hey, it’s ok if I didn’t win… it was all in fun. The crowd cheered, the kids loved it!”

Larry – “IT’S NOT OK!!! IT WAS SCRIPTED FOR DIG DU…. ok ok… we just won’t include it in the final standings, that’s all. The race will not count!”

Crunchy Pork Rind – “There are standings?”

Red Eyed Gravy – “Standings that matter?”

Dig Dug Dog – “Really? This is taken THIS seriously?”

Crunchy Pork Rind – “I guess so….”

Again, this is not true. I just made it up…. Enjoy!

The Pigs got off to an early start and continued deep into the game scoring 8 runs by the 6th inning tonight against the Gwinnett Braves!

Belliard sent a 3 run HR out and Kratz followed it with his own a couple pitches later.

Kratz finished 3 for 5 with 1 RBI and 3 runs scored.

The real story of the game is pitcher Brian Gordon. Gordon threw 7 innings allowing only 2 hits and no runs on 67 pitches.

If you do the math, 11 strike outs alone equals 33 pitches. (Not saying there wasn’t a few balls mixed in) That leaves 34 pitches for the other 10 outs. An incredible performance by Gordon who became 4-0 on the season. Gordon also went 2 for 4 batting!

Schwimer came on to finish the game, adding 3 more strikeouts.

The Pigs look to take the series win tomorrow at 7:00pm against the Braves and we will again be holding a Live Chat to stay up to date and enjoy the away game together as die hard fans! Stay tuned for a link.

http://www.lehighvalleylive.com/ironpigs/index.ssf/2011/06/lehigh_valley_ironpigs_blogger_1.html

Missing the Ironpigs? Join us for a live chat tonight and get together with other fans while listening to the radio broadcast!

The 2011 Ironpigs are now 31 and 20, 3 games ahead of SWB for first place in the International League North division… 16-13 at home and 15-7 away.

This year certainly is different from the first 3 years. They are Winning! I know right? Winning baseball here in the Lehigh Valley!

Why is that though? Better players? Better coaching? The luck finally came around?

Well get ready for my opinion.

While I feel Ryne Sandberg is the reason for all these wins, I don’t feel he is completely to thank for this great season so far. Sure, a great coach will push players, get more out of them. A Force Multiplier. Make an average performer play better just by his presence. Nice idea but not all of it. I really feel that the Phillies organization wants this team to succeed for a few reasons.

The first and foremost reason is to groom Ryne Sandberg as Charlie Manuel’s replacement. I know, Charlie Charlie Charlie, we all love him.. but I am giving my thoughts of how the management is thinking. (How many times has this group said one thing and the next day does the opposite?) They are giving Sandberg a test drive to see if he can field a winning team. As a part of this, they gave him the tools he needed to accomplish this. Look at the guys they signed and keep signing. Larish, Moss, Posednik, Orr, Kratz… along with a young and talented bullpen. The starters have easily been the weakest link this season and even they have come around nicely.

What makes this team different from the past is there is no noticeable influence from above. How many times did we see Huppert make a move and shake our heads wondering what he was thinking, then the next day find out it was directed by a Phillie’s representative. We haven’t seen a pitcher (other than the Feierabend night) sit out there and get shelled, in respect to Feierabend the bullpen had been burnt out the day before. When a situtation called for a pinch hitter a pinch hitter went in. This team is being run to win baseball not develop players. Other teams go by this. (SWB Yankees for one, player development happens at AA)

Another part of it is that the Phillies as a whole are getting older. I’m not saying they should be retiring anytime soon (well Ibanez) but the Phillie’s roster in 5 years will have a lot of new faces and several could be those wearing Ironpig uniforms. Allowing these players to experience winning baseball gets them ready for the pressure and expectations that will multiply 10 fold once they get to Citizen’s Bank Park.

And lastly, and least important, this winning team is thanks to the dedicated fan base. I acknowledge this is a weak point, do the execs really care how us fans feel? Doubt it. But they care about our money so they want to at least think about us for a moment. We’ve suffered through 3 years of terrible play since the beginning and deserve to see quality baseball.

So really, is this winning all about Sandberg? You could say that. Is it his mere presence causing the winning…. nah. The Phillies put this plan together to get him ready and if the season so far is any indication, Amaro and his friends will bite off the end of a cigar and say, “I love it when a plan comes together.”

Your thoughts?