Monthly Archives: May 2012

Dave Bush completed only the 2nd complete (9 inning)  game shut-out in LHV history beating the Louisville Bats 2-0 and giving the IronPigs their league leading 7th shut-out.

Following the longest game of the year (4:35), Bush’s gem was the 2nd shortest of the year (2:11) – Just when we needed it most..

The  IronPigs began the scoring in the 1st when Kevin Frandsen doubled in Kyle Hudson. Lehigh Valley would threaten again in the 6th but Kyle Hudson got picked off 2nd to end that scoring threat. Hudson would atone for the pick and score the 2nd run in the bottom of the 8th to lead the pigs to victory and the 2nd best home record (by a few %) in the IL (Omaha Storm Chasers are 17-5).

Day-off Dishing…

Andres “Whitey” Blanco launched the IronPigs to victory after a 4:35 minute soggy marathon with a solo shot in the bottom of the 13th inning.

Domonic Brown had a stellar evening with some amazing catches in left. The rest has done Domonic well and the home runs are coming next – just watch! Every time I see the man, he runs faster, throws harder and is getting some good swings – the time is getting closer…

Viva La Frandsen – Kevin Frandsen filled up the hitting scoreboard in left with a 5 for 6 night and an RBI!

Coca-Cola Park certainly transforms itself at 11:00 pm on a Monday night and you have to experience it yourself for full effect. It all gets a little loopy and FUN with less than 50 fans on hand – Provence Blue ribbons for all!

There’s actually a few pitchers left (Bush & Horst) and we’ll do it all again in about 9 1/2 hours from now! Horst pitched 2 days ago and if today’s game goes extras it will be interesting to see who climbs the mound.

Tired Dishing..

26 year old Cali native Steve Susdorf (OF & 1B) was promoted to the IronPigs from the R-Phils. In 33 games at Reading, Susdorf was hitting .297 with 15 RBI.

Welcome aboard Steve!

Click Roster

Pigs Fly – Richie T Flies and a foul ball takes @PigsRadio off the air. What a night!

Lehigh Valley scored their only run on a suicide squeeze bunt  an improvised bunt by Tim “I come from a land down under” Kennelly.

IronPigs pitchers have held the opponents to 27 scoreless innings and set a franchise record 3rd shut-out in a row.

Richie T gets his first MLB start, first hit, 2 SB, and an RBI for good measure. Click for video.

“How do you like all that?” – ALOT!

Dishing 3 shut-outs

Glad to hear Kram’s kids took the trade well – I know they were huge fans. I too had a proverbial tear in one eye with a smile in the other as I heard the Rays PA Announcer call out Rich Thompson as a pinch runner.

Kram certainly makes a good point about Rich’s on field play. I think those of us who saw it every game came to expect it. You just knew when Richie was on first he would most likely make it to third without any bat impact to advance him. You just knew he would track down that long fly ball to left center field. So while we may have taken his play for granted at times it certainly won’t be forgotten. Jimmy T said it best on the air with Dobber (@Dobber_IronPigs) when he mentioned Rich played the game the we were taught growing up and witnessing that in this day is the best part of Richie T – the player.

During the somewhat shocking haze of the Thompson trade, I neglected to mention that he was my first official player interview at the Phillies Winter Banquet. In fact, he was my second interview at this year’s media day. As an (untrained) “blogger/fan” it was a bit overwhelming and he couldn’t have made it more comfortable – it’s something I’ll always remember.

Here’s a snippet of that interview when I asked Rich what his plans are post baseball.

One could imagine sometime in the future Rich Thompson exchanging line-up cards at home plate in Coca-Cola Park. After all, he couldn’t have had a better mentor.  We can always hope. In the mean time Go Richie T!

Pig Out!

Dishing with a smile.

(click to enlarge)

Great news from the IronPigs today who have announced a new bidding system for this year’s Jersey Auctions. The aggressive bidders who in the past have elbowed small children to get at the bidding clip boards will now have to register their smart-phones. Hee Haw – thank you IronPigs!

Here’s the official release courtesy of Jon Schaeffer.

OFFICIAL IRONPIGS NEWS
For Immediate Release
May 17, 2012

JERSEY AUCTIONS TO FEATURE REVOLUTIONARY BIDDING SYSTEM

Fans Can Now Bid from Anywhere in the U.S. on their Favorite Player’s Jerseys

(Allentown, Pa.) – IronPigs fans can now bid on their favorite player’s jerseys from anywhere with the brand-new and easy-to-use Qtego service that allows fans to place bids, receive notifications when outbid and check the status of their item via text messages on their mobile phones.  Fans without texting access can even call in their bid after registering their phone at Coca-Cola Park.

Qtego will be used for each of the club’s six jersey auctions benefiting local charities this season, including Sunday’s “A League of their Own” throwback jersey auction benefiting the Women’s 5K Classic.  The proceeds support all women’s cancers and all of the money raised remains in the Lehigh Valley region.  The Women’s 5K Classic is celebrating their 20^th anniversary and has donated 1.8-million dollars through their annual race.

Register your phone from anywhere in the U.S. by texting “Pigs” to 79230.  The bidding begins on Saturday at 1:35 p.m. and ends promptly at the end of 7^th inning on Sunday, May 20.  Detailed instructions on how to place your bid will be made available at ironpigsbaseball.com on Saturday.

As in years past, winning bidders will have the opportunity to go on the field immediately following the game to have their jersey autographed. Bidders not in attendance at Coca-Cola Park can either pick up their signed jersey at a later date or have it mailed directly to them.

In addition to Sunday’s throwback jersey auction, five other auctions are planned for the 2012 season, as detailed below.  All proceeds are evenly split between IronPigs Charities and the benefactor’s listed below.

• ·         Miracle League jersey auction (Monday, June 4) with proceeds benefitting the Miracle League of the Lehigh Valley.  The Miracle League of the Lehigh Valley was founded in 2006, dedicated to providing children with special needs and other developmental disabilities an opportunity to play baseball.
• ·         Create-a-Jersey auction (Sunday, June 17) with proceeds benefitting Communities in Schools of the Lehigh Valley. Communities In Schools (CIS) is dedicated to empowering kids to stay in school and achieve in life.  Just as there are many issues that contribute to students dropping out, they proudly offer a multitude of solutions driven by the CIS model and integrated service approach.
• ·         Camouflage jersey auction (Wednesday, July 4) with proceeds benefitting the Keystone Wounded Warriors.  Keystone Wounded Warriors is a Eastern Pennsylvania based 501 (c)(3) non-profit corporation that seeks to honor the daily sacrifices made by the brave men and women in all branches of the United States Military, but specifically those wounded on or after September 11, 2001. Keystone Wounded Warriors aids Wounded Warriors by raising public awareness and seeking the public’s support for programs and services that assist Wounded Warriors. Funds donated to Keystone Wounded Warriors are used to support local post-9/11 veterans and their families located in or with ties to Pennsylvania.
• ·         Christmas in July jersey auction (Wednesday, July 25) with proceeds benefitting Dream Come True.  Dream Come True’s mission is to promote and enrich the lives of children who are seriously, chronically or terminally ill.  They offer children with life threatening illnesses the chance to hope, dream and live their fantasies.
• ·         What Could Have Been – Lehigh Valley Woodchucks jersey auction (Saturday, August 11) with proceeds benefitting the Pediatric Cancer Foundation of the Lehigh Valley.  PCFLV is a local nonprofit organization which supports children with cancer and their families, enabling them to live their lives to the fullest.  They focus on quality of life and long-term survivorship programs, educational and therapeutic based workshops, resources and support services, including a support group run by a professional facilitator from Stepping Forward.

For more information about Qtego and its services, visit QtegoAuction.com.

The 2012 jersey auctions at Coca-Cola Park are organized by IronPigs Charities, a non-profit organization striving to provide educational and recreational opportunities for children in the Greater Lehigh Valley area.  Since its inception in 2007, IronPigs Charities has made more than $435,000 in monetary contributions – including more than $110,000 in 2011.

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.

— pig out —

Click it.

Love it.

Dish it.