Category Archives: Kram’s Korner – From the Club Level

IronPigs welcome prospects in roster churn, keep winning

How goes it, there, Sebastian Valle? (photo courtesy: Cheryl Pursell)

There have been many roster changes of late—too many to enumerate here.  But two in particular, we welcome top Phillies prospects catcher Sebastian Valle and pitcher Jon Pettibone.  Last night saw both contribute in big, big ways.  Pettibone got the start—his second, both on the road, with the ‘Pigs—and went 6 innings, allowed 4 hits yielding 3 runs with 2BB/7K for the win.  Valle introduced himself with a two-run single for his first AAA hit Thursday night, and added his first AAA home run last night to pace the Pigs to a 7-3 win.  Also notable in last night’s game:  The “SS” Steve Susdorf with two doubles and Cody Overbeck with a two-run double.  Most of this came off old friend Nelson Figueroa and Red Sox fan favorite Daniel Bard.

The IronPigs have won both games in which Valle got a big hit.  We’re going to need this kind of help this month for our playoff push.  Welcome also 2B “Hail” Cesar Hernandez—also a prospect—who joins us from Reading.  He had been hitting .304 in Reading, and has hit .417 in his short time with us.

The ‘Pigs come home on Wednesday, with Cloyd scheduled to start for Harley Davidson Night, the start of the Battlefield Challenge, and a sock and underwear drive by the ‘Pigs’ Wives.

Stay tuned, we’ll try to get some cool stuff up around here shortly.

@Kram209

Sunday will bring a day-night doubleheader to Coca Cola Park.  Two, full nine inning games will be played.  A separate ticket is required for each game.  If you’d like to read more about doubleheaders, go here.

On Sunday, the first game will begin at 12:05PM.  There are many good seats left.  In fact, years ago, I sat right behind SuperFan JimmyT for the first half of the only other day-night double-header in CCP history.  If you don’t have tickets, I would urge you to go get some now, and sit in a better section than you usually do!  tickets for the nightcap are tougher.  Perhaps some General Admission remain.  Hurry for those.

This doubleheader presents us with an interesting opportunity.  Tailgate!  Please join NoiseNation writers–and perhaps some special guests–for some social time before and between games.  I believe it’s our friend Decal who mentions the “Church of Baseball” in his Twitter tag.  Well, I’ll be there at 9:30 or so, cooking up some sausages and eggs on the grill.  There might be donuts and coffee and other goodies.  If you’re going to the first game, stop by and say hello, won’t you?  Sandwiches are on me!

More festivities are planned between the games.  Sometime following the conclusion of the first game we’ll re-congregate for pulled pork and ribs and some of the fixin’s.  Some special guests might join us.  Stop by and join in the fun.  If you’d like to bring something, perhaps some snacks to share, like chips or pretzels or cookies.  Bring some (Non-alcoholic.  Look, my pork sandwiches might be larger than those allowed by law, so I don’t want to alert authorities) beverages for yourself.  Perhaps your own chair might come in handy as well.

I plan to set up at the corner of the LSI lot, bordering the lawn.  Look for the flags and the green canopy. 

Questions?  You can contact me via Twitter at @kram209, via email by leaving a comment below, or privately via masidoc(at)verizon.net

Hope you can make it!

@kram209

A recap of the four-game home series with the Rochester Redwings

Once upon a time, long ago and far away, I worked on the road crew to earn money for college.  Contrary to popular belief, we worked hard and we “made a difference.”  (That’s what they used to say, not good or bad, just “a difference.”)  Anyway, I worked with some great guys.  They would continually ask me, though, knowing I was temporary help, on leave from University or Graduate School, “How do you like it out here?”

“It’s fine,” I would reply.

“So, how do you like it out here?”  They continued to ask.  They had to know I wasn’t thinking of ditching seven years of college to apply for a full-time spot, right?

“Look,” I finally said, “I wouldn’t be here if I wasn’t getting paid.”

Well, here at the NoiseNation, we don’t get paid.  Sometimes the jobs that do pay–not to mention life’s other obligations–get in the way of witty posts and game recaps.  Better late than never, they say, right?

_________

The IronPigs just wrapped up a four game home set with Rochester, taking three out of four.  Tuesday night brought a guy named Chase Utley for a rehab stint–not to mention the John Mayberry Jr. bobble-heads.  It was probably the most hoopla I’d seen for such an appearance.  There were plenty of folks in the park (and the parking lots) who don’t regularly come to the games.  That’s good for our team and organization, but I can’t say I truly enjoy it.  Perhaps it was Mr. Utley, or perhaps it was the home field, but the ‘Pigs pounded out 18 hits–including 2/5, HR, for Chase–on the way to a 10-3 win.  Pridie was an offensive star, going 4/5.  Turns out he was pregnant, so even more impressive.  Matt Wright could only go three due to a stiff shoulder, and Aumont had some difficulty with the final inning.

Wednesday, the bats quieted down.  Jason Pridie left to have his baby.  Tom Cochrane went as far as he could, and BJ Rosenberg came in to relieve him.  By that time, the ‘Pigs had crawled back to a 3-3 tie and a couple Redwings had been tossed.  The ‘Pigs had all the momentum, but just couldn’t push the runners across.  After a couple really good innings, Rosenberg came back out for the ninth.  He said he felt fine, and the fact is, the ‘Pigs have to eat innings now.  We’ve got a full double-header on tap for Sunday (more on that later), Wright injured, and a shortened bench due to injuries and call-ups.  Rosenberg gave up a couple of doubles, and the ‘Pigs couldn’t answer, dropping the game 4-3.

The bats came alive again on Thursday as the ‘Pigs once again jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the first inning on the way to a 10-1 win.  Pete Orr, who has struggled lately, went 3/4 and drove in three.  Everyone but Tuffy got a hit.  Tyler Cloyd wasn’t sharp, but the AAA All-Star starting pitcher battled his way through six innings, scattering seven hits and one earned run.  Newcomer Michael Cisco came in to take care of the final three.  He did so with aplomb, tossing 26 strikes out of 39 pitches while giving up only three hits and no free passes.  Welcome to the IronPigs, Mr. Cisco!

Friday night brought another close one.  Perhaps Elarton has something left.  He’s not won since mid-May, but his stuff was good last night despite once again not getting the win.  It was 2-2 going into the sixth.  With two bull-pen days on tap for the Sunday double-header, Mr. Sandberg needed more innings from Elarton.  He yielded two runs in the sixth and one in the seventh (one on a botched intentional walk) but go through those innings.  Then, Tuffy’s revenge.  The Tuffmeister might have been hitless in the previous game, but he came through with two big doubles to tie, then win, the game.  Once again, the ‘Pigs win a close one, walk off, and take it in ten.  Reports are, Tug Hulett would have been pitching soon if the thing had stretched much past the tenth inning.

Now we’re up to date.  The weekend brings the PawSox.  By virtue of the three wins against Rochester and the PawSox recent 1-9 slump, the ‘Pigs are back in first place.  It’s time to put some distance up there with three games in two days against said PawSox.  The day-night two-fer on Sunday will be double bull-pen games for the ‘Pigs.  Wiley veteran lefty Pat Misch will look to eat up innings and get the win tonight (Saturday).  He’s been pitching really well of late, so I’m looking forward to a nice night and hopefully a win.  Plus, Pridie’s back from having his baby, so another big bat in the lineup is always welcome.  He’ll be batting fifth tonight.  Add in AA-All Star reliever Justin Friend just called up from Reading, and I think we’ll be OK!

Stay cool, and I’ll see you at the park (or the tailgate, see next post)

@KRAM209

PS:  There are whispers that Ryan Howard might be rehabing soon.  Stay tuned.

The IronPigs took game three of the annual four-game set in Toledo tonight by a score of 2-1.  The ‘Pigs scored first in the top of the fifth by leadoff back-to-back doubles by Erik “Holy” Kratz and Jason “Popcorn” Pridie.  Pat Misch was solid once again as the starter, scattering five hits over seven full innings of work.  He struck out five, and walked none while allowing one earned run in the bottom of the sixth on single-bunt-single. 

Following a Blanco line-out in the top of the eighth, Pete Orr singled to avoid the Golden Sombrero.  He stole second and advanced on a throwing error by the catcher.  He then scored on a sac fly by Kevin “VivaLe” Frandsen.  Purcey worked a clean Eighth with two K’s and no walks.  “FLEEEP” Aumont came on for the bottom of the ninth.  There were many foul balls, but he stayed with it and retired all three on 17 pitches featuring 12 strikes.  He had one K and no walks. 

In a close game, it’s a great idea to avoid those free passes if you can.  Tonight it paid off for our ‘Pigs.  I was going to Tweet something about “too much running” when Pete Orr got on in the top of the eighth.  It seems like we’ve had some PO’s and CS’s lately, and I’m not used to it.  Trust in Sandberg, we must.  It was that Orr steal which lead to the error which lead to the winning run.  Force the issue.  Good baseball.  Nothing Free.  Pigs Fly!

You know what else isn’t free?  Hockey.  The Phantoms started selling full season ticket packages yesterday to those on the waiting list.  Kramskorner didn’t get the call yet, so I don’t have the details.  I’m hoping to translate my ticket buying experience into some further information about the planned arena.  I’ve made some assumptions based on the now-released seating chart, but I’d like more and accurate information.  If I get it, I’ll share it here.  But for now, the big answer:  Yes, they want money.  $100 they say.  Yes, you get it back if they don’t play in 2013 (like, um, if there isn’t an arena….).

Stay tuned! 

The IronPigs go for a 3-1 series win tomorrow night in the series finale in Toledo.

@Kram209

Food and Drink

Background:  When I was a kid, we never ate anywhere we went.  Never.  We brought food with us or we waited until we got home.  Now, I over-compensate by eating EVERYWHERE I go.  I’ve got to cut back…it’s expensive and I’m getting fat.

This is the big one, right?  It’s the number one profit center for the organization (or maybe number two after advertising).  It’s why food and drink are at the top of the “prohibited” list above “explosives” and “firearms.”

I spend untold amounts of money each year on food and drink at the games.  I’ve resolved not to, but it’s difficult.  If you go to one or four games per year, by all means, go Hog Wild!  But if you go to 70, well, perhaps you’ll want to try some of these ideas:

1. Eat beforehand.  It’s obvious, and I’ve tried to do better over the years.  If I have the day off, I’ve got plenty of time to get some dinner on the table before 6PM, leave by 6:30 and we can listen to the pregame in the car on the way and still make it to our seats by the National Anthem if traffic isn’t too bad.  This is not always possible with the kids’ activities and Mrs. Kram and I both work (and she doesn’t so much cook).
2. Eat on the way.  We usually shun the regular fast food, but stopping for chicken nuggets at McD’s has been done.  The kiddos love the Subway and the Arby’s, so a quick stop there (especially back when we used to get the Arby’s coupons) on the way can save some.  Yes, they still cost money, but it’s less and the kids actually enjoy it more than the regular ballpark food.  We usually just eat in the car to save time, but we’ve been known to loiter (it’s not really tailgating by my take) in the parking lot to finish up if we have time.
3. Ahh, the tailgating.  It’s about as close as I get to camping.  I don’t like that I can’t use charcoal or drink beer, but it’s a great way to relax before the game.  On a perfect summer evening it’s hard to beat sitting around listening to the pre-game on the radio and grilling up some fresh grub before making our way to our seats.  I’m a big fan of the post-game tailgate, as well.  It beats sitting in traffic (really not that bad for IronPigs usually) and provides an opportunity to reflect on the game and listen to the post-game on the radio. 
4. Alcohol.  If you want to save money, just don’t buy it.  But, for myself, I consider it an integral part of the baseball experience.  I can’t stop at the bar on the way to the game (kids and all) but I hear that Pitchers across the street has some nice specials.  Another strategy is to grab an $8.50 32-oz on the way in (at field level).  If I’m driving, that’s plenty for the evening.  Here’s another idea:  purchase two cups of beer at the regular concession for $5 each—if you purchase the bottles for $5.50 at the bar (club, trough, tiki) and tip $1 each time you’re up to $13 compared with $10 for two beers.  That $3 will pay for your parking.
5. Other beverages: There are drinking fountains available, and I suppose you could re-fill your water bottle there.  I’ve heard of other re-fill-able cups available at field level during certain promotions as well.
6. A good snack is the re-fill-able popcorn.  Share it amongst the fam and go back for more.  Buy it early in the evening for maximum effect.  Caution: the salt may cause you to purchase more beverages.
7. Philly Pretzels.  There were $1 coupons around last year, which could be re-used (thanks, Bert).  This came in handy as my kids bought Philly Pretzels almost every game.  They never got around to the whole “sell them in the club level and make a dollar” idea as they kept eating the product.  Also, if you stay until the end, pretzels are sometimes available on the way out for, what, $1?  Great if you’re hungry on the way home!
8. Although I’ve never done it, the Picnic Patio may be a way to save on food as well.  It’s built in to the ticket price, but if you’re in the mood to eat a lot of the ballpark food and drink a ton of soda, and you can fill a table, it may be worth it.

Parking 

Here are some ideas for saving money on the parking.  Really, $3 isn’t a lot to ask once you’ve paid $40 to park at an NFL game or $25 at CBP or even, what, $10 or $15 at Dorney.  Certainly, though, the IronPigs are able to rake in a nice nightly cash take with the $3 per vehicle, but since I’m not privy to their deal with LSI for the parking lot, much of it could be going towards rent.  Still, if you’re coming every night, you might be able to save a few bucks.

1. Buy four club level seats.  Yes, spend money to save money.  It was a helpful way for me to justify to Mrs. Kram why I needed four seats instead of two.  Four club-level seats gets you a free preferred (I prefer the lower lot, but whatever) parking pass.  I was even able to get parking passes for the playoff games by asking really nicely at the window when I picked up my playoff tickets.
2. Park elsewhere and walk.  I’ve got a couple friends who do this.  They have family or other friends nearby and are able to park and walk.  Please be careful, though, one ticket for parking illegally will cancel out much of this savings. 
3. Show up late.  No promises, but they often stop collecting parking around the third inning or so.  The downsides are many, though:   You miss part of the game (against fan etiquette), you might not find a spot (new, larger capacity this year with the Tiki Bar), and you might have to walk a long way.  The carts might not be running at this point.
4. Show up early.  Again no promises, but if you’re there before the lots “open,” you can often park and no one will ask you for the $3.  I’ve been ready to pay it, but I’m not going to chase someone down to give away $3.
5. Remember to use your parking vouchers.  If you come on a night when it rains, and the game is not played, and you don’t have anything to do, stick around.  Because, once the game is officially a rain game, they’ll hand out parking vouchers on the way out.  Remember to use it for your next game.
6. Carpool.  It’s obvious, but also friendly to the environment.  If you know someone going to the game that lives near you, consider an arrangement.  For me, despite the parking pass, I often had two vehicles at the game last year, which was inefficient.   I need to do that much less this year.
7. Take the short bus.  It’s probably a joke, but Jason DiPro is threatening to purchase a small bus.  The IronPigs website says $3 per vehicle—nothing about size.  DiPro will paint the bus black and yellow and fly the IronPigs flag as well as the Noise Nation flag.  It’ll be great because we’ll get a bunch of folks in with one parking fee.  I do have one recommendation for him:  make sure the bus is roadworthy.  I would hate to see IronPigs fans get stranded on the highway (or in the woods…) on the way to an away game!  😉