Behind some key hitting Zach Miner threw 7 strong innings surrendering 3 hits, 1 run while giving up 1 walk and striking out 6. The hitting was led by (as Matt Provence called it SUPER Mart) Michael Martinez with a 4-4 effort and 2 RBIs via a 2 run homerun. Pete Orr went 3-5 with some clutch hitting by Steve Susdorf all while Josh ‘Okie’ Fields’ hit streak lives.
The ‘Mattcap’
Filed under DiPro's Dish, Lehigh Valley IronPigs
Tonight the IronPigs took down the Buffalo Bison by a final score of 5-3.
The Pigs are just 1 game away from returning to a .500 record!
***
I had recently finished reading Korie & Willie Robertson’s (A&E’s Duck Dynasty) new book called, “The Duck Commander Family.”
It’s a good read and for any fan of Duck Dynasty it reveals a lot on the building of their business and how the family grew together.
I’m sure you’re asking what my point is.. this is a sports blog. A good chapter in the book was dedicated to Willie’s friendship with professional baseball players. A long time fan, Willie even admits to accepting money from his then friend/now wife Korie to buy her a Coke only for him to return with baseball cards for himself. She forgave him and we know what the lure of a clean unopened baseball cards can do to a teen.
With regards to the Bison, two of their current players have hunted with and can be seen in hunting videos with the Robinsons.
Andy LaRoche and Ryan Langerhans.
For your enjoyment from youtube.
Tomorrow the series in Buffalo continues with an early 10:30am game. Be sure to set your radio to 1320 AM to listen in.
OinK!
Filed under Lehigh Valley IronPigs
At yesterday’s autograph session Cody mentioned he was at the Black Forest Deli. When I asked him what he had he told me he was kidding and didn’t really go. Apparently just mention of the place is magic!
Click below for the “Mattcap”
Filed under DiPro's Dish, Lehigh Valley IronPigs
To recognize the great media coverage of IronPig’s baseball the Noise Nation would like to send one of them for a free lunch at our favorite lunch spot, Black Forest Deli.
Schnitzel at Black Forest Deli.. one of my favorites!
Our problem is, we don’t know who to pick! Help us out an vote for who you think is most deserving of a free lunch!
Retweets on Twitter count as a vote!
Voting will end on 6/10/2013 so vote today!
Our panel of judges reserve the right to make all judgments and decisions.
Filed under Lehigh Valley IronPigs
During research for my earlier post, I reached out to Donny Knepper who created LiftTheBan.net – a campaign to reinstate Pete Rose. Donny was kind enough to offer his unique thoughts on the matter while making it clear he does not have any knowledge of this particular event.
Mr. Knepper has presented a different spin on perhaps why Pete Rose’s visit to the Lehigh Valley IronPigs’ Coca-Cola Park was canceled. The Wall Street Journal article I cited before mentions Pete has a contract with Hit King, Inc. that runs through 2017 which Donny mentions below.
For anyone interested in still meeting Pete and getting an autograph he is scheduled (at this time) to appear on June 15th at County Line Fence and Outdoor Products in Warrington, PA – details here. Perhaps we’ll get a few words from Pete on that day and if fit to post they will certainly appear on this site.
Reply from Donny Knepper – LiftTheBan.net
Thank you for contacting me. I am the President & Co-Founder of Lift the Ban, LLC. We are the fan-based campaign to reinstate Pete Rose. You can find us online at LiftTheBan.net. We launched the campaign in February 2012. We proceed under the theory that if the fans come together and demand that Pete Rose be reinstated, then MLB will take corrective action.
The ban is the product of a private contract between Pete and MLB; and just like any other contract it is rescindable at the will of the parties. Lift the Ban strives towards placing social pressure on MLB so that it has some motivation to lift this ridiculous ban.
As for the cancellation of Pete’s Fathers Day appearance, I don’t have any personal knowledge of exactly what happened or who made the decision to cancel the event. I understand that many people are turned off by: (1) Pete charging a fee for his autograph; and (2) the strict parameters limiting what Pete will sign. It certainly does not help his public image, not that Pete really cares. I am sure there are many people who blame Pete even though it is not entirely his fault.
As you stated in your article, this is how Pete makes his living. A lot of people do not realize that there is an entire sub-culture dedicated to collecting sports memorabilia. Almost every notable former athlete is involved in the industry to one degree or another. They all have agents and most of them have contracts with companies who are in the sports memorabilia business. The former athlete is usually restricted by that contract and so can only sign certain things such as photographs and baseballs that are also manufactured by that same memorabilia business.
My guess, although I cannot be sure, is that the company who has a contract with Pete is the one who put the kibosh on the IronPigs event. Pete, by autographing an IronPigs baseball, violates his contract with the memorabilia company.
Pete Rose is still obsessed with his numbers. At any given signing-event he wants to achieve certain numbers; a certain number of items signed and a certain number of dollars earned. I don’t believe he does this out of greed for money. He is driven by something internal to achieve those numbers. In this regard, he is still the same Pete Rose that we watched surpass Ty Cobb. If he is not going to be able to accumulate numbers at a given event then Pete has no incentive to perform.
If you have ever been to an event where Pete is signing autographs then you know that he grinds out some autograph signing. It is one autograph after another after another after another until the damn thing is done. He takes very little time to chat with the person receiving the autograph. The guy hardly even looks up.
If you want to talk to Pete and get some good war stories then you have to hook up with him in Vegas where he lives and works. His job is signing autographs but he seems to have more leeway on what he can and cannot sign when he is in Vegas. Again, it all comes down to the different contracts.
Pete is certainly susceptible to all sorts of criticism for how he chooses to earn a living. I form no opinions on the matter. Pete is free to live his life any way he wants. Through running Lift the Ban I have heard many stories of Pete acting like a jerk. Those stories don’t matter to me either. We did not launch Lift the Ban because Pete Rose is a nice guy; rather we launched Lift the Ban because Pete Rose’s spirit is aligned with all that is good about baseball. Pete Rose provides the blueprint on how to earn success. In this seemingly never-ending era of artificial enhancement, MLB should be holding Pete Rose up as the example of what is possible with blue-collar desire and consistent effort. The banishment of Pete Rose is harmful to the soul of baseball and it has hurt Pete Rose to his core.
Lift the Ban is about more than entry into the Hall of Fame, it is about reinstatement into baseball. The ban does way more than keep Pete out of the HOF.
I hope this email is helpful. As I said, I have no specific information about the IronPigs event and so the best I can do is provide you with an educated guess.
Donny Knepper
—
Donald M. Knepper, Esquire
The Law Offices of Donny Knepper, LLC
Many thanks to Donny Knepper and why not stop by LiftTheBan.net and grab a T-shirt to support the cause!
At this point we’ll put the Rose visit ‘out to wallow’ (unless we discover something extra worth reporting).
4,256 Dishing
Filed under Coca Cola Park, DiPro's Dish, Lehigh Valley IronPigs
First, I urge you to read Dan’s post -> Pete Rose Missed Out on Coca Cola Park – it’s quite poignant and frankly I couldn’t have said it better myself.
Much like our esteemed editor I too am a lifelong Pete Rose fan (without the sweet Jersey). What happened with Rose is certainly unfortunate and debatable until the end of time but not really the point of this post.
Rule 21 – posted at every MLB venue
(photo courtesy Bryan Sargent)
(click to enlarge)
Let’s not fret for Pete though since according to The Wall Street Journal Rose makes $1 million a year signing autographs in Las Vegas (ironically enough).
Certainly there is no blame to place upon the IronPigs and kudos to whomever came up with the idea and for GM Kurt Landes for going along with it. While it didn’t turn out the way we all hoped a google search of Pete Rose IronPigs resulted in over 140,000 results while IronPigs Urinal Games only resulted in just over 21,900.
Regardless of all that…
As Dan mentioned in his post, Pete has appeared twice (in an official MLB capacity) in 1999 before a World Series Game (the Jim Gray interview) and again in 2010 at Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati to celebrate the 25th anniversary of his 4,192nd hit when he passed Ty Cobb. (Rose’s lifetime hit total – the best ever is 4,256.)
Wait? What? Lifetime ban – huh?
So it seems when convenient the commissioner does make exceptions or at least follows the rules. (see below)
As announced by the IronPigs, advanced ticket sales will be refunded to those who purchased them with the chance to meet Baseball’s all-time hit leader.
You see folks, there’s the rub…
Rose simply cannot be advertised as appearing at Coca-Cola Park on behalf of a MLB affiliated team such as the IronPigs, can’t charge $20/autograph and his signature cannot appear on an IronPigs’ baseball.*
However, Pete has attended MLB games as a ticket purchasing customer. Hmmm, one might say.
Furthermore, according to Wikipedia:
A person who has been banned from Major League Baseball is barred from:
So, Pete could in fact make that appearance at Coca-Cola Park after all and here’s how:
First, the IronPigs hold a “Phillies Special Player Recognition Ceremony“. For kicks we’ll simply call it 4256 night. Next, let’s say the first 4,256 people through the gate get a special (sponsored) “Recognition Baseball” with the number 4,256 written on it along with a random chance to have it autographed by Pete Rose himself! The sponsor takes care of Pete’s ‘travel arrangements’ and there is no business ties to the IronPigs. No harm – no foul… Right?
If not, just sell Pete a bloody ticket – he could sit at a table in the Red Robin Tiki Terrace – then what could be the problem? Right?
The whole thing is just silly. Right?
Will this ever happen?
The Magic 8 Ball just revealed – Don’t count on it.
But it sure would be fun to give it a shot if the IronPigs have the (Base)balls to do it!
Wishing Dishing
Filed under Coca Cola Park, DiPro's Dish, Lehigh Valley IronPigs
I may get a bit opinionated on this post. I’ve worn my #14 Phillies Pete Rose jersey to the majority of the 300+ games I’ve attended at Coca cola Park.
I’m a baseball fan. I’m a Pete Rose fan. How do I get along with myself?
Pete Rose was banned from baseball. He’s not alone in that distinction. The Chicago Black Sox and Joe Jackson are right there with him.
Did they or did they not do anything wrong? Who knows and these days who cares. Joe Jackson was cleared by courts of any wrongdoing, he was still banned.
Age old story, sacrifice the individual over the pride of the organization.
***
Last week the IronPigs made a blockbuster announcement. Pete Rose, the all time MLB hit leader would be appearing at Coca Cola Park to sign autographs for fans. There was a fee and all autographs were to be on an IronPig “logo” baseball. I don’t mind paying for a Pete Rose autograph, he makes his living that way. His generation wasn’t paid like today and there is no marketing, coaching or broadcasting job waiting for him. I didn’t care for the idea of his autograph on an IronPigs ball. Still suspicious on if it was a real baseball or one of the soft ones flung to clamoring fans between innings. No matter though, that’s insignificant.
Word got out. The kabash was put on it. Word was cancelled. Refunds offered. This only happened once before an IronPig’s game previously and was due to errant rehab assignment news.
So what happened? The official statement of the IronPigs was bland and simply informatory. No comments were issued to all who asked. The statement, though, didn’t read like an IronPig statement. It didn’t have the same “feel” to it. Makes me think it was written by someone else. Who? Interesting to ponder where it came from if it had not been drafted by our beloved IronPig staff.
So the statement released and the fans groaned, the ticket office groaned, the staff groaned.. I’m sure Pete Rose groaned too. I wonder who else groaned and/or…. didn’t groan about the cancellation. Who would benefit with the cancellation? Who would take pride in squashing this happy happy event? Interesting to ponder who wouldn’t want this event to happen.
I could see Pete Rose out in Las Vegas worrying that his fans are upset about not meeting him. He may blame himself yet again for the separation his (alleged) gambling caused. We still love you Pete!
Who to blame? Who cares.
I don’t blame the IronPigs. I don’t blame Pete Rose. They both wanted it to happen. In fact I applaud them. Enough time has passed that I’m sure every young baseball player out there knows not to gamble. If they power slammed Pete Rose for it, they won’t hesitate to act on someone else.
These walls need to be torn down and forgiveness offered. Forgiveness only benefits the forgiver. The one being forgiven still lives with the guilt of their act. It’s time. It really is.
This event reminded us of only a couple events that Pete was allowed to participate in. I believe it was an All Star game festivity in Cincinnati and an All Century team deal that MLB allowed him in.
Who would really profit from allowing Pete back in baseball? Everyone! MLB would be viewed as forgiving and a grateful mass of fans would swoon over the decision. Would anyone actually get upset about his ban being lifted or softened? Well, yeah. You know there are a few… but they complain about cheering too loud at a ballgame too. MLB certainly profited from Pete being at those two games along with the positive publicity of allowing him to be there.
Who would have profited over Pete being at the IronPigs this weekend? Pete. The IronPigs. His loyal fans. Not many others would have… who wouldn’t have profited from it. Who…
I don’t see this attempt to make folks happy as a slap in the face to MLB. I don’t see it as an embarrassment to them either. I see it for what it is.
You can make your own decision to what you see it as.
OinK
Filed under Lehigh Valley IronPigs
They say, momentum in baseball is only as good as your next day’s starting pitcher. All the momentum the IronPigs had when they left for Rochester wasn’t enough to overcome the Vanimal. BJ Rosenberg pitched well (4.0IP/2H/1ER/4BB/5K) on his return from the Bigs, but it wasn’t enough. The pitching never got back on track, and you know the rest.
As the IronPigs opened a weekend series with the Braves last evening, it fell to veteran Zach Miner to restore order. And while he opened the season in the IronPigs’ bullpen, it should be noted that Zach has 35 Major League starts under his belt. Miner threw a lot of pitches over five innings last night, but emerged unscathed allowing but 4 hits with no runs, 2BB, 2K. He got the Win in the IronPigs 2-0 victory.
Miner Brings It
Photo (c) Cheryl Pursell
JC Ramirez pitched two clean innings to lower his ERA to 7.66. I’ve been saying for a while that Ramirez is more of a thrower than a pitcher. However, when he’s ‘on’ and pounding the strike zone, he can be difficult to hit. Credit Steven Lerud for calling a couple good innings for him. Ramirez turned it over to newcomer Mauricio Robles who also pitched a clean inning. I believe he may owe Jermaine Mitchell a cold beverage for the catch he made in center, but we’ll get back to that in a minute. Jake Diekman continues in his leverage role as the closer. He struck out the side in the ninth around two 2-out singles. Diek was pounding the strike zone with his fastball, which is normally a pretty good thing, but a couple right-handers got some looks at that pitch a few times and were able to square up some singles. No matter, Jake mixed in a couple breaking pitches and the next batter had no chance.
DIEK!
Photo (c) Cheryl Pursell
Most times, you’re not going to win a close-game shutout without some nice defensive plays and this game was no exception. Steven Lerud cut down three would-be base-stealers, and called a great game behind the plate. Troy Hanzawa continues to live up to his scouting report (“immediately upgrades our defense”); he made two excellent plays at shortstop, converting one to an out. And, he made a superb pick on a bounce-throw from Lerud for one of the CS. Darrin Ruf made a diving catch in Left in the top of the sixth. Jermaine Mitchell outdid them all, though: He made two diving catches in center. The first was in the top of the third with two on and two out (following a walk to the pitcher, and a single–walking the pitcher is something I could do without, especially with the bases empty. But I digress.) and the second brought the house to its feet: He went full extension, after a long run back and to his left, to make a two-out grab.
Here’s a link to the video:
I’ve been really happy with Steven Lerud, offensively and defensively.
Photo (c) Cheryl Pursell
You’d better give him more than a high-five, Mauricio. Perhaps a cold beverage.
Photo (c) Cheryl Pursell
At the plate, the IronPigs threatened several times, but only managed two runs. It was enough, of course, and Jermaine Mitchell–call him J-Mitch or call him the J-Train–was once again in the middle of it. He scored, following a double, on a Leandro Castro bunt-single and throwing error. Castro then came around to score on a Ruf sac fly. The ‘Pigs were without two top hitters: Josh Fields and his .328 average (and .892 OPS) were on the bench, and Cesar Hernandez and his .305 average (.810 OPS) are in Philly.
The J-Train Double
Photo (c) Cheryl Pursell
The Castro Hustle
Photo (c) Cheryl Pursell
The Ruf Drive
Photo (c) Cheryl Pursell
Joe Savery was called back to Philadelphia before the game, as the Phillies parted ways with Chad Durbin. The Phillies now have three of the good, young, relievers who started the season with the IronPigs: DeFratus, Stutes, and Savery. Quotes from Joe this morning suggest that his EZ-Pass may get a rest; as long as he performs he should stay in Philadelphia for some time now. The move leaves the IronPigs short one spot on the roster, and one arm in the bullpen. Here in Kramskorner, we continue to refresh our Twitter page every five seconds (kidding. well, kinda.) waiting for the Big Z to arrive (that’s Zambrano, not Zagurski. Our old friend gave up 4 runs in 1 2/3 innings to the Reds yesterday, pitching for the Pirates).
Zambrano pitching for Clearwater.
Photo courtesy Clearwater Threshers
And now it comes full circle: Momentum once again rests on the right arm of BJ Rosenberg as he takes the mound tonight.
See you at the park,
@Kram209
PS: two more quick things: it was revealed after the game last night that young Adam Morgan has a slight tear in his left rotator cuff. He may have an injection of Platelet Rich Plasma or Cortisone and has been shut down for at least the next three weeks. I was talking to MPS before the game about this very thing–that things on the Morgan front had been awfully quiet and that to me it was an ominous sign; I half expected to hear that he was having surgery. To me, perhaps, this was a slight relief. But, hoping Morgan heals well and I know the Phillies will take every precaution with the young arm.
Lastly, on the radio recap we got to hear the Provence call of the third Lerud CS throw. It was a classic, and it went something like this, “Got him! They say, fool me once shame on you. Fool me twice shame on me. Fool me three times, well, maybe you should stop trying to steal on Steven Lerud!”
The red-hot IronPigs shuffled off to Rochester earlier this week on the heels of a home sweep of the then-first-place Tides, ready to push for a .500 record and perhaps use it as a spring-board to challenge the division leaders, Buffalo and Pawtucket. Alas, it was not to be. The ‘Pigs ran into former ‘Pig–and recently demoted–Vance Worley on Memorial Day and lost decisively. The bats came alive the next three games to the tune of 24 runs. However, it was not to be, as the they dropped all three games 8-7, 8-7, and 13-10. The pitching staff, thin from roster moves, injuries, rain delays, and day games couldn’t seem to get an out–or a pitch–when they needed it. That’s how it goes, though, and we roll on.
The Gwinnett Braves arrive in town from Syracuse having gone 8-2 over their last 10, and having won 3 of 4 from last-place Syracuse. Gwinnett’s record is similar to the IronPigs’. Here are the projected pitching match-ups for the wrap-around series:
Friday: Miner vs. RHP Tim Corcoran (3-3, 3.19)
Saturday: Rosenberg vs. RHP Omar Poveda (3-3, 2.84)
Sunday: Martin vs. LHP Yohan Flande (former Phillies Farm Hand) (2-4, 4.70)
Monday: Valdes vs. LHP Sean Gilmartin (3-3, 4.06)
..
What to watch for:
Who’s Hot:
Who’s Not:
..
At the Park:
Friday: Fireworks and Dueling Pianos
Saturday: Russian Bar Trio
Sunday: Dog Team Performance, Kids Run the Bases
Monday: Team Photo and Autograph Night
..
PigStop Menu (Club Level Featured Items):
Friday:
The Heffer Express- Pulled Pork, Coleslaw, Onion Rings, served on a Kaiser Roll-$6.50
Saturday:
Dirty Dog-Jumbo All Beef Hot Dog topped with Pulled Pork, Cheese Sauce, Bacon.-$6.00
Sunday:
The Sensation-Spicy Battered Chicken Breast topped with Fried Banana Peppers, Munster Cheese, and Salsa- $6.50
Monday:
The Meaty Monster-Ham, Roast Beef, Turkey, Coleslaw, Thousand Island Dressing, Served on Marble Rye- $7.00
..
One more thing:
Pure speculation, but I wouldn’t be at all surprised to see Carlos Zambrano added to start the game on Sunday. Reading’s home as well, or they could leave him in Clearwater. Just a hunch. If nothing else, it would be interesting and it would add some innings.
..
See you at the park,
@Kram209
LHP Bobby Bramhall assigned to Reading (AA) from LHV.
INF Miguel Abreu promoted to LHV from Reading (AA).
LHP Mauricio Robles promoted to LHV from Reading (AA).
Filed under Lehigh Valley IronPigs
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