Category Archives: Lehigh Valley IronPigs

RHP Austin Hyatt assigned to Reading from LHV
INF Tug Hulett promoted to LHV from Reading

45 Transactions and counting!

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Better in Lawrenceville?? Hopefully!!

Dishing – not flying..

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Dish

MAY 23 12:01 PM ET
By Gordon Edes | ESPNBoston.com

Podsednik becomes Boston’s 6th CF

BALTIMORE — Scott Podsednik, who wasn’t in the big leagues last season, becomes the sixth center fielder to start a game for the Red Sox as the team plays the series finale against the Baltimore Orioles, which also marks the end of a 20 games-in-20-days stretch for the Sox. Podsednik’s last big-league start came on Sept. 9, 2010, for the Dodgers, who had acquired him from the Royals in a trading-deadline deal. He spent last season playing for Philadelphia’s Triple-A team in Lehigh Valley, and after a spirited attempt to win a job with the Phils in camp this spring — the Phils chose to keep Juan Pierre instead — Podsednik was returned to the Iron Pigs. Clearly dispirited, Podsednik batted just .203 in 22 games, with one extra-base hit in 83 at-bats, and appeared as if he might be at the end of the line. The Sox passed on picking him up earlier, acquiring Marlon Byrd instead, but on May 11 they made a minor-league deal for him, and the change — and the possibility of another big-league opportunity — may have rejuvenated him. Podsednik batted .323 in 9 games for the PawSox with a triple, home run and two stolen bases, was called up Tuesday when Cody Ross and Ryan Sweeney both went on the DL, and appeared as a pinch-hitter in the eighth inning of a 4-1 loss, rolling into a force play. With the Orioles starting a right-hander, Jake Arrieta, in Wednesday’s matinee, manager Bobby Valentine decided to start Podsednik in center over Marlon Byrd, who had hit in 10 straight games until going hitless in two at-bats Tuesday night. Byrd is still batting .203 overall after a 3-for-43 start with the Cubs, but has batted .271 in 26 games with the Sox. “We want to see what he has,” Valentine said Wednesday morning. “He’ll work the count, get on base, cause a little havoc, and maybe give us a little dimension we haven’t had for awhile.” Podsednik’s best asset is his speed: He stole a National League-leading 70 bases for the Brewers in 2004, and at age 34 two years ago stole 35 bases for the Royals (30) and Dodgers (5). “I’ve been around long enough to know you just never know,” Podsednik said about landing with the Sox. “One day you wake up in Lehigh Valley, a few days later you wake up in Pawtucket, and a few days later you wake up in Baltimore. That’s the way the games goes, but I’m fortunate and excited.” Byrd has started 23 games in center for the Sox this season. Jacoby Ellsbury started 7, Ryan Sweeney 6, Jason Repko 4, and Cody Ross 3. Meanwhile, Adrian Gonzalez was back in right field for the fourth time in five games. Gonzalez did not handle a single chance Tuesday night — he did not touch the ball at all the entire game — but with the Orioles deploying five left-handed hitters and a switch hitter against Daniel Bard Wednesday, that is unlikely to be the case in this one.

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.