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The Pawtucket Pawsox were having some fun at Coca Cola Park..

Photo’s thanks to Decal.

Per Wikipedia’s entry for the Aberdeen IronBirds:

The Aberdeen IronBirds are a Short-Season A classification affiliate of the Baltimore Orioles. The IronBirds play in the New York – Penn League and are based in Aberdeen, Maryland, which is in Harford County.

The team is currently owned by retired Oriole Cal Ripken, Jr. Ripken purchased the team, then known as the Utica Blue Sox, and moved them to his hometown of Aberdeen in time for the 2002 season. The IronBirds play their home games at Ripken Stadium, which is visible from I-95. On August 16, 2006, the IronBirds played host to the New York-Penn League All-Star Game. Ripken Stadium was also used for the Cal Ripken World Series in 2003 and 2004, forcing the team to go on extended road trips, 20 or more games, during the youth competition. The Cal Ripken World Series moved across the street to Cal Sr.’s Yard in 2005.

The name “IronBirds” was chosen for two reasons: Cal Ripken’s “Ironman” streak of 2,632 consecutive baseball games played and the team’s affiliation with the Orioles (the Baltimore team is often referred to as “The Birds”). The team logo features a silver airplane marked with Ripken’s number 8, which also refers to the nearby Aberdeen Proving Ground U.S. Army installation.

The team mascots are gray birds named Ferrous and Ripcord.

Wait a second! Ferrous? Iron Birds? Really?

The IRON BIRDS…. !?!? A mascot named… FERROUS?!?!?!

Wow, sounds a lot like our beloved Ironpigs… But our Ironpigs didn’t come around until 2007.. the Ironbirds and Ferrous have been there since 2002. Oh um.. yeah.. cool names.

Anyway, just for your amusement…

http://ironbirds.milbstore.com/store_contents.cfm?store_id=71&dept_id=-1&product_id=3270

Thanks to our friend Decal for letting us know about this!

The Aguila Gorilla has had so much fun at The Coke that he invited his good friend Worley Bird to attend the game tonight!

Worley Bird is a huge fan of Ironpig Pitcher Vance Worley and will be cheering on her favorite Pig!!!

This is something that always cracks me up.

Everyone has experienced it at one point or another and it occasionally ends badly but it is funny.

Think about it… have you ever talked about someone you thought couldn’t hear you and the foot in mouth feeling when you realize they can hear you?

This is especially true of the players out there on the field at The Coke. So many fans yell, heckle, cheer on the players and most do not react. Last night we had a few great examples of how well those players can hear fans. Now the music does block out most sounds, but when the music is done they can hear pretty much anything you say.

In the first inning we started cheering for Shane Victorino in center field. We shared with him, briefly, our signature LEFT RIGHT LEFT cheer which resulted in him turning around shushing us. SHHHHHHHHH! Come on Shane.. all in fun. But he heard us!

Later in the game, our old friend Bubba Bell (Pawtucket’s left fielder last night), came out on to the field and someone yelled, “Hey Bubba! Why aren’t you in centerfield tonight… don’t you like us anymore?” and he immediately responded with a smile and wave. He heard us!

While Victorino and Bell were quite a distance from us I also got a good laugh from Matt Rizzotti.

Every Wednesday home game, the Ironpig’s broadcast team sets their table up someone in the stands and asks fans to join them for an inning on the live game broadcast. Last night I spent the 8th and 9th innings with them while they were set up just a few feet behind the Ironpig’s on deck circle. Early on I kept getting the impression that players were listening in to what we were saying. Curiosity got the best of me and I started talking about Rizzotti.. my intention was to see if he was truly listening. I cracked a few jokes his way and as he struggled to keep a straight face my theory had been proven correct. They are listening.

These players can hear just about everything you say. So keep on cheering, keep on sending out encouraging thoughts…and if so inclined show your appreciation for the good and the bad. You are being heard Lehigh Valley!

OinK!

Shane Victorino’s rehab assignment made an impact tonight. He tripled, then homered and had a 2 run single later in the game. He surely seems back to his old self. Lots of excitement at the park as Carlos Delgado made a rehab appearance as well.

As far as the rest of the game.. check out the box score.

Some of the more unique moments of tonight…

John Mayberry just about swung out of his uniform Bugs Bunny style tonight. His swing spun him around twice before he flopped, backside first, on top of the plate. He endured his seated position for a moment with a huge grin before he stood up and resumed his at bat. If anyone got a photo of this.. I would love to see it.

Word on the street also told me that the Pawsox bullpen, tired of requests for balls.. set up a paper cup and told fans that if anyone could get a quarter in the cup, that they would give that person a ball. Not sure if any quarters made it in but I heard an almond made it. No word if that fan received a ball. Maybe it’s time to review minor league salaries and responsibilities again.

Tomorrow will be the unveiling or unhatching of a new friend to the Noise Nation. Keep an eye out at tomorrow’s game!

OinK!

Man, even Shane Victorino patrolling the outfield last night couldn’t make up for the losing.

Carpenter got shelled. It was awful. The Pigs really got roasted again.

Poor Ironpig intern Morris had to sleep on the field last night.

If you hadn’t heard, the Ironpigs announced that a staff member will sleep on the field until the Pigs win another game. Each time they lose, another staff member is added to the campout. I hope they brought their sleeping bags….

In fact, there are rumblings within the Noise Nation that if the Pigs lose tonight.. we will be rooting for Pawtucket on Thursday. The thought is.. the team we root for will lose… so who knows. This is just depressing.

So as I expect the crowd (that surged around us in right center field last night) will return the next two games.. we will be actively creating fun for ourselves. Keep in mind we choose family friendly and safe fun.

There will be another addition to the Noise Nation family on Thursday. I hear that the egg is about to hatch!

Anyways.. on a completely different note, I’d like to restate the purpose of this blog.

The purpose of this blog is to be informative and fun.. from a fan’s perspective. That fan… would be me. If it interests me.. I’ll post it.

I’m not a professional writer, I don’t have any training.. (If you couldn’t already tell from my spelling and grammar), and I don’t look to go anywhere beyond where I’ve gone with this blog. If I wanted to get a media pass and gloat about talking to players in the locker room or enjoy a few plates full of free food in the press box.. I would. I just don’t want to. Being a sportswriter isn’t my dream, it’s just something I do to distract myself while this team continues to lose.

Simply put. If you like it.. cool, keep reading. If you don’t, well.. you’re free to continue reading too, or not to.

I think everyone could use a good distraction for a team like this. In 2008 we said, “Well they can only get better” in hopes of improvement. Boy were we proved wrong. At least we’re not Rochester…

OinK!

Those two G’s can be summed up in Greg Gross, former Ironpig’s hitting coach and current Phillies hitting coach.

Pure speculation but since GG left the Ironpigs for the Phillies they have won just 3 games and lost 14.

In these 17 games the Pigs have scored 46 runs… Scoring more than 3 runs just three times.

The Phillies, on the other hand, were suffering from an offensive drought when GG arrived and are riding a 14 win 3 loss tidal wave of offense!

We all complain about the coaching situation but these stats are hard to refute.

Greg Gross to replace Dave Huppert as manager in 2011?

See you at the game tonight.

OinK!

Ryan Howard appeared at Dorney Park yesterday on a sprained ankle that has him on the DL. Could there be a rehab assignment nearby in the near future? Just hanging in the A-town for a bit?

Original article at Crossingbroad.com
http://www.crossingbroad.com/2010/08/ryan-howard-continues-to-rest-his-ankle-at-dorney-park.html

Today the Noise Nation made it out to volunteer at the Miracle League game in Schnecksville. This is a great program with an incredible field and even more incredible people! The field is located on Sell Road just off 309 out near the Trexler Game Preserve (or whatever it’s called now) and is beautiful. I arrived a little early and folks started filtering in for the game scheduled for 2:00. If you’ve never been to a Miracle League game.. check it out. They are fun and heartwarming. There is a scoreboard and PA announcer… even a foodstand!

The kids had a great time and as our beloved Ironpigs inspired team took the field against the Pirates I was able to relive those great little league memories that have long since faded. To be able to share and give these children those same memories is an invaluable experience. The league runs through October, I believe, and volunteers are always needed. Check out their website at http://www.miracleleaguelv.org/

So the Pigs lost another game in the 10th inning. They have now been swept in two consecutive series at home.

I did notice there was a wedding held at the park tonight! The highlight of the evening was when the bride, in her cindarella looking dress, ran the bases with a child after the game. As you know, after every Sunday home game, kids are invited to run the bases. I wonder when the Silver Pigs will be invited to Stroll the Bases after a game? Something I’ve seen done in the past.. just wondering… but I’m not THAT old yet 🙂

Tomorrow is dog day and my 11 year old Weimaraner Wally will be in attendance. At least he will be if the trash can is in one piece overnight.

Also learned today that John Mayberry was optioned back to the Pigs and most likely Bastardo will return to the Phillies.

That’s all I have for tonight.

OinK!

Word on the street is that Shane Victorino will rehab with the Ironpigs on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday of this week!

OinK!

Thanks Big Joe!