As there hasn’t been much baseball news this weekend, I’m going to talk about food for today.
In my pursuit of obtaining recipes from current and former Ironpigs, I ran into a blog run by the sister of a former Pig and I really enjoyed what she wrote.
Check it out if you get the chance.
http://www.cookinupdreams.com/2011/01/my-first-giveaway.html?spref=fb
Filed under Uncategorized
This may be old news to some of you all, but I found out about it tonight…
The Lehigh Valley shrugged when the Outlaws indoor football team folded last year. I never attended a game but was curious about it. If a hockey arena is added to the Lehigh Valley I would imagine the indoor football team would follow suit and play there too.
I heard tonight that a new team has joined the Indoor Football League and will call its home Stabler Arena. The team’s name is Steel Hawks. Yeah, really. Maybe they spelled “Steel” from from its suggestive similarity to our beloved Ironpigs. It’s not the first time a team went along with an established team in the same city. The Chicago Bears were named as a larger and meaner version of the Chicago Cubs and before moving to San Francisco, New York had a football and baseball team named the Giants.
Anyways, football returns to the Lehigh Valley. Checking out the Wikipedia version of the team I found out the team is owned by Glenn Clark and will be led by head coach Richard Britt. The team will have 7 home games between February 26th and May 28th. (Something else to do before the Ironpigs start their season) Their two division foes will be the Reading Express and Richmond Revolution. Seeing this makes me smile as I’ve known the starting center for the Revolution since his high school days and remember the tailgate parties as we attended Richmond Spider games when they came within driving distance of the area.
The Steel Hawks do have a website – http://www.lvsteelhawks.com There is ticketing information, etc etc. Basic stuff a team has on their website. They also have a nice video of their dance team.
So we now have another team to root for.
What are your thoughts? Do you think a successful football franchise will help the powers to be to fund construction of the “hockey” arena? Do you think this team will stick around longer than the Outlawz?
We’ll see…
OinK!
Filed under Uncategorized
DeWayne Wise will join Mike Cervenak as he signed a contract with the Marlins.
The Oakland A’s traded Service Electric 2’s Ryan Kelly to the Rangers for Guillermo Moscoso.. wait, different Ryan Kelly.
That’s all for now folks!
OinK!
Filed under Uncategorized
No position better mirrors the struggles of the Ironpigs in their first three seasons more than second base. From Gookie Dawkins to Casey Smith to Oscar Robles to Pablo Ozuna to Miguel Cairo to David Newhan to J.J. Furmaniak to Luis Maza to Melvin Dorta to Ozzie Chavez, the Ironpigs have certainly gone through their share of second basemen in their 3 year history. And that was just the “short” list. Names like Jason Donald, Jorge Velandia, Joey Hammond and Keoni De Renne also come to mind. Last year, an injury to Jimmy Rollins bumped Wilson Valdez to the Phillies before he ever played a home game for the Ironpigs. Have the Ironpigs ever had a second baseman who returned for a second year? I can’t think of any. On paper it appears that the 2011 Ironpigs may have the best group of second basemen in their short history The top 3 candidates for 2011 are listed below. Keep in mind that it’s not a lock that Wilson Valdez makes the Phillies opening day roster this year so he could be back. Also, the Phillies pick in the Rule 5 Draft, Michael Martinez is primarily a second baseman. The Phillies would have to negotiate a deal with the Washington Nationals if Martinez doesn’t make the major league roster and stay there all year (ala David Herndon) but if that happens, he would be assigned to either AAA or AA. The Phillies also obtained second baseman Albert Cartwright from the Astros in exchange for Sergio Escalona but Cartwright is at least a year or two away from AAA.
The top 3:
Josh Barfield
DOB 12/17/82, Barquisimeto, Lara, Venezuela. 6’0″ 190. Bats/Throws: R/R
Josh is the son of former Toronto Blue Jays outfielder Jesse Barfield. He was born in Venezuela when his mother went to visit his dad who was playing baseball in the Venezuelan Winter League. Josh was a 4th round pick by the San Diego Padres in the 2001 draft. He hit .310 in the Rookie League in 2001 and followed it up by hitting .297 in 2002 and .337 with 16 homeruns in 2003. In 2004, Baseball America listed him as the #1 prospect in the Padres organization. Playing his first year at the AA level in ’04 he hit just .248 but blasted 18 homeruns. In 2005 he was again listed as the #1 prospect for the Padres and was promoted to AAA Portland where he hit .310 with 15 homeruns. In 2006 at the age of 23 he was in the major leagues with the Padres where he played 147 games at second base, hitting .280 with 13 homeruns while stealing 21 bases. However after the season ended he was traded to the Cleveland Indians in a deal that brought Kevin Kouzmanoff to the Padres. Josh played 120 games for the Indians in 2007 but saw his batting average drop to .243 with just 3 homeruns. He found himself back in the minors in 2008 where he hit just .251 at the AAA level. He also spent most of 2009 in AAA and hit .252. At the end of the ’09 season he was granted free agency and on February 19, 2010 he signed with his original team, the San Diego Padres. He spent the 2010 season at Portland in the Pacific Coast League and hit .294. At the end of the season he again became a free agent and on November 19, 2010 he was signed to a minor league contract by the Phillies with an invitation to major league spring training. Josh’s younger brother Jeremy is a highly rated outfielder in the Oakland organization.
Pointless trivia: Jesse Barfield, father of Josh Barfield and John Mayberry Sr., father of John Mayberry Jr., combined for a total of 496 major league homeruns.
Pete Orr
DOB 6/8/79, Richmond Hill, Ontario, Canada. 6’1″ 175. Bats/Throws: L/R
Peterson Thomas Gordon Orr was signed as an amateur free agent by the Atlanta Braves in 1999. In his minor league career he has played every position except catcher and first base with most of his games coming at second base, shortstop and third base. He slowly progressed through the Braves farm system reaching the AAA Richmond Braves in 2004 where he hit .320 with 24 stolen bases. He made his major league debut in 2005 and had 45 hits in 150 at bats for a .300 average. He was used primarily as a utility man with the Braves, playing games at second, third, shortstop and left field. He also spent the 2006 season with the Braves and hit .253 but most of his playing time came at second base. He split the 2007 season between AAA and the Braves. The Braves released him following the 2007 season and he was signed by the Washington Nationals on December, 15, 2009. He hit .253 in 75 at bats for the Nationals in ’09 but spent most of the year with the Syracuse Chiefs where he hit .245 with 9 homeruns. He played for Syracuse again in 2010 and hit .264 with 12 homeruns and 25 stolen bases. He was granted free agency on November 6, 2010 and was signed by the Phillies on November 10th. Pete played third base for Canada in the 2004 Summer Olympics. Expect to see him at second base, third base and shortstop this summer.
Pete Orr playing shortstop for Syracuse vs. John Mayberry & the Ironpigs
Harold Garcia
DOB 10/25/86, Maracaibo, Venezuela. 5’11” 164. Bats/Throws: S/R
Harold was signed by the Phillies as a non-drafted free agent on September 7, 2004. From 2005 to 2007 he played in the Venezuelan Development League and steadily improved each year. In 2008 he played in the Gulf Coast Rookie League and hit .299 with 5 homeruns. He moved up to Lakewood in 2009 and hit .291 with 8 homers but it wasn’t until 2010 that he really emerged as a highly regarded prospect. He began 2010 at Clearwater and hit .335 in 46 games. He had a 37 game hitting streak for the Threshers, breaking a Florida State League record that had been on the books since 1951. He earned a promotion to AA Reading where he hit .281 with 5 homeruns in 55 games. Harold recently finished his season in the Venezuela Winter League where he hit .286. He will likely begin 2010 at Reading but if he continues to improve he could move up at some point during the 2011 season.
Filed under From the Desk of Decal
“I’m done. I decided pretty much after this past season that I wasn’t going to pursue anything. I’ve been putting way too much into it and not getting enough out of it, as far as the rehab, working out, training, and then not getting the type of results I expect from myself.”
“I wanted to make this decision now, rather than go into another season on another minor-league deal. I didn’t want to go through the head games of, ‘Am I going to make the team?’ I don’t mind the pressure. I just don’t want to fall into another situation like I had the last couple years, where I busted my tail getting back and then got hurt again shortly after I made the team.”
Benson was 1-4 5.52 in 60 1/3 innings with the 2008 Ironpigs. In 1996 he was the first player taken in the MLB June amateur draft. He finishes his career with a 70-75 4.42 big league record, while pitching for the Pirates, Mets, Orioles, Rangers and Diamondbacks.
_______
Support the Noise Nation Winter Project (see post below for details).
Filed under From the Desk of Decal
It’s no secret that we’ve been working hard all winter to get a cook book together. Many folks have submitted recipes and we’ve got the book is just about ready.
Recipes have been sent in by:
Scott Mathieson
Andy and Tiffany Tracy
Mike Cervenak
Bubba Bell
Jessica Williams (of the National Pro Fastpitch softball league)
We have been promised recipes from many other Ironpigs and their families and the book is really coming together.
The help we need now is to find sponsors for the book. We have opened up close to 30 pages for advertising and so far we’ve got one.. yes ONE concerned and caring sponsor to help us publish this book. That business is already listed on this site as a sponsor and all ads would include an ad on the Horn and Bell for the 2011 season.
To rehash on WHY we are creating this cook book I have copied part of the letter from the charity we are raising funds for:
On behalf of the National Brain Tumor Society, thanks to you and the group Noise Nation for choosing to host a fundraising event in which your cookbook sales will go to support our programs. As an organization supported entirely by private and individual donations, the National Brain Tumor Society relies on the generosity of people like you to bring our services to the members of the brain tumor community.
National Brain Tumor Society is a nonprofit 501c3 organization bringing together the best of research and patient services to be a comprehensive resource for patients, caregivers, researchers, and medical professionals. To learn more about the National Brain Tumor Society, visit our website at http://www.braintumor.org. All donations made directly to NBTS are tax deductible to the fullest extent of the law.
If you know of any businesses or groups that would like an ad in our cook book, please let us know.
If you would like to personally make a contribution to the cost of printing, please let us know.
Please help us help the National Brain Tumor Society find a cure for this terrible disease. We’re trying to do something good here…
Filed under Uncategorized
This week it was announced that Tampa Bay had traded Matt Garza to the Cubs for prospects. Who cares right? Well more prospects for Tampa Bay could translate to more prospects seen at Coca Cola Park by means of the Ray’s AAA team, the Durham Bulls.
Who Tampa got: Chris Archer, Brandon Guyer, Robinson Chirinos, and Hak-Ju Lee.
Chris Archer – Archer was drafted in the 5th round of the 2006 draft by the Indians. He made his first appearance at the AA level in 2010 posting an 8 win 2 loss record in 13 games with Tennessee boasting a 1.80 ERA. More likely he will start at AA this season but could be a late call up or even a possibility for 2012.
Brandon Guyer – Guyer was a 5th round pick in the 2007 draft for the Cubs. He hit .344 with 13 HR in 102 games with AA Tennessee in 2010. I would say a good possibility this guy shows up with the Bulls at some point this season.
Robinson Chirinos – Chirinos split time between AA Tennessee and AAA Iowa last year. He hit a combined .326 with 18 HR. Another possible addition to the Bulls 2011 roster.
Hak-Ju Lee – A native of Korea, Lee is a highly touted prospect at Shortstop. He is still in A ball and will most likely be there for 2011.
OinK!
Filed under Uncategorized
Someone had to go to make room for J.C. Romero on the 40 man roster and Escalona was the guy. It’s still possible he could be outrighted to the minors if no other team claims him.
Filed under Uncategorized
As tweeted by Matt Provence, (@pigsradio)
“Yesterday, the Phillies signed veterans 1B/OF Robb Quinlan and INF/OF Delwyn Young to minor league contracts.”
Rob Quinlan is listed on Baseball-reference.com as a 1st baseman, 3rd baseman and left fielder. He was drafted by the Angels in the 10th round of the 1999 draft. Quinlan has played in 458 games over 8 seasons with the Angels, the high mark of 86 games coming in 2006. His Major League batting average over that time is .276.
Quinlin doesn’t look to have great speed or power, with a quick glance at his career stats, but can play the corners in the infield and outfield. In 2010, he made his first trip back to the minors for AAA Salt Lake hitting .258 in 34 games. The most intriguing information I found about Quinlan is that he bats and throws right-handed. It leads me to believe he could be a Duct Tape fix for the right field spot on the Phillies if Domonic Brown starts the season here in the Lehigh Valley. He could also serve as a right handed bat off the bench, something the Phillies have been looking for. Quinlan will be 34 by the beginning of the 2011 season.
Delwyn Young is a 28 yr old switch hitting left fielder and 2nd baseman. Drafted by the Dodgers in the 4th round of the 2002 draft, Young spent 3 seasons with the Dodgers and the past 2 years in Pittsburgh. Like Quinlan, Young appears to be another utility player who can play the infield and outfield. Being a 2nd baseman won’t come in handy to the Phillies, but he is an extra outfielder who can swing from the North side of the plate. One fun fact about Young is that he hit a 2 run home run against Steven Strasburg in Strasburg’s first major league start.
So my opinion time…
One of these guys is going to be on the Phillies bench. It’s very well known that the Phillies want a right handed bat on the bench. I find it highly unlikely that BOTH of these utility players will remain on the Phillies roster by opening day. I feel that Young holds a slight edge at the moment. All could change with a poor/good performance in spring training by either player but as I read more and more about Young, he seems to have the pinch hitter role in his portfolio more so than Quinlan does. Granted, neither players had an outstanding 2010 season and Young is 5 years younger than Quinlan, but one of these guys, if they hold together this spring, should make the Phillies roster and the other (if not released) will be standing tall at the Coke on April 7th.
89 Days! OinK!
Filed under Uncategorized
Just saw a note on Twitter from Jon Heyman (@SI_JonHeyman) and learned that former major leaguer Super Joe McEwing will be the Charlotte Knights manager in the 2011 season.
McEwing, a native of Bristol, PA (Bucks County), spent time in the major leagues with the Cardinals, Mets, Royals and Astros. He had previously served as the Knight’s hitting coach and prior to that as manager of the Winston-Salem Dash (Class A for the White Sox).
So, he’s probably been to Coca Cola Park before, but this time in a more prominant role.
Not even close to the excitement as getting a Hall of Famer as the new manager.. but whenever local folks take the field at the Coke, you never know who you will meet in the stands.
OinK!
Filed under Uncategorized
|
noisenation.mlblogs.com 