Just moments ago it was confirmed that Ryne Sandberg will be the Ironpig’s manager in 2011!

So I can officially eat my words what I wrote a few days ago. Think this might help us get a better batch of free agents this year?

What else could this team want? OINK!

Thanks to frequent reader Lefty and Philly.com, we found that the Phillies have signed left handed reliever Eddie Bonine and catcher Erik Kratz in addition to infielder Pete Orr.

Kratz was drafted in the 29th round of the 2002 amateur draft by the Toronto Blue Jays. He spent the majority of his career in the Toronto organization until signing with the Pirates in 2009. He played with Indianapolis in 2009 and 2010 hitting .273 and .274 respectively. Kratz made his major league debut with the Pirates this past summer playing in 9 games, mustering 4 hits in 36 plate appearances. One note of interest, Kratz has 6 innings pitched in 5 games over his minor league career. With Kratz and Sardinha signed, we’re probably looking at the two catchers on the Ironpig’s roster.

Eddie Bonine was drafted in the 23rd round of the 2003 draft by the Padres. He appeared in 47 games with the Padres in 2010 with a 4.63 ERA and 26 K’s ending with a 4 win 1 loss record. A good showing in the spring could find Bonine in the Phillies bullpen. If not, he will grace the Pig Pen at Coca Cola Park.

Pete Orr has spent considerable time in the big leagues with both Atlanta and Washinton from 2005-2009 but spent all of 2010 in Syracuse. Looks like he is going to find himself with us in Ironpig land next year.

That’s all I’ve got for now.

OinK!

Opinion time here.

I asked myself this morning.. If I was Ryne Sandberg, Would I want to manage the AAA team of the Philadelphia Phillies?

I looked at Sandberg’s career, both as a player and a coach.

It’s common knowlege that he spent all but a handful of games in the majors with the Cubs.

Sandberg played for the Phillies in 13 games making 6 plate appearances with 1 hit.

He came up in the Phillies system and then went on to play 15 seasons with the Cubs.

After his retirement he went on to be a spring training instructor for the Cubs, then went on to coach Cubs A team in Peoria and AA team Tennessee.

In 2010 Sandberg was named Pacific Coast League manager of the year with the Cubs AAA team in Iowa.

Sandberg wanted to be the Cubs manager. He put in his time in their system, has proved his abilities and is looking for a Major League job. When the Cubs did not choose him, he elected to not return to the Cubs organization.

If I was Ryne Sandberg I would be thinking.. “I put my time in. I gave the Cubs what they needed. The Cubs turned their back on me. I want to coach in the bigs, not ride a bus to AAA parks around the country”

Say Sandberg does arrive in the Phillies organization.. he puts in his time. How soon would he be in line for the Phillies managerial spot?

Not anytime soon in my opinion. Unless Charlie Manuel burns down Citzens Bank Park he isn’t going anywhere soon.

Sandberg wants a major league spot and I believe he would take a big league spot as a coach before he accepts a minor league managers job.

Just my opinion… what’s yours?

OinK!

Val Pascucci was re-signed by the Met’s organization

Travis Blackley re-signed by the A’s

J.J. Furmaniak re-signed with the Rays

The Phillies re-signed the below:
LHP Drew Rundle
C Torre Langley
C Dane Sardinha
2B Keoni Ruth
SS Fidel Hernandez

Free Agents (Just for Phillies organization)

RHP:
Jason Anderson (AA)
Alexander Concepcion (AAA)
Brandon Duckworth (AAA)
Brian Gordon (AAA)
Juan Sandoval (Hi A)
Jay Stephens (AA)
Ty Taubenheim (AAA)
Oscar Villarreal (AAA)
Ehren Wassermann (AAA)

LHP:
Kyle Carr (Lo A)
Brian Mazone (AAA)

C:
Joel Naughton (Hi A)
Kevin Nelson (AA)
John Suomi (AA)

1B:
Andy Tracy (AAA)

2B:
Keoni DeRenne (AA)
Melvin Dorta (AAA)

3B:
Cody Ransom (AAA)
Neil Sellers (AAA)

SS:
Ozzie Chavez (AAA)
Gabe Suarez (AA)

OF:
Kevin Mahar (AA)
Timo Perez (AA)
Ryne White (SS)
Mike Spidale (AA)
Rich Thompson (AAA)

… The Scranton Yankees!

I heard many fans over the last couple years asking why Yankee{spit} money hasn’t found its way into Scranton and it looks as if it has finally made it there.

Per River Ave Blues website, the Yankees {spit} have agreed to purchase the Scranton franchise from Lackawanna County for $14.6 Million. They also will sign a 30 year lease of the facilities and will put $40 Million into the previously mentioned stadium renovations.

So the Yankees {spit} have spent more money.. big deal right? Well, they spent it in an area that could really use that and to them, today only, I tip my hat. The big team could easily have abandoned Scranton for a higher profile city willing to foot the bill for stadium costs, etc. Especially with the recent stink of local politics dealing with community ownership. The winner here is the fans. They keep the team for a long time and they get a massive facelift of a stadium that was modeled after an even uglier stadium in the former Veteran’s stadium in Philadelphia.

Now again, Scranton fans are whooping up on this news and I am truly happy for them. Looking at the Ironpig fan’s standpoint we will soon have another high quality minor league park to visit over the summer. Add in the extensive renovations that the Reading Phillies are conducting this off-season.. we are dead center in the middle of minor league baseball heaven.

I see road trips.. I see many road trips in 2011.

Many thanks to Joe for sending this info our way. One of the founding three of the Noise Nation!

OinK!

Thanks to Bob we got a note about a proposed update to the Scranton Yankees {spit} stadium in Moosic, PA.

For the article, click the below link:

http://thetimes-tribune.com/news/rebuilt-stadium-would-look-little-like-existing-one-1.1061318

While the stadium will look little like what is there now.. it does look a LOT like the Ironpig’s home field, Coca Cola Park in Allentown.

OinK!

From Hardball Talk:
http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2010/11/09/john-mayberry-leaves-arizona-fall-league-with-leg-injury/

It is reported that Mayberry was sent home with a leg injury after playing in only one game in the Arizona Fall League.

Hopefully he heals enough before next season.

A lot of web traffic out there concerning Ironpig manager Dave Huppert’s replacement.

Looks like Ryan Sandberg is getting a lot of attention from the press and is being downplayed by the Phillies management.

Could this be an answer to the question, “How will the Ironpig’s top attendance levels from the past 3 years?”

I think so.

OinK

It’s been roughly nine weeks since the last Ironpig homegame. Not too much going on.

Yes, I’ll take the hit for messing up the Kerry Wood info in the last post. My transaction source listed it as new and current and I didn’t bother to research further on that. I usually don’t spend too much time thinking about the Yankees {Spit}

So since the end of the season we’ve had the World Series viewing party… too bad it was the Giants and Rangers. I still have a gut feeling there was some sort of fix in for the Giants. Yes, they have a good team, but the Rangers folded way too easily and Cliff Lee (feel free to comment on this) usually doesn’t have two terrible starts in a row. At least the Yankees {Spit} didn’t win again.

I’ve only filled my car with gas once since the season ended. There is a good reason for this and that reason is Netflix. Anyone who has Netflix can tell you the online option is very addictive. I was able to set it up to show movies on demand directly to my TV. Not an advertisement or plug, just saying that for like $9 I have been keeping myself from watching the clock spin until April.

Also, haven’t shaved the beard I started on the last day of the season. Getting a little long these days. Wondering if I’ll keep it until the first game. Maybe I’ll shave if the Pigs break the .500 barrier. Although if I did that I might end up looking like a member of ZZ Top by mid season.

Also want to mention that tomorrow is the 235th birthday of my beloved Marine Corps. Happy Birthday to all my brothers and sisters out there.

So that’s where I am right now. How are you all coping with the off season?

OinK

Finally some news out of the minor league baseball world!!

Justin Lehr re-signed with the Reds organization as did former Phillie farmhand Mike Constanzo.

Paul Hoover was granted free agency and also removed from the Phillies 40 man roster.

The Yankees made a trade with Cleveland for Kerry Wood. Might see him in Scranton next year.

That’s all for now. If you hear any more.. feel free to note in comments.

OinK!