Greg's Connecticut Defenders Blog

Random camo pics.....

2009-07-14T10:13:00.001-04:00

From top to bottom: Castro, Williams, Monney and Schoop.

Defs win this morming/afternoon 4-3 heading..

2009-07-13T14:46:00.004-04:00

as they split the four game series with the Trenton Thunder. Garrett Broshuis wins his second straight start since coming to CT. GB goes a tidy 6.1 IP allowing 5 hits and two runs. Dan Otero throws a 1-2-3 9th for his 17th save.
CT scored all it's runs after two outs. Trailing 1-0 in the bottom of the third, Brock Bond walked and scored on Mike McBryde's RBI double to tie the game at 1-1. Brett Pill then singled in Mike for a 2-1 Defs lead. EME walked with Pill going to second where he scored from as Ramon Castro's RBI single brought him in for a 3-1 score.
CT added another two out run in the fourth as Brandon Crwaford walked, stole second and came in on Jackson Williams RBI single to make it 4-1.
With the RockCats losing today, CT is 7 games up in first place over the RockCats at the All-Star Break.

Misc fan notes: Only sour note in today's game was four CT runners caught stealing with another picked off.
Some research results off some chatter in the stands today: it turns out the RockCats have 9 weekday day games scheduled this season.. Those dates are/were April 22, May 7, May 14, May 28, June 5, June 25, July 13, July 21 and Sept 7.
There was some thought that the EL restricts the number of weekday day games a team can schedule to a maximum of five.

In appreciation of Brett Pill....

2009-07-12T17:57:00.003-04:00

as some idle chatter in the stands lead to wondering where Pill's RBI total put him in comparison to other Defender teams.

So including today's game, Brett has played in 87 games and has 28 doubles, 9 homers, and 65 RBIs. Comparing the double and RBI totals to the Giants farm teams that have played here since 2003:

*2003-- Alejandro Freire 31 doubles, Mike Cervenak 91 RBIs
2004-- Mike Cervenak 36 doubles and 88 RBIs
2005-- Carlos Valderrama 33 doubles, Dan Ortmeier 79 RBIs
2006-- Nate Schierholtz 26 doubles and 54 RBIs
2007-- John Bowker 35 doubles and 90 RBIs
2008-- Olmo Rosario 31 doubles, Adam Witter 77 RBIs

So with 55 games left in the season, Brett needs 9 doubles and 27 RBIs to break the high water marks for Giants farm teams here. And can someone explain to me how he isn't an EL All-Star?

* Worst team ever in franchise history, even with Mike C. on board and the '06 team was not far behind.

Well, Dan Griffin pitched well and other than that..

2009-07-12T16:51:00.005-04:00

not much good to say about the Defenders dropping another one to the Thunder by the score of 9-2 this afternoon. Things got off to a bad start in the first as Brandon Crawford's error put Trenton's lead off hitter Austin Krum on second base but it looked like starter Brooks McNiven (1-3) would get out of the inning after Mike McBryde threw Krum out at home on Reegie Corona's single. However Corona would eventually score on Crawford's second error of the inning as Trenton lead 1-0.
Connecticut came back in the bottom half of the first as a Thunder error brought in Brock Bond who had singled and Brett Pill's 65th RBI on a ground out put CT up 2-1 after the first.
The wheels came totally off for McNiven in the second as the Thunder scored six times with two runs coming in on Krum's two run triple and the final two runs of the inning coming in on a long homer to left center off the bat of Jorge Vazquez.
Griffin came on and pitched 3.1 IP of shutout ball with 7 Ks. The bullpen mopped up with Garcia and Joaquin giving up single runs and Otero and Paterson throwing a scoreless inning each. Where's Mike Musgrave?
No offense today as the bats only produced 7 hits; two from EME. Decker emptied the bench with almost everyone getting on the field including AR.

Misc fan notes: great seeing "Brute" back at Dodd sans fog, cold weather, rain delays, floods, hurricanes, etc., etc.
Boyer on the DL with an undisclosed injury.
Hoping for the blue and white uniforms tommorrow morning as the home whites and the camouflage ones haven't worked the last two games.
Good to see Tater in the stands today!!!
Pics top to bottom are: Joe Paterson, Griffin, Tater and McNiven

Sometimes those pitching matchups between..

2009-07-11T23:28:00.005-04:00

two good pitchers don't turn out as advertised. Exhibit A was tonight's 6-5 Thunder win over the Defs as Trenton's Zach McAllister and CT's Tim Alderson both were very hittable and neither figured in the outcome. Instead it was Trenton's bullpen beating the Defs bullpen as CT's Geivy Garcia (0-2 5.86 ERA) takes the loss.
CT had 12 hits in the game; four doubles and a triple but never had the big hit to bust it open. Brock Bond (RBI), Bobby Felmy (RBI), Brad Boyer (left the game with no explanation), and Adam Witter (RBI) all had two hits each. Brett Pill and Brandon Crawford drove in the other runs
Alderson gave up four runs in the second as he went 5 IP with 8 hits allowed. Ben Sndyer gave up a run in 1.1 IP with 4 hits allowed. Garcia's lead off walk in the 8th proved to be the difference as Matt Yourkn gave up the game winning single.
Trenton's bullpen threw 3.2 IP of shutout ball and record 7 Ks to nail down the win.
Pics from top to bottom: Ben, Tim, and the MIA Brad Boyer.

Congrats Jonathan Sanchez!!

2009-07-11T10:18:00.004-04:00

The former 2006 Defender threw the first MLBB no hitter of the season last night against the Padres at SF with his father sitting in the stands as the Giants won 8-0. Pablo goes 2 for 3 with three RBIs and homer #14. Jonathan was a starter here in '06 and then converted to a reliever before being promoted. In all in '06 he appeared in 13 games with the Defs; three as a starter, posting a 1.15 ERA with 46 Ks in 31 IP.
Last night he had 11 Ks and threw 110 pitches to improve to 3-8 on the season. He allowed only a single base runner who reached on an infield error.
The pics of Jonathan are from April 9, 2006, a 4-2 Portland victory.

In praise of Brock Bond....

2009-07-10T21:37:00.007-04:00

I mean really...a 3 for 3 game tonight with a walk and two runs scored just what you want from your leadoff batter--his BA is up to .341 and he was part of three DPs turned by CT tonight. Last night in NB he was 2 for 2 with three walks and he's reached base in like 50+ games in a row now. On yeah CT wins 4-2 in front of 5300+ at Dodd.
Daryl Maday (4-3) started and really didn't have much as he gave up a pair of runs in the second as Trenton jumped out to quick 2-2 lead. CT scored three times as Jackson Williams and Bond walked. Mike McBryde followed with a RBI single to plate Williams. Bond went to third on the single and McBryde went to second on the throw. Brett Pill brought in Bond with a RBI groundout to tie the game at 2-2 with McBryde going to third. He then came in on wild pitch to pit CT up 3-2.
The Defenders scored again in the fifth as Bond (who else?) doubled, McBryde sac bunted Bond over to third and then scored on Pill's long sac fly to left center to complete the scoring at 4-2.
Maday, battled and ended up going 6 IP giving up 8 hits. Matt Yourkin pitched the 7th inning. Waldis Joaquin came on in the 8th and finished the game earning his first save of the season. Joaquin struck out three in his two innings of work.

Pics are Bond and Maday.

Misc fan notes: First, good to be back at Dodd; seems like they've been away forever. Second, the worst singing of the national anthem I can ever remember at Dodd. Third, clean out your closet a bit and support GoodWill Industries Saturday at Dodd by dropping off those old clothes and pick up a pair of free tickets in the process.

Jesse English throws a complete game...

2009-07-09T23:25:00.002-04:00

6 hit shutout at the New Britain RockCats tonight. It was the longest effort season to date of ant CT pitcher and most likely the best performance of the season by any Defs starter. English, who had 7 Ks, improves to 6-5 with a 3.38.
CT batters had 13 hits including five doubles and were lead by Brandon Crawford's 3 for 4 night (double, RBI). Mike McBryde had two RBIs. Brett Pill, Adam Witter, Jackson Williams also knocked in runs. Brock Bond went 2 for 2 and walked three times.
CT now leads NB by 7 games in the Northern Division of the EL.

Misc fan notes: back to Dodd tomorrow at last!

Defs win Game 1 of today's DH...

2009-07-08T21:22:00.003-04:00

against the RockCats 3-1. Ct scored all three runs in the first on a Bobby Felmy RBI triple, a RBI double by EME to score Felmy and Brad Boyer knocked home EME with a single. Madison Bumgarner went just four innings allowing 5 hits, one a solo homer. Dan Griffin (6-5) throws an inning and gets the victory. Joe Paterson records his 10th save.
In Game 2 the Defs are trailing 4-3 after 5.5 innings. Mike Musgrave got the spot start and lasted just an inning giving up three runs in the first. Ben Snyder, who should have started, has thrown the last 4 innings giving up just one run. Brett Pill has knocked in two runs in the contest.

UPDATE: Defs lose 7-3 in the nightcap. Ben Snyder gets a non deserved loss. Musgrave and Garcia each give up three runs each in their one inning of work and Snyder goes 4innings and gives up a run a gets tagged with the loss.
Defs remain 6 games up on the RockCats.

CT up 3-0 in NB after 7 innings....

2009-07-07T22:04:00.003-04:00

as GB made his 2009 debut with the Defenders and tossed 6.2 innings of shutout ball. Matt Yourkin is on in relief. Brad Boyer and Adam Witter have a RBI each as the third CT run came in on an error; one of three by the RockCats.
The day was delayed by weather I suspect. I'm pulling the plug for tonight...bizarrely long day at work.

**Defs win 3-0 as Dan Otero gets save #16 and GB is 1-0!

Defs win in Reading 4-3 today....

2009-07-06T22:31:00.005-04:00

as Mike Mooney's 2 run double in the 8th broke a 2-2 tie to make a winner of reliever Waldis Joaquin (3-4). Dan Otero earned his 15th save in the 9th as the Phillies rally fell short.
Bobby Felmy went 2 for 3 with two runs scored including his fourth homer of the season. Brock Bond went 3 for 5 and is now hitting .331. Mooney, who went 2 for 3, did not start the game and replaced EME--don't know happened with EME who only batted once and popped up in the game.
Adam Witter caught today; which I think is his first time behind the plate since coming back from Triple A.

Defs run past Phillies 12-5....

2009-07-05T23:07:00.002-04:00

as CT stole 6 bases in today's game including home twice on the front end of double steals. Sharlon Schoop and Bobby Felmy were the players to swipe home, both in the second inning as the Defs jumped out to a 2-0 lead.
Connecticut scored 4 runs in the 7th and added on 5 runs in the 8th to blow the game open. When the dust finally settled, satrter Tim Alderson had improved to 5-1 on the season with a 2.59 ERA.
Mike McBryde lead the Connecticut attack going 4 for 5 with three doubles and 4 RBIs. Brock Bond went 2 for 5 with 3 RBIs and Brett Pill knocked in three as well with a 2 for 4 day.

Misc fan notes: Roster moves in the offering; check out Joe Perez's blog for the latest....

Defs lose 7-5 to the R-Phils...

2009-07-04T23:18:00.003-04:00

in PA tonight. Daryl Maday got hit around pretty well and sees his record even up at 3-3. Brett Pill hit his 9th HR of the season and drove in a pair of runs for the Defenders. Mike McBryde (RBI) and EME both had two hits each in the losing effort

Report from the Bronx....

2009-07-03T23:06:00.001-04:00

I have not been to a MLBB baseball since 1994...really. And I have not been to the Bronx since the late 80's.
The "new" Stadium is amazing, wide concourses, plenty of food courts, a Hard Rock Cafe built into it, a Yankee museum, helpful staff, game staff constantly sweeping and cleaning, no real lines at the food stands, TV sets all over the place, comfortable seats and lots of leg room, discreet restrooms (very clean).
A beer was $10 (20 oz), a slice of pepperoni pizza is $5 (same as Dodd), parking around the Stadium is $20. A home jersey with name on the back with the inaugural season shoulder patch is $200; without the patch--$125. There is a pic of some of the food prices. Ticket price for my seat was $55--section 233, main level in left field.
Very easy to walk around the stadium. The neighborhood is OK; our parking lot was on River Ave about 6 blocks down that brings you into Gate 6.
Yankees and Blue Jays both worn those red caps for the 4th of July, as are all MLBB teams.

More pics

2009-07-03T22:46:00.002-04:00

Pics from top to bottom: Our group was sitting above the Amtrak.com sign, looking into "old" Yankee Stadium, today's Stadium, A-Rod who homered off ex-Navigator and SF Giants Jermey Accardo in the top of the 8th, Jeter

Yanks win 4-2!

2009-07-03T22:37:00.001-04:00

From top to bottom: Robinson Cano goes yard, A.J> Burnett first pitch of the game, Ryan Sadowski goes tonight for the Giants, behind home plate pregame, Mickey Rivers today

Defs lose 9-2 and and up splitting...

2009-07-03T22:20:00.003-04:00

the 4 game series against the Senators. Jesse English gets knocked aroound pretty good and he falls to 5-5 on the season.
Sharlon Schoop goes 3 for 4 in the game for CT. EME (2 for 4, doublr) and Ramon Castro had the Defs RBIs as they scored both runs in the first.

Misc fan notes: Went to Yankee Staduim today and I'll post some pics later on.

Defs sweep the Senators tonight 4-0 and 2-1....

2009-07-02T21:44:00.004-04:00

in the DH at Dodd. Game one was all Madison Bumgarner as the lefty pitched a complete game 7 inning 4 hit shut out striking out 5 five and walking three. Madison also walked and had a big single to help himself out. The other star in game one was Ramon Castro, playing third in both ends of the twin bill, going 3 for 3 with a pair of doubles and runs scored.
CT jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the second off Washington Nationals pitcher Matt Chico doing a rehab stint with the Senators. Ramon Castro doubled and then scored on a Jackson Williams RBI single. Bumgarner then singled Williams over to second and he came home from there on a Brock Bond RBI single.
In third the Defenders added another run to make it 3-0 as Brett Pill (2 for 3, double) singled, advanced to second on a wild pitch and came in on EME's RBI single.
CT added an insurance run in the sixth as Castro singled and would score on a wild pitch.
Bumgarner improves to 6-1 on the season for CT with a 1.70 ERA.

In game two both starting pitchers would give up first inning runs and then settled down and matched zeros on the scoreboard. CT starter Brooks McNiven gave up three straight singles with no outs as the Senators jumped out to a quick 1-0 lead. McNiven got help as the Senators ran themselves into a double play and scaped the inning without giving up any more runs.
Senators starter Erik Arnesen also gave up three hits in the bottom of the first with a run coming in on a Pill DP goundout as CT tied the game at 1-1. Those would be the only hits Arnesen gave up as he went six innings in the game.
The game stayed tied as Matt Yourkin relieved McNiven in the sixth and Waldis Joaquin would take over from Yourkin in the seventh after Yourkin had put a runner into scoring position on a walk and a balk. Joaquin came into the game without much warmup time and pitched out of trouble.
In the bottom of the 8th, Brandon Crawford lead off with a single and then stole second. Sharlon Schoop advanced Crawford to third on a groundout to first for the first out of the inning. The Senators then intentionally walked both Bond and McBryde to load the bases to get to Pill who struck out for the second out. Bobby Felmy then delivered a walk off single into the left center gap for the 2-1 win.
Joaquin, who pitched great in relief, gets the win and improves to 2-4 with a 3.23 ERA.

Misc fan notes: Great timing tonight as Felmy knocked in the winning run, the fireworks show started almost immediately and then it stated to rain..
Defs wear camo uniforms for the 4th of July weekend...same as last years...note to the front office--how do I get one?

Joe Perez is reporting in his blog the move to Richmond is 99.9% locked with a 75% chance of a NY-Penn team in Dodd next season...
Pics top to botton: McNiven, Castro, Felmy's walkoff, MadBum, Chico and Dmitri Young

EME is an All-Star...

2009-07-01T16:49:00.002-04:00

really didn't see that one coming. As noted in the posts below he joins Madison, Joe Paterson and Brock Bond as Northern Division All-Stars. Really don't see how they didn't take Brett Pill.....
It poured today and they've already called tonight's game. They play two tomorrow starting at 4:35 with Madison and Brooks McNiven as the starters.
Hondo notes that GB has made it to Fresno....Good Luck GB! Send us bullpen help!!

Unreal....Defs lose 4-3 to the Senators....

2009-06-30T21:45:00.015-04:00

I'll say this for CT, they lose games in the most mind bending, frustrating ways. Defs jump out to a quick 2-0 lead in the first on a one out single by Bobby Felmy (who I think has batted in every possible spot so far this season), a RBI double by Brett Pill who then scored on a RBI single by EME. Mike Mooney then grounded out into an inning ending double play.
CT starter Henry Sosa scuffed around for another 4.1 innings as CT hung onto to it's 2-0 lead. Sosa didn't have much tonight and he walked off the mound after 1 out in the sixth with an injury (right tricep, per team website). Enter Dan Griffin, who had to come in cold and did his warmups on the mound. Griffin retired the batter he inherited for the second out of the inning. He then gave up a single, a walk and a three run homer to the next three batters. Of course he hits the next batter on the very first pitch and is ejected. Enter Geivy Garcia who gets the third out as CT falls behind 3-2.
In the seventh, the Senators mount another two out rally. Garcia gets the first two batters on strikes and then walks the next two batters. Steve Decker then brings in Ben Synder who has had no time to warm up in the bullpen, and I mean maybe a couple of warm up tosses. If I have Garcia (5.04 ERA) or Griffin (5-5, 5.80 ERA) out there, you'd better have someone ready. Synder gives up a single to the first batter he sees to make it 4-2.
CT gets a run back in the 8th on a Brock Bond double and a Pill RBI single. Decker then pinch runs for Pill (who is 3 for 4 with a double, triple and two RBIs game to date) with AR who is in to steal second, and has Adam Witter, a left handed batter, pinch hit for Sndyer. Harrisburg counters by bringing in a lefty pitcher who is looking right at AR over at first. Of course AR (who plays once a week at best, and now with newcomer Ramon Castro playing OF, will see his time reduced more) is picked from here to there and Pill's bat is out of the game as well.
Not to put this all on the pitchers, CT batters had plenty of chances in this game to drive in runs but went 2 for 12 with runners in scoring position--a lot of wasted doubles in this game. Also Decker had Bond try to score with one out in the third on a medium fly ball by Pill to left and was thrown out a home with EME who had already singled in a run on deck. Bond is not THAT fast--he has 10 steals and has been caught stealing 11 times.
Just a very frustrating loss to snap a five game winning streak. On the other hand if you told me CT would be in first place by 4.5 at the end of June at the beginning of the season I would have been pretty happy.

Misc fan notes: For the first time this season marquee entrance sign works! Almost hit the car brakes when I saw that! Next: the bottom half of the scoreboard please!
Washington Senators first baseman Dmiti Young went 0 for three against Sosa in his rehab start tonight.
I guess the reason Ramon Castro is here is because Mike McBryde's groin injury from last week is lingering but why not just play AR more?

This season's bullpen is real shaky, The only one I trust out there is Synder. God only knows who the closer is. They need some help out there and that means a couple of new faces and a coaching plan because:
Bob Stanley spoiled me because you basically knew from one game to then next who was coming out of that pen and with these guys this season I don't have a clue and that extends to a degree to the starting rotation as well--I thought McNiven was staring Sunday?

See the below from today's Richmond Times-Dispatch in the latest twist in the relocation saga.

"The ownership group moving a Class AA baseball franchise to Richmond next season will commit more than $1 million for short-term improvements to The Diamond, the Eastern League president said yesterday.

"We want to bring a first-class product to Richmond," Joe McEacharn said. "We are going to show our good faith not only by coming with a team, but we are going to substantially upgrade the product for the short term."

The Eastern League has not determined which of its 12 franchises will relocate to Richmond, or the composition of its ownership/management team, according to McEacharn.

The Richmond Metropolitan Authority, which owns and operates The Diamond, will contribute a maximum of $75,000 to short-term facility improvements, said Mike Berry, the RMA's general manager.

More than $1 million of additional upgrades will be "a cost borne entirely by the franchise," McEacharn said. He added that some of the expected upgrades will go beyond those "absolutely necessary" for the stadium to be functional. The Diamond needs painting, probably a new scoreboard, furniture for the executive offices, clubhouse furnishings and other necessities, Berry said.

Generally, improvements at The Diamond would involve fans' amenities, player-development facilities and front office structure, McEacharn said. Funding for upgrades would not be available until an ownership group is determined.

"We will make a significant investment to further our commitment to the folks in Richmond," he said. "We want them to know how committed we are going to be to Richmond for the long haul."

The new team will play at The Diamond until a new ballpark is built, or the club could stay at The Diamond if area officials determine that a transformation of facility on the Boulevard is the preferred alternative.

Discussion of what franchise is coming to Richmond and its ownership/management group is expected to be the agenda-topper at tomorrow's Eastern League board of directors meeting. McEacharn said the process has moved from the "exploratory" phase to the "decision-making" stage.

Berry said RMA representatives "have been meeting with various groups that have been brought here by the Eastern League to look at The Diamond. . . . We've shown the facility to quite a few teams, and we made sure they understand exactly what we have to offer right now."

The Connecticut franchise relocating to Richmond remains the most likely scenario, sources said.

That franchise -- contractually bound to the San Francisco Giants through next season -- in Richmond could feature a management team that includes executives from two of the Eastern League's most successful operations, Reading, Pa., and Trenton, N.J.

That move would allow the Eastern League to vacate Norwich, Conn., which many in the baseball industry believe is too small for a Class AA franchise, and occupy Richmond, which would be one of the league's top markets.

The Eastern League will identify a franchise for relocation to Richmond in July, according to McEacharn. Then, the league, Minor League Baseball and Major League Baseball will study the plan and be required to formally approve the relocation before it is announced, according to McEacharn.

A long-term ballpark solution is necessary, McEacharn has said repeatedly.

The Shockoe Center proposal, with its $60 million ballpark, was withdrawn last week. Opening Day Partners in early June submitted to area officials a $28 million proposal to transform The Diamond. Removal of the roof and upper deck are part of the plan.

Peter Kirk, ODP's chairman, said yesterday he hasn't been contacted by city officials or officials from neighboring counties. "

A management team from Reading and Reading?!?! What's that? Is Lou hiring a new front office for Richmond?

Pics are Sosa and Ramon Castro

Defs win 6-3 to sweep the RockCats....

2009-06-29T22:33:00.003-04:00

three straight games in NB. Tim Alderson gets the win to improve to 4-1 and Joe Paterson gets his 9th save of the season.
EME was the star again going 3 for 4 with a pair of RBIs. Brock Bond also had three hits and scored twice.
Brett Pill, Ramon Castro (double, RBI) and Brandon Crawford (2 RBIs) all had two hits each in the game.
I'll be back at Dodd Tuesday, Wednesday and maybe Thursday as the Defs take on the Senators in NL style baseball. Need my Ramon Castro pic!
june 08--2548

EL All-Star voting--

2009-06-29T11:40:00.002-04:00

you can vote at milb.com. You can type in one position player and one pitcher only. Who would you vote for?

I went with Brett Pill and Henry Sosa...

EME and Mike Mooney squeeze by the RockCats..

2009-06-28T19:25:00.002-04:00

today 4-3 in NB. Mooney, who totally screwed up a sac bunt attempt last week, squeezes in EME for the winning run in the top of the 8th. EME was the star today going 2 for 3 with that double and a solo homer (#4) in the 6th.
Matt Yourkin gets the win in relief of starter Daryl Maday. Youkin improves to 4-1 with a 2.19 ERA. Dan Otero threw the 8th innings and Joe Paterson (maybe he's the closer now) gets his 8th save.
Tyler LaTorre went 2 for 2 with a pair of walks, a run scored and a RBI. Note to Mr. Decker--play him more PLEASE!!! Sharlon Schoop knocked in a run with an infield hit.

Congrats Ryan Sadowski!!............

2009-06-28T19:19:00.002-04:00

As he throws 6 IP of 4 hit shutout ball and wins in his MLBB debut today in a 7-0 SF Giants victory over the Brewers. Rtan also picked up up his first MLBB base hit as well!

And belated congrats to Jason Waddell...

2009-06-28T12:23:00.002-04:00

who after nine seasons in the minors made his MLBB debut in May with the Cubs. Jason is currently on the DL after seeing action in three games throwing a total of 1.2 IP with no won/loss record. Get well Jason!
Thanks for the call out batboymeister....