Connecticut Defenders Home Base

Hmmm....

2008-08-18T21:56:00.002-04:00

I had an interesting conversation today with a scout of a major league team interested in a few of the Connecticut Defenders.

The scout mentioned he had wanted to see Pablo Sandoval. He added he saw Sandoval a few years ago and was unimpressed. Having heard about the work Steve Decker did with Sandoval and the way the catcher had been hitting in recent years, Sandoval had garnered interest.

Also on the scout's radar: Joey Martinez, Daryl Maday and Ben Snyder.

Surprise, surprise

2008-08-17T22:17:00.002-04:00

I was filling out the Defenders box score for Monday's paper when I saw a name that caused a double take: Eliezer Alfonzo. Is this the Giants' idea of making amends for railroading the team's season? If so, it sucks.

Nothing against Alfonzo, who I've had the pleasure of talking with a few times, but he isn't Pablo Sandoval or Ryan Rohlinger. BTW: Pablo is progressing nicely with an irregular spot on the bench.

On a positive, congratulations are in order for former Defender Travis Ishikawa. Travis hit his first major league dinger today to help Tim Lincecum and the Gianst best the Braves.

New GM in Trenton

2008-08-17T02:09:00.002-04:00

Trenton will announce a new GM on Monday. Considering how bad things have been with the Defenders and his ties to the New York City area, I called Defenders GM Charlie Dowd to see if he was relocating. Relax, he told me that he's staying put.

On another note, after a few days of phone tag, Charlie gave me the impression he's none to pleased with last week's roster moves. He spoke with Giants Director of Player Personnel Bobby Evans, who I am sure couldn't have cared less.

Dowd's take was that Evans and the Giants are either clueless about what's happened here in the last month-plus or actually believe that Ryan Rohlinger and Pablo Sandoval are going to make a difference this season in San Francisco.

This latest move may have been the move that turns the Giants into an absolute worst-case option in October.

Season = over

2008-08-13T20:10:00.003-04:00

Ryan Rohlinger and Pablo Sandoval were both promoted to the majors today, bringing to an end to a successful 1 1/2 month run for Connecticut. In that time the team went from lost to playoff contender. Now, the defenders must hope they can continue to good play for the next 2-plus weeks if it hopes to see the postseason.

Joining them is another former Defender, Travis Ishikawa.

Two other ex-Defenders, John Bowler and Steve Holm, were sent to Triple-A.

Crossing fingers

2008-08-13T01:20:00.003-04:00

That is what the Connecticut Defenders are doing. We all know what happened the last time the team tied Binghamton for third place.

You have to give the Defenders a lot of credit. After the way the last road trip and the series with Trenton played out, no one would have been shocked if they laid down and died against Portland. Instead, they play their most inspired ball of the season and then Tuesday defeat the team with the EL"'s second-best record (Akron) on the road.

Since I had been away for the last few days, I will tell you that the general feeling in the clubhouse going into the Portland series and after the first win was one of confidence. It certainly appears to be the case.

With just over two weeks left in the season, there are three teams within two games for the final Northern Division playoff spot. Who gets it?

This is the breakdown of each team's remaining schedule.
PORTLAND:
2 vs. Altoona
3 vs. Harrisburg
3 at Altoona
3 at Harrisburg
5 vs New Britain, including a DH
4 vs. New Hampshire

BINGHAMTON:
2 vs. Reading
3 at Bowie
3 vs. New Hampshire
3 vs. Bowie
3 at New Hampshire
3 at New Britain

CONNECTICUT
2 at Akron
3 at Erie
3 vs. Akron
3 vs. Erie
4 at Reading
3 at Trenton

Looking just at the schedule, it's not looking so good for the local team. I'd say the one-two punch of a two-game lead and the schedule should be enough for Portland to hold on. That being said, how significant was the collapse on the recent road trip to Binghamton and New Hampshire. If my memory serves me correct, Connecticut lost three games in the standing. That's how close the Defenders may have come to the playoffs. At this late juncture, it's sad if the last 18 don't count as much as eight games played over a week ago.

Filling in

2008-08-08T01:23:00.003-04:00

I will be gone for the remainder of the series with Portland, but look forward to Matt Stout picking up the slack on Saturday and Sunday (not sure who is at Dodd Friday).

Anyway, enjoy the games as they will go a long way to determine whether the Defenders have any playoff hope left.

FYI: Ronnie Ray will start the fifth in the opener Friday and Adam Cowart will start one of the games on Saturday.

Sea Dogs series

2008-08-07T10:24:00.003-04:00

Per request, this is what I can make out of the Defenders rotation:

Thursday: Paul Oseguera and Joey Martinez
Friday: Garrett Broshuis
Saturday: Dave McKae and Daryl Maday
Sunday: Ben Snyder

Ben Copeland

2008-08-06T18:19:00.003-04:00

I just spoke with former Defender outfielder Ben Copeland, who was promoted to Triple-A Fresno earlier this week.

Here is the detailed account:

Q: Where were you when you found out about the promotion to Fresno?

A: "It was after the last game in New Hampshire. [Manager Bien Figueroa] called me into his office before we were getting on the bus to leave to let me know."

Q: Players talk about how excited they were when getting the call to the majors. While this isn't the case, how would you compare your reaction to what you've heard others' promotions?

A: “I can guarantee you I wasn’t as excited as I would be if I got a major league call-up. I was happy. It caught me off guard; statistically I wasn’t having that great of a season.”

Q: What were you told your expectations are for the remainder of the season?

A: “That’s all I really try to do. As far as expectations go, with baseball you’re playing every night. You’re not going to have a good game every night; you’re not going to have a bad game every night. What I do try and do is play hard and win a baseball game.”

Q: When you think about being one step closer to the bigs and you realize that all your hard work has paid off so far, what sort of emotions do you have?

A: "I'm one step closer to the major leagues, but this step to the major leagues is the biggest step that you make, more so than Single-A to Double-A or Double-A to Triple-A. We've already seen it a couple times this year where [the Giants] called guys up from Double-A straight to the major leagues. I still feel I am in Triple-A. There's a month left, so I'm going to work hard while I am here. When it gets into the off season, I have to work just as hard as I have in the off season, maybe even harder. The closer you get to it, the more you want it."

Q: Guys talk about the adjustments they have to make when they move up a level. Even though you've played just one game with Fresno, what do you have to work on to succeed at Triple-A?

A: "I've only payed one game, but I think what's going to be tough for me is blocking out that it's Triple-A. That's a distraction. You're with new teammates, new stadiums, new opponents, and it's in the back, of your mind that all this is new. Therefore you lose focus on what you're doing at that point of time whether it's hitting, or in the outfield or running the bases. I just want to play my game and be focused, have good at bats and play solid defense."

Lost run

2008-08-05T19:07:00.003-04:00

The way the Defenders score runs, don't be surprised if this play looms large.

With Olmo Rosario on third and Pablo Sandoval on second and one out, Adam Witter flew out to right field. Both runners tagged up. Rosario, considerably faster, crossed the plate. Moments later, Sandoval was thrown out at third on a one-hop throw from Edwar Gonzalez. The home plate umpire ruled that Sandoval was out before Rosario scored. The play ended the inning.

Not Thunder

2008-08-05T19:03:00.001-04:00

But Lightning that struck the scoreboard at Dodd Stadium. That's the word as to why the lower portion of the scoreboard has been inopperable of late.

Copeland gone

2008-08-04T17:37:00.002-04:00

Defenders outfielder Ben Copeland was promoted today to Triple-A Fresno. Outfielder Mike Mooney is coming tomorrow from Single-A San Jose.

Mooney's numbers: .272, 10 HR, 25 RBIs.

Still...no pitcher.

The not-so short ride home

2008-08-03T23:40:00.003-04:00

Perhaps being dumbfounded is my fault. I suspected that the Defenders would have gone into Binghamton and done some damage, much like they have all season when visiting the Mets. I was partially correct. The damage done was to themselves.

Then, with a chance to rebound and even make up a little bit of the ground it lost in Binghamton, Connecticut is planted firmly on its face against New Hampshire.

Losing 1-run and 2-run games are tough, but knowing the defenders' track record, its a little easier to swallow. The 8-0 whipping tonight is unacceptable.

Amazingly, they are just barely within striking distance of second-place Portland.

Here are the problems, however: First-place Trenton comes in for three games starting Monday. Yes, Trenton lost a few players recently and pitcher George Kontos and Phil Coke, who were supposedly dealt to Pittsburgh, are now in Triple-A. All that considered, Trenton is still a good team.

Then the Defenders essentially play six games in four days with the Sea Dogs.

This from my make believe mailbag:

Q: If Connecticut sweeps all six games they will be in better position, right?
A: Yes, but they need more arms, fresher arms for that series and the team is still waiting on another middle infielder not named Dave Maroul.

The infielder becomes a lesser issue against Portland only because the need for arms trumps the need for a back up infielder. what SHOULD happen is whomever starts Wednesday would become inactive/disabled/reassigned. That player is replaced with another starter (Pucetas?) Then another pitcher needs to be added. Also, to make sure nothing else that would impede the team's chances of winning even four games, Olmo Rosario and Kyle Haines need to be at short and second, respectively.

OK, OK...no more mailbag.

This season — the last couple weeks in particular — are worse than any of the past few seasons. Why? There was the tease of hope, the faint smell of postseason play. I'd rather deal with five months of no chance in Hedes than watch the reward just dangle there and no one seem too interested in snatching it.

There are so few home dates left, and obligations have my number a little lower. If that happens to be the final season in Norwich for San Francisco, hopefully it will at least be an exciting stretch unlike that last week.

No title

2008-08-01T15:10:00.002-04:00

This five-game series at Binghamton, which concluded last night, was supposed to be the series where the Defenders a) get into third place and b) give their postseason hopes a boost.

Well, they did get into third place. Albeit a brief, one-day tie. Then -- BOOM -- it all fell to pieces. I'm not going to say its time to kiss the season goodbye just yet. Connecticut has just over a week to make a stand. At New Hampshire for three and then home for essentially nine games between Trenton and Portland next week. Anything less than four of six against New Hampshire and Trenton, and four of six against Portland and that should seal the deal.

Little Papi named Player of the Week

2008-07-28T11:54:00.003-04:00

That's right, Connecticut's catcher Pablo Sandoval picked up the league's top weekly honor Monday after an outstanding seven-day stretch. What's even more amazing about the numbers below is that because of rain, Sandoval only played three games.

A .421 avg., 2 HR, 2 2B, 11 RBIs, 3 R and an .842 slugging percentage.

Simply incredible. Six of the RBIs came in an 18-6 win at Portland. The other 5 were from Saturday's come-from-behind win over New Britain at Dodd Stadium when Sandoval hit a grand slam and the game-tying single in the seventh.

In just 26 games with the Defenders, Little Papi has a .345 avg., 9 2B, 6 HR, 26 RBIs, 15 R and a .591 slugging percentage.

What are the chances

2008-07-27T14:12:00.002-04:00

that the starting pitcher for the Rock Cats today has the name Rainville? Fitting.

What isn't fitting is the tarp has come on and off the field at least three time since 11 this morning. Just cancel the game!!! All 50 fans here will live. There's a double header tomorrow at Binghamton -- a far more important series than this one -- and Defenders starter Joey Martinez can be saved for Game 1.

No, no, no. Let's play today says the team's front office. Please, for the sake of everyone (and my sanity) cancel the game. The radar at this moment is filled with blue, green, yellow and some red that is heading this way. But hey, we have all day, right?

Are the extra concession sales that important? I know things might be tight around Dodd Stadium, but that extra $200 in hot dogs means what exactly?

Answers, questions and hope

2008-07-26T23:32:00.002-04:00

I talked to both Bien Figueroa and Dave Maroul tonight.

Bien said Maroul playing second or short is a product of two things. First, he wants better defense up the middle than what the team's been giving and hopes that maybe Maroul's athletic ability can help. To that, Maroul told me the Giants had him play the entire spring at second two years ago, so the position isn't entirely foreign. The first night he was there in Portland he said was weird, but he got used to it quickly.

Figueroa's other concern is that he has no other middle infielders and needs to be able to rest Kyle Haines and Olmo Rosario. Rosario from what I can tell is the player Figueroa is most concerned about defensively.

This is what makes no sense. Nate Bump went on the DL again today and there was no replacement. Brooks McNiven leaves Monday for Toronto to join up with Team Canada for the Olympics. By Monday there will be two open slots on the roster and no guarantee that they'll be filled or that a middle infielder will be one of the replacements when they do arrive.

As for Ben Snyder, he's been over matched but looked good for the most part tonight. He struck out five over four and then after letting two guys single to start the fifth, struck out the next two before drowning. I don't expect him to leave. What the rotation looks like right now in no particular order:

Martinez
Broshuis
Cowart
McKae
Snyder

The crowd was fantastic. Announced -- and looked like -- 7,070. That's the largest I recall in a few years outside of the All-Star Game. What really impressed me was how after Pablo Sandoval (3-for-4, 5 RBI) finished talking to Matt Martinez on the field for the radio postgame, the fans behind the first base dugout cheered for him. Folks, if you don't realize we have something special in town in the form of Little Papi (trust me, don't go with Papisito -- it doesn't translate to what we think).

My worry with anyone getting their hopes up is that a vast majority of the tickets I was told by one Defenders employee on Friday was bought up by people there for the armed forces salute prior top the game (notice the camo jerseys). Charlie Dowd said that was not correct. either way, over 13,000 fans packed into Dodd Stadium the last two nights. Also, the team passed Harrisburg in league attendance.

I also want to mention the excellent hitting of Adam Witter this month. .318 and counting. He'll catch Joey tomorrow with Pablo likely to DH.

Maroul at second

2008-07-26T19:48:00.003-04:00

I didn't ask last night, but will tonight. Why Dave Maroul is at second base is beyond me. At least he hasn't hurt the team tonight (yet). Ben Snyder has been sharp with five Ks through four and Pablo "Little Papi" Sandoval has a grand slam.

Video from the derby

2008-07-26T01:51:00.001-04:00

HR derby

2008-07-25T15:40:00.002-04:00

Prior to a few weeks ago I hadn't swung a bat in seven years. Back then, I stunk. After a few sessions, I was hitting better than I had before; more contact, more power. Sorry, power is a loose term as it applies to me.

I actually took some cuts today before heading to Dodd Stadium. It was a disappointing session. I should have done better. Some of it was nerves and some was just lack of skill.

Truthfully, I was looking forward to today but became nervous this morning. It wasn't the type of nerves I had when I proposed to my wife, to give a point of reference. I was nervous that I'd make a fool of myself. Reality is that everyone is supposed to look foolish. Except if you can hit one 275 feet or better. Can I hit a ball that far? Yes. Will I is a question I don't know.

My goal all along has been make contact. Then as the field filled in, it was make contact and beat Norwich Mayor Ben Lathrop. He, I've been informed by Defenders jack-of-all-trades Johnny Gill, has withdrawn, as did Kevin Nathan of NBC. That means I'm in trouble.

Lee Elci is here, so is UConn football coach Randy Edsall. Both of whom should rake. Defenders pitching coach shold be a wild card in all this. So should Ch. 8's John Pierson, who has taken cuts with the derby's pitcher, Andy Baylock, throwing to him.

Where do I fall? If I get hot and don't swing at pitches too far above my waist, I may get a couple. If I lose my nerve or become over anxious, well, it'll be a quick 10 outs.

Down goes Papi! Down goes Papi!

2008-07-25T12:30:00.002-04:00

This is Garrett Broshuis' take on his striking out Big Papi David Ortiz this week, as seen in the latest Sporting News (click the image to enlarge).

Perplexed

2008-07-22T17:07:00.003-04:00

I have been debating what I wanted to blog about: David Ortiz or what I consider the worst mangerial move this season. I'll touch both subjects, just one will come later tonight.

What's really perplexing is the decision to play Dave Maroul at shortstop. I'd like to tell you what Bien Figueroa was thinking short of injury forcing his hand, but I can't. Even if I tried my best to find non-injury logic I just couldn't rationalize my thoughts.

The answer is that Bien Figueroa is simply trying Maroul at different positions. Tonight he is at secnd with Haines at short and Olmo Rosario in left field.

Here's the "logic": It's easily the most important series of the season and the Defenders choose to play a poor defensive player on consecutive days at positions that he should be worse at than the ones he's supposed to be good at.

Decisons like these are why the team won't catch Portland -- or Binghamton. If this was a matter of needing another middle infielder after Jake Wald was promoted last week, tell the Giants you need help. Don't put square pegs into round holes when they don't fit.

A couple of notes

2008-07-20T20:31:00.002-04:00

Former Defender Geno Espineli was called up to the majors today. Unfortunately for him, it means he will not pitch in the Olympics. No player on a major league 40-man roster is eligible.

Also, the two players the Gianst received from the Bewers in today's Ray Durham trade will probably not play for the defenders. One is a single-A outfielder hitting .230. The other is in Triple-A and a left-handed pitcher with a high ERA. He may come here to help ease some of the load on the pen. I still don't imagine it happening, however, especially if Nate Bump comes off the DL any time soon.

If you were wondering

2008-07-18T01:33:00.002-04:00

why Kelvin Pichardo pitcher just 1/3 of an inning Thursday night, the answer isn't because he's hurt. He's fine. My guess is with the all-star break, Bien Figueroa was trying to get as many guys into the game for the sake of work.

Many of you have asked about Chris Begg, he was released from San Jose this week. This seems to have more to do with Begg being part of Canada's Olympic team. His participation was an issue in the past, so it probably was again. In light of Begg's recent efforts to battle back from injury, the Giants probably insisted he stay with San Jose through August.

Also, no roster move yet to fill the last spot just yet.

Because it's more fun

2008-07-17T13:55:00.002-04:00

to have to face rehabbing big leaguers, the Defenders get some more over the next week. They've already faced Chris Duffy and Moises Alou, now they go up against Orlando "El Duque" Hernandez, one of my favorites, and then next week Big Papi David Ortiz.

I got a feeling Little Papi Pablo Sandoval is going to rough up El Duque.

All-Star standouts

2008-07-17T02:53:00.002-04:00

First I want to thank my friend Dan Hickling for covering the EL All-Star Game for the Bulletin. He did a great job.

Also, check out my team report card in Thursday's papers.

Getting back to the all-star game, Joey Martinez earned the win with two scoreless innings. He was also named Pitcher of the Game. Justin Hedrick pitched a shutout inning, Olmo Rosario had two hits, including a double, and scored a run, and Kyle Haines helped turn two impressive double plays. Congrats to those four Defenders.

On another topic, I don't know how many of you have seen the Bulletin's new design. With it comes a daily segment where fans speak out. Normally, we will take comments from comments in our blogs. Don't worry, we don't use your real names, just your alias. If you want to see your screen name in print, be sure to leave comments (keep it clean and on topic).