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Results tagged ' Guest Post '
Guest Post: Farewell to the Sea Cows
Today's guest post is courtesy of Michael Lortz, last seen on this blog via his stint as Dunedin Blue Jays Designated Eater. Michael is a consultant and freelance writer from Tampa. He currently writes for TampaBayBaseballMarket.com and has written for various other baseball sites. He is a big fan of Hugh Manatee.
In 1972, there were only 1267 manatees in Florida. Today, there are over 6300. Starting in 2017, however, there will be approximately 30 fewer manatees in Brevard County.
After 22 years at Space Coast Stadium in Viera, Florida, the Brevard County Manatees are moving west to Kissimmee to be rebranded as the Central Florida "Somethings". Somethings isn't really their name, but there is a fan vote to determine between a Magic/Disney-related name or a rodeo-cowboy related name. Either way, they won't be the Manatees anymore.
The history of the Florida State League is littered with teams that no longer exist, from the Palatka Azaleas to the Baseball City Royals to the DeLand Sun Caps. The league's most recent move was after the 2009 season, when the Sarasota Reds became the Bradenton Marauders. Prior to 2009, teams moved from such historic locations as Al Lang Field in St Petersburg and Dodgertown in Vero Beach. And just a few exits north of the Manatees' current home is the Cocoa Expo, a ghost stadium that once hosted Spring Training for the Houston Astros, who coincidentally also moved to Kissimmee before vacating it for a new shiny home in West Palm Beach.
I went to my first Brevard County Manatees game during their inaugural 1994 season. They were the new kids on the block, with the right stuff for the home of the space shuttle. Initially a Marlins affiliate and, later, a Brewers farm team, they frequently featured young talent on the way to the Majors. Players such as Edgar Renteria and Josh Beckett, Ryan Braun and Yovani Gallardo called Space Coast Stadium home.
Although I no longer live in Brevard County, I've made sure to go to at least one game every year. I've gone by myself, with my Dad, and, most recently, with my nephew. Even though he is not the biggest baseball fan, going to a game every year with him has become our thing. He eats hot dogs and runs around; I half-watch a game and get to spend time with him. And somehow, someway, he always ends up going home with a game-used baseball.
Admittedly, the Manatees are not moving far – Kissimmee is only about an hour from Viera – but the fact that my hometown no longer has a team hurts. Space Coast Stadium will still be used for tournaments and regional games, but that's not the same. The Space Coast will no longer be home to Minor League Baseball.
My family on my Dad's side is from Brooklyn, New York. In the late 1950s, when my Dad was a kid, the city went through a horrible time when the Yankees were the only game in town. Citing better financial opportunity, the Dodgers and Giants broke the hearts of millions of fans and relocated to the West Coast.
Today, I live in the Tampa Bay area. Every year, Rays fans hear rumors that the team will eventually leave the area for a new stadium in a new city. I write about the Rays' fan base on various websites and have estimated there are nearly a million Rays fans in Florida. There would be a lot of sad people if the Rays moved.
If I'm emotional thinking about the Manatees, how will I deal with the relocation of the Rays?
Ever since there has been baseball, teams have moved to greener or more profitable pastures. Baseball is a business and business owners want to position their business where it will make the most profit. Business school taught me that. My family experienced this harsh reality in Brooklyn and now I have to realize it in Brevard County.
While I understand, how do I tell my 8-year old nephew that the Manatees are gone? How do I tell him the that team on his first baseball hat is no longer in existence? How do I tell him "Let's Go Manatees" is no longer a chant that means anything to anyone but us?
Although the Brevard County Manatees have gone extinct, they will live on in the great times and great memories of the last 22 years. As Bart Giamatti once wrote, baseball is "designed to break your heart."
Thanks, Mike, for your insight. Regularly-scheduled Ben's Biz Blog programming will resume tomorrow. In the meantime, my posts covering my 2015 visit to Brevard County can be read HERE.
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Guest Post: Recapping a Grapefruit League Road Trip
Jae Canetti is an eighth-grade student and an avid baseball fan from the Washington, D.C. area. Next year, he will be attending Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology, where he hopes to play baseball for the Colonials and study astrophysics.
Last month, he and his family visited Spring Training ballparks throughout the Grapefruit League, many of which host Florida State League ballparks during the regular season. Jae, a long-time reader of this blog, now shares his experience:
On March 18, 2016, after months of counting down to my family's long-planned trip to Spring Training in Florida, I woke up to my dad blasting "Centerfield" by John Fogerty in my ear and dancing around like Christmas had come early. With the song playing on repeat, my parents and I packed everything up, hopped into our Honda and set out down I-95.
We were greeted at the Florida Welcome Center by free orange juice and a giant banner advertising Spring Training as one of Florida's main attractions. An entire corner of the building was filled with brochures about spring baseball and decorated with pennants for each of the 15 Major League teams that make up the Grapefruit League.
Our itinerary took us to seven Spring Training facilities over the span of a week. We began at Champion Field in Disney World, where we saw the Braves host Miguel Cabrera and the Detroit Tigers.
Before the game, we were treated to the sight of a laid-back Miggy taking infield practice while appearing to urge the Tigers coaches not to hit those grounders at him too hard.
We also ventured over to the Braves' minor league complex behind the stadium where I, a Minor League Baseball fanatic, sought out and found some of the team's top prospects. I obtained autographs from Ozzie Albies and Touki Toussaint, the Braves' #3 and #6 prospects, respectively.
Most exciting for me, however, was my conversation with Dansby Swanson, the Braves' top prospect (the #8 overall prospect in Major League Baseball) and last year's first overall draft pick. He and Trey Keegan, a catcher in the Braves organization, were nice enough to take a picture with me, even though I was wearing some of my Tigers gear from Little League. Meeting and talking to these two guys was a highlight of my trip and I can't thank them enough.
We then launched ourselves to Space Coast Stadium, where the Nationals were ending their final spring before leaving Viera for a new home in West Palm Beach.
As Nationals devotees, my father and I came to the park determined to buy Nationals hats with the 2016 Spring Training patch on the side. As a cap collector, this purchase was at the top my trip agenda. The hats were flying off of the shelves, but we managed to grab a pair.
Sporting our new caps, we watched one of the last games that the Nationals would ever play in Viera. They won it on the strength of a home run by Wilson Ramos and a two-run double by Ryan Zimmerman.
Due to some pre-trip confusion, we scheduled our next stopover at the Mets' Spring Training home in Port St. Lucie on a day when they were playing in Tampa (oops). Having made this realization, we rejiggered our plans and used this location as our jumping-off point to Roger Dean Stadium in Jupiter. My dad had purchased special tickets that allowed us to enter an hour before the gates usually opened to watch batting practice, and what we saw when we got to the gates was shocking.
Roger Dean Stadium is shared by the St. Louis Cardinals and the Miami Marlins, who happened to be playing each other that day. We came to the park expecting a somewhat equal balance of Marlins and Cards fans. Instead, we were greeted at the gates by a sea of Cardinals red. The entire stadium was filled with the Cardinals faithful, and not a Marlins fan was anywhere to be seen. Marlins fans, your team plays here too. To make things worse, the Cards were designated as the "home team" that day, meaning that even the PA announcer was on the Cardinals' side.
Our seats for this game were… well… not seats. The game sold out long before we arrived in Jupiter — apparently to Cardinals fans exclusively — so the only remaining tickets were standing-room-only. My dad and I chose the section along the left field line near the Marlins' bullpen.
If you're one of those people who buys a standing-room-only ticket and then sneaks behind home plate in the fourth inning while the usher isn't looking (you know who you are … I tried), Cardinals games at Roger Dean Stadium are not for you. At most of the Spring Training games we attended, there was a steady flow of people exiting the stadium by the eighth inning or so. However, at this game, the only people I saw leaving before the last out were two poor Marlins fans (the only ones there) who got kicked out of the stadium for heckling their own team. I knew that the Cardinals may have the most dedicated fan base in baseball, but these fans took Spring Training to a whole new level. Long story short: If you want a seat for a Cardinals game at Roger Dean Stadium, buy a ticket. Early.
Back in Port St. Lucie, we found a batting cage near our hotel. I wanted to take some swings to prepare for my own baseball season. After a few sessions in the cage, a young man asked us how to operate the payment system. After engaging in a short conversation with him, we discovered that we were talking to Christian Montgomery, a New York Mets prospect who will begin this season pitching for Double-A Binghamton. This was my second time talking to professional ballplayers in three days. Talk about getting lucky.
My elation dimmed upon returning to the hotel when we discovered that the Red Sox game we planned to attend the next day in Fort Myers was also sold out. Even standing-room-only tickets were gone. Apparently, Red Sox fans give Cardinals fans a run for their money in Spring Training enthusiasm. We still had to drive to Fort Myers because we had hotel reservations there. However, we were now free to take a detour half a mile up the road to Tradition Field, which the Mets open to the public at no charge from 9:30 until 11:30 each morning. While there, we watched David Wright, Jacob deGrom, Noah Syndergaard, Steven Matz, Bartolo Colon, Curtis Granderson and Yoenis Cespedes go through their morning routines. Manager Terry Collins even wandered over to the fence, spoke to fans, and autographed a ball for me.
After about an hour, we had to leave for Fort Myers on the west coast of Florida. Although there was no way we could get into the Red Sox game, we found out that there were two Minor League games being played at the training complex behind the stadium and decided that we could not pass up the chance to see one of the nicest facilities in the Grapefruit League.
My dad and I ended up watching a game between the Greenville Drive (Class A Red Sox affiliate) and the Delmarva Shorebirds (Class A Baltimore Orioles). As we watched, we heard loud cheers and the famous singing of "Sweet Caroline" coming from inside JetBlue Park as the big league game wound down. Outside, it began to rain in the late innings of the Minor League games that were taking place. After a considerable downpour, the coaches got together and spontaneously called the games off. As a 10-year veteran of Little League Baseball, I can tell you that this was eerily familiar to me. I have had numerous games unceremoniously ended due to weather, never to be completed or rescheduled. Some things never change, do they?
But this was not the end of that day's excitement. Earlier, one of the Orioles' Minor Leaguers chipped his bat. As he walked past me on the way back to the clubhouse, I stopped him and asked him if he needed it. He was incredibly friendly, gave me the broken bat and even signed it. Many thanks to Alejandro Juvier. Your bat is a fantastic souvenir that now has a home in front of my bed.
After Fort Myers, we turned north toward Sarasota to see the Orioles play the Yankees at Ed Smith Stadium. Before the game, we met up with former neighbors who moved to Sarasota last summer. This was fun in and of itself, but as an additional surprise our friends had arranged for us to visit the home of their new friends Fernando and Kristi Cuza. Mr. Cuza is a leading agent for Latin players — including many household names — and they invited us to tour their memorabilia room.
My jaw dropped at the sight of the collection. I would say that the Cuzas' assortment of memorabilia easily rivals a gallery in the National Baseball Hall of Fame (and I've been there — twice). Mrs. Cuza was very gracious with her time and shared many insights into her and her husband's baseball experiences. But the Cuzas' generosity didn't stop there. Mr. Cuza gave me a baseball autographed by Miguel Cabrera!
We then made our way to Ed Smith Stadium, where we witnessed an absolute slugfest. The Orioles hit four home runs and the Yankees slammed two, on top of a few hard-hit doubles. We watched those baseballs fly out of the stadium from what I believe was the best standing-room-only view out of all of the parks we visited.
Our final day found us unexpectedly attending a game between the Philadelphia Phillies and Detroit Tigers at the Phillies' home park of Bright House Field in Clearwater. We originally planned to attend a Blue Jays game in Dunedin, but that game sold out (again). By going to this game, however, we completed an unintentional tour of every National League East camp.
The game turned out to be entertaining, with a late-inning Tigers comeback to rob the Phillies of a win. More importantly, we witnessed Justin Verlander's hilarious bunt and walk to first base that later went viral. If you missed it, Verlander laid down a bunt with two strikes against him and then proceeded to take about two slow steps toward first before being thrown out. As he veered off toward the Tigers' dugout, all of the fans on that side of the stadium let loose with a barrage of light-hearted jeers, to which Verlander responded with an elegant doffing of his helmet.
The final out of that game marked the conclusion of our time in Florida. Over the following days, we drove back home with a new (broken) bat, several autographed baseballs, an assortment of Spring Training gear and a week of memories that will last a lifetime. I can't wait to see what the regular season holds. Go Nationals!
Thanks to Jae for contributing this post, which, not surprisingly, contains no spelling errors. If you find yourself intrigued by the idea of contributing a guest blog post, then get in touch.
Guest Post: Why I Love the Asheville Tourists
It's time for another installment of "Why I Love," in which Minor League fans explain what they love about their favorite team and why. Today's guest writer is Michael James, who lived in Asheville in the summer of 2012 and quickly became enamored with the Tourists and their home of McCormick Park. James is now based in Baltimore; his travel blog can be found HERE.
To see other "Why I Love" guest posts, click HERE. And if YOU would like to write a "Why I Love" guest post, email me at firstname.lastname@example.com
(all photos courtesy of Michael James)
Why I Love the Asheville Tourists, by Michael James
I first experienced one of the coziest stadiums in all of professional baseball during the summer of 2012, when I arrived in town as a curatorial intern at the Asheville Art Museum. Soon, I found myself making the quick drive to McCormick Field on a daily basis, seeing the likes of Trevor Story, Taylor Featherston, Sam Mende, and Will Swanner bludgeon the baseball night after night while getting just enough pitching — led by Tyler Anderson — to produce an overall 88-52 record. This memorable regular season campaign was punctuated by a South Atlantic League championship over the Greensboro Grasshoppers. Managed by the fiery, infamous Joe Mikulik, that team set numerous offensive records, batting .278 and ripping 127 home runs and 335 doubles over their 140-game regular season.
The Tourists' offensive numbers were inflated by the extremely hitter-friendly dimensions of McCormick Field – just 297 feet to right and 373 feet to center. Lazy fly balls hit to right would either clear the 36-foot high wall, which is cut into a hillside that serves as the parking lot for players and fans alike, or bounce high off the fence for a double. Hard-hit shots that would be doubles in almost every other park would become singles due to the short throw back to second base for right fielders, who routinely played near the warning track. In the Colorado Rockies' farm system, numerous players have put up huge numbers during their stints in Asheville. A truer test of those players' abilities has usually come the next season, while playing for Modesto in the Class A Advanced California League.
I went back to Asheville for a weekend last July and took in two more games at McCormick Field, bringing my total to 28 games there over the two and a half months I've spent in that city in total. The 2014 team would again go on to win the South Atlantic League title, posting a superior 89-49 record, including a 43-26 mark at home. I was in attendance for Games Three and Four of their championship series in Hagerstown against the Suns, though, to my extreme annoyance, I was not able to make it to the decisive Game Five. That team featured some of the system's top prospects, including Ryan McMahon, Raimel Tapia, Correlle Prime, and Antonio Senzatela. I loved seeing the Tourists so much that now, as I currently live in Baltimore, I went to watch them on the road in Lakewood, New Jersey, as well as Hagerstown and Salisbury (home of the Delmarva Shorebirds), both in Maryland. I've now visited six of the 14 South Atlantic League stadiums, all in my support of the Tourists.
The baseball itself is one thing. It's a major thing. More than that, though, it's the overall experience that keeps me coming back. It is a difficult thing to convey in words, even for someone who prides himself on his writing, the feeling that one gets when taking in a game on a warm summer's night. Is there anything better than spending three hours in the fresh air enjoying cheap nachos and even cheaper beer amongst like-minded fans, who are all there to enjoy the fellowship and camaraderie of the ballpark?
It's the people.
It's the entertainment and smiles produced by the PA announcer, Rick Rice. Asheville has one of the best in the business in Rice, whose humor and wit makes every between-inning promotion and on-field game a sight to behold. It's the way the Tourists' Spirit Squad gets the crowd on its feet to perform "YMCA" during the seventh-inning stretch. It's the way the Tourists' mascot, Mr. Moon, constantly engages the youngest fans and makes them jump up and down and run through the aisles to give him a hug.
It's the way every usher at McCormick Field would work feverishly to towel off the bleachers after one of Asheville's notorious summer rain showers, and the way every ticket-taker treated fans with kindness and genuinely asked each one of them how they were doing, wishing them a good time at the game.
It's the way I sat behind the Tourists' entire front office at Municipal Stadium in Hagerstown last September, after they made the 453-mile trek up I-81 from Asheville. Right next to the visitors' dugout on the third base line, players and staff interacted with each other so warmly. It's the way Correlle Prime signed every autograph, flashing his huge smile and laughing with opposing fans.
That, to me, is the beauty of baseball. No other sport allows you this daily interaction, this sense of community and togetherness that is fostered night in and night out from April to September. Has it helped that the Asheville Tourists have been great during the two seasons I've been able to watch them? Of course. Everyone loves a winning team. But McCormick Field is so beautiful, and Asheville is such a great town, that it would be a privilege to spend three hours every summer night there to watch the 2003 Detroit Tigers.
I urge everyone to visit McCormick Field at some point. It made a cameo appearance in Bull Durham. It has hosted the "Sultan of Swat." Its venerable history more than makes up for whatever it may lack in modern and cutting-edge amenities. Go on a Thursday night – it is the original home of "Thirsty Thursdays," a promotion many teams have emulated over the years. Your experience there will be one you remember; I can assure you that.
Thanks to Michael for taking the time to write this and, again: If YOU would like to submit a post for this series, then send an email to the address below. In the meantime, here is my 2013 blog account of my visit to McCormick Field (one of my Top 10 favorite ballparks): Part One/Part Two.
Guest Post: Why I Love the Mobile BayBears
It's time for another installment of "Why I Love," in which Minor League fans explain what it is they love about their favorite team and why. Today's guest writer is Brittany Callahan, who has spent countless hours at the Mobile BayBears' home of Hank Aaron Stadium. Her father, Mike, spent 13 seasons as the team's assistant general manager.
To see other "Why I Love" guest posts, click HERE. And if YOU would like to write a "Why I Love" guest post, email me at email@example.com
(All photos from the Ben's Biz collection, unless otherwise noted)
Why I Love the Mobile BayBears, by Brittany Callahan
What is your first thought when I mention the city of Mobile, Alabama? The home of Mardi Gras? Maybe. White sand beaches? Possibly. College football dominance? Probably. Baseball, most likely, is absent from your list. But what is surprising to many, however, is that Mobile has played a huge role in baseball history. Outside of New York and Los Angeles, Mobile claims more Hall of Famers (five) than any other city in America. Those Hall of Famers — Hank Aaron, Willie McCovey, Satchel Paige, Ozzie Smith and Billy Williams — play a large role in making Mobile one of the most storied cities for baseball in the country.
Mobile's rich baseball history can be seen before you even enter Hank Aaron Stadium, which the Baybears — Double-A affiliate of the Arizona Diamondbacks — have called home for eighteen years. In the shadows of the stadium sits Hank Aaron's Childhood Home and Museum. Yes, you read that correctly. Partnering with the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown and Major League Baseball, a few select BayBears staffers relocated the home that Mr. Aaron and his siblings grew up in, from its original location just a few miles away to the stadium grounds. Upon relocating, it was transformed into a museum which houses artifacts from the Aaron family as well as mementos from Hank's journey from childhood to Home Run King. For those who want to see this remarkable piece of Mobile baseball history, tours are available before and during games as well as in the offseason.
The BayBears continue Mobile's tradition of excellence by being perennial playoff contenders, with many of their alumni making an impact in the Major Leagues. The BayBears were originally the Double-A affiliate of the San Diego Padres and, during that time, they won two Southern League championships. They also sent players such as Jake Peavy (who calls Mobile home), Josh Barfield, Jason Bay and Adam Eaton to "The Show." In 2007, the BayBears switched their affiliation to the Arizona Diamondbacks, going on to to win back-to-back Southern League championships in 2011 and 2012. They advanced to the championship series again in 2013, attempting to earn a three-peat (something that had only been done once before in the league) but ultimately lost in the decisive fifth game. Some recognizable BayBears to have debuted in the Majors since 2007 include Max Scherzer, Justin Upton, Carlos Gonzalez, Gerrardo Parra, Mark Reynolds and Paul Goldschmidt.
With the recent addition of baseball legends such as Tony LaRussa, Luis Gonzalez and Randy Johnson to the Arizona Diamondbacks staff, it is not uncommon to see these famous faces walking the concourse of Hank Aaron Stadium to scout their players and coaches. Mr. Hank Aaron has even sat within his namesake stadium to take in a few ballgames while visiting his hometown.
Mobile has been a hotbed for baseball, and notable baseball players, for decades. Now, the BayBears have taken the reigns in leading the sport into the 21st century. I would be hard pressed to think of another Minor League stadium in the country where you can catch future Major League standouts in the hunt for another championship while bumping into Hall of Famers and (in my opinion) a man who can still claim to be the all-time Home Run King. Go BayBears!
Thanks to Brittany for taking the time to write this and, again: If YOU would like to submit a post for this series, then send an email to the address below. In the meantime, here's my 2010 article on the opening of the Hank Aaron Childhood Home and Museum.
Guest Post: Why I Love the Charleston RiverDogs
It's time for another installment of "Why I Love," in which Minor League fans explain what it is they love about their favorite team and why. Today's guest writer is Paul Worley, a long-time supporter of the "abstraction otherwise known as the Charleston baseball club."
To see other "Why I Love" guest posts, click HERE. And if YOU would like to write a "Why I Love" guest post, email me at email@example.com
Why I Love the Charleston RiverDogs, by Paul Worley
(All photos by Paul Worley, unless otherwise noted)
Despite what the tourist brochures may tell you, Charleston, South Carolina, is largely a screen for the projection of history. Little could be said to still happen there. The city has stepped outside of the flow of time, as intentionally anachronistic horse-and-carriages echo down streets that are hardly large enough to accommodate the late-model sports cars owned by the men and women who fly back twice a year to take in a bit of salt air from meticulously reproduced antebellum verandas.
As someone who left Charleston to go to school in the mid-'90s, I return home to find that others have moved in, knocked out the walls and rearranged the furniture. Everywhere, that is, with the exception of the ballpark. Bill Murray (yes, THAT Bill Murray, a.k.a. the RiverDogs' Director of Fun) and the rest of the Goldklang Group brought changes to the team, but as much as possible they have really left things the same. That's why I love the RiverDogs.
The narrator of Louis D. Rubin Jr.'s 1979 short story about Charleston baseball in the 1930s spends his time in-between innings observing a little train over the outfield fence at College Park, one of the oldest Minor League parks in the country and the RiverDogs' original home. He tries to catch it coming or going, but never can. He looks up and it's there, or looks up and it's gone. The train is either at the station or it isn't. The train never moves or changes, but it does. It's an apt metaphor for the team.
In my lifetime, the abstraction otherwise known as the Charleston baseball club has had several names: Patriots, Pirates, Royals, Rainbows and RiverDogs. Before that, the club was known as the Rebels, the Palmettos and the Quakers. Pro baseball in the city was founded in 1886 by two teams: a member of the Southern League of Colored Baseballists called the Fultons; and a Southern Association team known as the Seagulls. Unlike most teams then, the genealogy of the Riverdogs doesn't lead us back to a single man or single team, but to the segregated legacy of the Jim Crow South that, through baseball, results in a kind of unity. White and black, they're all founding fathers of Charleston baseball.
The RiverDogs play at Joe Riley Park, shortened by most fans to "The Joe." Built in 1997, it's among the new wave of parks whose architects, taking a cue from Baltimore's Camden Yards, wove the park into the city. From the backside you can look out over the marsh leading onto the Ashley River with Citadel faculty housing tucked beneath a few oak trees on the shore off to the right. The outfield fence is lined with trees hiding the river just beyond with a tall building or two finishing out a modest skyline.
While the RiverDogs go to great lengths to capture the attention of the casual fan, the team has etched South Carolina's baseball history into the park itself. Camden's own Larry Doby has his number 14 retired out on the centerfield wall, the forlorn hero of Pickens County, Shoeless Joe Jackson, has a small beach named for him just beyond the right field foul line and there is a "Scouts Hall of Fame" located along the main concourse. Every year, during "Larry Doby Heritage Weekend," the team hosts members of the Cannon Street All-Stars, an all-African-American Little League team from Charleston who, in 1955, were denied the opportunity to play in the Little League World Series because they'd won all of their games in the segregated South by forfeit.
Before they were a Yankees affiliate, the RiverDogs were one of the original franchises associated with my favorite team, the Tampa Bay Rays, which means I cheer for certain "Yankees as Riverdogs" while still hoping that New York's American League baseballers finish somewhere north of 100 losses. After all, while they come and go and by definition are trying to get somewhere else, it's the players who make the Charleston experience meaningful.
Hall of Famers, all-time greats and MVPs have played with the Charleston club, and their names are easy enough to find. I'm a big fan of former RiverDogs catcher Francisco Arcia, who, during a "kids day at the (water)park" a few summers ago, walked around the bullpen area with a Super Soaker hosing down everything within 100 feet of him.
Dante Bichette, Jr. once impressed me with his knowledge of vintage minor league uniforms (I was sporting a Durham Bulls jersey from the mid-1990s signed by former RiverDog and Bull Elliot Johnson). I particularly enjoy talking smack to players in Spanish, and I'll forever remember the pitcher (name withheld) who turned around to me in the middle of a game and asked me bluntly, "Y tú, ¿quién eres?" My scorecard from that game notes that this conversation lasted from two outs in the top of the fourth until the seventh inning stretch. My favorite Charleston ballplayer of all-time is the late Tom Saffell. His best memory of playing in Charleston occurred during the 1946 season, while running from first base to second on a routine ground ball. The shortstop, having made the pivot and overanxious to get the runner going to first, drilled Saffell, who was trying to break up the double play in the usual way, square in the head. This happened twice in the same game. There should be a plaque somewhere in the park to honor Saffell and the bungled routines that make life memorable.
Players present constantly intersect with players past, and you get the impression that if you could read them correctly, 30-year-old scorecards and discarded tidbits from the news would reveal tomorrow's starting lineup. Walt "No Neck" Williams managed the Rainbows, so it's unsurprising that Mason Williams, his nephew, would one day turn up in the RiverDogs outfield. Rob Refsynder had a few choice words for University of South Carolina fans after his Arizona team defeated USC in the 2012 College World Series, so naturally Charleston was his first stop after the Yankees drafted him. If L.J. Mazzilli is starting for the visiting Sand Gnats, expect Lee Mazzilli to materialize in the park. When Dante Bichette, Jr. was with the team, you could look up during the inevitable late August thunderstorm rain delays and find Dante Bichette, Sr. seated two rows up from you, eating a hot dog, drinking a Diet Coke and waiting out the rain with the rest of us who never played an inning beyond Little League.
During the South Atlantic League All-Star Game festivities that were held in Charleston in 2012, I had a chance to speak with the Director of Fun himself. He told me that slip-and-sliding on a tarped field during a rain delay is the best thing in the world, and that if I ever got the chance I should go for it. In honor of Rubin, Saffell, and Arcia, and Cannon Street, and the Fultons and the Seagulls, the next time I'm in Charleston I'll take him up on it, if only to tell the cops who arrest me, "With God as my witness, Bill Murray told me it was all good." Because it's better than good, and it'll always be home. That's why I love the Charleston RiverDogs.
Thanks to Paul for taking the time to write this and, again: If YOU would like to submit a post for this series, then send an email to the address below. In the meantime, here's my 2011 "On the Road" post detailing my Charleston RiverDogs experience.
Guest Post: Why I Love the Syracuse Chiefs
It's time for another installment of "Why I Love," in which Minor League fans explains what it is they love about their favorite team, and why. Today's guest writer is Jared Wicks, a Syracuse resident who, over the past decade, has become an ardent supporter of his hometown Chiefs.
To see other "Why I Love" guest posts, click HERE. And if YOU would like to write a "Why I Love" guest post, email me at email@example.com
Why I Love the Syracuse Chiefs, by Jared Wicks
(All photo courtesy of Jared Wicks, unless otherwise noted)
Growing up in Syracuse, New York, I was taught that there were two teams to root for: Syracuse University basketball and Syracuse University football. If you insisted on watching baseball, then there were New York Yankees games on TV. I was also taught that my family's income level would only permit attending a few sporting events each season, and always in the upper, upper deck.
In my youth I was familiar with the Chiefs. But, like many people in the area, I never thought much of them. That changed during the 2004 season, when I was 17. I received some free tickets from my sister, so my friends and I decided to head to the ballpark. Why not? The list of things to do in the area on a minimum wage budget were few and far between. That night, after the seventh inning, my friends and I sneaked down to the lower level seats and watched a man named Russ Adams play for Syracuse. He made an impression on us, largely because of the PA announcer's introduction of "Ruuuussss Ad-dams." Then, just a few days later, my friends and I were at a local sports bar watching the Toronto Blue Jays play against the New York Yankees. Up to plate came a man whom I had recently been just a few feet away from. Yes, Mr. Ruuuuussss Ad-dams.
Ever since that day I've been a die-hard fan. The Chiefs have, without seeming to even try, made me feel important while providing top-notch entertainment. I am certainly not rich, but when I'm at NBT Bank Stadium it's hard not to feel that way. For a small price, you can sit just a few feet away from the baseball stars of yesterday, today and tomorrow. The Chiefs became my little secret, but it wasn't long before all of my friends took to the idea of going to games. In the central New York area there aren't too many entertainment options on a summer night, and it doesn't get much better than being at the ballpark watching players competing within the highest level of the Minors. From my vantage point in section 105, row 1, I've gotten a chance to watch Jayson Werth, Vernon Wells, John Smoltz, Josh Beckett, Melky Cabrera, Bryce Harper and many, many more. I can hear, smell and see everything, and maybe even get to hear the players say "Thank you" after I scream out "Good luck."
In all the time I've been going to games, one of the most important aspects has been getting a chance to meet and become friends with some great people. Unlike bigger sports franchises, Minor League Baseball provides an intimate atmosphere. I have gotten to know many season-ticket holders and fans on a first-name basis — or should I say on a nickname basis? One of my favorites is former season-ticket holder Michael Kendrick. (Or, as we liked to call him, "K Dad.") Kendrick came to every game from 2005-13, and during this time he was responsible for hanging the strikeout "Ks" for the Chiefs pitchers. He also was known for his heckling of players, which he peppered with unique and obscure facts. He might mention a player's interests outside of baseball, or call former Yankee prospect Shelly Duncan by his real name (it's David).
And then there's Dave, who sits in section 207, row 1 at every single game (and many road games, too). While quiet in nature, Dave boasts a vast knowledge of not just Syracuse Chiefs baseball but also politics, social issues and other areas of sports history. And of course I have to mention Lloyd "The Suspect" Broadnax. We call Broadnax "the suspect" because of the catchphrase he uses while heckling the opposing team: "You're not a prospect, you're a suspect!" Broadnax doesn't stop his heckling for even one minute during the game. The writer of this blog, Ben Hill, learned that this past season. Hill was trying to interview him, and during the interview Broadnax would only answer his questions in-between pitches.
(That article can be found HERE).
As if I didn't already have enough reasons to love the Chiefs, management at the ball yard changed hands prior to the 2014 season. Jason Smorol was named general manager, and everything that I always said I would love to do if I owned a Minor League team came to life during his first season. Smorol brought an unmatched energy to the ballpark, introducing great games, promotions, deals and themes that made you not want to miss a single game.
One night, during a rain delay, the Chiefs set up a free miniature golf course on the concourse. I mean, how cool is that?
One promotion that I really became a part of was Tattoo Night. This promo offered me a chance at two great things: One, to get a free Syracuse Chiefs' logo tattoo, courtesy of the Chiefs and sponsor Carmelo's Ink City. Two, that very tattoo now grants me free admission for life to all Chiefs games.
Regardless of the tattoo, the Chiefs are well worth the five dollar cost of admission. They have provided me with years of not just entertainment, but memories. Summer nights with friends, enjoying dollar hot dogs, talking about work and family, watching fireworks, laughing at monkeys dressed as cowboys riding dogs and even seeing things like a perfect game by Columbus Clipper Justin Germano and a four-homer game by the Chiefs' Michael Aubrey. And last season I — and the whole city — was provided with a real chance to get excited. The Chiefs made it to the playoffs for the first time since 1998 and won their first division title since 1989.
Being a fan of the Chiefs has also given me an opportunity to visit other great cities, simply by following the team. Day trips to Rochester, Scranton and even Cooperstown to see them play have allowed me to explore those cities.
Shopping, zoos and landmarks lead to great day trips, which still cost under $100 for two people (including game tickets, gas and food). I even got a chance, in 2011, to watch the Chiefs play the Pawtucket Red Sox at Fenway Park in Boston. The seats we had would have cost $150 face value at a Red Sox game, but they only cost me $22 and that was for a doubleheader.
The cuisine at any ballpark is great, superior to any other sports option in Syracuse. The Chiefs sell Hoffman's Hot Dogs, a central New York staple, a dog so good that Hall of Fame coach Jim Boeheim and Hall of Fame quarterback Roger Staubach became investors. The Chiefs sell these hot dogs at the same price that it would cost you to make one at home and, on Thursdays, for even less than that. My love of all things Canada is satisfied with poutine, and there are also pulled pork sandwiches, salt potatoes (a New York specialty) and even a burger with a hot dog on top of it.
I have recently changed my goals in life, from working as a correction officer to returning to school. I now want to work in sports, preferably Minor League Baseball, and it's all thanks to the Chiefs. I love this team because they love me right back. Unlike at Yankee Stadium or Lambeau Field, there is something to be said for watching a sports team whose staff knows your name, whose ushers know your seat and whose players smile when they hear you say something funny.
While other sports fans in New York may struggle to obtain custom license plates of their favorite teams — they're all taken — GoChiefs was available for me as a way to show my pride. Summer is meant to be spent outdoors, and in central NY there is no cheaper or better option than the Syracuse Chiefs.
Thanks to Jared for taking the time to write this and, again: If YOU would like to submit a post for this series, then send an email to the address below. In the meantime, here's my 2014 "On the Road" post detailing my Syracuse Chiefs experience. Jared even makes a cameo:
Guest Post: Why I Love the Durham Bulls
It's time for another "Why I Love" guest post, in which a Minor League fan explains what it is they love about their favorite team, and why. Today's guest writer is Ken Childs, a proud resident of Durham, North Carolina and, therefore, a proud fan of the Durham Bulls.
To see other "Why I Love" guest posts, click HERE. And If YOU would like to write a "Why I Love" post, email me at email@example.com.
Why I Love the Durham Bulls, by Ken Childs
(All photos courtesy of Ken Childs)
I've been a resident of the beautiful city of Durham, North Carolina my entire adult life. The city has transformed over the last 14 years from what was almost an afterthought of a place into a bustling center for local restaurants, shopping and the arts. And in the middle of all that growth has been (and always will be) the Durham Bulls.
You've probably heard the name: There was a little indie movie made about the Bulls in the 1980s that did okay. The players who have come through here have shaped the Major League Baseball landscape for quite some time. The Bulls have been a consistent model of how teams should be run, and that has been shown in their continual trips to the Governors' Cup playoffs. The list of "what's not to like" about the Bulls, their home of Durham Bulls Athletic Park (DBAP) and their organization as a whole wouldn't be long enough to fill out an index card, let alone this space, so we'll go with "what there is to like" and ramble on for a while all about it!
Durham Bulls Athletic Park, which opened in 1995, is considered "older" now, at least when compared to the Minor League Baseball building boom that's come about over the last decade or so. Nonetheless, you likely won't find a nicer stadium anywhere. On any given summer night, on the corner of Blackwell and Jackie Robinson, you'll find families, friends, couples and desperately single guys alike settled in the beautiful 10,000 seat stadium to take in not only great baseball, but great entertainment in general. And the building itself is what those new stadiums aim to be. You want your Minor League park to be a smaller version of a Major League stadium, downtown, near lots of restaurants and things to do both before and after the game? The DBAP has long been that, before most new stadiums were even a glimmer in an architect's eye.
The DBAP has its own little quirks that make it like no other: There's the bull (of Hit Bull, Win Steak fame), Jackie's Landing (the nicest bar in Durham), the Blue Monster, the grass in the outfield entire families sit on to enjoy a game on a weekend evening and no other shortage of things that make it unique.
For a facility of its caliber, and a team of its caliber, the Durham Bulls are just about as budget-friendly as their mascot, Wool E Bull, is family-friendly (the "E" is short for "Education"…seriously).
The Bulls offer dollar hot dog nights, the best fireworks show anywhere (your town's 4th of July show pales in comparison, I promise) and lots of great coupons and deals to get in on the cheap. And, even if you don't, the most expensive ticket in the place is $15. Admit it: in the past, you've spent a lot more on a lot less.
So that's what there is to love, in general, about the Durham Bulls. Now, why do I love them? For starters, they're my hometown team. At heart I'm a Chicago White Sox fan, and their Triple-A team is down the road in a lesser city in North Carolina playing in the same International League division. But when they come to town, you can only root for one team, and that's going to be the hometown one (even if the Bulls are an affiliate of the Tampa Bay Rays).
At heart I'm a "people person" kind of guy, and the Bulls' entire staff are the same way. From Jatovi (the Bulls on-field announcer and master of ceremonies) to general manager Mike Birling and everyone in between, there's not a single person who won't go out of their way to help a fan make his or her experience amazing. I'm not a needy guy, but anytime I've ever had any issue with anything, there was someone there in a Bulls shirt to lend a hand.
I'm also a sucker for food and cheeky events, and the Bulls have me covered that department as well. There's Food Truck Rodeo night, where all of Durham's best food trucks (and we have many) line up in right field. There's craft beer night, '80s night, '90s night and the always popular Bark in the Park night. The concessions have everything from traditional ballpark food to taco stands to what is truly some of the best BBQ anywhere. So, whatever you're in the mood for, DBAP most likely offers it. The on-field action is always great, but sometimes it's that little extra fun in-between innings that makes the night special.
And, of course, there's the baseball itself. The roster is generally made up of outstanding players who are also outstanding people. Hardly ever do you see a player skip a chance to sign an autograph, grab a picture with a fan or flip an extra ball to a kid in the first few rows. Great players like David Price, Wil Myers, Chris Archer, Craig Albernaz, Desmond Jennings and so many more have spent substantial time here in Durham, and this has led to the knowledge that, at any given ballgame, you're seeing the future of baseball right before your eyes.
The Bulls are always in the hunt for the playoffs, and since moving to Durham in 2001 I've seen them win the International League championship four times. Baseball is always a little bit more fun when your team is winning, and that is rarely a problem here in Bull City.
In short, there are a lot of baseball teams out there, but none are as great as the Durham Bulls. Candlesticks always make a nice gift, but Bulls tickets might be just a little bit nicer.
Thanks to Ken for taking the time to write this and, again: If YOU would like to submit a post for this series, then send an email to the address below. In the meantime, here's my 2011 "On the Road" post detailing my Durham Bulls experience.
Guest Poetry: Mighty Casey is in the Best Shape of His Life
In many parts of the country, the temperature is below freezing and ballparks are blanketed in snow. Images such as these are commonplace:
The thought of warm weather, freshly cut grass and nightly baseball games may seem remote at the moment but Lansing Lugnuts broadcaster (and author) Jesse Goldberg-Strassler is here to remind us Opening Day will soon be upon us.
In this guest post, Goldberg-Strassler channels his inner Ernest Thayer via this offseason-themed rendition of the classic baseball poem "Casey at the Bat." I recommend that this be read aloud, whilst utilizing the most stentorian tone that can be mustered:
The skies were grim in Mudville, snow blanketing the ground.
The wind was fierce and wicked and the flu was going 'round.
Elsewhere throughout the nation 'twas football tackling the day,
Mudvillians cared naught for this, nor for the NBA.
Just one sport could sway their hearts, on this they hung their reason,
The national pastime was still at rest, in the thick of the offseason.
But now Christmas had come and gone, a new year was at hand,
Hall of Fame debate dissipated; Opening Day was being planned.
They knew how last year finished, a reminiscence far from fond,
Mighty Casey choked the game away, leaving two ducks on the pond.
Yet here their hope bloomed anew, banishing all strife;
Last week a columnist reported: "He's in the best shape of his life."
Add to the new Nine roster the gigantic lefty Hill,
A first-rate fireballer costing over $200 mill.
The free agent haul continued with first baseman Steel Magliore,
Projecting 42 roundtrippers (not to mention solid WAR).
Good riddance to old Cooney, farewell to lulu Flynn,
Two traitors chasing paychecks; too bad they'll never win.
"The Mudville Nine are flawless; 'twill be a special year,"
Mighty Casey modestly proclaimed, with no hint of a sneer.
"We've learned from any past mistakes, if you catch my drift —
And, no, I s'pose, I'm not opposed, should they act to ban the shift."
These words did bring Mudvillians strength, all through a hailstorm night,
As if the ice were gopher balls, being blasted out of sight.
Now from the Twitter feed there rose a mighty tweet,
It swept through the school halls, it echoed in the street.
It caromed across Facebook, filt'ring into Instagram
One grandmother proudly printed it and shared it with her fam.
What was it? A picture of a sunset above the field of play,
And the words, modestly imposed, "65 days away."
Thanks to Jesse Goldberg-Strassler for sharing his work, and thank you for reading it. Regular Ben's Biz Blog programming will resume shortly.
Guest Post: Why I Love the Charlotte Knights
It's time for another "Why I Love" guest post, in which a Minor League fan explains what it is they love about their favorite team and why. Today's guest writer is LaMichael Mitchell, a die-hard fan of Charlotte sports in general and the Charlotte Knights in particular.
To see other "Why I Love" guest posts, click HERE. And If YOU would like to write a "Why I Love" post, email me at firstname.lastname@example.com.
Why I Love the Charlotte Knights, by LaMichael Mitchell
(Photos courtesy LaMichael Mitchell, unless otherwise indicated)
When you think of sports in Charlotte, North Carolina, what comes to mind? For many of us, it's the NFL's Carolina Panthers, who are coming off of a playoff appearance. There are also the NBA's Charlotte Hornets, who are once again using the Hornets name after a 12-year absence, as well as college basketball. But for me, a die-hard Charlotte sports fan, it's all about spending summer evenings catching a baseball game inside the warm confines of BB&T Ballpark in uptown Charlotte, cheering on my beloved Charlotte Knights.
Back when I was just 10 years old, in 1994, my parents used to take me to Knights games when they played down in Fort Mill, South Carolina. The team's home in those days was Knights Stadium, and it was there that I learned about the one thing that I love to do when coming to a game: keeping score. That is something that I still do to this very day.
Like many Knights fans, I spent several seasons hoping and wondering: Would the Knights finally come back to a ballpark located within Charlotte city limits? We have a rich and storied baseball heritage here, as Knights alumni include Harmon Killebrew, Tony Oliva, Cal Ripken, Jr., Jim Thome and Manny Ramirez. That dream became a reality in 2014, when we finally saw our team return to its rightful home in Charlotte.
I was there for the Opening Night of BB&T Ballpark, in April of last year, and the experience was truly electrifying. Even though the Knights lost in extra innings to the Norfolk Tides, I still had a fun time witnessing a new chapter in Charlotte baseball history. Whenever I attend a game at BB&T Ballpark, I feel welcomed by a warm and friendly staff that is passionate about making the experience at the ballpark fun. This is certainly true of media relations director Tommy "The V" Viola, and also includes the man that made it all happen for the Knights to return home to Charlotte, COO Dan Rajkowski. And I can't forget Homer the Dragon, as he makes the experience of attending a Charlotte Knights game at BB&T Ballpark fun for kids of all ages.
Along with everything else that I mentioned, I can't forget about the views. The Charlotte skyline is visible from just about anywhere you sit in the ballpark.
I usually choose the seats in left field, where the Charlotte Panthers' home of Bank of America Stadium can be seen in the distance. The view from right field isn't too bad, either.
Baseball in Charlotte has truly been a way of life for over 100 years. With the recent success of BB&T Ballpark in its record-setting inaugural season, it is no wonder why I love coming to a Knights game. The experience is out of this world. If you're from in and around the Charlotte area, or if you're planning to make a visit here during the summer, I would like you to check out a Charlotte Knights game at BB&T Ballpark. Once you attend a game, then you will see for yourself that it's a great way to enjoy a warm summer night here in Charlotte.
Thanks to LaMichael for taking the time to write this and, again: if YOU would like to submit a post for this series, then send an email to the address below. In the meantime, here's my "On the Road" post detailing my Charlotte Knights experience during the 2014 season.
Guest Post: The Number Tamer Returns
In January of 2014, I wrote an MiLB.com article about David "The Number Tamer" Kronheim, a Queens-based "freelance advertising copywriter and marketing research analyst" who annually produces hyper-detailed (and deeply informative) baseball attendance reports. In conjunction with that article, Kronheim contributed a guest post to this blog in which he further elaborated on his methods.
Another year has come and gone, which means that it's once again time to check in with Kronheim. In this, his most recent guest post, he elaborates on 2014's biggest attendance gains throughout Minor League Baseball and the common factor which united them all. Unruly digits beware, the Number Tamer is on the case!
New Cities and New Ballparks Had Big Attendance Increases in the Minor Leagues in 2014
By David Kronheim – Numbertamer.com
The big attendance story in 2014 for the affiliated leagues of Minor League Baseball was the huge increases posted by three teams that moved to new cities or new ballparks.
A Mexican League team moved from Minatitlan to Tijuana. Attendance in Tijuana was 419,169 in 2014, up 298,658 from the 120,511 that this team drew in Minatitlan in 2013.
El Paso opened a great new ballpark, and a Pacific Coast League team moved there from Tucson, where it had drawn 200,077 in 2013. In 2014, the El Paso Chihuahuas attracted 560,997, an increase of 360,920.
The biggest attendance increase in 2014 for any Major League or Minor League Baseball team was by the Charlotte Knights of the International League. They moved from the suburb of Fort Mill, South Carolina to a magnificent new, mass transit-accessible ballpark in the uptown section of Charlotte.
The Knights led Minor League Baseball in total attendance in 2014, drawing 687,715. Their previous high was 403,029, in 1993. The 2014 total was the third best ever by an International League team. Average attendance per date in Charlotte was 9,686, tops among all United States Minor League teams.
In 2013, in Fort Mill, the Knights drew 254,834. Attendance at the new ballpark in 2014 was up 432,881. This was the third-highest increase in Minor League history for a team that moved from one ballpark to another in the same geographic market. Buffalo had a 650,891 increase when they moved into a new park in 1988. Memphis posted a 462,512 gain in 2000, the year they relocated from Tim McCarver Memorial Stadium. (Tim McCarver says that the 'Memorial' part of that stadium's name was in memory of his throwing arm.)
Tijuana, El Paso and Charlotte had a combined 2014 attendance increase of 1,092,459. Such huge growth by teams moving to new markets and/or new ballparks has not been unusual in recent decades within the Minor Leagues.
Much of the tremendous growth in Minor League Baseball attendance since the late 1970s has been the result of so many markets opening new ballparks, either for a team they already have or to attract a new team. Here are some examples:
The first of a new era of Minor League ballparks was Cooper Stadium in Columbus, Ohio. In 1977, the Clippers moved there from Memphis, and attendance increased from 364,278 to 457,251. From 1953 through 1976 only one U.S. team, Hawaii in 1970, had drawn that well. In 1979, Columbus drew 599,544, the highest Minor League total since the San Francisco Seals of the Pacific Coast League drew 606,563 in 1948.
Columbus got a new park in 2009 and continues to be one of the best draws in the Minors. In 2014, the Clippers drew 628,980. It was the fifth time in the last six years that the Clippers topped 600,000, and the 28th time in 36 seasons that they drew above 500,000.
In 1982, a team moved from Springfield, Illinois to Louisville and began to shatter attendance records. The 1982 Louisville club drew 868,418, breaking the then-Minor League record of 670,563 by the 1946 San Francisco Seals.
Louisville's gain of 747,881 from the 120,537 that the franchise drew in Springfield in 1981 is still the biggest year-to-year attendance increase in Minor League history. In 1983, Louisville became the first Minor League team to draw one million, averaging 16,191 per date. That year, Louisville outdrew three Major League teams (Cleveland, Minnesota and Seattle) in total attendance, and those teams plus Cincinnati and the New York Mets in average per date.
Louisville has now topped 560,000 for 15 straight seasons. The Bats have drawn better than 500,000 in 29 seasons, more often than any other team.
As noted earlier, the Buffalo Bisons had a 650,891 increase in 1988 when they moved to Pilot Field (now Coca Cola Field). The Bisons had drawn 495,760 in 1987 at War Memorial Stadium, which was quite an accomplishment. The old park had been home to the Buffalo Bills until 1973, and was where the acclaimed baseball film The Natural was shot. But this facility had seen better days.
Pilot Field was the prototype for all the retro-minded ballparks that have been built since then. It was designed with Major League expansion in mind, and the fans in western New York certainly made the effort to convince MLB to give them a team. In 1988 the Bisons drew a Minor League record 1,146,651 fans. They went on to top the one million each season through 1993, led by 1991's total of 1,188,972 (1,240,951 including post-season games). No team has reached a million since 1993, but, through 2014, attendance in Buffalo has been above 500,000 in a record-setting 27 straight seasons.
In 1994, Salt Lake City got a Pacific Coast League team from Portland, Oregon. Attendance rose 527,214.
Starting in the 1990s, teams from some of the lower classifications posted huge gains as a result of relocation. In the Class A Midwest League, the 1994 move of Waterloo to West Michigan (near Grand Rapids) resulted in a gain of 423,883. Also in the Midwest League, in 1996, the Lansing Lugnuts drew 498,858 above their 1995 attendance figures in Springfield, Illinois.
In 2000, five teams playing in brand-new ballparks had a combined increase of 2,486,321 over what those franchises drew in 1999. Louisville opened a new park, and their attendance rose 324,444. A new park in Memphis resulted in a gain of 462,512. Sacramento drew 861,808, a then-record high for a Pacific Coast League team, and 620,347 above what the franchise had attracted in Vancouver in 1999. Round Rock, then in the Texas League, drew a Double-A record of 660,110 (up 560,870 from what the team drew in Jackson, Mississippi in 1999).
In 2000, Dayton drew 581,853, then the highest-ever in Class A. This was a gain of 518,148 from their 1999 totals in Rockford, Illinois. The Dayton Dragons have been an incredible success story, topping 570,000 every year, and they now have the 15 highest attendance totals ever in Class A. They've sold out all 1,051 home dates that they've played, including playoffs and two league All-Star games. This is the longest sellout streak in North American pro sports history! The Boston Red Sox, whose sellout streak covered 794 regular season and 26 postseason dates, hold the Major League (in any sport) sellout streak record.
There have been more huge attendance increases posted since 2000. In the Class A South Atlantic League in 2001, Lakewood and Lexington each drew more than 420,000 above the 2000 attendance totals they had posted in Cape Fear and Kissimmee. respectively.
The top short-season team increase took place in 2001. The Brooklyn Cyclones drew 289,381, which was then the highest attendance ever by a short-season team. The gain was 250,719 above what they had attracted while playing in Queens in 2000. The Cyclones compete in a location unlike any other in pro baseball. MCU Park is right off of the famed boardwalk at Coney Island, overlooking the Atlantic Ocean and the amusement rides. Brooklyn has led all short-season teams in attendance every year, topped by a record-high 317,124 total — and 8,345 average per date — in 2002. Throughout their history, Brooklyn has achieved a higher average per date than nearly all teams below the Class AAA level.
Honors for the best gain since 2000 go to Frisco of the Texas League. In 2003, the RoughRiders drew 666,977 — 642,408 more than the team they replaced drew in Shreveport in 2002.
Tijuana, which had a big gain with a new team in 2014, also got a new team in 2004. They drew 474,573 more fans than the Dos Laredos club they had replaced. The team left Tijuana after the 2008 season.
Also in 2008, the Lehigh Valley IronPigs (Allentown, Pennsylvania) reached 602,033 in their inaugural season. This marked a 475,139 increase from the total of 126,894 the franchise drew in Ottawa in 2007. (This club's name comes from the term 'pig iron,' which is used to make steel.) The IronPigs are the only team to top 600,000 in each of the past 7 years. Their ballpark seats 8,089, making it one of the smallest Triple-A parks. In the team's seven seasons, attendance has exceeded the seating capacity of the ballpark 392 times in 491 dates (including the postseason). They've sold out all seats, lawn seating and standing room in 132 of those dates.
More new ballpark-related increases may come to Minor League Baseball in 2015. Biloxi, Mississippi gets a Southern League team, the Shuckers, who moved from Huntsville, Alabama. A short-season New York-Penn League team relocated from Jamestown, New York, to Morgantown, West Virginia, where it will share a new ballpark with West Virginia University. The Nashville Sounds open First Tennessee Park, which, just like the old park, will have a guitar-shaped scoreboard in recognition of Nashville's role as the 'Music City.'
You can get much more information about 2014 and historical Minor League and Major League Baseball attendance from my website – numbertamer.com. Just go to the 'Baseball Reports' page on the site to get your free downloads of the attendance analysis reports.
Thanks to David Kronheim for once again taking the time to share his expertise. Meanwhile, if YOU have Minor League Baseball-related expertise that you would like to share then please get in touch with me about the possibility of writing a guest post.


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In terms of revenue, chemicals was leading segment in bulk container packaging market and it accounted for over 47% market share of total market in 2014. The food & beverages was second largest segment of bulk container packaging in 2014. Pharmaceutical is expected to witness grow at sluggish rate in the near future. Geographically, the market is segmented into North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America and Middle East and Africa. North America acquired the majority of share bulk container packaging market in 2014 and accounted for over 28% of the overall market. North America followed by Europe and Asia Pacific in terms of demand for bulk container packaging. In terms of revenue, Asia Pacific was predicted to be the fastest growing region in the forecast period. Europe is expected to grow at a moderate rate owing to the changing global chemical exports development.
For the original version including any supplementary images or video, visit Global Bulk Container Packaging Market Poised to Surge from USD 2427.00 Million in 2014 to USD 5035.00 Million by 2022 – MarketResearchStore.Com – Yahoo Finance
It's a great exercise in showing off your edgy side, so you want to find the best punk hairstyles you could ever wear. Ahead of the Trend: 5 New York Fashion Week Hairstyles to Try Right Now Ah, the frenzy of New York Fashion Week is here. 30 Gorgeously Chic Hairstyles to Try Before 30 Your hair is the "crown" on your head, and there's so much you can do with it! Works InStyle is a registered trademark of Time Inc. Street style, more so than the red carpet or any other celebrity stomping ground, is the largest indicator of whether last season's runway trends have actually taken off—or if the style set has simply gone rogue. There is a Mad Men-inspired hairstyle for everyone. We advocate amping up the wow factor with thoughtfully applied make-up and the perfect "look at her!"


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Haeinsa Condotel - Manila - Philippines
Haeinsa Condotel - ManilaHaeinsa Condotel
Address: Barangay Pinyahan, 23 Makisig Street
Phone Number: +6324338931
Geolocation: 14.633583, 121.045815
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Haeinsa Condotel average rating
7.5 out of 10 based on 125 user reviews.
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Haeinsa Condotel - Manila Description
Haeinsa Condotel is conveniently located in the popular Quezon City area. The hotel offers a high standard of service and amenities to suit the individual needs of all travelers. To be found at the hotel are 24-hour security, 24-hour room service, Wi-Fi in public areas, car park, room service. Guestrooms are fitted with all the amenities you need for a good night's sleep. In some of the rooms, guests can find towels, air conditioning, wake-up service, desk, soundproofing. Access to the hotel's massage will further enhance your satisfying stay. Haeinsa Condotel combines warm hospitality with a lovely ambiance to make your stay in Manila unforgettable.
Haeinsa Condotel - Manila classifies itself as a 3 star hotel.
N.B. Please note that the star ratings are interpreted generously by the hotels in many countries.
N.B. Please note that the star ratings are interpreted generously by the hotels in many countries.
Haeinsa Condotel - Manila Facilities
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Haeinsa Condotel Hotel Facilities
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Haeinsa Condotel Sports and Recreation
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reserve your discounted Haeinsa Condotel room now!
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MMA Forum - UFC Forums - UFC Results - MMA Videos (http://www.mmaforum.com/forumindex.php)
- UFC (http://www.mmaforum.com/ufc/)
- - UFC 156 poster (http://www.mmaforum.com/ufc/108034-ufc-156-poster.html)
UFC 156 poster
ahhhhh the upcoming cards are mouthwatering.
Reem V Bigfoot and Rashad V Lil Nog are seemingly easy to predict but Aldo and Frankie has been a dream fight for me for a very long time. I can't believe it's finally happening!
1 Attachment(s)
Reem obviously will decimate Bigfoot, and Aldo Edgar, I have no freaking clue. That definitely is a dream fight, and I too cannot believe it's going to happen. I have no prediction for that fight. I'll just sit back and enjoy the show.
i could see lil nog winning because I don't believe in rashad's striking, but I could more likely see rashad grinding him down with a stalemate decision ala davis vs lil nog
Reem will destroy Bighead, oops i mean Bigfoot.
and I find Frankie V Aldo hard to tip aswell except we know Frankie can **** with absolute killers and we saw Aldo struggle a little with Hominick and Kenny.
I think Aldo will impress in the first 3 rounds but Frankie will come on strong in the championship rounds, possibly finishing in the 5th or getting a 10-8. It really could be a draw, 10-9 Aldo, 10-9 Aldo, 10-9 Aldo, 10-9 Frankie, 10-8 Frankie.
I've got Reem by murder.
I've also got Aldo by FOTY split decision. Can't wait for that fight.
Reem Flying Knee ko Round 1
Edgar Dec
I think Evans and Lil Nogs striking is even. Because i believe Rashad has the speed and power advantage but Lil Nog might be a bit more technically sound and have better accuracy. Also Rashad has a habit of getting rocked in his fights. Though i see Rashad taking Lil Nog down at will even if he gets rocked.
Rashad has better head kicks imo too. Though he does not use them that often.
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World Rowing Championships tickets go on sale
The 2017 World Rowing Championships will be held at Nathan Benderson Park in Sarasota.Read More
Duane 'Dog' Chapman will share his life story at The Source Church.
Greenbrook woman wages marathon struggle against Usher syndrome.
Congregation hopes its new building becomes a hub of activity.
Officials schedule workshops to teach rationale behind the sales tax.
A Summerfield author has written a guide to fostering pooches.


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Product category
Extra Virgin Olive Oil
- Arbequina EVOO-200 ml.
- Arbequina EVOO-375 ml.
- Arbosana EVOO - 375 ml.
- Arbosana EVOO- 200 ml.
- Don Carlo EVOO-South Africa-200 ml
- Don Carlo EVOO-South Africa-375 ml
- Hojiblanca EVOO-200 ml
- Hojiblanca EVOO-375 ml.
- Koroneiki EVOO-BEST OF SHOW- 375ml
- Koroneiki EVOO-BEST OF SHOW-200 ml
- Oro Bailen Picual EVOO- 200 ml.
- Oro Bailen Picual EVOO 375 ml.
- Pendolino EVOO -200 ml.
- Pendolino EVOO -375 ml.
- z
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Flavoured Olive Oils
- Basil 200ml
- Basil 375ml
- Blood Orange 200ml
- Blood Orange 375ml
- Butter 200ml
- Butter 375ml
- Eureka Lemon Fused 200ml
- Eureka Lemon Fused 375ml
- Garlic 200ml
- Garlic 375ml
- Harissa 200ml
- Harissa 375ml
- Herbs de provence 200ml
- Herbs de provence 375ml
- Milanese Gremolata 200ml
- Milanese Gremolata 375ml
- Persian Lime 200ml
- Persian Lime 375ml
- Tuscan Herb 200ml
- Tuscan Herb 375ml
- Wild Dill Infused Olive Oil, 200ml
- Wild Dill Infused Olive Oil, 375ml
- Wild Mushroom and Sage 200ml
- Wild Mushroom and Sage 375ml
Dark Balsamic Vinegars
- Black Currant Dark Balsamic 200ml
- Black Currant Dark Balsamic 375ml
- Blackberry Ginger 200ml
- Blackberry Ginger 375ml
- Blueberry Balsamic Condimento 200ml
- Blueberry Balsamic Condimento 375ml
- Cinnamon Pear 200ml
- Cinnamon Pear 375ml
- Dark Chocolate 200ml
- Dark Chocolate 375ml
- Espresso 200ml
- Espresso 375ml
- Fig 200ml
- Fig 375ml
- Pomegranate 200ml
- Pomegranate 375ml
- Raspberry 200ml
- Raspberry 375ml
- Red Apple 200ml
- Red Apple 375ml
- Strawberry 200ml
- Strawberry 375ml
- Traditional Style Condimento 200ml
- Traditional Style Condimento 375ml
- Vermont Maple 200ml
- Vermont Maple 375ml
- Violet Dark Balsamic, 200 ml.***STAFF FAVOURITE***
- Violet Dark Balsamic, 375 ml.***STAFF FAVOURITE***
White Balsamic Vinegars
- Alfoos Mango 200ml
- Alfoos Mango 375ml
- Coconut 200ml
- Coconut 375ml
- Cranberry Pear 200ml
- Cranberry Pear 375ml
- Honey Ginger 200ml
- Honey Ginger 375ml
- Jalapeno White Balsamic Vinegar Condimento 200ml
- Jalapeno White Balsamic Vinegar Condimento 375ml
- Lemongrass Mint 200ml
- Lemongrass Mint 375ml
- Oregano White Balsamic Vinegar Condimento 200ml
- Oregano White Balsamic Vinegar Condimento 375ml
- Pomegranate-Quince White Balsamic, 200 ml
- Pomegranate-Quince White Balsamic, 375 ml
- Ripe Peach 200ml
- Ripe Peach 375ml
- Sicilian Lemon 200ml
- Sicilian Lemon 375ml
- Special Items
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Products listing
- $25.00
A connoisseur's olive oil. If you like the flavor and aroma of White Truffle, then you'll love this oil. Made in Italy in an artisan fashion without the use of any extracts, this olive oil is smooth, while having an unmistakable intense white truffle flavor. Makes a great finishing oil for many Mediterranean dishes, in mashed potatoes or try it drizzled on popcorn! It also makes an amazing aioli. A little goes a long way, so use sparingly!$25.00
- $21.00
This aged Balsamic Vinegar is amazingly complex, with layers of authentic espresso and dark roasted coffee. It makes a fantastic glaze or bar-b-que base for pork, beef or chicken. Add a shot to an "affogatto float", which calls for a tall mug of vanilla gelato scoops covered with coffee.
Our naturally flavored balsamic condimento is aged in the traditional Solera Method and comes from Modena, Italy.$21.00
- $21.00
This dark chocolate Balsamic Vinegar is rich, thick and resounds with the complexity of three different chocolates responsible for the depth of its' flavor. Drizzle over vanilla gelato, mix with fresh berries or add zing to your chicken mole sauce.
Our naturally flavored balsamic condimento is aged in the traditional Solera Method comes from Modena, Italy.$21.00
- $15.00
Our Alfoos Mango White Balsamic Condimento pairs exquisitely with our Persian Lime Olive oil. Also fantastic with shrimp, scallops, salad and in salsas for a tropical, sweet-tart twist! The Alfoos mango cultivar is considered by many to be one of the best in terms of sweetness, richness and flavor.$15.00
- $15.00
Arbequina EVOO
Mild Intensity
*Crush Date: NOVEMBER 2015
This delicate Arbequina displays initial ripe fruity notes of olive, followed by a savory almond center & a slight pepper finish. Balanced
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*DAGs: 90.2 *PPP: 2.0Organoleptic Taste Panel Assessment:
Fruitiness: 4.8 Bitterness: 3.0 Pungency: 4.3 *As measured at the time of crush. Country of origin: (SPAIN)


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Thyroid cancer risk for 2,000 Fukushima workers: TEPCO
Around 2,000 people who have worked at Japan's wrecked Fukushima nuclear plant face a heightened risk of thyroid cancer, its operator said Friday.
Around 2,000 people who have worked at Japan's wrecked Fukushima nuclear plant face a heightened risk of thyroid cancer, its operator said Friday.
(HealthDay)—There were about 4,300 fewer than expected cases of cancer among people in Sacramento County, Calif., in the two decades after the closure of the Rancho Seco nuclear reactor, according to a new study.
A proposed study could help determine if there is a link between living near nuclear power plants or other nuclear facilities and having a higher risk of cancer, but challenges and limitations exist, says a new report from ...
(PhysOrg.com) -- With more than 15 million endoscope procedures done on patients each year in the U.S. alone, scientists today reported evidence that a new version of these flexible instruments for diagnosing and treating ...
Life begins at 40, but not for a small and ageing fleet of nuclear reactors vital for millions of life-saving medical procedures each year and using material that could go in an atomic bomb.
(AP) -- Japan is ordering more tests on rice growing near a crippled nuclear plant after finding elevated levels of radiation, government officials said Saturday.
What ills do we risk from radiation to which we are exposed naturally, by choice, or by accident? The question looms large in the aftermath of the meltdown of fuel rods from nuclear reactors at the Fukushima Daiichi power ...
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2.32 ct. Created Ruby and .20 ct. t.w. Diamond Earrings in 14k White Gold
Item #: 216160 | Model #: AE1204DS-RTD |
Price includes shipping
- $ 249 00 249.00
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^Free shipping (if noted above) is available within the continental U.S. only. Offer excludes Alaska and Hawaii. Shipping to AK or HI adds a location surcharge to the regular rate. Delivery estimates, taxes, and fees are based on ZIP Code. Club Pickup orders are based on your club's current price and item availability on the day of payment.
About this itemAchieve a lavish look with these elegant created ruby and diamond earrings
Ruby, the birthstone for July, is known to be one of the most precious stones. Show her you care with these eye catching ruby and diamond earrings!
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- Gemstones total approximately 2.32 ct.
- .20 ct. t.w. diamonds
- 50x.004 I-I1 single cut round diamonds
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Jeffrey Loria continues to solidify his position as the worst owner in professional sports. Â As Jeff Passan writes
Miami Marlins owner Jeffrey Loria personally mandated the lineup card change that flip-flopped starting pitchers Jose Fernandez and Ricky Nolasco in a doubleheader Tuesday and left Marlins players furious with his continued meddling, three sources with knowledge of the situation told Yahoo! Sports.
Loria insisted Fernandez, the team's prized 20-year-old rookie, pitch in the first half of the doubleheader at frigid Target Field instead of the scheduled Nolasco because the day game was expected to be warmer. The temperature at Fernandez's first pitch (38 degrees) was actually colder than at the beginning of Nolasco's start (42 degrees).
Rookie manager Mike Redmond delivered the news to Nolasco about 2½ hours before the first game against the Minnesota Twins, and it did not go over well with him or his teammates. Standard protocol for doubleheaders is that veterans choose which game they want to pitch. Not only did Loria ignore that and further alienate Nolasco, the Marlins' highest-paid player who has previously requested a trade, he sabotaged Redmond less than 20 games into his managerial career.
By overstepping boundaries no other owner in baseball would dare, Loria presented Redmond with a Catch-22: listen to the man who signs his paycheck and risk drawing the players' ire, or refuse to kowtow to Loria's requests and find himself at the mercy of the owner's short fuse.
So there was no short term payoff and a long term cost but Loria did it anyway.
Following an offseason in which they shed more than $100 million in payroll during an epic fire sale, the Marlins are 5-17, the worst record in baseball. Their beautiful new stadium sits practically empty on a nightly basis, even as the team gives away tickets. Neither free seats nor a public-relations barrage meant to spin Loria and Marlins president David Samson in a positive light seems to be working.
The arrival of Fernandez tried to maximize goodwill. For a low-revenue team such as the Marlins, prioritizing service-time consideration instead is of the utmost importance. Loria ignored that, preferring the splash the young Fernandez could make upon a sterling debut.
And indeed he has started well – too well, arguably, to send him to the minor leagues, which means Fernandez will be a free agent after six seasons. Had the Marlins stashed him in the minor leagues for the season's first 11 days – a time during which Fernandez made only one start – he would not have been eligible for free agency until 2019.
No players enjoy hitting the open market more than the Marlins', some of whom refer to free agency as parole. The only true way to build a winner, absent another misguided spending spree, is by changing that perception – by making Miami the sort of franchise for which players want to play.
The latest incident from Loria is simply another reminder: That will never happen as long as he runs the team. After more than a decade as an owner, Loria remains naïve to the real goings-on of a clubhouse – of how an incident such as this doesn't just affect Nolasco but filters down to his teammates and even the purported beneficiary, Fernandez.


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A Cool Crawler
Oftentimes, singer-songwriter types are unfairly branded as wimps and wussies, especially when their music de-emphasizes edge in favor of emo. Fortunately, Pete Yorn has managed to find a happy medium. His third studio album, Nightcrawler, marks a quantum leap forward in terms of both urgency and impact, a creative advance that sweeps him from the ranks of the also-rans to that of an artist with a distinctive voice all his own. That's no small accomplishment, but Nightcrawler shows that even in the relative infancy of his career, Yorn's become a master at nailing surging refrains that often boost his melodies to anthemic proportions. It takes a single listen to bear out this conclusion, and while his faithful cover of Warren Zevon's "Splendid Isolation" is arguably the set's best song, it's surrounded by solid offerings of Yorn's own invention. If a great artist is defined by the quality of his material, then Yorn's pedigree is ample indeed.
Pete Yorn performs Friday, November 3, at Revolution, 200 W. Broward Blvd., Fort Lauderdale. Doors open at 7 p.m. Tickets cost $23. Call 954-727-0950, or visit www.jointherevolution.net.
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The Best part of FallLearn More
Roundhouse is now availableLearn More
Octoberfest now availableLearn More
#CrownsforaCureLearn More
Get to know OatsmobileLearn More
Say cheers to fall with our latest Untappd badge
Join us Oct 3 for an Octoberfest inspired Beer Dinner
Our Chefs Share Some of their Favorite Recipes for Pairing with Best Brown Ale
New look: Special Double Cream Stout's label highlights complex malt blend
A look back at the history of Best Brown
Roll Out the Barrel
On Sunday. Oct. 9 at 11 a.m., we'll be rolling out over 25 barrel-aged beers at the Eccentric Café for our Fourth Annual Roll Out the Barrel celebration.
Tickets are not required for this event, but quantities of these specialty brews are limited.
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RT @IndyGPO: 31 taps PLUS meet Laura Bell of @BellsBrewery at @TheTapMassAve on Oct. 21st! https://t.co/cFUINyLHAW
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A huge step on our way to Texas in 2017! Proud to announce & work with our new distributor partners:… https://t.co/eXNaavRQWE
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Brewery News
New packaging also means new crowns!
As part of our new packaging rollout, most, if not all, of our bottled beers will get their own...
A look back at the history of Best Brown
Fall is here and it means it's time for Best Brown Ale, our fall seasonal. Best Brown was first...
B1 BEER: GET TO KNOW Imperial Red Ale, A BEER dry-hopped more than Hopslam
This post is part of an occasional series looking at the beers we develop at our original brewery,...
Squash and Zucchini Fritters with Butter Pecan Ice Cream and Best Brown Caramel Sauce
To celebrate the fall season, our chefs have created some Best Brown inspired dishes. They'll...


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Timeline: The Iraq War
Explore this interactive timeline detailing the U.S.–Iraq War since the 2003 invasion.
Interviewee: Charles Duelfer, Former Deputy Chairman of the UN Special Commission on Iraq, Former Head of the CIA-Led Iraq Survey Group
Interviewer: Greg Bruno, Staff Writer, CFR.org
March 17, 2009
The failed U.S. military and intelligence strategies in Iraq have undergone intense scrutiny since the ouster of Saddam Hussein in 2003. And perhaps no piece of the puzzle is more fraught with controversy than the now-debunked conclusion that Iraq possessed weapons of mass destruction (WMD). But Charles Duelfer, who served as deputy chairman for the UN weapons inspection organization in Iraq during much of the 1990s and later led a CIA investigation into Hussein's weapons program, says the biggest prewar failure was misreading the country's societal and political currents.
"Mindsets and biases were constructed both in Baghdad and in Washington where the assumption was that, frankly, Saddam would be crazy not to have weapons of mass destruction," says Duelfer, who in 2004 was head of the Iraq Survey Group, the CIA-led weapons inspection team established after the war started. "So there is this long trail of history where in essence there was only one hypothesis that the intelligence community, and intelligence communities around the world, had, which was that Saddam was retaining a WMD capability. When you have one hypothesis you tend to only see data that supports that hypothesis."
Duelfer, who has detailed his experiences investigating Iraq's weapons program in a new book, Hide and Seek: The Search for Truth in Iraq, says the failure to correctly read Iraq's capabilities should serve as a warning to Washington when dealing with other hard-to-gauge countries, especially Iran. While U.S. intelligence experts may know more about Iran's political dynamics than they did about Iraq's political structure under Hussein, serious gaps in understanding the Islamic republic's weapons programs remain, Duelfer says: "We are perhaps better informed than we were about the Iraqi WMD case and nuclear program, but there is still vast uncertainty about that, particularly with respect to intentions."
Terms of Use: I understand that I may access this audio and/or video file solely for my personal use. Any other use of the file and its content, including display, distribution, reproduction, or alteration in any form for any purpose, whether commercial, noncommercial, educational, or promotional, is expressly prohibited without the written permission of the copyright owner, the Council on Foreign Relations. For more information, write email@example.com.
Explore this interactive timeline detailing the U.S.–Iraq War since the 2003 invasion.
Despite political uncertainty and a recent uptick in violence, the United States is winding down military operations in Iraq, a drawdown ...
As Iraq's pre-election crisis deepens, Iraq analyst Reidar Visser says Washington must do more to counter the sectarian agenda emerging in...
The recent spate of bombings in Baghdad is testing the U.S. commitment to withdrawal, and Iraqi political leaders' ability to maintain their...


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Diamond action continues for Rayne High teams
TURNS ON A SLAP - Lady Wolf McKenzie Meche turns on a slap bunt during Rayne High softball action. (Acadian-Tribune Photo by Lisa Soileaux)
By Lisa Soileaux
The Rayne High Wolves participated in the Rayne Booster Tournament over the weekend at Gossen Memorial Park where they picked up another two wins, placing them at 12-1.
In their opening contest Friday evening, the Wolves shutout St. Martinville, 4-0.
Hunter Meche was tagged with the win on the mound for the Wolves.
TJ Bearb was 3-for-3 at the plate recording 3 RBIs for the Wolves. Helping spread 9 Rayne hits were Gannon Quebodeaux and Blase Meche each with 2, and singles by Keely and Brice Meche.
In their second contest on Saturday, the Wolves only needed five innings for an 11-0 shutout of West Feliciana.
Hunter Keely threw the win recording 10 strikeouts on the mound behind a strong Rayne defense.
Leading at the plate were Brice Meche, Tyler LeJeune and Grant Abshire, each going 2-for-3. Also collecting hits were TJ Bearb, Ty Delahoussaye, Grant Menard and Keely.
In district action on Thursday, the Wolves improved their tally to 2-0 with an 11-3 win at LaGrange High.
Delahoussaye collected the win for the Wolves with 3 K's and 3 hits in five innings. Jaylen Reed finished up the final two innings with 2 K's and 3 hits.
Rayne's Bearb and Keely were both 3-5 at the plate, followed closely by LeJeune, Quebodeaux and Meche each with two.
In their first district win on Tuesday at Washington Marion, the Wolves turned in 11 hits in five innings for a 12-2 win.
Kameron Falcon collected the win on the mound with 3 K's while allowing 6 hits for the Wolves.
The trio of Keely, LeJeune and Menard were 2-for-3 at the plate, each with 2 RBIs.
Adding to the hitting barrage were Bearb, Delahoussaye and Abshire.
The Wolves were slated to host Redemptorist Tuesday afternoon, followed by a district game Thursday when they host Eunice High. Both game will also be broardcast on 1450 KSIG Radio.
Lady Wolves
Despite a quick 3-0 district start, the Lady Wolves came up short last week with losses against Crowley High and Beau Chene for a 3-2 district record heading into week #3 of district play.
In Tuesday afternoon action, the Ladies of Crowley High laid down a squeeze play in the final inning for a come from behind win over the Lady Wolves for a 7-6 final score, Rayne's first district loss of the 2014 season.
Rayne hurler Kelcie Bourgeois threw 7 strikeouts while allowing only 7 hits, compared to 16 hits turned in by the Lady Wolves during the Crowley loss.
Rayne was led at the plate by Cecily Schexnyder (3 hits, 3 RBIs), McKenzie Meche (3 hits), Kaitlyn LeDoux (3 hits), Katie Benoit (2 hits), and Whitney Fontenot (1 RBI).
In the Beau Chene loss, the Lady Wolves were led at the plate by Fontenot, Gaspard and Schexnyder, each with two hits apiece. Madison Venable turned in a hit with 2 RBIs.
Bourgeois was tagged with the loss on the mound for the Lady Wolves as she fanned 8 batters while giving up 6 hits. Also seeing action on the mound for Rayne was Madison Venable who pitched four innings for the Ladies
Rayne was scheduled to hit the road this week with district contests at Opelousas on Tuesday and Washington Marion on Thursday, before returning home on Tuesday, April 1st when they will host LaGrange.


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Mortgage Rates from Wells Fargo
Mortgage rates at Wells Fargo Bank are some of the best mortgage rates available right now. Wells Fargo is one of the largest loan originators in the United Sates and consistantly offers current mortgage rates are are better than most rates.
Today's mortgage rates on 30 year home loans (conforming loans under $417,000) at Wells Fargo are at 4.50% with an APR of 4.68%. FHA mortgage rates on 30 year FHA loans are even better with a current FHA rate of 4.25% with an APR of 5.25%.
If you're looking for a shorter term mortgage which can save you tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars over the life of a loan 15 year rates are at 3.625% with an APR 3.94%.
Adjustable mortgage rates are at 2.875% for a 5 year ARM. 5 year FHA ARM rates are slightly higher at 3.25%.
Super-conforming mortgage rates which are rates on home loans with a dollar amount larger than conforming loans are at 4.50% for a 30 year loan. 30 year super-conforming FHA rates are at 4.25% and 5 year adjustable rates are at 3.125%.
Advertised jumbo mortgage rates at Wells Fargo are also better than most rates available. Current 30 year jumbo mortgage rates are advertised at 4.875%. 5 year adjustable jumbo mortgage rates are advertised at 3.375%.
RatesORama.com Average Mortgage Rates
Banking Articles
No Fed Rate Hike is Good News for Mortgage Rates
Mortgage Rates Move Higher This Week
Average Mortgage Rates Near Record Lows on Brexit
Brexit Will Send U.S. Mortgage Rates to New Lows
Sebonic Financial Quoting 30 Year Conforming Mortgage Rates at 3.375%
Annie Mac 15 Year Mortgage Rate Quoted at 2.49% with 1.94 Points
Competitive Mortgage Rates from Capital One, N.A.
Mortgage Rates Will Fall Further as Bond Yields Tumble to One Year Lows
Savings Bank of Danbury Mortgage Rates
Webster Bank Mortgage Rates – Current 5/1 ARM as low as 1.875 Percent
Low Mortgage Rates are Still Available
Low Mortgage Rates Will Make Homes More Affordable in 2016
2.25% Mortgage Rate from LenderFi on 5/1 Conforming ARM
Competitive Refinance Rates from Garden State Home Loans
Lender's Rates – Lowest 30 Year Conforming Mortgage Rates at 3.375 Percent
Lowest 15 Year Mortgage Rates Down to 2.50%
Mortgage Rates Decline Again This Week: Average 15 Year Rate Under 3.00%
3.84% – 30 Year Mortgage Rates Down Again This Week
Mortgage Rates Remain Under 4.00 Percent – Lowest Rate at 3.50 Percent with 2 Points
30 Year Mortgage Rates Fall Back Below 4.00 Percent
Current Mortgage Rates Today – 30 Year Rates Averaging 4.12 Percent
Mortgage Rates at Highest Level This Year – Average 30 Year Rates at 4.27%
Mortgage Rates Decline After Three Consecutive Weeks of Increases
Mortgage Rates Hold Steady This Week as 10 Year Bond Yields Rise Above 2.25%
Mortgage Rates Remain Low Because of Global Bond Yields Falling
Mortgage Rates Fall Again – 15 Year Mortgage Rates Today Under 3.00 Percent
Mortgage Rates Remain Low For the Spring Home Buying Season
Getting a Mortgage is Easier These Days According to Consumers
Near Record Low Mortgage Rates Sends Pending Home Sales Surging
30 Year Mortgage Rates Hit New Low for 2015
Low Mortgage Rates and Other Factors Will Help Housing in 2015
Third Federal Savings & Loan 5 Year Adjustable Mortgage Rates at 2.99 Percent
Near Term Direction of Mortgage Rates Depends on Jobs Report
Low Mortgage Rates and Lenders Easing Financing Standards Will Help Housing in 2015
Mortgage Rates Continue to Decline, Average 30 Year Rates Below 4.00 Percent
ArchivesBank CD Rates
CD Rates
Savings Accounts
Mortgage Rates
Banking ResourcesCD (Certificate of Deposit) Rates


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[Up to 50% Off] Bouquet of Red or Pink Roses. Choose 12 (RM48) / 24 (RM80) Stalks. From RM3.30 per stalk. Free Delivery to Selected Areas in Penang Island
Flowers make excellent gifts, decorations, and exemplary objects to decide future marital status. Today's Groupon brightens up the near future with a bouquet of red or pink roses from Pretty Pompoms Florist, with free delivery to Penang Island. Choose from the following:
- 12 stalks for RM48 instead of RM90 (only RM4 per stalk)
- 24 stalks for RM80 instead of RM160 (only RM3.30 per stalk)
Depending on size of occasion and ability to differentiate shades of red, flower bearers choose 12 or 24 stalks of roses in pink or red colours. Distant correspondents put emotions and sentiments into words on personal cards hidden amongst sweet-smelling roses for receivers to find when lost for words upon receiving bouquets. Rose bouquets are ideal as supporting birthday gifts, anniversaries, graduations, and other special occasions requiring flowers to conceal less sweet gifts.
Phone: 012-571 1334 (Call Mon – Fri: 10am – 5pm / Sat: 10am – 1.30pm, not including public holidays)


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A high school teacher once did a very nice thing for Robert Freeman. He was so grateful, he promised one day to pay back the favor. Years later, Robert did that by leaving a lucrative high tech career to become a high school teacher himself. What Robert didn't know, however, was that was just the first of his good deeds.
Published at 9:27 PM GMT on Dec 12, 2012