Are You Choking?

Yes, the Durham Bulls were choking last night. Friday Night's game 4 of the Governor's Cup was rained out so all the Bulls had to do was split the double header on Saturday and they would be champions. So what do the Bulls do, the lose both games to the Richmond Braves to give them the championship. The Bulls should be ashamed of what they did, seeing the great history of Bulls, especially since joining the IL in 1998.

So now the R Braves head on to Oklahoma City to play the Sacramento RiverCats in the second Bricktown Showdown. Last year the Tuscon Sidewinders beat the Toledo MudHens in OKC. It would be great for the IL to win, seeing the PCL fans and media consider themselves better then the IL. The IL is called the Triple A JV teams by some. So it would be great to win the championship, granted it would have been better if the Bisons would not have blown chance after chance to make the playoffs and would be representing the IL in the game.

Go R Braves Go!

Playoff Dream Ends

For the second straight year the Buffalo Bisons will not be in the IL postseason. Last nights 3-0 gave the wild card to the Richmond Braves. This is the first time since 1993 -1994 that the Bisons have missed the playoffs for consecutive seasons, and the first time since the Bisons have been an Indians farm club.

So what went wrong this season. First Hector Luna went wrong. He was a guy who did not want to be in Buffalo, and showed it with his lackluster play and countless errors. About the time the Tribe dumbed him, the Bisons started winning. Pitching was another problem. Adam Miller the teams ace could not stay healthy, Carmona never pitched a game in Buffalo, not that he should have seeing his success in Cleveland. Jeremy Sowers pitched as bad in Buffalo as he did in Cleveland, and could be looking at starting in Akron next season. All the retreads that Cleveland brought in like Jeff Harris, Eric Dubois, Sean Smith and John Kronika would have a good start and some bad starts.

A huge problem was the Bisons struck out like a home run hitting team, yet their leader Ryan Mulhern has only 18. They would consistently struck out 10 times or more a game, which will not get you wins at this level of baseball. Add in Rivas and Rouse's bad fielding and you have a pretty average team.

But their were lots of positives too. Ben Francisco played well in his time in Buffalo, and should not have to come back again. Adam Miller got off to a great start, and showed he has the stuff to be a great pitcher. The Bisons trailed the Paw Sox buy eight runs in the bottom of the seventh in seven inning game, and scored eight runs to win it, and still only had one out. The 20 year celebration at the ballpark was amazing, bring back lots of memories. Attendance was down in people through the turnstiles, but up in average because of so many rain outs. Actually the Bisons are second in the IL in attendance.

So this afternoon will be the last game of the year in Rochester, and I will be there as I have been the last three nights.

Ben Wagner No Rosey Behind the Mic

I guess I should start by saying that it did take some time to get used to Jim Rosenhaus as the Bisons play by play announcers. I had grown up listening to Pete Weber, and now this new guy had showed up in the middle of my teenage years. But I got used to "Rosey" and even got to know the guy a bit. And I think all Bisons fans would agree we were spoiled by listening to Rosey, he painted a picture of what was happening for the listeners. Plus Rosey and Duke McGwire made a great team, from being serious about the baseball game to joking around and making fun of Kevin the "K-Man".

But this off season Rosenhaus got the call to the big leagues, moving up to Cleveland to be the pregame host plus the engineer. So the Bisons had to search for a replacement and they came up with Ben Wagner, coming over from the Lakewood BlueClaws. From the start it was different then Rosey, and not in a good way. Now I realize Ben was put in a difficult situation to start. One he is replacing a guy who was liked by all. Second he did not have a heck of a lot of time to work with his broadcast partner because Duke has a "real" job with the Amherst schools and don't go on many road trips early in the season. Rosey would just do the games alone, but Ben brought in different friends to do some color. So Ben was working with different announcers all the time, and I really wondered if some where announcers or just guys off the street.

But then again I wonder if Ben Wagner is a baseball announcers or a professional announcer. He don't seem to know a lot about the game. And the way he describes things is very confusing for the listener. A few games ago he was watching the view from the "center plate camera". Hmm, is that home plate or center field? He also seems to assume that people can see the game, which you can't. He leaves out information, like last week when the Bisons should have hit into a double play but the third basemen missed the bag. He never told us that till a batter later. Meanwhile all the people listening were confused. I guess I am saying he is not fluid with the way he describes things. He seems to be all over the place and in the mean time the listeners are lost. Now I do have the XM radio, so I get to hear a lot of major league games, and Ben would not be the worst I have heard (the White Sox crew is really bad). But he is near the bottom. Thankfully Duke keeps the broadcast lively and knows how to call a game, so we get good play by play for two innings a night.

I really doubt the Bisons would fire Ben Wagner, the GM Mike Buczkkowski has never made a mistake in his life, just ask him. Maybe we will get used to Ben and he will become a legend in Western New York like Rosey has became, or maybe Bisons fans will just bitch for the next few years, either way I think Ben Wagner will probably be hear a while.

Russell E Diethrick Jr Park

Russell E Diethrick, Jr Park in Jamestown, NY. Home of the New York-Penn League's (Short A) Jamestown Jammers.

Outside the Stadium: Jamestown is small town America, just not the nicest small town in America. It is a poor area with a lot of run down buildings and abandon buildings. So you won't find anythings special around the stadium besides fast food and small dinners, nothing fancy. Parking for the stadium is a grass field on the third base side of the stadium. When you walk up to the old brink stadium, you get two chooses for ticket windows, the general admission window on the left or the club level and grandstand window on the left. The Jammers claim the club level (the first two rows of the stadium) is sold out, so don't plan on buying them. We went with the grandstand tickets and made out way in the stadium.

Concourse: Once you walk in you notice something you don't see everyday in baseball, the players are just walking through the concourse. Now you do see players in the NY-Penn League going for a quick burger at the concession stands, but not usually the whole team walking and sitting around. Well after a few minutes of being in the stadium I realized that the reason for all the players sitting around in the concourse is that the club houses are on the main concourse. Yes, the players have to walk through the stands and then by the concessions stand with the fans walking all around to get to their clubhouse. This is something I have never seen before in any baseball stadium. Could you imagine this at the Major League Level? Barry Bonds walking by the hot dog and beer line to get to the clubhouse?

The concourse is just like the rest of the stadium, all brick with some old wooden tables for some fans to eat at. The concession stand has the normal ballpark favorites of pizza, hot dogs and burgers. I recommend the Bubba Dog, which is named after the Jammers mascot Bubba Grape. It is a chilly cheese dog, but I must admit it has some good chill on the dog. Also go with some fries, because you get a very large portion.

The bathrooms in the stadium are very cramped with just a troth and one stall for the guys. I kinda thought I was in Ralph Wilson Stadium of a minute.

The team store is a small little room that looks like it was a broom closet at one time. But they have a nice selection of Jammers gear and they have some good deals on the stuff with the old Jammers logo still left. Also they have a nice selection of Major League bp hats for only $20. You can't find it that cheap at any store.

Seating Area: To get to the grandstand behind home plate you climb this stars to the top and head under the roof and down to your seats. You get the feeling you just walked into an old time ballpark when you arrive at your seats. There are polls holding the roof up. The general admission is just bleachers down the right and left field lines. They look as if they are newer, so I am guessing they were added when the Jammers came to town in the early 90's, but I could be wrong. Like I said the club level is the first two rows all the way around the stadium. They were "sold out " yet mostly empty, so I am guessing season ticket holders who did not show up. The wall of the stadium is sign boards. They look like it is a really tall way, but if you look closely the top signs are back farther, so if you hit them it is a home run. The scoreboard is colored, but small, so all you get is the batters name, no stats. So you are looking for the press box? You better head up, because it is on the roof.

So I was sitting in a peaceful ballpark when off of a sudden the PA announcer starts talking. Holy Cow, I don't know if they are trying to wake the dead or announce to everyone in Jamestown and Falconer, but they need to turn it down a bit. I could not hear the person next to me because the PA is so loud.

Fans: Jamestown is near the bottom of the New York-Penn League with an average around 1,500 a game. But on my first visit to the park there was 2,500, so a good crowd.

Diethrick Park is not fancy. Some would call it a dump, but I find some charm in the place. It is really peaceful and has a old time feel to it. A feel of what the New York-Penn League used to be in the days before maga stadiums in Brooklyn, Stanton Island and Aberdeen. I don't know if this stadium is for everyone ,but I loved it. I know I will be back in Jamestown to see the game.

Busy Week of Baseball

So this week is going to be a busy week of baseball for me, and I have no complaints about that. Last Friday I was at Dunn Tire Park for the start of the home stand. I actually three and a half hours at the ball park Saturday even though the games were postponed because of a water pipe break under the field. I had dinner at Pettibones Grill for dinner before the doubleheader and we could see that the grounds crew was working a lot on the shortstop part of the infield. But I can't say we thought much of it till Kevin the K-Man said that there were no players out on the field warming up and it was 15 minutes before the game. We were informed that the game would start at 6:05, an hour late. But as the night went on we realized their probably would be no baseball that night. The Bisons did have an autograph session after the game was called, so I could get my Joe Inglett and Bubbie Buzachero jerseys signed.

Today I was at the ballpark for the doubleheader between the Bisons and Chiefs which the teams split. Tomorrow the same two teams are back at it again, and it is a doubleheader again starting at 6:05. Tuesday the Charlotte Knights, who just swept the Herd in Fort Mills, come to town. Wednesday is another game against the Knights. Thursday is an afternoon game, but I will have to miss that one, damn work gets in the way of my baseball fun. Friday the Bisons wrap up the series and the home stand with a Friday Night Bash. But that is not the end of baseball for me. Saturday we are traveling to Syracuse for the Bisons game. I have never been to Alliance Bank Stadium (if that is what it is still called) so that should be fun. Then Sunday I am flying to Baltimore for the Yankees vs. O's game. I really don't like either teams, I am just going because I have never been to Camden Yards. I think I will have to break out the Cal Ripken Rochester Red Wings T-Shirt for that one, seeing he is going into the Hall of Fame that day.

So I should be busy this week. Anyone want to come over and mow my lawn or clean my house this week?

Finally!

The Bisons finally played a home game. It had been over two weeks since we have seen the Bisons at Dunn Tire Park. And the Herd finally broke their 6 game losing streak beating the Syracuse Chiefs 6-2 in front of more then 15,000 fans. Jeremy Sowers looked like the pitcher of last year, not the BP pitcher of this year. Now if the Bisons could only sure up that middle infield of Rivas and Luna and they could have something going. Tonight is a double header againts the Syracuse Chiefs, and a chance to get two wins, because well, Toronto's top farm club sucks, to put it nicely. If there was a team in the IL you wanted to play in a double dip, the Chiefs are it. They have little hitting, not much starting pitching, and the pen looks about like the mess the Jays put out on the field to blow games.

But the biggest problem is we in Buffalo could be seeing much more of this bad baseball. The Bisons and Indians contract is up after the 2008 season. The Columbus Clippers are opening their new ballpark in 2009 and the Tribe has been hinting around they might like to have Columbus as their triple a club. But the Cincinnati Reds are also looking a Columbus. So it looks like a race of the Ohio teams to move in to the capital city of Ohio. If the Tribe or Reds do move into Columbus (and one will, because the Nats are nobody ideal parent club) it would set off a whole bunch of moves. The Mets want back into the IL, so they would look a Buffalo. But the Blue Jays might want to move their farm club just down the road a few hours. The Pirates would love to have their triple a club back in Buffalo. And the Nationals have been mentioned in intrested in Buffalo. While I am a Jays fan, I really don't want to see the Bisons lose year after year like the Chiefs do. The easiest thing would be for the Reds to move into Columbus, and the Indians to sign a long deal with Buffalo. Granted that would still set off a bunch of moves, because Lousiville is wanted by many teams, but it would insure winning baseball in Buffalo for years to come.

USRT vs. Base Paths

Doug Smith, the author of the weekly column of Base Paths in the Tonawanda News, is one of most interesting baseball fans you can ever talk to. If you are a true baseball fan, spend an game at Dunn Tire Park with Doug Smith. You will have some great baseball talk, but you will have other great conversation with him about all thing in life. If I can accomplish half the things he did in life I would consider my life a sucess.


As I have mentioned before Doug is the PA announcers for the Niagara Power. Peter Farrell and Andrew Kulyk have made a trip to each arena/stadium for all four of the major sports leagues and many minor league stadiums. Their travels are chronicled on their website http://www.thesportsroadtrip.com/ . I think the story that Doug writes in the Tonawanda News tells the rest of the story.


The Niagara Power, who lead their league in being hit by pitch, took one right in the blogs last week.The Ultimate Baseball Roadtrip (www.thesportsroadtrip.wnymedia.net), by ArtVoice sports columnists Peter Farrell and Andrew Kulyk, logged in at Sal Maglie Stadium for Tuesday’s game versus the Bolivar A’s. UBT seemed to have a good time, but was put off by evidence of the Power’s Fellowship of Christian Athletes sponsorship.In a sharp posting titled, “The Niagara Power and the Glory,” Farrell said he knew he was in for a different experience when he saw the Family Life Network banner at the gate.“We came to enjoy a ball game,” he posted, and wound up in “a crusade for our souls.” He quoted Christian testimony in the program by players and coaches and cautioned that if Power President Cal Kern does not “reach out to the entire community,” his venture is doomed to failure.


The rest of the story can be found at http://www.tonawanda-news.com/sports/gnnsports_story_196235153.html


The USRT guys really do have something against religion based events at ball parks. Now I am the least religious person in the world. I don't go to church unless for weddings or funerals. But I am not offended that teams have "faith nights" nor do I care the Power are sponsored by the FCA. I go for the baseball game and really don't pay much attention to the other stuff. It is not like Doug is up there preaching all the time. He mentions a few times a game that the FCA sponsors different things. When a plane takes off from the Niagara Falls Air Force Base Doug will say "tonight's flyover is sponsored by the Fellowship of Christian Athletes". It is the same as the strikeouts being sponsored by Golds Gym or the K-man of the game being sponsored by a local restaurant. Granted like a friend of mine said, instead of having the sunset sponsored by FCA, it should be sponsored by god. I don't know if anyone would be offended by that, but I think it is funny. But I guess all I am saying is Peter and Andrew made it out to be like going to church with a baseball game going on, where it is about the baseball, not the religion. So if you have a chance to head out to Sal Maglie, please do it, you will enjoy yourself.