Monday, April 26, 2010

The second of two town hall meetings is scheduled for Saturday at noon. It will take place at the Olde Mystik Village movie theater. Team staff will be on hand to answer whatever questions fans (and non-fans) may have.

Also present: mascots, including C.T. Tiger. I'm not a fan of the name.

The first meeting drew hardly anyone. Maybe this will garner more support.

Friday, April 23, 2010

Clueless

On MinorLeagueBaseball.com, it is suggested that Dodd Stadium is "old" and that the Tigers could use a new stadium. Let's not get into the location debate here -- that's not is what is meant by the article. But really, Norwich needs a new stadium? The writer never delves into the issue, just puts it out there as a matter of fact.

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20100422&content_id=9506118&vkey=news_milb&fext=.jsp

Tuesday, April 13, 2010

FYI

Former Defender Paul Oseguera signed with the Bridgeport Bluefish.

Monday, April 12, 2010

Town forum

From the press release:
The Connecticut Tigers of the New York-Penn League will hold a town-
hall style forum on Saturday April 17, 2010 at the Holiday Inn in Norwich from 2:00- 3:30
P.M.. 

The forum will be a chance for fans and media to interact with members of the Tigers’
front office and to ask questions or provide suggestions. In addition, the forum will allow
the fans and media to get to know the staff in hopes of building a strong and lasting
connection with the community.

“We’re looking forward to giving our fans a chance to meet us and see what we’re all
about,” said Tigers General Manager Andrew Weber. “We’re also looking forward to
hearing what they want to see at Dodd Stadium”

In addition, there will be a second town-hall style forum in the Mystic, Connecticut area
prior to the start of the regular season, at a time and place to be determined.

Thursday, April 8, 2010

Just for laughs

Old friend Eugenio Velez made news...sort of.
http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/blog/big_league_stew/post/Another-year-another-jersey-FAIL-Eugenio-Velez?urn=mlb,232837

Wednesday, April 7, 2010

FYI

Detroit doesn't have a first-round draft pick in this year's draft. It went to the Los Angeles Angles of Anaheim as compensation for signing Jose Valverde.

Thursday, April 1, 2010

Today's story

http://www.norwichbulletin.com/sports/x998202519/Tigers-unveil-new-logo-uniforms

Here we are

It was a day many were waiting for anxiously, and quite honestly, as I drove into the business park I wondered if I was dreaming. After all, the way Minor League Baseball operates, you never knew if there would ever be a team at Dodd Stadium after the Defenders left.

Making the day more surreal was the weather -- stunning, really. If this was a year ago, it would have likely been Defenders media day, which always meant 30 degrees and windy. Then again, this was April Fools Day. Maybe we shouldn't read too much into that or that in the Chinese calendar, this is the year of the tiger.

Since this is a baseball blog, and not one for astrology, let's keep things in context before someone calls Dion Warrick for me.

Getting to the business of the day...I liked what I heard, for the most part. My concern is still this: The Tigers say they have eight months of work to do in two-and-a half months. Even if they doubled their production, that's five month's work done and three months left lingering. Not good. This is not the Tigers' fault, this is Major and Minor League Baseball's cross to bear. I asked managing partner E. Miles Prentice what exactly the hold up was -- it was always understood to be the beauracratic snail's pace -- which was more or less what he told me.

Lots of familiar faces on the staff, and there's a chance there might be a few more. These people are going to be the true frontline of all fan relations. Why? Because that's who you recognize, and more importantly trust than the new faces that have yet to settle in.

The uniforms/logo were generally predicatble, but I like them. Classic Detroit Tigers with a Connecticut touch.

The staff seems beyond anxious to get out there and convince you to come to the ballpark; they live for this. It's contagious if you are a fan of that sort of thging.

One thing that set me back was Prentice told me he and his partners agreed to purchase all of the belongings left behind by Lou DiBella and co. By this, I mean concession equipment, tractors/mowers, weights, etc. Prentice said they were taking the good with the bad, but alluded that the concession equipment was in poor condition. I spent a lot of time at the stadium in its final days as the Defenders' home. A lot of work was done to put things in top shape because everyone in baseball knew what the Braves did to Richmond when they left town two years ago (Sherman + Atlanta = The Diamond). This was something the previous ownership/managment didn't want to happen here. Me thinks Prentice might be a little bitter over the purchase price.

I really expect a very attentive staff and partnership group. They are saying all the right things, including what they expect from the players upon their arrival.

FYI: Look for a two-three day training camp at Dodd Stadium a few days before the season begins. I'll let you know if any of it will be open to the public.

Interesting tidbit, team VP/Operations C.J. Knudsen, who was the GM in Vermont, said that the roster will be filled based on how quickly the draft picks can arrive in Connecticut. This much you can count on: Detroit's top draft pick will be in Norwich.

Folks, the first game maybe months away, but it is baseball season.