UConn is the only No. 2 seed to host a regional. The host of ESPN's selection show seemed surprised that A) the Huskies are hosting and that B) top seed Florida State is not.
These were topics brought up n conversation with selection committee chairman Tim Weiser.
"A number of the things," Weiser said of the decision to send FSU on the road. "Obviously, we have a history in the past of taking a No. 1seed and placing it at different sites. ... Part of the rational (in the past), and continues to be this time is if you have the opportunity without sacrificing the competitive integrity of the game to put a regional site at a location that hasn't historically had one, I think that's good for college baseball. I feel strongly about an obligation to explore that. Frankly, the differentiation between a Connecticut and some of the other teams that were competing for it were very, very small."
Monday, May 31, 2010
Sunday, May 30, 2010
It's official...
Dodd Stadium will serves as one of 16 regional sites for the NCAA baseball tournament next weekend. What I want to know is: Are you going? Vote above and leave comments here.
The word on Dodd...
With UConn playing in today's Big East Championship game, Dodd Stadium will almost certainly host one of 16 regionals for the NCAA tournament next weekend.
The official word comes down soon...
The official word comes down soon...
Friday, May 28, 2010
Radio Ga-Ga
The Tigers announced Friday they are partnering with WICH 1310 AM for radio broadcasts of 73 of the team's 76 games.
Tigers Assistsant General Manager Eric Knighton, who the team is calling "the voice of the Tigers," will be in the booth for all home games alongside Jon Versteeg. Versteeg will handle the road games on his own.
Not for anything, but wouldn't Versteeg be the voice of the Tigers based simply on volume of games? Just throwing that out there.
Anyhow...the games not in WICH are 7/27 at Lowell; 7/28 at Staten Island; and 8/9 at Brooklyn. Those will likely be carried on another station.
There will be at 15-minute pregame show before every game.
Tigers Assistsant General Manager Eric Knighton, who the team is calling "the voice of the Tigers," will be in the booth for all home games alongside Jon Versteeg. Versteeg will handle the road games on his own.
Not for anything, but wouldn't Versteeg be the voice of the Tigers based simply on volume of games? Just throwing that out there.
Anyhow...the games not in WICH are 7/27 at Lowell; 7/28 at Staten Island; and 8/9 at Brooklyn. Those will likely be carried on another station.
There will be at 15-minute pregame show before every game.
Thursday, May 20, 2010
A little bit of this, a little bit of that
I spoke with Tigers GM Andrew Weber, who gave an update on where things stand as well as where some things might be going.
The team is working on having the speed pitch and the message board portion of the scoreboard fixed or replaced. The hiccup here is that with technology, sometimes the necessary pieces are outdated or unavailable. Sometimes the parts are there and there isn't anyone familiar with the older materials. That said, if the Tigers cannot find a way to fix both items, they may replace them. The caveat is it could have to wait until next season. I know many fans won't like this, but it's simply a matter of cost and availability.
There are no plans for a senior discount, but there will be a veterans discount. Weber said that with the newly introduced $5 berm seats the need for a senior discount didn't seem necessary. Here's my take: People, especially older and forgive my bluntness, more fragile fans, would like seats. Wouldn't it be more difficult to get up and down from an inclined position on grass — which may or may not be damp — than a seat? I don't think the Tigers really thought this one out.
The front office staff is complete, but the seasonal or game day staff is not. The team is hosting a job fair Saturday at Dodd Stadium from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Weber anticipates completing the team's promotional schedule this week, which means the pocket schedules can be printed and released shortly thereafter.
As for the start of the season, which is less than a month away, Weber said the team is ahead of schedule but has plenty left to do.
Individual game tickets will be going on sale soon. No date is set for that, however.
There will be more in the Bulletin this weekend.
The team is working on having the speed pitch and the message board portion of the scoreboard fixed or replaced. The hiccup here is that with technology, sometimes the necessary pieces are outdated or unavailable. Sometimes the parts are there and there isn't anyone familiar with the older materials. That said, if the Tigers cannot find a way to fix both items, they may replace them. The caveat is it could have to wait until next season. I know many fans won't like this, but it's simply a matter of cost and availability.
There are no plans for a senior discount, but there will be a veterans discount. Weber said that with the newly introduced $5 berm seats the need for a senior discount didn't seem necessary. Here's my take: People, especially older and forgive my bluntness, more fragile fans, would like seats. Wouldn't it be more difficult to get up and down from an inclined position on grass — which may or may not be damp — than a seat? I don't think the Tigers really thought this one out.
The front office staff is complete, but the seasonal or game day staff is not. The team is hosting a job fair Saturday at Dodd Stadium from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Weber anticipates completing the team's promotional schedule this week, which means the pocket schedules can be printed and released shortly thereafter.
As for the start of the season, which is less than a month away, Weber said the team is ahead of schedule but has plenty left to do.
Individual game tickets will be going on sale soon. No date is set for that, however.
There will be more in the Bulletin this weekend.
Thursday, May 13, 2010
Ex-Navigator skipper gets the ax
Former Norwich Navigator manager Trey Hillman was fired today by the Kansas City Royals.
Managing the Royals is a doubled-edged sword. There's the expectation to win, yet the team doesn't spend much on free agency and has an average farm system. Lots of early potential but rarely do their players pan out. It also hurt Hillman than Cy Young winner Zack Grienke had little run support this season.
People say managing the Yankees is the toughest job in baseball. Aside from the Pirates, I'd think the Royals gig is toughest. Unless you win with a shoddy job by the front office, you are doomed. You either look like a managerial god turning a team like that into anything close to a contender or you get fired for doing what anyone else would do with vastly limited resources.
I spoke with Hillman two years ago and he reflected fondly upon his time in Norwich and how after leaving he really developed a love for New England.
My guess is he will land a hitting instructor position on the Triple-A level, or maybe a base coach on a big league team in 2011. He did spend a few successful years in Japan. Don't be surprised if Hillman ends up there again.
Managing the Royals is a doubled-edged sword. There's the expectation to win, yet the team doesn't spend much on free agency and has an average farm system. Lots of early potential but rarely do their players pan out. It also hurt Hillman than Cy Young winner Zack Grienke had little run support this season.
People say managing the Yankees is the toughest job in baseball. Aside from the Pirates, I'd think the Royals gig is toughest. Unless you win with a shoddy job by the front office, you are doomed. You either look like a managerial god turning a team like that into anything close to a contender or you get fired for doing what anyone else would do with vastly limited resources.
I spoke with Hillman two years ago and he reflected fondly upon his time in Norwich and how after leaving he really developed a love for New England.
My guess is he will land a hitting instructor position on the Triple-A level, or maybe a base coach on a big league team in 2011. He did spend a few successful years in Japan. Don't be surprised if Hillman ends up there again.
What do you think?
It's almost a month before the season starts and there are plenty of questions still unanswered. What are the biggest concerns/questions of the fans? What are you looking forward to (besides baseball)?
NYPL scholarship
Are you or anyone you know a graduating senior who could use help paying for college? This might be of interest. I don't recall the Eastern League having a similiar initiative, but it should.
Sure it's only one time, but whether it's the tuition or books award, these days every penny helps.
Here's what the NYPL has to say:
The Class-A Short-Season New York-Penn League and its member clubs announced the league’s philanthropic arm, the New York-Penn League Charitable Foundation, will award over $10,000 in scholarships this summer to deserving high school graduates from the league’s 14 markets.
In 2009, the NYPL Charitable Foundation launched its Scholarship Program and awarded three (3) one-time scholarships in the amount of $2,500 each. The program has been expanded in 2010 to include not only three winners of a $2,500 scholarship, but also 11 new awards of $250 each for books. The addition of the new awards ensures that the Charitable Foundation will be able to assist one student in all 14 NYPL markets.
The 2010 NYPL Scholarship Program is open to any graduating senior from a public or private high school, who has been accepted at any two or four-year college or university, vocational or technical education institution or program. The scholarship is based on academic performance and other criteria. Applicants must have a minimum GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale, and also be engaged in extracurricular activities.
Applications are available by contacting your local New-York Penn League club or by visiting the “ABOUT” section of the official NYPL website, www.newyork-pennleague.com. Deadline to submit the application to your local NYPL team is June 30, 2010 and each team’s winner, including the three $2,500 scholarship recipients, will be selected in late July and honored at a game in August.
“The New York-Penn League Charitable Foundation initiated the scholarship program in 2009 and the Foundation and our 14 member clubs are pleased to be able to expand the program even further this summer to assist several more deserving students as they embark on their college careers,” said Ben J. Hayes, President of the New York-Penn League. “The scholarship program is just one of many programs the Foundation and our 14 clubs sponsor as part of distributing hundreds of thousands of dollars annually back into our local communities.”
The New York-Penn League and its 14 member clubs created the New York-Penn League Charitable Foundation, a 501(c)(3) charitable organization, in 2003. The mission of the Foundation is to provide focus and support for the collective and individual charitable and community efforts of the New York-Penn League, its Clubs, and their staff. In 2009, the total contributions by the League and its clubs exceeded $827,000. Those contributions included cash, food, game tickets, merchandise, and other goods and services
Sure it's only one time, but whether it's the tuition or books award, these days every penny helps.
Here's what the NYPL has to say:
The Class-A Short-Season New York-Penn League and its member clubs announced the league’s philanthropic arm, the New York-Penn League Charitable Foundation, will award over $10,000 in scholarships this summer to deserving high school graduates from the league’s 14 markets.
In 2009, the NYPL Charitable Foundation launched its Scholarship Program and awarded three (3) one-time scholarships in the amount of $2,500 each. The program has been expanded in 2010 to include not only three winners of a $2,500 scholarship, but also 11 new awards of $250 each for books. The addition of the new awards ensures that the Charitable Foundation will be able to assist one student in all 14 NYPL markets.
The 2010 NYPL Scholarship Program is open to any graduating senior from a public or private high school, who has been accepted at any two or four-year college or university, vocational or technical education institution or program. The scholarship is based on academic performance and other criteria. Applicants must have a minimum GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale, and also be engaged in extracurricular activities.
Applications are available by contacting your local New-York Penn League club or by visiting the “ABOUT” section of the official NYPL website, www.newyork-pennleague.com. Deadline to submit the application to your local NYPL team is June 30, 2010 and each team’s winner, including the three $2,500 scholarship recipients, will be selected in late July and honored at a game in August.
“The New York-Penn League Charitable Foundation initiated the scholarship program in 2009 and the Foundation and our 14 member clubs are pleased to be able to expand the program even further this summer to assist several more deserving students as they embark on their college careers,” said Ben J. Hayes, President of the New York-Penn League. “The scholarship program is just one of many programs the Foundation and our 14 clubs sponsor as part of distributing hundreds of thousands of dollars annually back into our local communities.”
The New York-Penn League and its 14 member clubs created the New York-Penn League Charitable Foundation, a 501(c)(3) charitable organization, in 2003. The mission of the Foundation is to provide focus and support for the collective and individual charitable and community efforts of the New York-Penn League, its Clubs, and their staff. In 2009, the total contributions by the League and its clubs exceeded $827,000. Those contributions included cash, food, game tickets, merchandise, and other goods and services
Interested in being a host family?
The Tigers sent out a press release in hopes of drumming up interest in the host family program. This is a unique opportunity if you can handle the responsibilities involved. Players I've spoken to rave about their host family experiences. Some consider the families as their own. There is quite the bond.
With the Tigers players being a few years younger than the Defenders players, I think it is even more important for these kids to have good homes to come "home" to after games and road trips.
Here's more from the team:
The Tigers will hold an informational meeting for those interested in learning more about the Host Family Program for the 2010 season. The meeting will take place Thursday May 13th from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Dodd Stadium in “The Yard” Bar and Grill, located on the suite level.
The meeting will be a chance for the Tigers staff to explain the program to those interested as well as answer any questions they might have. The Tigers are looking for host families in the community to house one or more players for the 2010 season. In addition to the chance to house a potential future Major Leaguer, host families will receive a number of additional exclusive benefits including tickets and discounts.
Players will be in need of housing from mid-June through the first week of September.
With the Tigers players being a few years younger than the Defenders players, I think it is even more important for these kids to have good homes to come "home" to after games and road trips.
Here's more from the team:
The Tigers will hold an informational meeting for those interested in learning more about the Host Family Program for the 2010 season. The meeting will take place Thursday May 13th from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Dodd Stadium in “The Yard” Bar and Grill, located on the suite level.
The meeting will be a chance for the Tigers staff to explain the program to those interested as well as answer any questions they might have. The Tigers are looking for host families in the community to house one or more players for the 2010 season. In addition to the chance to house a potential future Major Leaguer, host families will receive a number of additional exclusive benefits including tickets and discounts.
Players will be in need of housing from mid-June through the first week of September.
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