PLAYERS always say Merchantsauto.com Stadium has the nicest playing surface in the Eastern League, and today the man behind the scenes got some recognition. Eric Blanton has been named the 2007 Eastern League Sports Turf Manager of the Year. The announcement was made today by Eastern League President Joseph McEacharn. It’s the first time Blanton has won the award, which is voted on by Eastern League field staff and umpire crews.
(It’s also the first time New Hampshire franchise has been given an award by the league.)
From the press release: Blanton serves as the Head Turf Manager at Merchantsauto.com Stadium and has been with the Fisher Cats since the 2005 season. Before joining the Fisher Cats’ staff, the Packwood, Washington native spent three seasons working with the Los Angeles Dodgers and one season with the Tacoma Rainiers of the Triple-A Pacific Coast League.
“We are very proud of Eric and his staff as they have done an outstanding job since day one here in New Hampshire,” said Fisher Cats President and
General Manager Rick Brenner. “They work tireless hours making this the best field in baseball, and it is nice to see them get recognized by others for what we already knew about the job they do here every day.”
Blanton, who earned his Associates in Applied Arts and Science Degree in Turfgrass Management from Walla Walla Community College, has worked in the sports turf industry for the past seven years. He currently serves on the Board of Directors for the New England Sports Turf Managers Association and is also an active member in the National Sports Turf Managers Association.
THE PLAYOFF window is closing rapidly. Portland defeated Trenton, 6-4, Thursday night while Connecticut throttled the Fisher Cats, 8-1, reducing to 4 the magic number for a Sea Dogs’ playoff clinch. Portland has five games remaining at New Britain; NH has four games remaining vs. Trenton.
At this point, the Fisher Cats must sweep Trenton and hope the Sea Dogs lose at least two games at New Britain. If the teams finish with identical 73-69 records, we’ll need a one-game playoff to decide the final playoff spot. That game would be played Monday in Portland at 6 p.m.
Tough night for NH pitchers. RHP Kyle Yates gave up his 19th homer of the year, matching Izzy Ramirez’s club record, and Fisher Cat newcomer Aaron Tressler made his Eastern League debut like this: walk, single and three-run homer by John Bowker.
NOT ONLY did Ricky Romero update his blog this week, he pitched a clutch seven innings in New Hampshire’s 7-1 win at Connecticut on Wednesday night. As a bonus, he learned he’ll be headed to Arizona to play in the Fall League.
Ricky’s had a rough season and didn’t earn his first win until Aug. 2. A high-profile guy who signed for a Toronto record $2.4 million, Romero can salvage his season with a strong finish. The entire season may be on the line when he takes his next start, scheduled for Labor Day, on the final day of the regular season. A look at the Trenton vs. NH pitching matchups entering the final series:
Fri — RHP Alan Horne (12-4, 2.91) vs. RHP Yusaku Iriki (3-5, 4.04), 7:05 p.m.
Sat — RHP Dan McCutchen (3-2, 2.57) vs. RHP Ty Taubenheim (2-1, 2.08), 7:05 p.m.
Sun — RHP Jeff Marquez (14-9, 3.62) vs LHP Kurt Isenberg (4-10, 5.49), 6:05 p.m.
Mon — Tyler Clippard (1-1, 4.79) vs. LHP Ricky Romero (3-6, 4.79), 1:05 p.m.
Notes: Horne is the Eastern League Pitcher of the Year. Iriki has been NH’s best starter of late.
– THE FISHER CATS are stuck on 68 wins after heart-breaking losses on consecutive nights to Connecticut. Win No. 69 is always the toughest to get. Mike Basso’s team in 2005 won 68 games as did Doug Davis‘ team in 2006.
– Portland now owns a one-game lead for second-place in the Northern Division. For more on this race and the scintillating rivalry, check out today’s “On Baseball” column.
– Kind of interesting how NH announced playoff tickets went on sale while Portland was in town last week.
– OF Ryan Patterson, SS Sergio Santos, LHP Ricky Romero and LHP David Purcey will attend finishing school and to play for the Scottsdale Scorpions of the Arizona Fall League this year.
BASH BROTHERS David Smith and Ryan Patterson have each been awarded a free room (and meal) at the Hilton Garden Inn as a reward for “hitting the bricks” this season.
– Smith leads the Fisher Cats with 23 homers, including back-to-back nights on which he reached the Hilton with majestic blasts.
– Patterson was the first Fisher Cat to blast a homer off the HGI bricks, a shot I personally measured at 465 feet with a Bushnell range finder.
The players can thank David Roedel of the Roedel Companies for hooking them up. Roedel, a player in the Granite State Over-30 Baseball League, can certainly appreciate the feat.
Highlights from the 2008 schedule released by the Fisher Cats today:
– 14 home games apiece with Portland and New Britain. I would say these teams have sent the best overall prospects through Manchester the last three years.
– The Eastern League All-Star Game and Blockbuster Party will be July 15-16. I’m officially lobbying for future Fisher Cat 1B Josh Kreuzer to make the team. Kreuzer (.307, 20 homers, 71 RBI) was recently named Florida State League Player of the Year and will likely land in New Hampshire next season.
– Nineteen fireworks shows, including a July 4 celebration.
– Someone needs to coax Brad Hassey out of retirement and so he can become the first 5-year Fisher Cat. Does trainer Voon Chong count?
– No word yet on Bill Masse Bobblehead Night.
That’s 10 Es. The Syracuse Chiefs matched the International League record with 10 errors against Ottawa the other night. Check out the boxscore here, which features errors from Fisher Cat grads John Hattig (three), Adam Lind and Wayne Lydon. Old friend Ryan Houston blew the save in a 12-10 loss and recent Fisher Cat Matt Roney took the loss.
“We’re embarrassed. Our players are embarrassed. There’s nothing you can say after a game like this,” Syracuse manager Doug Davis said.
What would Bill Masse say after a 10-error loss?
THE FISHER CATS moved into sole possession of second-place with a great win over Portland today. I sat in the first few rows behind home plate and came away with these notes and thoughts.
– RHP Yusaku Iriki nibbled at the corners for seven innings (four hits) as NH blanked the Sea Dogs, 3-0. Iriki, who’s like a rock star in Japan, has his own name on his cleats. His curveball works wonders against right-handers.
– Portland RHP Justin Masterson has unbelievable movement on his two-seam fastball. Several Fisher Cats had good swings against the big fella, but the Mo Rivera-like movement turned those swings into. Sea Dog Killer Dustin Majewski homered on the third pitch of the game. Six of his 11 HRs have come against the Dogs this year.
– SS Sergio Santos threw a mini-bullpen session before the game as Toronto farm director Dick Scott and roving pitching coordinator Dane Johnson closely watched. Santos has a big-league arm, and no doubt he’s thinking about converting to a pitcher.
– David Smith cracked his team-leading 21st homer of the year. NH leads the league with a franchise-record 133 homers. Smith has a chance to catch Chip Cannon’s’s single-season record of 27 HRs.
– I’m wondering if Bill Masse will return as manager next season. If NH reaches the playoffs and makes a run for the title, he may be offered a job in Triple-A somewhere — or perhaps a better gig. Why not? Dale Sveum jumped from Altoona to the Red Sox (third base coach) in 2004. More on this topic later when I get a chance to talk with Masse and the Toronto brass.
Another huge crowd: 7,437.
IN KEEPING with the Primaries theme on Saturday Night with the Fisher Cats, fans can vote on their favorite 2007 character. Polling booths will be available on the concourse where you can vote for:
1), Cotton-eyed Fisher Cat
2), Crazy Hot Dog Guy
3), Dino the Manual Scoreboard Guy
4), Drag in Drag
5), Molly the Molar
6), Fungo/Slider
7), Radio Guy Bob Lipman
8), Red Arrow Mugger
9), Santa Claus and the elf
10), Sumo wrestlers
AS GREAT as the Fisher Cats played on Thursday night against Portland, they were polar opposites to begin Friday’s game. LHP Ricky Romero walked the first three batters of the third inning, and Ryan Klosterman’s error led to comfortable lead for Portland, a 12-6 winner.
– Portland’s Aaron Bates crushed a three-run homer off Romero in the first inning. The 6-foot-4 Bates set a California League record earlier this season by homering four times in a game.
– Cy Young Award winner Pat Hentgen was among the Blue Jays brass attending the game. He sat behind home plate with Blue Jays farm director Dick Scott, roving pitching coach Dane Johnson and roving instructor Mike Basso. Hentgen, a 131-game winner, serves as club ambassador and special assistant.
– RHP Aaron Tressler, who spent most of his season with Single-A Dunedin, will join the Fisher Cats bullpen Saturday. LHP Jo Matumoto will be Tuesday’s spot starter for the doubleheader at Connecticut.
– The Fisher Cats are 22-19 when wearing their black jersey tops. (They’re 23-26 in green.)
