Red Sox fans have enjoyed the work Alex Speier, a poetic sports writer — that’s no oxymoron — for five seasons with the New Hampshire Union Leader. Alex has joined WEEI.com, where he posted a nice story on Michael Bowden. Here’s a photo of Bowden and a 4-year-old fan at the Eastern League Block Party in Manchester.
The Eastern League Baseball Writers Association released its 2008 All-Star team today. Scott Campbell of the Fisher Cats received 17 of 18 votes at second base.
C - LOU MARSON, Reading (14 votes)
1B - RYAN ROBERSON, Erie (11)
2B - SCOTT CAMPBELL, New Hampshire (17)
3B - WES HODGES, Akron (14)
SS - JASON DONALD, Reading (17)
OF: LOU MONTANEZ, Bowie (16); WILKIN RAMIREZ, Erie (15); NOLAN REIMOLD, Bowie (7)
Utility: DAN MURPHY, Binghamton (6 total votes at various positions).
Starting pitchers: BRAD BERGESEN, Bowie (15); PHIL COKE, Trenton (12); DAVID HERNANDEZ, Bowie (8)
Relief pitcher: EDDIE KUNZ, Binghamton (8).
PLAYER OF THE YEAR: LOU MONTANEZ, Bowie (unanimous, 18 votes)
MANAGER OF THE YEAR: BRAD KOMMINSK, Bowie (11)
Toront’s lineup at Yankee Stadium tonight:
1. Joe Inglett, 2B
2. Marco Scutaro, SS
3. Alex Rios, RF
4. Vernon Wells, CF
5. Adam Lind, DH
6. Lyle Overbay, 1B
7. Rod Barajas, C
8. Scott Rolen, 3B
9. Travis Snider, LF
– Snider, an All-Star with the Fisher Cats, is making his big-league debut. He’ll face righty Carl Pavano, who’ll probably serve up an upper-deck shot to The Franchise … UPDATE: “The Franchise” went 1-for-3 with a ground-rule double over Johnny Damon’s head. There was a cool moment when Derek Jeter congratulated Snider at second base, and you could see the 20-year-old say, “Thanks. I appreciate that.” Snider scored Toronto’s only run and struck out during a crucial at-bat against Edwar Ramirez in the eighth.
– For a while, I didn’t think the Fisher Cats would again break their all-time attendance record this season. They did. Congrats.
– The sumo wrestler performed a trampoline flip during the final home game. It was must-see.
– Just spent $59.95 to purchase the Comcast MLB Extra Innings package for September. Tax write-off?
– The Fisher Cats are in the running for another Baseball America logo contest, but this time it’s a bigger title. Fans can vote here.
Memo to Steph Cohen of the Fisher Cats. A headline in the Aug. 17 New Hampshire Sunday News reads “Snider may force Blue Jays to give him a look this fall.” Hmm. Who wrote that story?
– Some players made extra effort to give the fans some game-used gear last night. Scott Campbell, Erik Kratz and Kyle Phillips were just some of the guys I noticed giving out lots of cool stuff.
In a rather surprise move given the timing, Toronto will promote Travis Snider to the big leagues on Friday, according to a source within the Fisher Cats. The 20-year-old will join the Blue Jays at Yankee Stadium in New York, continuing a whirlwind journey that began at Single-A Dunedin in April 2008. Snider earned midseason and full-season Eastern League All-Star honors with the Fisher Cats after batting .262 with a team-leading 17 homers at the time of his promotion to Triple-A.
– It’s only a peculiar move considering the Blue Jays are out of the playoff race and didn’t wait until rosters expanded to 40 on Sept. 1. Snider will take the place of Matt Stairs, designated for assignment.
– “The Franchise,” who won the Home Run Derby at the Eastern League All-Star Game, is considered Toronto’s No. 1 prospect. Blue Jays General Manager J.P. Ricciardi, on the hotseat and likely a lame-duck GM, can only hope Snider makes an immediate impact. “That’s my draft pick” would be his message to the Jays’ ownership group, which has settled for mediocre teams under Ricciardi.
– Personally, I think it’s a good move for Snider’s development. Give him a taste of the big leagues. He’ll be that much more comfortable next year, and the kid will continue busting his tail to return in 2009.
– Ricciardi recently told me that Snider and no other Fisher Cats from 2008 would be promoted to the big leagues this season. But Snider forced the Jays’ hand by batting .344 with an outstanding .901 OPS in 18 games with Triple-A Syracuse.
– This means Snider will likely play at Fenway Park in a few weeks. He could spend a full month with Toronto before reporting to the Arizona Fall League — reserved for the finest minor-league players — the first week of October.
– More of this story developed early Friday morning, but you heard it here first. More info can be found at MLB.com. The Blue Jays also worked a deal to trade Stairs to the Phillies.
Notes from the last Fisher Cats home game of the season:
– Hitting coach Kenny Joyce threw batting practice to the entire Fisher Cats front office staff today.
– Binghamton manager Mako “The Shark” Oliveras played for Puerto Rico in the Little League World Series. And, no, that isn’t his nickname.
– Heard from several sources that pitcher Jean Machi got into a dust-up with manager Gary Cathcart and was sent home. Talked with Cathcart after the game. He said it’s an “internal matter” and no transaction has been made. Machi was not with the team for the final home game.
– Kyle Phillips gave clubbie Nick Botelho a HUGE bag of coins for a year-end tip. Hilarious. We’re talking like $60 worth of dimes, nickels and a few quarters.
– Bill Rosario of the Eastern League is in the house. He presented Eric Blanton with the Turf Manager of the Year award.
– Well, it happened. I bought a titanium-infused Phiten necklace — for research purposes only. “Now your chi is flowing properly,” pitcher Zach Dials said. I asked Fisher Cats trainer Voon Chong about the Phiten phenomena/gimmick and was given a “no comment.”
– Got a chance to take some batting practice with Fisher Cats hitting coach Ken Joyce this afternoon. The power stroke wasn’t exactly there, and Bill Masse would’ve beaten me this year in Home Run Derby, but it was still a blast. WMUR-TV Sports Director Jamie Staton also took some hacks, and here’s some fun video.
– Fisher Cats strength and conditioning Mike Hall is celebrated his 25th birthday on Wednesday. Someone brought Hall a small birthday cake. Reminds me of the time the Portland Sea Dogs stuffed about 28 birthday balloons into the locker of Tommy Hottovy last season.
– Plymouth State basketball coach John Scheinman was in in the house with kids Aaron, Jacob and Sarah. Other Panthers at the park included the PSU women’s rugby team, including Ashley Clark, a third-generation gal from famous Clark’s Trading Post.
– Last night Jacob Butler homered on the 99th pitch from Binghamton. If he’d waited one more pitch, a lucky fan would’ve won a free car from Merchants Auto.
– Travis Snider must’ve read Bruce Almighty’s latest blog post because the Franchise went 2-for-3 at Syracuse with a homer. He’s now batting .343 at Triple-A.
Only two more games home games for the Fisher Cats, which means only two more games to save at the pump (an advertising campaign that has grown on me). Let’s go to the park and save at the pump!
– What does that mean? I guess it means to support your hometown team by attending Fisher Cats games instead of driving elsewhere.
– Fisher Cat alumnus Robinzon Diaz was sent to Pittsburgh today to complete a trade for utility man Jose Bautista. Diaz became expendable with the rapid development of J.P. Arencibia and Brian Jeroloman.
– Fisher Cats manager Gary Cathcart said Dustin Pedroia was the toughest out to come through the Eastern League in recent years. “Even when you did get him out, it took 12 pitches,” he said.
– NH’s Eric Blanton is the Eastern League Turf Manager of the Year. But he still needs to work on his interview skills.
– Manchester’s Chris Lambert made his big-league debut with the Tigers tonight and took the loss against the Indians. His line: 2.2 innings, 5 H, 6R, 2ER, 1W, 2K. He gave up homers to Jamey Carroll and Kelly Shoppach.
– Chris Ryan of WKXL Radio, my partner in the NBA Life series with Matt Bonner, is blogging from Yankee Stadium for the Sox series.
Right-hander Orlando Trias, a former New Hampshire Fisher Cat, threw a no-hitter against the Nashua Pride to lead Quebec in a 3-0 victory at Holman Stadium in Nashua today.
Trias is only the second pitcher in Can-Am League history to throw a no-hitter, matching Aaron Myers’ feat in 2006 with the New Jersey Jackals.
“He threw strikes and kept us off-balanced,” said Pride Manager Rick Miller following the game. “It was one of those games where you just have to tip your cap to (Trias), he did a good job.”
Trias (8-6) earned his eighth victory of the year with the complete game gem, tossing nine shut-out innings while allowing just four walks and notching four strike outs against the Pride.
Tigers farmhand Chris Lambert of Manchester will make his major-league debut on Tuesday against the Indians. About time. The righty out of Manchester Memorial and Boston College went 12-8 with a 3.50 ERA in 26 starts for Triple-A Toledo.
