That wasn’t Bruce’s comment
Someone posted a comment about “being annoying on blogs” and attached Bruce Trivellini’s name. It wasn’t him. It was a poser. Sorry for the mishap, Bruce. The post has been removed.
Uncle Art’s Baseball Empire
Check out my news story in the Dec. 31 editions, and you’ll read about Art Solomon’s quest to expand again. In the past few years, the minor-league baseball owner has taken full control of the Fisher Cats and helped financially rescue founding owner Drew Weber. Then Solomon bought a Single-A team. The Bowling Green (Ky.) Hot Rods will begin play this spring. Now he’s targeting the Lowell Spinners.
Solomon’s group has made a bid to manage LeLacheur Park in Lowell, which means handling concessions, tickets, etc., for the Spinners. No, he wouldn’t own the team, but he’d take his high-powered staff and extract revenue streams like a freshly tapped maple. (If this sounds confusing, think of a local example: SMG Worldwide manages the Verizon Wireless Arena, not the Manchester Monarchs.)
This reaffirms Solomon and DFS Sports & Entertainment as a serious player in the minors. They’re in it for the long haul. While other businesses in Manchester are struggling, the Fisher Cats are looking recession-proof. They’re about to make another full-time hire, and they’re coming off a year of record-breaking attendance.
While researching this story, I was surprised to learn that Minor League Baseball experienced an across-the-board 1.1 percent increase in attendance last season. In the majors, attendance dipped 1.1 percent as many financially strapped fans looked elsewhere for their baseball.
Having said all that, I’m thinking of pouring my 401(k) into the Bowling Green Hot Rods.
Video gamer
Memo to Clay Buchholz, the greatest Guitar Hero in visiting clubhouse history at Merchantsauto.com Stadium: bring it on. I finally played the game yesterday, ripping through a West Coast tour with serious hair bleachin’ and guitar screachin.’ Now if we can only get one of those games in the press box. You know, for rain delays.
On board the tour bus were my nephew, Adam, and brother-in-law, Jimmy. OK, it was a van.
Division II hoops
The men’s basketball teams at Southern New Hampshire University and St. Anselm College are looking pretty good, and it’s always fun when one of the teams is ripping up the Northeast-10. SNHU posted a non-conference win over Nyack yesterday and improved to 6-3 … Junior guard Stephen Wood grabbed 16 rebounds in the 76-69 triumph. Remember glass-eating Bobby Miller, another rebounding guard, from years ago? That’s Wood, who’s a few inches taller … Nashua North’s Troy Bowen hit a dagger 3-pointer as SNHU pulled away … Gerald Carter of Harlem scored a quick nine points in the first half and set the tone for SNHU.
Stan Spirou wasn’t happy with how the Penmen played at times. “We’re not talented enough and haven’t been together enough to mess around and get into the last five minutes like that,” he said.
The Penmen are undefeated (4-0) with Spirou’s grandson, R.J., in attendance at The Fieldhouse … Concord product Matt Smith officiated yesterday’s game and “tried not to be too local,” according to a joking Spirou, meaning most of Smith’s calls went against SNHU.
St. Anselm is off to a 7-1 start and scheduled to host Bloomfield College at 3:30 p.m.
Red Rocket on ESPN
I’m looking forward to watching the Spurs and Hornets on ESPN tonight, 9:30. Spurs forward Matt Bonner of Concord High leads the NBA in 3-point shooting, and it’s not even a close race. Bonner enters tonight at 53 percent from beyond the arc. Kevin Durant ranks second at 48 percent.
Bulldog coaches Gators
Trinity High of Manchester graduate Dan Mullen, who recently accepted the football head coaching job at Mississippi State, will remain with the Florida Gators and call plays for the Jan. 8 Bowl Championship Series title game against Oklahoma. Mullen, 36, also plays a wicked piano, his mother tells me.
Post-Vegas report
Time to catch up with Toronto farm director Dick Scott, who finished with baseball’s winter meetings in Las Vegas.
On the status of Aaron Hill and his recovery from post-concussion syndrome:
“He’s working out and feeling good and right on target for spring training. All indicators point to him being ready for spring training without any issues.”
On losing Fisher Cats Ryan Klosterman and Anthony Hatch in the Rule 5 Draft:
“It’s probably good for those guys to go somewhere and have a chance with a different organization. They were very professional, and I hope things work out for them.”
On free-agent David Smith: “He’s probably one of those guys who needs to go to another place and get some fresh eyes on him. We had a long talk after the season … We’d love to have him back, but for his own career, he’s probably better served to be with another club and trying to get to Triple-A.”
On free-agent Erik Kratz: “We like him. If we had a spot, he’d be more than welcome to come back. He’s another one of those guys who is probably better served going to another club.”
LHP Gustavo Chacin is also looking for a job. Chacin pitched the Fisher Cats to the 2004 Eastern League title and pitched three seasons for the Jays. He missed all of last year with arm surgery followed by an ACL tear … The Blue Jays have re-signed minor-league corner infielders Andrew Pinckney and Brian Dopirak.
So long, Klosty
A pair of New Hampshire Fisher Cats were claimed in baseball’s Rule 5 Draft today as the Florida Marlins grabbed versatile infielder Ryan Klosterman and the Dodgers took third baseman Anthony Hatch. Both players are expected to serve in Double-A or Triple-A next season.
Klosterman played 250 games for the Fisher Cats and ranks second all-time with 40 stolen bases. He smacked a grand slam on Father’s Day in 2007 to lead NH in a rout of Erie.
Hatch began the 2008 season with the Fisher Cats and batted .235 with six homers.
My favorite Klosterman memory is the grand slam against the SeaWolves in an 11-5 victory. There’s also a memorable conversation we had at the cage one day:
KG: “Klosty, what’s your prediction for this series? What are your personal goals?”
Klosterman: “Get a few hits, maybe steal a few bags. Yeah, that’s it. I want to take some bags this series.”
I’m pretty sure he went Oh-for-the-weekend and didn’t steal another base for a month.
More Fisher Cats highlights from Klosterman
– Stole 22 bases in 2007, third most in a single season for NH.
– Only David Smith and Chip Cannon have played more games in team history.
Hatch:
– Hit first Fisher Cats homer against former NH ace Ismael Ramirez in a 5-4 loss at Harrisburg.
– Had a pair of RBI doubles in 9-3 win at Portland, a day in which Scott Richmond defeated Michael Bowden.
– Drew bases-loaded walk off losing pitcher Justin Masterson in a 5-4 triumph at Portland.
– Delivered sac fly and knocked out reliever Kyle Jackson with a two-run double during a NH 7-5 win over the Sea Dogs at Merchantsauto.com Stadium.
Red Rocket from deep
Concord High’s Matt Bonner leads the NBA in 3-pointing at 51 percent. The Spurs forward/center went 3-for-3 from long range (and 5-for-5 from the field) in last night’s double-overtime win at Dallas.
NBA Life returns
Our weekly conversation with NBA veteran Matt Bonner will be published in the New Hampshire Sunday News tomorrow. I wish all readers could listen to The NBA Life on the radio program (WKXL 1450 AM) because it can be gut-splitting funny with Bonner’s toasty dry sense of humor.
I’m sure many people just tuning in don’t realize all the sarcasm. Here’s a sample from last week when I missed the weekly taping. (Full disclosure. I was at the mall for family Christmas photos.)
Bonner: “Clearly, he’s the Allen Iverson of New Hampshire radio, using that as an excuse. He only shows up when it’s going to be in the Union Leader. It’s like Iverson talking about practice. Some guys are everyday guys, and some guys just do it for the limelight.”
Co-host Chris Ryan: “That’s an embarrassing revelation. He’s taking holiday photos at the mall. I didn’t know anybody did that anymore, and is he that much of a diva that he has to appear in the photo with his kids?
Bonner: “I better get a card.”
For more on Bonner’s sense of humor, check out these lines from his wedding announcement in a Toronto newspaper: “It was wicked awesome. After the honeymoon, the couple will return to San Antonio, where Matt plays for the Spurs, and then it’s on to Africa with Basketball Without Borders.”
