Van-tastic

Somerset Patriots left-hander Andy Van Hekken is making tonight's start against the Lancaster Barnstormers and third baseman Steve Van Note and right fielder Chris Van Rossum. That's more vans on the field than in the parking lot at the ballpark.
Anyway, now that I've blown past that terrible joke, this is the Patriots first game in sole possession of first place since May 29, and they wasted no time proving it with a two-run first inning.
Saturday's game is the first of six straight against the Lancaster Barnstormers, and while it is not easy to play the same team six games in a row, it helps that it is the Barnstormers.
Although this team is the defending Atlantic League champion, it is not very good.
The lineup has serious holes. There appears to be three solid bats in the entire lineup -- shortstop Danny Gonzalez, first baseman Jeremy Todd and left fielder Dominick Ambrosini. Once you get past them, there is not much to scare you.
In my opinion, Lancaster is going to have a very hard time qualifying for the playoffs without a serious second-half shakeup. From what I hear, that's probably not going to happen because manager Frank Klebe is very particular about the kind of player he will coach and very loyal to "his guys." His guys are a third-place team in the first half, however, and probably no better next half.
ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW: There is one former major-leaguer on the roster and it's left-handed reliever Phil Norton, who was released by the Patriots earlier this month. Sometimes the "major-league" tag is deceiving. Some of the league's best players have never been above Triple-A, but you need at least some major-league talent to compete.
Maybe they can sign Van Morrison.

Remember Girls Basketball???

I do.
Though it's hard for me to think about anything other than minor-league baseball between April and October, I just heard that Governor Livingston High School has hired a new girls basketball coach. Former New Providence football start Andy Silvagni is the man, according to what I've heard.
Two things interesting here:
1) It's interesting anytime that someone from New Prov gets a job at GL or vice versa. Their rivalry already is good in almost every sport and you know that coach wants to beat his alma mater that much more.
2) Dave Boff did a great job rebuilding the Highlanders program the past four years. The team was good for 15 to 20 wins in both my years on the beat. Can Silvagni keep that momentum going? We'll see this winter, but one thing working in his favor: Star guard Lauren Munick has another season to play. A good building block for any rookie coach.

Back on the beat...

I'm back on the job after missing the Patriots' first series in York. I needed those three days to work on my Tommy John story, which you can read here.
I was glad to have the three days off because I think this is a real solid story, but also because of what I've heard about York.
The situation for the players is well documented -- a dangerous outfield, no showers in the clubhouse, grass that might not stick -- but what about the situation for the press?
I've been told there was no press food -- which I would have made a stink about -- and the official scorer left one game in the 7th inning. He scored the rest of the game over the phone after someone else told him what they saw.
When outsiders say bad things about the Atlantic League, I usually stick up for it. I say the quality of play is high, the attendance is good most places, etc.
But these are the things they are talking about. Can you imagine the Triple-A Richmond Braves' scorer getting up and leaving in the 7th? If you have somewhere to be at 9 and the game starts at 7, take the day off. Give someone else a chance. What you might not know is anyone can score an independent league game. You don't need any qualifications or a card, just an opportunity.
As for the food, I've been served bad press box food before and food others like that I don't. No problem with either of those. But these people are here working hard to give your league publicity, the least you can do is make a small gesture of appreciation. Offer a hot dog.

All-star voting

Voting has begun for the 2007 Atlantic League All-Star Game on July 11 at Clipper Magazine Stadium in Lancaster, Pa. Fans can vote by going to the league's official Web site and I encourage it. The league claims votes by fans, media members and league executives count toward the selections, but no media member I know -- including myself -- has voted for the team since 2000. If fans votes actually are considered, then congratulations, you have more of a say than the only non player, coach or league representative to see more than 100 games per season. Again, me.

HERE IS MY BALLOT, AND PLEASE FEEL FREE TO POST YOURS OR JUST GRIPE ABOUT MINE:

SOUTH DIVISION:

1B: Nate Espy, York
2B: Danny Garcia, Somerset
SS: Danny Gonzalez, Lancaster
3B: Jeff Nettles, Somerset
C: Ben Davis, Camden
OF: L.J. Biernbaum, Camden
OF: Mike Lockwood, Somerset
OF: Dwight Maness, Camden
DH: Matt Dryer, York

About the selections: Somerset's three selections are all no-brainers. Nettles is on pace for a league-record 54 home runs, he's tied with Lockwood for the league's RBI lead entering Wednesday's games and Garcia ranks atop the league in stolen bases and third in runs scored. ... The hardest choice is in the outfield where Lancaster's Jutt Hileman gets the short stick. Hileman is having a very good season for an underachieving team, but Camden is an overachieving first-place team because of Biernbaum and Maness. Biernbaum brings a 19-game hitting streak into Wednesday. ... This game usually features two very questionable all-stars at catcher, but Ben Davis is not that guy. The former major-leaguer is a big-time bat whose only issue is his struggles throwing out potential base stealers. ... Dryer got off to an unbelievable season and he and Espy are really the only threats in York's entire lineup. Any offensive numbers they have would be multiplied if they had any protection.

NORTH DIVISION

1B: Victor Rodriguez, Newark
2B: Junior Spivey, Bridgeport
SS: Nick Ortiz, Bridgeport
3B: Luis Figueroa, Bridgeport
C: Sandy Aracena, Road Warriors
OF: Kevin Haverbusch, Long Island
OF: Keith Reed, Newark
OF: Jason Bryan, Road Warriors
DH: Jay Caligiuri, Bridgeport

About the selections: This lineup has a negative chance of happening. The Ducks rule the league -- literally, as their owner is the league CEO -- and there is 0 chance of them having one starter. Look for Rose to sneak in ahead of V-Rod or Navarrete ahead of Spivey. Both of those choices would be acceptable. Rose is having a very good season and it is a crime that Naverrete is not a starter. Navarrete is listed as a 2B only and Spivey might be the best player in the league. If Navarrete was listed as an OF -- where he sometimes plays -- he would be the No. 1 choice. What would be unacceptable is seeing some of the Ducks' underachieving big names -- Edgardo Alfonzo, Carl Everett or Jose Offerman -- slip into the starting lineup. It's possible because the league wants to promote its big names and fans want to see big names, but there is always the possibility these guys won't want to waste their break at the game anyway. ... If you notice how many Bluefish I put on the team, you know who I think has the best team in the league. ... I'm a big Aracena guy (how have none of the other teams signed this guy?) and he might very well start, but Bryan has no chance of starting despite his worthy numbers.

Voter Beware: If you are new to the league, beware that the ballot you see -- the ballot I based my votes on -- is subject to change without notice. When the starters are announced, you might see a DH not listed as a DH on the ballot or Navarrete in the outfield. Some times these are very smart moves, some times they are very shady.

Harder to keep a diet on the road but easier to blog

I often mock myself for being out of shape and having a beer belly, but recently I decided to do something about it. The reason? The teasing by family members and friends has become excessive.
I've created my own diet -- no french fries and no regular soda.
You may ask, "Ryan, what is that really going to do?" but if you have any idea how often I eat french fries and drink regular soda, then you know it could do a lot.
It's been a week without both now, and it's been very tough.
I miss soda more than french fries and am getting sick of lemonade, fruit punch and water.
During college, I was once quoted as saying, "If I could only bring three things with me to a deserted island, one would definitely be a Pepsi."
Well, this self-invented diet has me feeling like I'm on a deserted island right now.
In reality, I'm on Long Island and it's hard to keep a diet on the road because of the limited food options. Had a calzone and a powerade today.
Central Islip, N.Y. is my favorite road trip because the hotel is nice, the town is nice, the ballpark is nice and there are options for social activity in the neighborhood.

As for the team...the Patriots blew a five-run lead Monday night for the second time in five days. Sparky Lyle ripped his bullpen after the game and again Tuesday afternoon. Frustration is clearly setting in for Lyle, who, for the first time in 1 1/2 years, has a lineup clicking on all nine cylinders. But no lead is safe with this bullpen and he fears over-using Saul Solveson and R.D. Spiehs, the only two guys who have earned his trust.
Other interesting notes: Todd Leathers is in the starting lineup Tuesday for the first time since June 10. Lyle's doghouse is a deep one, and it's hard to crawl out once you are in. Now that Leathers has a shot, let's see if he takes advantage. Two hits, and he could be back at first base Wednesday. An 0-fer could mean see you in July. ... Second baseman Danny Garcia is not in the starting lineup for the second consecutive day. Garcia, the Atlantic League stolen base leader, is said to need rest after starting the team's first 42 games. ... Paul Thorp, who pitched for Double-A Trenton as recently as last week, is expected to join the Patriots on Thursday. Thorp is a right-handed reliever with solid career numbers. That's not much to say, but it's more than you can say about most of the pitchers in the team's current bullpen. Thorp will put the Patriots at the league maximum 25-man roster, so expect a release in the ensuing days because the franchise traditionally prefers to go with 24 -- likely for financial reasons.

Bring your Lincolns for Nettles bobblehead day

Saturday night is Jeff and Graig Nettles bobblehead night at Commerce Bank Ballpark. Both are available to sign autographs, Jeff for free and Graig for $5 per signature with a maximum of three per person. The charge has raised some eyebrows since the Patriots mission is "affordable family entertainment" and charging for an autograph seems very major-league, not minor-league.
That said, $5 for a Graig Nettles autograph is a steal considering his autographed baseball is selling on steinersports.com for $80.99. He is signing all items, too, not just Patriots-endorsed products, so the value will not be tainted.
Here's what Patriots president and general manager Patrick McVerry said:

"It's a nice thing with Jeff having been here, being the face of the Patriots. Fans who remember seeing Graig play always say 'He plays like his father.' Graig played 22 years in the majors and he's a friend of Sparky's."

"It was a neccessary decision (to charge) because he is only available to sign for a limited amount of time and we want to control it to the best of our ability. We don't want a line around the entire ballpark where fans are at the end with no chance to get an autograph."

"A fan can get an autograph or a picture with him and it cuts down a lot of the borderline fan who is not as excited about it but just wants an autograph because he is here. Some people may come out here just for his autograph and we don't want them to be denied."

I've been told this is not the first time the Patriots have charged for an autograph but no one can verify it.

UPDATE: I just heard that proceeds from the autograph signing will be donated to a children's charity. If this is true, then forget everything I said. They should be charging more than $5. Of course, I think it's weird that I've been asking about this for days and no one mentioned that opinion-swaying fact.

3 Million and counting...

The countdown is over. Kori Knapp is the 3 millionth fan in Somerset Patriots history.
Patriots staff members ambushed Knapp -- who was with her husband and two small children -- as she walked through the gates at Commerce Bank Ballpark on Thursday night. Needless to say, she was taken aback. Kori laughed nonstop for about 25 minutes and kept muttering things like "I don't believe this," "how did this happen?" and "this is unreal."
The cool thing about Knapp is that she is a good representative of the average Patriots fan. She is a baseball fan (her and her husband, Tom, were Patriots season ticket holders in 1999) but she mainly goes so her children can enjoy the atmosphere/baseball combination.
Her prize package included four tickets to every home game for the rest of the season, a commemorative plaque, team jersey and autographed bat and ball, four tickets to the upcoming Nick Lachey concert at the ballpark, a bouquet of flowers, thirty 100 Grand candy bars, a gift certificate to Maggiano’s Little Italy in Bridgewater, two tickets to Monty Python’s Spamalot and a $300 gift card for the team store.
Knapp said seemed totally in awe of the celebrity treatment she was given. She was a guest on WCTC's radio broadcast of the Patriots game.
The Patriots handled the 3 million celebration differently than they did the 1 and 2 million celebrations. In the past, they had fans sign up to be the 3 millionth fan and the honoree was picked at random. On Thursday they tracked the tickets and grabbed the unsuspecting honoree. I think this worked much better because it created an aura of excitement on the concourse. Some fans knew about the 3 millionth fan, some just wondered why a reporter, a cameraman and front office members were anxiously standing at the gate. Either way, everyone knew something was up.
As for the game, the Knapps will have to use their season tickets to catch the Patriots on a better day. Somerset scored five runs in the second inning but blew the 5-0 lead by allowing 13 of the next 14 runs to York.

The Atlantic League of Professional Acting

As another anonymous Atlantic League writer would say, this story is hiiiiilarious.
Here is a summary, but I highly suggest reading the story.
ESPN has a new TV series (see: Playmakers) coming out about the 1977 Yankees, their pursuit to win the World Series and the various national and local subplots at the time. The show is called The Bronx is Burning and it debuts in July.
The real kick?
Sparky Lyle is played by Road Warriors pitcher Aric LeClaire and Roy White is played by Patriots outfielder Elliot Ayala.
Neither Lyle/LeClaire or White/Ayala are supposed to have speaking parts, but this story gives you a little insight into the show and into LeClaire's futile attempt to grow a Lyle-like mustache.
I hope to have more on this after I speak to Ayala later today.

Aftermath of a scrum

If you read the paper or the CN Web site today, you know that Tuesday's Patriots game at Lancaster featured a benches-clearing incident.
Patriots pitcher Jon Cannon hit Barnstormers outfielder Van Rossum in the shoulder with a pitch and then picked him off first base. Van Rossum got in a rundown and was tagged out by Cannon, who he forearmed to the ground. Cannon got up and flipped the ball at Van Rossum, who spiked it back at him.
Both players were suspended three games and fined undisclosed amounts Wednesday by the Atlantic League.
That raises the question, "Why do a pitcher and a position player get suspended the same amount of games?"
Cannon will not miss anytime -- he will be back in time for Sunday's start -- while Van Rossum is out for three games.
Lancaster beat writer Burt Wilson spoke to Atlantic League executive director Joe Klein this afternoon and was told Cannon was given three games because he was acting as a field and not a pitcher on this play.
I am pretty sure that makes no sense. What do you think? Should Cannon be treated the same as Van Rossum or held to a different standard so that he at least misses some time?
****There is a sign in the Lancaster clubhouse that clearly states pitchers and fielders will be handled differently in such incidents. So it seems the only thing saving Cannon is that this incident didn't happen directly on the pitcher's mound.

Steroid accusations in the Atlantic League

In this recent article in the Nashua (N.H.) Telegraph, Nashua Pride team doctor Pierre Dionne says Atlantic Leaguers often approached him about acquiring steroids.

“ The Atlantic League, five years ago it was peaking. . . . It wasn’t unusual to come here every other day and be approached.”

The Pride were part of the Atlantic League from 1998-2005. It is worth noting that Dionne never came forth with this information when the Pride were playing in the league and it is easy to bash something without the possibility of repercussion, but there does not seem to be any reason he would make this story up.
The Atlantic League has been under steroid suspicion before. The Canseco brothers played in Newark earlier in the decade and former Long Island pitcher Paxton Crawford admitted to taking steroids during his playing career in an ESPN The Magazine story last summer.
The league does test its teams collectively once a season and players are subject to other tests.

***I ENCOURAGE PEOPLE READING MY BLOG, EVEN IF YOU DON'T KNOW MUCH ABOUT THE ATLANTIC LEAGUE, TO POST YOUR THOUGHTS ON THIS STORY....