This is the new Courier News girls basketball blog address. Please bookmark it:
http://blogs.mycentraljersey.com/holdingcourt/
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
Thursday, April 24, 2008
NEW BLOG!!! VERY IMPORTANT!!! PLEASE READ!!
My blog is changing addresses and the newspaper has no way to redirect you from this site to that one. So if you have this address saved on your favorites or bookmarked, please change the address to:
www.mycentraljersey.com/patsblog
This will be the final post I make on this blog. If you have any difficultly accessing the new blog, leave me a comment here and I will answer it, but go to the new blog for new information and please start leaving your comments there.
Thanks.
www.mycentraljersey.com/patsblog
This will be the final post I make on this blog. If you have any difficultly accessing the new blog, leave me a comment here and I will answer it, but go to the new blog for new information and please start leaving your comments there.
Thanks.
Knight starts, not pictured
You might have seen my story on Brandon Knight, who is the Opening Day starter Friday for the Patriots. You might also have noticed that the photo with the story is not Brandon Knight. That's newcomer Steve Kelly, who is expected to start the second game.
Not sure how that happened, but we are sorry for the confusion. I don't want any fans going up to Kelly and asking for Knight's autograph because of something on the paper's end.
Here is the link:
http://www.c-n.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080424/SPORTS01/804240305/1011
Not sure how that happened, but we are sorry for the confusion. I don't want any fans going up to Kelly and asking for Knight's autograph because of something on the paper's end.
Here is the link:
http://www.c-n.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080424/SPORTS01/804240305/1011
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
News & Notes as spring training ends
In case you missed Wednesday's paper, the Patriots released shortstop Pete Moore (who "made" the team out of the open tryout), catcher Michael Muscato and relief pitchers Joe Welsh and David Humen. No surprise here, really. These four guys had a combined one game of experience above Single-A, and it belonged to Humen.
Muscato, however, is not completely out of the picture. He accepted a job as the team's bullpen catcher early in the season. It might not sound it, but this is a very undervalued job. Lots of dirty work, but impacts the game by getting relief pitchers ready without straining the backup catcher. Muscato showed during spring training that he can hit -- though not with much power -- and he appears to have potential behind the plate. I definitely think he could play in a lesser independent league -- say, the Frontier League, where most players are in their mid-20s and not the typical Atlantic League veteran. Patriots officials said they are going to try to get Muscato a job there, so we'll see keep an eye on that.
Frank Moore missed Wednesday's practice as he flew back home to tend to a family issue. The team expects him back for Thursday's practice and, if not, definitely by Friday's opener.
The team's parade was Wednesday night. I did not attend, but check out the front page of Thursday's Courier News for a story by my colleague Marty. Thursday night is the barbecue for season ticket holders, and I'll likely see you there.
Around the league: Rumor has it Greg Blosser has made the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs. For more on why that is interesting, check the info from two posts ago.
Lancaster Barnstormers beat writer Jason Guarente is reporting that the team has released outfielder Dominick Ambrosini because first-year manager Von Hayes did not like his lax attitude. This is downright shocking news considering Ambrosini has been an All-Star caliber player during his three Atlantic League seasons. He hit .316 with 20 doubles, 19 home runs and 70 RBIs last season for a team that wasn't very good. I love the guts it takes to make a move like this as Hayes is clearly sending his players a message, but I think it might backfire. Ambrosini is good enough to sign with any team in the league if he wants, and I see him hitting the home run to eliminate Lancaster from playoff contention in September.
Muscato, however, is not completely out of the picture. He accepted a job as the team's bullpen catcher early in the season. It might not sound it, but this is a very undervalued job. Lots of dirty work, but impacts the game by getting relief pitchers ready without straining the backup catcher. Muscato showed during spring training that he can hit -- though not with much power -- and he appears to have potential behind the plate. I definitely think he could play in a lesser independent league -- say, the Frontier League, where most players are in their mid-20s and not the typical Atlantic League veteran. Patriots officials said they are going to try to get Muscato a job there, so we'll see keep an eye on that.
Frank Moore missed Wednesday's practice as he flew back home to tend to a family issue. The team expects him back for Thursday's practice and, if not, definitely by Friday's opener.
The team's parade was Wednesday night. I did not attend, but check out the front page of Thursday's Courier News for a story by my colleague Marty. Thursday night is the barbecue for season ticket holders, and I'll likely see you there.
Around the league: Rumor has it Greg Blosser has made the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs. For more on why that is interesting, check the info from two posts ago.
Lancaster Barnstormers beat writer Jason Guarente is reporting that the team has released outfielder Dominick Ambrosini because first-year manager Von Hayes did not like his lax attitude. This is downright shocking news considering Ambrosini has been an All-Star caliber player during his three Atlantic League seasons. He hit .316 with 20 doubles, 19 home runs and 70 RBIs last season for a team that wasn't very good. I love the guts it takes to make a move like this as Hayes is clearly sending his players a message, but I think it might backfire. Ambrosini is good enough to sign with any team in the league if he wants, and I see him hitting the home run to eliminate Lancaster from playoff contention in September.
Monday, April 21, 2008
Cut day
Tuesday is cut day, as the Somerset Patriots will cut their roster from the 29 players who are in spring training to the 25 who will be in uniform Opening Day. I confirmed that the team is going to carry 25 -- no more and no less.
You be asking yourself, more? Isn't the Atlantic League active roster maximum 25?
The answer is yes, but apparently the league is considering allowing teams to carry as many as 28 early in the season in order to better asses the talent. I've always thought a week of spring training was too short to get an accurate read on players on the bubble, but this seems a little silly.
One of the disadvantages to not being in Florida with the rest of the league is I get left out of news tidbits like this. Lancaster Barnstormers beat writer Jason Guarente is in Florida and here is the excerpt from his blog. Give credit where it is due.
"There could be some transactions Monday. It depends on an Atlantic League ruling. The league is considering allowing teams to carry 27 or 28 players in the early part of the season for evaluation purposes."
Who gets the axe from the Pats? I've been told two pitchers and two position players, but there was a front office and coaches meeting scheduled for Monday night to finalize the names, so I don't want to publicize them until its official.
Would you want to read you were losing your job on my blog before your boss told you?
You be asking yourself, more? Isn't the Atlantic League active roster maximum 25?
The answer is yes, but apparently the league is considering allowing teams to carry as many as 28 early in the season in order to better asses the talent. I've always thought a week of spring training was too short to get an accurate read on players on the bubble, but this seems a little silly.
One of the disadvantages to not being in Florida with the rest of the league is I get left out of news tidbits like this. Lancaster Barnstormers beat writer Jason Guarente is in Florida and here is the excerpt from his blog. Give credit where it is due.
"There could be some transactions Monday. It depends on an Atlantic League ruling. The league is considering allowing teams to carry 27 or 28 players in the early part of the season for evaluation purposes."
Who gets the axe from the Pats? I've been told two pitchers and two position players, but there was a front office and coaches meeting scheduled for Monday night to finalize the names, so I don't want to publicize them until its official.
Would you want to read you were losing your job on my blog before your boss told you?
Sunday, April 20, 2008
Around the Atlantic League...
Here are two scoops from around the league....
-- Former Somerset Patriot Greg Blosser is in spring training with the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs. Blosser, who has not played professionally since getting released by the Patriots in 2003, told me last season that he was planning a comeback but I did not expect much of a market for a 36-year-old outfielder who has more recent experience as a private investigator than he does as a baseball player. Shows you what I know. From everything I hear, Blosser is a good guy for the league and his comeback would make a great story. The wrinkle? If he makes the team, Blosser's first game would be Friday against the Patriots at Commerce Bank Ballpark, where he hit that memorable two-out three-run home run to tie Game 4 of the 2001 Atlantic League Championship Series against Newark.
-- Randall Simon is expected to join the Newark Bears. The team plans to announce this signing Monday, but I figure it is safe to release the news since he was on the roster the Bears gave me Saturday. The 32-year-old first baseman is a career .283 hitter in 537 major-league games and should fare well versus Atlantic League pitching. However, Simon will forever be most remembered for a July 9, 2003 incident at Miller Park in Milwaukee when, leaning over the dugout railing, he struck a woman in a mascot costume with his bat during the between-innings sausage race. I expect he's tired of answering questions about this by now, but there are plenty of Atlantic League writers who will be dying for this guy to come into town. I am not one of them.
-- Former Somerset Patriot Greg Blosser is in spring training with the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs. Blosser, who has not played professionally since getting released by the Patriots in 2003, told me last season that he was planning a comeback but I did not expect much of a market for a 36-year-old outfielder who has more recent experience as a private investigator than he does as a baseball player. Shows you what I know. From everything I hear, Blosser is a good guy for the league and his comeback would make a great story. The wrinkle? If he makes the team, Blosser's first game would be Friday against the Patriots at Commerce Bank Ballpark, where he hit that memorable two-out three-run home run to tie Game 4 of the 2001 Atlantic League Championship Series against Newark.
-- Randall Simon is expected to join the Newark Bears. The team plans to announce this signing Monday, but I figure it is safe to release the news since he was on the roster the Bears gave me Saturday. The 32-year-old first baseman is a career .283 hitter in 537 major-league games and should fare well versus Atlantic League pitching. However, Simon will forever be most remembered for a July 9, 2003 incident at Miller Park in Milwaukee when, leaning over the dugout railing, he struck a woman in a mascot costume with his bat during the between-innings sausage race. I expect he's tired of answering questions about this by now, but there are plenty of Atlantic League writers who will be dying for this guy to come into town. I am not one of them.
Friday, April 18, 2008
Home runs continue to fly out of Healthquest Park at a high rate.
After two days of balls crashing into the scoreboard and shed behind the left-field fence during batting practice, Jeff Duncan hit the only home run Thursday during the first intra-squad scrimmage.
The pace picked up again Friday as Brandon Larson and Vito Chiaravalloti connected for back-to-back home runs off left-hander Andy Van Hekken.
Right-hander Casey Cahill worked into and out of trouble while tossing a scoreless inning.
Regular catchers Travis Anderson (first base) and Jason Belcher (third base) got a well-deserved break from squatting as Michael Muscato and Matt Hagan handled the catching duties for the two sides.
Saturday's scrimmage against the Newark Bears at Bears & Eagles Riverfront Stadium is set for 12 p.m. I am looking forward to getting a look at another Atlantic League team. By this point in years past, I've had a decent feel for most of the other teams, but not being in Lakeland, Fla. with the rest of the league has an isolated feeling.
After two days of balls crashing into the scoreboard and shed behind the left-field fence during batting practice, Jeff Duncan hit the only home run Thursday during the first intra-squad scrimmage.
The pace picked up again Friday as Brandon Larson and Vito Chiaravalloti connected for back-to-back home runs off left-hander Andy Van Hekken.
Right-hander Casey Cahill worked into and out of trouble while tossing a scoreless inning.
Regular catchers Travis Anderson (first base) and Jason Belcher (third base) got a well-deserved break from squatting as Michael Muscato and Matt Hagan handled the catching duties for the two sides.
Saturday's scrimmage against the Newark Bears at Bears & Eagles Riverfront Stadium is set for 12 p.m. I am looking forward to getting a look at another Atlantic League team. By this point in years past, I've had a decent feel for most of the other teams, but not being in Lakeland, Fla. with the rest of the league has an isolated feeling.
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