DUCK!

[seawolf17]

Finally heading to our first Long Island Ducks game tonight. The Dux are 10-8, 2.5 games back in the North Division. They host the Road Warriors tonight -- the team that the Atlantic League uses as their dummy team, spending their entire season on the road, with no home ballpark. Lots of Duck ex-MLBers, including a few we know well -- Danny Graves, Donovan Osborne (didn't he come to ST with the Mets once?), Carl Everett...



And of course, this guy:


The Ducks' offense is led by P.J. (formerly Pete Jr.) Rose at .369. (Fonzie is hopping along at a .182/.273/.303 clip, but has only K'd twice in 55 AB, so maybe he'll come around.) Former Met Kevin Baez was a coach the past few seasons, but was actually just hired back by the Mets as a minor league instructor. Buddy Harrelson is still coaching first base, and former Cardinal Dave LaPoint is the manager. Other ex-MLBers on the roster include John Halama, John Riedling, and Damian Rolls.

Some names you know on the Road Warriors also, including former Met Jeff Tam, who has thrown one inning; and Ian Bladergroen, who went to Boston in the Doug Mientkiewicz deal. Former Stony Brook Seawolf Chris Flinn, a righthander who bopped around the D-Rays' system, is on the DL for the Warriors.

[Guest sharpie]

Before P.J. Rose was Pete Rose Jr. he was Petey Rose.

[seawolf17]

Moron sitting behind us last season: "You know, that's Pete Rose's son."

[Guest Edgy DC]

It's those morons' amazing ability to turn over credit cards, find their seats, and wait their turns to say such dumb things that keep the indies signing the PJ Roses.

[Guest Iubitul]

hmmmmmm.... the Ducks are in Bridgeport Monday afternoon....

[Willets Point]

seawolf17 wrote: Moron sitting behind us last season: "You know, that's Pete Rose's son."

Okay, I'm a moron. Is he not Pete Rose's son?

[seawolf17]

No, it's just that his name is... Pete Rose Junior. Obviously he's Pete Rose's son. Even if it's Pete Rose of Kalamazoo, Michigan and not the gambler; he's still Pete Rose's son.

[G-Fafif]

seawolf17 wrote: Some names you know on the Road Warriors also, including former Met Jeff Tam, who has thrown one inning; and Ian Bladergroen, who went to Boston in the Doug Mientkiewicz deal.

I remember significant caterwauling from the segment of Mets fans that (pre-2006 anyway) lived only to tout minor leaguers that we couldn't, absolutely couldn't trade Ian Bladergroen, that he was our fourth-best prospect or something like that. I wish young Mr. Bladergroen the best of luck in getting off the Road, but I find it instructive that we managed to derive a year of competent first base play (if a little too much whininess there toward the end) from Mientkiewicz in exchange for a guy who is hanging on in an independent league just two years later. Mientkiewicz was clearly Plan B going into 2005 after Delgado kept flying south, but it was a pretty decent nothing for nothing much swap in its time.

Have fun tonight Seawolf!

[seawolf17]

We got a third seat this year for MiniWolf, but our plan gives us all night games, so I don't know how many games we'll actually get to. We have good seats, behind third base and covered. As the games get closer, I'll post if we have any tickets available.

[Benjamin Grimm]

I thought the same thing, G, when I was reading this thread and learned that Bladergroen was a Duck.

[A Boy Named Seo]

Blade was my adopted prospect on the old board. Big lefty, line-drive hitting first baseman with all this power that was supposed to show up at any minute.

He went .242./.353/.408 in 331 AB's (91 K's!) last year in high A for Boston, but was just 23. Surprised they cut him loose even though he did pretty much suck.

[Frayed Knot]

IIRC Baldergroen had a real good half-season with us at Low-A -- but then hurt his wrist and missed a bunch of time and never seemed to be the same after that.
Maybe the wrist has nothing to do with it and the half-season was just a small sample size. Either way, a small taste of success at a low level is always too early to list anyone as a 'Can't Touch'.

This place gave that trade a few knocks at the time too, but I recall it as being more along the lines that Monkeywrench wasn't worth giving up [u:64528e2459]Any[/u:64528e2459] prospects for and that we'd be better off picking up a Travis Lee type who were available essentially for free.

[seawolf17]

Good times last night; great weather, packed house (6,008), and a win for the home team. The Ducks picked up three in the first and two in the fourth, but the Warriors answered with three in the fifth and two in a tediously long seventh inning. Sidewinder Ben Grezlovski picked himself up a few Blue Points (my Ducks version of Schaefer Points, named after LI's Blue Point Brewery) by coming in after lefty specialist Mark Watson allowed Ian Bladergroen to tie the game and throwing one pitch -- an easy 1-6-3 DP that kept the game tied.

The Ducks took the lead right away in the bottom of the seventh on a leadoff walk, bunt single, and RBI single by Petey Rose; Danny Graves closed it out with a 1-2-E6-3 ninth.

Blue Points:
Jorge Piedra 1 (RBI single in 1st)
Damian Rolls 1 (2-run 2B in 1st)
Ray Navarrete 1 (leadoff walk in 7th, scored go-ahead run)
Kevin Haverbusch 1 (bunt single in 7th)
Li'l Pete Rose 1 (GWRBI)
Randy Leek 2 (6 IP, 7 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 6 K)
Ben Grezlovski 2 (one pitch, two outs to kill the rally)
Danny Graves 1 (SV)

Two quick observations:
* All those who think Edgardo Alfonzo is still capable of being a major leaguer, think again. He looks fat and old. He had a couple of hits and scored a run, but looked lazy at third.
* "Haverbusch" (pronounced with a short a) is the best unintentionally funny baseball name since "Poo-holes."

[seawolf17]

Jeff Pearlman travels to Central Islip in search of John Rocker, finds he's two seasons late, but interviews some players anyway.

We're headed to the game tomorrow night if we can find a babysitter.

[metirish]

Jose Offerman still hitting.

] Bridgeport Bluefish catcher John Nathans, right, prevents Long Island Ducks' Jose Offerman (18) from hitting Bluefish pitcher Matt Beech with a bat. Long Island Ducks shortstop Jose Offerman charged the mound wielding a bat Tuesday night after being hit by a pitch, according to the Connecticut Post. Bridgeport Bluefish starting pitcher Matt Beech hit Offerman in the second inning and a brawl ensued that resulted in Offerman's arrest. He was being held on $10,000 bond on a second-degree assault charge. According to The Associated Press, police said Offerman posted bond. Offerman hit a home run in the first inning and was hit by a 0-1 fastball in the calf. Offerman's attack left Beech with a broken middle finger on his non-throwing right hand. Also injured was catcher John Nathans, who suffered from symptoms related to a concussion. "He hit him with a cut fastball in the left calf," Bluefish manager Tommy John said. "And the next thing you know, Offerman's going to the mound with his bat over his head taking swings at Beech. He took at least two, maybe even three [swings]." Offerman played for the Bluefish in 2003, appearing in 98 games. He also was voted an All-Star during his MLB tenure. "It may have only been John Nathans taking one on the backswing in the head to have saved Matt Beech from really taking one in the face," said Bluefish pitcher Mike Porzio.

[soupcan]

And so the title of this thread takes on a dual meaning...

[DocTee]

What an ass-- if he was seriously hoping for a comeback to the ML, that dream is over.

[Farmer Ted]

Tommy John managing in the indy league? Holy shit. Learn something new everyday.

[Guest Edgy DC]

Look at that firstbaseman jogging over and hoping things are under control by the time he gets there.

David Wright once batted behind infield fundamentalist Jose, didn't he?

[Guest metsguyinmichigan]

="metirish"]Jose Offerman still hitting. ] Badass post of the day! Clearly, Jose is just trying to get ahead in the count. Nymr83 Aug 15 2007 10:05 AM ]Bridgeport Bluefish starting pitcher Matt Beech hit Offerman in the second inning and a brawl ensued that resulted in Offerman's arrest. He was being held on $10,000 bond on a second-degree assault charge. According to The Associated Press, police said Offerman posted bond. double-standard. nobody would have been arrested in the majors for chargig the mound even with a bat. soupcan Aug 15 2007 10:10 AM Yeah, well then the Majors should take a lesson. Edgy DC Aug 15 2007 10:18 AM I think it stands out. When was the last time a batter not only went into a fray with a bat, but landed some blows on some players, inclusing a concussive one. Benjamin Grimm Aug 15 2007 11:15 AM Namor likes saying "double standard." Nymr83 Aug 15 2007 11:25 AM Edgy DC wrote: I think it stands out. When was the last time a batter not only went into a fray with a bat, but landed some blows on some players, inclusing a concussive one. i dont recall. was the hockey player who hit someone with a stick and gave him a concussion arrested? Benjamin Grimm Aug 15 2007 11:31 AM In these cases, does the victim have to press charges for an arrest to be made? G-Fafif Aug 15 2007 11:48 AM Fran Healy interviewed Offerman and other Ducks on The Game 365 the other night (a program I stumbled into when there was no The Game 8/13) regarding their unshakable big league dreams and how great an atmosphere Long Island provides. Jose seemed calm, affable, professional...much more likable than I remember him as a Met or anything else. Thus I blame the pressure of talking to Fran Healy for Offerman's outburst. Nymr83 Aug 15 2007 11:52 AM Yancy Street Gang wrote: In these cases, does the victim have to press charges for an arrest to be made? No, though in normal cases there wouldn't be any charges after the arrest if the victim isn't interested in pursuing them. Its still a crime though, its just not worth prosecuting with the victim unwilling to be a witness. This was a public event and 1000s of people saw the assault so it could be a different story. DocTee Aug 15 2007 12:43 PM NHL Law and Order: Dino Ciccarelli was arested for assaulting Luke Richardson with a hockey stick in the late-80s...not sure if Marty McSorley was for his attack on whoever it was he whacked in the head about a decade later. Todd Bertuzzi effectively ended Steve Moore's career with a blind side hit and was facing serious charges, but I don't know what happened (he played this year, I know). Benjamin Grimm Aug 15 2007 12:52 PM Today, Jos� Offerman is looking very likely to end Danny Napoleon's four-day reign as UMDB daily lookup winner. Edgy DC Aug 15 2007 12:56 PM You hear an ex-Met Duck goes nuts, responding to getting hit in the calf by going after the pitcher with a bat, trying to brain him, and managing to break the guy's finger and give the catcher a concussion. I'd guess I'd lay the probablility of it being a particular guy this way Danny Graves 4% Edgardo Alfonzo 2% Jose Offerman 9 % Carl Everettt 85% holychicken Aug 15 2007 02:05 PM Edgy DC wrote: You hear an ex-Met Duck goes nuts, responding to getting hit in the calf by going after the pitcher with a bat, trying to brain him, and managing to break the guy's finger and give the catcher a concussion. I'd guess I'd lay the probablility of it being a particular guy this way Danny Graves 4% Edgardo Alfonzo 2% Jose Offerman 9 % Carl Everettt 85% Carl Everett at only 85%? I am convinced that he was actually calling the shots from the dugout the whole time. You can almost see the pitcher mouthing something about "dinosaurs" as offerman charges him.

[nymr83]

]Bridgeport Bluefish starting pitcher Matt Beech hit Offerman in the second inning and a brawl ensued that resulted in Offerman's arrest. He was being held on $10,000 bond on a second-degree assault charge. According to The Associated Press, police said Offerman posted bond.

double-standard. nobody would have been arrested in the majors for chargig the mound even with a bat.

[soupcan]

Yeah, well then the Majors should take a lesson.

[Guest Edgy DC]

I think it stands out. When was the last time a batter not only went into a fray with a bat, but landed some blows on some players, inclusing a concussive one.

[Benjamin Grimm]

Namor likes saying "double standard."

[nymr83]

Edgy DC wrote: I think it stands out. When was the last time a batter not only went into a fray with a bat, but landed some blows on some players, inclusing a concussive one.

i dont recall. was the hockey player who hit someone with a stick and gave him a concussion arrested?

[Benjamin Grimm]

In these cases, does the victim have to press charges for an arrest to be made?

[G-Fafif]

Fran Healy interviewed Offerman and other Ducks on The Game 365 the other night (a program I stumbled into when there was no The Game 8/13) regarding their unshakable big league dreams and how great an atmosphere Long Island provides. Jose seemed calm, affable, professional...much more likable than I remember him as a Met or anything else.

Thus I blame the pressure of talking to Fran Healy for Offerman's outburst.

[nymr83]

Yancy Street Gang wrote: In these cases, does the victim have to press charges for an arrest to be made?

No, though in normal cases there wouldn't be any charges after the arrest if the victim isn't interested in pursuing them. Its still a crime though, its just not worth prosecuting with the victim unwilling to be a witness. This was a public event and 1000s of people saw the assault so it could be a different story.

[DocTee]

NHL Law and Order:

Dino Ciccarelli was arested for assaulting Luke Richardson with a hockey stick in the late-80s...not sure if Marty McSorley was for his attack on whoever it was he whacked in the head about a decade later.

Todd Bertuzzi effectively ended Steve Moore's career with a blind side hit and was facing serious charges, but I don't know what happened (he played this year, I know).

[Benjamin Grimm]

Today, Jos� Offerman is looking very likely to end Danny Napoleon's four-day reign as UMDB daily lookup winner.