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The Cutters Blog
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The Road With the Cutters...
September 7 -
Batavia and Mahoning Valley- The End of the Road I opted to drive myself on this last road trip. Although I’d miss the movies (apparently the VCR on the bus was broken, so I ended up not missing any cinematic adventures), the card games, and the conversations, I had my own agenda on this last ride. Having lived in Erie and Meadville (along the way between Batavia and Niles, OH), it gave me the chance to visit on Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday with some friends who became family over a ten year span. There were several great moments of the 2007 season. Mike Durant’s home run at State College. Drew Naylor’s pair of 11 strikeout games. Tyler Mach’s two home run night at Bowman. But as for stringing any momentum together, it was this final three weeks that may have been the most fun to watch. Two more Crosscutter wins over Batavia to create a three game winning streak was stellar. Great games by some individuals certainly highlighted the season. It seemed nearly everyone had at least one. This final trip produced a few more. In Saturday’s game at Batavia, Adam Sorgi went 4-4 with three doubles, three runs batted in, and a walk. What a night! Capped off by another solid performance by Tyson Brummett, and the Cutters win 8-2. Sunday… Early game… and no BP. No problem. 2-0 Cutters thanks to a Matt Spencer jack. Joe Savery and Chris Kissock combined to toss a three hit shutout. This after Savery walked the bases loaded in the first no less. Off to Mahoning Valley, where there Crosscutters were 0-3 this year. But that was a different team. Labor Day- A season high 14 runs on a season high 19 hits, all backing Drew Naylor, who struck out 11…again. For that one afternoon, that one day, this was the very best team in all of professional baseball. Look it up. You’ll be hard pressed to find any team who did so many things well that afternoon. Cap off the final trip with a win, the team's fifth in a row, the longest such streak in over a year. My last broadcast was good. Good to go out on a high note, and also good to have the chance to thank everyone who made this season possible. Greg Legg, Bill Bliss, Ken Dominguez, as well as every player on the '07 Crosscutters. Ken Sawyer and the staff at WRAK. Gabe Sinicropi, Doug Estes, Sarah Budd, Jenny Hoover, and Bill Gehron in the Williamsport front office. And of course… all of the fans worldwide that tuned in Crosscutter games on the radio and on the internet. It was my privilege and pleasure to bring to all of you the inaugural season of Crosscutters baseball as an affiliate of the Philadelphia Phillies. And now… My Post Season Awards: MVP: Dominic Brown Best Pitchers: Drew Naylor and Chance Chapman Best Interview: Phillie Fanatic Tom Burgoyne/ Rhashan Most Hustle: Kirk Bacsu/ Matt Rizzotti (How he got to third on that triple never ceased to amaze me.) Best Home Run: Mike Durant at STC (the very first one) Easiest Guy to Talk To: Ken Dominguez Least Favorite Ballpark: Batavia (Sorry Muckdogs) Favorite Ballpark other than Historic Bowman Field: Brooklyn Thanks again for tuning in and logging on. I hope you had as much fun listening as I did calling the action. And even though it’s the offseason, remember… 2008 is not all that far away. Go Cutters!
August
27 - Don't "Fear the Deer" Getting rained out in Jamestown was not fun. The hotel doesn't have internet and the nearest restaurant was two miles away walking... in the rain. I read a little, watched TV, napped. And then did all that over again. We split the doubleheader. Two totally different games. The Cutters had a 4-0 after the first inning but gave up 10 runs over the first two full innings. In game two, Tyson Brummett had one of the more dominant performances we have seen this season from someone not named Naylor. A good win in the nightcap, but we really should have swept the worst team in our division. Thursday in Auburn... And more rain. But at least we got one game in. There was a little diner in town that quite a few players went to. Chance Chapman and Caleb Mangum offered to let me pick up their check, but I politely declined. After losing Thursday and Friday in game one, the game two win was sweet. A good seventh inning comeback (one of the few times all season the Cutters rallied in their final at bat) against one of the league's best set us up well for State College the next two days. We went to University Park after Friday's twinbill and stayed there all weekend. Good Call. Too much back and forth would have been tedious. We got to the hotel around 4 am... and left late for the park. But they boys came ready to play... Over the two game set, 21 runs on 30 hits. Fear the deer??? We ran over the deer with the team bus. State College used ten pitchers over the first two nights, and we regained the Sawbuck Series lead. Seven games in five days sounds like bad news, but, in hindsight, it turned out to be one of the best road trips of the season... Baseball-wise that is. 4-3 and back to Bowman Field for five. You better be there. One note... The Labor Day game at Mahoning Valley is now a 1:05 start. You can hear all four of the final road games next weekend on WRAK and www.crosscutters.com.
August 13 - Oneonta in My
Rearview Mirror Legg took the team to the Hall of Fame Saturday. It was my first time there, so I was obviously impressed. I started by walking through the inducted players room. I’ve always fancied myself as a student of the history of the game and certain eras of ball, but his was overwhelming to a point. To see the plaques of Ruth, Clemente, Ryan, Koufax, etc, and now Ripken and Gwynn, really makes you think about those that played and fostered this game that we love. Other parts of were, of course, enjoyable and interesting. There is a records room, a Babe Ruth room, a current locker room with memorabilia from today’s teams and players, and a walk through a century worth of history. One time period that I find interesting is the 1910’s and the “Shoeless” Joe Jackson era. I won’t get in to it, but it was nice to see some of Joe’s contribution to the museum. No Hall of Fame for Jackson, but at least he is where he belongs, partially at least, in the museum side. Even the contributions of those banned from the game are not forgotten. If you get the chance, go to Cooperstown and the Hall of Fame and Museum. It is Mecca for baseball fans. If it’s during the summer, drive 20 minutes and see a Tigers game. It’s a shame that they have a good team this year, but very few people go to see them play. If a team wins in a ballpark, but no one is there to see it, did they really win? Until next time, when I check in after our final six game road trip, take care. And go see the Cutters play at Bowman. This team may not be in playoff contention, but they could be spoilers down the stretch.
August 4 - And the Beat Goes On... Batavia’s ballpark is a carbon copy of Auburns. Even the press box, in all its “glory” is the same. The Crosscutters were able to take game one of the series … I overheard rumors and stories that the city was in dire straits financially, and that the baseball team’s future may be in jeopardy. I certainly hope things pick up for the Muckdogs. One of the league’s original franchises deserves a better fate. The Sun Gazette will be (or already has) featuring the Batavia struggles in a Sunday edition. Pick up a copy if you can. Two Cutters losses later, and the Muckdogs are no longer cellar dwellers in the Pinckney. You are welcome. A brief lesson from Canadians Kirk Bacsu and Chris Kissock on the proper use of the Canadian slang term “Eh?”: It is the equivalent of Americans saying right at the end of sentences. Example: Spencer hit a nice home run, right? Canadian Translation: Spencer hit a nice home run, eh? Hope that helps. Off to Ohio. It was bound to happen. I hear that game one starter Jarrod Freeman intended to get some retribution for what happened last Sunday at Bowman Field. Dustin Realini of the Scrappers slid hard into second base, trying to break up a double play (which he didn’t, by the way). What he did do is knock shortstop Freddy Galvis to the ground, a fall that injured Freddy’s left shoulder. An unintentional circumstance, I’m sure, on a common, intentional play. Fast forward to Thursday and Friday. Freeman never capitalized on his chances for retribution in game one, so that left it up to Drew Naylor. In the second inning, Naylor drilled Realini with a fastball. That sent Scrappers manager Tim Laker into a frenzy. This umpiring crew however, was not the same group that called Sunday’s game. Whether that played into how this worked out may have benefited Williamsport anyways. No warning… yet. MVS pitcher Kelvin De La Cruz threw a ball behind Dominic Brown during the next inning, which did draw a warning for everyone. Tempers cooled after that, even though Naylor hit two more batters in the game. Retribution- (rět'rə-byōō'shən)- n. 1. Something justly deserved; recompense. 2. Something given or demanded in repayment, especially punishment. Wouldn’t a better revenge have been striking out Realini three or four times? A bruise will heal, as will Freddy’s shoulder I suppose. But it’s more about the message, right? Speaking of sending a message, the Cutters were swept by Mahoning Valley. Off to Bowman for a five game set. I hope to see you at the ballpark. The next broadcasts are coming from Oneonta on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Tune in to WRAK or online here at www.crosscutters.com.
July 23 - Hot Dogs & Chowder Keyspan Park in Brooklyn is a nice place. Not the league’s newest facility, not the oldest, but is certainly unique. I attempted to explain the surroundings over the course of my broadcasts, and I hope that people got the picture. The original Brooklyn Cyclone rollercoaster turned 80 a few weeks back and sits seven blocks away, right next to the Wonder Wheel (a Ferris Wheel where the cars zig and zag during the ride), and just a few feet away is the Coney Island Boardwalk. There may not be a cooler spot in Brooklyn to place this park. Two losses before a win… Not good, but against the leagues best team, I think our guys did ok. The pitching did well, but man do we need to find the bats again. One more thing about the trip to New York. Warner Fuselle is the broadcaster for the Cyclones. Fuselle used to work for This Week in Baseball, among other things. It was such a great experience for me. Warner braves the road with the team, and broadcasts from an open air press box, so he constantly battles the elements. A pleasure to talk and listen to. At one point, a younger member of the press started arguing about baseball records with Fuselle. Toe to toe with a man who knows baseball, maybe better than anyone. What was this guy thinking? That’s like going to the prom without a date. No chance to dance, not even close. Off to Massachusetts for three with the Spinners. Over 31 innings of baseball, and Williamsport scored only one run. The pitching has certainly been there, but the bats are still falling off the bus somewhere along the way to the stadium. I know these guys are working hard, but when will it start clicking for them? Hopefully soon. Lowell claims to have sold out every game since August of 1999; a very impressive feat. Any these fans sit in their seats longer than any crowd I have ever seen. And furthermore, maybe the best part of the game, I noticed that the crowd cheered more to find out that the New York Yankees were losing than they did when then announced that the Red Sox were winning. Good times. The Crosscutters are home for six before heading to Batavia and Mahoning Valley starting on July 30th. Catch the road games on WRAK or at www.crosscutters.com. That’s good for now. As Warner Fuselle learned from Mel Allen and taught to me, “So long from the catbird seat.” I Googled catbird… A catbird, a species of thrush closely related to the mockingbird, sits high in the forest canopy, viewing all its surroundings from an unequalled vantage point… Or a perfect place to watch a baseball game I guess.
July 14 - The Land of
Ripken Greg Legg gave the team Tuesday off as well. No sense in burning these youngsters out so early in their pro careers. Unfortunately, the rain gave the team another half day off. No batting practice Tuesday or Wednesday showed in the 15-10 loss. 10 runs yes… but it took a lot for the ballclub to wake up and play. Drew Naylor was hit hard and often Wednesday. It was bound to happen at some point, and better it happen on the road. The Bowman faithful might have been discouraged by seeing that game and the pitching performances throughout from each Cutter hurler. Since I had my car, I had the luxury of traveling for lunch on this trip. I had to. While Ripken Stadium is a class facility, the nearest restaurant is a few miles away. The hotel… 20 yards from left field, but no place to eat. I drove up 95 North one exit to Havre de Grace and had lunch both days. Nice “coastal” town with great views. Havre is on the corner of the Chesapeake Bay and the origin of our Susquehanna River. Or perhaps the end. I’m a broadcaster, not a geography teacher. It was the first moment I have been away from town that felt like a vacation. Sitting there, looking at the bay/ river, just relaxing. Aberdeen is a baseball trip I would recommend to a Crosscutter fan, but make sure you include Havre de Grace. Legger got tossed in the sixth in game two. He claims it was just about that game and the inconsistent strike zone being called, one that favored the Ironbirds. I think it goes back to a call Naylor didn’t get the day before. Regardless, it didn’t pick too much of a spark into the Cutters who lost their second straight for the first time this season, and fourth in a row on the road. Game three didn’t get much better, but I had some jambalaya before, so that almost salvaged the night. Two hits and seven base runners probably didn’t make for a good trip home after being swept. One note on false advertising… I think playing at “Ripken Stadium” should guarantee an audience of Cal Ripken Jr. Didn’t he know that the Crosscutters were in town? And to think, I used to worship him. Unfortunately the Cutters lost all three on this trip. Hopefully this team can get things straightened out at home, where they are 8-4, before traveling for six next week at Brooklyn and Lowell. Catch all six games on the road next week on WRAK. I’ll make sure to down a Coney Island dog for you while I’m there, and get some chowder further north.
July 4 -
Jamestown/State College Road Trip I’m beginning to wonder if this team has trouble playing on the first day of a series after the bus ride. Two true road trips and two losses in the first games of those series by scores of 9-6 and 11-7 has to get you thinking. I don’t count State College in this of course, but still. I guess if you win the next two, nothing else matters. Jamestown Trivia: What is a fun thing to do in Jamestown, NY? The answer coming later. The Monday night game was fun. A six run first and smooth sailing after that. 17 hits doesn’t hurt either. Kenny D (Dominguez, the hitting coach who bears no resemblance to the musician with a similar nickname) was ecstatic over the team’s effort. Fans should be too, because, despite having the lead, the Cutters never let up. I know we haven’t seen much of the rest of the league, but this line-up as is seems very potent, one that could even set a few new club records along the way. Drew Naylor was named Pitcher of the Week by the league and by the Phillies for their whole farm system. No kidding. Can anyone top the seven-day stretch he had? Here’s hoping it’s a Cutter if it’s done. That is a lot of apostrophes for one sentence, but you know what I mean. Finally tally from the Jamestown series: 28 runs on 40 hits. Not too shabby for a team at the bottom of the NYPL in hitting (before the series). Jamestown Trivia Answer: Pack up and get the heck out. I’m reluctant to say anything else about the City of Jamestown, because I may look to them for a job in the future. If I do though, remind me to take some fun along, because the town was founded before fun was invented, so it’s not. We left Jamestown and went directly to State College. This may be as close as it gets to big league life. Leave one place and play a game the next afternoon. Despite getting in at two in the morning, there was still ample time to get some sleep. There was not, however, any time to get work done at the park before the game. Bases loaded, bottom ten. There are five ways to lose this game, and we found what may be the second least common way to do so. A tough loss after leading so early in the day. But there is always tomorrow. Michael Taylor and I spoke for Monday’s pregame interview, and that’s the perspective he had. You can’t let any loss get you down too much, because you have to go out and do it again tomorrow. So goes another trip. I’ll check in again from Aberdeen next week. Be sure to make a trip to Bowman Field this weekend for the series with Tri-City and watch these guys play. It’s worth the trip. Trust me. P.S. Credit comedian Dave Attell for the jokes above. He is way funnier than I could ever be. But I try.
June 24 - Off to Auburn We watched “Anchorman” on the way up. A good, lighthearted movie, and much better than what we saw on the way back… But we’ll get to that later. We got to the park about six hours before Friday’s game, so I had plenty of time to kill. Pinckney Field at Falcon Park is nice, but considering its only 12 years old, I guess I expected better. Friday night’s loss stung a bit and I’m not sure why. Maybe it was the 13 strikeouts of Cutters batters. Maybe it was never feeling comfortable with the lead for whatever reason. Greg Legg put it best to me on Sunday... “...Just felt like things were slipping away even when we were up.” That’s my paraphrase of a longer conversation, but you get the drift. The win Saturday was good. Great even. To see this team make a comeback after trailing for so long was refreshing, especially since I grew up a Pirates fan. It will build some faith around Bowman Field to know that this team won’t give up regardless of the situation. There was a lot of free time on this trip, both at the hotel and the ballpark. I’d like to believe I used my time well. Saturday and Sunday mornings… I slept in. And not that alarm… snooze… alarm… snooze. I set the alarm for the last possible moment before I absolutely had to be somewhere, and that’s when I got up. After getting very little sleep Thursday night, this was much needed. Saturday night after the game, I hit the hotel bar. I enjoyed three things while I was out: a fine lager from Pottsville, PA, seeing Chance Chapman air guitar to Bon Jovi, and watching Bill Bliss beat catcher Alan Robbins at pool with $20 on the line (Bliss won, but I think he let Robbins keep his money). Sunday’s win was nice and neat, with the Cookie Monster getting the win. That’s what Dominic Brown has dubbed Sergio Escalona, who surprisingly had never seen Sesame Street. It was funny listening to Ken Dominguez explain in Spanish to Escalona and Freddy Galvis what Sesame Street is. I guess I thought everyone knew how to get to Sesame Street. We saw The Hills Have Eyes on the way back… Eh… The dog was the best actor in the film. At one point though, something on the screen startled me, and Escalona leaned over my seat and asked if I was scared. I, of course, said no. Later, the Cookie Monster jumped at something, so I returned the question. Two wins and plenty of sleep. A good trip by everyone’s standard I think. Now back home for six. See you all at Bowman Field for the Jamestown and Auburn series, and then back on the road July 1 at the Jammers. You can catch that game on WRAK or the internet at www.crosscutters.com. And as Rashawn apparently says before every trip: Peace Out.
June 19 -
On
The Road Up first, a short roadie to State College. After last night’s washout, the sentiment seems to be one of anticipation. But good humor as well. Just before we got off the bus, a coach yelled out, “C’mon… you boys haven’t won anything all year.” Of course not. Its game two after a rainout… so technically, isn’t this game one? This paradox boggles my mind, but I digress. Medlar Field at Lubrano Park at Penn State University at State College is amazing. That’s not the real name… it wouldn’t fit on the scoreboard… but its close. I like that the dimensions are that of PNC Park. That’s a pretty cool idea. Since this is my first trip here, I began to wonder about last year… How did St. Louis feel about this park resembling PNC when the club owners also owned the Pirates double A affiliate? That’s a lot of expensive writing on the wall. A good looking park, a record crowd, and some pretty tasty food, but I have one other question. Is there any chance they could fix the window in my radio booth? The glass and metal were too heavy to stay up on their own. Thanks to Ken at WRAK for the electrical tape. Just as long as Penn State doesn’t send me a bill because of the tape residue left over. But kudos to them if they can find me in Auburn or Jamestown, I guess. The Cutters went on to win their first game of the year, 2-0. A good start… Now just take out the Spikes at home twice Thursday, and Crosscutters fans won’t be reminded of last season. That’s all from the road for now. Check back this weekend as Williamsport plays at Auburn. And be sure to catch all the games on WRAK or here at www.crosscutters.com. Make sure you listen to the third innings for our crosscutters.com trivia question for your chance to win.
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