Game 2: 11:30 a.m.

Cherryville Ironmen vs Randleman Tigers

Cherryville Head Coach Scott Heavner leads the class 1A Ironmen into battle against the defending 2A State Champion Randleman Tigers. Cherryville went 20-9 (10-2 in 2A/1A Southern Piedmont League) in 2011 while the Tigers defeated 2010 State Champion East Rutherford 2 games to 1 in dramatic fashion when shortstop Dylan Richardson took the relay from left fielder Tyler Walls before hitting catcher Zack Bach to nail what would have been the tying run at the plate, and instead gave them the state title.

Seniors Will Albertson and Dylan Richardson help lead the Tigers offensive attack. Albertson, a catcher and outfielder, hit .476 with 9 doubles and 6 home runs. Richardson, a shortstop, hit .524 with 7 doubles and 6 home runs while going 1-0 with one save in four appearances on the mound.

Easton Welch (Jr.) is the top pitcher returning for the Tigers. He went 5-0 with four complete games, 2 shutouts and 1.21 ERA in 2011.

Randleman, under head coach Van Hurley, comes into the year ranked number one in the class 2A rankings and Cherryville is number five in the preseason 1A poll from Impact Baseball.

Check back for the preview of the second game between the South Point Red Raiders and Northeast Guilford Rams. For more information on the event click here, and for tickets click here.

The Hickory Crawdads are hosting the 2012 Prep Baseball Showcase Showdown at L.P. Frans Stadium on Saturday, March 3. The showcase will consist of four exciting match-ups featuring high school teams from around the area, including rematches from last year’s Class 3A and Class 4A State Championship Series. The first game of the showcase will start at 9 a.m. Leading up to the event each game will be previewed here.

Game 1: 9 a.m.

North Stanly Comets vs South Stanly Rowdy Rebels

The first game of the day will be a match-up of New London vs Norwood, NC schools; North Stanly Comets and South Stanly Rowdy Rebels. South Stanly is led by head coach Terry Tucker and are coming off a fantastic 25-12 season in which the Rowdy Rebels were 2011 Yadkin Valley Conference Co-Champions and class 1A State Runners-Up. They are poised for another strong season in 2012 with the return of all starters, six seniors and 1A State Player of the Year, junior right handed starter Russ Wieker. Wieker went 14-0 with a 1.66 ERA in 92 innings pitched in 2011 while striking out 111 batters. He also chipped in offensively by hitting .352.

The Rowdy Rebels offense is led by seniors Landon Fraley (committed to UNC) and Stephen Wallace (Winthrop). Wallace hit .443 in 2011 with 9 home runs and 21 stolen bases. Fraley hit .400 with 9 home runs and 15 steals while also going 5-2 on the mound with 74 strikeouts in 53 innings.

Will Davis is in his first year as head coach of the North Stanly Comets, who finished last season 14-12. The Comets are a younger team than their New London counterparts, but have a core of experienced players nonetheless, led by seniors Matthew Honeycutt and Taylor Thomas and juniors Clay Fesperman and Seth Kimery. Offensively, Fesperman hit .436 with 8 doubles and 26 RBI and Thomas posted a .571 on base percentage to go along with 11 RBI.

Kimery is coming off a season in which he led the team with 42 innings pitched and 53 strikeouts to go 4-4, including four complete games. Huneycutt was second on the team with 21 strikeouts while throwing 16 innings.

Check back for the preview of the second game between the Cherryville Ironmen and the Randleman Tigers. For more information on the event click here, and for tickets click here.

I was sitting at my desk the other day, working on a project that will keep me busy all year long, when at 2:16 my phone vibrated.  I ignored the text and kept working until I felt it vibrate again.  Two texts within a minute warranted me checking my phone…

Text one from my buddy Mike:  “Dude 9 yrs $214”

Text two from my buddy Randy: “tigers”

My stomach literally dropped.  These two simple texts explained what I knew was coming but refused to believe, even without mentioning his name I knew… Prince Fielder was not coming back to Milwaukee. 

As many know, it hasn’t always been homeruns and division titles for the Brewers.  I grew up cheering for Jim Ganter, Greg Vaughn, Pat Listach, Jeff Cirillo, John Jaha, Darryl Hamilton, and Cal Eldred.  The most entertaining part of Brewer games in the 90s was Bernie Brewer sliding from the top of a keg into a beer mug (still the most disappointing thing about new Miller Park is they converted this amazing keg slide into “Bernie’s Clubhouse”).  I grew up cheering for players 95% of people outside the city of Milwaukee didn’t know of, players who didn’t have a winning season from ’92-’07. 

The first year I truly began to love baseball was ’98 (the best baseball season of ALL time).  The Brewers defensive alignment that year, 1-9, was: Cal Eldred, Mike Matheny, Mark Loretta, Fernando Vina, Jeff Cirillo, Jose Valentin, Geoff Jenkins, Marquis Grissom, and Jeremy Burnitz with John Jaha sharing time at first base with Loretta… these players combined for a 74-88 record in ‘98.  I was ecstatic.

Being excited over a 74-88 record can paint a picture for those out there who don’t understand what it’s like to love a team that quite simply, sucks.  However, in 2002 things began to change.  As documented in the book “Moneyball” Prince Fielder was considered by many teams as being too fat.  However, when the Brewers pick came along, they went with the hefty lefty and sparked the Brewers resurgence in baseball.  From 2000-2005 the Brewers selected, Corey Hart, J.J. Hardy, Prince Fielder, Rickie Weeks, Yovani Gallardo, and Ryan Braun in consecutive drafts.  The most important of those draft picks being The Prince himself, anchoring what would become one of the best young teams in all of baseball.

The Prince deal itself is no surprise.  You knew the slugger was going to get paid.  Even the duration of the contract, while slightly surprising, is not ridiculous.  What is strange, and bothersome as a Brewers fan, is the team he went to.  A team with one of the best hitting first basemen in baseball.  A team that within a year will have to fit 3 players for only two positions.  Prince himself came out and publicly stated that he wanted to play first base, that he wouldn’t DH.  Yet, he will have to DH at times his first year and most likely much more in the following years when Victor Martinez returns.  Now, for those that think Prince can’t play first, I have seen Prince play.  I can promise any doubting fan that Prince is an athlete, regardless of how he looks.  The man is not slow, and has become an average first baseman defensively.  Too much stock is put into his weight and its affect on his position.  You can either make the athletic plays or you can’t, Prince can.  I believe Prince can and should play first, and I thought he felt the same way, but the fact is he signed with a team that is going to DH him.

As a fan I may sound bitter, and that’s because I am.  I finally have a team that I can watch win some games and then, POOF! its best hitter is gone.  I know why, I even understand it.  Hell, I might have done the same thing.  The thing about it though, is that I’m a Brewers fan.  A die hard Brewers fan.  I built their new stadium (the state increased taxes in the 5 surrounding counties to pay for the stadium, one of which I lived in), I’ve bought tickets, I’ve bought merchandise, and I’ve watched them lose for YEARS.  This gives me the right to be upset when one of the best players in the game up and moves to Detroit…. I mean come on, Detroit?  This wasn’t a “he wants to win now” situation.  If Prince wanted to win now he could and should have stayed in Milwaukee.  The Crew plays in a worse division with a better team top to bottom.  Even with Prince’s departure the Crew is in line to compete for another Division title.  All of which means that his decision was based on money. 

As stated earlier, I understand going somewhere else for more money.  In almost every other profession in the world you go where the money is.  The Brewers could have probably offered a contract of 6-8 years around 20 million dollars.  That’s 160 million dollars.  Some of you might be saying, “Well that’s 40 to 50 extra million dollars”, but what can you possible do with 200 million dollars that you can’t do with 160?  As an accountant taking a new job and higher salary may change your lifestyle quite a bit, but when you’re dealing with such monstrous contracts aren’t there more important things, especially in baseball?

Ryan Braun signed the biggest contract for a player with less than 1 year major league service in 2008, but that contract was widely considered “team friendly”.  It was a 45 million dollar 7 year extension.  45 million dollars for 7 years for RYAN BRAUN.  It is your right to prematurely judge and dislike Ryan Braun over his apparent drug test failure, but there can be no argument that Braun is one of the best players in the game just as Prince is.  Yet, when Braun signed that first contract extension he was asked why he didn’t wait, and most likely receive a larger contract.  His reply was simple, “For me to have the opportunity to secure my future financially is something that means a lot to me. I just feel like I was ready to make the commitment to the city of Milwaukee.”  Was Prince not going to be financially secure in Milwaukee?  He must have not have been willing to make a commitment to the City of Milwaukee.  This is not fine with me, not after what the Brewers and the city of Milwaukee have done for him.

Baseball and its contracts cannot be compared to any other profession.  Financial security and lifestyle are not a problem for baseball stars.  Their massive contracts have guaranteed them a lifestyle that many of us can only dream of.  With this type of security, legacy and commitment to not only the game, but a city should matter.  However, the truth about these superstars, role models, sport gods, or whatever you may call them is that they are people.  Some are nice others are mean.  Some are humble others are cocky.  Some are loyal, others simply are not. 

Prince Fielder was an important, if not the most important, piece in turning Milwaukee’s franchise around.  I recognize it, and I thank him a million times over for his contribution.  I’ll give him a standing ovation on his first at bat back in Milwaukee.  However, I will not show him unconditional love as a Brewers fan because he’s not a Brewer.  He made a choice to sign in Detroit, just as Braun made a choice to stay in Milwaukee, just as I have made a choice to be upset and bitter about his departure.  I’m a fan, I get to do that.

Jeff has begun his first year with the Crawdads as a Media and Community Outreach Assistant.  The Waukesha, WI native attended school at Northeastern University where he played varsity baseball for the Huskies while earning his degree in Communications.  Jeff is an avid Wisconsin sports fan and enjoys staying active any way possible.

The sporting world celebrated the birthday of one of its most enduring and important athletes this past week when Mohammed Ali turned 70.  With “The Greatest” celebrating his birthday on Tuesday, a rare spotlight was shone on one of the world’s most important pastimes, a pastime that seems to be slowly fading to the background.

Combined with Ali’s birthday was a reminder of what boxing once was, its lasting impact on many, and proof that athletes can transcend sports to truly create a better world.  Few, if any, athletes can claim to have such an unadulterated legacy as Ali enjoys to this day, nevertheless every athlete and non-athlete alike should strive to have one just like it.

Which brings me to my point; boxing is fading with fewer and fewer stars and only heavyweight competition can save it.

While I cannot claim to be a boxing expert, I can claim being a sports fan, and like other sports fans I enjoy the most prestigious events featuring the best athletes.  This means I enjoy the Super Bowl more than the regular season, the World Series over the Divisional Series, the gold medal game over the bronze, and so on.  The lack of allure in heavyweight boxing has directly affected the sport’s popularity and its impact in today’s culture.  If asked to name champion boxers in today’s sport many would have to refer to Pacquiao, Mayweather, Marquez, or Hopkins.  These are all great fighters and some, Like Pacquiao, have committed to making this world a better place outside of the ring. I consider these fighters important figures within the sport, but not AS important as captivating heavyweights.

The only notable heavyweights today are the Klitschko brothers.  Their monopoly on the heavyweight division doesn’t allow for the casual sport fan to become interested.  What’s worse is these brothers have declared they will never fight each other.  For many of us with siblings, being payed to start a fight with the other would be a dream come true, yet these Ukrainian brothers are content on never creating the only interesting heavyweight matchup  available. 

This is not meant to be a knock on the other weight classes within boxing.  Like everybody else I have been pleading for a Mayweather vs. Pacquiao fight for years.  I hope that today’s announcement of Mayweather contacting Pacquiao directly on the phone is the next step towards a fight.  However, I want to see the biggest, fastest, strongest athletes in the ring.  I want to see Louis, Frazier, Ali, Foreman, Tyson, or even Lenox Lewis.  I want to spend my money on a pay-per-view event that involves heavyweights.  The last interesting heavyweight ppv was in 2002 when Lenox Lewis knocked out Mike Tyson.  For all you math whizzes out there that’s 10 years!

The great sport of boxing has taken a beating (pun intended) in the eyes of sports fans this past decade. The welterweights are doing their part to keep the sport relevant, but need some help from the big boys, quite literally. 

Jeff has begun his first year with the Crawdads as a Media and Community Outreach Assistant.  The Waukesha, WI native attended school at Northeastern University where he played varsity baseball for the Huskies while earning his degree in Communications.  Jeff is an avid Wisconsin sports fan and enjoys staying active any way possible.

Part 1 of series of blogs on the National Baseball Hall of Fame, it’s inductees, names still on the ballot, the voting process, and what it takes to make it to Cooperstown. 

Barry Larkin was voted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame last week, his third time on the ballot, with 86.4 percent of the vote. In this round of voting he was the only one to reach the 75 percent mark that brings enshrinement, and will join Ron Santo, who was voted in by the Golden Era Committee, in Cooperstown on July 22 to be inducted among the greatest to ever play the game. 

Santo, who unfortunately passed away in 2010, had spent many years on the outside looking in despite having a fantastic career and being known as one of the best third baseman in baseball history. 

Larkin only had to wait until his third time on the ballot, however that was at least a year too long. Hall of Fame voting comes under scrutiny every year; some arguing too many get in, others arguing too many are left off. Larkin was one of the best shortstops in his era, combining solid hitting, speed and defense that helped him win a World Series and an MVP award. 

He seemed like a sure fire first ballot Hall of Famer to me, although I know that many voters simply do not vote for a player on the first ballot, with the thinking that that is an honor to only a select few, the best of the best, even among the greats that are in the Hall. A similar thing happened to Roberto Alomar, although his umpire spitting incident may have cost him some initial votes as well, as some sort of punishment that writers decided on their own accord was necessary. 

But Larkin and Alomar are in, so it does little good to complain about how long it took them to get there, especially since it was not long compared to many other players. Voting issues, of course, are not only with those that make it in. The two names left off this year that are of most concern to me moving forward are Jack Morris and Tim Raines; and for very different reasons.

Morris, one of the best pitchers of the 1980′s, made a giant jump this year and was named on 66.7 percent of the ballots. He will most likely make it in the Hall next year if historical precedence in terms of voting trends has anything to do with it. And good for him. He has been waiting for a long time, and his induction day will surely be one of the greatest days of his life. It’s just too bad he didn’t have a Hall of Fame career.

If you have done any reading on this topic then you probably are aware of his 3.90 ERA, which would be the highest of any pitcher in the Hall. You probably also know the arguments for him; his classic and dominating postseason games, his willingness and ability to throw many, many innings, and his overall charisma and ‘bulldog’ mentality on the mound. The only problem is that his postseason success really wasn’t all that brilliant (7-4, 3.80 ERA) and the rest of his arguments really have nothing to do with how well he actually pitched.

To really put his career in perspective, take a look at Jonathan Bernhardt’s article at Baseball Prospectus. In essence, Morris was a very good pitcher for his career, and had brief moments of greatness. However, he never had a truly domination season (0 Cy Young awards) and for his career he was slightly above average when compared to his peers (105 ERA+). 

Morris will probably get in the Hall, and all will ultimately be forgotten. But the idea that a player’s career narrative plays a bigger role in getting into the Hall than his actual performance is a shame. Players can be remembered for great moments or seasons without having to be in the Hall (Roger Maris, Dave Roberts, etc.). And there is nothing wrong with having been a very, very, very good Major League Baseball player. 

I also wanted to briefly touch on Tim Raines, who is not as close as Morris to being inducted, but should have been long ago. Raines was 5th in voting this year, finishing with less than 50 percent of the vote. Perhaps the second greatest leadoff hitter in history, behind Ricky Henderson, Raines had a remarkably quiet career, mostly because he spent so much of it in Montreal. His .294 batting average and 170 home runs don’t jump off the page but, his role was to get on base and do what he could to score. His .385 on base percentage is outstanding for a career, as are his 808 steals and 1571 runs scored, not to mention his fine play in the outfield. 

Raines did things quieter than Henderson, with the prime of his career spent in Canada, and without staggering numbers in the categories most voters look to first. But he was great, and should be in the Hall. Maybe once Morris makes it in the voters will be able to find a new champion for their cause, as I’m sure many players from the ‘Steroid Era’ will have a hard time getting support from the old guard of voters.

I just may have a few thoughts on that line of thinking, as well. So stay tuned, and if you get the chance go look up Jeff Bagwell. Like Raines, he has a long way to go, but maybe they will both get the kind of support from the voters that Morris has been getting.

Jeff is entering his second season with the ‘Dads and first as the director of food & beverage.  The Oneonta, NY native joined the Crawdads in 2011 as a concessions assistant, and has previously worked with the Oneonta Outlaws as a sports marketing intern.  Jeff is a die-hard fan of the Philadelphia Phillies and North Carolina Tar Heels.

December has been quite exciting for the baseball hot stove, and the month is only halfway over. After the Miami Marlins made some big, surprising acquisitions it was the L.A. Angels who stole the show, signing top free agent pitcher C.J. Wilson and the best hitter in the game, Albert Pujols. The Pujols deals was a bit of a shock, especially after the Marlins were making a huge push to add him to the new look Miami roster. And of course his former team, the St. Louis Cardinals, were right in the mix to sign him as well. But 10 years and $254 million can certainly change things. Fans in St. Louis may have seen this coming, but surely this was still a hard pill to swallow. In the long run, though, they may be better off. Contracts that long don’t have the best track record of working out, especially when the player will be into his 40′s by the time the deal runs out.

The other big baseball news was that Milwaukee Brewers left fielder, and 2011 NL MVP, Ryan Braun reportedly tested positive for a banned performance enhancing drug. Details of the failed test have not been disclosed, and Braun has appealed, but all signs point to the test being held up, which means Braun will be suspended for 50 games next season.

I may be in the minority here, but I’m not up in arms and calling for Major League Baseball to strip Braun of his MVP award like many seem to want. If the test holds up then, yes, he should be suspended as the current rules and penalties call for. Players are always trying to get a leg up over their competition, going right up to the edge of the rule book and often times even over it. Braun wasn’t the first person to take PEDs, and certainly won’t be the last. But to try to rewrite history would be foolish. Braun had one of the best seasons in the league last year (I actually would have voted for Matt Kemp) and since there is no way to know how PEDs might have helped him, the award should stand.

It’s a shame that it’s come to this, but PEDs are rampant in all sports, not just baseball as much of the media would lead you to believe, and trying to play a strong hand in individual cases just won’t work. Keep testing, keep punishing players as they fail tests, but don’t go back and try to change what’s happened. That will only create more headaches and more questions as we continue to learn about PED use in sports.

Jeff is entering his second season with the ‘Dads and first as the director of food & beverage.  The Oneonta, NY native joined the Crawdads in 2011 as a concessions assistant, and has previously worked with the Oneonta Outlaws as a sports marketing intern.  Jeff is a die-hard fan of the Philadelphia Phillies and North Carolina Tar Heels.

The Major League Baseball Winter meetings are underway in Dallas, TX, and already we have seen some surprising moves being made. The Miami Marlins, already fit with a new name, stadium, logo and color scheme, are making an early splash with free agent signings. The team agreed to sign former San Diego Padres closer Heath Bell to a three year $27 million dollar deal and officially announced that signing on Monday. But the major move was the signing of former New York Mets shortstop Jose Reyes, one of the most sought after free agents in this class. The deal is for $106 million over six years.

The Marlins may not be done, however, as it is still rumored that they are in contact with Albert Pujols and his agent. Pujols, the best player of his generation and a career long Cardinal, would be on the top of every teams wishlist if not for his hefty price tag. This is what makes the Marlins pursuit of him so shocking; they have long been known as a franchise that struggles to draw fans and, thus, never has a high payroll. That is already changing with the signings of Bell and Reyes, so anything is possible.

Already making a push to be a National League East contender in 2012, a few more moves by Miami and they will start to be recognized as a legitimate World Series favorite next year. The signing of the best hitter in baseball would another move in the right direction. The only question, then, would be, Will Miami draw enough fans to make up for the price they are paying in free agency?

Jeff is entering his second season with the ‘Dads and first as the director of food & beverage.  The Oneonta, NY native joined the Crawdads in 2011 as a concessions assistant, and has previously worked with the Oneonta Outlaws as a sports marketing intern.  Jeff is a die-hard fan of the Philadelphia Phillies and North Carolina Tar Heels.

Hey Crawdads Nation, Happy Veterans Day.

With all the hustle and bustle of the upcoming holidays (Thanksgiving and Christmas) already upon us, we often forget about this day and what it should mean to us. For a lot this is either just another workday, a day off from school or even a day off from work but for the men and women who have served and are currently serving our great nation, it is a day for remembrance and paying tribute to those who have paid the ultimate sacrifice for our country.

Let us not forget our men and women who serve and their families, as daily they put themselves in harms way for all of us.

If you get a chance today to attend a Veteran’s day service or, like me, going to visit both of my grandfather’s grave sites as they both served, one in the army and one in the navy, take the time to do so. It will be well worth it.

NLDS

Jared – Brewers over Diamondbacks in 4 games, Phillies over Cardinals in 4

Jeff – Brewers over Diamondbacks in 4, Phillies over Cardinals in 4

Megan – Brewers over Diamondbacks in 3, Phillies over Cardinals in 5

ALDS

Jared – Rangers over Rays in 5, Yankees over Tigers in 4

Jeff – Rangers over Rays in 5, Yankees over Tigers in 5

Megan – Rangers over Rays in 5, Yankees over Tigers in 5

NLCS 

Jared – Brewers over Phillies in 6

Jeff – Phillies over Brewers in 7

Megan – Brewers over Phillies in 6

ALCS

Jared – Yankees over Rangers in 5

Jeff – Rangers over Yankees in 6

Megan – Rangers over Yankees in 7

Word Series

Jared – Brewers over Yankees in 7

Jeff – Phillies over Rangers in 6

Megan – Rangers over Brewers in 7

Only one of the two teams to face off in the World Series last season is back in the playoffs, and the Texas Rangers are looking to win it all this time. After a surprising playoff run which ended with a loss to the San Francisco Giants, the Rangers showed this season that they are more than a one year wonder. After the L.A. Angels made it a close race down the stretch the Rangers finally pulled away to clinch the AL West, and currently have the second best record in the league behind the New York Yankees.

It should come as no surprise that the Rangers offense is leading the way again, as the team is in the top three in the American League in average, runs and home runs. The team has five players with more than 25 home runs despite four of them playing less than 125 games. Two of those players, Adrian Beltre and Mike Napoli, are in their first year with the club and have made an already deep and explosive lineup, which features last season’s MVP Josh Hamilton, that much better.

C.J. Wilson, an emerging star, has built off of last season’s success to become the team ace. With a 16-7 record and 2.97 ERA Wilson is able to match up well with whoever the Ranger’s opponent throws at them. Derek Holland, Colby Lewis, Matt Harrison and Alexi Ogando round out the rotation, with Ogando likely headed to the bullpen for the postseason. While none of the bunch has pitched at the same level as Wilson this year all are good enough to keep the team in the game, especially with the loaded offense that the Rangers feature.

Second year pitcher Neftali Feliz appears to have settled into the role of closer, at least for now, despite talk at the beginning of the year of converting him back to a starter. His 30 saves and 2.83 ERA are part of a very talented and deep bullpen that the Rangers will count on to push for a title. Midseason acquisition Mike Adams has really bolstered a ‘pen that includes Koji Uehara and Darren Oliver as set up men having terrific seasons.

How the Rangers can lose:

One of the biggest worries the Rangers have is their health. With Hamilton, Nelson Cruz, Adrian Beltre and others having missed time already, another injury this late in the season could mean trouble for Texas. A pitching staff that is deep although not untouchable needs the lineup to be healthy and at the top of its game. Any offense struggles might be too much for the staff to give the team a realistic chance.

How the Rangers can win:

If the lineup stays healthy and hits the way they are capable of, the pitching staff should be good enough to make another deep run and push for that title. The starters don’t have to be dominant every night if the Rangers are putting up a ton of runs; they just have to be good enough to get the ball to the bullpen with the lead.

Jeff is entering his second season with the ‘Dads and first as the director of food & beverage.  The Oneonta, NY native joined the Crawdads in 2011 as a concessions assistant, and has previously worked with the Oneonta Outlaws as a sports marketing intern.  Jeff is a die-hard fan of the Philadelphia Phillies and North Carolina Tar Heels.