Archive for March, 2009

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Donald Brown Leadership Conference

Tuesday, March 31st, 2009

This is pretty cool…

Donald Brown, of Red Bank Catholic and the University of Connecticut, a running back expected to be a high pick in the NFL Draft (April 25-26), is hosting a leadership conference for Shore Conference football players. Two from each of the 43 will be selected after an application process. This consists of writing an essay about a leader in their lives, and how and why that person inspired the athlete.

All current Shore Conference football players are eligible and can apply here. The deadline to submit is Friday at 5 pm.

What’s the BlueClaws catch?

The 86 conference attendees will join Brown on the field at the April 20th BlueClaws game, at which Brown will throw out a first pitch.

Posted in Lakewood BlueClaws, Other Sports | 1 Comment »

Chan Ho Park Named Fifth Starter; Jenkins Cut

Tuesday, March 31st, 2009

The Phillies have cut their roster to the 25 players that will appear on Opening Day, April 5th, as they look to defend http://www3.allaroundphilly.com/blogs/delcotimes/ryanl/uploaded_images/url-753040.jpgtheir World Series Title. Two major changes are that, free agent signing Chan Ho Park and not former Lakewood BlueClaws pitcher JA Happ, will be the Phillies fifth starter.

Park was signed in the off-season to a one-year $2.5 million deal in the hopes to win the back-of-the-rotation spot, he achieved his goal today. Park impressed the Phillies coaching staff by striking out 25 in 21.1 innings in the spring and only walking two batters. He went 2-0 with a 2.53 ERA.

Happ, also impressed in the spring as he had an ERA of 3.15 with 14 strikeouts in 20 innings. He pitched for the Phillies last season and had success, but Park’s experience and control during his spring innings gave him the nod for now.

In other roster moves, the Phillies released Geoff Jenkins, whom they owe the sum of $8 million. Jenkins arrived in Philadelphia before last season and saw his regular playing time slashed as his competition for playing time excelled. Jenhttp://zkonedog.mlblogs.com/Shef.jpgkins hit an important double as the first batter when play resumed in game 5 of the World Series, but never managed much in the regular season. With his release, the Phillies will be paying out $17 million to players that have been cut, with Adam Eaton’s departure last month.

Finally, the Phillies have indicated they have received interest from the agent of Gary Sheffield, who was just released by the Detroit Tigers. Sheffield, sitting on 499 career home runs, will be paid $14 million this season by the Tigers so the Phillies would stand to get his services likely for the veteran minimum of $400,000.

Posted in General Baseball, JA Happ, Past BlueClaws, Phillies | No Comments »

Our Projected 2009 Lakewood BlueClaws Roster

Tuesday, March 31st, 2009

Anxious to learn the 25-man roster that will be named for the 2009 Lakewood BlueClaws opener, BlueClaws Blog has taken its best, unofficial, stab at who will be on the team.

Pitchers (12):
Yohan Flande, LHP: On normal rest would be Opening Day starter.
Tyler Cloyd, RHP: Threw 65 innings last season with Lo-A Williamsport
Justin De Fratus, RHP: Lead the New-York Penn League with 83 1/3 innings last season and had a 3.67 ERA (pic).
Jordan Ellis, RHP: Maintained a 3.00 ERA last season with Williamsport.
Sean Grieve, LHP: Philadelphia area native had a 2.35 ERA with Williamsport in 23 innings last season.
Jason Knapp, RHP: Former 2008 2nd round pick had a 2.61 ERA in 6 starts for the GCL Phillies last season.
Miguel Matos, RHP: Holds a 16-10 career minor league record with a 3.04 ERA in 162 2/3 innings.
Jesus Sanchez, RHP: Converted catcher was acquired in the Bobby Abreu trade.
David Noles, LHP: Had a 2.30 ERA last season in 15 2/3 innings with Williamsport.
Chad Poe, RHP: 27th round pick last year, had 13 strikeouts in 11 innings with GCL Phillies
Mauricio Romero, RHP: Holds a 2.13 career ERA in 152 1/3 innings in the minor leagues, has a 28 inning scoreless inning streak.
B.J. Rosenberg, RHP: Potential closer, had an ERA of 1.00 and 10 saves last season with Williamsport (pic).

Catchers (2):
Travis D’Arnaud: Former Supp. pick, D’Arnaud played 16 games in Lakewood and hit .297 with two home runs and five doubles (pic).
Sebastian Valle: Hit .281 last season with GCL Phillies. Was top five in league in OBP and Doubles.
*Luis Arzeno* - If D’Arnaud starts with Clearwater, Valle could start in Lakewood with Arzeno as the backup

Infielders (6):
Travis “Moose” Mattair: Fan favorite hit .254 last season with BlueClaws. Was a former 3rd round pick in 2007 draft.
Yonderman Rodriguez: Hit .302 last season for the GCL Phillies and .361 in the VSL in 2007.
Jeremy Hamilton: Former 5th round selection hit .327 with the GCL Phillies last season.
Harold Garcia: Hit .299 last season with the GCL Phillies and stole 17 bases in 19 attempts
Troy Hanzawa: Hit .297 with Williamsport last season and was named a New York-Penn League midseason All-Star

Outfielders (5):
Zach Collier: Picked in the Supp. round of the 2008 draft, Collier hit .271 last season with the GCL Phillies last season.
Brandon Haislet: Selected in the 2nd round of the 2008 draft, Haislet played in 62 games with Williamsport last season.
D’Arby Myers: A former fourth round pick, the former BlueClaw looks to regain the form he had in 2006 with the GCL Phillies (pic).
Arlon Quiroz: Played 47 games with Williamsport last season and is off to a hot spring, has belted four home runs so far.
TJ Warren: Played in 69 games for the BlueClaws in 2008 where he hit .316 in FirstEnergy Park.

Posted in Jason Knapp, Lakewood BlueClaws, Travis Mattair, Travis d'Arnaud | 1 Comment »

Congrats to Vance Worley, Arlon Quiroz, and Roly de Armas

Tuesday, March 31st, 2009

Legendary Phillies PR-man Larry Shenk checks in with some news… 

2008 BlueClaws pitcher Vance Worley will tonight be presented with the Bill Giles Award before tonight’s Phillies spring game against the Blue Jays.

The award goes to a player chosen on the following criteria: love and respect for the game of baseball, an outstanding work ethic and pride in being a member of the Phillies.

Worley, a 3rd round pick last year out of Long Beach State University, started his career at Williamsport before a promotion to Lakewood. He had a 2.66 ERA with the BlueClaws over 11 starts.

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GCL Phillies manager Roly de Armas will receive the John Vukovich Award, presented to a member of the organization’s instructional staff who embodies the characteristics of a man who wore a Phillies uniform for 30 years–loyalty, dedication, competitiveness, knowledge and an endless work ethic.  Vuk took pride in wearing a Phillies uniform and in teaching players how to play the game the right way.

Finally, Arlon Quiroz will receive the Larry Rojas Award, given under the same criteria as the Giles award accepted by Worley. Quiroz, an outfielder, will likely be in Lakewood in 2009.

Posted in Vance Worley | No Comments »

Alfredo Simon (03) in Mix for Orioles Job

Tuesday, March 31st, 2009

While it appears that none of the 2006 BlueClaws (Carlos Carrasco, Matt Maloney, or Josh Outman) will win starting rotation jobs, 2005 BlueClaw JA Happ seems to be the front-runner for a rotation spot with the Phillies and now Alfredo Simon, with the BlueClaws in 2003, seems poised to win a spot in the rotation of the Baltimore Orioles.

Simon threw six innings last night against the Mets, allowing just one run. Did he earn a rotation spot?

“I’m not going to tell you that,” manager Dave Trembley said. “Let’s just say he got our attention.”

Simon wasn’t even in camp on time. He missed a few weeks stuck in the Dominican Republic with passport problems.

[Baltimore Sun photo]

Posted in General Baseball, Past BlueClaws, Spring Training | No Comments »

70 in 70: Number 9

Tuesday, March 31st, 2009

FirstEnergy ParkWe are now inside of ten days to go until BlueClaws Opening Day on April 9th. Nine days away from the BlueClaws opener at which time the BlueClaws will begin their ninth season of baseball at the Jersey Shore. Here’s a brief history:

  • 2001: Team goes a combined 60-79, no playoffs
  • 2002: Team goes a combined 69-70, no playoffs
  • 2003: Team goes a combined 57-81, no playoffs
  • 2004: Team goes a combined 70-67, including 39-30 in the second half, but no playoffs
  • 2005: Team goes a combnied 56-83, no playoffs
  • 2006: Team goes 84-55, including 47-23 in the second half, WINS SAL TITLE
  • 2007: Team goes a combined 69-65, no playoffs
  • 2008: Team goes a combined 80-60, the best record in the SAL North, but misses the playoffs
  • 2009: We’ll find out soon enough

All told, 25 former BlueClaws have played in the major leagues, with likely more to come this year (Jason Donald).

Posted in 70 in 70, Lakewood BlueClaws | No Comments »

Down the Stretch…

Monday, March 30th, 2009

…of Spring Training, that is. We enter the last week of games and here are some notes from today’s action, starting with the “BlueClaws,” in quotes because of course these results are in reality just a snapshot of the potential rosters, and don’t really indicate much one way or another. That said, logically you would think that as we get closer to roster day at the end of the week, each day would be a better indicator than the one before. Lakewood…

  • Tied Yankees prospects 1-1
  • Yohan Flande threw four shutout innings. Speculation: He is on track to throw on Saturday and then next Thursday’s opener at FirstEnergy Park. That would be his normal rest.
  • 2nd round pick Anthony Gose led off and went 2-4.
  • Travis Mattair, a potential returnee, added a hit and well regarded catcher Sebastian Valle hit cleanup.
  • Noteworty: SS Troy Hanzawa played his first game with “Lakewood” this spring. He had been with Hi-A and Double-A.

Triple-A Lehigh Valley lost 11-5 to Yankees prospects…

  • Cole Hamels gave up three runs on 10 (!) hits over four innings. He said he won’t be ready for Opening Day and will likely start game four for the Philles on April 9th.
  • Jason Donald went 2-4 and Jeremy Slayden had a two-run double.
  • Freddy Galvis played here today, though he is basically a lock for either Clearwater or Lakewood.

Double-A Reading lost to Yankees prospects 3-1…

  • Andrew Carpenter gave up one run over five innings.
  • The team only had three hits, including one by Quintin Berry and Mike Spidale, who scored the run.
  • Michael Taylor hit third, going 0-2.

Hi-A Clearwater tied Yankees prospects 5-5…

  • Chance Chapman threw 2.1 shutout innings in relief.
  • Yonderman Rodriguez and Arlon Quiroz, who have been with Lo-A most of the spring, both played here, with Rodriguez going 2-4.

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Tomorrow Josh Ellis and I will try to predict the BlueClaws 25-man roster. We’ll put it up here in late afternoon. It will not be easy. If we go 15-25, that might not be that bad.

Posted in Freddy Galvis, Jason Donald, Michael Taylor, Quintin Berry, Travis Mattair, Yohan Flande | No Comments »

More “Wear it and Winners”

Monday, March 30th, 2009

Opening DayAs you know, we’ve been giving out BlueClaws Opening Day tickets to those fans we’ve spotted out and about wearing their BlueClaws gear. Here’s a sampling of some of the winners since our last update:

  • Dennis of Toms River, at the TR East Little League parade
  • Jon from Lakewood, at the IHOP in Keyport
  • Eli of Lakewood, at Washington Square Apartments
  • Brody of Point Pleasant, at a tatoo parlor
  • Skylar & Mason of Beachwood, at Mrs. Walker’s Famous Ice Cream parlor
  • George of Brick, at Quick-Check
  • Jesse of Toms River, at Applebees
  • Gary from Bayville, at the firehouse
  • Jim from Bayville, at ShopRite

Posted in Community Events, Enjoying a Game, Lakewood BlueClaws | No Comments »

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