Just two weeks left until the BlueClaws first home playoff game of 2010 (Friday, September 10th at FirstEnergy Park).

As of now the opponent would be Hickory (Rangers) but Greensboro is just 2.5 games out of first place with 10 to go. If they come back and beat the BlueClaws, they would be the opponent. If not, then it’s the Crawdads.

Click here for a BlueClaws Playoff Commercial with Jonathan Singleton and Jiwan James.

BlueClaws individual game playoff tickets are on sale, with a reminder that fireworks will in fact follow the first home playoff game on 9/10.

Lakewood opens the first round series on the road on Wednesday, September 8th (opponent TBD).

We will have a lot more coming up about the playoffs, obviously, and we’ve begun work on the 2010 BlueClaws Post-Season Media Guide with some cool facts and info (one of which is the BlueClaws are 10-2 all time in the playoffs and have never faced an elimination game).

Hope to see you at the park for the playoffs!

We Want YOU at the BlueClaws Post-Season…That was the message from Jonathan Singleton and Jiwan James today as the two sat down to record this commercial on the day individual game playoff tickets were put on sale.

Previously, only playoff five packs were available. You can order playoff tickets online here, visit the BlueClaws Box Office, or call 732-901-7000.

Playoff Schedule

South Atlantic League Northern Division Championship Series
Game One: Wednesday, September 8th at TBA
Game Two: Friday, September 10th vs TBA
Game Three (if nec): Saturday, September 11th vs TBA

South Atlantic League Championship Series
Game One: Monday, September 13th at TBA
Game Two: Tuesday, September 14th at TBA
Game Three: Thursday, September 16th vs TBA
Game Four (if nec): Friday, September 17th vs TBA
Game Five (if nec): Saturday, September 18th vs TBA

TBA-one looks like Hickory, especially if the BlueClaws win the second half, as they lead now by 3 games. No team has won back-to-back halves since Capital City (Mets) in 2004.

BlueClaws Playoff Five Packs, the only way to guarantee a set to all five potential home playoff games, are now on sale to the general public.

Until today, they had been on sale only to BlueClaws ticket package holders, group leaders, Kids Club members and Sliver Sluggers Club members.

Each playoff five-pack is $50 for adults or $35 for juniors and seniors.

Order yours by July 23rd and be entered automatically to win two luxury suite tickets to see the Phillies and Nationals meet in Washington DC on August 1st. (Those that have already ordered have been automatically entered to win.)

These can only be ordered on the phone at 732-901-7000 or in person at the BlueClaws Box Office.

Click here for the full release.

Congratulations to the BlueClaws players and coaches on winning the 2010 South Atlantic League Northern Division first-half title. Some quick-hitters for you…

• Jonathan Singleton hit two home runs in the Sunday clincher. He is the second player in two weeks (Sebastian Valle on June 7th) to hit two home runs in a game. Before that? Derek Mitchell on April 30, 2008.
• Singleton: “I was looking fastball in again and off the bat I knew it was a home run. We really need to win today.”
• Singleton on Mark Parent from the night before: “He was just basically telling us everyday players that we need to get it done. Today I went out there and did my best.”
• Great line from Jiwan James: “I had to hear from Gose all about last year and how fun it was. Now for me to experience it the same way is pretty good.”
• James hit .340 over the 21 games in which Lakewood went 16-5 to come from 4.5 back and win the title. “If your leadoff batter is hitting good, your team will play well.”
• More James: “Singleton and Valle. If you get on, the chances of you scoring are pretty high.”

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Lakewood wins the first half for the second time (2009) and makes the playoffs for the third time in five years (with each previous visit resulting in a league championship).

Playoff ticket information will go out tomorrow.

It was quite the year for the d’Arnaud brothers. Travis and Chase got to play against each other eight times this year, play together in the 2009  South Atlantic League All-Star game, and the this fall, each won a championship.

Travis, 20, playing with Lakewood, hit .391 for the BlueClaws in the post-season after hitting .306 in the second half. He caught every game in the post-season and won a ring the night after his brother won his. He was a supplemental first-round pick of the Phillies in 2007.

Chase, 22, was a Pirates fourth-rounder in 2008 and played West Virginia in the first half. After playing with Travis in the SAL All-Star game, he was promoted to hi-A Lynchburg, where he spent the second half. He hit .295 with Lynchburg and drove in nine runs in eight playoff games from the leadoff spot in the lineup, earning the MVP of the Carolina League playoffs.

Lance d’Arnaud, father, was in from California for the post-season and saw Chase play Wilmington in the first round of the playoffs. He was with Travis during the second round and saw the clincher in Greenville on Friday.

“The fact that they are 3,000 miles away makes it tougher to see them but I try not to miss a beat,” Lance d’Arnaud said. During the season from California, “I see them on the Internet, and I try to listen to two games at a time. My wife goes crazy with that and has to get out of the house.”

Travis likely heads to Clearwater next year in the Florida State League, while Chase will probably try Double-A Altoona in the Eastern League. Pittsburgh’s Triple-A club is Indianapolis in the International League . The Phillies do have affiliates in the Eastern League (Reading) and International League (Lehigh Valley) so the opportunity to play against each other in the minors is certainly there.

Travis is in Florida for the Instructional League, while Chase will soon head off to Arizona for the prestigious Arizona Fall Leauge, one of the few players there who did not get above A-ball this year.

And now they both have rings.

The following comment from Rob & Ella (snipped) appeared in the Championship Photos post a few down the line…

I am with the Quartet Evolution who sang the National Anthem for your 1st two games which you won, so not singing for your 3rd game and you lost. My wife Ella had me sing the National Anthem at 7PM. on Friday in my motel room and you WON. So I want to think that I helped.

Thanks Rob!

Anybody else have any superstitions they followed during the BlueClaws playoff games?

In 2006, the Matt Thayer caught the final out, a fly ball to right field, and promptly threw the ball into the seats.

Tonight, second-baseman Harold Garcia caught a pop-up to shallow center. And kept the ball. Good job Harold.

Greg Giombarrese caught up with several of the SAL Champions after the game, here is a quote from each and a link to hear the entire podcast, enjoy:

Starting Pitcher Korey Noles:

On pitching in front of his family and friends:

“It means a lot, having all this support and all the people behind just really helps you to get over that hump and really dig deep”

Link here.

BlueClaws Hitting Coach Greg Legg:

On seeing the ball hit for the final out:

“All year long, even through spring training, I told the guys that Harold Garcia was my favorite player…because he played second and so did I, so when the ball was hit to him I yelled ‘It’s my favorite player!’ it’s euphoria, and I think its the journey that makes it worth while…”

Link here.

BlueClaws Third Baseman Travis Mattair:

On seeing the final out:

“I started jumping around, I was so excited that’s the moment you’ve been working for the whole season. One-hundred and forty games plus the playoffs, that’s what you grind for throughout the season to get to that moment and when it happened it was kind of surreal, but it’s a great feeling and such a great group of guys and I’m so thrilled to be a part of this team.”

Link here.

BlueClaws Outfielder Anthony Gose and Catcher Travis d’Arnaud:

“It was one of the best feelings in the world” - d’Arnaud “This was my first time being part of a championship team and it was amazing.” - Gose

Link here.

Here is a look at the BlueClaws in all their glory:

(more…)

Welcome back to rainy Greenville, SC for game four tonight, and take two for Lakewood as they try to wrap up the 2009 South Atlantic League Championship…game notes here…audio here (at 6:50)

LWD: LHP Korey Noles (1-0, 1.17)
GRE: LHP Fabian Williamson (10-5, 2.42)

Importance of RISP…The BlueClaws went 2-16 last night in their game three loss with runners in scoring position…Greenville went 3-19 over their first two games, both losses.

Road, Sweet Road…The BlueClaws had the best road record in the league this year at 41-25, and it would be fitting if they wrapped this thing up away from home.

Like 2006…Just like in 2006, the BlueClaws won games one and two and lost game three…In 2006, they won game four.

5:59: We’ll keep you posted obviously but don’t be surprised if we start in a delay. Tarp still on the field.

6:22: We’ll start at 7:35 tonight.

7:30: Greenville 3B Will Middlebrooks (7 HRs and 51 RBIs) scratched with a migrane headache and blurred vision.

7:42: On the board…Gose singles, bunted to second, steals third, and scores on a groundout by d’Arnaud. Perfect.

7:49: 1-2-3 in the first for Noles…good start all around.

8:03: Noles gets a DP…looks sharp.

8:21: Lots of stuff in a busy 3rd…Garcia after a foul pop is misplayed gets a SAC fly to make it 2-0…Then d’Arnaud singles to left-center…Gose goes to third, but the ball gets past the new 3B Gentile, which allows Gose to score…3-0!

8:27: 1-2-3 in the third for Noles who looks great. He’s faced the minimum nine through three.

8:37: Four more hits yields the fourth run…Hanzawa doubles down the RF line…4-0 Lakewood.

9:08: Noles puts two on w/ none out…gets out of it…4-0 to the 6th.

9:28: Noles sticks his glove out and a ball flies in…1-3 DP.

9:42: 7 outs away…Noles is dealing…4 hits, 0 walks.

9:49: Noles gives up a run, but a superb outing for the lefty…7 innings one run on six hits…4-1 to the 8th.

10:00: Another run thanks to Gose on a groundout…Mattair led off w/ a walk and comes into score. 5-1 top 8

10:06: Here’s Hyatt for the 8th…6 outs away…5-1

10:15: No issues in the 8th for Hyatt…3 outs away.

10:30: Uneventful top of the 9th…Hyatt out for the bottom.

10:45: That’s all folks…The BlueClaws are South Atlantic League Champions!

First off, here are today’s game notes. What’s been the key to the series? Easy. Hitting with runners in scoring position.

RISP Note: Greenville outhit Lakewood in games one and two, but lost both games, going just 3-19 with RISP…Lakewood lost game three, despite outhitting Greenville, since they went 2-16 with RISP.

–It’s 12:56 pm and it’s pouring here. Rain is supposed to continue all day long. But we’ll see. Everyone still hopeful of playing tonight. If, by the way, the game is postponed tonight, there would be no DH on Saturday, but rather game four on Saturday and game five on Sunday. We would expect that Lakewood would throw Matt Way on Saturday and Jesus Sanchez on Sunday, on normal rest. Greenville will likely keep their rotation as is, but that’s an educated guess. Update: 3:32…still raining…we’re iffy for tonight. No BP today and the bus was pushed from 2:30 to 4:00.

–It’s been 1,099 days since the BlueClaws last won the South Atlantic League title, September 15th, 2006.

–Like in 2006, the BlueClaws won games one and two of the finals, and then lost game three.

–Finally, watch Austin Hyatt. He’s thrown four shutout in the playoffs, and with two days off, we wouldn’t be shocked if Dusty Wathan tries to get maybe even a third inning out of him if needed tonight. Remember, he’s had two days off with one game after tonight, as opposed to this time yesterday, he had one day off after back-to-back with two games to go…Hyatt had a 0.66 ERA over 52 innings with Williamsport before a promotion at the end of the regular season.

Greenville wins game three tonight 3-2…so there will be a game four on Friday, 7:05…

Lakewood…LHP Korey Noles (1-0, 1.17)…went 3-2, 2.34 with Williamsport before a late-season promotion…Including his last four starts w/ the Crosscutters, he’s allowed just seven earned runs in his last 32.2 innings pitched…Dusty says: “He throws strikes, keeps the ball down, and can get deep in the game…Even though he only started one game for us, we have no issues moving him right in to start game four.”

Greenville…LHP Fabian Williamson (10-5, 2.42)…Acquired in January from Seattle for big league pitcher David Aardsma…gave up two runs in 4.2 innings in game two of round one vs Asheville…Has thrown five innings in seven of his last nine starts (4.2 and 9 in the other two).

Welcome to Fluor Field in Greenville, SC for tonight’s game between the BlueClaws and Drive. Picture is field at 3:00 when we got here. Rain in the forecast but scattered and shrinking, we should be fine…Game notes here…audio here (at 7:00)

LWD: RHP Trevor May (4-1, 2.56)
GRE: RHP Stolmy Pimentel (10-7, 3.82)

The Lineup
Gose 8
Garcia 4
d’Arnaud 2
Murphy 3
Valle DH
Gump 9
Mattair 5
Hanzawa 6
de los Santos 7

The Clincher???…Could well be…The BlueClaws are 9-1 all time in the post-season, including 4-0 this year, when they have allowed five runs in four games while pitching two shutouts…Dusty Wathan last won a ring with Buffalo in 2004 as a player. Several BlueClaws were members of the 2008 GCL Phillies, which won the Gulf Coast League.

Who’s Hot…Anthony Gose and Harold Garcia are 6-17 in the playoffs, while Travis d’Arnaud is 7-15.

May Day…Trevor May threw six shutout innings in game two of the Division Series, which Lakewood won to knock out Kannapolis…He has thrown 16 straight scoreless innings and has allowed three runs in his last 31 innings.

5:00: Going on the Shore Sports Report on 1160/1310 at 5:07. BlueClaws about to take BP.

7:14: d’Arnaud lines into a 6-3 double play…after Gose singled…bottom 1.

7:28: May gets out of 1st/2nd none out…to the 2nd.

7:39: Lakewood then has first/second nobody out, but can’t score, so each team has wasted an opportunity in the early stages.

7:47: May settles in with a 1-2-3 second inning.

7:55: There’s a chance…had ‘em loaded one out, Murphy pops out and Valle lines out into the RF corner, nice play on the run by RF Wilkerson to save probably three runs.

8:08: Great play by Garcia…man on 2nd, grounder up the middle, Garcia thew behind the runner at 3rd for the out, a 5-4 putout and a fantastic play.

8:18: After two hit batsman, Gose lines out to centerfield to end the inning…that’s seven LOB in the last three innings.

8:33: That’s seven left on for Lakewood and five for Greenville…0-0 to the 5th.

8:46: There’s a run…1-0 Lakewood to the home 5th as Murphy doubles to right-center to bring in d’Arnaud, who doubled before him.

9:00: Diekman in for May (5 shutout)…May finishes his season w/ 21 straight shutout innings…1-0 to the 6th…Diekman in.

9:11: Diekman walks two and gets one out, and exits after an RBI double by LF Dening…1-1, 2nd/3rd/1 out in the 6th…Wertz in.

9:17: Both inherited runners score on Wertz…Casey Kelly an RBI single w/ 2 strikes to put GVL in front, a SAC fly makes it 3-1…all charged to Diekman, and two of them reached on walks.

9:25: Had a chance, w/ Garcia and Gose on w/ none out…d’Arnaud 4-6-3 and Murphy strikes out…that’s 0-8 RISP for Lakewood tonight.

9:36: Greenville leaves a leadoff double…so still 3-1, but just six outs to get ‘em back.

9:48: Moooooooooose…RBI double…3-2 to the bottom of the 8th.

10:11: Valle lined out to right w/ the tying run at 2nd and two out in the 9th…Final is 3-2 Greenville, try again tomorrow.

The BlueClaws turn to Trevor May today for game three of the 2009 South Atlantic League Championship Series, just a win away from their 2nd title in team history. May, 19, has been with the BlueClaws since June and won the clincher in the Division Series with six shutout innings against Kannapolis.

Might not be able to pick a better guy to pitch this game…

• The BlueClaws are 12-4, including playoffs, in May’s starts.
• He has not lost in his last 14 starts.
• May has thrown 16 straight shutout innings.
• He’s allowed a whopping three runs in his last 31 innings (18 hits and 38 strikeouts).

Here are tonight’s game notes.  

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There is rain in the forecast, but we should be ok. Storms are scattered.