BlueClaws groundskeeper Ryan Radcliffe gets a mention in today’s Asbury Park Press in a story about fans collecting souvenir sod from FirstEnergy Park.

Despite the raw wind whipping onto the field and the cold rain, the fans came — to secure their own piece of BlueClaws’ history or possibly just for the free sod to replace their own brown lawns.

“I’ve been a fan since the stadium opened. I’ve grown up a Phillies fan,” said Todd Jenkins, 40, of Pemberton, who walked onto the field with his head down and baseball cap on to shield his eyes from the rain.

Jenkins, who is a partial-season ticket holder, said he planned to take away enough sod to fix up the bare spots at his home and his parents’ home.

“I love coming here and watching the young kids develop and go through the program,” he said, referring to the minor league rookies, some of whom make their way to the big leagues.

Jenkins said he plans to brag that his lawn came from the BlueClaws stadium.

By the end of today, groundskeeper Ryan Radcliffe expects that much of the sod will be “going, going, gone” so that installation of the new playing surface can begin.

Click here to read the full story.

(PHOTO: Tom Spader, Asbury Park Press)

We told you yesterday that the BlueClaws will install a new playing surface beginning next year (details and photos). For a more in-depth look, we sat down with BlueClaws groundskeeper Ryan Radcliffe.

Why now?
Usually something like this is done every 10 years or so. Right under the grass, you have a mix of about 90% sand and 10% organic material (in a 10 inch rootzone). Over time, the top layer of the rootzone underneath the grass will build down from the surface with a lot of silt and clay, about a quarter inch per year. As that builds up, it’s harder for the water to drain completely through.

How long will the process take?
It’s about a three week process.

How far down underneath the surface will you go?
We’ll go three inches down to strip out the organic layer that’s built up over the ten years.

What’s the first thing that you have to do?
First, we have to check the irrigation system. We put a flag wherever there is a head, coupler, or valve, covering anything near the surface that they could possibly hit. Then, we get rid of the top three inches and then come back in with about 800 tons of sand which is spread evenly over the field at .88 inches above the surface.

Where did you get .88 inches?
They have a GPS type of machine and went in and surveyed 50 points throughout the field and essentially took the average elevation. We have the original blueprints from 10 years ago which they used as a starting point. That original elevation for the sand is what they want to get back to.

So essentially the field is three inches higher now than it was 10 years ago?
That’s right.

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While the field is pretty quiet right now, it won’t be for too long. The BlueClaws will install a new playing surface at FirstEnergy Park over the next few weeks.

It’s an elaborate process, with the current sod coming out and new sod (90,000 square feet worth) coming in.

Here’s the full story from BlueClaws.com. We spoke earlier with BlueClaws Head Groundskeeper Ryan Radcliffe, who detailed everything for us. We’ll have that up here soon.

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Below, the pictures are from the fall of 2000, when the field was laid down for the first time. Obviously you don’t completely recognize the park, because it wasn’t yet complete. We didn’t start playing until April of 2001.

We announced some plans earlier today for a new Champions Club mega-SkyBox on our second level which will open in 2011.

The decor will fall in the championship realm (as you could have figured by the title), with pictures and memorabilia from some of the great moments in BlueClaws history.

What could some of the memorabilia be? In our Wall of Fame at the first base gate, we had baseballs from the first game in team history, no-hitters, the 22 inning game in 2006, and Sebastian Valle’s home run to win the 2010 SAL title. Plus, there were signed jerseys, game-used cleats and much more, all from former players.

The Champions Club will hold 50 people and include an all you can eat buffet from an exclusive menu plus a great view. Call 732-901-7000 option 3 with any more questions.

Below, find out what it might look like (click here for an enlarged image).

What’s new at FirstEnergy Park this year? A lot, actually. We’ve made some improvements both around the ballpark and at the concession stands as we prepare to kick off our tenth season.

Some more details can be found here, but some of the best stuff…

Hall of Fame style salute to our first nine years, which will include:

• A case displaying the two South Atlantic League championship trophies
• Both South Atlantic League championship banners
• A Shore to the Show display…honoring all 30 players who have gone from Lakewood to the big leagues
• BlueClaws Firsts…the first time over 40 things happened in BlueClaws history

Kids Zone

• The Meridian Health Kids Zone will receive a make-over, with new lights, a grand entrance, and much more

Concessions

• The Dog House will include hot dogs from around the country
• The Asbury Park Press Food Court has a new menu and will now feature 12 types of gourmet burgers, BBQ ribs and brisket.
• New stops along the concourse include a Boardwalk BBQ, Sandcastle Sliders, and a Farm Fresh stand with salads and snacks.

Plus, of course the new logo, unis, and BlueClaws.com.

Can’t wait for April 16th.

Courtesy of BlueClaws groundskeeper Ryan Radcliffe.

Interesting stuff…we just booked a fantasy baseball draft to be held in our executive conference center at FirstEnergy Park. That seems to be about as good of a use of the conference center as I could think of.

• 12 people
• dinner
• space
• tables
• big board

And what better place to host a fantasy baseball draft than at a ballpark anyway?

Of course it’s almost time to get going on that stuff (last night I went over everything for the longtime keeper league that I’m a part of (coming off of an 11th of 12 place finish). If you’re interested in booking a fantasy baseball draft in the BlueClaws Executive Conference Center, call Brendan at 732-901-7000 ext 165.

Of course, if the weathermen are correct, Charlie and Cole will be buried beneath a lot more snow than two or three inches come this weekend (hopefully they are wrong).

First off, thanks to the good folks at MiLB.com for making this picture their Photo of the Week.

Obviously, many of you have no idea what the ballpark can look like after a big snow storm. Here are a few photos. Enjoy!

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Congratulations to the good folks at Lakewood Township and the Lakewood Development Corporation. This week, they formally paid off the final bonds owed on FirstEnergy Park. Friday, we hosted a “Bond-fire.” From today’s Asbury Park Press…

The “bond” fire at the BlueClaws stadium on Friday was little more than a flame sputtering from a portable hibachi grill — perhaps a bit anticlimactic for the ceremonial end to the largest and longest-running public debt facing township economic development.

But, the point was made.

“(Twenty) million dollars . . . it burns fast,” Mayor Robert W. Singer said after dipping into the fire a scroll meant to represent that last bond owed to pay off the minor league ball field and promised commercial anchor of Lakewood.

The last payment, made Dec. 1, actually was about $1.8 million, with $20 million being the total cost, plus interest, of building the 6,588-seat park in 2000. After 10 years, it finally belongs to Lakewood.

Read the rest here

Here’s your chance to vote for your favorite ballpark, FirstEnergy Park of course, in the 2009 MLN Sports Vote4TheBest 2009: Best of Ballparks and Arenas.

Simply head over here to vote, and please vote early and vote often.

Thanks!

Although rare, rain happens, and the tarp needs to come on the field. When it’s time, the entire BlueClaws Front Office springs into action…Here are a few pictures to show what a tarp pull looks like, Click here for a full time-lapse photo gallery.

During a rain delay in the top of the ninth of Sunday’s BlueClaws game…a Dance-off or Dance Party broke out at FirstEnergy Park:

The Dance-off included:

The Cupid Shuffle, Cha Cha Slide, Apache, Stanky Leg and the YMCA.

YMCA Video here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=udaQAs2uc1I

Tonight’s starter, Tyler Cloyd has had a lot of success at FirstEnergy Park this season…and he is back on the mound, looking to end a two game losing streak the BlueClaws have been saddled with after winning four straight. The BlueClaws have not lost three games in a row all season long.

Overall, Cloyd has been very good this season…4-2 with a 3.00 ERA and on a three game winning streak, but at home, he has been outstanding.

In 24 innings at home, Cloyd has yet to surrender a walk (just one walk in his last 35 innings) and is 2-1 with a 1.67 ERA. He has allowed just 24 hits and five runs while striking out 24 in that span…Here is what Cloyd had to say about pitching at FirstEnergy Park.

“I love the atmosphere here, the fans are amazing. You can always tell when they’re behind you, they always cheer for great plays and and good outings…When the team is doing well, they let you know it…Everything is just great about pitching here, the field, just everything…Not just for the pitcher, but the whole team is put in a good mood by the home atmosphere.”