The Sun Will Come Out Tomorrow

Published on May 27, 2005 under Atlantic League (AtL)
Bridgeport Bluefish News Release


As this editor sits in a chilly empty suite during the second game of a doubleheader against the Somerset Patriots here at the Ballpark at Harbor Yard, I can't help but be a bit discouraged by the weather this spring. There are only five days left in May which meteorologists for this area are calling the third coldest May in recorded history. When this doubleheader wraps up, we will have played 15 games here at Harbor Yard. That includes 13 actual playing dates. We have had three rainouts already and we usually only expect four for the whole season. Of those 13 "playable dates", we have had some form of rain on nearly all of them, and except for that one sunny morning game against the Nashua Pride a couple weeks ago, it has been unseasonably cold for all those dates. In the current four-game series against the Patriots, the temperatures have been twenty degrees below normal. And that's not counting the "chill factor", but you should know that the current nor'easter blew down a portion of our centerfield wall (the "batter's eye" portion). But hey, who's complaining? We come back home on Memorial Day to play the Newark Bears in a special 3:00 PM game, and we just know it will be sunny and warm by then! Right...

Lest we get too discouraged (especially since we dropped both games of the doubleheader to Somerset for three straight losses within 18 hours), here's an uplifting e-mail that we just received: "On Sunday my family and I attended the Bluefish game as part of a fundraiser for my son's school. It was our first Bluefish game after meaning to get to one for so long. First, let me say that we were so impressed by the stadium and the team and the staff-even in the pouring rain. But my main reason for writing is to thank you for making the day possible for us as a group. We raised a lot of money for the school and we are very grateful for that opportunity. On a more personal note, it was my son who got to throw out the first pitch for the game. He won the drawing at school, but the opportunity would not have been there were it not for your generosity. My son is autistic, as are most of the kids at the school, but mostly, he is an avid baseball fan. Ask him for just about any statistic and I think he knows it. Sunday was a dream come true for him. I know that is a cliché term, but it really was a dream for him. He spent the weekend trying to figure out what great pitcher's stance he should imitate for his big pitch. In the end he decided to "use his own and pitch a change-up". I just wanted to take a moment to say thank you. You have made a difference in the lives of these kids. The school they attend is really incredible. There is so much bad news to be found and I didn't want to let something so positive slip by without expressing my gratitude. We are really looking forward to our next Bluefish game. We figure if we try one on a sunny day, it'll be even more amazing!

And here's another great e-mail that just goes to show that we have fans even up in the Hartford area: "I am eleven years old and I am a big fan of the Bluefish. I live in the Hartford area, but I try to see how the team is doing by checking on the Internet and reading the newspaper. IN this area, everybody follows the Rock Cats (editor's note: the AA-affiliated farm club of the Minnesota Twins in New Britain), but I am the only Bluefish fan. Being from the Hartford area, it is quite a distance to Bridgeport, but last season my dad took me to Harbor Yard. I had a great time and I wanted to thank you for making my experience a memorable one. The stadium is beautiful and the people who work there were just fantastic. I hope you have a great season this year and maybe you can bring home another Atlantic League championship. I just wanted you to know that you have two fans (my dad and me) in the Hartford area who will be rooting for the team all season long. Thank you again for the good time I had last year and good luck this season."

Flash: The Atlantic City Surf have signed slugging outfielder Ozzie Timmons and released 2002 league Triple Crown winner Jimmy Hurst who was immediately picked up by the Nashua pride who just lost shortstop Tomas de la Rosa who was signed by the Colorado Rockies and sent to the Rockies' AAA Club in Colorado Springs.

Here are a couple great Bluefish events coming up this season: We will be holding 3 FREE Baseball Clinics in conjunction with Batter UP at the Sports Center of Connecticut in Shelton. There will be a player demonstrations, hitting/fielding tips, autograph session and BB the Bluefish appearance. The clinics will be held on Saturday June 18th, Saturday July 16th and Saturday August 20th from 11:00am – 1:00pm. Also, we are working with Major League Soccer to hold Soccer Day at the Ballpark at Harbor Yard on Saturday July 30th. The clinic will run from 4:30 pm – 6:00pm. The program fee is $15.00 and includes a Reserve Seat ticket for each child and access to the clinic. Parent's tickets are $6.00 for a reserved seat. Players must bring: Soccer ball and flat shoes. Appropriate for ages 5-14. You will be hard-pressed to find more affordable, high-quality sports clinics than these two.

A somewhat random comment from Scott Stanchak, one of the editors of the "unofficial" site of the Atlantic League, atlanticleaguebaseball.com: "I think the Bridgeport Bluefish are pretty darn good. They surprised me this year because I just felt Long Island and Nashua would be better. The thing is: while Long Island is playing bad, Bridgeport is just playing awesome, posting the best record in the league and capitalizing on everything." Thank you, Scott. Belaboring the obvious...

Didya know that according to Newsweek, minor league baseball is now a $500 million industry with nearly 40 million fans and 176 teams?

The Camden Riversharks may be in last place in the Southern Division of the Atlantic League, but they have certainly not been shy about going after future stars who have shunned affiliated baseball. They recently came to an agreement with right-handed pitcher Jered Weaver. The 22-year-old Weaver has yet to sign with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, the team which drafted him 12th overall a year ago. At 6'7" 210 pounds, Weaver, was the most dominating pitcher in college baseball last season, going 15-1 with a 1.62 ERA, for Long Beach State University. Racking up 213 strikeouts in just 144 innings, the Simi Valley, California native led LBSU to the Super Regional of the NCAA tournament in 2004. In three collegiate seasons, Weaver compiled a 37-9 record. He will join fellow 2004 first-rounder Stephen Drew, who is also playing for Camden. Their brothers, Jeff and J.D., are teammates themselves, on the Los Angeles Dodgers. "We're excited to give Jered a chance to showcase his talent in the Atlantic League and are confident that he will conduct himself in the same professional manner that Stephen (Drew) has," says Riversharks GM John Brandt. Editor's note: Camden's first trip here is for a four-game set from June 8-11 with the first three games at 7:05 PM, and the June 11 game at 10:35 AM. No matter what, it is exciting to have two of professional baseball's biggest young stars in our league and in our ballpark those four days.

For the record: The Bluefish record this season in regularly-scheduled nine-inning affairs: 15-7. In games scheduled for seven innings (due to rainout make-ups): 1-4.

Recently Bluefish infielders Tony Rodriguez and Angel Espada along with Shannon Walsh, the Bluefish Reading Program Coordinator visited Mercy Learning Center on Park Avenue in Bridgeport. Mercy provides literacy instruction and support services to low-income women from the Bridgeport area. Tony and Angel read to the children in the Center's daycare program and then spoke to a group of the students. They explained the basics of the game of baseball to the women, many of whom come from countries where baseball is not widely played. They did a great job answering questions. Angel and Tony also encouraged the mothers to be involved in their children's lives... going to games if their kids are on teams and showing support for what their children do. On May 22, many of the women students at Mercy and their families were looking forward to seeing a Bluefish game, but Mother Nature brought rain, so the Mercy students will be exchanging their tickets for other games. They all seem to be interested in learning more about America's favorite pastime and enjoying a game so close to where they live. (Thanks to Edie Faile for helping arrange this visit and for contributing this copy!)

Check out www.bridgeportbluefish.com for our upcoming promotions during our next homestand!

Bluefish league leaders: Jamie Gann is on the leader board as the 7th best hitter in the league with a .343 batting average. Gann is also tied for the lead in hits (34), leads in doubles (10), is tied for the lead in extra-base hits (13), is second in runs scored (18), and is tied for fourth in RBIs (20). Michael Coleman is tied for the lead in home runs (7), is tied for fourth in RBI's (20), is second in slugging percentage (.593), and is tied with Gann for first in extra-base hits (13). Rolo Avila is fourth in stolen bases (9), and is tied for second in runs scored (17). Corey Hart is third in on-base percentage at .450. In pitching, Brady Raggio is second in strikeouts with 31. Ignominiously, Josh Kalinowski leads the league in walks with 18. Our team batting average is second best at .285, only a percentage point below Atlantic City's .286. Our pitching is third best (.343 ERA) behind Long Island (2.99 ERA) and Somerset (3.11 ERA). As a team we lead the league in runs scored, hits and home runs. In pitching, we are tied with Somerset in wins (16) and lead the league in strikeouts with 200.

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Atlantic League Stories from May 27, 2005


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

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