Tides update
Published on June 23, 2004 under International League (IL1)
Norfolk Tides News Release
KEN'S KORNER
Throughout the season Tides' President, Ken Young, writes a few columns that are included in Tides On Deck. Here is Ken's second installment for the 2004 season.
Here it is mid June and pucks and sticks have been on my mind as much as bats and balls. I want to thank the many among you who have wished us well and are excited about our purchasing the Norfolk Admirals Hockey Club. I have never thought about the Admirals as competition. To the contrary, I believe that we should have a high level of professional winter sports in Norfolk and the American Hockey League Admirals is just a notch below the NHL. We are happy that we could help save the Admirals locally, and I would ask for your support to help us. Please purchase season tickets, have your group come to Admiral games, look at advertising and sponsorship opportunities and just spend an evening at Scope to watch Hockey. Our Tides staff can help you with any of those things or you can call Blake Cullen at the Admirals offices.
Let's not forget though that we have the second half of the Tides season to look forward to. The Tides come home this week for a nine-day homestand and we are only a few games out of first place. It has been a funny season here and in New York. The Mets and the Tides fall a few games under .500 and then win a few to get back in the race. It has been that way for both teams since the beginning of the season.
The Mets top position player prospect, David Wright of Chesapeake, is currently with the Tides. You need to come out to Harbor Park very soon to make sure you get your chance of seeing Wright in a Tides uniform. There is no telling when he may be in New York. These next nine days have plenty of special nights at Harbor Park. Tides caps are given away on Friday, 6/25; Birdzerk visits us on Saturday, 6/26; 2000 bats will be given away to youngsters 14 and under on Monday, 6/28 and then we have a Business Special at 12:15 on Wednesday, June 30. This year we have 2 great nights of July fireworks celebrating our country's birth on July 1st and July 2nd. Put all that together with fighting for a division title and you can't beat the good times ahead.
We have been fortunate this year with much better weather than last year and our attendance is up significantly. Thank you so much for your support. Please stop by and say hello when you are in the Park. I look forward to seeing you soon.
Tides President
Ken Young
INNINGS AND OUTS
10 Questions with Outfielder: Jeff Duncan
Jeff Duncan was born and raised in Illinois. He was selected by the New York Mets in the seventh round of the 2000 draft. Last season Jeff made his Major League debut on May 22nd against the Phillies, initially skipping Norfolk, the Triple-A Level.
Question: What is your full name?
Jeff: Jeffrey Matthew Duncan
Question: When is your birthday?
Jeff: December 9, 1978
Question: Who was your favorite baseball team growing up?
Jeff: St. Louis Cardinals
Question: What is your favorite thing about the area so far?
Jeff: The Beach
Question: What is the last movie you saw?
Jeff: The Best of Chris Farley
Question: What is your favorite hobby when you are not playing baseball?
Jeff: Hunting and Fishing
Question: If you could have dinner with two people (dead or alive) who would they be and why?
Jeff: The first person would be Michael Jordan because he was my idol growing up and the other would be God because he is the most powerful being.
Question: Do you have a favorite athlete and if so who?
Jeff: Michael Jordan
Question: If you were stuck on an island what three things would you want with you?
Jeff: Food, Water, and a model
Question: If you had a choice would you be an athlete or a rock star and why?
Jeff: Athlete because that is my nature and it was always something I wanted to do plus they are more laid back then rock stars.
If you would like to see your favorite Tides' player featured in this section, just drop us an email at hharkins@norfolktides.com and let us know who and we will feature them in one of our 10 questions with a Tides player.
4th ANNUAL BASEBALL CLINIC
Our 4th Annual Tides Baseball Camp sponsored by AJ Wright is right around the corner and is filling up fast. On July 24 and 25 Tides' players will instruct children the basic fundamentals of baseball. They will begin the camp each day with stretching and then break up into groups to learn hitting, fielding, and pitching.
The camp runs for two hours each day from 11 AM to 1 PM. Each camper receives a hat, a ball, a T-shirt, and three tickets to the game on Sunday, June 25th at 6:15 PM. At the conclusion of camp Sunday afternoon each camper and their parents have the opportunity to have lunch with the players and Tides coaching staff. The fee for the camp is $75.
The camp is limited and is nearly sold out so register your son or daughter soon. Kids must be between the ages of 9 and 15. Please contact the Tides' office for an application at 622-2222.
OUT AND ABOUT
Rip Tide and several players will be around town in the next couple of weeks so make plans to see them! Appearances are subject to change. If you would like to receive more information about a player or Rip Tide visit, contact our office at (757) 622-2222 ext. 121.
June 23, 2004 Rip Tide will be at Naval Station Norfolk for their Summer Fest from 11 AM â 12:30 PM at the Parade Grounds.
June 24, 2004 Rodney Nye will be at Ocean Breeze Waterpark in Virginia Beach from 11 AM â 1 PM. Rip Tide will also be there from 12 PM â 1:30 PM.
June 25, 2004
Craig Brazell and David Wright will be at Ocean Breeze Waterpark in Virginia Beach from 11 AM - 1 PM.
Rip Tide will be at Sunnybrook Day School from 11 AM â 12:30 PM. He will be at the Cerebral Palsy Summer Camp from 2 PM â 3:30 PM.
June 26, 2004 Esix Snead and Rip Tide will be at the new SunTrust Bank in Hampton on W. Mercury Blvd. from 9 AM â 11:30 AM.
Heath Bell and Rip Tide will be at the Wal Mart on Cunningham Drive in Hampton between 10 AM and 12 PM.
June 29, 2004 A player to be named later will be at Children's World Learning Center on Indian River Road at 10 AM.
July 2, 2004
Rip Tide will be at the Cerebral Palsy Summer Camp from 11 AM to 12:30 PM.
July 3, 2004 Rip Tide will be attending "A Day In The Park" at Southwestern Park located on Airline Blvd. in Chesapeake. He will be there from 2 PM to 3:30 PM.
METS ORGANIZATION UPDATE
The Mets swept Detroit in inter-league play and defeating Cincinnati last evening have won their last 5 games. They have won 7 of their last 8 games getting back to one game over .500 at 35-34. Gerald Williams was called up last week and is batting .313 in 8 games with a homerun and 2 doubles. Mike Piazza leads the full-timers with a .306 batting average and a team leading 16 homeruns with 35 RBI. Ty Wigginton is continuing his solid season batting .269 with 15 doubles, 6 homeruns and 27 RBI. Jose Reyes joined the team this week off the DL and is 1 for 12 in 3 games with a double and an RBI.
Tom Glavine and Steve Trachsel lead the team with 7 wins apiece. Braden Looper has proven to be a good pick up going 2-1 with 13 saves so far on the season. Ricky Bottalico has gone 3-1 with a 2.01 ERA since his call up from the Tides. Matt Ginter has also done well since leaving the Tides going 1-1 with a 3.38 ERA in 8 starts.
The Binghamton Mets continue their quest for the Eastern League Championship with a commanding 5-game lead in the North Division. They are 43-28 and have been in first place nearly the entire season. After losing 2 of their top players in Prentice Redman and David Wright to the Tides, the B-Mets are continuing on their winning ways going 7-3 in their last 10 games. Angel Pagan is batting .315 in 61 games and leads the team with 38 RBI. Chase Lambin is a close second with 36 RBI. Justin Huber leads the team with 7 homeruns. Wayne Lydon takes care of business on the basepaths with a league leading 42 stolen bases.
Neal Musser leads the team going 7-2 in 13 starts. He carries a 3.27 ERA. Blake McGinley is 7-1 in 23 relief appearances with an ERA of 2.87. He also leads the team with 65 strikeouts. Jeremy Hill takes care of closing games going 2-3 with 10 saves along with Kole Strayhorn who is 3-4 with 7 saves.
St. Lucie continues a successful season standing at 38-31 overall, in the Single-A Florida State League. Aarom Baldiris is batting .292 with 10 doubles and 25 RBI. Brett Harper is 2nd in the league with a .351 batting average. He has 50 RBI that is good enough for second in the league. Jonathan Slack is batting .277 with a team leading 22 stolen bases.
Robert Paulk is 6-3 on the season with a 3.39 ERA. Brian Bannister has started 14 games and leads the team with 76 strikeouts in 78 2/3 innings. Brian Edwards has 4 saves and is 3-0.
Capital City won the first half and is 45-26 overall. Ryan Harvey leads the team with a .359 batting average with 22 doubles and 32 RBI. But Ian Bladergroen has taken over with a commanding league lead with 70 RBI. He is batting .335 and is tied with Jamar Hill with 13 homeruns. Ian also leads the team with 23 doubles. Wilson Batista is 5th in the league with 23 stolen bases.
Yusmiero Petit will join Tides third baseman, David Wright at the Futures Game in Houston. He leads the team and the league with a 9-1 record. He is 6th in the league with a 2.10 ERA. He also leads the league with an amazing 112 strikeouts in 77 innings pitched. Shane Hawk (1-1) and Greg Ramirez (4-0) take care of closing the games with 7 and 6 saves, respectively.
The short-season Brooklyn Cyclones began play on Friday and are 3-2 in the McNamara Division. Dante Brinkley has gotten off to a good start batting.353 with a double, a triple, a homerun and 2 RBI. Brinkley has already scored 7 runs. Derran Watts is also doing well batting .375 in 4 games with 3 runs scored.
Michael Devaney did not get the win but struck out 5 in his first start. Carlos Muniz has saved all 3 wins for the Bombers.
Rookie League, Kingsport, got underway Monday evening defeating Johnson City 11-1 13-3. Marcos Cabral is 4-9 with 4 runs scored, a homerun and 2 RBI. Jeff Brewer picked up a win striking out 5 in 5 innings allowing just one run, a homerun, on 4 hits in his first start.
UPCOMING PROMOTIONS
The Tides return to Harbor Park on Thursday for a nine-game home stand.
Thursday, June 24th the first 5,000 fans will receive a coupon good for a FREE Chick-Fil-A Chicken Sandwich.
Friday, June 25th, the first 5,000 fans will receive a Tides Cap compliments of Coca-Cola and WAVY TV-10.
Saturday, June 26th is Boy Scout Night sponsored by McDonalds. Everyone's favorite character Birdzerk will also make an appearance sponsored by WHRO!
Sunday, June 27th the first 5,000 fans will receive a FREE 9"x12" photo of Tides catcher, John Pachot courtesy of The Grate Steak, Power Satellite and Oldies 92.9. There will also be the Coastal Plains Showcase with a game between the Peninsula Pilots and the Outer Banks Dare Devils following the Tides game.
Monday, June 28th is All Faith Night and the first 2,000 fans ages 14 & under will receive a Tides bat compliments of T.U.C.P. and WVEC -13.
Tuesday, June 29th the first 5,000 fans will receive a Sonic Coupon.
Wednesday, June 30th is a Business Person Special with a special start time of 12:15 PM.
Thursday, July 1st will feature fireworks after the game sponsored by the Norfolk Admirals!
Friday, July 2 will feature fireworks after the game sponsored by Ocean Breeze Waterpark!
After a short weekend break in Richmond, the Tides return home to face the Braves for two more games on the 6th and 7th. The game on the 7th will feature Myron Noodleman and the first 2,000 kids 17 and under will get a John Stearns bobble head doll courtesy of Tradestaff and The Virginian-Pilot.
DATE GATES OPEN GAME TIME OPPONENT
Thursday, June 24 6:00 PM 7:15 PM Scranton/Wilkes-Barre
Friday, June 25 6:00 PM 7:15 PM Scranton/Wilkes-Barre
Saturday, June 26 6:00 PM 7:15 PM Scranton/Wilkes-Barre
Sunday, June 27 12:00 PM 1:15 PM Scranton/Wilkes-Barre
Monday, June 28 6:00 PM 7:15 PM Pawtucket
Tuesday, June 29 6:00 PM 7:15 PM Pawtucket
Wednesday, June 30 11:00 AM 12:15 PM Pawtucket
Thursday, July 1 6:00 PM 7:15 PM Pawtucket
Friday, July 2 6:00 PM 7:15 PM Richmond
Tuesday, July 6 6:00 PM 7:15 PM Richmond
Wednesday, July 7 6:00 PM 7:15 PM Richmond
International League Stories from June 23, 2004
- Emergency Services Appreciation Night set for July 6 - Louisville Bats
- Outfielder Sanders returns to Syracuse - Syracuse Mets
- Red Barons place four on All-Star team - Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees
- Indians Prepare for eight-game homestand - Indianapolis Indians
- Two Knights Named to IL All-Star Team - Charlotte Knights
- Lynx Catcher Geronimo Gil Named To IL All-Star Team - Ottawa Lynx
- Sluggers highlight players chosen for 2004 Triple-A All-Star Game - IL1
- Young, Peralta Named as IL All-Stars - Buffalo Bisons
- Tides update - Norfolk Tides
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