Classifieds

As the season winds down, many of the players pack up as much as they can before returning home for the offseason. One thing catcher Steve Holm is hoping to leave behind is his car. He has a 1997 Nissan Pathfinder with 165,000 miles and is asking $4,999 or best offer.

Last chance

Sorry it's been a while -- I was out of town. Now that I am back, let's discuss the start of the final home stand of the season.

What is amazing -- record aside -- is how fast the season has gone by. With the all-star game more than halfway into the season, the "second half" flies by rapidly.

Anyhow, back to business...there's a double header Tuesday and five good games should be expected. We all know the crowds have been less-than-desirable, but here's hoping that baseball fans come out in full force this week to cheer on the Defenders.

Look, you may not like how they've played, but they have played hard so let them know you appreciate them and the value of minor league baseball.

Hardest time

“By far, not even close. Part of it is because I feel like I’m not only worrying about making sure that I’m prepared and that the team’s prepared, I’m worried about individual psyches, where they’re at and where they’re going. That’s a non-stop job.”

-- Manager Shane Turner on the nine-game losing streak being the toughest experience as a player or manager.

Holm on DL

Catcher Steve Holm was placed on the disabled after a mishap in the team’s indoor batting cage Tuesday. While playing catch with Dayton Buller, Holm jumped to make a catch and rolled his ankle when he landed. Replacing Holm on the roster is Todd Jennings, who has spent parts of the last two seasons with the Defenders. Jennings and Buller will share the catching duties.

Fun comment

from Trenton's Noah Hall:

"No, I think with hitters, there are just teams that sometimes you're just comfortable against them for one reason or another. Although like (Joe) Bateman, I hate facing that guy, you know? That's a guy that's really tough for me. He's just tough. It's not always just the team, but some teams, for some reason or another, you're just more confident and you happen to get more hits. That's all it is."

ARGH!!!!

Another game blown in the ninth inning. It gets pretty frustrating even when there are two weeks plus left to the season.

RIP Phil Rizzuto

I never got to see him play. That is, outside of video highlights from his World Series games. But I am part of the last generation to experience "The Scooter" in the broadcast booth.

My childhood is filled with memories of watching Rizzuto and Bill White discussing cannoli and calling people Huckleberry in between pitches.

His passing is such a great loss. It's safe to say we'll miss Phil.

Here's one last "Holy Cow" just for you!

Re: Sunday's article

I want clear something up before I say anything else: the team is not leaving after this season. The reality is they are here at least through next season and very likely in 2009 (possibly as a lame duck).

That said, I couldn't agree more with the responses posted below. There are multiple parties to blame for what's happening here. The only factor which is exempt of blame is that the market size is small. But, it was big enough when it was a Yankees affiliate. Did the novelty wear off? I'm beginning to believe so.

Those who decided to put the stadium in a business park should be ashamed of themselves for the short-sighted thinking and for essentially condemning the team to Siberia.

Not having local ownership has hurt the team, but I'm not convinced that it has been that big of a factor.

What bothers me the most is that the staff in place this year has done a fantastic job and those who have decided to turn away from the team for whatever reason are missing out on a fun experience irregardless of what happens on the field.

As for on the field, I am sick and tired of hearing people tell me that the Defenders front office (i.e. GM Charlie Dowd) doesn't put good enough players on the field. HELLO!!!! Dowd and the Defenders aren't responsible for providing players. That distinction belongs to the San Francisco Giants, who have done about as poor of a job as possible.

The best player in recent memory skips Norwich entirely, there are no every day position players on the big league team and don't provide the attractive rehab assignments. Look, the best position player the Giants have had here is John Bowker and no one knew what we were in store this year until two months had passed.

The hope here is that things somehow turn around before its too late.

Check out Sunday's Bulletin

I provide an analysis of what the future may hold for the Connecticut Defenders. Hopefully it will spark debate, conversation and maybe even action towards keeping the team in place.

Just when ou thought it was safe

The Defenders blow a late-inning lead and lose tto Erie Saturday night. The usually reliable bullpen faltered as Kelvin Pichardo and Billy Sadler gave up home runs in the bottom of the eighth. The Defenders scored once in the ninth -- on a Tyler Von Schell homer -- to get within a run, but that was all they could do.

Nice win

Wednesday's win is exactly the kind of win the Defenders would have usually let slip away. They took an early lead, allowed Akron to tie the game, but instead of faltering in extras, they hung in there to pull out the win on Simon Klink's home run.

Maybe even more impressive is that it was at Akron, a place the Defenders had only won once since changing affiliations.

Back at it

Sorry I was gone for a few days so there weren't any updates. The Defenders, however, are back on the road after a solid series with Erie. The D-Men are out in Akron, Ohio to take on the Aeros, who showed last week that they are a good team and don't need to be flashy, either.

If the Defenders learned anything they can take into this set it is that the team cannot afford to give away games with mistakes. Connecticut can't allow letting tr=he routine plays slide so Akron can extend an inning. There seemed to be one inning in each game that ultimately doomed them. If the Defenders cab avoid this again, they may win a game or three.

Ouch

That's the feeling watching this game. The Defenders looked lifeless as the Aeros scored five runs in the fifth inning.

Manager Shane Turner wants to see his team rise above challenges on the field but the message seems to have fallen on deaf ears. Let's give Akron starter Chuck Lofgren cedit, but the Defenders have just looked bad tonight.

At one point, I felt as if I went back in time to April or May before realizing it was never this warm during those months.