HOF thoughts

The election of Rickey Henderson into the baseball Hall of Fame was a no-brainer. He is the all-time leader in steals and runs and with his mix of speed and power he changed the way the game he played in materialized.

I enjoyed seeing Henderson play in New York with the Yankees and few things were as exciting as seeing him stand on first base. It was always a guessing game of when he would run -- not if -- and if he;d steal one base or two.

Why he received only 94 percent of the vote makes no sense. I don't believe, like some writers do, that only a very select few deserve a first-ballot induction. If the guy's a Hall of Famer, he's a Hall of Famer. Just vote him in. The player's numbers don't change. Maybe how they stack up historically changces, but that would take most of a player's 15 years of eligibility and something like a steroid scandal to do so.

Speaking of 15 years of eligibility, Jim Rice needed every one to get in.

To be frank, I'm not totally sold on him. I also can't make a strong enough argument against him. I never saw him in his prime, just his last few years. The things I heard were, "You don't want to face Jim Rice with runners on base" or "Jim Rice has always hurt the (insert team)." That should really tell you something.

He was feared and he produced. Are there guys with better numbers? Yes. And almost every one is Cooperstown.

Good for Rice, and I think it's good for baseball. It took a while, but the voters got it right eventually.

Now if they could only get Andre Dawson elected.

Next year's ballot includes Barry Larkin (not getting in), Roberto Alomar (eventually will get in), Fred McGriff (not getting in) and Edgar Martinez (eventually will get in as the first-ever DH in the Hall).

More on Decker

New Defenders manager Steve Decker and I had a good chat tonight. I came away with an overwhelmingly positive reaction to what he had to say. Some, Defenders fans, may not sit well. Some of it will excite you.

The highlights:

*Decker said his main priority is player development. If the team happens to win, that's even better.

*He said all of his teams have played the game the right way. They play hard and with respect.

*He's tired of the excuses. He said whether it was from instructional league or elsewhere, all he heard from players was how they couldn't hit at Dodd Stadium. Not so, the new manager said. Decker wants the players to use Dodd as a weapon, and not a liability.

*Don't expect big power numbers out of the lineup, but do expect -- if he can get the guys he wants to do this -- a very fast, very aggressive team on the bases.

*This is a very confident man with a track record of winning in the minors. He knows this will be tough, but he thinks that most of the players he gets will have played for him in either Salem-Keizer or San Jose, so they already know what he expects. If they can make the adjustment to Double-A, which he considered the proving ground, then there might be winning baseball in Norwich.

New staff

In what I consider as big of a statement on how valuable player development is with the Defenders, the San Francisco Giants named their up-and-coming Single-A manager Steve Decker the team's new skipper.

The Giants cleaned house -- everyone is gone, including Steamer, Bob Stanley.

I've been trying to talk with Decker and should have something later today.

The new staff:
Pitching coach Ross Grimsley
Hitting coach Garey Ingram
Trainer Eric OPrtega.

Grimsley comes from the Giants' low-A team in Augusta, Ingram from the Midwest League's Great Lakes squad, and Ortega from Augusta.

Two Defenders taken in Rule 5 draft

The Oakland A's selected Ben Copeland in the major league phase of the Rule 5 draft. What that means is Copeland must spend all of next season on the A's major league roster or he will be sent back to the Giants organization.

Kyle Haines was taken by the Phillies' Triple-A affiliate, Lehigh Valley. He must spend all of next season in Triple-A or his rights revert back to the Giants.

Haines will have no worries staying in Triple-A. Copeland is going to be a fourth or fifth outfielder with Oakland. His speed is why he will likely stick. This is bad news for East Lyme's Todd Donovan, who is on the A;s Double-A team. It's just another OF to climb over.

Q&A

It's November so it's a good time for y'all to drop by with some questions and I'll give some answers.

Greg asked if Steve Decker would be the Defenders' new skipper next year replacing Bien Figueroa, whose future is uncertain.

I'll tell you what I know. I asked a team official this summer about Decker and was told there was no way the Giants would bring Decker to a place they hate. Another person said Decker would be the right guy at the right time with the expectations low for the Defenders. He's be expected to do more molding than winning.

This and that

Hondo...great seeing you at the Defenders' Beer Fest Saturday. For those of you who were there, it was a nice event that seemed to make a positive impression on those in the community that attended.

To answer Greg's questions from a previous post..

The EL will help a lot to push the Defenders out. Maybe the politically correct term is to pressure Lou DiBella to sell the team to a Richmond-area owner.

As for what happens to Dodd Stadium? Probably nothing until the city determines that its better off torn down so another business can go there. That is, of course, providing the city's leaders aren't delusional and think another team is coming in (maybe...maybe an indy league team, which would be really bad).

The sad saga

The truth is that neither the Reds nor Giants wanted to be here.

A few weeks ago, a Giants official gave me the read-between-the lines message of he being too busy dealing with San Francisco media, so I should not call him and stick to getting my quotes/info from the Defenders. Call it creating distance, call it confidence that they'd be elsewhere, but the Giants were dead set against coming back here.

Defenders GM Charlie Dowd told me he felt his team was never in a position of leverage, something Carolina Mudcats GM Joe Kremer felt his team had going for him. He said that both teams "wanted" to be in Carolina. This is why the whole process took so long -- Carolina was making sure it made the choice it wanted. In essence, the Defenders had to wait until a decision was made for them, and even after that happened, they didn't know which way Carolina had decided to go until hours after it announced it had called a press conference.

Before anyone thinks about doing damage to themselves over the apparent lack of love, the Marlins wanted to be here, but never imagined the Dodgers would leave Jacksonville, Fla. That simple move changed everything. The Dodgers went to Chattanooga, the Marlins left Carolina, the Dodgers' move forced out the Reds, who as we know, decided upon Carolina.

What made Carolina so attractive?
For the Giants, it's closer to Augusta and not Norwich.
For the Reds, its the Southern League and they had been in Chattanooga 21 years, being familiar means something. Plus, both teams wanted the weather and away from the uncertainty here.

Speaking of that, the rumors are getting stronger that the team will be sold within the next year and moved to Richmond, Va. Is that a done deal? No. Would I bet against it? No.

What can be done? First people need to go to Defenders games. If ownership and the Eastern League feel this team can't grow and sustain that growth -- I'm not talking the nice bumps the last two years brought, but double that immediately -- then it's as close to a foregone conclusion. I've asked Lou DiBella several times in the past about selling the team. He's never said it wasn't an option, but he's also said it's not an option he wants to consider.

Getting back to the matter at hand, the Mudcats GM told me both teams wanted to be there. Charlie Dowd said that the Giants and Defenders never expressed a "definitive" desire to go separate ways. That's because both knew they are the red-headed stepchildren in this bi-annual dance. No one wanted the Giants and no one available wanted Norwich.

All along, the Giants were trying to, as a common phrase in politics these days goes, put lipstick on a pig in its presentation to Carolina. Carolina felt the Giants would do well there. Just not as well as the Reds. Once the Reds made their call, the final pieces fell into place.

At that point, neither had a choice.

Staying Giants

Two more years. The Defenders were the runner-up as both the Giants and Reds wanted to move to Carolina. More later.

PDC news

According to the Yankees, the agreement between New York and Trenton was agreed upon weeks ago, but neither side was in a rush to make an announcement.

As for the Defenders, expect word by Wednesday. My guess is Giants.

What the future holds

It's either the Giants or the Reds. Or, well....I don't want to say the other optiion, which is a shot in the dark at best. A decision is expected by the end of next week, and I get a feeling that it will be the Reds here next season. But I also have the feeling after talking to some of the parties involved that comfort, for lack of better word, with the Giants may win out. I suspect either team will sign for two years (the Giants because they want out of Norwich and the Reds to get a feel for the place).

Check out Sunday's Bulletin where I will have more on the situation.

Eastern League Baseball Writers Association All-Star Team

With today the final day of the regular season, I bring you the ELBWA's year-end All-Star squad, as voted on by each team's beat writers and radio broadcasters. The utility player spot is awarded to the position player with the most votes and not receive the selection at his position.

Catcher: LOU MARSON, Reading

First baseman: RYAN ROBERSON, Erie

Second baseman: SCOTT CAMPBELL, New Hampshire

Third baseman: WES HODGES, Akron

Shortstop: JASON DONALD, Reading (17)

Outfielders: LOU MONTANEZ, Bowie; WILKIN RAMIREZ, Erie; NOLAN REIMOLD, Bowie

Utility player: DAN MURPHY, Binghamton

Starting pitchers: BRAD BERGESEN, Bowie

Relief pitcher: EDDIE KUNZ, Binghamton (8)

PLAYER OF THE YEAR: LOU MONTANEZ, Bowie (unanimous).

MANAGER OF THE YEAR: BRAD KOMMINSK, Bowie

Rumor, they say, rumor

This is what Eastern league President Joe McEacharn had to say about the report on BallparkDigest.com:

“To the best of my knowledge…no person, team, club, league official or otherwise has been granted any permission to explore any move of any club to Richmond,” McEacharn said. “There have been no discussions on any level involving any Eastern League club.

“Nobody is talking to Richmond about doing anything.”

McEacharn also had strong words for the website:

Let me summarize this as concise as possible. First, don’t believe what you read on BallparkDigest. It is nothing but a site created to report on various reports. There is no level accuracy or inside information in many of the stories; it’s all speculation."

Defenders GM Charlie Dowd also shot down the report, saying he and owner Lou DiBella have discussed the speculation.

“Our organization has not spoken to any official in either Richmond or Bowie,” Dowd said.

Moving forward

Now that there have been consecutive seasons with improved attendance combined with what should be a more favorable schedule next year, on paper the Defenders should have a more successful 2009 off the field.

Reading quotes from Lou DiBella in today's Bulletin, I'm not sure how sold the owner is on the team. Maybe I'm reading into things too much, especially since I haven't spoken to him recently, but he seems indifferent on affiliation and soured on ownership.

I know Lou would love to turn a hefty profit at Dodd, but it's not going to happen. Three hundred thousand fans a year won't happen. I do think 215,000 can. That wouldn't be worst or second worst in the Eastern League.

Could we see new ownership? It's possible. Could we see a new affiliation? I think it's all but done.

What I can tell you is Defenders fans have every reason to be excited about next season if for no other reason than the increased support. Hopefully it's a wave that continues to rise.

On a PDC note, look for the Yankees and Trenton to announce their extension sometime in the next two weeks.

2,989

That's how many fans are needed at Sunday's game for the Defenders to reach 200,000 fans this season.

Considering it's the home finale, I think it can be done.

Last time

Alas, that day I've not looked forward to has come: My final Defenders game. As I make the jump over to UConn football season, there will still be Defenders coverage from me and others over the next week-plus.

It didn't really hit me until I stepped into the clubhouse and said my goodbyes to the guys. Between the Giants and Norwich likely ending their relationship and my hope that these guys advance, the chances of ever seeing any of them again are slim to none.

The guys who have been here the last two years or more, especially Garrett Broshuis, Simon Klink, Justin Hedrick, Brooks McNiven and Dave McKae have been a pleasure to talk to and get to know. I'm just as honored to have gotten to work with Adam Witter, Kyle Haines, Joey Martinez, Olmo Rosario, Carlos Sosa, Nate Bump, Paul Oseguera (funny dude) and Antoan Richardson to name a few more.

Seasons continue to amaze me with how quickly they fly. It makes one appreciate the times when you stop to hear the crack of the bat or the pop of the glove.

While there's more to come, I just want to thank you, the reader and the baseball fan. I get to live out my second dream (short of playing) by spending my summer at the ball park and bringing you the happenings with the Connecticut Defenders.

Hmmm....

I had an interesting conversation today with a scout of a major league team interested in a few of the Connecticut Defenders.

The scout mentioned he had wanted to see Pablo Sandoval. He added he saw Sandoval a few years ago and was unimpressed. Having heard about the work Steve Decker did with Sandoval and the way the catcher had been hitting in recent years, Sandoval had garnered interest.

Also on the scout's radar: Joey Martinez, Daryl Maday and Ben Snyder.

Surprise, surprise

I was filling out the Defenders box score for Monday's paper when I saw a name that caused a double take: Eliezer Alfonzo. Is this the Giants' idea of making amends for railroading the team's season? If so, it sucks.

Nothing against Alfonzo, who I've had the pleasure of talking with a few times, but he isn't Pablo Sandoval or Ryan Rohlinger. BTW: Pablo is progressing nicely with an irregular spot on the bench.

On a positive, congratulations are in order for former Defender Travis Ishikawa. Travis hit his first major league dinger today to help Tim Lincecum and the Gianst best the Braves.

New GM in Trenton

Trenton will announce a new GM on Monday. Considering how bad things have been with the Defenders and his ties to the New York City area, I called Defenders GM Charlie Dowd to see if he was relocating. Relax, he told me that he's staying put.

On another note, after a few days of phone tag, Charlie gave me the impression he's none to pleased with last week's roster moves. He spoke with Giants Director of Player Personnel Bobby Evans, who I am sure couldn't have cared less.

Dowd's take was that Evans and the Giants are either clueless about what's happened here in the last month-plus or actually believe that Ryan Rohlinger and Pablo Sandoval are going to make a difference this season in San Francisco.

This latest move may have been the move that turns the Giants into an absolute worst-case option in October.

Season = over

Ryan Rohlinger and Pablo Sandoval were both promoted to the majors today, bringing to an end to a successful 1 1/2 month run for Connecticut. In that time the team went from lost to playoff contender. Now, the defenders must hope they can continue to good play for the next 2-plus weeks if it hopes to see the postseason.

Joining them is another former Defender, Travis Ishikawa.

Two other ex-Defenders, John Bowler and Steve Holm, were sent to Triple-A.

Crossing fingers

That is what the Connecticut Defenders are doing. We all know what happened the last time the team tied Binghamton for third place.

You have to give the Defenders a lot of credit. After the way the last road trip and the series with Trenton played out, no one would have been shocked if they laid down and died against Portland. Instead, they play their most inspired ball of the season and then Tuesday defeat the team with the EL"'s second-best record (Akron) on the road.

Since I had been away for the last few days, I will tell you that the general feeling in the clubhouse going into the Portland series and after the first win was one of confidence. It certainly appears to be the case.

With just over two weeks left in the season, there are three teams within two games for the final Northern Division playoff spot. Who gets it?

This is the breakdown of each team's remaining schedule.
PORTLAND:
2 vs. Altoona
3 vs. Harrisburg
3 at Altoona
3 at Harrisburg
5 vs New Britain, including a DH
4 vs. New Hampshire

BINGHAMTON:
2 vs. Reading
3 at Bowie
3 vs. New Hampshire
3 vs. Bowie
3 at New Hampshire
3 at New Britain

CONNECTICUT
2 at Akron
3 at Erie
3 vs. Akron
3 vs. Erie
4 at Reading
3 at Trenton

Looking just at the schedule, it's not looking so good for the local team. I'd say the one-two punch of a two-game lead and the schedule should be enough for Portland to hold on. That being said, how significant was the collapse on the recent road trip to Binghamton and New Hampshire. If my memory serves me correct, Connecticut lost three games in the standing. That's how close the Defenders may have come to the playoffs. At this late juncture, it's sad if the last 18 don't count as much as eight games played over a week ago.