Lots of moves

Let's start with congratulations to Brian Horwitz. The right fielder has been called up to Triple-A Fresno.

Replacing Horwitz is second baseman Eugenio Velez. Velez was expected to start the year in Norwich, but a spring colission with Nate Schierholtz led to Velez needing time to recover from his injuries and landed him in extended spring training.

Velez put up some gaudy numbers in Augusta last year: .315 avg., 145 hits, 29 2B, 20 3B, 14 HR, 90 RBI and 64 SB.

Velez is starting today with Jake Wald at third. It will be interesting to see how playing time is divided between Wald and Simon Klink. I expect another move to resolve this logjam.

The other move of note, is if you noticed Alex Hinshaw started Saturday's 2-1 loss to the Rock Cats. He is replacing Ben Cox in the rotation. Cox is going to the bullpen, a place he had spent his entire career before 2007.

Where's Waldo?

Second baseman Jake Wald hurt his neck in an as-of-yet known injury during Wednesday game against Binghamton. He left the game in the fifth inning. Wald is also not in the lineup today. He has been replaced by Trey Webb, who is batting eighth.

YAWN!!!

This is early! It is about 70 minutes until the first pitch and sleep is on the brain. Those pesky 10:35 a.m. starts will do that to you. My mind doesn't kick in until 3-ish on most days. I guess that its baseball is what makes this an allowbale act.

What's fun is the clatter of the kids making their way into the stadium for D.A.R.E. and Education Day. The great thing about kids at baseball games is they create a buzz, an excitement that no one else -- except for maybe Roger Clemens -- can bring to the park.

Anyway, the hope here is that it doesn't rain so the kids can enjoy some baseball.

Hot dog gate

It's over, folks.

I've had more people ask me about the hot dog incident from last night more than I've had people say hi. I was even brought to the stand in an attempt to make the situation better.

Look, the Defenders are trying hard to make customers happy, which they should and they do. Honestly, the great hot dog and kraut drought of 2007 lasted an inning and shouldn't dissuade anyone from getting a dog or anything else.

Bigger than baseball

Anyone who's spent five minutes talking to me knows there are few things I hold in higher regard than baseball. Today I want to talk about something far greater than the game.

A few hours before the game, the Defenders held a press conference to announce that on May 26th all but $2 from each ticket sold will go to help the family of Tyler Dyer, the 14-year-old freshman baseball player from Waterford High School. Dyer fractured his neck in three places in a boating accident last month.

The only member of the media who attended, I sat and listened to the team's announcement as well as comments from some of Dyer's family.

Usually I can remain unaffected by whatever I am covering (save for my first assignment at Yankee Stadium), but when I went to speak with Dyer's grandfather and all he could do was cry, I wished I could do more than simply say I'm sorry or that things will get better.

This is where I can do something, using the platform my blog affords me. I'm asking everyone who reads this to make a donation to the Cactus Jack Foundation.

Simply think if it was your child, your nephew or grandson or neighbor who was in the hospital bed instead of Tyler. Few of us as wealthy enough to not need a helping hand. I'm not asking you to fork over a paycheck or an amount to keep you from paying the bills.

Do something that makes a difference.

Sometimes I want to eat poorly

After the fourth inning, I decided to try one of the promotional $1 hot dogs that the Defenders have every Monday. I walk up to the stand and am informed that there's a wait on hot dogs, presumably because all 20 people here are hogging the dogs. I was also told that there is no more kraut. How do you run out of kraut with no people in the stands?

Miscue

Today's game got off on the wrong foot. After announcing the National Anthem, there was a long pause and God Bless America was played instead because of a technical error. It was fixed and the anthem was re-introduced before being played.


On another note, another BEAUTIFUL day to be at the ballpark. Even though it is Mother's Day (Hi, Mom!), nothing says quality time like a baseball game. Of course, I am partial.

Attendance

To follow up on my two comments about the crowd at Dodd Stadium, the official figure is 3,079. For three consecutive days the Defenders have drawn more than their season average and more than any other game this season before Thursday.

Possible moves

With the Giants promoting Dan Ortmeier and Fres Lewis from Triple-A Fresno, there seems the Grizzlies might need some outfield help from the Defenders, but that doesn't appear the case.

Fresno still has Clay Timpner and Nate Schierholtz, and are using Justin Leone and Chad Santos (both infielders) in the outfield. So don't expect any Defenders to be moving up the ranks as a result of Ortmeier and Lewis getting the call to San Francisco.

No repeat of Friday

After over 5,300 fans came into Dodd Stadium Friday night, my guess is there is no more than 2,000 here Saturday. That's pretty sad. People, wake up or when you finally decide you want to attend a game, the Defenders are no longer in town.

EME's return and more

Eddy Martinez Esteve, who hasn't played in nearly a week due to a strained hamstring, is in today's starting lineup and in left field.

There have also been some concerns as to any move made to accomodate the adition of pitcher Joe Bateman. Jeff Petersen has technically been sent to Salem-Keizer, although he will be back with the Defenders Monday.

EME

The word on EME is that he tweaked his hamstring but is not expected to go on the DL. He took batting practice today and may be a case of any day now.

No news

Its been a few days, but I have not been able to get word of what EME's condition is. With the team returning home, I will hopefully have some sort of answer tomorrow.

Begg's delight

Chris Begg, the Connecticut Defenders' top pitcher, was recalled to Triple-A Fresno following Thursday's game. The promotion was confirmed by Fresno Grizzlies media relations director, Ralph Rendon. Begg, who is 2-0 with a 2.21 ERA for the Defenders, has hurled 21 consecutive scoreless innings.
Begg's presence in Fresno became necessary as the Giants are expected to recall top prospect Tim Lincecum to replace Russ Ortiz, who is on the 15-day disabled list because of an inflamed nerve in his right elbow.
After a solid 2006 campaign with the Defenders, Begg had anticipated starting the season in Triple-A. Ironically, it was the Giants' signing of Ortiz and Lincecum's emergence that kept Begg with the Defenders.
"Its's tough coming back here, I'm not going to lie," Begg said prior to the season. "It's hard, but I'm going to take the mound and put up numbers and try to achieve the goal of making it to the big leagues."
Begg is scheduled to start tonight against Las Vegas.

Requena sent down

After tonight's game against Altoona, outfielder Alex Requena was sent to Single-A San Jose. The move was made to allow the Defenders to activate infielder Trey Webb.

New face

Many Defenders fans have heard the name, but tonight they will see him take the field for the first time in 2007.

Mark Minicozzi will start tonight at short and bat second in the lineup.

Also worth noting is that with this series against Altoona, it will mark the first time Connecticut's pitchers will bat as this is a series between two National League affiliates.

Getting back to it

It's been way, way, way too long since I've been able to see the Defenders and Tuesday should end that dry spell. Being out of town for a wedding over the weekend cost me the Rock Cats series. I always enjoy when the Defenders face their in-state rivals. There seems to be a little more edge to the games.

Speaking of dry spells, that's what opposing lineups are going through against Chris Begg. Begg was less than impressive in his first start, but he has been solid since.

While he has been as good as expected, the lineup continues to struggle, baffle, frustrate and annoy. There is potential but who knows what it is going to take for that potential to rise up. My thing is this: this isn't a power lineup, so why can't they string singles/doubles/walks together?

For starters, these guys strike out A LOT. When you swing at bad pitches, you cut down on possible walks and good pitches that could be put into play.

The upcoming series with Altoona should be entertaining. A Pittsburgh affiliate, there are some good prospects on the Curve that you don't want to miss. Andrew McCutcheon and Neil Walker are the two most prominent. Walker was a catcher -- he hit his first AA homer at Dodd last year -- and is now a third baseman.

Let's hope for some decent crowds and a trio of Connecticut wins.

Something about Trenton

Its their pitching staff. That's the only explaination why the Defenders have barely mustered runs against them this.

You can point to inept efforts against New Hampshire and to a lesser extent New Britain, but when you look at the numbers, the Defenders simply can't touch the titans' pitchers.

There have been signs of life for the Defenders' lineup. Carlos Sosa has shown a lot of signs of potential thump to the offense. He hit for average and decent power a year ago, and while Dodd Stadium may prohibit him from exploding, he should do fine in time. Manager Dave Machemer told me that its been high on his to-do list to give Sosa as much of an opportunity to show what he can do as possible.

In eight games, he's hitting .296. He's only driven in two runs, which is teh same number of times he's drawn a walk. He's struck out six timers. Sosa is going to have to learn better plate discipline if he wanst to advance onto Triple-A or the Majors.

Ringing the bell

During a pitching change at New Britain Stadium, the hillarious video clip from Saturday Night Live where the cast does its version of "Behind the Music" with Blue Oyster Cult was aired on the big screen.

For those not familiar with the clip, it is where Will Ferrell is playing the cowbell.

It has nothing to do with baseball, but it makes me laugh.

Curious

The Rock Cats usually draw very well. Throw in the beautiful weather today after what felt like a solid week of rain, there are less people here approx. 30 minutes before the first pitch than were at either of the two games at Dodd Stadium yesterday.

BAsed on what I see in the stands, my guess is 200 people.