a Norwich Navigators, Double A Eastern League affiliate of the San Francisco Giants, spots blog.

Sunday, September 18, 2005

Congrats! Doug Clark was called up..

Sept. 15 and has made his MLBB debut. Doug was with the gators in 03 & 04 and spent this year in Frenso.

Friday, September 09, 2005

Cap History 101, part 4 of an occasional series


one of my favs. This was a frebbie for buying a voucher six pack for the 2004 season. It celebates the 10 year anniversary of the Navs. Worn often; sharp looking cap.

Wednesday, September 07, 2005

Congrats Angel Chavez...first 2 MLBB hits


last night against the Dodgers! Angel was the starting SS for much of the 2004 season. Dan O. drew a walk in his second ever AB but Jermey takes the loss in extra innings.

Tuesday, September 06, 2005

2006 season is a day closer already....


as the 2005 edition closed out yesterday. I always try to get to the last home game; the same for Opening Day. It's bittersweet walking out of there after taking a hard last look around. Weather awaits: Indian summer of Sept. & Oct., the dark cold and snow of Nov., Dec. and Jan., the short month of Feb. and finally hints of spring in March with the countdown to a new season days away instead of months away. Holidays and other calendar events are ahead. The future has it's share of unknowns. What will be happening in the world and in your own life seven months from now?
The Navs winning yesterday and getting to the .500 mark for the first time whetted my interest even more. The weather is great today but there is no game up a Dodd. A lot of the guys from the past three seasons are with the big team so I'll watch the box scores and maybe catch a glimpse on TV from time to time. I found a B-Mets fan blog recently that I'll read. The team name will change, the colors will change, there will be new people in the front office and new hats, shirts etc. in the gift shop. There will be new players too with some guys from this year sprinkled in.
The challege is the fill the place. If it is not met, the team can move after 2009 season. A new marketing director and asst. GM are on board. The team needs to replace John Flemming who is leaving Friday. How will they do it? New Britain--same weather and a non-local MLBB team affiliate put 300,000 plus into their place this season. And that's with a reduced fireworks schedule and they charge for parking. It can be done.
The "Navigators" need to hit the ground running today in terms of promotion. There were signs of life in the last six weeks or so from the marketing end. Those efforts need redoubling in the off season. How? I have ideas and that's a post for later on.
I saw 43 games this year going 22-21. The last of 24 vouchers was used yesterday. Markdown Mondays, Big Y Sundays, Pep. Farm Tuesdays, Triple A buy one get ones, save the sub base day and occassional freebies filled the rest of the dates. I took a ton of pictures, met some new people, saw old friends, and watched a lot of baseball. Can't wait to next year.
Misc Fan notes: the Navs worn their rarely seen home cream colored uniforms Sunday. I had to work and missed it.
Posting Notes: this will continue; especially this month. And the cap series has life to it. I'll have thoughts when the new name is revealed and observations as the team website changes during the course of the offseason.

Monday, September 05, 2005

Dan Ortmeier got a hit in his first MLBB at bat ...



tonight against the Dodgers! And I was looking at the Frenso box and Eliezer Alfonzo got his first Triple A HR. Great day for the Navs.

Even Steven... 71-71..The Navs finish @ .500...


with a 5-0 victory over the FisherCats. A.J. knocks in 4 runs, two on a first inning HR and Brian Mazone pitches great in the season finale. Brian finished 11-8 with an ERA just over 3.00--super year. The Navs end up by themselves in third place, a .500 team after 142 games. With the name change coming up this was the last "Norwich Navigators" game. My first Navs game was the second ever game back in 1995, a cold Friday nite against Reading. Chris Curry, a personal fav, got the last Navigator hit. The new name will be revealed in October. The gift shop was at 75% off and thinning out with the exception of game uniforms that are $80-$100 each. The game was typical of a season ender for two teams out of it: fast--in other words swing at the first good pitch and let's get out of here. The pic is my new desktop background. I'll have more thoughts on the season Tues AM.

Saturday, September 03, 2005

Congrats Orty!!!!!!!!!!!!...............

Dan Ortmeier jumps straight to the big leagues today! Good guy and well deserved. Navs knocked out of the playoffs tonite losing 9-1 to the FisherCats. Mitch Walk lost it in his first apperance with the team this year, but the bullpen gave up six to put it out of reach. The roster on line got cleaned up.

Friday, September 02, 2005

Another game, another shutout...


as Navigator pitchers notch their third shutout in a row over the FisherCats and keep their slim playoff chances alive. Anthony Moreno goes six innings (his best outing of the year), Billy Salder goes two and Alfredo Simon gets the save. Moreno looked much improved over his last appearance over N.H. Fred Lewis lead off with a first inning double and came around on Dan O.'s single for the only run they needed.
Misc Fan notes: The Red Cross effort continues. The Norwich Bulletin reported that last night's Red Cross contributions were over $1500, Smallish crowd for the last Fireworks Friday of the year--around 3000. Had to park in the aux. parking lot for the first time this year. Another promotion on the fly was announced for Sunday's game: present a gas reciept showing you paid $3.00 a gallon or more for gas and you get a grandstand ticket for $3. Gift shop blowout: most hats are now $5 each.

Thursday, September 01, 2005

Welcome to Thunderdome (aka Dodd Stadium)..


as the Navs pound Trenton into the ground 13-0. Pat Misch went 7 innings and Scott Chaission pitched the last two as the Thunder managed only 4 hits. The Navigators bats were the big story--everyone got at least a hit;, seven players with rbi's and two LONG HR's--a solo shot by Carlos V. and the other a 3 run bomb halfway up the batters eye in dead center by Chris Curry who went 4-5 on the game. I'm sure I've seen home runs hit the batters eye before but just can't remember them. It was a shot. Thunder left fielder Micheal Coleman (ex-Yankee/Red Sox) turned every ball hit out to him an adventure. He misplayed at least three balls hit to him and was lifted mid game.
Misc. Fan notes: The Red Cross/Navigators had a table set up for storm relief. $10 got you 4 tickets to Monday's game and 4 tee shirts. Great deal and worthy cause. Free ticket for me yet again! Vouchers left on the ticket box window ledge for the taking so I scopped one up and used it for the game ticket. Saved $5 by doing this and that $5.00 is now worth a gallon and half of gas these days. I still have my last two paid vouchers left; one for Friday and one for Monday. No news on the name change. Gift store at 50% off and is beginning to thin out some. Ballpark superstition--serious fans have them and I'm no exception. I like to wander for section to section during the course of the game and when the Navs score I'll sit in that seat until the other team scores or the Navs don't score. Tonight the Navs got runs in the first five inning and I was stuck in section 12 most of the game. Sent the new asst. GM a welcome aboard e-mail last night and got a thank you reply today. Gas at the 7-11 at the bottom of the hill is $2.99--cheapest I saw today and yes I topped off.
Roster moves: Congrats to Eliezer Alfonzo who goes up to Triple A and welcome back pitcher Mitch Walk.