May 12 2006 11:35 AM
Took in my first Long Island Ducks game of 2006 last night. A little damp and chilly, but a good time. Arrived in the second inning with the Ducks already down 2. Down 5-2 in the sixth, the Ducks sent eight men to the plate, knocking Atlantic City Surf starter Mark Persails (who walked five and threw three wild pitches in the game) out and tying the game on a Bucky Jacobsen RBI double.
In the bottom of the tenth, Mel Stocker drew a leadoff walk and went to second on a balk. Jacobsen, who had been on base all five times, fouled out, then former MFY Erick Almonte popped out. Left fielder Kevin Haverbusch then blooped a single juuuuust behind the second base bag, easily scoring Stocker and giving the Ducks their fourth straight win.
Schaefer Points:
Runion 1.5
Erdos 1.5
Crudale 1
Haverbusch 1
Jacobsen 2
Pena 1
Stocker 1
Schrager 1
Ducks to watch in '06:
Todd Erdos, Closer -- 32 years old, but still throws hard and could probably provide capable short relief somewhere. Throws hard, but didn't appear to have a ton of movement last night. Struck out the side in the ninth. The Atlantic League Relief Pitcher of the Year in 2005, leading the league with 32 saves.
(L) Pat Mahomes, pitcher; (R) Henry Rodriguez, OF/DH -- Probably the two "biggest names" on the roster this year. Mahomes you all know as the former Met; Rodriguez averaged 27 home runs a year in the majors between 1996-2000. He also won the Atlantic League batting title in '05, finishing second in OBP and SLG. He also hit 27 homers in 348 AB. Don't know that any major league team needs a 36-year-old middle reliever or a 37-year-old fifth outfielder and pinch hitter, but I'd rather have H-Rod on the Mets' bench than Jose Freaking Valentin.
Bucky Jacobsen, 1B -- The 30-year old enjoyed his finest season in 2004, batting .312 with 26 home runs and 86 RBI in 81 games for Tacoma (AAA, Mariners) before being called up to Seattle after the All-Star break. Jacobsen hit .275 with nine home runs in 160 at bats with the Mariners during the season’s second half. The veteran of 824 minor league game owns a career .285 batting average with 158 home runs, 177 doubles, 574 RBI and a .520 slugging percentage.
Other than that, a lot of former major leaguers on the roster: Pat Ahearne, last night's starter, pitched for the Tigers in 1995; righty Ryan Jensen went 13-8 for the Giants in 2002; lefty Andrew Lorraine pitched for six major league teams, throwing a CG shutout for the Cubs in 1999; righty Mike Crudale, who picked up the W with a scoreless tenth inning last night, pitched for the Cardinals and Brewers in 02-03; second baseman Carlos Hernandez played for Houston and Seattle; third baseman Erick Almonte had a cup with the MFYs; leadoff hitter and centerfielder Elvis Pena played in 25 games with the Rockies and Brewers.
