Bears Memorial Day Weekend Pitching Rotation Set
Hillsborough, NJ native Eric Eden will start Sunday's game against the New Jersey Jackals. Credit: Phil Hoops
The Newark Bears have finalized their pitching rotation through the 2011 Memorial Day weekend. Here is how the first week of the season shapes out for the Brick City ball club:
Thursday: Jesse Estrada, the senior member of Newark's pitching staff, takes the ball for the Bears on Opening Day tomorrow morning against the Rockland Boulders. Former Los Angeles Dodgers prospect Bobby Blevins will take the ball for Rockland.
Friday: Jacob Wild, who was a member of the Seattle Mariners organization for much of his career, will start for Newark on Friday's matinee game and will oppose Rockland Boulders starting pitcher Rodger Lincoln.
Saturday: Ryan Lobban, who the team just acquired earlier in the week from the New Jersey Jackals, will make his Bears debut against former Philadelphia Phillies farmhand, Jonathan Velasquez, who will start for the Boulders.
Sunday: Left-hander Eric Eden will wrap up the Memorial Day weekend by making an 11:00 a.m. start against the New Jersey Jackals in Game 1 of the Essex County Executive's Cup. So far the Jackals have yet to name a starter for that game.
Roster Cuts: The Bears have finalized their 2011 Opening Day roster by cutting catchers Matt Klimas and Patrick Reardon; as well as infielder and TCNJ alumni Jeff Toth. In addition, veteran infielder Ramon Nivar was placed on the inactive list.
Bears Trade For Jackals Starter
Credit: Newark Bears
The Newark Bears completed their first trade ever with their friendly local rivals, the New Jersey Jackals, earlier in the week when the Bears acquired starting pitcher Ryan Lobban in exchange for a player to be named later. Lobbon has shown potential to be an above-average pitcher in the Can-Am League.
In 2008 as a member of the Worcester Tornadoes, Lobban went 5-1 with a 3.11 ERA as a reliever. The following season in Worcester, Lobban converted to a starter and pitched quite well going 10-7 with a 3.56 ERA. He also struck out 74 batters in 121.1 innings pitched. Last season with the Jackals he regressed a bit and his ERA rose considerably to 5.56 in 18 starts.
You can never have enough pitching so if Lobbon can slot in as a middle of the rotation starter and put up numbers similar to like he did in 2008 and 2009, the Bears should be in pretty good shape in the starting pitcher category. Ryan Lobban is scheduled to make his season debut this Saturday in the series finale against the Rockland Boulders.
Little Known Fact: Ryan Lobban, a native of Saddle River, was recognized nationally in 2003 by Sports Illustrated as an up-and-coming sports star. Check it out here.
Bears Roster Moves: In With the New — Out With The New?
The Newark Bears recently parted ways with three members of their roster. Among those who were cut is infielder John Sciullo, pitcher Dan Ramos-Dominko and outfielder Clint Reynolds. All three were slated to make their pro debuts with the Bears.
In addition none of these players, who were all signed in March, started in either of the team's exhibition games over the weekend against the New Jersey Jackals and Hank's Yanks. For more information on the recently released players check out this post over at Paul's Random Baseball Stuff.
In case you were wondering: The Bears were scheduled to play their final exhibition game of the year against the Jackals today at 1:00 p.m. but so far there is no word on the score from that game.
Video Highlight: Santiesteban Singles In Newark Exhibition Game
Danny Santiesteban signs an autograph for a lucky youngster at Sunday's game. Credit: Phil Hoops
Check out a video highlight from yesterday's Bears game against Hank's Yanks featuring Newark Outfielder Danny Santiesteban getting a base hit single:
Danny Santiesteban is no stranger to Newark, as he played with the team back in 2009 although back then he was primarily used as a pitcher. In 12 games, as a reliever, Santiesteban posted a 2-1 record with a 6.00 ERA.
Last season, he split time both in the outfielder and on the mound for the Worcester Tornadoes of the Can-Am League. As a hitter, Santiesteban showed some pop with 14 long balls and 42 RBI to compliment a .246 batting average. On the mound he posted a 4.08 ERA in 12 relief appearances. If he can find a way to make more contact I think Santiesteban could find himself slotted in the middle of the batting order.
Overall, it looks like Newark has found their jack-of-all trades in Danny Santiesteban, who could become quite valuable to the team down the stretch, especially if injuries arise. It also didn't hurt that he seemed to hit it off with the fans from right out of the box.
Exhibition Game Recap: Hank’s Yanks at Newark Bears
Burt Reynolds takes a big swing against Hank's Yanks. Credit: Phil Hoops
Gray skies loomed over the city of Newark all day long. The temperatures were rather chilly, yet there was still a baseball game to be played -- one that was for an especially good cause. Prior to the game, just about every Bears player on the roster (managers and coaching staff included) made themselves available for autographs around the stadium's main concourse.
Fans gathered on the infield to release over 450 balloons to commemorate the fight against Pancreatic cancer. On hand to participate was famed actor Danny Aiello and Essex County Executive Joseph DiVincenzo.
Now on to the in-game action. Pitcher Anthony Puta took the mound for the Bears and pitched a scoreless first inning against the Hank's Yanks batters. Early on the young Yankees hopefuls looked over-matched at the plate, but it didn't stay that way for long (more on that later). Centerfielder Kyle LaMotta led off the game for the Bears with a double. Former big leaguers Tim Raines Jr. and Ramon Nivar walked soon after to make things interesting.
First baseman Brian Nichols came up to the plate next and subsequently popped out. Danny Santiesteban proceeded to ground-out, however a run crossed the plate to get the Bears on the board. Third baseman Todd Gossage, the youngest son of the legendary Goose Gossage, stepped up to the plate and promptly walked. Designated hitter and Newark local Burt Reynolds really got things going with a Hollywood style two-run double to fire up the crowd.
Catcher Eric McGee kept the rally going with an RBI double of his own. Hank's Yanks would ultimately battle back with some offense of their own and came within one run of tying things up. However, the Bears managed to stay on top throughout the latter innings of the game and pickup the exhibition win by a score of 9-to-7.
Overall, it was enjoyable game although the Bears did let the game get a little bit too close for comfort at the end. Although I wasn't really a huge fan of Newark's new jerseys at first, I have to admit they look pretty cool in person. I was told by a staffer that the new Newark Bears jerseys would eventually go on-sale at the team store, which opens this Thursday for Opening Day.
That's all for now -- stay tuned later this week as we count down the days until Opening Day at Riverfront Stadium this Thursday against the Rockland Boulders.
Fans release over 450 ballons into the air prior to Sunday's Newark Bears game to support the fight against Pancreatic Cancer. Credit: Phil Hoops
The entire Bears roster signed autographs for fans prior to the start of the game. Credit: Phil Hoops
A rare Tim Raines autographed baseball. Credit: Phil Hoops
Paddy Matera returns to Newark for the 2011 season. Credit: Phil Hoops
Newark starter Anthony Pluta throws a warm-up pitch. Credit: Phil Hoops
The Hank's Yanks starter fires off a pitch. Credit: Phil Hoops
Danny Santiesteban dashes out of the box down the first base line. Credit: Phil Hoops
Jim Leyritz makes his first visit to the mound as Newark Bears pitching coach. Credit: Phil Hoops
Press Release: Jackals Defeat Bears In Rain-Delayed Exhibition Contest
Kyle LaMotta drove in one of the two Newark runs on Saturday night. Credit: Phil Hoops
Little Falls, NJ – Little Falls, NJ – The New Jersey Jackals scored the game-winning run in the bottom of the ninth inning on a throwing error by the Newark Bears’ catcher to edge their in-state rivals, 3-2 ,in an exhibition game on a damp Saturday night at Yogi Berra Stadium.
The Jackals utilized six pitchers, who combined to surrender just two unearned runs. Offensively for New Jersey, left fielder Ryan Royster went 2-for-4 with a triple.
Royster led off the ninth inning with a single. The next batter, right fielder Jeremy Slayden, was hit by a pitch. Shortly after, a wild pitch allowed both runners to advance and on the same play the Newark error allowed the winning run to score.
After a one hour, 15 minute rain delay, Jackals’ starter James Leverton retired the Newark side on six pitches in the top of the first innings. The Jackals used a trio of errors by Bears’ shortstop Paddy Matera to move two runners into scoring position in the bottom of the first, but Newark starter Jacob Wild struck out a pair of batters to escape the jam unscathed.
Newark opened the scoring in the top of the third inning with a pair of unearned runs against right-hander Phil Bartleski. After catcher Billy Alvino reached on a throwing error by Mike DeJesus to open the frame, RBI doubles by center fielder Kyle LaMotta and second baseman Ramon Nivar gave the bears a 2-0 lead.
The Jackals broke through with a run in the bottom of the sixth inning when Royster ripped an RBI triple past third base, plating first baseman Kris Sanchez, who had reached on a two-out walk.
New Jersey evened the score at 2-2 in the bottom of the eighth. Second baseman Argenis Reyes led off with a double down the right field line, advanced to third on a wild pitch, and scampered home when first baseman Mike Jones lifted a sacrifice fly to center.
R.I.P. Randy “Macho Man” Savage — The Baseball Slugger
"Macho Man" Randy Savage Credit: Old-Wizard.com
As I'm sure a lot people were, I was a huge fan of The "Macho Man" Randy Savage, the pro wrestler, growing up as a kid, especially during his time in WCW. Even when the umm...sport? reached new lows in the late 90s, Savage made it entertaining with his larger than live personality and his outlandish Slim Jim commercials. Unfortunately as many of you have probably already heard, Savage passed away this morning at the age of 58 after crashing his vehicle into a tree following a heart attack.
So where does this all fit in? In his past life, well before the squared circle, Savage (real name Randy Poffo) was a baseball player with dreams of making it to the big leagues. While he never quite got there, he sure did get close.
In 1971, at the ripe age of 18 Poffo made his debut as an outfielder with the Gulf Coast League Cardinals (the Rookie League affiliate of the St. Louis Cardinals). In 63 at-bats Poffo hit .286 with two home runs. The Macho Man returned to the GCL Cardinals for a second go around in 1972 and put up similar numbers. In 168 at-bats Poffo hit .274 with four home runs and even flashed a little speed with four stolen bases which matched his career-high.
His best season in affiliated ball by far came in 1973 when he tore up Rookie level pitching with the GCL Red Birds by hitting .344 in 61 at-bats before getting called up to Single-A for the first time as a 20 year-old. I'm sure his reaction was something along the lines of "Ohhh....Yeah!".
Unfortunately, Poffo's production dropped off upon being promoted to the Orangeburg Cardinals and was cut loose by the team.
In 1974, Poffo latched onto the Tampa Tarpons, the Rookie league affiliate of the Cincinnati Reds. However, he struggled hitting just .232 before hanging up his cleats and ultimately leaving the game. The rest...well the rest is history. Who would have thought that a little known minor leaguer would go on one day to headline sold-out arenas alongside the likes of Hulk Hogan and Sting?
Those wishing to share thoughts with Randy's family can send a message to the following email address: InMemoryOfRandy@gmail.com
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