Sugar Land Skeeters set Atlantic League attendance record05/17/2012 5:22 AM - Devo
The team, which is the brainchild of ODP Chairman Peter Kirk and Partner, 16-time Gold Glover, Brooks Robinson has seen record breaking attendance numbers after only one month. A four games series between April 26 – April 29 pulled in an average game attendance of nearly 7,400 and 29,413 total over the four-game stretch according to oursportscentral.com. That ranks fifth among 200 minor league teams in the nation. With a $27.9 million stadium filled to the rafters, the Skeeters are undoubtedly making their mark and solidifying themselves as a force when compared to the other teams from the east. With capacity reaching 6,000, this state of the art minor league stadium “will also generate economic activity annually of approximately $7.7 million or a net return of $169 million over 30 years on the investment of the City and ODP.” At present date the top ten average attendances per team are: 1. Dayton Dragons Midwest 8,513 2. Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs International 8,107 3. Louisville Bats International 7,669 4. Round Rock Express Pacific Coast 7,432 5. Sugar Land Skeeters Atlantic 7,353 6. Frisco Rough Riders Texas 6,745 7. Albuquerque Isotopes Pacific Coast 6,698 8. Columbus Clippers International 6,635 9. Fresno Grizzlies Pacific Coast 6,340 10. Memphis Redbirds Pacific Coast 6,210 To be ranked so high as a first-year team is a testament to the management team when related to preparation, marketing and results. I say this as the Skeeters currently sit near the bottom of the Freedom Division, but number one in attendance. Independent Baseball is not about results, it’s about location, the fans and the atmosphere. It looks like the Skeeters have perfect this formula so far. Daniel Nava ships his way back up to Boston05/14/2012 4:44 AM - Devo
Daniel Nava was recalled by the Boston Red Sox after putting together PlayStation like numbers in Pawtucket. Prior to his call-up, Nava was batting .447 in the last 10 games with an OBP of .475 and an OPS of 1.212. For those that aren’t familiar with Nava and his Red Sox career, he created a whirlwind of headlines when he made his MLB debut with the Red Sox in 2010. In his first career at-bat, Nava hit a grand slam, (view it here) thus endearing himself to Red Sox fans everywhere. Nava spent 60 games with Boston that year batting .242 in 162 at bats. In 2011 Nava spent the entire season at Triple-A putting up pedestrian numbers; .268, 10 home runs, 48 RBI, 27 doubles and 2 triples in 121 games. I say pedestrian when you compare that to what Nava accomplished in college and the long road he endured before popping up on anyone’s radar. In a previous article I wrote about Nava’s journey to Boston; “Nava’s 2006 senior season at Santa Clara University, was what you can call outstanding: a .395 average, 37 RBI, .476 OBP and .530 SLG. Unfortunately for him, that did not get him drafted, setting off a chain of events, and a string of ups and downs culminating in taking the first pitch he saw in the Majors and belting a grand slam. After leaving Santa Clara, Nava tried his hand at Independent League ball, specifically the Chico Outlaws of the Independent Golden Baseball League. Despite not playing in 2006, in part to being cut by the Chico squad, Nava made the team in '07 and put together one of the best seasons in GBL history. In 72 games, Nava batted .371, with 12 home runs, 59 RBI, had an OBP of over .470, and slugged nearly.630. Over one-third of his 95 hits went for extra bases.” Whether or not Nava can stay in Boston for the remainder of the season remains to be seen but, there is no quit in his vocabulary. His career has been unconventional to say the least but stories like this is what gives to hope to all those players toiling in the minors, and continues to make all the Independent alumni proud.
NAIA Championship opening round begins Thursday05/10/2012 4:03 AM - Devo
Last year the Concordia Eagles became the first team from the Golden State Athletic Conference to win the World Series. The Eagles return to defend their crown as the top seed in the Marion Bracket. But they will face some serious competition in LSU Shreveport (La.) (48-4), Azusa Pacific (Calif.) (44-10), Tennessee Wesleyan (45-11), Concordia (Calif.) (37-16), Oklahoma City (43-9), Lee (Tenn.) (50-8-1), Embry-Riddle (Fla.) (40-16), Oklahoma Baptist (46-12), and Faulkner (Ala.) (49-11); all earning tops seeds in their respective brackets. Of the 45 qualifying schools, 15 are making their first opening round appearance and 10 are playing in their fourth consecutive opening round; Lee, Oklahoma, Concordia and Oklahoma Baptist. NAIA powerhouse and tournament host Lewis-Clark State (40-12) has 16 titles and will be looking to return to NAIA dominance. All opening round action can be followed here, and when the World Series begins visit their website for all news and updates. Please find below all the opening round brackets, courtesy of the NAIA. Paducah Bracket Hosted by Paducah Convention & Visitors Bureau - Paducah, Ky. No. 3 Bellevue (Neb.) No. 4 Peru State (Neb.) No. 5 Grand View (Iowa)
Cleveland Bracket Hosted by Lee University (Tenn.) - Cleveland, Tenn. No. 3 Missouri Baptist No. 4 Avila (Mo.) No. 5 Bacone (Okla.)
Oklahoma City Bracket Hosted by Oklahoma City University - Oklahoma City, Okla. No. 3 Sterling (Kan.) No. 4 York (Neb.) No. 5 Mount Marty (S.D.)
Azusa Bracket Hosted by Azusa Pacific University (Calif.) - Azusa, Calif. No. 3 College of Idaho No. 4 Arizona Christian No. 5 Menlo (Calif.)
Hardeeville Bracket Hosted by University of South Carolina Beaufort - Hardeeville, S.C. No. 3 South Carolina Beaufort No. 4 Union (Tenn.) No. 5 Asbury (Ky.)
Kingsport Bracket Hosted by Appalachian Athletic Conference - Kingsport, Tenn. No. 3 Indiana Tech No. 4 Campbellsville (Ky.) No. 5 St. Francis (Ill.)
Hutchinson Bracket Hosted by Tabor College (Kan.) - Hillsboro, Kan. No. 3 Rogers State (Okla.) No. 4 Tabor (Kan.) No. 5 Dakota State (S.D.)
Daytona Beach Bracket Hosted by Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (Fla.) - Daytona Beach, Fla. No. 3 Biola (Calif.) No. 4 Southern Poly (Ga.) No. 5 Siena Heights (Mich.)
Marion Bracket Hosted by Mid-Central College Conference - Marion, Ind. No. 3 Taylor (Ind.) No. 4 Mount Vernon Nazarene (Ohio) No. 5 Doane (Neb.) Devon is the Founder and Executive Director of The GM's Perspective. He is a former professional baseball player with the River City Rascals & Gateway Grizzlies. Currently, Devon is a Manager at a financial institution in Northern Ontario Canada, and can be reached at devon@thegmsperspective.com. You can follow The GM's Perspective on Twitter and Facebook. His full bio can be seen here.
Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame induction weekend is more than just about baseball05/07/2012 4:55 AM - Devo
Two years ago, my dad and I made the trek from Niagara-on-the-Lake to the small town on St. Marys Ontario to watch Roberto Alomar, Paul Quantrill, Calvin Griffith and Allan Roth get their names etched in history. Rod Black, a cornerstone of Canadian sports, kicked off the event with a speech that was as inspirational as I have ever heard. Again, Mr. Black, if you are reading this “I believe”. The day I spent with my dad, a lifelong Yankees fan, couldn’t have been any better. Baseball has a way of bringing people together and it’s something we or anyone can always talk about. Baseball is a game so rich in history that strangers can sit down in a room and begin a conversation like they’ve known each other their whole life. I can’t explain what it is about the game that brings forth such goodwill, and maybe I don’t want to know. When first sign of spring hits, every team has renewed hope (even Pittsburgh). All magazines come out with their previews, all websites go ahead full speed, and every writer, journalist and blogger puts forth their own predictions. With that comes the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame’s new recruits to be enshrined into the hallowed halls. This year’s inductees include Rusty Staub, Rheal Cormier, Doug Melvin & Team Canada 2011. For more information please follow the link here, courtesy of the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame. The town of St. Marys with a population pushing 7,000, looks like the hub of the baseball universe when you pull in on Saturday morning. It’s a day that all fans, young and old, look forward to and the look on everyone’s face is priceless. It takes you away from the everyday grind of work and takes you back to when you were a kid, when the game was the only thing that mattered. To when you could power down your lunch in ten seconds flat so you could get back out to the ball park to continue the game with your friends. The Hall Museum is something that everyone should see even if they are driving through the city on their way to another destination. It’s home to 93 inductees who have all, in one way or another, left an irreplaceable mark on the Canadian game. Inside you will find game used bases, gloves, jerseys, baseballs, bats and other nostalgia. It’s remarkable when you really think about it. You could walk through that house 100 times and still see something new. To be a part of a day so special for Canadian baseball is one thing, but to sit amongst people who are all their for the same reason; the betterment of the game and to say thank you to all those have made the game great, is something that we can all be proud of. The nearly three hour trip from NOTL will seem like a regular Sunday drive, as this is an event that means more than baseball. It’s a chance for a family to enjoy a day amongst other baseball lovers, and it’s the chance for fathers and son’s to reminisce about the glory days of a grand ole game and what lies ahead. It’s always been said that baseball is America’s game, but I can guarantee you that there will be some in St. Marys that weekend that will disagree. |
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The Atlantic League’s newest franchise; Sugar Land Skeeters, are making quite the impression. 
It’s very rare when a Triple-A player being called up to the pros gets much press but in this case it’s well warranted. 
Thursday will mark the day 46 qualifying schools begin their journey to become the country’s best collegiate baseball team. 
June 23 will mark the second time I will have attended the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame inductions. 