NJ Minors Thriving

Lou Di Falco — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 08:00:00 -0400

While Mets fans in New Jersey are still recovering from the shock over the Mets demise on the final day of the season, the Garden State did have something to celebrate.

Over the past 14 years, eight minor league baseball teams have cropped up in New Jersey. Three of those eight teams won championships this year. Two nights ago, the Somerset Patriots won the Atlantic League championship for the fourth time in their eleven year history at Commerce Bank Park in Bridgewater, NJ. Their opponent was another New Jersey team, the Camden Riversharks. Former Yankee pitcher Sparky Lyle is the manager of the four time champion Patriots. Also, Mets pitcher Brandon Knight who won his first major league game this season, pitched for the Patrioits earlier this summer.

The Atlantic League is the highest level independent league in the country. The league features very good players that were not drafted by a major league team or who elected not to sign. College players and released players from the affiliated minor leagues also help make up the rosters of the Atlantic League. The league also includes some former Major League players attempting to make a comeback or who just still want to play. Edgardo Alfonso, Richard Hildago, and Carl Everett played for the Long Island Ducks this season, another team in the Atlantic League. The Newark Bears are the third New Jersey team in the Atlantic League. There are eight teams total in the league.

Another independent league that has three teams in New Jersey is the Cam-Am League (formerly the Northeast League). Earlier this month the Sussex Skyhawks of Sussex, New Jersey won the Can-Am League Championship. The Skyhawks are a fairly new team. They replaced the New Jersey Cardinals of the New York Penn League a couple of years ago at Skylands Park in Sussex. The first two years of the Skyhawks existence was pretty horrendous. But this year the Skyhawks won the second half getting into the playoffs then winning it all in the championship round against Quebec.

Hal Lanier, the former player, coach, and manager in the Major Leagues managed the Skyhawks to their first championship. Lanier managed the Astros in 1986 when the Mets won the NLCS against them in six games.

The other two Can-Am teams in New Jersey are the New Jersey Jackals who play at Yogi Berra Stadium at Montclair State University and the Atlantic City Surf, formerly of the Atlantic League.

The Trenton Thunder is the New York Yankees double A affiliate in the Eastern League. The Thunder won their second consecutive league Championship in mid September. The Trenton club has been in New Jersey since 1994 when they were originally affiliated with the Detroit Tigers. The Boston Red Sox took over control of the Thunder in their second season but they have been a Yankees farm team since 1996. The Thunder recently extended their agreement with the Yanks for another six years.

The eighth and final minor league team in Jersey is the Lakeland Blue Claws, a Philadelphia Phillies single A team from the South Atlantic League. Ironically the Blue Claws did not win a championship but did have the best overall record in their division. The Sally league plays a split season but Lakewood won neither half. However, their overall 80-60 record was best in the Northern Division.

One Step Closer

Lou Di Falco — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 10:00:00 -0400

Santana came to the rescue and the Mets got some timely hitting. At least for one more day the Mets remain in sole possession of the wild card lead. And around the league, other teams were helping out too.

With the Mets win, Florida and St. Louis have been officially eliminated from the wild card race leaving only the Mets, Brewers and Astros. Houston has a magic number of two for elimination. What this means for the Mets is that this weekend’s series will mean little to the Marlins. There motivation will simply be their hatred for the Mets.

But before the Marlin’s series, the Mets must play two more games against the Chicago Cubs, not an easy task. The Phillies lead the Mets for the division by one game in the loss column. Realistically however, I cannot see the Mets overtaking the Phillies for the division. Philadelphia has been just too hot lately.

Some other highlights last evening were Wright and Reyes who came through with huge hits with runners in scoring position. Reyes has put to rest his September problems from a year ago and Wright has been awesome lately. But as you could predict, when asked to close out the game, Pedro Feliciano could not get more than one out. He gave up two singles in a row which prompted Manuel to sprint to the mound and bring in Ayala who got the save. Exhale.

In other news, the New York Yankees were officially eliminated from post season play with Boston’s win against Cleveland. You’ll pardon me if I don’t get all teary eyed. The shame of it is I would be enjoying the Bombers down fall much more if the Mets were closer to locking up a post season berth themselves. I mean how comfortable do you feel sticking it to Yankee fans when the Mets are hanging by a thread as it is.

But seriously I don’t want to hear about what the Yankees need to do to correct this travesty. Give me a break. Isn’t it high time that Yankee fans got a taste of what it’s like for their team to not reach the playoffs?

Since 1995 through 2007 the Yankees were in the post season. Take a look at the following table –

1995-2007
Yankees	13
Braves	11
Cardinals	7
Indians	7
Red Sox	7
Astros	6
A's	5
Angels	4
Diamondbacks	4
Dodgers	4
Giants	4
Mariners	4
Padres	4
Twins	4
Cubs	3
Mets	3
Rangers	3
Marlins	2
Orioles	2
Rockies	2
White Sox	2
Phillies	1
Reds	1
Tigers	1
Blue Jays	0
Brewers	0
Expos/Nationals	0
Pirates	0
Rays	0
Royals	0

The table shows the number of times a team has reached the playoffs (not consecutively).

As you can see, the only team that comes close to the Yankees is the Braves. During the same years, Atlanta had a streak of eleven games. Realize if you expand the range to 1991, the Braves have a longer streak of 14.

The point is I don’t want to hear Yankee fans whining about their team not being in the post season. You know who should be whining? The Blue Jay, Brewers, Nationals (Expos), Pirates, and Royals fans, there teams did not make the post season one time during this period. That was also true of the Rays but that has changed this season.

Yankee fans, if you like, you can borrow a phrase uttered many times in Brooklyn and then Queens—Just wait until next year…

Never Forget 69

NJ Minors Thriving

One Step Closer