THE FLYING TIGERS (2009: 55-75) ... Lakeland finished 11.5 games out of first place in the opening half of 2009 and then struggled to a 26-39 second half mark to finish 20.5 games out of first over the second half of the season.
TAMPA (2009: 77-56) ... Like the Flying Tigers, the Yankees finished 11.5 games out of first in the first half of 2009, but unlike Lakeland, vaulted to the top of the standings with a 47-19 record to win the second half by 6.5 games. Tampa then went on to take the championship of the Florida State League three games to two over the Charlotte Stone Crabs.
FRIDAY’S PROBABLE STARTERS ...
LAKELAND - Mark Sorenson (2009: 9-4, 3.63) ... was 8-2 with a 2.44 ERA in 14 starts for West Michigan and 1-2 in seven starts for Lakeland in 2009 ... 32nd round pick of the Tigers in 2008 out of Michigan State ... son of former major leaguer and Tiger broadcaster Lary Sorenson.
TAMPA - Andrew Brackman (2009: 2-12, 5.91 ERA) ... 2-12 last year for Charleston in the South Atlantic League, but struck out 103 batters in 106.2 IP ... Yankee’s 1st round pick in 2007 draft out of North Carolina State ... struck out 149 in 149.1 career innings for the Wolfpack ... also played two years on the NC State basketball team ... posted a 1.04 career ERA at Moeller High in Cincinnati - seventh best total in Ohio history.
THE SERIES ... The two clubs face each other 20 times in 2009 with the Yankees coming out on top in 13 of those contests. It was the most wins by Tampa over any FSL team last season.
LAST NIGHT ... Tampa’s Hector Noesi struck out six and held Lakeland to a pair of hits while Brandon Braboy struck out three more over the final three frames as the Yankees shutout Lakeland 4-0 at Steinbrenner Field. Ben Guez doubled while Alden Carrithers added a single for the Flying Tiger’s lone hits. Carrithers did produce one highlight last night swiping a pair of bases.
MANAGER ANDY BARKETT ... The Flying Tigers are managed by Andy Barkett who is returning for his third season at the helm and his fourth in the organization. Barkett enters the season with a 122-145 record in his two previous seasons in Lakeland and has a 166-177 career managerial record. He began with the Oneonta Tigers in 2008 following an 11-year playing career, including 17 games in the majors as a member of the Pittsburgh Pirates.
SEASON OPENER ... This is the eighth year in a row the Flying Tigers have opened the season with the Tampa Yankees. With the Yankees’ win last night, the two clubs have now split those eight games. Last night was the first time Lakeland opened the season on the road since 2005 ... The Flying Tigers are 5-1 in home openers and have won three straight.
YANKEES ... Andrew Brackman the Yankees’ top pick (30th overall) in the 2007 draft out of NC State ... Daniel Kapala went to Notre Dame ... Catcher Myron Leslie and shortstop Addison Maruszak both played collegiately at the University of South Florida.
LOTS OF PAWS ... Over 1280 players have played for Lakeland since 1963. Ron Marigny played in the most games with 371 over five seasons.
MAKE UP YOUR MIND, WILL YA? ... Yankee pitcher Pat Venditte can throw with both arms. His ability forced the Professional Baseball Umpire Corporation to create a rule regarding ambidextrous pitchers on July 2, 2008, that stated that a “pitcher must visually indicate to the umpire, batter and runner(s) which way he will begin pitching to the batter.” He uses a special six-finger glove on the mound that allows the switch.
ACTIVE LAKELAND ROSTER BREAKDOWN:
OLDEST: Ramon Garcia (26 years, 5 months)
YOUNGEST: Matt Hoffman (22 years, 4 months)
TALLEST: Putkonen (6’6”)
SHORTEST: Carrithers, Jaime, and Kaiser (all listed at 5’9”)
LEFT HANDED PITCHERS (5): Conn, Furbush, Garcia,
Hoffman, Wilk
SWITCH HITTTERS (5): Jaime, Kaiser, Nunez, White, Wyatt
NEWCOMERS (18 - Did not play at Lakeland in 2009):
Bishop, Bouchia, Carrithers, Conn, Crichton, Garcia, Guez, Jaime, Murrian, Nowlin, Nunez, Pounds, Putknonen, Shawler, Stohr, Villarreal, Wilk, Wyatt
RETURNING PLAYERS (7 - played in Lakeland in 2009):
Furbush, Hoffman, Kaiser, Oliveros, Sorenson,White, Workman
BEEN AROUND A WHILE ... The 2010 season marks the 44th season as a Tigers affiliate for Lakeland, the second longest affiliation in all of Minor League Baseball. The season also marks Lakeland’s 58th season in the Florida State League. Lakeland is an original member of the FSL, which was established in 1919.
NEW KID ON THE BLOCK ... The Bradenton Marauders, an affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates, join the FSL this season after the Pirates purchased the Sarasota franchise. Bradenton plays its home games at McKechnie Field. As Nuke LaLoosh would say, the Marauders “announced their presence with authority” winning their inaugural FSL game by an 18-3 score over Ft. Myers as Jeremy Farrell drove in seven runs, including a pair of homers.
LAKELAND PROMO HIGHLIGHTS ... The ZOOperstars “the fastest growing entertainment act in the country” brings their act to Lakeland on April 24 ... Bright House Network Night takes place on May 22 ... Red, White and Blue BBQ is the theme of the annual July 4 Fireworks extravaganza.
FORMER MUD HEN LEAVES FSL ... St. Lucie welcomes back Edgar Alfonzo as their new manager. Alfonzo served as the Mets’ hitting coach in 2002 and was the Savannah Sand Gnats manager last season. He replaces former Toledo Mud Hen, Tim Teufel, who is now with the Binghamton Mets.
IN ALL IN THE NAME ... Some quirky names from the FSL ... Do you think Clearwater’s Brian Gump might be nicknamed “Bubba” or “Forrest”? ... Ya just gotta like Dunedin’s Boomer Potts ... The Miracle have a pitcher named Shooter Hunt ... Does the Yankees’ Brandon Braboy work at Victoria’s Secret in the off season?
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Views expressed in “Mission Notes” are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of the Lakeland Flying Tigers.
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