By PETE MOLLICA
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
NILES — Mother Nature might have done big favor for the Mahoning Valley Scrappers Thursday night at Eastwood Field.
The Scrappers' series finale against the Staten Island Yankees was called off in the top of the third inning after a big rainstorm left Eastwood Field unplayable.
The Scrappers were trailing the Yankees 3-1 after the first two innings. They had already committed two errors and played some sloppy baseball.
"It probably was a blessing in disguise," Scrappers manager Tim Laker said. "That rain really left the field in poor shape and by canceling the game we avoided the possibility of getting somebody hurt out there."
The game was halted at 7:48 p.m. when the rains came. After a delay of just more than an hour, the tarp was removed. The playing field was probably playable, but the areas surrounding the field, especially the warning tracks, were under water.
Ticket exchange
The game will not be made up and ticket holders can exchange their tickets at the Scrappers box office for any remaining regular-season home game.
"It's disappointing that we didn't get to finish the game, especially since this is the only series we have with these guys and [the series] was tied 1-1," Laker said.
The Scrappers (14-15) dropped the first game of the series 9-6 on Tuesday and came back to post a 7-5 win on Wednesday.
But the Scrappers haven't been playing all that well of lately.
"We've been pretty sloppy in the field and we really haven't got much from our starting pitchers lately," Laker said. "It has a lot to do with consistency and you are going to find that here at this level."
Basic plays
"We've got to start making the plays in the field, especially the ones you are suppose to make," Laker said. "We have been swinging the bats very well, but until our pitching and fielding catch up we are going to struggle."
Laker said that his team has been playing about as he expected through the first part of the season.
"We've hung right around the .500 mark most of the way and we've had the opportunities to be better, but haven't always taken advantage of those chances," Laker said.
The Scrappers have five hitters batting above .300 with first baseman Todd Martin leading the way with a league-leading .391 average.
Former Cardinal Mooney standout Jeff Hehr is hitting .381, Jansy Infante .343, Michael Valadez .313 and Juan Valdez .302.
"I've got no complaints with our hitting; we are getting the job done there," Laker said. "But the rest of our game is nowhere near where it needs to be."
Pitching change
Laker said that if Thursday's game had been resumed, he would have had to come back with another pitcher after starter Heath Taylor had worked two innings before the two-hour delay.
"It would have disrupted our rotation a little, but we haven't been getting all that much help from our starters recently," Laker said.
Taylor allowed three Staten Island runs in the first inning. Taylor hurt himself by committing an error when he threw wildly to first base on a short grounder by Braedyn Pruitt that would have been the third out.
"Those are the routine plays that we have to start making if we are going to be a good ball club," Laker said.
The first-year manager said that he's had no problem getting use to the circus-like atmosphere between innings at the Class A minor league level.
"I've spent more time in the minor leagues than I did in the majors, so if I'm not use to it now, I'll never be," he said.
The Scrappers will open a three-game series tonight against the Oneonta Tigers at 7:05 with left-hander William Delage (0-2) on the mound for Mahoning Valley.
mollica@vindy.com
Friday, July 20, 2007
By PETE MOLLICA
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
NILES — Mother Nature might have done big favor for the Mahoning Valley Scrappers Thursday night at Eastwood Field.
The Scrappers' series finale against the Staten Island Yankees was called off in the top of the third inning after a big rainstorm left Eastwood Field unplayable.
The Scrappers were trailing the Yankees 3-1 after the first two innings. They had already committed two errors and played some sloppy baseball.
"It probably was a blessing in disguise," Scrappers manager Tim Laker said. "That rain really left the field in poor shape and by canceling the game we avoided the possibility of getting somebody hurt out there."
The game was halted at 7:48 p.m. when the rains came. After a delay of just more than an hour, the tarp was removed. The playing field was probably playable, but the areas surrounding the field, especially the warning tracks, were under water.
Ticket exchange
The game will not be made up and ticket holders can exchange their tickets at the Scrappers box office for any remaining regular-season home game.
"It's disappointing that we didn't get to finish the game, especially since this is the only series we have with these guys and [the series] was tied 1-1," Laker said.
The Scrappers (14-15) dropped the first game of the series 9-6 on Tuesday and came back to post a 7-5 win on Wednesday.
But the Scrappers haven't been playing all that well of lately.
"We've been pretty sloppy in the field and we really haven't got much from our starting pitchers lately," Laker said. "It has a lot to do with consistency and you are going to find that here at this level."
Basic plays
"We've got to start making the plays in the field, especially the ones you are suppose to make," Laker said. "We have been swinging the bats very well, but until our pitching and fielding catch up we are going to struggle."
Laker said that his team has been playing about as he expected through the first part of the season.
"We've hung right around the .500 mark most of the way and we've had the opportunities to be better, but haven't always taken advantage of those chances," Laker said.
The Scrappers have five hitters batting above .300 with first baseman Todd Martin leading the way with a league-leading .391 average.
Former Cardinal Mooney standout Jeff Hehr is hitting .381, Jansy Infante .343, Michael Valadez .313 and Juan Valdez .302.
"I've got no complaints with our hitting; we are getting the job done there," Laker said. "But the rest of our game is nowhere near where it needs to be."
Pitching change
Laker said that if Thursday's game had been resumed, he would have had to come back with another pitcher after starter Heath Taylor had worked two innings before the two-hour delay.
"It would have disrupted our rotation a little, but we haven't been getting all that much help from our starters recently," Laker said.
Taylor allowed three Staten Island runs in the first inning. Taylor hurt himself by committing an error when he threw wildly to first base on a short grounder by Braedyn Pruitt that would have been the third out.
"Those are the routine plays that we have to start making if we are going to be a good ball club," Laker said.
The first-year manager said that he's had no problem getting use to the circus-like atmosphere between innings at the Class A minor league level.
"I've spent more time in the minor leagues than I did in the majors, so if I'm not use to it now, I'll never be," he said.
The Scrappers will open a three-game series tonight against the Oneonta Tigers at 7:05 with left-hander William Delage (0-2) on the mound for Mahoning Valley.
mollica@vindy.com
Friday, July 20, 2007
Mother Nature might have done big favor for the Mahoning Valley Scrappers Thursday night at Eastwood Field.
The...
