Series Preview: New Hampshire Fisher Cats

The New Hampshire Fisher Cats come to town for a 4-games series starting tonight at 6:05pm.

Not only will the Senators return to Commerce Bank Park tonight but so will The Spot Dog and the Rendell burger. With good weather expected and return of the Spot Dog, hopes are that attendance will pick up. Through the first 6 home games of the season Harrisburg ranks next to last in attendance in the Eastern League averaging only 1,139 per game. Early on, the frigid weather and the lack of sun could have played a major factor in the low attendance numbers.

Harrisburg enters the series in first place in the EL Southern Division with an 8-5 record. They are currently ranked 2nd in the EL in stolen bases (22) and RBI’s (75). They also rank 3rd in the EL in batting average (.267), Home runs (13), and Runs Scored (78). Although their hitting has cooled off considerably they managed to still win games (4-3) while on their first road trip of the season.

New Hampshire comes in with a 3-9 record and they are in last place in the EL Northern Division. In addition they have the worst record in the entire Eastern League. Despite the Fisher Cats early struggles they have a hot bat in second baseman Scott Campbell who is 3rd in the EL with a .439 average. Overall the Fisher Cats are not hitting with much power (5 HR) or stealing many bases (2). Also they don’t score very many runs, only 32 in 12 games (2.6 per game).

Fisher Cats Roster

New Hampshire Prospects according to Baseball America (BA) and John Sickles (JS)

LHP - Ricky Romero – BA (5) – JS (C)
OF – Ryan Patterson – BA (10) – JS (C)
RHP – Brandon Magee – BA (18) – JS (C)
C - Brian Jeroloman – BA (19) – JS (C)
SS – Ryan Klosterman – BA (29) – JS (C)
OF – Jacob Butler – JS (C)
RHP - Jean Machi – JS (C)

My list of player to watch (in addition to those listed by BA and JS)
RHP – Seth Overbey
LHP – A.J. Wideman
2B - Scott Campbell
OF – Aaron Mathews

Series Starters: Harrisburg vs. New Hampshire
4/17 RHP Marco Estrada (1-1, 4.50) vs. LHP Ricky Romero (0-1, 3.86) 6:05pm
4/18 RHP Ismael Ramirez (0-2, 10.00) vs. RHP Jean Machi (0-0, 4.38) 6:05pm
4/19 RHP Bobby Brownlie (1-0, 3.00) vs. LHP A.J. Wideman (0-1, 2.25) 6:05pm
4/20 RHP Shairon Martis (1-0, 4.40) vs. RHP Scott Richmond (1-2, 4.32) 1:05pm