Senators Fans Unite: March 2009

Monday, March 30, 2009

Zimmermann, Possible NL ROY

With Jordan Zimmermann winning the Nationals 5th starter spot this spring the hype surrounding him continues to grow. MLB ranks Zimmermann 3rd (out of 5 players) for early consideration for NL Rookie of the Year.

Here is what they had to say:
“When word came out before Spring Training opened that Zimmermann was going to get a long look for a rotation spot, ROY prognosticators everywhere took note. Then the 2007 second-rounder, the one with just more than one full season of pro ball under his belt, promptly went out and won the No. 5 starter spot in Washington's rotation. The 22-year-old will be the last starter in name only. By season's end, it shouldn't surprise anyone if he's the most effective one on the staff. By the way, No. 4 starter Shairon Maris is an interesting dark horse to consider as well.”

So far this spring Zimmermann has more than proved he is ready for the big league. He currently leads all Nationals pitchers with 20 strike outs (to only 2 walks). In 5 appearances he has a 3.14 ERA, only allowed 5 runs score in 14.1 IP.

Entering the 09 Season, Zimmermann ranks as the Nationals best prospect according to Baseball America, Baseball Prospectus and John Sickels.

For the Senators 2008, Zimmermann was 7-2 in 20 games with 103 strikeouts and a 3.21 ERA. He held the Eastern Leagues best hitters to a combined .226 average against. He won the 2008 Washington Nationals’ Minor League pitcher of the year award.

Casto and Hinckley Out-of-Options

Two former Harrisburg Senators are sitting on ‘the bubble’ trying to make the Nationals team this spring. Both pitcher Mike Hinckley and IF/OF Kory Casto are out-of-options. They must either make the Nationals team or they would need to clear waivers before they could be sent to the minors. While on waivers another team can sign them.

Hinckley is fighting for a spot in the ‘pen’ and has pitched well in his last 5 appearances allowing only 1 run over 4 2/3 IP. Overall Hinckley has a 6.52 ERA in 10 games (9.2 innings) allowing 9 runs (8 earned).

Kory Casto has appeared in 22 games (41 at-bats) this spring and is batting .171.

The next batch of cuts is coming today...

Source:Nationals Journal

3/28/09 Harrisburg Senators Stadium Construction

A week from today we should know what players will be assigned to Harrisburg to start the season.

Meanwhile, the construction crews are putting in a lot of hours trying to finish phase 1 of the renovation project.

Saturday wasn't the best day to try to photograph as it was extremely overcast, muddy and there is so much steel in the way it is getting increasingly more difficult to get a good 'shot'. That last part about to much steel being the in way is a good thing.

Fence covering left field to deep left-center.

It's kind of hard to see from this photo but fence is covering right to about deep right center field.

Closer view shows the fence in right field.

Walkway going up towards what will be a seating and bar area.

Fence that still needs to be installed.

Another view of the fence that needs to be installed.

The batters-eye-view and the boardwalk area. Top left of the photo is the frame work for a video board.

Another view of the fence area in right & right-center fields.

Welder working working on part of the boardwalk area. To fully appreciate this photo you should click on the photo to view it larger.

Another view of the welder working working on part of the boardwalk area. To fully appreciate this photo you should click on the photo to view it larger.

Working on the office building.

Person working by the new entrance area.

Larger versions of each photo is available at Senators Renovations.

See you next weekend at FanFest.

Saturday, March 28, 2009

Zimmermann, Martis Make Rotation

Jordan Zimmermann and Shairon Martis, both of whom played for the Senators in 2008 will the # 4 & 5 starting pitchers for the Nationals in 2009.

* Washington named Shairon Martis as its fourth starter; Martis will open the year with the big league club.

* Washington named Jordan Zimmermann as its fifth starter. The Nats will not need a fifth starter until April 19, and Zimmermann will be kept in the minors -- probably with Class AAA Syracuse -- until then.

Other news related to former Senators....
Washington optioned pitcher Collin Balester, the other candidate for the rotation, to Class AAA Syracuse.

Matt Chico on the 60-Day Disabled List

Nationals Trim Roster to 37

Zimmermann, Martis Make Rotatio

Friday, March 27, 2009

Foli Signs with York Revolution

Former Harrisburg Senator, Dan Foli (06 &07) signed with the York Revolution . This will be his second season playing for the Revolution.

Thanks to Verb for the assist: York Revs Possible Opening Day Starter

Outfield Wall: Setting the Record Straight

Thanks to Terry Byrom for stopping by yesterday to comment on the outfield fence .

In my efforts to continue to provide accurate information to Senators fans, I followed up with an email asking Terry for further clarification on the outfield wall.

Back in the initial press release it stated that “A new outfield wall to be constructed with static advertisement panels.” I took this to mean the static electric billboards like Lamar has along the highways. Terry cleared up the confusion by stating the “press release did say static advertisement panels, but they are the same vinyl "panels" we've used the past several years. And the material of the fence is chain link, just like it has been. The wording was used (static) to differentiate from video advertising since we have that now.” The release was referring to static as meaning ‘no movement’ while I interpreted it as static electric.

In doing research on billboard photography for a potential client I became familiar with static electric billboards and took the release referring to static advertisement panels as meaning the outfield wall would be like those billboards.

For those concerned about the progress on the outfield wall, Terry was kind enough to provide an update, “The fence has been installed from the left field corner all the way out to deep left center. The foul poles have been installed as well. And the video board structure is in the midst of being repainted.”

Terry continued by saying, “Unlike before, the fence will be completely covered with green screen and the advertisements will be place on top of that.”

I want to thank Terry for clearing that up.

I apologize for any confusion caused as it was clearly a misunderstanding and unintentional.

Wednesday, March 25, 2009

Harrisburg Sports Blog & Stadium Construction

A long time follower of this site, Verb, recently started Harrisburg Sports Blog. According to his initial post the blog will “have coverage and information from all of the areas minor league teams, local college teams, some high school sports coverage, and some professional sports coverage of teams near the mid-state.” He is very passionate about sports, and in particular sports in central Pennsylvania. I wish him a lot of success, as I am sure this will keep him extremely busy.

I bring up Verb’s new site for two reasons, hopefully I can send some traffic his way for the dedication he has shown to me over the years, and he posted a topic on the Senators stadium renovations.

He does a good job of summing up the progress and his analysis is well worth reading.

I will summarize his analysis (but make sure you visit his site to read the entire article) and expand upon it with some thoughts I left on his site. He has expressed the same concerns that I’ve heard from many people; will it be done on time. His concerns focus on the outfield wall, or lack thereof. He also touches on the seats still not being in place in the outfield.

As of today there is only a week and a half until 2009 FanFest, two-weeks until open practice and three-weeks until opening night. The concerns expressed by Verb and others are very real.

Up until this point, construction crews have had decent weather the past few weeks. It appears as though that will change over the next few days. Starting tonight through next Tuesday (7-days) there is a chance of rain 4 days. I’m not sure if this will slow progress but it sure can’t help matters. With time running down, they need to maximize every day available.

I’ve been told by a construction worker that they have been putting in a lot of hours (coming in early and staying late, as well as working 7 days a week). Tons of progress has been made over the past few weeks but will it be enough. I’ve heard a variety of answers to that question and each answer ends with should, maybe or might. Either way it will be a close call.

Opening night could be an issue if the new entrance and boardwalk are not done. I am sure plans are in place to accommodate fans regardless if the construction is finished or not but it could be an inconvenience to fans. Opening night promotions are hardhats and $2 Beer on the Boardwalk. They might need to hand out hard hats to everyone if the construction isn’t finished. If the boardwalk is not complete/open, then the $2 beer on the boardwalk could be a problem. Although I’m sure other arraignments have been made just in case.

As for the outfield wall, the framing is going up fast. The wall is supposed to be static advertisement panels. I’m guessing they just need to be lined up and secured into place. It shouldn't’t take that long.

My big concern is the seating by the scoreboard, the bar by the scoreboard and the boardwalk. The frame for the boardwalk is going up but could take awhile to finish. Then they actually have to install the boards and stuff. The seating and bar by the scoreboard was still in the foundation stages last weekend. Going by how long it took them to build the LF seats, I’m guessing it might take two weeks to finish the seating and bar area.

I am a big fan of what the City of Harrisburg is doing to Commerce Bank Park/Metro Bank Park. It will be a very nice addition to the City of Harrisburg. The construction crews have been working diligently, sometimes in difficult weather conditions, to complete the project on time. The Senators front office and owners worked extremely hard this “off season” to come up with a good game plan to get fans in the seats. I am sure all parties involved are doing everything in their power to complete this project by April 16th. If you build it they will come….if you’re still building it people will come too.

Monday, March 23, 2009

3/21/09 Senators Construction Photos Part 2

More photos from my visit on Saturday. Only 2 weeks until FanFest.

Note: All of the photos are on my Flickr page: Senators Renovations

Commerce Bank Park Sign

New Office Building

Hanging over the edge working on the steel beam.

Another view of the new office building.

Worker surveying the area.

A lot of this going on, worker hanging over the edge working on a steel beam.

Cleaning dirt off the roadway.

Worker welding the steel beams.

Another view of the new office building.

Worker stand on a steel beam. A lot of the beams have "Ironworkers Local 404 Ripping by Tuscarora" wrote on them.

Two workers laughing while they work on the new office building.

3/21/09 Stadium Construction Photos Part 1

I made a trip over to City Island this week to check in on the progress of the construction. There was a lot of people out. I saw a few season ticket holders. Also had a nice chat with my good friends Bob and Jane. I also spoke with the grounds crew. Before I left one of the construction workers and I talked briefly about the project.

Hey Norm, I got two hugs from Jane!

New score and video board.

Workers moving dirt over by the new video/score board.

View of the new outfield seats from the 3rd base box seats.

Another view of the new outfield seats from the top row of the GA seats.

Beams being dropped in for the new boardwalk/outfield wall area.

Looking back towards the entrance/office building from the centerfield area.

Batters-eye-view from beyond the outfield wall.

Dropping dirt into a hole by the Commerce Bank Sign.

Hole were the dirt is being dropped into by the Commerce Bank sign.

09 Pocket Schedules

The 2009 Harrisburg Senators game and promotional pocket schedules arrived on Saturday.

The front cover of the schedule.

One of the inside covers shows the added seating area and admission pricing for 2009.

Friday, March 20, 2009

Another Round of Cuts

The Nats announce another round of cuts...

Again, no real surprise with this round of cuts. All of these players will probably head to Syracuse.

Reassigned to minor league camp:
* P Gustavo Chacin
* 1B Brad Eldred
* INF Pete Orr
* OF Ryan Langerhans

Optioned to Class AAA Syracuse:
(These are players currently on the team's 40-man roster)

* C Luke Montz
* OF Roger Bernadina

For more details visit the Nationals Journal: Nats Cut Six

Thursday, March 19, 2009

Stadium Construction Updates….

Opening day is only 3 weeks away, so I decided to provide you with some updates. This post includes the status of the stadium construction. Randy Whitker also provides updates on the stadium, and takes a guess at which players might be assigned to Harrisburg. I also have information on open practice/media day and offer reminders about 2009 FanFest and the Welcome Back Dinner.

Earlier this week a press release was issued by the Senators updating the progress of the construction project on Commerce Bank Park. Here is the latest: “The steel for the boardwalk, entryway, and outfield seating began arriving last week. As soon as the steel arrived, building the entryway, administrative building and left field boardwalk area started. Work is starting on the framework for the left field seating area this week. The framework for the batters eye should be completed this week. Work continues preparing the right field area to build the boardwalk.”

In addition, the videoboard arrived the other day and “installation should take place over the next week.” Also, “the installation of the left field fence has started.”

The press release noted that the Senators will be updating photos daily on their website.

I plan on visiting City Island every weekend and posting photos on Senators Fans Unite and on my flickr page, Senators Renovations, every Monday morning.

I asked Senators GM Randy Whitaker for a status update on the project and he replied “This is an exciting time for us long time Senators fans. We’ve waited a long time for upgrades to the stadium and it is finally happening in a big way. Things are changing HOURLY right now. It’s fun to walk by in the morning and then go back in the afternoon and see significant change. They are now working Saturdays to make sure the project is ready for the season. They know more about construction than I do, so I’ll trust them.”

I also asked Randy to take a guess at who he thinks will suite up for the Senators on Opening Day. “Hard to tell who we’ll have this year. I remember getting a “preliminary roster” on the Friday before they came north last year, and then about half the roster was different by the time they showed up two days later. So nothing is sure until they step onto the field. I can take guesses just like anyone else though.”

Randy’s list of players include, “Who I’ll guess we have back to start: Bill Rhinehart, Andrew Lefave, Matt Rogelstad, Adrian Alaniz, Justin Jones, Luis Atilano. New guys we might see: Ross Detwiler, Brian Peacock, Clint Everts”

He continued by saying, “I think we will also see Chris Marrero early this year, and hopefully Michael Burgess.”

Randy wants to remind us that “All that is just a fan’s guess. I assure you I have no inside info.”

Thanks to Randy for taking time out to update us on the construction project and giving us his ‘fan’s guess’ on who might be suiting up for the Senators this year.

2009 FanFest is scheduled for April 4, from 12 PM until 3 PM, on City Island. For more information please visit: 2009 Harrisburg Senators Fanfest

An “open practice/media day” is scheduled for April 7 at Commerce Bank Park. I will be sure to provide more details when they become available.

On April 8th, the day before the Senators travel to Reading for opening day, is when the 2009 Welcome Back dinner is scheduled. It will be held at the Radisson Penn Harris Hotel in Camp Hill. Cost is $30.00 per person. For tickets contact Jean Jacobs at 774-2730 or Bill Houck at 652-6540. For more information please visit: 2009 Welcome Back Dinner

Wednesday, March 18, 2009

Q&A with me on Baysoxblog.com

Paul over at Baysoxblog.com has started a series of Q&A’s with the bloggers and beat writers who cover some of the teams of the Double-A Eastern League. I was very fortunate to be asked to participate in Q&A session with him, which was conducted a few weeks ago.

Here is the lead paragraph for the interview.

“The next stop on our tour of the Eastern League is Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Will Bentzel of Senators Fans Unite was kind enough to take us on a little tour of the renovations of one of the most unique parks in professional baseball, takes a stab at the Senators 2009 line-up, and what the Senators are doing to improve on the lowest average attendance in the Eastern League in 2008.”

You can check out the entire Q&A session here (this is the link I prefer you use):
http://baysoxblog.com/2009/03/17/harrisburg-senators-preview-with-will-bentzel-of-senators-fans-unite/

The Q&A also appears on Baseball Daily Digest:
http://www.baseballdailydigest.com/blogs/2009/03/18/minor-notes-harrisburg-senators-preview-with-will-bentzel-of-senator-fans-unite/

Lannan Named Nats Opening Day Starter

Former Senator, John Lannan, was named the Nationals 2009 Opening Day Starter.

For more details visit: Your Opening Day Starter John Lannan

Monday, March 16, 2009

Nats Issue 2nd Round of Cuts

No real surprises here....

Of note the following players where optioned to Class AA Harrisburg:
* RHP Luis Atilano
* INF Ian Desmond

No suprise here as I expected both to start in Harrisburg.

Optioned to Class AAA Syracuse:
* RHP Tyler Clippard
* RHP Marco Estrada
* OF Leonard Davis
* OF Justin Maxwell

I was a little surprised about Maxwell considering he only played 40 games at Harrisburg last season. I am sure he will do well in Syracuse.

Reassigned to minor league camp:
* P Josh Towers
* C Gustavo Molina
* INF Freddie Bynum
* INF Joel Guzman
* OF Jorge Padilla

Nats Make 11 Cuts
More About the Cuts

3/14/09 Centerfield/Scoreboard Construction Photos

Part 2 will focus on the centerfield/scoreboard area. Only 3 weeks until 2009FanFest and the work seems to moving along.

This is probably one of my favorite photos of the work being done of the outfield. From front to back of the photo it shows just how much work is being done in this area. This view is from the handicap parking area looking toward the scoreboard and centerfield.

Workers in the scoreboard area where there will be seating and a bar area.

Worker around the scoreboard.

STAY OFF GRASS!!! sign by the scoreboard asking the construction workers to stay off.

Centerfield work area

Another view of the centerfield work area

View towards the soreboard from centerfield

Entrance/Office Building Construction Photos 3/14/09

Another weekend, another trip to City Island to check in on the construction project. This will be another 2-Part series. Part 1 will focus on the Entrance area/new office building. Part 2 will be posted later today and will focus on the work being done in the centerfield and scoreboard area.

All of the photos will be available for viewing over at Senators Renovations on Flickr. There are a few extras on there too.

In Coming!! Steel Beams being lifted into place.

Looking towards centerfield through the beams which will be the new entrance area/office building.

Workers sits on a beam and looks out over the project. While another worker gives the thumbs-up letting the crane operator know the beam is in place.

A worker is sawing a pipe down to size.

Worker hangs over the edge as he secures the beam.

Construction worker moving wood.

A lot of steel was put into place since my visit the week before.

Steel was laying everywhere while it waits to be set into place.

Time for a drink!!!

Construction on Commerce Bank Park.

Working in a ditch. Not sure if this is for plumbing or electric.

Another view of the office building/entrance area.

Another view looking out towards centerfield.

View from the top of the hill by the horse station.

Crane used to lift the beams into place.

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