Results tagged ‘ Jerry Sands ’
Take Home Loons History!
Every year, the Michigan Baseball Foundation auctions off exclusive Loons and Dodgers memorabilia on the concourse at Dow Diamond during a Loons home game. The first silent auction of the 2011 season will be this Friday, July 22. Below is a non-exhaustive list of the featured silent auction items.
- An authentic Los Angeles Dodger jersey, number 22, signed by former Loon / current Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw. Made by Majestic, this jersey also features a limited edition 55-since-‘55 sleeve patch, commemorating the franchise’s first world championship in 1955. (pictured above)
- An authentic base from Dow Diamond signed by the Loons 2010 All-Stars: Angelo Songco, Luis Vasquez, Rafael Ynoa, Allen Webster, and All-Star Game MVP Jerry Sands.
- A “Ball Parks – A Panoramic View” coffee table picture book signed by Dodger legend Tommy Lasorda; the 1984 NL MVP Ryne Sanberg; and current Dodgers manager Don Mattingly.
- Individual game bats used and signed by 2011 Loons Jesse Bosnik, Roman Pena and Bobby Coyle.
- A special Los Angeles Dodgers ‘Route of Champions’ baseball, signed by the Dodgers Special Advisor to the Chairman and Hall of Famer, Tommy Lasorda.
- A framed 2011 Great Lakes Loons promo poster signed by the Los Angeles Dodgers 2010 First Round selection, right-handed pitcher Zach Lee. (pictured below)
The proceeds generated from the auction are one of the many ways the Michigan Baseball Foundation raises funds to continue its mission of creating regional economic development and supporting youth organizations. To bid on auction items, simply attended Friday’s Loons game and look for the Foundation’s presence on the third base side of the concourse.
The Michigan Baseball Foundation owns and operates Dow Diamond, the home of the Great Lakes Loons, and has awarded 124 grants totaling $402,115 to non-profit organizations extending to twelve counties of the Great Lakes Bay Region.
Spring Stories & Highlights
Now that Spring Training is well underway, a lot of fun little stories surrounding our Great Lakes Loons players have been surfacing. From success stories, as players shine in big league camp, to those of the more quirky variety, featuring Ozzie Guillen and the Dodgers version of American Idol.
And just incase you’re not a big reader, I’ve included some photos to get you through all of these silly things called words.
The first story deals with 2010 Loons closer Luis Vasquez and teammate Rubby de la Rosa. Both are non-roster invitees to this year’s big league spring camp and should be showcasing their arms; but the team’s veterans were looking for a different kind of talent. They had De la Rosa pick up the microphone to try rapping, while Luis Vasquez (above) showcased his vast collection of magic tricks. Read the full LA Times article here.
Outfielder Kyle Russell, of the 2009 Loons team, was on the receiving end of one of Ozzie Guillen’s many small verbal assaults during a recent Spring Training match-up. In a joking manner, Guillen (the Chicago White Sox manager) called out to him from the dugout saying that since he was wearing a big league number, he should get a big league helmet. For more
on Guillen’s chides, visit CSN Chicago’s full report here.
Kenley Jansen hit only .227 when he was a catcher for the Loons in 2008, but he gave up his bat and helmet recently to become an arm in the Dodgers bullpen. The move to the mound has been a sensational trip for Jansen, who debuted with the Dodgers on July 24 and finished the season with a 0.67 ERA in 25 appearances. Now MLB.com is likening Jansen and his cutter to the Yankees’ closer Mariano Rivera. Read full story here, video included.
Also making a lot of noise in big league camp is Loons 2010 slugger Jerry Sands, who already has two home runs this Spring and is hitting .462 (6 hits in 13 at-bats). His most recent home run, a three-run blast from Monday, helped the Dodgers break a 1-1 tie in the seventh inning. Here is LA Times coverage of the event and more on what the Dodgers may do with Sands in 2011. A good photo too.
For those readers above the age of 21, I have more good news! The Loons Summer Ale from Tri-City Brewing is back on the market! The official brewery of the Great Lakes Loons will have this smooth, clean, light blonde ale on tap at Dow Diamond this summer as well. For a more detailed description of the Loons Summer Ale, as well as all of Tri-City Brewing’s collection, click here.
These photos I found on the blog ‘Vin Scully is My Homeboy’ featuring our former Loons in Dodger garb. Our former Loons are all growns up!
One for the road: 2008 Loon Andrew Lambo gets the nickname ‘Lambino’ with the Pirates (video too)
TOP TEN Loons Games of 2010, Part 2
And now to continue the list started last week, I present Part 2 of the Top Ten Loons Games of 2010. For Games 10 through 6, click here.
____________________________________________________________________________
5. ‘Jerry’s Last Hurrah!’ – 6.17.2010
Jerry Sands was the Loons most valuable player during the first-half of the season, accumulating 48 runs, 81 hits, 18 home runs and 46 RBI in 69 games with the Loons for a .333 batting average and three MWL Player of the Week awards. On June 17, Sands made sure his last game at Dow Diamond was a good one by going 3-for-5 to account for four of the team’s seven runs. But it was his final at-bat that really made the night special. Tied 6-6 in the eighth inning, Sands blasted a solo home run to left field that rung half-way up the flagpole (or even higher depending on who you ask), which proved to be the game winner. Less than a week later, Sands said his final goodbye to the MWL by blasting a homer in the league’s All-Star Game (pictured), of which he was named MVP. Full Story / Know Your Loons / All-Star Coverage / All-Star Photos
4. ‘All Wall’ – 7.7.2010
Loons starting pitcher Josh Wall used 117 pitches on Wednesday, July 7, to become the franchise’s first pitcher to throw for a 9-inning complete game. To make the outing even more special, Wall kept the visiting Lugnuts team scoreless to record his first career shutout. The 23-year-old limited the Lugnuts to three hits in the 8-0 win, tossing six strikeouts to three walks in the two-hour and 40-minute bout. The win was Wall’s fifth in a row; he eventually finished the season as the Midwest League’s strikeout leader with 151. Full Story / Video Highlights
3. ‘Avenging ’09′ – 9.10.2010
In 2009, the Loons were ousted from their first Midwest League postseason by the Fort Wayne TinCaps, who eventually went on to become champions of the league. But the Loons had the last laugh in 2010, winning 6-4 in Game 3 of the Midwest League’s Quarterfinals. The Loons jumped out to an early lead in the contest, but the ‘Caps rallied to make it 3-2 in the sixth inning. Angelo Songco’s RBI-double and a Joe Becker sacrifice-fly recaptured the Loons lead and Rafael Ynoa’s homer in the seventh was icing on the cake. With the win, the Loons advanced to the MWL’s Eastern Division Championship Series for the second year in a row. Full Story / Video Highlights
2. ‘A Night of Numbers’ – 8.24.2010
With a Dow Diamond record-high crowd of 6,079 in attendance, the Great Lakes Loons registered their 82nd win of the season, surpassing the franchise’s highest single-season win total of 81 (’09) with a 9-3 victory over the West Michigan Whitecaps. Earlier in the day, Loons Manager Juan Bustabad was honored by his peers as the Midwest League Manager of the Year. His special day continued later that night with the win, the 700th of his managerial career. Homering on the night was Jaime Ortiz with a two-run dinger to the right-field fire pit and a solo shot from third baseman Brian Ruggiano. Full Story / Video Highlights / 700 Photos
1. ‘The Crazy Eighth’ – 9.9.2010
Never has the Funky Feather been more in unison than on September 9, when the Great Lakes Loons rallied from three runs down to defeat the Fort Wayne TinCaps by a score of 10-5 in Game 2 of the Midwest League’s Quarterfinals and avoid postseason elimination. As seen in Top Loons Game No. 3, the Loons went on to win the series against the defending champs, but it all started in the seventh inning of Game 2. The Loons chipped away at the TinCaps lead in the seventh with a Nick Buss single that scored two runs, which were also the team’s first of the series. But the madness reached its peak in the eighth inning as the Loons used five hits, two walks and two errors to score eight runs and force a deciding Game 3. The game, filled with high energy and one absurd inning, is what From the Nest considers the most memorable game of the 2010 season. Full Story / Video Highlights
Former Loons Report: July 2
Now about midway through the 2010 baseball season, here’s an update on how some of your favorite former Great Lakes Loons are doing around the baseball universe.
Clayton Kershaw (2007) - The Loons first player to reach the majors had the honor of pitching in the Dodgers Home Opener this season, earning the win over the Diamondbacks on 4/13 with his seven strikeouts over 5.1 innings, allowing two runs on three hits. With a team-leading 7-4 record, Kershaw has steadily improved his ERA to 3.19, which now leads the Dodgers starters. The 22-year-old southpaw has MLB’s sixth lowest average against, holding batters at .207.
Carlos Santana (2007) - On 6/11, Carlos Santana became the third former-Loon to reach the major leagues and was recently highlighted here, and has his own feature story by Loons radio broadcaster Brad Golder in LoonsNest: Volume 4, Issue 2. Through 6/30, Santana has a .345 average (20 hits in 58 at-bats) in 18 games for the Cleveland Indians. Consistently batting third in the Tribe’s line-up, Santana has four homers, six multi-hit outings, and four multi-RBI outings.
Trayvon Robinson (2007) - Robinson, who currently has a .290 average for the Chattanooga Lookouts, had a great June where he totaled 37 hits in 100 at-bats for a .370 average over 26 games. Prior to his impressive June, the switch-hitter from California was honored as the Southern League’s Hitter of the Week (5/24-6/1). As of 7/2, Robinson has been selected as a Southern League All-Star.
Dee Gordon (2009) – In 73 games with the Double-A Chattanooga Lookouts, Dee Gordon has maintained a .290 batting average (87×300), hitting 10 doubles, five triples and two home runs for 24 RBI. Serving as the team’s lead-off batter, Gordon has continued to be a threat on the bases and leads the Southern League with 30 steals this season. Gordon has also been selected as a Southern League All-Star, but will instead play in the MLB’s XM Futures Game.
Kyle Russell (2009) – After beginning the year in Inland Empire, Russell was finally reunited with his 2009 Co-Midwest League MVP Dee Gordon on 6/8 when Russell made his first start in Double-A, where he went 2 for 5 with a triple. Russell hit .354 (70×198) in High-A, totaling 16 home runs and 31 extra-base hits over 53 games. His impressive offensive production earned him three California League Hitter of the Week awards (4/19-4/26, 5/17-24, 5/31-6/7).
Aaron Miller (2009) – The Los Angeles Dodgers number one draft pick from 2009 began the season with the 66ers, making 13 starts, and was promoted to Double-A in the middle of June while still holding the California League’s third-best ERA of 2.77 ERA (23×74.2). In his only start with the Lookouts thus far, Miller picked up a tough-luck loss, allowing two runs over six innings of work.
All stats are through June 30, 2010. If you are curious about any other Loons, let us know by making a comment below.
Jerry Sands (2010) – Also with his own feature story in the LoonsNest, Jerry Sands tore up the Midwest League and the League’s All-Star Game, racking up 81 hits, 16 doubles, three triples and 18 homers over 69 games with the Loons before debuting in Double-A on 6/24. For Chattanooga, Sands has continued to impress and has a .360 ERA (9×25) and four home runs in seven games. He recently earned his fourth Hitter of the Week award, his first from the Southern League (6/21-6/28).
Fort Wayne and the Seven Loons
Earlier this week Fort Wayne hosted the 2010 Midwest League All-Star Game and Home Run Derby. Above is a photo collage of the field on Day One, prepped for the Little League Derby that took place first.
Loons slugger Jerry Sands hit two home runs in the Derby, but needed four to qualify for the second round. Wisconsin’s Khris Davis was crowned the Derby Champion after hitting 25 over three rounds.
A collection of little leaguers were denied the chance at fielding a pop-fly when Sands lifted this pitch to the grass berm in left-center. Sands other home run was drilled onto the streets outside of the TinCaps Parkview Field.
Loons shortstop Christian Lara fields groundballs during batting practice on Tuesday before the big game. Lara, batting first for the Eastern Division, went 2-for-3 with two runs.
What would a Dodgers blog be without a picture of Manatee Ramirez of the ZOOperstars. On the right, Lara shows off his trophy from his win in the infield skills competition.
The five Loons not in the starting lineup stand in the base path during the pregame ceremonies. From left to right: Luis Vasquez, Will Savage, Allen Webster, Angelo Songco and Rafael Ynoa.
After the game, Sands was named the MiLB.com Top Star MVP for his two-run jack in the first inning, redeeming his low HR output in the Derby the day before.
And at the very end of the night, after the Eastern All-Stars won 6-2, the TinCaps promotion team dumped several plush baseballs outside of the dugouts, which the players swarmed to. Here, Ynoa winds up for a toss into the crowd of 6,026 in attendance.
Want more All-Star Game coverage? Click here. And for those of you craving the long ball, click here.
The Celebration
The champagne, the goggles, the soaked jerseys…we’ve all seen it on TV. But it’s usually the Major League clubs that we watch. So what about in the minors? Are things the same? What really goes on in the clubhouse after a win? Well, here’s what happened in the Loons clubhouse following Wednesday night’s 4-3 win over the South Bend Silver Hawks.
To get the full account we’ll need to start where the celebration did, which was on the field after the newest Loon, outfielder Stetson Banks, caught the final out to seal the deal and give the Loons their first-ever postseason berth prior to the All-Star Game. The players rushed the mound, throwing hats, gloves and sunglasses along the way, as if they were graduation caps.
Bound All-Star Luis Vasquez, No. 40 seen jumping for joy, was on the mound to close it out for the Loons Wednesday night and tossed a hitless ninth inning, three up three down, to allow the celebration to commence as soon as possible. He earned his 13th save of the year and is tied for second league-wide.
Seeing how the win was a come-from-behind effort, Jerry Sands helped continue the Loons tradition and gave Manager Juan Bustabad a shaving cream towel to the face. A well-deserved gesture for the skipper that has his men at 41-24 with four games to go.
The team’s harassment of Busty continued as pitchers Allen Webster and Josh Wall surprise him from behind as he gave his playoff-clinching speech to the 3,435 in attendance at Dow Diamond.
And with the blink of an eye, the diamond was left all alone, with only dirty belongings from Loons players remaining, traded in without shame for the champagne that beckoned from the clubhouse.
That’s when the long-time baseball tradition took place. All of the players, coaches and trainers got involved in distributing the iced beverages, with the single goal of making sure that no one in the room was left without that cold and sticky feeling.
Bustabad managed to quiet down the group, only briefly, in order to give another speech to his guys. He mainly reminded them that the prize wasn’t the berth, but the eventual championship, and getting that ring at the end of the year. Cheers were coaxed, followed by more dousing.
Like any good party, when all of the liquids were depleted, a dance party broke out. Here shortstop Christian Lara encourages Jerry Sands to keep up the jig.
The final action of the night had Bustabad fulfilling his promise to his players. He told them earlier in the season that he would let them shave his trademark mustache when they clinched a playoff spot. Rubby de la Rosa did the honors, while Busty’s kid joined in on the mohawk craze at the hands of third baseman Brian Ruggiano.
The Loons will have to regroup on Thursday, as they close out the series with South Bend, before heading to Dayton for their last series of the first-half.
Swing with the Loons
Last Monday, June 7, the Great Lakes Loons used their off-day to hit the links at the beautiful Bucks Run Golf Club with a number of friends from the Great Lakes Bay Region for the second annual ’Swing with the Loons’. The event is one of the Michigan Baseball Foundation’s major fundraisers and pairs each participating group with one Loons player for 18-holes of golf.
The following is a photo recap of the event:
Loons closer Luis Vasquez approaches this steep shot, getting special instructions from Larry Barco, one of his teammates in the MidMichigan Health group.
After a few swings and misses, Vasquez surrenders his club to the group, while laughing at his lack of skill. It’s ok though, because he’s got 11 saves and a 1.54 ERA.
Here, catcher Gorman Erickson and the Fabiano group follow one of their teammates tee-shots at one of the courses four par threes, all of which had a special hole-in-one prize waiting to be claimed.
On the Hole Four tee-box, Bob Rathbun soft tosses a golf ball to Loons slugger Jerry Sands who takes a swing under the beautiful skies. The ball landed in the water, but spirits remained high for the Chemical Bank team, who eventually finished second overall.
Sands wasn’t the only one to set aside wedges and drivers for the more comfortable wooden club, as Brian Ruggiano (above) and Brian Cavazos-Galvez were both sighted with bats.
Starting pitcher Elisaul Pimentel putts from the fringe with the Andrews, Hooper, & Pavlik Team standing by.
A little less focused on the golf was budding wildlife preservationist Edwin Contreras, who holds a 2.08 ERA in two relief appearances for the Loons.
At the end of the day, it was pitcher Jordan Roberts and the Bierlein team who finished the day with the lowest score.
In second place was Jerry Sands and the Chemical Bank Team.
The third place finishers were the Fisher Companies Team, accompanied by Loons DH/1B Jaime Ortiz.
Thanks again to everyone involved in the event, it was a tremendous success!
The New Do
It started at the beginning of the Loons 10-game homestand on May 28, when Brian Cavazos-Galvez busted out the Fro-Hawk. Then Galvez took the scissors to outfielder Blake Smith’s hair to create his Faux-Hawk. Now one week later, almost half of the Great Lakes Loons wear the bold hair-style and, though it didn’t start that way, has become a symbol of their push for a mid-season playoff berth.
Blake Smith filled-in From the Nest about the goings-on in the clubhouse. He claimed that catcher Gorman Erickson, donning a subtle faux-hawk of his own, is the main hair stylist for the team and made a collective decision with Galvez to go with the Fro-Hawk.
“It started off as a little fun,” he said. “But now I think it’s turned into something, you know, guys are starting to hit.”
While Smith sees a growth in on-field production, a few Loons remain reluctant.
“There’s still a little resistance, a few people aren’t buying into it all the way, but hopefully the other mo-hawkers can convince them.”
“JT [Wise] was a little hard to get,” Smith explained. “Because he had that big mop of hair, but yea, we got it on him, and you know I think that’ll help change the others’ thoughts.”
For now, pitcher Andy Suiter and infielder Austin Yount stand tall with locks of flowing hair, but may soon look like their surrounding teammates J.T. Wise and Steve Smith.
Here is Jerry Sands wearing what Blake Smith calls the ‘Chuck Liddell’.To this point the following players have made the ‘Move to Mo’: Brian Cavazos-Galvez, Blake Smith, Gorman Erickson, Rafael Ynoa, J.T. Wise, Luis Vasquez, Jerry Sands, Steve Smith, Andy Suiter and Brett Wallach.
Quick Hits: The Dayton Series
The Stat Shift: The Loons began their series against Dayton hitting .263, second in the MWL, and dropped only to .264 at series’ end. Jerry Sands hit one homer to bring his league-leading total to 13; a hit in all four games extended his hit streak to a season-high 11 games. Also maintaining his hit streak throughout the series was third baseman Brian Ruggiano, now at 8 games.
Also going up was the team ERA, not as good a thing. It rose from 2.81 to 2.87, allowing Clinton to tie for first place in the category.
Prospecting the Competition:
Loons vs. the Reds No. 15 Prospect SS Didi Gregorius – The Curacao-native started at shortstop in all four of the games against Great Lakes and went .222 (4-for-18), scoring one run and three RBI.
Loons vs. the Reds No. 25 Prospect RHP J.C. Sulbaran – The Loons faced four starting pitchers from Dayton, but never Sulbaran, who started for the Dragons the day prior to the series on 5/12, pitching for his third win of the year through five innings against Fort Wayne.
Feel-Good Moment: Down one run in the bottom of the 14th inning with two outs, Rafael Ynoa and Christian Lara strung together two pre-scripted doubles to win the Loons longest game of the season. Full story here.
Career Game: The Dodgers No. 10 prospect RHP Allen Webster tossed a career-high 11 strikeouts against the Dragons on to notch his fifth win (second most in the Midwest League) of 2010. In the outing, Webster issued only one walk and one run on five hits over six innings.
Scoreless Innings: Reliever J.B. Paxson (1-1, 1.84) offered up two hitless innings in two appearances for the Loons this series. In only two of Paxson’s 10 appearances for the Loons in 2010 has the right-hander surrendered an earned run; that’s 12.2 scoreless innings out of 14.2.
Justin Miller pitched for five scoreless innings of relief in the 14-inning game three. Closers Luis Vasquez and Steve Smith also combined for five scoreless innings in the series.
Series Summary: What did we learn about the team? The Loons are capable of winning back-to-back games at home. The team did so in games two and three, the first time since sweeping the South Bend Silver Hawks from April 14-16. Despite this feat, the Loons reoccurring big-inning giveaway at Dow Diamond is still present, as witnessed in the series’ final game that saw Dayton put up a pair of three-run innings to rally for the win.
Series Highlight Reel: Game One Highlights – L 5-4; Game Two Highlights – W 5-1; Game Three Highlights – W 4-3 (14); Game Four Highlights – L 6-2.
Glancing Ahead: The Loons are back today to face the Midwest League’s last place team, the 11-25 Bowling Green Hot Rods. The Rods rank 7th in hitting (.247) and 14th in ERA (4.07). The Loons went 2-1 against Bowling Green earlier this season, outscoring them 11-9. Great Lakes looks for its second home-series win in its seventh try this season.
37 down, 103 to go.
Quick Hits: The Fort Wayne Series
The Loons held their second homestand of the season over the weekend, taking on the fifth place Fort Wayne TinCaps. The series was abbreviated due to rain showers, but here’s what we learned from the two games that were played.
Sands keeps hitting: After going 9-for-20 (.450) on the road trip prior to the series, Loons 1B/OF Jerry Sands continued his success at the plate, improving his batting average from .407 at series’ start to .443 (27×61) at series’ end. Sands went five-for-seven (.714) against the TinCaps, hitting two homers and one double. His heavy hitting even got the attention of ESPN:LA blog Dodger Thoughts.
Prospecting the Competition:
Loons vs. San Diego’s No. 8 prospect CF Everett Williams – The TinCaps highest rated prospect was held to just one hit in seven at-bats (.143). Williams was struck out once in the series by Loons reliever J.B. Paxson.
Loons vs. San Diego’s No. 9 prospect 3B Edinson Rincon – The 19-year-old third baseman out of the Dominican Republic was held hitless in six at-bats. Rincon had one fielding error in game one.
Loons vs. San Diego’s No. 19 prospect RHP Jerry Sullivan – Sullivan, the TinCaps highest rated pitching prospect, started for Fort Wayne in game two. The right-handed pitcher allowed two runs (both Jerry Sands leadoff homers) on four hits over five innings of work. He had two strikeouts and two walks.
Clutch Performance (Offense): Entering the ninth inning trailing by one, right fielder Blake Smith crushed a leadoff home run against TinCaps closer Nick Schumacher, setting the team up for the eventual win.
Clutch Performance (Defense): In game two, after Loons pitchers surrendered two scores to Fort Wayne in the sixth inning, J.B. Paxson was called to the mound, facing two runners in scoring position and no outs. He pitched his first batter into a ground out that scored a run, but went on to pitch three hitless innings, striking out a game-high four TinCaps, to keep the Loons in the game.
Scoreless innings: Great Lakes Loons relievers J.B. Paxson, Jordan Roberts and Steve Smith combined for six scoreless innings, fanning six and walking one. The three allowed just three hits. The entire pitching staff allowed only two TinCaps to have more than one hit over the two-game series.
Series Summary: Game one presented some of the Loons continuing troubles of stringing hits together for runs; the Loons converted only one run on 10 hits in the game’s first five innings. Game two showcased the team’s never-give-up mentality. The Loons netted their first walk-off win, in comeback fashion, to give the fans a little taste of the late-inning heroics that became so familiar last season.
Glancing Ahead: The boys are off Monday and will make a seven-game road trip starting against the Midwest League’s last place Bowling Green Hot Rods (4-14) and then traveling to Ohio once again to try and topple the eastern division’s leader, the Lake County Captains (14-4).
17 down, 123 to go.
loonslivingston
Matt DeVries
LoonsWassel
Recent Comments