April 2009
Dime-A-Dog Night
The Clippers entertain Louisville for the first Sugardale “Dime-A-Dog” Night at Huntington Park… first pitch is 6:35pm.
A Grand Opening…
A Grand Opening
Dan Gearino, Dispatch
Aidan Gregory went to his first baseball game yesterday, which also happened to be the first game played at Huntington Park.
The 4-year-old from the Northwest Side sat with his family along Nationwide Boulevard and watched the procession of marching bands, baseball heroes and local dignitaries that preceded the first pitch.
Somebody is going to have to tell Aidan he won’t always get a parade before a Columbus Clippers game. And he won’t always get perfect weather.
More press fom the opener…
Birth of a ballpark (Jim Massie, Dispatch)
New park takes place among city’s sacred yards (Bob Hunter, Dispatch)
Final game of the trip…
The Clippers need a win tonight to finish the trip 5-4. Here are the lineups:
Clippers
1. Michael Brantley CF
2. Luis Valbuena 2B
3. Wes Hodges 3B
4. Matt LaPorta LF
5. Michael Aubrey DH
6. Chris Gimenez C
7. Stephen Head RF
8. Andy Marte 1B
9. Wilson Valdez SS
P – Kirk Saarloos (0-1, 7.50)
Toledo
1. Will Rhymes 2B
2. Ryan Raburn CF
3. Wilkin Ramirez LF
4. Mike Hessman 3B
5. Brent Clevlen DH
6. Ryan Roberson 1B
7. Clete Thomas RF
8. Dusty Ryan C
9. Brent Dlugach SS
P – Lucas French (0-0, 1.80)
Game Notes:
Game_Notes_4-17.pdf
International League News & Notes:
IL_News_&_Notes_4-16-09.pdf
Parking situation for the homestand…
This was released today concerning Tuesday and Thursday’s games while the BlueJackets are hosting playoff games at the arena:
Columbus, Ohio-based Nationwide Realty Investors (NRI) has released important parking information for Tuesday, April 21 and Thursday, April 23, when both the Columbus Blue Jackets and the Columbus Clippers will host home games in the Arena District.
With more than 15,000 parking spaces available in and around the Arena District, there will be plenty of great parking for next week’s hockey and baseball games. All lots and garages will be open for public use.
Huntington Park patrons are encouraged to access the parking areas at the west end of the Arena District, which are easily accessible via the Neil Avenue exit off of I-670. In order to utilize discounted $3.00 parking passes, Clippers ticket holders must pre-purchase the passes online at www.arenadistrictparking.com by entering the event code located on each ticket. The $3.00 parking passes are valid for the Neil Avenue and Arena Grand Theatre garages, and the lot located east of the Eye Center along Neil Avenue. Both the parking pass and event ticket will be required for entry. Those patrons who do not pre-purchase parking will be required to pay the Nationwide Arena event rates posted at the garage and lot entrances.
Attendees of the Blue Jackets games are encouraged to park at the east end of the Arena District (Front Street and Chestnut parking garages). The east end of the District is easily accessed from the Third Street exit at I-670. As always, parking lots and garages reserved for Blue Jacket VIP and season ticket holders, located just west of Nationwide Arena, will also be open.
In honor of the Columbus Blue Jackets first Stanley Cup playoff appearance, the Arena District will host activities on both game days beginning at 3:30 p.m. on Battelle plaza, and Blue Jacket game time is 7:00 p.m. both evenings. In order to improve the flow of traffic through the Arena District, the Columbus Clippers games on the 21st and 23rd have been moved to a 6:05 p.m. start.
Download the press release:
Parking Press Release 4-17-09.pdf
Parking map for the Arena District:
PARKING_MAP_-_current.pdf
Clippers Unveil Huntington Park tomorrow
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Staring Lineups and Game Notes
Clippers vs. Mud Hens at 5:30pm from the Glass City. Here are the lineups:
Clippers
1. Michael Brantley CF
2. Luis Valbuena 2B
3. Wes Hodges 3B
4. Matt LaPorta LF
5. Michael Aubrey 1B
6. Jordan Brown DH
7. Stephen Head RF
8. Wyatt Toregas C
9. Wilson Valdez SS
P – Tomo Ohka
Toledo
1. Will Rhymes 2B
2. Ryan Raburn CF
3. Brent Clevelen RF
4. Ryan Roberson 1B
5. Mike Hessman 3B
6. Wilkin Ramirez LF
7. Clete Thomas DH
8. Brent Dlugach SS
9. Dane Sardinha C
P – Ron Chiavacci
Tonight’s Game Notes:
Game_Notes_4-16.pdf
Clippings 4-16-09
* Where are they now? Larry Broadway: The 2008 “Clipper of the Year” award winner is now with Indianapolis. Here is an interview I conducted with him:
Larry Broadway 4-15-09.MP3
* Who’s Hot and Who’s Not:
HOT – Michael Aubrey .542 (13-for-24), 1 HR, 7 RBI; Matt LaPorta .400 (8-for-20), 1 HR, 3 RBI;
NOT – Chris Gimenez .000 (0-for-18), 9 K; Ryan Edell 0-0, 16.20 ERA, 6 ER, 3.1 IP
* Chris Gimenez seems to be recovering fine from a concussion suffered Tuesday. He is listed as day-to-day.
* Josh Barfield will join the Clippers in the next couple days. He’ll play second base and outfield. Clippers second baseman Luis Valbuena will move to shortstop and third base a few times a week.
* Harold Cooper will be the Grand Marshal for the downtown “Opening Day Parade” on Saturday. Fromer Indians Bob Feller, Len Barker and Joe Charboneau will also be in attendance. The parade begins at 1:30pm in the Arena District.
* Tuesday (4/21) and Thursday’s (4/23) games will now start at 6:05pm instead of 6:35pm because the Columus BlueJackets are hosting Detroit in the NHL playoffs.
* Don’t forget… the first Dime-A-Dog Nigh at Huntington Park is Monday.
Tonight: Clippers at Toledo, 5:30pm on AM 920 WMNI.
Staring Lineups and Game Notes
Morning baseball in Indy. Here are the lineups:
Clippers
1. Michael Brantley CF
2. Luis Valbuena 2B
3. Wes Hodges 3B
4. Matt LaPorta RF
5. Michael Aubrey DH
6. Andy Marte 1B
7. Jordan Brown LF
8. Wyatt Toregas C
9. Wilson Valdez SS
P – David Huff
Indianapolis
1. Andrew McCutchen CF
2. Brian Bixler SS
3. Neil Walker 3B
4. Garrett Jones RF
5. Steve Pearce 1B
6. Andy Phillips DH
7. Jeff Salazar LF
8. Erik Kratz C
9. Shelby Ford 2B
P – Ty Taubenheim
Today’s game notes:
Game_Notes_4-15.pdf
Nice story if today’s Ceveland Plain Dealer by Doug Lesmerises: Columbus’ brave new world: Class AAA Clippers boast a new stadium and new Indians affiliation
Down on the Farm:
The Akron Aeros were rained out yesterday, but the did make a roster move, filling their spot vacated by Ryan Edell’s promotion to Columbus. The Aeros activated RHP Carlton Smith from the disabled list. He missed the start of the season with a right shoulder impingement. Smith went 12-6 with a 4.37 ERA for Kinston last year, finishing in a four-way tie for the Carolina League lead in victories.
roster moves, Gimenez update
The Clippers were beaten 13-6 Tuesday night in Indianapolis.
After the Indians game, Josh Barfield was optioned to Columbus and Aaron Laffey was recalled by Cleveland. Laffey will pitch in Kansas City on Wednesday (Laffey’s 24th birthday). The addition of Barfield gives the Clippers 13 position players and 11 pitchers.
Here is an updated roster:
Roster 4-15-09.pdf
Catcher Chris Gimenez was hit in the head by the bat of Robinzon Diaz during the fourth inning. The backswing of Diaz caught Gimenez on the top of his head. Gimenez suffered a concussion and required five stitches. “He’ll be day to day and should be fine tomorrow.” Torey Lovullo said, “We’re just hoping there is no post-concussion syndrome.”
Audio highlights and Torey Lovullo’s post-game comments can be heard here.
Tomo Ohka likely to start Thursday
Clippers manager Torey Lovullo won’t fully commit to Tomo Ohka as the starter for Thursday’s series opener in Toledo, but he came pretty close. “He’s very qualified and we feel very good about the possibility of him starting” Lovullo said. Ohka pitched six innings, allowing four earned runs and six hits in the nightcap of Saturday’s doubleheader in Louisville.
Aaron Laffey was the scheduled starter for Thursday, but he’ll pitch for Cleveland on Wednesday in Kansas City. The Indians still need to make a roster move to open a spot for the southpaw.
Ryan Mitchell & Scott Leo
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