Left Field Lite: Minor League Travels Round Two

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Reading’s FirstEnergy Stadium provides cheap eats and entertainment for the whole famiy. Photos by Tom Hagan, ’11

In the continuing travels of a father and son exploring the minor and independent league  stadiums  within an hour of Philadelphia,  this weekend’s decision brought me to Reading, PA, home of the Reading Phillies, the AA affiliate of the Philadelphia Phillies.

Left Field Lite: Say Goodbye to the Beard?

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Jayson Werth could soon find himself on another team if the Phillies get the right deal

When you’re a defending NL Champion seven games out of first place, it’s time to make a trade.

Right now, Ruben Amaro, Jr. and the Phillies’ front office are looking to get some pitching, preferably someone who will be more than a rental player. As of today, the only two people who fit those guidelines are the Astros’ Roy Oswalt and the Diamondbacks’ Dan Haren. Both of these players are top of the line pitchers, which means the Phillies will once again have to sacrifice some of their top prospects in order add rotation strength.

What this means for fans, however, is that one of the Phils’ prominent players will be saying goodbye in the near future. The man I’m speaking of is outfielder Jayson Werth.

Left Field Lite: An Alternative to the Big Ballpark (Part 1)

A view of one side of the home of the Wilmington Blue Rocks

Well folks, being a college student I must admit that as much as I love the Phillies, going to the ballpark can be downright expensive. For those who lack their own automobile, an R5 trip and subway ride can cost over $10, parking (for those who have cars) is up to $15, tickets in the cheapest seats can cost up to $19 (with processing fees), hot dogs are $3.50 a piece, and for those of us over 21, beer comes in at $7.25 a bottle. As much fun as major league baseball is to watch in person, for those of us in school it can be a serious strain on the wallet.

That is where this post comes in. This week, I was inspired to find every minor league and independent league ballpark within an hour (or so) of Philadelphia when my dad and I were looking for something to do this weekend. After a successful trip tonight to Delaware, I now begin the first of what I hope will be many posts presenting you, the readers, with some alternatives to the big ballpark that still provide major league entertainment.

Summer Days: Crookenden an Orientation fixture

While most of the St. Joe’s community is at home enjoying the last throes of summer, members of the Athletic Department are hard at work preparing for the year ahead. Here are some of their stories.

Orientation is a way for freshman to gradually adjust to the enormous life change they are about to undergo. But there’s more happening on Gest Lawn than you might think. Among the field games, cookouts, and icebreakers, Ian Crookenden is hard at work.

The Saint Joseph’s tennis teams’ head coach is making the most of his first full summer in charge by attending the same Orientation sessions his newest players are at. The atmosphere gives him a chance to get to know his players and their families, and allows him to change roles from being the athletes’ recruiter to being their coach.

“I’m there to encourage recruits to go through the process of Orientation like other student athletes,” said the former UCLA Bruin and NCAA All-American. “I’m there to get to know recruits better, and to meet parents and answer any questions they have.”

Crookenden’s concern at these visits has nothing to do with what his new players will do on the court; he is there to ensure the student-athletes he brought in assimilate to their new school in every possible aspect.

“It’s to reinforce that they are members of this university and that they have to meet their obligations as a student and community participant, not just an athlete,” Crookenden said. “I don’t want them to miss out on any of the things that come with being a student, and this is the perfect venue to reinforce that.”

The confluence of incoming freshmen also provides a pool of possible walk-ons. While Crookenden said he did have “several people ask about tryouts or walking on”, he added that it is too early in his tenure at St. Joe’s to declare his attendance at Orientation an effective method of recruiting.

-Matthew De George ’10