Travelerocity

Travs win Title!

With a full moon and deep in the heart of Texas the Arkansas Travelers pulled off the improbable Monday night, winning the '08 Texas League Championship. They crushed the Frisco RoughRiders with a huge seven run sixth, capped by a two run homer by Brian Stavisky. The Riders self-destructed in the inning, committing error after error and the Travs took advantage taking the final and deciding game 11-3.

A finish no one could have imagined during an eight game losing streak in August. Despite being mired in last place through out the second-half the Travelers eeked in to the playoffs by winning over Springfield in a thrilling come from behind extra inning victory on the final day of the first-half.

Not many, myself not included, gave the Travelers much of a chance in the initial round of the playoffs against Northwest Arkansas. I had mentioned in posts prior to the playoffs, I thought the Travs would have to be reckoned with, especially with the addition of their new young slugging prospects, Mark Trumbo and Hank Conger. It worked out that way, except no one including myslef ever dreamed the club would sweep the Naturals in three.

So going into tonight's fifth and deciding game of the Series, it would have seemed momentum would have swung to the Riders who won game four Sunday night. But it was the RoughRiders, who fell apart and the Travelers cruised to the Texas League Title for I'm sure the most improbable title in the Club's history.

A team that some how climbed out of one hole after another all season.  Would you call them over acheivers? I don't think so, not after winning every big game they had to win. And after taking it to the heavily favored Frisco RoughRiders and winning two of three on their turf, you just simply can call them.... CHAMPS!

September 15, 2008
	Final    1   2   3   4   5   6   7   8   9      R   H   E   Arkansas   0   0   4   0   0   7   0   0   0      11   11   0   Frisco   1   0   0   1   0   0   1   0   0      3   10   3  Recap | Box | W: B. Browning (2-0, 0.00); L: N. Feliz (2-1, 3.38) HR: ARK: B. Stavisky (2). FRI: J. Whittleman (1).

Post by Lonesome Traveler

Travs, Conger capture game one

DH Hank Conger now has eight runs batted in during the four games he's played with the Arkansas Travelers. Three came tonight in the bottom of the eighth in game one of the Texas League Championship Series. The only runs scored in a tightly played, well pitched 3-0 win over the Frisco RoughRiders.

 

With no score and Conger(#38) facing side-winder Brandon Puffer, who had relieved starter Derek Holland, the Trav's DH came to the plate with the bases loaded. He punched a soft little flair in to center that RoughRider center fielder Julio Borbon dove for and couldn't quite catch. The ball rolled past him, and by the time it was retrieved all three runs had scored, and Conger was standing on second smiling.

That would be it. No questions asked. Raffy time in the ninth.

 

Closer Rafael Rodriguez polished off the Riders in order in the ninth for the save and a Trav victory to go up 1-0 in the Series.

 

Both starting pithcers were outstanding during a cool night on the river at Dickey-Stephens.

 

Arkansas starter Daniel Davidson went seven and was relieved by Barret Browning after keeping Frisco scoreless and striking out seven RoughRiders. Davidson was his usual self, mixing his pitches beautifully and changing speeds effectively.

   

Derek Holland, seen leaving after being taken out in the eighth with the bases loaded was equally effective, still throwing his smoking fastball at one point 97 mph in the eighth before being removed

But his defense let him down. With Traveler outfielder Chris Pettit on first after having walked and one out, shortstop Wil Ortiz hit a grounder to Frisco third baseman John Whittleman, which looked like a sure double play, but Whittleman threw it in to center and Pettit ended up on third. Brian Stavisky then walked loading the bases. Power hitting Corey Smith up next, flew out on the infield leading to Hank Conger's dramatic double with two outs.

As I said this game was close and tight all the way. Look at these identical line-scores from various innings of the game. 

 

 

 

But, here's the one score that mattered!

 

Game two tomorrow night will be the official final home game of '08 completing the second great year at Dickey-Stephens.

Here are some more scenes from Texas League Championship Series, Game #1.

 

 

 

 

   

   

 

Post by Lonesome Traveler

Improbable ending

Remember back when the Travelers lost five in a row to start the season and things looked bleak early on? Yet there they were on the night of June 17 against the Springfield Cardinals with the winner taking the 1st-half North and an early entry in to the playoffs.

Remember in that game when Fernando flopped and the Travs were down early 4-0. 

 In came Daniel Davidson, who had been injured and out of baseball for a year, to save the day. 

 

The same Daniel Davidson as the starter seen below throwing the very first pitch that historic night in April '07 when Dickey-Stephens opened.

 

 He held the game together with a solid long relief appearance against Springfield during that first-half championship game and improbably Arkansas fought back to tie it in the ninth.

 

The game went in to extras and going in to the 11th, Arkansas needed two to tie, three to win. As improbable as it may have seemed, when Michael Collins' drive sailed over the right fielder's head to score the winning run, they had done it!

 

Mired deep in last place for the second-half going in to last weekend's playoffs against Northwest Arkansas what were the chances the Travs would sweep a team that had dominated them during the late season and were playing at their peak? About as much as I have of out-swimming Michael Phelps one length of the pool.

Yet as improbable as it seemed they did it again, winning a classic third game ironically also in 11 innings for the North Crown. A sweep that began with Daniel Davidson starting the first game.

Now on the eve of the Texas League Championship Series opening tomorrow at Dickey-Stephens it might be OK to think it would be improbable for the Travs to take it over the mighty Frisco RoughRiders, who won both halves of the South and should be the odds-on favorites to win the crown.

Don't tell that to Daniel Davidson, who will start the opener or to the hot hitting trio of Mark Trumbo, Ben Johnson, and Hank Conger. Don't tell that to the veterans like Stavisky, Czarniecki, and Corey Smith, who as free agents came in and played their hearts out. Don't tell that to a pitching rotation that shined in the playoff games and a defense that looked great. And don't tell that to the fans, who were listening to their radios alright Saturday night but it wasn't a football game they were listening to.

It might be improbable if you did.

Post by Lonesome Traveler

Travs SWEEP, win North

The Arkansas Travelers went in to Arvest Ballpark Saturday night for the third game of the North Divisional Playoffs having lost six in a row at Springdale. Tonight they broke the streak in a huge way, sweeping the Northwest Arkansas Naturals 6-3 in eleven innings.

There were several outstanding efforts in the game for the Travs, but the biggest was Ben Johnson's two out double off the right field fence in the top of the eleventh that scored Wil Ortiz to put Arkansas ahead 4-3.

With Mark Trumbo then at third and Johnson at second, tonight's hitting star 20 year old Hank Conger singled off reliever Kyle Crist to score both runners for a 6-3 lead. The switch hitting Conger also had a solo homer to deep center field in the fourth and a double in the second both off N.West starter Rowdy Hardy for four RBI on 3 hits.

Conger just joined the Travs for the playoffs from Rancho Cucamonga and has had at least one hit in every game as the DH, with 5 RBI.

Reliever Rafael Rodriguez came in for the bottom of the 11th and retired the side in order saving all three of the North playoff games against the Naturals in three days! The win went to  Doug Brandt, who relieved in the tenth.

And starting pitcher David Austen probably had his best effort ever. Austen pitched nine innings, and at one point retired 16 of 18 Naturals batters in his no-decision outing. He gave up two home runs to Northwest shortstop Mario Lisson for all three of the Northwest runs.

   

The Travelers will now entertain Frisco, who swept the South over San Antonio, Tuesday night at Dickey-Stephens to begin the Texas League Championship Series.

Post by Lonesome Traveler

Trumbo trumps

In an historic Texas League playoff series where two teams from Arkansas are playing against each other for the first time, the Travelers now lead 2-0. Thanks in large part to a massive third inning three run shot by Traveler first baseman Mark Trumbo that hit off the scoreboard video screen.

 

Trumbo hit the first pitch he saw, a hanging breaking ball off Northwest Arkansas' starting pitcher Blake Wood.

   

Wood, the Naturals' #4 prospect out of Georgia Tech had already given up three runs to the Travs when Trumbo hit his mammoth blast.

 

In the first the Travs went to work quickly. Newly acquired catcher/DH and # 4 prospect Hank Conger (#38) singled in Wil Ortiz for his first class AA RBI.  Conger has now had a hit in his first two games since joining the Travelers for the playoffs.

Catcher Ben Johnson, who had two RBI in the game, hit a sac. fly in the first to score Brian Stavisky making the score 2-0, and in the third he knocked Stavisky in again for a 3-1 lead setting the table for Tumbo's heroics. Ironically Trumbo's blast would be the last hit the Travelers would get in the game, but it would be enough before the Naturals closed the gap 6-4 in the eighth.

 

Rafael Rodriguez, who has been brilliant lately came in with two outs in the eighth and closed the gate on the Naturals, by striking out all four batters he faced to record the save and secure a Traveler 6-4 victory.

Arkansas also played great defense during the sweep of Northwest Arkansas at Dickey-Stephens. One example occurred in the Naturals' fourth last night,  when shortstop Wil Ortiz went very deep in the hole to rob a hit and not having a chance for a force at second, went for the long throw at first where Mark Trumbo made a beautiful scoop in the dirt to nip the runner for the third out.

 

Arkansas's starting pitching has also been solid and steady so far in the playoff with Dan Denham finishing his night in the seventh Friday for the win, giving up only three hits and one run while striking out six.

Now Arkansas just has to win one of three from its in-state rival in Springdale to come back home next week and face Frisco for the Texas League Championship Series. 

Here are some more scenes from game two of the North Division playoffs at Dickey-Stephens Friday night.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Post by Lonesome Traveler

Travs score three in 8th for playoff win

Shortstop Wil Ortiz has been on a tear lately. Thursday night he game through again.

When the Travelers really needed insurance runs in the first game of the North Division Texas League Playoffs, he singled into the hole between short and third with bases loaded in the bottom of the 8th to score two. That made the score 4-1 and reliever Rafael Rodriguez mopped it up in the top of the 9th for the victory over Northwest Arkansas.

 

 

The tightly played and well pitched game was tied one-one going in to the bottom of the eighth until the Travs teed off on reliever Chris Hayes with two outs.  Mark Trumbo doubled to greet Hayes and Chris Pettit later singled in Trumbo for the lead. Throw in a couple of walks including an intentional and a steal, and the plate was full for Ortiz's extra damage.

 

After the first game was postponed Wednesday because of 6 inches of rain that fell in twenty four hours, tonight's game didn't look too promising in the beginning either.

 

After the more than three day deluge from Gustav, the rain had subsided during the afternoon. But right at the beginning the skies opened up again and the game was played in a steady rain for the first three innings, causing  what crowd there was to scatter for cover.

 

But it cleared and the field in marvelous condition despite Gustav's onslaught held up beautifully. 

   

The game also was the Class AA debut for Angels #4 prospect, catcher Hank Conger, #38 seen greeting his new teammates during the pre-game introductions.

Conger had one sharp hit in the game and will be a DH only through out the playoffs because he is still recovering from a torn labrum in his shoulder. But he still can hit.  In only 73 games at Rancho Cucamonga he hit .303, with 75 RBI and 13 home runs.

 

Nicknamed after Hank Aaron, he signed for $1.35 million in '06, but his career has been riddled with injuries ever since.  He told me before the game he plans to join the fall instructional league in Arizona after the season and hopefully get back to catching as soon as possible.

Arkansas fans can hope every thing goes well and he joins the club full time next spring. In the mean time his bat will be a welcome addition for the playoffs.

Here are some more scenes from '08 playoff game #1 at Dickey-Stephens.

 

 

 

 

Post by Lonesome Traveler

Fast Finale

I knew things were moving along Labor Day when Traveler starting pitcher Robert Mosebach retired the side in the top of the first on four pitches. I had no idea the jet stream play would continue throughout the game.

The first three innings were done in thirty minutes.

Mosebach had only 39 pitches through five, which took fifty five minutes.

By the seventh inning stretch the game was slightly more than an hour along, and with a rousing Arkansas comeback in the eighth the regular season finale was completed in 1:46 for a 3-2 Traveler victory.

Heck I had time to go home and mow the yard before the remnants of Gustav moved in to Central Arkansas.

The now tropical depression probably will make a mess of the play-offs which were to start at Dickey-Stephens Wednesday. The League will have to sort it out, which could mean a seven inning double header on Friday if the soaking rain continues through Thursday. Now how would that work out ticket-wise if that scenario does come in to play?  Would the Club honor one ticket for both games or clear the park out after the first game and just honor tickets for the second game?

Let's hope they get a full game in on Thursday and game two on Friday, as Wednesday is not looking good at all.

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Congratulations to Traveler slugging third baseman Corey Smith for being named Player of the Month for August. Smith, the Cleveland Indians top draft pick in 2000, had ten homers during the month, 15 RBI, and batted .342. He is tied for the league lead in home runs with 26.

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It's hard to believe Dickey-Stephens just completed its second regular season.

Here are some more scenes from the final regular season game of '08.

Post by Lonesome Traveler

First to worst

It has truly been a tale of two-halves for the Arkansas Travelers during the season of '08. From a beautiful first-half championship with league leading pitching and timely hitting to a second-half gone bust so badly, the team is mired deep in last place. Just when you thought it couldn't get any worse, along comes an eight game losing streak, which the Travs snapped out of finally against Springfield Sunday night.

It was a sparkling win for the club, who desparately needed it as the play-offs loom. Yes, that Texas League oddity that's too complicated to explain actually, but the bottom line is by some miracle the Travs still have a chance. If you don't think the system is odd...consider this.

Springfield, the Travs' final regular season opponent today on Labor Day has the best overall record in the Texas League and didn't make the play-offs!

So instead of hanging up the equipment after the regular season ends today, Arkansas has a chance to redeem itself come Wednesday. Here's why I think it will:

*Tired of being embarrassed

*Enough veterans to make a difference in a short series that begins at home

*Daniel Davidson will start the first game

*I think the dormant bats are coming around

*Tired of losing to the N.West Ark. Naturals, who came in and swept the Travs in four games at the beginning of this home-stand

*Pride

*And finally I think Belvis the Black Elvis left his mojo in the park over the weekend, which will carry over through the play-offs as it obviously did during Sunday's win.

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NAT WRAP------

Not only did Northwest Arkansas sweep the Travelers in the final regular season series and go on to win the second-half North, but pretty well swept every other honor also.

 

Slugging infielder Kila Kaaihue, the '08 Texas League Player of the Year was just named by the Kansas City Royals as its Minor League Player of the Year. When Kaaihue was promoted to the Triple-A Omaha Royals in late July, he was leading the Texas League in home runs with 26 and had a .314 avg. with 79 RBI. Entering the weekend he was hitting .327 with Omaha and already had ten homers, and 19 RBI in just 29 games for the Royals.

And the honors continued for the Naturals.

Arvest Ballpark in Springdale was named Ballpark of the Year by Baseballparks.com. (Note: Dickey-Stephens Park won that award last year also in its inaugaral season. That darn pesky NWA/C.Ark. rivalry is something isn't it?)

And then not to forget the mighty Car-Mart Cup Arkansas Diamond Series trophy which the Naturals took over the Travs by winning the season series between the two clubs, 18-14.

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Congratulations to Traveler outfielder Adam Morrissey for collecting his 1000th professional hit during Sunday's contest against Springfield.

Actually the native of Ourimbah, Australia ended the game with 1,001.

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Someone pointed this out to me after Sunday's rain delay and I thought it was funny enough to pass along.  When the showers hit the tarp went on.  When the showers subsided and the tarp was removed, what was the first thing the ground crew did?

Water the field!

I've read all the comments in here this season from people bitching about the field condition.  In my opinion, the field has never looked better.  Hats-off to the ground crew/interns for a job well done.

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Robbed--------

That was clearly the case for Traveler DH Brian Stavisky Saturday night. Not only was he robbed of a home run when Cardinal outfielder Mark Shorey stole one with a circus catch that caused Shorey to tumble over the short right field fence, but another hit was stolen from Stavisky later when a Springfield relief pitcher made a self-defense snare off a bullet hit up the middle.

But to make it worse, Brian's parents from Pennsylvania (seen above) were in town to witness the thievery.

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And finally..........

As slugging first baseman Mark Trumbo was rumbling around second towards third after getting the Travs on the board early yesterday with his two run triple, I couldn't help but laugh out loud over a comment I had heard Bill Valentine make earlier in the season about the big Traveler first baseman's running style.

Valentine said, "He runs like he's being chased by Paris Hilton."

I'm not sure exactly what that means, but I thought it was hilarious.

Post by Lonesome Traveler