Season Review: 2010 Hagerstown Suns

9 Commments

1. Sue: As always, good, thought-provoking stuff. Here’s a couple of things I’m pondering over.

   The defense has been a soft spot for a large number of players in the lower classes – It seems to me that players need a longer period of adjustment for balls coming off a wood bat vs. aluminium than you would think. Maybe the speed off aluminium turns a number of the college players into ‘ole’ fielders, and slower-hit balls in the pros start exposing weaknesses; I probably need to pay better attention to this next near…

   Looking ahead a bit, the overall system depth is building – I’m starting to wonder if the “prospect” depth will finally begin to filter into the SYR lineup & bench in 2011, instead of a AAA lineup seemingly filled with +30 y.o. free agents. The 2010 SYR pitching staff had a number of 25-27 y.o. arms looking to make the jump.

   1. It may be relative to nothing, but one of the most enlightening things I ever (over)heard was a scout lecturing the young pitchers about defense… “It gets much better every time you move up a level” and his advice was to (a) don’t let it bother them (b) don’t call their teammates out on it. I think there may be something to the bad-habit “ole” thing at the very lowest levels, but not by the time it’s full-season ball. But it’s something to think about.

      I’m not sure if we’ll ever see the days of a AAA team with more prospects than AAAA players. But it will be a great day when Syracuse has more 25-year-olds than Potomac. Next year might be the first w/o one on the opening day roster.

2. Great stuff, Sue. This helps explains what happened at Hagerstown, there were a lot things to cheer about what happened there this year. A lot of quality players developing and moving up …………..but the wins just weren’t there.
   Next year sure looks like fun in the big city there — Oduber, Sanchez, Hanks,Manno etc. The only downside is it’s looking more and more like Harper will start 2011 in Potomac.

   1. I’m not sure if that’s necessarily a bad thing (about Harper). Even Keith Law thinks this kid is the real deal, in which case, there’s even an outside chance he’ll start in Harrisburg.

3. For one, I am looking forward to the 2011 season in Hagerstown, Harper or not. I’m headed to a season ticket holder party tonight – maybe some news will come out of it? I’ll post here if it does…

   There is part of me that hopes he goes to Potomac so H-town can avoid the media circus and terrible parking issues that will ensue. :o\

4. Met new owners, etc. at the meeting. They all seem to think Harper is going to H-town at least for a few games. They made the impression to me that many of the renovations, while not only needed because of requirements, are being made to “pretty up the joint” to show the Nats that Harper should come here next year to start.

   Apparently a new digital scoreboard with video screen is being installed (goodbye old scoreboard cowboy; sad), Wi-Fi throughout, and a brand spanking new field of dreams. The worst news of all was a new “net” surrounding the entire field. I hate the net and it’s got me sort of angry. As my kid said “it segregates the fans from the players, the game.” I’m sure it’s more “lawsuit” and league motivated, but if people would pay attention to the game, that bat wouldn’t find the side of their head while they are surfing the web on their phone. :o)

5. I disagree about the net. Even when people are paying attention, that doesn’t change the fact that (a) most people do not react fast enough (b) most of the subset that does will deflect the ball into someone else. This was discussed last summer in depth here.

   I know that won’t change anyone’s mind, but like one of the commenters in that article noted, most of the ones that get hurt badly are small children.

6. We’ll agree to disagree then. Of all the stadiums i’ve been to in the past few years, the one I disliked the most was Hickory, NC. Had a net all the way around. Absolutely miserable to watch a game through and was not fan friendly. I won’t go there again. If it was my choice, they would only extend the net in H-town to the end of the dugouts and maybe a tiny bit past. That’s it. I was told by one owner that the new net was some “high tech” thin material. If it’s in front of my season ticket seat, i’m moving.

   1. I was a catcher when I played. Suffice it to say, I’m used to it and my eyes have learned to filter it out. I’ve also taken a line drive to the head (yes, that may explain a few things) so I’m a little biased there, too 😉

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