Through 6 games, the Riversharks are atop the Atlantic League, with a record of 5-1. After dropping the season opener, the 'sharks have won five straight, thanks primarily to outstanding starting pitching. On the season, the starters have given up just 5 earned runs in 37 innings, for an ERA of 1.22. See full league standings here, and league leaders here.
The 'sharks play again Thursday night, at Bridgeport (2-4), where they have taken the first two of a three-game series by a combined 17-1 score. Then, on Friday night, the Riversharks make their home debut, against the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs (4-2). For more info on the home opener, check out our home page story.
Don't forget: if you can't make it to Campbell's Field on Friday night, you can listen to Tim Saunders' online broadcast by clicking on to www.riversharks.com during the game.
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Thursday, April 23, 2009
Atlantic League Preview Show
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Red Zone Media
The Riversharks are happy to announce that we've reached an agreement with Red Zone Media to be our official partner for our internet broadcasts! Red Zone is one of the best internet streaming companies on the web, and we are thrilled to be working with them. You can find their site at www.redzonemedia.com.
The exact schedule of games we'll broadcast with Red Zone is still to be determined, but you can find a tentative schedule here. We plan on broadcasting all 70 home games, and at least half of our 70 road games. Make sure to check the page frequently over the next week or two, as we finalize our broadcast schedule.
The Riversharks are excited for a terrific season with Red Zone Media!
The exact schedule of games we'll broadcast with Red Zone is still to be determined, but you can find a tentative schedule here. We plan on broadcasting all 70 home games, and at least half of our 70 road games. Make sure to check the page frequently over the next week or two, as we finalize our broadcast schedule.
The Riversharks are excited for a terrific season with Red Zone Media!
Friday, April 17, 2009
Spring Training Update: 4/17
Another update from Florida...
The Riversharks are currently playing their first spring training game of four, against the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs. Our exclusive sources tell us that the Riversharks lead, 7-4, going into the top of the 7th inning. Here are a few more tidbits...
Still, it's nice to see the Riversharks with a late lead in their first game of the year, whether it counts or not. And it's always good to see how some of our favorite players are doing. With that in mind, make sure to check back here tomorrow afternoon, when we'll have an update on game #2!
The Riversharks are currently playing their first spring training game of four, against the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs. Our exclusive sources tell us that the Riversharks lead, 7-4, going into the top of the 7th inning. Here are a few more tidbits...
- Brian Lawrence started the game and went 4 innings, giving up 4 runs.
- The Riversharks scored five in the bottom of the fifth, on the strength of a few bases-loaded hits.
- Outfielder Chris Walker is 2/2, with a double and a single.
- Brett Bonvechio and Vito Chiaravolloti are among the Riversharks with at least one RBI.
- Ryan Drese pitched two scoreless innings in the 5th and 6th, giving up just 2 hits.
Still, it's nice to see the Riversharks with a late lead in their first game of the year, whether it counts or not. And it's always good to see how some of our favorite players are doing. With that in mind, make sure to check back here tomorrow afternoon, when we'll have an update on game #2!
Thursday, April 16, 2009
Spring Training Update: 4/16
Part 2 of our spring training updates brings you a chat with pitcher Brian Lawrence, who is in his second season with the Riversharks...
Q: Thanks for taking time, Brian. Talking to Ryan Drese yesterday morning, I know your practice was rained out on Tuesday. How was it yesterday?
Lawrence: "Yesterday was good, no rain. We got to get on the field for the first time, so that was good. We got to pitch off the mound, and had an all-around good first day. We'll move on from there."
Q: So, what did the first Riversharks practice of 2009 consist of?
Lawrence: "Well, we got there and warmed up, threw, that sort of thing, then went over some team fundamentals. Bunt plays, that sort of thing. Then, we moved into batting practice, and few of us pitchers threw off the mound, in what they call live BP, so the hitters get to see a pitcher, and we get to throw with a hitter in the box. Then, we just moved on to what we call pitchers' fielding practice, and that was much it, we wrapped it up from there. That was a pretty good first day, because we got a lot covered in a short amount of time. We'll probably do something similar today."
Q: Weather still looking good today?
Lawrence: "Yeah, yeah. I think we just had the one day of rain, and it's nice here, not too hot, kinda just right."
Q: Since you were with the Riversharks last year, have any of the other guys been asking you what it's like?
Lawrence: "Well, pretty much everybody's been around. A few guys ask me what the league is like, as far as where we go, and the stadiums, and that sort of thing. On the baseball side, everybody's been through similar leagues in the minor leagues, and they know what to expect. They're just curious on the other amenities, as far as hotels and the travel."
Q: Ryan talked yesterday about how it can be hard to develop much chemistry with your teammates, since spring training is so short. Do you agree?
Lawrence: "Yeah, and it's even more difficult because you have 4 or 5 teams in the clubhouse all together, sharing a clubhouse there, where we work out. So, that's different, because you have not only your own team, but the other teams in the league sharing a clubhouse with you. But some of the guys are staying in dorms, so they're all in there every day together all day, hanging out and getting to know each other. I am actually with my family, and we're staying in a hotel, so I'm not with [the other guys] at all times. But you get to know everybody. It is a short time, and we're gonna have to band together pretty quick, but it's the way the league is, and you just have to deal with it."
Q: What's the number 1 thing you personally try to get out of training camp?
Lawrence: "You just get your arm in shape. That's the number 1 thing. With this just being a week, you have to get good on your own before you get here. Just have to make sure that arms' ready to go once the season starts. The rest...you'll find your location and all that stuff along the way, but you just have to make sure your arm's ready to go. If you're behind, then that could be bad. As long as you're in shape, and your arm's ready to go, and you get a couple innings here at the beginning, you can kinda build up from there."
Q: How valuable are the four spring training games you'll be playing, starting tomorrow?
Lawrence: "You can't duplicate game situations in practice. You just can't. The intensity is not there. So the games are good, they're key. So that'll be good, being able to get on the mound in a game situation, because it's really difficult to duplicate that without a game being on the line."
Q: Last question. What are you looking forward to most about this season?
Lawrence: "It's just a chance to play, that's the biggest thing. Just the opportunity to come play, and be able to show that we can still play this game. And we're gonna be looked at. That's the biggest thing about this league, and it's a really good league for that."
Q: Thanks for taking time, Brian. Talking to Ryan Drese yesterday morning, I know your practice was rained out on Tuesday. How was it yesterday?
Lawrence: "Yesterday was good, no rain. We got to get on the field for the first time, so that was good. We got to pitch off the mound, and had an all-around good first day. We'll move on from there."
Q: So, what did the first Riversharks practice of 2009 consist of?
Lawrence: "Well, we got there and warmed up, threw, that sort of thing, then went over some team fundamentals. Bunt plays, that sort of thing. Then, we moved into batting practice, and few of us pitchers threw off the mound, in what they call live BP, so the hitters get to see a pitcher, and we get to throw with a hitter in the box. Then, we just moved on to what we call pitchers' fielding practice, and that was much it, we wrapped it up from there. That was a pretty good first day, because we got a lot covered in a short amount of time. We'll probably do something similar today."
Q: Weather still looking good today?
Lawrence: "Yeah, yeah. I think we just had the one day of rain, and it's nice here, not too hot, kinda just right."
Q: Since you were with the Riversharks last year, have any of the other guys been asking you what it's like?
Lawrence: "Well, pretty much everybody's been around. A few guys ask me what the league is like, as far as where we go, and the stadiums, and that sort of thing. On the baseball side, everybody's been through similar leagues in the minor leagues, and they know what to expect. They're just curious on the other amenities, as far as hotels and the travel."
Q: Ryan talked yesterday about how it can be hard to develop much chemistry with your teammates, since spring training is so short. Do you agree?
Lawrence: "Yeah, and it's even more difficult because you have 4 or 5 teams in the clubhouse all together, sharing a clubhouse there, where we work out. So, that's different, because you have not only your own team, but the other teams in the league sharing a clubhouse with you. But some of the guys are staying in dorms, so they're all in there every day together all day, hanging out and getting to know each other. I am actually with my family, and we're staying in a hotel, so I'm not with [the other guys] at all times. But you get to know everybody. It is a short time, and we're gonna have to band together pretty quick, but it's the way the league is, and you just have to deal with it."
Q: What's the number 1 thing you personally try to get out of training camp?
Lawrence: "You just get your arm in shape. That's the number 1 thing. With this just being a week, you have to get good on your own before you get here. Just have to make sure that arms' ready to go once the season starts. The rest...you'll find your location and all that stuff along the way, but you just have to make sure your arm's ready to go. If you're behind, then that could be bad. As long as you're in shape, and your arm's ready to go, and you get a couple innings here at the beginning, you can kinda build up from there."
Q: How valuable are the four spring training games you'll be playing, starting tomorrow?
Lawrence: "You can't duplicate game situations in practice. You just can't. The intensity is not there. So the games are good, they're key. So that'll be good, being able to get on the mound in a game situation, because it's really difficult to duplicate that without a game being on the line."
Q: Last question. What are you looking forward to most about this season?
Lawrence: "It's just a chance to play, that's the biggest thing. Just the opportunity to come play, and be able to show that we can still play this game. And we're gonna be looked at. That's the biggest thing about this league, and it's a really good league for that."
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Spring Training Update: 4/15
Believe it or not, spring training is upon us again! The Riversharks are down in Florida, gearing up for the rapidly-approaching regular season. They'll only be there for a week, and will play four preseason games, starting on Friday. By next Thursday, they'll be playing their regular season opener, down in Southern Maryland, against the Blue Crabs. So, unlike Major League teams that get almost two full months for spring training, the Riversharks really need to make every day count. That's why we here at the blog want to make sure to give you frequent updates, so you know exactly how the team is progressing. We hope to get as much insight from Riversharks players and managers as possible, in part so you can get to know the roster a little better. (For an updated team roster, click here.)
For our first installment of the spring training update, we checked in with pitcher Ryan Drese. Drese pitched with the Riversharks for part of last season, and has been with three Major League teams: the Indians, Rangers, and Nationals. He's looking forward to starting the season with the Riversharks, as opposed to joining mid-season like he did last year. Here are more of Drese's comments...
Q: So what'd you guys do yesterday?
Drese: "Yesterday, they wouldn't let us do anything. It was kinda brutal. It rained a lot of the day, but when we were actually at the park, it wasn't raining. But they wouldn't let us use the mounds, because they didn't want to uncover them, and risk them getting wet if it started raining again. So we were basically here doing absolutely nothing, just playing catch. They wouldn't let us use the weight room and work out either."
Q: Did that make it easier to start getting to know your teammates?
Drese: "Well, the locker room here is not really conducive to hanging out. They try to usher you in and out of here pretty quick, once they realize you're not gonna be doing anything."
Q: What's the weather like today?
Drese: "I'm actually sitting outside the clubhouse now. It's good weather today. We're supposed to throw some live batting practice, and some of the other guys are gonna throw in the bullpen. Yesterday, the hitters did get batting practice in the cage, and I think that went well for them."
Q: Are you looking forward to beginning the season with the Riversharks?
Drese: "Yeah. I was there last year for just under 2 months. This year, it's probably gonna be a much easier transition, just because I know what to expect. Last year, coming in, with a new team, you walk in the first day, everybody's already there, you don't really know what the competition level is, or what games and schedules are like. Now it's kinda, 'been there, done that.' "
Q: What's the most important thing you personally are looking to get out of spring training?
Drese: "For me, I just want to face hitters. You have to get used to pitching to contact, so if I can throw to hitters a few times down here, and get used to contact, throwing strikes, that's a good thing. And, of course, I want to stay healthy for when the games start."
Q: How well have you gotten to know everyone so far?
Drese: "I know some of the guys. In Major League spring training, you have 7 weeks to get to know each other and get familiar with each other, whereas here, it's like, 'Hey, how you doing? Let's play.' It takes a little time getting used to your catchers and other players.
Actually, you play with or against a lot of the guys that are with all the teams, because we're sharing a locker room with a lot of the other teams. So, you actually get to know a lot of the guys on the other teams. You say hello, and everybody knows you're here for business, and we're getting ready to play baseball during the season. Spring training is competition, but it's spring training nonetheless."
Q: Any final message for Riversharks fans?
A: "It's always fun to get a lot of fans out there. We were a pretty good team last year: playing to win, giving great effort. Now it's the beginning of a new season, and you don't really know what to expect. Everybody on the team's still getting to know each other. But all I can say is, come out and support us, and we'll give you a good show, and you'll enjoy it!"
For our first installment of the spring training update, we checked in with pitcher Ryan Drese. Drese pitched with the Riversharks for part of last season, and has been with three Major League teams: the Indians, Rangers, and Nationals. He's looking forward to starting the season with the Riversharks, as opposed to joining mid-season like he did last year. Here are more of Drese's comments...
Q: So what'd you guys do yesterday?
Drese: "Yesterday, they wouldn't let us do anything. It was kinda brutal. It rained a lot of the day, but when we were actually at the park, it wasn't raining. But they wouldn't let us use the mounds, because they didn't want to uncover them, and risk them getting wet if it started raining again. So we were basically here doing absolutely nothing, just playing catch. They wouldn't let us use the weight room and work out either."
Q: Did that make it easier to start getting to know your teammates?
Drese: "Well, the locker room here is not really conducive to hanging out. They try to usher you in and out of here pretty quick, once they realize you're not gonna be doing anything."
Q: What's the weather like today?
Drese: "I'm actually sitting outside the clubhouse now. It's good weather today. We're supposed to throw some live batting practice, and some of the other guys are gonna throw in the bullpen. Yesterday, the hitters did get batting practice in the cage, and I think that went well for them."
Q: Are you looking forward to beginning the season with the Riversharks?
Drese: "Yeah. I was there last year for just under 2 months. This year, it's probably gonna be a much easier transition, just because I know what to expect. Last year, coming in, with a new team, you walk in the first day, everybody's already there, you don't really know what the competition level is, or what games and schedules are like. Now it's kinda, 'been there, done that.' "
Q: What's the most important thing you personally are looking to get out of spring training?
Drese: "For me, I just want to face hitters. You have to get used to pitching to contact, so if I can throw to hitters a few times down here, and get used to contact, throwing strikes, that's a good thing. And, of course, I want to stay healthy for when the games start."
Q: How well have you gotten to know everyone so far?
Drese: "I know some of the guys. In Major League spring training, you have 7 weeks to get to know each other and get familiar with each other, whereas here, it's like, 'Hey, how you doing? Let's play.' It takes a little time getting used to your catchers and other players.
Actually, you play with or against a lot of the guys that are with all the teams, because we're sharing a locker room with a lot of the other teams. So, you actually get to know a lot of the guys on the other teams. You say hello, and everybody knows you're here for business, and we're getting ready to play baseball during the season. Spring training is competition, but it's spring training nonetheless."
Q: Any final message for Riversharks fans?
A: "It's always fun to get a lot of fans out there. We were a pretty good team last year: playing to win, giving great effort. Now it's the beginning of a new season, and you don't really know what to expect. Everybody on the team's still getting to know each other. But all I can say is, come out and support us, and we'll give you a good show, and you'll enjoy it!"
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