May 2012

Tonight: A Spotlight On Ryan McIntrye

Tonights installment is none other than a spotlight on one of my favorite up and coming Marlins, Ryan McIntyre.  He was drafted in 2011 and played only four games for the GCL Marlins before moving to Jamestown to play for the Jammers the remainder of the 2011 season.  While down there he recorded a batting average of .189, 74 at bats, 0 Home Runs, and only 5 RBI’s.  Already since he’s come to Greensboro he has improved his batting average to an astounding .320, 13 RBI’s, and 3 Home Runs.  His recent improvements I’m sure have came due to hard work and a great workout regiment.  Ryan McIntyre is definitely one of my favorite Hoppers this year and I see GREAT things to come for him in the Marlins organization.  I had a chance to speak with Ryan recently, a Q&A so to speak.  Here’s what Mr McIntyre had to say…

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HoppersFan: What was your biggest accomplishment on the field?

McIntyre: My most memorable moment in baseball was winning the state championship as a ten year old in little league.

HoppersFan: What is your biggest accomplishment so far as a Grasshopper?

McIntyre: I don’t really have one as a grasshopper just enjoying my first full season here in greensboro

HoppersFan:  If you were not an athlete what do you think you might be doing?

McIntyre: I would most likely be studying to be a physical therapist.

HoppersFan: What’s your favorite TV show?

McIntyre: sportscenter and tosh.0

HoppersFan: What’s the funniest moment or blooper as a grasshopper?

McIntyre: I was trying to turn a triple into a double at delmarva and falling as I rounded second

HoppersFan: What’s your favorite music artist?

McIntyre: Rebelution

HoppersFan: What is your favorite movie?

McIntyre: Happy Gilmore and Blood Diamond

Thanks Ryan for taking the time and talking with me and letting our readers and your fans know a little more about the man and their favorite player, Ryan McIntyre.  Stay tuned in the coming weeks as I hope to be able to highlight more players, coaches, and perhaps some die-hard fans.  As always, I echo the sentiment, IT’S A GREAT TIME TO BE A HOPPER!

-jordan

Pass the TUMS… Heart Attack Hoppers are at it again!

Between all the malfunctions tonight on the field, I don’t really know where to begin. I must say I was a little disoriented not having the scoreboard up and running.  I guess with all the use it got during the ACC Tournament last week, it had about all it could take.  The scoreboard was off for the majority of the game.  I know this had to play to Hagerstown advantage.  I say that because the scoreboard went off in the third inning and the Hagerstown Suns scored 6 runs that inning.  Charlie Lowell was the pitcher on the mound.  Thankfully, we have an awesome PA Announcer in Jim Scott that gave us the pitching counts and so forth. However, it was distracting to the players I’m sure.

The reason for the TUMS after the 6 run inning is this…  Everyone around the ballpark by now know that you truly can’t count out the Hoppers.  Greensboro Baseball just has a will to win that can not be matched.  In the top of the fifth, Hagerstown would score again, making it 7-0.  Thats a mighty steep hill to climb to most.  Good thing the Hoppers strapped on their cleats and started to climb.  In the bottom of the 5th, Wilfredo Gimenez would cross the plate off of a Terrence Dayleg single.  Which while I’m at it, Wilfredo had an excellent game tonight, I thought.  But he would cross the plate making it 7-1.  Hagerstown would then score two more in the ninth inning.  Just as everyone stood to put their rally caps on, bottom of the ninth, Matt Smith gets a walk,  heads to first. Next pitch, Wilfredo would single, moving Matt Smith to second.  Austin Barnes would then be walked to load the bases.  Up walks Ryan Goetz to the plate… GRAND SLAM HOME RUN to unload the bases!!!  This would make the score 9-6 in the bottom of the ninth, Hagerstown’s favor.  James Wooster steps up to the plate, line drive single causing Terrence Dayleg to score.  Making it 9-7, and that would end up as the final.  This game was an incredible game to be at and to proudly be able to claim to be a part of this Greensboro Baseball family.

This game tonight proves that on today, Memorial Day, soldiers fight under the same flag our boys fought back on the field tonight.  And just like the many soldiers, firefighters, law enforcement officers, and our very own Grasshoppers, tonight… I SALUTE YOU!  And it is with that sentiment that I say it is, and always will be, a GREAT TIME TO BE A HOPPER!

-jordan

Stars, Stripes, and Strikes!

Tonight was Military appreciation night, and what a night it was!  With an on the field temperature of 73 degrees and wind slightly blowing, it made a great night for baseball.  The pitchers on the mound tonight were Jose Urena and Austin Brice.  They combined for an amazing 14 strikeouts!!!  It was incredible to see that duo sling the ball.  The score was tied at zero going into the 4th when Urena had two walks and then Lakewood would clear the bases before the inning was over making it 4-0.  Josh Adams steps up to the plate in the bottom of the 4th and launches a home run to the moon before it landed somewhere outside of Winston Salem. It was a monster home run!  Lakewood would not score the rest of the game.  The bottom of the ninth, Josh Adams would hit a double putting him at second base.  James Wooster steps up to the plate and launches a home run right off the score board in center field.  Making the score 4-3.  Terrence Dayleg would single, making the tying run on base, winning run at the plate.  Wilfredo Gimenez (who’s been slumping bad this year) grounds a ball straight to second base, Dayleg is tagged out at second then to first, making it a double play to end the game.  The Greensboro Grasshoppers snapped their 16 game home winning streak tonight to the Lakewood Blueclaws.  With this loss they are 30-11 on the season, and currently still 6 games ahead of second place.  So this loss really didn’t matter, in the scheme of things, lets just not make it a habit!  Tonight was pretty close to a sell out and with tomorrows giveaway, its gonna be another crowd and another GREAT DAY TO BE A HOPPER!

-jordan

Hoppers have luck of the Irish….

Tonight was Irish night at the ballpark.  So you guessed it, it was green everywhere!  It was also thirsty thursday.  Which means only one thing as far as I’m concerned… A TON of people!  The game was very good, I’ll get to the stats and play by plays in a second.  Just wanted to give you guys some awesome news if you haven’t heard yet.  It was announced two days ago that the All Star Home Run Derby, part of All Star week, will take place on board the USS Yorktown Aircraft Carrier based in the Charleston Harbor in Charleston, SC.  How cool is that?  The article I read said they will have inflatable barriers in the water, that if they hit the ball past it’s a home run.  US Coast Guard will be in the water on Jet Skis retrieving the ball.  So the next question… Am I going?  You darn skippy!  Thats way too cool to miss.

Austin Barnes at bat


Okay, back to last nights game.  It started out great two runs in the first inning by the Hoppers, scored by Ryan Goetz and Austin Barnes.  Josh Hodges was on the mound tonight for the Hoppers.  His fastballs were averaging about 94 mph.  They had a little smoke trail behind them as well.  Greensboro wouldn’t score again till the 4th inning when Aaron Senne crosses the plate.  In the 7th Brent Keys would score off a single fly ball by Matt Smith.  Lakewood would stay scoreless until the 6th, where they posted their only run for the night.  The Hoppers take the victory 4-1 over the Lakewood Blueclaws.  They advance to 29-10 on the season, and 15 straight at home!   It’s still way too early to say but, we are in great shape for the 1st half of the season!  The Hoppers can lose the next six and still be in first place, and lose 8 and still be in 2nd. It’s a great place to be!  I am also uploading all my pictures from tonight, all 29 of them to the Hoppers Fan page on Facebook and my personal FB page, so be sure to check them out!  Hope to see you at the ballpark, and as always I echo the sentiment heard round the ballpark, IT’S A GREAT TIME TO BE A HOPPER!

-jordan

Babe, the ball and bat gal (above)

Spaz sporting his Irish attire (below)

Heart Attack Hoppers do it again!

Wow… Where to start?  Todays day game was truly incredible.  Our boys keep finding the will to win!  I was at home today, as some of you know, today was my wife’s birthday.  We spent most the day celebrating and since she is not a fan of baseball, the game was not on our agenda today.  However, as I know you know, I had my phone close by and ears open because, I on the other hand, can’t be too far from my hoppers.

When I first checked it out it was 3-0 Kannapolis leading in the top of the fourth.  I was very shaken by this because the Hoppers are on a 14 home game winning streak. But they don’t get the name Heart Attack Hoppers for nothing.  I was quickly put to ease when Brent Keys crossed the plate in the bottom of the 4th.  However it was still 3-1 at this point, Greensboro trailing.  In the fifth inning Kannopolis would score again, making it 4-1.  But, all is well, because in the 6th inning Greensboro would score 5 runs.  I was updating on my phone, and it seemed like that inning lasted forever!  Definitely missed being at the ballpark today. But, back to baseball.  Matt Smith sent another one toward the sun and over the fence on a three run homer.  Those five hoppers players to cross the plate that inning were Austin Barnes, Brent Keys, Ryan Reiger, Josh Adams, Matt Smith. Kannapolis scored a couple more runs the next two innings and the Hoppers had one a piece for the next inning.  Kannapolis scored twice in the top of the 9th putting them up, 9-8.  I had chiseled my nails down to the bone I was so nervous.  But the hoppers never disappoint.  In the Bottom of the 9th, Ryan Goetz scores off a line drive Single, tying it up.  EXTRA INNINGS!  Both teams remain scoreless in the 10th.  The intimidators remained scoreless in the 11th.  The Grasshoppers saw their chance to end it then, and end it they did!  Ryan Reiger shot one over the fence for a two run homer to win the game!  HOPPERS WIN AGAIN!!!  With that win the Hoppers advance to 28-10 on the season and 14 games straight won at home.  Hoppers remain 6 games ahead of 2nd place.

It is fans like you, and like myself, that make Greensboro Baseball what it’s all about.  Rain or shine, in the stands or not, I bleed Green and Orange.  And it is with that statement that I proudly exclaim… ITS A GREAT TIME TO BE A HOPPER!

By the way, I will be at the game tomorrow night with camera.  So look out for some great pictures!

-jordan

Thanks for the great write-up, Jordan. I was able to catch most of the game on the radio, and it was indeed a case of the Heart Attack Hoppers showing up again. For the official report, check out the box score and game recap. And be sure to also keep an eye on the Bill on Baseball blog for more great Hoppers commentary, including some behind-the-scenes insight from the manager and players on this most recent ugly win.

-greg

Hoppers only need 8 to quiet Intimidators

This is becoming a common scene around Greensboro, or so it seems.  But rain or no rain, these bats are heavy!  Pregame it rained all night Sunday night and most the morning.  It cleared up long enough to get in 8 innings.  And in the 8th inning it just came on down.  And with lightening present in the area, they went ahead and called it without a delay.

So what is a game like when the seats are mostly empty?  Interesting.  No YMCA, a lot of the between inning games were done by hoppers staff, as opposed to kids.  One must not forget though, it still was Money off Mondays, 1 dollar hot dogs and 1 dollar drinks.  So all was not a wash. Jack McKeon was around before the game so we got to talk to him and get an autograph to add to my collection.

Ryan Goetz in the outfield

Austin Brice started out the night on the mound.  He threw 5 innings and had 4 strikeouts. Jose Urena pitched 2 innings and had 1 strikeout and allowed no hits!  Greensboro hopped off to an early lead, by the fourth inning it was 8-0.  The Grasshoppers crossing home were: Austin Barnes, Brent Keys, Matt Smith, Aaron Senne, and Ryan Goetz.  Hoppers again get the victory at home over Kannapolis Intimidators by a score of 8-3.  With this win they are now 26-10 on the season!

Once again, it was an exciting game.  Rain or shine, these boys are on fire!  They still have not lost at home since April 11, 2012, 6 days after opening day!    They are now 6 games ahead of second place.  Which means, they can lose the next 5 in a row and still be in first place!!  Thats an awesome place to be.  As always I echo the sentiment heard round the ballpark, IT’S A GREAT TIME TO BE A HOPPER!

-jordan

Even The Pregame Showers Couldn’t Cool Off The Hoppers!

Tonight was a fun night at the ballpark.  Shanna, my wife, joined me tonight.  For those of you that don’t know me personally, I get two season tickets every year and I am usually the only one using the tickets.  Shanna mainly works at night and quite frankly doesn’t care for baseball.  We decided to make tonight a date night of sorts.  Needless to say, we met up with some friends up there and sat in the SUNBRELLA zone, out in the outfield for most of the game.  It provides a different view on the game.  I’m used to being up close in personal where all the action is.  My seats are front row, on the first base line, beside the away dugout.  So sitting in outfield provides a much better take on the game.

One thing I love as a photographer, is taking pictures of the stadium during different times of the day.  The sunsets over the stadium are just awesome! Tonights was no different.

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As I stated in the title and as I’ve stated many times this season already, the Hoppers are on fire!  And I don’t see them cooling off anytime soon!  With Adam Conley and Jose Fernandez pitching like they are, and Adams, Barnes, Wooster, and Keys hitting the way they are we are definitely on the right track to secure the first half.  That sure would be nice.  Jose Fernandez started off the night by throwing 6 strikeouts in the first two innings and had a total strikeout count of 8.  Things were definitely heating up on the mound tonight.  James Wooster had an incredible diving catch late in the 7th inning and stepped right up and slammed a home run off the score board.  Hoppers win again by a score of 3-2 against the West Virginia Power!  The win tonight improves the Hoppers to 20-8 and of those 28 games the crowd in Greensboro has only seen two of those losses!  Talk about home town support!  Their last loss at home came back on April 11 against the Lakewood Blueclaws!  And that is why, my friends, I continue to echo the sentiment heard around the ballpark, IT’S A GREAT TIME TO BE A HOPPER!

Remember, you can click on the picture in the post to embiggen it. Join the conversation by leaving a comment — what are you thinking?

-jordan

It’s a bird, It’s a plane, It’s Adam Conley?

Tonight was Superhero night at the ballpark.  There were all sorts of characters out there. There was Batman, Buzz Lightyear, The Flash, Yoda, and there was even a woman walking around in a banana suit.  Still trying to figure that one out.  Super-Nana maybe? I’m not sure, but it sure was a fun night at the ballpark.  During the 7th inning stretch all the superheroes, young and old, got on top of the dugout and sang “Take Me Out To The Ballgame”.  Donald, the President and General Manager even got in the spirit of things, as he strutted on the field in what looked to be Superfly.  The pimp, not the bug… for those of you wondering.

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The real Superhero of the night was Adam Conley.  He threw 6 innings and had 8 Strikeouts.  I took several pictures of him pitching but the majority were blurred by the smoke whirling off his wrist from slinging 95mph fastballs.  He was a consistent 93/95mph.  He was definitely on fire tonight!  Image

One of Greg and I’s friends penned the name “The Heart Attack Hoppers”.  The Hoppers didn’t live that name down tonight.  Up until the 9th, the score was 4-1, as it had been since the first inning.  Then Hickory had two men come home making it  4-3, and no outs.  You could have heard a pen drop in the stadium.  Everyone was on the edge of their seat.  So, the Hoppers change pitchers and in comes James Nygren to close the game.  His first three pitches, strikeout.  The next set of pitches earn Jeremy Williams a single, getting him on first.  The very next pitch goes bulleting to second, Austin Barnes grabs it up for out 2, then hurls it to first, for the double play!!!  HOPPERS WIN at a final of 4-3 over the Hickory Crawdads!

Tonight was Superhero night, and it lived up to its name.  The pitches were faster than a speeding bullet, the base runners were faster than a locomotive, and at times it seemed like the outfielders could fly. Thanks again for reading, hope you have enjoyed this edition of Hoppers Fan Blog.  And as always, I echo the sentiment heard round the ballpark, it’s a great time to be a Hopper!

-jordan

HEAT WAVE! Hoppers are HOT!

It seems like the Hoppers always have something you can always count on. For example, last year we all knew Marcell was always good for a home run, Christian was always going to try and steal to second (which he usually got picked off….), and Isaac Galloway was Mr. Clutch. When it was on the line, and Isaac came to the plate you knew magical things were gonna happen. This year, I’ve been very impressed with the heavy bats so far. So far this season, there are only five hoppers out of the fifteen man hitting rotation that have not hit a home run. Josh Adams has hit five. Adams also hit two in one game last home stand. One thing is certain, the Hoppers are on fire and they are bringing their bats with them.

In today’s 8-4 victory against the Crawdads, there were three homers from the Hoppers: Austin Barnes, Matt Smith, and Josh Adams. Starting pitcher was Charlie Lowell. He pitched 6 innings, 6 strikeouts, and allowed 2 hits. He was relieved by Daniel Oliver who pitched one inning, allowed 2 hits, and 1 strikeout. The Hoppers to cross the plate were Josh Adams, Ryan Goetz, Matt Smith, and Brent Keys. Today was a definite scorcher. It reached about 91 on the field. If this is how our boys play in the heat, bring it on!!! As always I echo the sentiment heard round the ballpark… IT’S A GREAT TIME TO BE A HOPPER!

-jordan

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