Baseball is back for the summer at Jerry Uht Park, and that's always a good thing, no matter what happens on the field.
The Erie SeaWolves withstood another round of rumors about possible relocation, staving those off by re-upping their lease with the Erie County Convention Center Authority through 2014.
So, hopefully another year of Double-A prospects will win over some more fans in Erie, making us truly appreciate what a treat it's been to watch Omar Infante, Andres Torres, Cody Ross, Curtis Granderson and Justin Verlander all cut their big league teeth here for awhile.
We don't know if the 2012 season will produce a playoff appearance, as in 2007 under Eastern League manager of the year Matt Walbeck, or if the SeaWolves will finish 261/2 games out of first place, as they did in 2006.
Early indications are that they should be fine, maybe even better than fine once the new guys settle in.
Left-handed power hitters Tony Plagman and Jordan Lennerton could be in for big seasons.
Plagman blasted 18 homers and drove in 97 runs and Lennerton homered 14 times with 75 RBIs last season in the pitcher-friendly Florida State League, where the big ballparks keep offenses in check.
(Granderson homered only 11 times in the FSL in 2003 before breaking out with 21 dingers the following summer with the SeaWolves.)
Center fielder Jamie Johnson will be a handful again back at the top of the order. He showed why by beating out an infield single behind second base leading off Thursday's game.
Bryan Pounds, who split 2011 between Erie and Triple-A Toledo, already had homered twice before Thursday's opener against the Bowie Baysox and should ensure Plagman, Lennerton and third baseman Rawley Bishop see plenty of fastballs in the heart of the order.
This year's 'Wolves are a more seasoned team than many the Tigers have put in Erie.
Only four players are younger than 24 -- catchers Robert Brantly (22) and John Murrian (23), outfielder Michael Rockett (23) and pitcher Patrick Cooper (22).
By comparison, Bowie's roster includes 19-year-old shortstop prospect Manny Machado, 20-year-old infielder Jonathan Schoop and 22-year-old outfielder L.J. Hoes.
The more experienced lineup results in part from the success and stability the Tigers have enjoyed at the major league level. When you have Miguel Cabrera and Justin Verlander in the bigs and you crack open the bank to sign Prince Fielder, it's not so essential to rush the guys along down on the farm.
Yes, the construction at adjacent Tullio Arena will be an eyesore we'll have to deal with all summer, and an inconvenience for the players and coaching staffs from both teams.
They have to navigate a serpentine path from the clubhouse to the dugout that winds beneath the scoreboard, onto the sidewalk along Holland Street and around an area inhabited by large piles of dirt.
It will take some getting used to, watching baseballs carom wickedly off the new outside wall of the arena instead of being chased down by groups of kids hanging out on the catwalk.
And, somehow, we'll miss the charm of the smokers who would wander out the side doors during hockey and football intermissions to check out what was happening in the open air.
But those are small prices to pay. Baseball officially arrived in Erie Thursday night.
Summer's warmth can't be far behind.
JOHN DUDLEY can be reached at 870-1677 or john.dudley@timesnews.com.
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28/03/2012 - 0 Comments
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