LI Ducks Baseball Miss Playoff Berth

Ducks Get Wings Clipped

Newark Wins First-Half Playoff Berth

by Brian Bohl

July 12, 2007

To start the season, the Long Island Ducks acquired the Atlantic League equivalent of big-ticket free agents to jumpstart the 2007 campaign. The result was a lineup featuring more accomplished former major leaguers than the other seven teams in the independent league.

At this week’s mid-season break, in fact, the Ducks had nine players named to the league’s All-Star Game in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, largely because manager Dave LaPoint brought in players like Edgardo Alfonzo, Jose Offerman, Carl Everett and lefty John Halama to anchor a starting rotation. Nevertheless, a spot in the playoffs will now depend upon the second-half.

Despite claiming more representatives in the exhibition than any other club, LaPoint’s squad wilted during the stretch run of the season’s first half. All it took was a seven-day stretch to undo all their previous work, however, as the Ducks went from sitting atop the North Division standings on June 30 to being mathematically eliminated from the first-half title on July 7.

Newark instead captured the title, which comes with an automatic playoff berth as all records reset after the All-Star break. The Bears were able to punch their first postseason ticket in five years thanks mainly to the Ducks’ inability to put together complete games during crucial stretches. Starting with a 12-10 loss to the Camden Riversharks on June’s final day, the Flock lost seven of nine.

During a four-game losing streak that ended in the nightcap of a doubleheader against the expansion York Revolution on July 3, the Ducks starting pitchers failed consistently to go deep into games. LaPoint was forced to use an overworked bullpen after his starters could not pitch into the sixth inning in four consecutive contests, dropping them behind the Bears and Bluefish in what was a tense three-way battle before the late collapse.

Led by the league-best .351 batting average of Pete Rose, Jr., the Ducks offense scored more runs in the first half than any team besides Bridgeport. But the pitching— thought to be a strong suit with veterans such as Lance Davis and Donovan Osborne having joined the rotation—failed to provide consistent support.

Reliever Danny Graves posted 18 saves, putting him one ahead of Camden’s Chris Fussell for the top spot. Though they possessed a shut-down closer, the Ducks staff went into the first-half finale with a 5.21 earned run average, ranked next to last in the eight-team league.

“We have two of the three things figured out,” LaPoint said after his team surrendered those 12 runs against the Riversharks. “Our defense is great and our offense is great. So somebody has to step up and decide that they want to get some people out,” the manager chided.

By the time the hurlers consistently induced outs, the Ducks were out of the division title equation. A loss to Newark eliminated them on Saturday, although Sunday’s 9-5 victory over the Bears was still important for the overall record.

Fan voting determined the All-Star starting lineups, with the results seemingly reflecting popularity more than a reward for the most deserving individuals. Halama’s selection to the squad epitomized the fallacy of fan voting, as the former Seattle Mariner went 4-5 with a 5.01 ERA.

Halama wasn’t the only rotation member who failed to meet LaPoint’s expectations. John Riedling, who temporarily emerged as a reliable stopper, regressed as the weather grew warmer, also posting a 5.59 ERA. James Garcia surrendered close to six runs every nine innings, while Osborne registered a 3-4 ledger with 4.95 ERA.

Out of the bullpen, Graves became the one dependable contributor. Todd Erdos, who graced the cover of the team’s media guide in 2006 after saving 32 games for the Ducks the year before, gave up 27 earned runs in just 25 innings as the set-up man. Only Travis Wade and newly acquired Joe Valentine own respectable numbers as relievers, making it hard for the offense to compensate for the slew of runs surrendered to the opposition.

While their first half record of 35-28 will go to 0-0 when the second half commences, those wins can still be counted if the Bears finish in first again. The league uses overall records to determine wild card entries. Meanwhile, the fresh start in the midst of a 126-game regular season schedule provides a chance to wipe the slate clean for the pitchers.

All-Star Notes: Only four of the nine Ducks will actually play in Lancaster for the All-Star Game. Ray Navarrete and Kevin Haverbusch will represent the position players. Halama and reliever Ben Grezlovski (3-2, 4.78 ERA) will make the trip to Pennsylvania on behalf of the pitchers. “We’re proud of what our players have been able to accomplish on the field in the first half of the season,” general manager Michael Pfaff said in a statement. “Each member of the Ducks selected to the All-Star team is an important contributor to our club and is deserving of this honor.”

The Ducks quest for better luck in the second half begins on Friday, July 13, with a three game series against the Road Warriors, followed by three against Lancaster to complete the homestand at Citibank Park.