Creativity Department

Something about the Blue Jays minor league affiliates I suppose...Check out this video from Dunedin...

Celebrate 8-Bit Style

Old School Radio

You've seen me post about Jesse Goldberg-Strassler before...He does this every season...Recreate a baseball game old school style...This year it worked out that the event happened at home...

ESPN STORY

Ejections

I am a big fan of priceless ejections and came across this gem the other day from Asheville (Rockies Single-A) Manager Joe Mikulik...Make sure you click on the link to the first ejection before you watch the second video...Priceless...

The Meltdown: Part Two

Entertaining

During a day game earlier this season WCIU, a TV station in Chicago that sometimes carries the Sox and Cubs, came out to shoot some video and do a piece on the Boomers for its morning show...Well, I stumbled across this rather entertaining piece on the club...

Fun to Be Had

No More Laughing at Ceremonial First Pitch Pitchers

During last night's game I referenced an article in the Daily Herald from columnist Mike Imrem on throwing out the first pitch at a Boomers game (Pictured from the Daily Herald)....Here is the full article...

No More Laughing

Nate Baumann

Earlier last week I referenced an article in Nate Baumann's hometown newspaper...Here it is...

Baumann Going Through Grind of Pro Ball

Findings

I haven't posted anything in a while but came across a few interesting articles of late that I thought I would share...One is about Cam Roth, one about former Boomer Dave Whigham, one about the Washington Wild Things, and one about a visit to Boomers Stadium...AKA a lot today in one post...

There and Back Again: A Pitcher's Journey (Whigham)

Roth Takes Off With Frontier League Boomers

Washington Wild Things Try to Revitalize Product

Stadium Journey: Boomers Stadium

Denny McLain

Here's the full audio from Denny McLain's visit to the broadcast booth yesterday...

Joliet

As to be expected a lot of media used the All-Star Break to write stories about the first half of their respective teams...I found this interesting out of Joliet...The title says it all...

First Half Chem Experiment a Failure

Cameron Roth

Here is Cam Roth's between game interview from the doubleheader with Evansville on July 5...

Chad Mozingo

 Between game fun with Chad Mozingo during a doubleheader on July 5 at Evansville...

New Look Normal

When the Normal CornBelters visit Boomers Stadium tonight it won't be the same team who dropped two of three to the Boomers two weeks ago...For that matter, it won't be the same team at the All-Star Break...Manager Chad Parker admitted he was hoping this team would be 30-16 not 16-30...So, he traded two All-Stars and completely retooled the team for the second half...The new look Belters will debut tonight against the Boomers in the second half opener for each club...

Belters Deal Another All-Star Set for New Look

All-Star Game

Didn't make the All-Star Game?? No worries...President/GM Andy Viano had the team camera with him and took plenty of pictures...I posted a bunch from my twitter account as well...I am planning to post a full recap on here later today...

ALL STAR GAME

Squirt Gun Fight

Here is the link to all of the photos from the World's Largest Squirt Gun Fight...You may see a few featuring me...Man did I have fun...

SQUIRT GUN FIGHT

Tarpocalypse: Boomer Style

According to weather folk...The winds during the storm which took out power for days to a lot of the suburbs packed winds near 100 mph...Yet, in this video you will notice that the tarp stayed down...Tremendous effort by the grounds crew...

Patrick Mincey: Part Two

Part Two of Said Mincey interview...

Patrick Mincey

So a while ago I sat down with Patrick Mincey for a live Calderwood's Coup...Here is Part One...

Famous Chicken

Catch up time!!! So here is a link to the photo gallery from the Famous Chicken's Visit...

Boomer Photos

Mincey

Feature story in today's Daily Herald on Patrick Mincey

MLB Scouts Have Eyes on Mincey

God Bless America!!!

Check out this fashion statement from Schaumburg Trainer Scott Waehler...Mike Valadez partaking in the fun as well...Happy Birthday America!!!!

Bosse Field

For whatever reason strange things happen to me when I am in Evansville...Check out some of the previous posts for stories...

POWER OUTAGE

Holy Storm

If you follow me on twitter you heard me referencing the storm we were driving through last night...Check out this video from last night's Joliet-Southern Illinois contest...

I'm a Little Worried to Be On

Boomers 9, CornBelters 2

It was a hot one last night...But the Boomer bats were up for the heat as well...

Boxscore

Recap

Heat, Boomers Knock Out Belters: Bloomington Pantagraph

Chad Mozingo's third triple of the season opens the scoring in the first...


Mike Valadez with a first pitch single to score a pair...


Jereme Milons finishes things in the first inning with a two-run double...

Boomer BackUp

More Media

Welcome to Getaway Day, where I spend way more time than necessary reading things...This is my catch up on some media from around the league...

Windy City Notebook: T-Bolts Turn Up the Power - Daily Southtown

Joliet: Slow Start for Slammers Not New - Joliet Herald-News

Say What?

This story has nothing to do with the Boomers or the Frontier League but does relate to baseball and I find it very, very strange...Reports out of Tampa reveal that a fan was shot by a stray bullet at a Rays game that traveled over a mile and through the roof at Tropicana Field...Say what???

Stray Bullet Grazes Rays Fan

Almost Famous???

So get this...As we leave the hotel today there was a crazy ton of camera crews...Walking out into the lobby to get to the bus I almost felt like I was interfering with something...This leads me to a sidebar...In 2008 while with the Beach Bums, the hotel we stayed at in Kalamazoo was the sight of some horror movie that was being filmed or something...It was on a getaway day and the crew kept telling us we were getting in the shots because we were all hanging out outside to watch...Never heard the title of that indy flick nor saw it...

But today, turns out a few of the Boomers will now be featured on a TV show this fall entitled Chef Race: UK vs US...I know C.J. Thieleke and Chad Mozingo logged on camera time for sure...Apparently its a race across the country between 16 chefs making food in various cities...They asked about coming to the game tonight to cook our postgame meal so who knows...I will provide details as I learn them but I guess it is supposed to air on BBC America this fall...

Here are a few details I found about it...

Jamie Oliver to Produce Chef Race

Chef Race Films in Wichita

This truck was at the hotel today...

More Numbers

So after looking at the quality starts yesterday let's look at close games...Below is everyone's record in games decided by three runs or less...These numbers I think are much more reflective of competitive stature...Al the teams currently in playoff position have been involved in and won a lot of close games...

Rockford - 6-12
Evansville - 10-14
Washington - 9-13
London - 10-15
Normal - 9-10
Joliet - 12-12
Southern Illinois - 12-11
Lake Erie - 10-12
Florence - 14-15
Gateway - 10-13
Windy City - 14-8
River City - 13-10
Traverse City - 13-8
BOOMERS - 18-7

Battle for Labatt Park

Earlier you may remember my detailing that London has been battling to earn a liquor license for Labatt Park and that might be one of the reasons why the club had been struggling at the gates...Well, London's owner, Manager, and GM David Martin issued a challenge to the London Majors for a best of three series to find out who the real pros are at Labatt Park...Sounds like it ain't gonna happen...

Rippers Issue Challenge

LONDON FREE PRESS: London Owner Offers to Settle Fight on FIeld

LONDON FREE PRESS: Majors Pass on Battle for Suds

The Corn Crib

So since I have already been here once I can post some photos...Normal is home to the World's Greatest Women's Restroom...

WOMEN'S RESTROOM

THE CORN CRIB

Quality Starts

Since I had way more time than necessary because it was hot and I didn't want to leave the hotel room and there was nothing noteworthy on TV (With all do respect to EURO, Italy was up 2-0)...I decided to track each teams pitchers and examine quality starts...You tell me if there is a correlation between standings and quality starts...

Remember a quality start is six innings or more and three or less earned runs...This even though Roth allowed five last night only three were earned...

London - 23 (Richmond - 7)
Evansville - 21 (Blewett - 6)
Washington - 21 (Smith - 6)
BOOMERS - 19 (Staff Leader: Roth - 7)
Windy City - 19 (Sauer - 7)
Gateway - 18 (Brown - 7)
Florence - 18 (Lewis - 6)
Lake Erie - 16 (Fagan - 5)
Normal - 16 (Lavigne/Britt - 4)
Joliet - 15 (Maxwell - 5)
Southern Illinois - 15 (Harden - 6)
River City - 15 (Vancil - 4)
Traverse City - 14 (Kelly - 5)
Rockford - 6 (Lee/VanderWall - 2)

What's interesting is that the team who leads the league in ERA is second to last in quality starts...London ranks 11th in ERA but first in quality starts...

Project for tomorrow will be to examine how many close games each team has been in to see if maybe problems are at the backside of the pen or with the offense perhaps...Fascinating numbers none the less...

Schaumburg 5, Rockford 4

6-0 against Rockford this year...17-4 at home...13 comeback wins...Some impressive numbers from your first place Schaumburg Boomers...

BOXSCORE

RECAP

Mike Valadez Fifth-Inning Double


Chad Mozingo ties the game in the 6th...


Nick Kuroczko hands the Boomers the lead following a lengthy delay...



Boomer BackUp

Silver Cross Field

Where to Get Signed

You may have heard me reference this on the broadcast Thursday night...Another good post from Washington writer Chris Dugan...

Where to Get Signed

Boomers 5, Slammers 4

BOXSCORE

RECAP 

JOLIET HERALD NEWS: Slammers Stumble

PATCH: Slump Continues

Steve McQuail's 1st Inning RBI Single to open the scoring...


Jereme Milons ties the game...


Nick Kuroczko hands Schaumburg the lead...


Boomer BackUp...

Roger Kahn

I need to tip my cap to Jesse Goldberg-Strassler, a former Frontier League broadcast with Windy City who is now in Lansing with a couple former Frontier League guys (Lansing's Manager was the Hitting Coach in Traverse City when I was there and the Lugnut Hitting Coach has connections to Jamie Bennett from time with the RailCats), for this one...I saw him post this on his facebook page...Check it out...

The Best 484 Words You Will Ever Read About Pitching

London Bridges

How about this...Reading through the stories yesterday check this out from the London newspaper...If you are wondering about why London ranks 14th in the league in attendance this may be a reason why...

Rippers Owner Froths at Lack of Liquor License

Boomers at Slammers: June 20

Wasn't I just here???

PREVIEW

SCHAUMBURG BOOMERS (19-11, 1st West Division)
Karexon Sanchez - 2B
Gerard Hall - SS
Frank Pfister - 3B
Steve McQuail - DH
Sean Mahley - RF
Chad Mozingo - LF
Jereme Milons - CF
Nick Kuroczko - 1B
Ty Nelson - C

RHP Robby Donovan (3-1, 3.96 - 7th Start)

JOLIET SLAMMERS (14-16, 5 GB West Division)
Chretien Matz - LF
Abel Nieves - SS
Hector Pellot - 2B
Erik Lis - DH
Kyle Maunus - 1B
Zach Mandelblatt - RF
A.J. Regoli - CF
Sean Estand - 3B
Trey Manz - C

RHP Jim Schult (1-2, 7.53 - 2nd Start; 12 Game)

Boomers 7, Windy City 4

Finally...A win over Windy City...

Recap

Boxscore

Frank Pfister homers to tie the game...


Steve McQuail RBI single to hand the Boomers the lead...


Sean Mahley Squeeze...


Mozingo RBI Single...


Boomer BackUp

Calderwood's Coup Live: Part Two

Part Two with Frank Pfister...

Windy City at Boomers: June 19

Schaumburg looks to avoid being swept at home and falling to 0-6 against Windy City this season...

Preview

WINDY CITY THUNDERBOLTS (16-11, 1 GB West Division)
Bob Glover - RF
Mike Torres - 2B
Chris Wade - SS
Chad Cregar - DH
Jareck West - CF
Brandon Decker - LF
Zach Aakhus - 1B
Travis Weaver - 3B
Brandon Pearl - C

RHP Blayne Weller (0-0, 3.92 - 4th Start; Converted Reliever)

SCHAUMBURG BOOMERS (18-11; 1st West Division)
Karexon Sanchez - 2B
Gerard Hall - SS
Frank Pfister - DH (First game not at third this season)
Steve McQuail - RF (Gotta come up with a new M-OF nickname)
Sean Mahley - CF
Chad Mozingo - LF
Ty Nelson - C
Nick Kuroczko - 1B
Andrew Cohn - 3B

RHP Shane Prance (0-0, 1.35 - 2nd Start)

Calderwood's Coup Live

Here is part one of my interview with 3B Frank Pfister...

Windy City at Boomers: June 18

Schaumburg is 0-4 against Windy City this season but has never dropped back-to-back games at home...Can the Boomers find a way to retire Chad Cregar???

PREVIEW

WINDY CITY THUNDERBOLTS (15-11; 2 GB West Division)
Bob Glover - LF
Mike Torres - 2B
Chris Wade - SS
Chad Cregar - RF
Andy Chriscaden - 1B
Brandon Decker - DH
Jareck West - CF
Zach Aakhus - C
Travis Weaver - 3B

RHP Dustin Williams (3-2, 5.29 - 7th Start)

SCHAUMBURG BOOMERS (18-10; 1st Place West)
Karexon Sanchez - 2B
Sean Mahley - LF
Gerard Hall - SS
Frank Pfister - 3B
Steve McQuail - 1B
Chad Mozingo - DH
Jereme Milons - CF
Ty Nelson - C
Nate Baumann - RF

RHP Robbie Penny (2-2, 4.85 - 6th Start)

Darth Broadcaster Part Deux

Please watch this and laugh...Also, share it and tell all your friends to watch me make a fool of myself...It was a highlight of yesterday for the players, coaches, and staff...

Darth Broadcaster

By request...A picture of me from the broadcast booth last night...Obviously I didn't wear this during the game...If you don't follow me on twitter look at what you are missing...

Shootin' the Bull with Bennett

June 14th edition of chattin with the Boomer skipper...

Mileage

Another great post from Washington Observer-Reporter Sports Editor Chris Dugan on the travel in the Frontier League...Notice where Schaumburg ranks on the list...

Two things I will say about this before you read the article...First, the Boomers are 5-7 on the road this season so even with an easy schedule it hasn't helped at least at the start, though I imagine you will take a 5-7 road record...Second...I might go back to last year and map out how many miles were driven by the Gary SouthShore RailCats in the American Association...I am guessing it will blow away the 11,000+ miles driven by Washington this season...

Gas Up the Bus

My amateur and not precise math reveals that with Gary last season we traveled over 14,000 miles and had surpassed Washington's total by the end of July...Still though, let there be no doubt that travel takes a toll on a team during the season and that perhaps is one of the many reasons why the Frontier League is looking at some sites in the East near Washington for potential expansion...

Boomers at Joliet: June 13

Boomers are 2-0 in rubber games this season...Joliet is 0-2...Will those streaks continue?? I'm on air now!!

GAME NOTES

PREVIEW

SCHAUMBURG BOOMERS (14-9, 1 GB West)
Gerard Hall - SS
Nick Kuroczko - 1B
Frank Pfister - 3B
Jereme Milons - DH
Chad Mozingo - LF
Nate Baumann - RF
Sean Mahley - CF
Mike Valadez - C
Andrew Cohn - 2B

RHP Robbie Penny (1-2, 5.96 - 5th Start)

JOLIET SLAMMERS (12-11, 3 GB West)
Ben Hewett - C
Zach Mandelblatt - CF
Abel Nieves - RF
David Fox - LF
Hector Pellot - 2B
Erik Lis - DH
Sean Estand - 3B
Kyle Maunus - 1B
Brad Netzel - SS

RHP Eric Binder (2-1, 3.18 - 4th Start)

Joliet 8, Boomers 0

Anyone else feel like that game got out of control in a hurry and was much closer than the 8-0 score??

BOXSCORE

RECAP

Joliet Herald-News: Alvino Stars in Debut

Boomer BackUp

Shootin the Bull with Bennett: June 12

Boomers at Joliet: June 12

Fourth attempt at a four game win streak...The Boomers are a season high six games over .500

PREVIEW

GAME NOTES

SCHAUMBURG BOOMERS (14-8; T-1st West)
Gerard Hall - SS
Nick Kuroczko - 1B
Frank Pfister - 3B
Jereme Milons - CF
Chad Mozingo - LF
Nate Baumann - DH
Sean Mahley - RF
Mike Valadez - C
Drew Heithoff - 2B

RHP Tyler Watkins (1-1, 2.39 - 5th Start)

JOLIET SLAMMERS
Ben Hewett - C
Zach Mandelblatt - CF
Abel Nieves - 1B
David Fox - LF
Hector Pellot - 2B
Erik Lis - DH
Sean Estand - 3B
Jimmy Waters - RF
Brad Netzel - SS

RHP Wander Alvino (Debut)

Shootin the Bull with Bennett: June 11

Interview with Manager Jamie Bennett from the Boomer BatterUp Show in June 11

More Roster Moves

As referenced here yesterday, Jose Rodriguez went down during batting practice with an ankle injury...Today, Rodriguez was placed on the 14-day injured reserve list...No word yet on what will happen with his slot in the rotation but I will keep you informed...To take the place of Rodriguez on the roster, the Boomers added Rookie LHP Kaleb Engelke...Engelke (Pictured)  is the fourth player from UW-Milwaukee to become a professional this season...

UW-Milwaukee Release

Engelke Bio

Boomers 5, Slammers 3

Schaumburg and Joliet had quite the rivalry in the Northern League and it looks like new teams names, new ownership, and a new league have done nothing to change that...Last night was an intense contest...The Boomers were able to hold off the Slammers in a win that stopped a six-game road losing streak...The win also put the Boomers in a share of first for the first time since May 22...

BOXSCORE

RECAP

Joliet Herald-News Story: Slammers Fall Short Against Boomers

HIGHLIGHTS
Nate Baumann's 2nd Inning Homer...


Gerard Hall homers in the fifth...


Frank Pfister RBI Double...


BackUp

Dragon Fly

Further proof that I am not crazy...Here is a photo of the dragon fly that landed on my computer Sunday...

Arch Nemesis

So have you heard about this yet? Jason Troop was telling me all about it when River City was in town this weekend...A burger to rival Gateway's Baseball's Best...I will taste it in August and give you the lowdown!

Arch Nemesis Released

Boomers at Slammers: June 11

So the Boomers played Joliet three times in the exhibition season, losing all three games handily...But...Joliet just returned from London where last night the Slammers used a ton of arms, every arm to be exact, in a 13-12 13-inning five hour game...Soooo...We will see...Welcome back Gerard Hall...

PREVIEW

GAME NOTES

SCHAUMBURG BOOMERS (13-8, 1 GB West Division)
Gerard Hall - SS
Nick Kuroczko - 1B
Frank Pfister - 3B
Jereme Milons - CF
Chad Mozingo - DH
Nate Baumann - RF
Sean Mahley - LF
Mike Valadez - C
Drew Heithoff - 2B

LHP Cam Roth (3-0, 1.59 - 5th Start)

JOLIET SLAMMERS (11-10; 3 GB West Division)
Chretien Matz - CF
Abel Nieves - RF
Hector Pellot - 2B
Erik Lis - DH
David Fox - LF
Kyle Maunus - 1B
Sean Estand - 3B
Ben Hewett - C
Brad Netzel - SS

RHP Steven Maxwell (2-1, 2.96 - 5th Start)

Welcome Back

Gerard Hall is back!!! The shortstop assumes his role today and will be batting leadoff for the Boomers...Since Hall was an experienced player the Boomers released experienced pitcher Alex Thieroff, who posted two saves this year...

Also on the injury front...Karexon Sanchez is day-to-day with a hamstring injury suffered yesterday...Jamie Bennett mentioned the team will take it easy with him out at least today and probably tomorrow as well...Pitcher Jose Rodriguez stepped in a hole during batting practice and tweaked his ankle...Didn't look good but again, too soon to tell...

Boomers 6, Rascals 5

Here are the highlights from both 6-5 Boomer wins...

June 9
Nate Baumann homers in the second...


Karexon Sanchez with an awesome defensive gem...


Sean Mahley singles home two to put the Boomers back in front on June 9...


Mahley at it again in the eighth...


Nate Baumann drives home the winner with a double in the 8th...


BOXSCORE

RECAP

June 10
Nate Baumann doubles home a run in the fifth...


Ty Nelson drives home a run in a three-run fifth...


Sean Mahley with a fifth inning RBI...


Jereme Milons drives home the game-winner in the 10th...


BOXSCORE

RECAP

Boomer BackUp

Shootin the Bull with Bennett

I underestimated how much having a day game throws me off rhythm...So time for catchup...Here are some Shootin' the Bull with Bennett segments, pretty sure these never aired in their entirety so...Calderwood's Coup Exclusive!!!!

June 9


June 10

River City at Boomers: June 9

So the first 1,500 through the gates tonight receive a fleece blanket...Nice!!! Arrive early!!! Jamie Bennett joins me in the Boomers BatterUp Show...First pitch is at 6:00 p.m. I am on at 5:40 p.m. I will also have a guest from Northwest Community Hospital in Arlington Heights as part of Cancer Survivors' Night in the second inning...

GAME NOTES

PREVIEW

RIVER CITY RASCALS (14-5, 1st West)
Eric Williams - CF
Jeremy Synan - LF
Jason Patton - RF
Josh Workman - 3B
Chris Andreas - 1B
Gerardo Avila - DH
Bobby Burk - SS
Matt Serna - 2B
Zach Deutcher - C

RHP Keli'i Zablan (2-0, 1.88 - 3rd Start)

SCHAUMBURG BOOMERS (11-8, 3 GB West)
Andrew Cohn - SS
Nick Kuroczko - 1B
Frank Pfister - 3B
Jereme Milons - CF
Chad Mozingo - DH
Karexon Sanchez - 2B
Ty Nelson - C
Sean Mahley - LF
Nate Baumann - RF

LHP Jose Rodriguez (1-1, 6.14 - 2nd Start)

Bennett: June 8

Shootin' the Bull with Bennett prior to the first game with River City

I'm Not Crazy!!

So when I arrived in the broadcast booth today check out the size of the bee type thing...I told you I'm not crazy!!!

River City at Boomers: June 8

The leaders of the West are in town...I long ago learned there is no such thing as big series when you aren't even 20 games into the season but what I will say is this...It's a solidification series...The Boomers have a chance to solidify themselves as a top team in the West Division with these three games...

Check out a new feature today, the addition of my nightly game notes...This is what I spend a lot of the day doing...Creating, writing, designing, reading, designing, you get the idea...This helps me prep for each game and is filled with more info than you could ever imagine about the team...A lot of what I created has been taken directly from Major League notes and crafted to my liking for the Boomers...

GAME NOTES

GAME PREVIEW

RIVER CITY RASCALS (13-5; 1st West Division)
Eric Williams - CF
Jeremy Synan - LF
Jason Patton - RF
Josh Workman - 3B
Chris Andreas - DH
Gerard Avila - 1B
Bobby Burk - SS
Matt Serna - 2B
Zach Deutcher - C

RHP Tony Marsala (1-0, 3.38 - 2nd Start)

SCHAUMBURG BOOMERS (11-7; 3rd - 2GB West)
Andrew Cohn - SS
Nick Kuroczko - 1B
Frank Pfister - 3B
Jereme Milons - CF
Chad Mozingo - LF
Karexon Sanchez - 2B
Sean Mahley - RF
Mike Valadez - C
Brandon Hairston - DH

RHP Robbie Penny (1-1, 3.50 - 4th Start)

Boomers 5, Gateway 4

A sweep of Gateway...That was sure one of the stranger games I have been a part of...It saw both teams rally, a run be added retroactively, but ultimately ended up in the eighth home win of the season for Schaumburg, the third in walk-off fashion...

When listening back to the highlights realize I was not made aware of the retroactive run until after the fact...

RECAP

BOXSCORE

Jereme Milons homers in the seventh


Chad Mozingo homers after Milons, the first back-to-backers in franchise history


Mike Valadez Walk-Off Single


BOOMER BACKUP

Shootin the Bull with Bennett

The June 7 edition of Shootin the Bull with Bennett on the Boomers BatterUp Show

Gateway at Boomers: June 7

So the Boomers aim for a sweep today...Here are the lineups and today's preview story...

PREVIEW

GATEWAY GRIZZLIES (7-10, 5 GB West)
Jonathan Johnson - 2B
Antone DeJesus - CF
John Shelby - RF
Jerod Yakubik - 1B
Jon Myers - LF
Vladimir Frias - SS
Case Rigby - DH
Richie Jimenez, Jr. - 3B
Justin Dunning - C

RHP Jonathan Gonzalez - (1-0, 2.08; 4th Start)

SCHAUMBURG BOOMERS (10-7; 2 GB West)
Andrew Cohn - SS
Nick Kuroczko - 1B
Frank Pfister - 3B
Jereme Milons - CF
Chad Mozingo - LF
Karexon Sanchez - 2B
Nate Baumann - DH
Mike Valadez - C
Sean Mahley - RF

RHP Tyler Watkins (1-1, 2.66; 4th Start)

Boomers 3, Gateway 1

That was quick...What a well played game on both sides and yet it was decided in nine innings versus the 13-inning 1-0 game against Florence...I asked Jamie Bennett today if the thought was there to let Cam Roth finish and he said the thought was definitely in his mind but the fact that the pitch count was climbing and that it was just the second game of 21 straight made going to Patrick Mincey easy...Tune in to today's Boomer Batter Up Show to hear his full thoughts...

Chad Mozingo RBI Single in the 4th




Frank Pfister's diving play in the seventh


BOXSCORE

RECAP

BOOMER BACKUP

Gateway Media

Here is an article from the St. Louis Post-Dispatch about how Gateway was banking on improved pitching for this year...From what I have seen thus far in two games the pitching has been vastly improved but the injuries are beginning to take a toll on the offense...

Improved Pitching Provides Hope

Shootin' the Bull with Bennett: June 6

Here is Shootin' the Bull with Bennett from last night's game...

Roster Moves

LHP Thomas Nelson was released yesterday, bringing the roster to 23 players with 12 pitchers and 11 position players...Today, IF Karexon Sanchez joined the team...Sanchez will assume the role of starting second baseman tonight, hitting sixth...Sanchez owns time in Double-A and was in spring training with the Indians this spring...

Sanchez Stats

Gateway at Schaumburg: June 6

Newbie in the lineup for the Boomers...Details on that in another post in a moment...Here are the lineups for game two...Gateway is running thin with two key injuries yesterday...

GATEWAY GRIZZLIES (7-9; 5th West)
Jonathan Johnson - 2B
Vladimir Frias - SS
John Shelby - RF
Jerod Yakubik - 1B
Jon Myers - LF
Case Rigby - DH
Antone DeJesus - CF
Justin Dunning - C
Richie Jimenez, Jr. - 3B

Tim Brown - RHP (1-1, 2.11 - 4th Start)

SCHAUMBURG BOOMERS (9-7; T-3rd West)
Andrew Cohn - SS
Nick Kuroczko - DH
Frank Pfister - 3B
Jereme Milons - CF
Chad Mozingo - LF
Karexon Sanchez - 2B
Sean Mahley - RF
Mike Valadez - C
Brandon Hairston - 1B

Cam Roth - LHP (2-0, 1.77 - 4th Start)

GAME PREVIEW

Boomers 5, Grizzlies 4

The Boomers improved to 6-1 at home with the win last night, hanging on...Minor point of concern is the inability to score against bullpens, especially late to put the game away...

Some notes...Alex Theiroff became the first pitcher to record more than one save this season despite allowing his first run of the year...Thieroff, Patrick Mincey, Jason Braun, and Dave Whigham had all previously recorded saves...Frank Pfister now owns an eight-game hitting streak...Mike Valadez posted his first multi-hit game of the season and has almost doubled his season hit total over the last two contests...

Here are some of the highlights from last night's game, which can also be linked into the recap story below...

Mike Valadez hands Schaumburg the lead in the 2nd


Jereme Milons doubles home Frank Pfister


Chad Mozingo drives home the fifth and final run of the game


Boomer Recap

Every night during weekday games I record a Boomer BackUp to air on the radio station which is basically a quick audio recap of the game...Here is the one from last night...

Manager Jamie Bennett: June 5

Here is the audio from Jamie Bennett's June 5 interview prior to the series opener with Gateway...

Ballparks

Last photo updates for today...Ballparks where the Boomers have visited in 2012...Most of which are views from my booth

Windy City's Standard Bank Stadium...

Southern Illinois: Rent One Park

Boomers Stadium from Opening Night

Opener

Here is my getup from opening night in addition to the full staff picture (Which I also tweeted, have I mentioned you should follow me?? @tcpopcorn)

Tyler

As I reference in Sunday's broadcast, Southern Illinois broadcast Mike Ventola had me on his pregame show at Rent One Park that plays over the videoboard...Needless to say, this is where my newest nickname Tyler comes from because that is what he kept calling me...These pics show me posing with Mike (I tweeted this after it happened) in addition to him doing his thing...

Say What?

Sometimes people ask what goes on in the hotel rooms...Here is a photo from getaway day in Southern Illinois...Somehow Nate Baumann got his room key to flick perfectly in the wall...

Scorebook

Here is the mess that became my scorebook during the 15-inning game with Windy City...You can see I like colors :)

Boomer with a Boomer

Boomer is the name of the Windy City mascot...Here, he visits the visiting broadcast booth at Standard Bank Stadium to pose with a Boomer...

Wounded Me

You may have heard me reference my injury from the bus at Southern Illinois...Note to self...Bus vs. You, bus always wins...Check out this pic...I told you I got myself pretty good!!

Photos

So beware...Here comes a photo barrage...I guess it's a bad thing to have a camera phone because these pics stay on here forever...I want this blog to not only be audio but also video and photos so here come a bunch of photos...

For starters...Here is the very first lineup card in franchise history...

Shootin the Bull with Bennett

Here are the interviews with Jamie Bennett from Saturday and Sunday...Sunday's interview was not heard live so tis a Calderwood's Coup Exclusive!!!

Looks like my audio issues have been fixed, I had uninstall and reinstall my program plus change a few passwords and all that...

June 2


June 3

Manager of the Miners

I told you I would sit down with Southern Illinois Manager Mike Pinto, a Schaumburg resident, and here it is...I hope you enjoy listening to it as much as I enjoyed talking with him...It will be my goal during the season to once a series try and connect with one person from the opposing team...