Food Donation
The Connecticut Tigers recently donated some leftover food from the 2012 season to the St. Vincent de Paul Place in Norwich. The leftover breads and various meats helped the more the 180 households per week that receive assistance from the pantry.
Corrine Kelly directs Tigers’ staff members delivering food to the pantry.
The Connecticut Tigers ownership and staff would like to wish you and yours a very happy holiday season!
T.J. in the AFL
With less than a week left in the Arizona Fall League, “Tale of the Tigers” sat down with 2011 and 2012 Athletic Trainer T.J. Obergefell, who spent the AFL season with the Mesa Solar Sox. T.J. spoke about his daily duties and what it’s like dealing with the top prospects in baseball.
TOTT: How did you get this job?
TJ: The organization puts out a voicemail every year. I threw my name out there very late. My boss left his position and the trainer that was originally scheduled to come out here filled the position the vacant position in our organization. My name came up and I was happy to do it.
TOTT: With less than a week left, what has the experience been like?
TJ: The talent out here is very good. All number one prospects, guys knocking on the door of the big leagues. From a training standpoint, it’s been easier. If a player gets hurt, the organization he comes from is supposed to replace him. We’ll just ship the player out. No rehab is done on site. We have players from five different organizations: the Tigers, Orioles, Dodgers, Cubs and Astros. The other trainer (with the Solar Sox) is from the Orioles. Each trainer deals with his own guys and the Cubs and Dodgers have facilities nearby so the only organization we have to coordinate with is the Astros.
TOTT: What are your daily duties?
TJ: We get here early before the games because players do a pre-game lift and deal with the nagging injuries in order to try and keep them on the field. There are no strength and conditioning coaches so we lead the team stretch and because there are two of us, we can give the players a little more attention.
TOTT: What has it been like working with (the Tigers’ number one prospect) Nick Castellanos?
TJ: Nick is very good. He’s matured a lot the last couple of years. He wants to get better and this is where he needs to be.
TOTT: The Tigers were nice enough to bring in many of their minor league employees to Detroit for the World Series. How awesome was that experience?
TJ: Every time we make it to the World Series, every full-time staff member gets tickets to the home games and their travel covered. The whole experience was bittersweet. Losing the way we did definitely hurt. You feel like a fan but you way more invested because you know all the guys on the team personally.
TOTT: Are you excited to get back to Lakeland following the AFL season?
TJ (Laughing): I texted my suitemate (2010 Connecticut Tigers Athletic
Trainer T.J. Saunders). He knows I’ll be back in the next week or so.
We’re Ok!!!!
As you can see from the photos, things are normal here at Dodd Stadium in the aftermath of Sandy. Fortunately there were no power outages here at the stadium and absolutely no damage. Aside from some water on field, you would have idea that our beautiful ballpark endured one of the most brutal storms in modern history.
We know times are tough for many of you. From businesses running on generators and cell power to the thousands of people without power across the state, our thoughts and prayers are with everyone in Connecticut for a speedy recovery!
SEASON. OVER.
Tonight the 2012 season ends for the Connecticut Tigers and it’s been a wonderful ride from here in the radio booth. From ups and downs, winning and losing streaks to watching the development of such prospects as Danry Vasquez to the emergence of such good young starting pitchers as Edgar De La Rosa and Endrys Briceno, 2012 has been a fun and interesting ride.
Here’s to one final broadcast. I’ll join you at 6:50 tonight.
JV
4,223
That was the total attendance for last night’s game. The Tigers would like to offer a sincere thank you to everyone who attended last night’s game. It is because of you that the Tigers had the largest crowd in their franchise history.
This is proof of what a great market Norwich is. We want to keep things going for our final weekend with the “CT the Tiger” Bobble Head give away tonight. I look forward to seeing you at Dodd this evening. If not, I’ll talk to you on the radio at 6:50 p.m.
JV
It’s Winding Down
It’s hard to believe but next Wednesday the 2012 season for the Connecticut Tigers ends in Staten Island. This is a busy time of year in the front office. The interns are gone. The staff is busy as ever trying to pick up the slack and wind down the 2012 season while reaching out to our sponsors and fans to start the preparations for our 2013 season.
On the baseball side of things, the players don’t get as much “early work” with players working on fundamentals hours before the game. The organization knows that the players have had a long year whether they were drafted out of college in June or played through the extended spring training program in Lakeland, FL.
The home games are slowing winding down. Tonight is the final “Thirsty Thursday” of the 2012 season. The Tigers and ValleyCats wrap up their series at 7:05 p.m. I’ll join you at 6:50 p.m. on AM 1310 WICH.
JV
Vermont in Photos
A look at Centennial Field in photos tonight as the Tigers get set to take on the Vermont Lake Monsters.
A view from the booth. Look at the foul territory! You never see that much foul territory in the other parks.
Lowell in Pictures
Hours away from the start of game two in Lowell. Here’s a look at the Red Sox NYPL affiliate in pictures.
The Spinners taking batting practice.
The famous “Gator Pit” all-you-can-eat BBQ pit.
Photos of some of the more memorable moments in Spinners history, including their championship in 2008.
Tonight it’s game two of three. Pre-game coverage starts at 6:50 p.m. on AM 1310 WICH.
Bump in the Road
The Tigers have hit a bump in the road, losing their last three games, following a four-game winning streak that closed out their last home stand at Dodd. Tonight the Tigers will face a Lowell Spinners team that has gone 20-10 since the Tigers last saw them in late July.
The Tigers will have a chance to snap their losing streak tonight in game one of the series at Lowell. The Tigers did make a change in the starting rotation, inserting RHP Tim Kelley into the starting rotation in place of LHP Jack Duffey. Kelley will get the start on Saturday night here in Lowell.
Airtime, as always, is 15 minutes ahead of the first pitch. I’ll join you at 6:50 p.m.
