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PIRATES

6/19/09: 5–0, Pirates

TRADE ANNOUNCEMENT
After the Hickories first game with the Pirates, it was announced that the two teams traded minor leaguers, with the Hickories receiving 24-year-old shortstop Sean Rodriguez (FEEEDD) in exchange for 25 year-old relief pitcher Joe Smith (95 CE SL – three, CH – three, SFB – four). Rodriguez is in the first year of a three-year deal paying $400,000 per season while Smith is earning $700,000 per season in his 3-year deal.

The Hickories released the following statement: "Joe Smith is a good pitcher and we are sorry to see him go. He pitched well for us last season and really deserves to be in a starting lineup, but some of our younger players developed really well this off-season, and when it became clear that Smith was not going to be on the major-league roster, he requested a trade and we are happy to accommodate him. We are excited to see how Sean Rodriguez develops."

The Pirates, who already have Smith on their major-league roster, released the following statement, "we are thrilled to get Joe Smith, who improved tremendously during his time with the Hickories We expect Smith to battle our closer Jonathan Broxton (98 BE HSL – two, SP – two, CH – two, SFB – two) to determine who will be our closer and who will be our set up man."

Analysts look at this similarly to the Hickories last trade, and that they were committed to moving this pitcher and getting what they could, giving up more than they received in the process.

With their second trade of a minor-league pitcher this month, the Hickories are left with four pitchers on the current minor-league staff, two of whom were selected in this years draft.

enjoying reading your blog so far

Thanks, Jesse. I enjoy writing it and appreciate hearing when people are enjoying reading it.

PIRATES

6/20/09: The Pirates Ian Snell (96 CA 2SF – one, SL – two, CB – two, CH – two) dueled with the Hickories Gabe Kotter, entering the bottom of the sixth with his Pirates down 1–0 on an RBI single from Art Vandelay. The Hickories stranded runners in scoring position in the first and fifth innings, when Kotter was removed for a pinch hitter and replaced on the mound by Morris Buttermaker. In that fifth inning, leftfielder Jason Bay made two excellent running catches that saved two runs. Buttermaker pitched a perfect sixth and escaped the seventh with the Pirates stranding Freddy Sanchez on third. The Hickories doubled their lead in the eighth on consecutive singles from Laforge, Cool, and pinch-hitter Danny Zucko. Mickey Schuler and Inigo Montoya preserved the shutout. Final score: 2–0, Hickories

6/21/09: in another pitching duel, this one pitting the Pirates Tom Gruzilanik (95 CA 2SF – one, SL – three, CB – two, CH – two) against the Hickories Roy Hobbs (94 EB HSL – three, SCB – two, SP – Three, HSK – three), the Hickories broke the scoreless tie in the fifth when Cool singled home Vandelay, who doubled in his at-bat. Hobbs continued to pitch well, although he did not pick up his first strike out until the fifth inning. The Pirates threatened in the bottom of the eighth, when Hickories walked Freddy Sanchez to load the bases after Pirates reached second and third on a wild pitch from reliever Manzanilla. Shuler came in and struck out Paul Konerko on four pitches and remained in the game to close it out, earning the save and player of the game status (along with shortstop Cool, who knocked in the games only RBI. Final score: 1–0, Hickories

ALL-STAR VOTING: For the third time, the All-Star game votes for the American League was announced. Robert Plant is second in fan voting to Brian Roberts of the Orioles by almost 700,000 votes, and is ahead of the Indians Jamie Carol by a mere 40,000 votes. Jeff Lebowski leads AL third baseman voting, over 30,000 votes ahead of Chone Figgins and 32,000 votes ahead of third-place David Wright of the Red Sox. Outfielder David Banner is second in fan voting, between Manny Ramirez and Johny Damon.

ORIOLES

6/23/09: Against the Orioles Steve Trashel (90 FC 2SF – two, SL – one, CB – one, SP – two, CH – two), David Cohen (98 FB 2SF – two, HSL – three, SCB – one, CCH – one) took the mound and both pitchers stranded runners at third in their first inning of work. Great Johnson homered off of Cohen and the Hickories scored two in the second, as they seemed to be focusing on making contact instead of trying to drive the ball as they had in prior games. After hacking away futile for the next couple of innings, the Hickories seemed to go back to just trying to put the bat on the ball and scored one run on singles from McCann, Rogers, and Banner, and then Vandelay came to the plate looking to swing away and homered on a first pitch change up. Final score: six – one, Hickories

NOTE: when asked about their tactic of just trying to make contact, the Hickories said "One of our advisors, Jesse, discussed playing more "small ball" and relying on our speed. He is a big proponent of the bunt. We haven't found a situation to use that, but swinging for singles instead of swinging for homeruns is a start." Asked about when the Hickories might bunt, they replied curtly "when the time is right."

6/24/09: A two run home run by Buck Rogers in the first got the Hickories going against Orioles ace Daniel Cabrera (98 DA SL – one, CB – three, CH – two). The Hickories added a run in the third and the fourth while the Orioles put one on the scoreboard in the fourth and did not score again until a little rally in the eighth pulled them to within a run, but they would get no closer as the Hickories won their sixth game in a row. Final score: 4–3, Hickories

6/25/09: Sid Fernandez has been the Hickory's most dominant starter this season, but the Orioles loaded the bases against him before he escaped, allowing just a single run on an infield single. After having a runner thrown out early in the bottom of the first, the Hickories crossed the plate later that inning, tying the game on a single from McCann. Danny Zucko, filling in in the outfield while Mays Hayes bats as the DH, singled in the go-ahead run in the fourth. The Orioles loaded the bases, again, in the fifth, this time when Carl Crawford safely buntef with runners at first and second. Fernandez left the game after allowing the tying run to score. Against Glass Joe, a Luke Scott sacrifice fly brought in the go-ahead run, but in the bottom of the sixth, a Brian McCann single preceded an Art Vandalay homerun against Jason Isringhausen that gave the Hickories a one run lead that the Hickories extended when David Banner hit a two-out triple in the 8th and his pinch runner (Banner was injured on the slide into third) scored on a Vandelay single up the middle. Final score: 5–3, Hickories

PHILLIES

6/26/09: Against Gabe Kotter, Phillies catcher Carlos Ruiz doubled in two runs in the second inning. After Brian McCann hit a one out triple to the left centerfield gap, David Banner and Art Vandalay tied the game with RBI singles, and Way Cool Junior followed with an RBI double. Jeff Lebowski added a two run homerun in the third and Brian McCann hit his first home run as a Hickory later that inning. The teams traded runs in the fourth, as an RBI single from Hatteberg against relief pitcher Jack Tripper was offset by a leadoff homerun from Art Vandelay. Final score: 7–3, Jacksonville

NOTE: Brian McCann fell one double shy of hitting for the cycle

6/27/09: Pat Burrell led off the second inning with a homerun off of a Roy Hobbs slow curve. The Phillies put runners at second and third that same inning and both runners scored after second baseman Robert Plant dropped a pop fly that would've been the third out of the inning. In the meantime, the Phillies Jamie Moyer (85 CB 2SF – two, CU – two, CB – one, CCH – three) was erratic, but effective. In the fifth, Geordie Laforge led off with a triple, scored on a Crash Davis single, and three batters later, Jeff Lebowski drove in Davis with an RBI single off of Phillies reliever Rudy Seanez (93 DE SL – four, CH – four), who was very effective in yesterday's game. Three innings later, with two outs against former closer Tom Gordon, Art Vandelay singled in the tying run. The score remained tied entering the bottom of the 12th inning when Robert Plant, who was 0/5 on the day singled, stole second, and moved to third on a bunt by Way Cool Junior. Plant was thrown out when, after a squeeze attempt was bunted foul, the Phillies reliever threw a wild pitch that was retrieved quickly by the Phillies catcher and the Hickories failed to score. In the bottom of the 14th, Jordi Laforge led off with his second triple of the day, but was unable to score. In the top of the 15th inning, Mike Pelfrey, brought in an inning earlier, surrendered a homerun to Scott Hatteberg. In the bottom of the 15th, Brian McCann hit a to out double, bringing up David Banner as the winning run. Banner smashed the ball into the right centerfield gap, but Brian Werth made a leaping grab to secure the win. Final score: 4–3, Phillies

6/28/09: against spot starter Morris Buttermaker, Ryan Howard hit an RBI double in the first inning, but the Hickories matched that when Lebowski doubled and came home on a Buck Rogers single. In the second, Rollins wound up with an RBI double when David Banner lost sight of a very catchable ball that would've ended the inning, letting it drop in front of him, but the Hickories matched it again, this time when backup catcher Mackey Sasser singled after Banner singled and stole second. In the third, Uggla led off with a triple and scored on a Ryan Howard single. Buttermaker left the game in favor of Glass Joe, but that did not slow the Phillies down one bit and they pulled ahead by three. When the Hickory's finally closed out the fourth inning without allowing a run, most of the crowd gave a sarcastic standing ovation. In the meantime, the Hickories stranded runners at third and the third and fourth innings. The Hickories grouped together a bunch of singles and scored two runs, with Mackey Sasser and Robert Plant being credited with the RBIs. Back to back doubles from Cool Junior and Jeff Lebowski tied the game, and then McCann singled in the go-ahead run. LaForge gave the Hickories a cushion when he led off the eighth with a solo homerun. Final score: 7–5, Hickories

AWARDS: For the week ending 6/28, Art Vandalay was named player of the week. During this week, he hit 360 with three homeruns and nine RBIs

ALL STAR: Preliminary all-star votes were released the fourth time and Robert Plant has apparently fallen out of contention at second base, while Jeff Lebowski remains the top vote getting third baseman, maintaining a 400,000 vote lead over David Wright, who surpassed shown Figgins for second place. David Banner remains the second-highest outfielder so far

YANKEES

6/29/09: The teams were separated by no more then a run for the first 7–1/2 innings of the game, but a big 8th highlighted by a three run homerun from Buck Rogers made it seem like a blowout. Final score: 7 – 1, Hickories

6/30/09: both teams were forced to start relief pitchers and the Hickories batters took advantage, hitting three extra-base hits and scoring three runs in the first inning. The Yankees were forced to go to their bullpen in the third inning after Cool Junior hit his second triple of the day. The Yankees finally made some noise against Hickory's starter Jack Tripper (93 FB SLV – three, CB – three, SP – four, SC – three), scoring twice in the top of the fourth, but the Hickories added one of their own in the bottom of the inning. The score remained unchanged until Alex Rodriguez belted a double in the seventh inning that brought in two runs. The Hickories stranded runners in scoring position in the seventh, but in the eighth, Jordi Laforge singled, stole second, went to third on and overthrow by Jorge Posada, and scored on a squeeze bunt [THAT'S RIGHT, JESSIE - I SAID "SQUEEZE BUNT"] by Crash Davis. Enigo Montoya entered and pitched a perfect ninth inning. Final score: 6–4, Hickories

INJURY: After the game it was announced that Robert Plant, who left the game after injuring his shoulder while sliding into first, bruised his collarbone and is expected to miss five games. 2008 1st round draft pick Enochs (SS CDDCCD) replaces Plant on the roster.

NOTE: Yankee Bobby Abreu bunted three times. How many bunts would it take for Jack Merluzzi to stop referring to those bunts as "out of nowhere"?!?

7/1/09: Another game that is close until the eighth inning when a four run outburst, including a Geordie Laforge three-run homerun, makes it look like a blowout. Final score: 7 – 1, Hickories

7/2/09: against Hickory starter Roy Hobbs, Derek Jeter doubled and came home on a two out single from Alex Rodriguez in the first, but the Hickories scored twice on four hits in the bottom of the inning. A two run home run by Jordi Laforge in the fourth gave the Hickories a three run lead, and in the fifth, Lebowski grounded a 3–2 pitch that just trickled passed Robinson Cano for an RBI single. Jason Giambi homered off of Duane Schneider in the sixth. The Yankees stranded runners at third in the seventh and eighth, but did not threaten in the 9th. Final score: 5–2, Hickories

NOTE: In completing their impressive four game sweep of the Yankees, the Hickories outscored their division rival 25–8

JUNE IN REVIEW

RECORD

The Hickories posted a league best 20/6 record this month, pushing their overall record to a league best 58/24, a full 10 games ahead of their division rival Yankees.

AWARDS

Starter Gabe Kotter and closer Enigo Montoya were named pitcher and relief pitcher of the month. Kotter had 4 wins with a 1.02 ERA and 24 strikeouts. Montoya had 1 win, 8 saves, a 3.12 ERA with 8 strikeouts.

Art Vandelay was named player of the week for the week ending 6/28, when he batted 360 with three home runs and nine RBIs

Brian McCann was named player of the week for the week spanning 6/29 through 7/5. During this week, he batted 500 with four homeruns and nine RBIs

OFFENSE

June was the lowest scoring month for the Hickories, as only 140 players crossed the plate; 12 other teams in the league scored more runs than that, with the league leader being Boston Red Sox and their 174 runs scored in June.

The Hickories 318 team batting average is the best in the league, as is their 117 team homeruns and 174 stolen bases, the latter of which is ahead of every other team by at least 100 stolen bases.

Shortstop Way Cool Junior (DEBBCD) is fifth in the majors with a 363 batting average; Brian McCann is sixth with a 362 batting average, and Robert Plant (CDDDCA) is tied for eighth with a 356 average.

Third baseman Jeff Lebowski (CCEBEC) is second to the Braves Ryan Braun with 28 homeruns and is tied for first (with Manny Ramirez) with 86 RBIs.

Robert Plant leads the league with 45 stolen bases; Cool Junior is second with 35; David Banner is fifth with 24, and Willie Mays Hayes is tied for seventh with 21.

PITCHING

The Hickories had phenomenal pitching performances this month, as their staff allowed only 86 runs scored – the only staff in baseball to allow fewer than 100 runs this month. They continue to have the second lowest staff ERA in the league behind the Mets, and the difference between the two staffs has shrunk from 0.40 at the end of April to a 0.06 difference at the end of June.

Starter Gabe Kotter (92 FB 2SF – three, HSL – three, VSL – four, CCH – two) is fourth in all of baseball with a 2.92 ERA, and he is tied (with four other players) for second in the majors with nine wins

Closer Enigo Montoya (94 CD HSL – six, SCB – three, SC – five; intimidator) continues to lead the league in saves with 23. Set up man Mickey Shuler (89 DC 2SF – three, HSL – five, PA – two) is tied for fifth in the league with 10 holds, to go along with six saves.

LEFT FIELD BATTLE

Following is how the Hickories' left fielders are hitting. Both have played in 56 games this season. Art Vandelay (CC120CDDE) has 210 at bats while Jordi LaForge (EC129CCDD) has 205:

Art Vandelay: BA – 305; 2b – 9; 3B – 1; HR – 11; K – 12; SB – 19

Jordi Laforge: BA – 302; 2b – 6; 3B – 6; HR – 11; K – 9; SB – 16

WHO'S HOT

Shortstop Way Cool Junior has brought his average up to a healthy 363, and has been hitting well out of the number two hole, which is happened since Mayes Hayes has been in purple condition often. Cool also has 4 triples and 35 stolen bases. Second baseman Robert Plant is hitting a healthy 356 and leads the league with 45 stolen bases.

Hickories pitchers, in general have been doing very well. In general, none of the starters have been dominant, but they are keeping runs off the scoreboard, with Sid Fernandez (4.18) being the only starter with an ERA over four.

WHO'S NOT

Other then Cool and Brian McCann, the Hickories offense has fallen off significantly. Buck Rogers' average is only .001 points higher than his disappointing 265 at the end of last month, but he did hit 5 homers this month.

Jeff Lebowski went cold at the plate, with his average falling over 30 points, to land at 303 on 6/30, but he did put the ball in the bleachers 8 times.

Right fielder David Banner's batting average fell seven points to a still-respectable 323, but he only homerred 3 times.

Mays Hayes has one of the lowest batting averages in the starting lineup, at 288, but more troubling is his inability to stay in the starting lineup, as he seems to have been in purple condition throughout most of this month.

7/2/09: TRADE RUMORS: While rumors persist that the Hickories are shopping one of their starters who refused to agree to a long-term deal last off-season, a source confirmed that the Milwaukee Brewers offered starting pitcher Matt Clement (93 FA 2SF – two, SL – four, CU – five, CH – two) for potential all star third baseman Jeff Lebowski (CCEBEEE). Reportedly, the Hickories declined the deal but may revisit another deal involving the nine-year veteran, Clement.

In addition, the Giants offered starting pitcher Noah Lowry (90 DA SL – three, CB – two, CH – three) and outfielder Fred Lewis (EEDDEF) for Hickories starting first baseman Buck Rogers (DBEDED). In declining the deal, the Hickories cited concern about Lowry's inability to regularly get his fastball into the 90s and their belief that young players with level B power, like Rogers, are extra valuable in spite of Rogers currently having a very modest season at the plate.

PHILLIES

7/3/09: The Hickories got off to a quick start as Cool Junior led off the game with a single and needlessly stole second since Vandelay followed with a triple into the right-center field gap off of Phillies starter John Garland (94 BA SL – three, CB – two, CH – three, HSK – two). A sacrifice fly from Lebowski brought in Vandelay before Brian McCann homered to left field. The next time Cool Jr. reached base was when he singled in the fifth. This time, instead of waiting for him to steal second, Vandelay swung away as Jr. took off with the pitch and Vandelay homered to right field. The Phillies finally got on board when Jeff Jenkins homered off of a changeup that starter Adam Cohen hung in the zone. In the seventh, Brian McCann hit his second homerun of the day, this time with Jeff Lebowski on first, giving the Hickories a sizable six run lead. Pat Burrell homerred off of reliever Jack Tripper in the seventh, and the Phillies tacked on another run to pull themselves to within four. The Phillies would threaten again in the ninth, but would not score. Final score: 7–3, Hickories

7/4/09: In the fourth, Jeff Lebowski timed a Phillies Mathieson (98 FB SL – two, CH – two) changeup perfectly, drilling it into the left-field stands. Brian McCann followed with one of his own. Extra base hits from Jimmy Rollins and Shane Victorino against Gabe Kotter put the Phillies on the board. In the sixth inning, Buck Rogers hit his 21st home run of the season, this one measured in at 501 feet to dead center field. A Ryan Howard 2 run homerun tied the game in the sixth, but in the top of the seventh, Jeff Lebowski drove home Mayes Hayes with a sacrifice fly. In the following inning, Buck Rogers hit is second homerun of the day off of a Tom Gordon cutter, and later that same inning, Enochs, who entered in a double switch in the prior inning, singled home Art Vandelay. Mickey Schuler and Enigo Montoya closed out the eighth and ninth innings easily. Final score: 6–3, Hickories

7/5/09: The Hickories wasted no time against the Phillies Ace Cole Hamels, with Way Cool Junior, batting leadoff today, singling, stealing second, and scoring when second batter Art Vandelay singled up the middle. Vandelay then stole second, moved to third on a wild pitch, and came home on a sacrifice fly from Jeff Lebowski, who now is the active leader for sacrifice flies in a season. Chase Utley drove in Jimmy Rollins against a Sid Fernandez in purple condition. The score remained unchanged until the seventh inning, when pinch-hitter McNeill single home Buck Rogers against Phillies reliever Tom Gordon, and then in the eighth, Brian McCann hit a two run home run. Ryan Howard hit his own to run homerun against Mickey Shuler. An Art Vandelay double brought in a run in the 9th, and in Enigo Montoya closed out the ninth, although he did allow the Phillies to reach second and third. Final score 6–3, Hickories

7/6/09: TRADE ANNOUNCEMENT

The Hickories and Pirates consummated their second trade of the season, with the Hickories sending 2008 rookie of the year second baseman Robert Plant (CEBDCD) and surprisingly effective starting pitcher Mike Pelfrey (96 CB 2SF – three, SL – four, CH – two) to the Pirates in exchange for midfielder Freddy Sanchez (CBCCBC) and starting pitcher Tim Lincecum (98 DA 2SF – two, SL – four, DCB – four, CH – four). The dynamic Sanchez becomes the Hickories oldest player, at age 31, by four years over backup midfielder Encyclopedia Brown. He is also in the last year of his contract, earning $5.2 million this season. The 25-year-old Lincecum is under a contract paying $430,000 per season for the current and following season.

Mike Pelfrey, 25 years old, signed a three-year contract last off-season paying $1 million a season, while the 24-year-old Plant rejected multiple long-term offers before settling on a one your contract paying $900,000.

The Hickories released the following statement: "we were unsuccessful in signing Plant to a long-term deal last off-season and with his leading the league in stolen bases, putting up a strong batting average, and overall development, it was clear that he intended to test the free-agent market as soon as possible so we wanted to strike a deal now while his stock was high. We are very excited about the players are receiving in return and believe they will more than make up for the loss of Plant and Pelfrey."

The Pirates released the following statement: "we view Robert Plant as a dynamic player who can provide many years of solid baseball and we expect to sign into a long-term deal this off-season, while Freddy Sanchez had just gotten too expensive. We needed to include Tim Lincecum to get that deal done and we're glad to receive a solid picture in Mike Pelfrey in return."

Analysts say that the Hickories got the better end of this bargain this season, assuming Freddy Sanchez hits the way he has in the past instead of continuing with his current 213 average, but if they could have signed Robert Plant to a long-term deal and are unable to sign Freddy Sanchez to a long-term deal, then this may not have been the best idea in the long run. Clearly, however, they have a true ace on the pitching staff in Lincecum, who the Pirates acquired earlier this season in a trade with The Tampa Bay Rays, who acquired Lincecum in a 2008 deal with the Giants.

RAYS

7/7/09: The Hickories gave JP Howell and the Rays a "one – two punch" when Mays Hayes led off with a single, stole second, and scored when Cool, Junior (expected to be the regular number two now that Robert Plant was traded to the Pirates) singled up the middle. After Freddy Sanchez grounded into a double play thanks to an amazing diving stab behind second base by Ray's second baseman Iwamura, McCann homered to left. While David Cohen kept the Tampa Bay Rays batters in check, the Hickories added another run in the fourth when McCann, Rogers, and Vandelay singled, but in the bottom of the fourth, BJ Upton hit a solo homerun with two outs on a slider tailing up and in. In the eighth, Cool Junior scored on a base hit from Buck Rogers after singling and stealing second, and after David Banner singled to put runners at first and second, Vandelay drove in two runs with a deep shot that bounced off the right-field wall. David Cohen pitched strongly until the eighth inning, leaving with two outs and runners on first and second – one runner who reached on an error by the shortstop and another who reached on an infield single. Duane Schneider entered and struck out Jason Bartlett to end the inning. The game seemed well in hand entering the 9th, when Maues Hayes hit his sixth home run of the season. Rays shortstop Great Kennedy hit a homerun of his own in the bottom of the ninth, but the Rays would get no closer. Final score: 7–2, Hickories

NOTES: Newly acquired Freddy Sanchez was the only starter to go without a hit in this game

7/8/09: The Hickories were right on top of Nieman's pitches, driving every ball into the outfield, although BJ Upton and his fellow outfielders were able to retreat and track down most of them, limiting the damage to three runs after two innings, with two of those coming on a Cool Junior homerun to right field. In the second, Rocco Baldelli singled home Dioner Navarro, who had doubled, and Scott Posednick wound up with a triple on his fly ball bounced on the right-field foul line, leaving the Hickories with a one run lead after two innings. After Vandelay's deep fly ball was caught at the edge of the warning track by BJ Upton, Freddy Sanchez singled home Mayes Hayes. In the fifth, singles from Encyclopedia Brown (filling in at third-base for the second day in a row while Lebowski is in purple condition), Sanchez, and McCann brought in a run. The Rays scored when Upton hit an RBI double, putting runners at second and third, and when Kennedy singled, Hobbs was replaced one out short of being eligible for his win, leaving with the tying run on third and the go-ahead run at first. Manzanilla induced a ground ball that Sanchez dove to his right and glove-flipped too Cool Junior to initiate an inning ending double-play and preserve the Hickories one run lead. In the top of the seventh, Vandelay scored all the way from first on a Freddy Sanchez double to left center field. Aybar and Kennedy doubled to cut the Hickories lead to a single run, but Montoya entered and collected a four out save. Final score: 6–5, Hickories

NOTES: Freddy Sanchez was 3/4 with a double, stolen base, and two RBIs; the Hickories hit 27 balls into the OF

7/9/09: Brian McCann hit a three run homerun in the fourth thing inning against the Rays 2008 draft pick, Days (91 EC SL – three, CB – three, FO – two), who had dueled Morris Buttermaker to a stalemate until that point. In the sixth, Freddy Sanchez hit his first home run as a Hickory. The Rays Iwamura put the Rays on the scoreboard for the first time in the ninth inning with an RBI double against reliever Duane Schneider. After Schneider struck out Pena and Upton, Great Kennedy doubled in Iwamura, triggering the call for Enigo Montoya, who only needed two pitches to induce the game ending ground out to second. Final score: 4–2, Hickories

YANKEES

Series preview: In an odd scheduling move, the Hickories begin a six game series at Yankee Stadium. The Hickories are on a 10 game win streak, while the Yankees are 4/6 over there last 10 games. These two teams have played eight games so far, with the Hickories winning six.

7/10/09: it is not clear who is calling the shots, but whoever decided to keep Chien Wang and Phil Hughes in the minors while starting 2009 draft pick Hampson (82 GD CB – one) did not have the 2009 Yankees best interests in mind. The Hickories had a five run first inning capped by a Jordi Laforge three-run homerun that would have been even bigger if Buck Rogers had not been thrown out at the plate earlier. In the bottom of the first, Alex Rodriguez hit his 18th homerun of the season, this one with Derek Jeter on second. A Jorge Posada homerun in the following inning cut the Hickories lead to two runs. David Banner added a run on a homerun off of Yankees reliever Howry. In the bottom the sixth, Jeter and Abreu led off with singles and Jeter ultimately scored on a Giambi single up the middle against Hickory's reliever Duane Schneider. In the top of the seventh, Vandelay scored from first when Sanchez double to right center field. The Yankees matched that when Hideki Matsui doubled and scored on a Melky Cabrera single. The Hickories would put together several singles in the top the ninth and ultimately extend their lead to four runs. The Yankees would load the bases with no out in the ninth inning, and after a force out at home, the Yankees scored a run on a fielders choice at second, and another run on a wild pitch before striking out Jason Giambi on five pitches to end the game. Final score: 9–7, Hickories

7/11/09: in the top of the second inning, Way Cool Junior had a very impressive nine pitch at-bat against the Yankees Andy Pettit, culminating in a bloop base hit to right field with two outs that brought in two runs. In the fifth, the Hickories loaded the bases with leadoff singles from their 7–9 hitters (Davis, Cool (whose single came after two failed bunt attempts), and Brown), and a wild pitch, a sacrifice fly and a Vandelay homerun brought in four runs. In the meantime, Syd Fernandez did not have his best stuff, but took a four hit shutout into the sixth inning. In the sixth, the light hitting utility man Encyclopedia Brown hit a deep double that allowed Cool to score from first. Abreu singled home Damon in the sixth, and then an Alex Rodriguez homerun pulled the Yankees to within four and triggered a call to the Hickories bullpen. A two-out RBI single from Art Vandelay in the eighth was matched by a Giambi a two out RBI double, taking the game into the ninth inning with the Hickories enjoying a four run lead. Final score: 8–4, Hickories

STREAKS: The Hickories have now won their last 14 games; 22 of their last 23 games; and 44 of their last 50.

7/13/09: The Yankees scored first when they bunched three singles in the third inning against the Hickories Roy Hobbs, and then Giambi hit a solo homerun in the sixth as Hobbs was tiring, forcing his exit after pitching 5–2/3 innings. In the meantime, the Hickories were able to threaten, but could not score against the Yankees Carl Pavano. In the seventh, Pavano began to tire and with two outs, runners on first and second, he hung a changeup to pinch-hitter Art Vandelay who put it into the right field bleachers, giving the Hickories a one run lead that would stand as the winning hit. Final score: 3–2, Hickories

7/14/09: Alex Rodriguez hit a three run homerun in the bottom of the first against the Hickories David Cohen. In the top of the second against Ian Kennedy, the Hickories loaded the bases with one out, scored one run on a fielders choice and two runs on singles. In the third, the Hickories grabbed the lead when Jeff Lebowski, batting DH, Cool Junior, and Remington Steele (filling in a third) singled home Buck Rogers, David Banner, and Lebowski. Jorge Posada doubled in Giambi in the fourth, and scored on an infield single by Melky Cabrera on what appeared to be a ball that Cohen should've been able to retrieve and go to first to end the inning. The Hickories added a run in the fifth when Steele single home Lebowski. In the bottom of the fifth, Alex Rodriguez hit a game trying to run homerun against a tiring David Cohen, who was pulled in favor of Jack Tripper. Tripper pitched four scoreless innings, sending the game into the ninth tied at seven. Against a tiring Kyle Farnsworth, the Hickories loaded the bases for Jeff Lebowski, who lofted a soft opposite field single into right field, bringing in two runs against Brian Bruney. Remington Steele and Art Vandelay drove in two more runs, and then Jack Tripper closed out the ninth in order. Final score: 11–7, Hickories

NOTE: Brian McCann has hit safely in his last 27 games

7/15/09: Alex Rodriguez singled in a run against Morris Buttermaker in the first inning. The Hickories tied the game in the second when Remington Steele hit an RBI infield single deep into the hole between short and third off of Yankees starter Chien Wang. The Yankees did a good job of hitting the ball just out of reach of the Hickories infielders to load the bases, and after Buttermaker walked in a run, Abreu hit a grand slam. The Hickories scored two runs in the third and one run in the fifth. Abreu singled in Johnny Damon in the bottom of the seventh. Both teams traded zeros in the eighth which brought up the ninth inning with the Yankees leading by three and Mariano Rivera taking the mound. Rivera allowed two hits, but no runs the score. Final score: 7–4, Yankees

MARINERS

7/16/09: 6–2, Hickories

7/17/09: one home run by Freddy Sanchez and two home runs from Buck Rogers accounted for five runs; a Johjima 3 run homerun kept the game from being a blowout until the Hickories scored four runs late in the game. Final score: 10–4, Hickories

7/18/09: Jarrod Washburn (92 CA 2SF – one, SLV – two, CH – two) clearly did not have his best stuff, but the Seattle defenders were doing a great job of picking balls out of the air until David Banner put one over the centerfield wall in the second inning. Two innings later, Buck Rogers hit a solo shot to right field. That was all the Hickories would need. Final score: 2–0, Hickories

7/22/09: Against a well-rested Felix Hernandez, the Hickory's knew they were in for a long day. Lincecum pitched well, but was not dominating, and Bettencort doubled in a run in the third, and then scored on a Lopez single. In the sixth, a Brian McCann single, Buck Rogers double, and David Banner single brought in a run, and in the seventh, Brian McCann, the Hickories hottest hitter, finally stepped to the plate with a runner in scoring position and delivered a game-tying RBI double to right center field. In the bottom of the seventh, the Mariners threatened, putting runners at first and second with one out, but two strikeouts from Tim Lincecumb ended the threat, preserving the tie. Felix Hernandez was tired, but started the inning, and after Ichiro saved a would-be double by Buck Rogers, David Banner hit a solo shot over the right-field fence, giving the Hickories a lead and sending Hernandez to the showers. When Lincecum started off the bottom of the eighth by allowing Mariners to reach second and third, he was pulled in favor of set up man Mickey Shuler. Both runners scored. Final score: 4–3, Mariners

TRADE REPORT: After Felix Hernandez dominated the Hickories for most of the game, it was announced that he was traded to the Hickories division rival Yankees for second baseman Robinson Cano. Fortunately, this trade was consummated after the Hickories six-game series with the Yankees and while they only have six remaining games against their intradivisional rivals for the remainder of the season. There is no doubt that Hernandez will bolster the Yankees rotation, but the loss of Cano leaves the team without a true second baseman.

ALL-STAR GAME: The Hickories had two players starting on the All-Star team, these being Jeff Lebowski and David Banner. Brian McCann was a backup catcher and they also had four pitchers on the staff: starters Gabe Kotter and David Cohen, and relievers Mickey Schuler and Inigo Montoya

In the game, the Hickories David Banner was the first American leaguer to reach base (on a walk) and then Jeff Lebowski followed with a homerun. Travis Hafner follow the base hit of his own before Brian Roberts homered to centerfield. Jimmy Rollins cut the AL lead in half with a two run home run off of Gabe Kotter in the fourth. Albert Puljols hit an opposite field solo homerun off of David Cohen in the sixth to pull the National League to within one run. In the seventh, Banner singled off of relief pitcher Meredith (91 DE SL – four, CH – four, SFB – three), stole second, and just beat a tag play at home off of a Lebowski single. Aramis Ramirez led off the bottom of the inning with a homerun, also off of David Cohen, and then Andruw Jones followed with a game-tying homerun. The American League grabbed the lead when Luke Scott singled, stole second, and scored two outs later on a Chone Figgins opposite field single. Chris Carpenter pitched two scoreless innings and then Enigo Montoya closed out the 9th. Final score: 6–5, AL