Click here for a complete box score.
Saturday, February 28, 2009
Tigers Defeat Mets 7-2
Click here for a complete box score.
Buffalo Bisons Tutorial Part 3: Coaching Staff
Manager: Ken Oberkfell played 16 years (1977-1992) in the majors for six different teams including the 1982 World Series Champion St. Louis Cardinals. His coaching career began in the independent leagues, and a stint with the Mohawk Valley Landsharks of the Northeast League. His first Minor League job was with the Piedmont Boll Weivels, a Phillies 'A' affiliate. He was then promoted to the High 'A' Clearwater Phillies.Oberkfell began his Mets career coaching the Capital City Bombers. He rose through the ranks quickly, managing the St. Lucie Mets and Binghamton Mets before being promoted to the AAA Norfolk Tides in 2005. In that year he was recognized as Minor League Manager of the Year. In the storm that was 2008, he was promoted to replace Tom Nieto as First Base Coach of the New York Mets. This offseason Oberkfell was named Manager of the 2009 Buffalo Bisons.
Pitching Coach: Ricky Bones joined the Mets organization on January 9, 2006 when he was named the Pitching Coach of the St. Lucie Mets. In 2007 and 2008, he served in the same capacity for the Binghamton Mets. He was named pitching coach of Triple-A Buffalo for the 2009 season. Bones pitched in the big leagues for 11 seasons. He made his debut with the Padres in 1991 and played for six teams, concluding his career with the Marlins in 2001.
Batting Coach: Luis Natera served five years as a minor league player. in 2003-4 he served as Hitting Coach for the Kingsport Mets (A). After a two year stint with the Hagerstown Suns, he assumed Hitting Coach duties with the St. Lucie mets (2007). In 2008 he acted as Hitting Coach for the Binghamton Mets (AA) and at the end of the season was named to the same position with the 2009 Buffalo Bisons.Friday, February 27, 2009
Buffalo Bisons Tutorial Part 2: Coca-Cola Field
Capacity: 19,500
Surface: Natural Grass
Left Field: 325ft.
Center Field: 404ft.
Right Field: 325 ft
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Buffalo Bisons Tutorial Part 1: Team History
In an effort to make myself a more knowledgeable Bisons blogger, and for the benefit of new Bisons fans that may arise as a result of the team's transfer to the Mets, I'm going to start a series known as, "The Buffalo Bisons Tutorial." The name is self-explanatory and begins...NOW!Part 1: Team History
The Buffalo Bisons were originally a Major League team in the National League from 1879–1885. In 1886, the team moved to the Minor Leagues and joined the original International League. In 1970, due to poor attendance, the team was transferred to Manitoba (huh?) and subsequently to Hampton Roads, Virginia. The Buffalo Bisons of the Eastern League (AA) were formed in 1979, the result of a purchase of the Jersey City A's. After six seasons in the AA, the Bisons joined the AAA 'American League' in 1985. When that league folded, the Bisons took the place of the Wichita Aeros and returned to AAA greatness in the current International League.
The Buffalo Bisons have won the coveted Governor's Cup six times in their history, in 1933, 1936, 1957, 1961, and 2004.
On a more obscure note, the classic baseball film "The Natural" was filmed at the former home of the Buffalo Bisons, War Memorial Stadium.
Admission of Guilt
To Commissioner Selig:
Forgive me Father, for I have sinned in both word and deed. I have always treated the AAA as a stepping stone for aspiring players, a purgatory for average players, and a graveyard for veteran players. I have used the AAA for its cheap ticket prices and close proximity to my home. I have never followed an International League pennant race, in fact I could not name a Governor's Cup Champion of any year. In sad and sorry fact, I had to google the name of the International League Championship trophy before I wrote this confession.
Now that the Buffalo Bisons are the AAA affiliate of the New York Mets, I promise to respect the team as its own entity, to become passionate about the IL North Division, and I solemnly promise to commit the same emotions to my now beloved Buffalo Bisons as I do my beloved New York Mets.
Bisons Tutorial Part 4: The North Division
The International League is divided into three divisions: North, South and West. The Buffalo Bisons play in the North Division, along with the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees, Pawtucket Red Sox, Rochester Red Wings (Minnesota Twins), Syracuse Chiefs (Washington Nationals), and Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs (Philadelphia Phillies). The teams play a total of 144 +/- games during the regular season, after which is a four team playoff (the three division winners plus one wildcard team). In the playoffs, the North Division Champion always plays the wildcard team in a 5-game series, while the South and West Divisions compete in the same fashion. The winners of those series compete for the Governor's Cup in another five game series. The Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees were last year's Governor's Cup Champions, defeating the Durham Bulls in four games, the last of which being a 20-2 rout.Click here to see all of the teams, their respective divisions, and last year's regular season records.
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