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Record-Setting Season Ends for Ducks Playoff Wings Clipped with Two One-Run
Losses By
Brian Bohl |
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September 21, 2007 CENTRAL
ISLIP, NY— The Ducks 2007 season ended in the same manner as the
previous two campaigns: with a first-round playoff loss. A
two-game sweep at the hands of the Newark Bears quickly ended a nearly
five-month journey that featured many positives, from a second-half North
Division title and a 72-54 overall record to individual milestones for
current and former Ducks. Speedy
outfielder Mel Stocker, for example, who played on the team last season,
became the fifth former Ducks player to make it back to the major leagues
after the Brewers called him up in September. More
than half of the 2007 roster was composed of ex-major leaguers looking to
make a similar jump, with two standouts being outfielder Carl Everett and
closer Danny Graves. Graves
led the Atlantic League with 33 saves while Everett produced an
MVP-caliber season, recording 25 home runs, 95 RBIs and a .565 slugging
percent. “It’s
nice for the younger guys to come here and watch how they work for the
season,” said manager Dave LaPoint, the former Ducks pitching coach who
returned to Long Island following a one-year stint leading the Bridgeport
Bluefish. “I’m sure
it’s a thrill for everybody to watch Carl.
He hits the ball farther than anyone I’ve ever seen.” And
Everett had help. Versatile
infielder/outfielder Ray Navarrete set an Atlantic League with 42 doubles
and franchise records with 62 extra-base hits and 104 runs scored (tied
with Elvis Pena’s 2003 mark). Ex-Met
Edgardo Alfonzo also tied a Ducks record with three doubles in a single
game. Infielder Pete “PJ”
Rose, Jr. tallied a team record 152 hits.
Catcher Jared Price tied the team’s mark with seven RBIs in a
single game. As a team, the
Long Island Ducks hit a season record 128 home runs and became the first
Atlantic League franchise to qualify for post-season play in four
consecutive years. There
were also some negatives, however, including Jose Offerman’s attack on
two Bridgeport players that resulted in his indefinite suspension in
August. With the
season-ending losses to the Bears, the Ducks have now also lost their last
six playoff games dating to 2005. So
what does it all mean? Roster
turnover is heavy throughout the independent minor league season.
The comings and goings increase even more in the offseason, though
the Ducks should be set at a key position.
LaPoint said he will return if team principal owner and CEO Frank
Boulton gives his permission, which is expected.
At the end of the season, LaPoint compiled a roster comprised of 13
former big leaguers, demonstrating an ability to pluck players from
leagues in Mexico, Asia, Europe, and the domestic waiver wire.
Those connections could ensure a 2008 roster that will likely
feature some well-known players looking to extend careers. “If
they have me, I’ll be glad to come back,” LaPoint said.
“I don’t ever have plans on leaving here.” After
staying in contention for the league’s best record, Long Island’s
season ended thanks to two one-run defeats in the best-of-three first
round. The adage goes that
anything can happen in a short series, so a closer look at the journey to
the playoffs is warranted. LaPoint’s
club played each of the league’s seven teams 18 times during the season,
yet they registered a winning record versus just two teams.
Against Camden, Somerset, Newark and York, the Ducks finished a
remarkable 9-9 in each series and lost the set to Bridgeport, 10-8. The
Ducks actually defeated Lancaster, 11 games to seven, but the contests
against the Road Warriors arguably inflated the record. Against the league-owned (and last-place) team, the Ducks
were an overwhelming 17-1. Gaining
16 games against the dregs of the league, with all the meetings taking
place at Citibank Park, helped propel the Ducks into the playoffs. By way of comparison, the Ducks were just 55-53 against the
six independently owned organizations. Still, the rest of the league faced the Road Warriors the same amount of times, a fact that LaPoint cited when asked about the record earlier in the season. It’s a moot point now, and the Ducks will have to wait until May for the start of the 2008 ledger and the chance to bring another championship to Long Island. -30- Click
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