Check out this week’s Play Ball column in Artvoice, Time To Pass Out The Hardware.

This year, and for the past eight years, we have handed out our own very official sounding “awards” to Bisons players for some dubious distinctions. Yes, the “Pat Listach” award and the “Jimmy Hamilton” award are given to the two players that we deem the worst hitter and pitcher on the Bisons roster for that year.

But how did all this get started? And do these awards really have any significance or meaning in the larger realm of things?

Well the answer to this is that these awards are just a crazy fan concoction that just got on a bigger stage as our roles in the media evolved.

Back in the late 90s, Chris Mach, Pete and I went to a lot of Bisons games together, and Chris is the kind of fella who takes his sports teams very seriously. So while many other fans attending Bisons games come for cotton candy, promotions and fireworks, we were there to follow players and watch the balls and strikes.

Back in ’98, we watched in frustration as infielder Pat Listach bumbled his way around the field, and were very happy to see him released towards the end of the season. So by 1999 we were comparing shoddy play on the field to the marker that Pat Listach had become, and by mid season the three of us decided to create an award for the player who best emulated Pat Listach.

By 2000, we had so much fun with this that we decided to add a worst pitcher award, and the guy we decided to pick on was poor Jimmy Hamilton, a single-A callup during the 1997 AAA World Series, who was way overmatched and promptly blew up right before our very eyes.

Interestingly, Hamilton only played in a Bison uniform for a grand total of 24+ innings, went on to other teams, mostly at the AA level, and quit baseball after 2001. Somewhere, we know he’d be smiling knowing that an award is named after him.

Another side story from 2000 – there was a great deal of controversy among the three of us as to who should get the Listach. Pete correctly argued that the designation should go to Jeff Manto, who after stellar seasons had a sub par final season in uniform; in fact it was so embarrassing that they woudn’t even put his stats and average on the scoreboard.

Chris and I argued that you can’t give the Listach to a team icon and a swell guy. We won that argument in a heated debate and gave the award to Jeff Patzke, but in deference to Pete, we created “The Jeff Manto Award”, to be awarded to “the Old Fart who stuck around one season too long”. Well that award didn’t make it too far because there was never really another viable candidate after Manto.

By 2001 news of the awards were growing, and we started engaging fans in the front rows of sec 112 above the dugout for their viewpoints. Yes props to former fans of the year Bob Maisano and Kathy Trader, the megaphone maniacs Bob Maue and Bill Siska, and our two baseball girlfriends Kathy and Marilee who joined in on the voting. And yes, by then we were in the media, on shitty Sportsblast on public access, and we actually announced the awards on the show each year to the dozens (?) of viewers who actually tuned in.

A funny story from 2003 – we filmed the awards announcement on the field in Rochester’s Frontier Field, and managed to get Chris Mach a single game credential. The Listach winner that year was Luis Garcia, and while we were recording, Garcia was tossing baseballs about 20 feet away from us. At one point Pete gestured towards Garcia to come over, and Chris thought he was going to come trotting over and throw a pie in his face or something. Chris’ look of fright was just priceless…it’s too bad nobody watched the show.

Since 2004, the unofficial Bisons awards have made it to Artvoice, and obviously that meant a much higher profile. Former PR Director Tom Burns early on put us on notice with a chuckle in his voice “We know about your crazy awards!” And yes, the media corps at the Bisons games have also become very much engaged in the selections, offering advice and their picks. In 2004 Luther Hackman pitched so consistently horribly, there even became a plea to us to rename the award the “Hamilton/Hackman” or “HH”. We have rebuffed such suggestions, figuring that the purists would howl.

This year our beloved founder Chris Mach was nowhere to be seen at Bisons games, so we gave his vote over to a composite team of pressbox members. Buffalo News beat writer Mike Harrington, Metro Source and MLB.com writer Dave Ricci, and rookie media member Jon Splett from here at WNYMedia.net combined to cast their votes for the two awards, and their selections became an indelible part of this year’s process.

Do the Bisons get offended at all this negative attention? We don’t think so because it is publicity after all, and we really do this as fans and supporters of the team who like to engage in the whole thing in a special way. We sent Brad Bisbing an email requesting head shots of the two winners, Hector Luna and Bubby Buzachero, for this week’s Artvoice piece. Brad responded, obviously knowing what was up, and while he sent the photos, he replied that he disagreed with the selection of Buzachero, and offered stats in defense of his argument. So yeah, I’m sure they are good natured about all this silliness.

Just a final memo to Chris Mach — did you ever realize that when you attended games back in 1998, sat in the stands with us and heckled Pat Listach, that it would all become THIS?

If you’ve picked up the Buffalo News at all this week, then you couldn’t help but see the outstanding array of articles and blog reports celebrating 20 seasons for the Buffalo Bisons at the downtown ballpark. One of the pieces which really caught my eye profiles Mike Harrington’s top twenty Bisons home games.

So this got me thinking, out of the 800 or so games I have been to these past 20 years, which one of these marquee games stands out in my mind as the absolute most memorable? I didn’t have to think long… for me the infamous 18 inning loss to the Nashville Sounds in 1990, a one game playoff for the division title, is the one that I remember most.

One has to put this game into context with everything else that was happening at the time. For the third straight season, the Bisons had topped 1-million in attendance, an accomplishment without precedent in minor league baseball. Anticipation was running high that a MLB expansion team announcement for Buffalo was imminent. The Bisons had started out at the new ballpark with mediocre seasons, and fans were chomping at the bit for playoff baseball and a championship run. And the 1990 Bisons put together an awesome season and were poised to contend for the American Association trophy.

Standing in their way were the Nashville Sounds. As the calendar flipped to August, the team got hot, posting a 24-8 record for the final month, but no matter how well they played, Nashville was equally as hot, keeping pace with the Bisons, and the team just couldn’t put any distance in the standings.

Buffalo sports fans were really paying attention that year; WGR radio was then the flagship station of the Bisons, and after our games were finished, Pete Weber would send it over to the Nashville Sounds radio network, and yes, their games were simulcast here in Buffalo. Night after night the ballpark was packed, the crowds were so into the unfolding pennant chase, and the atmosphere was absolutely electric.

On the last day of the season, the Bisons were in Indianapolis, in control of their destiny, needing only one win to clinch the division outright. But on that night a Bisons pitching castoff named Rich Sauveur had a score to settle with his old team, and insisted on starting for the Indians on two days rest. His manager obliged, and Sauveur shut the Bisons down. With Nashville winning their game that night, the teams were tied in the standings, and a one game playoff in Buffalo would settle the division title.

The team came home obviously dejected, but as the team bus pulled into downtown Buffalo that afternoon, the bus driver wisely drove around Swan and Washington before pulling into the back door, so the players could get a gander of what was unfolding. There, on the plaza, thousands of fans were lined up 50 deep at each of the ticket windows to buy tickets for that night. WGR radio had their remote on the plaza, and daytime personality Paul Lyle was exhorting Buffalonians to come down and buy tickets and pack the place. Entertainers were performing, food carts were selling hot dogs, it was a party atmosphere at the stadium, setting the stage for what was then going to be the biggest game in the history of this young ballpark.

And where was I? Well, I was a Cheektowaga Councilman in 1990, and since the previous night was Labor Day, this was the night of our Town Board meeting. (The last place I wanted to be). A kind soul named Paul Matuszewski who headed one of the taxpayers groups had a transistor radio and an earpiece and was signaling score updates from the audience. The other bit of good news was that our Supervisor Frank Swiatek was also a Bisons fan, and was anxious to get down to the ballpark as well. We just blew threw the meeting (”Mr. Clerk, just read the “resolved”…), bigmouth Councilman Tom Johnson kept his filibustering yap shut under threats of physical harm (kidding), and we were out of Town Hall by 7:45pm. I arrived in the top of the 5th, not knowing at the time that a long night waited ahead of me.

What I remember most about that game is how loud and boisterous the crowd was… Once the game went extra innings tied at three, I remember all the chances Buffalo had to win it. Tommy Shields with a lead off triple in the bottom of the 10th, I believe, and left stranded. Speedy John Cangelosi tagging from third in the 11th, and gunned down at the plate on a perfect throw from short center. By midnight the rains came, and they played through it. Then finally the Sounds breaking through in the top of the 18th with the go ahead run, and for the Bisons, the bench was depleted… no pinch hitters left and I think some pitcher named Hugh Kemp hit for the final out in the bottom of the 18th. Final score Nashville 4, Buffalo 3… it was 12:27AM.

I left the ballpark that night so heartbroken, so devastated. I had a hard time falling asleep that night, reliving in my mind all the near misses, all the chances. It took a while for me to shake off this game, and how this season ended so brutally.

That’s what made the 1991 season so sweet, when Buffalo finally vanquished those hated Sounds to win the American Association division. As silly as it seems, the pileon on the pitchers mound at the division clinching game was genuine, many of the guys still remembering the stinging defeat of the previous season.

I am really looking forward to Saturday night’s celebration of 20 years downtown. The Bisons have been such a big and enjoyable part of my life during all this time, and it will be great remembering, reminiscing and cheering on the Earl of Bud as he makes his return to a place that has given me so many good times and so much joy.

There will most likely be little or no fanfare tonight at the Buffalo Bisons game, when the Ottawa Lynx will make their final ever appearance at Dunn Tire Park. The Canadian and US anthems will be performed together at the ballpark for the last time, and next year this franchise will debut in the International League as the “Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs” in Allentown, Pennsylvania.

Hard to believe that this team drew almost 600,000 fans back in 1995 enroute to it’s first and only Governors Cup Coupe Gouverneur. Since then it’s been nothing but downhill for this franchise. Fans have stayed away in droves, the city has sold off parking lots around Lynx Stadium for non-ballpark development, leaving only 650 spaces near the venue, and despite a myriad of attempts to spark interest and attendance, efforts there have gone for naught.

I spoke with IL President Randy Mobley a couple of weeks ago, and he emphatically stated that the league wanted to keep its presence in Ottawa. “We did everything we could to help the ownership group and even repeatedly met with the Mayor, but ultimately the market dictates what will happen and clearly this market just did not want this team anymore” said Mobley.

I suggested to Bisons game night coordinator Matt LaSota a while back that he might want to play Billy Joel’s “Allentown” when the Lynx takes the field for the final time at Dunn Tire Park. Matt thought it was a cool suggestion but has probably since forgotten the conversation. Nonetheless, I will be quietly humming the tune tonight, yet somewhat saddened that the international footprint of the International League will be no more.

The first 4000 fans through the gate at the Bisons game tonight got this cool promotional giveaway.

Last year’s giveaway was a replica of Dunn Tire Park, and this year’s memento will take a hallowed spot on the shelf right next to the first one.

Can we expect an Offerman Stadium replica in 2008? Here’s hoping!

For the third time in his career, Russell Branyan will make his way to Buffalo and the Bisons clubhouse. In 1999 and 2000, we were subjected to the “aloof” and “know it all” Russell, and in 2004, he returned a changed man and captivated the team with a new sense of humility and purpose. And he awed us with some mammoth and towering home runs, one which cleared the outfield tent party area and landed somewhere in the parking lot beyond centerfield.

Branyan has hit 76 home runs in a Bisons uniform. The Modern Era record is held by Jeff Manto with 79 dingers.

When Branyan got his call up in July of 2004, I predicted that he would return someday to claim the home run record in Buffalo as his own. I never realized it woud be this soon.

Can’t wait until tomorrow night’s game! The long homestand begins… let’s hope that the Bisons right the ship and fast.

The civic leaders of Wichita, Kansas have got be complete and utter morons.

First, they allow their AA baseball team, the Wichita Wranglers, to be shipped off to Springdale, Arkansas after the 2007 season. This despite the fact that they had a lease that ran for two more seasons, and that the lease also allowed the city the first right of refusal to buy the team for fair market value before allowing its relocation. The sat like deer caught in headlights and the franchise is now packing and moving.

Now comes news that the city has bought Rich Baseball’s remaining asset in Wichita, the National Baseball Congress, which is essentially an annual college baseball tournament that draws approximately 80,000 fans each season. The dirty little secret here is that most of the tickets are given away and crowds for this event have been declining in recent seasons.

And what did Wichita taxpayers shell out for this “asset”? A whopping $1-million! That’s right..not a team, not a franchise, a cool million for a tournament and a name.

Helloooooooooo idiots!!! If you suckers had not stepped up, do you really think that Rich Baseball would have kept a staff in place to operate this event? Basically the Wichita Wranglers front office was in charge of the tournament, and with the team packing, they would have had to set up a totally separate management team to keep the NBC in place.

Wichita, you had the upper hand in these negotiations, and you totally blew it. Perhaps this event was profitable in the past, but with the big million dollar bill you now need to amortize, you guys are now totally screwed.

Enjoy your last month of AA baseball in your city, you morons!

More on this from the Wichita Eagle.

Yesterday was no ordinary day up in the pressbox at the Bisons doubleheader. For the record, the team split the two games, winning the opener 3-2 and then dropping the nightcap 6-2. But lots was going on behind the scenes, and all had to do with the parent Cleveland Indians, where rumors are hot and heavy regarding roster moves and trades as the MLB trading deadline approaches.

Aaron Laffey was the starter for the Bisons first game, and being a 7 inning game, one would figure that Laffey would most likely go the distance, as he had displayed his endurance skills in previous outings, and had even gone 8 1/3 in Rochester last month with an awesome pitching performance.

So here it is, the third inning, score tied 1-1, 2 men on and 2 outs, and Manager Torey Lovullo pulls Laffey. “I didn’t know that I was leaving until I heard the ball hitting the mitt out in the bullpen” Laffey admitted later. But this was no normal exit from the field. There were huge smiles, high fives from a number of the players, a scene you would see if a pitcher was walking off after tossing a two hitter. Something was up.

The Buffalo News’ Mike Harrington knew it, and got on the phone with his media contacts in the Cleveland area, and the media department at the Indians. He shared what he knew about all the behind the scenes stuff as he was learning it, and also told us of an incident in the Cleveland clubhouse the previous night, where apparently the doors stayed shut long after that game had ended, and rumors of an argument between pitcher Cliff Lee and catcher Victor Martinez being the possible reason.

After the games Torey Lovullo knew what questions were coming and was prepared to handle them. He said the Laffey pitch count limit was decided before the game, but despite all the smiles and body language we had witnessed earlier, refused to confirm that a move was in the works or give us a glimpse of the bigger picture, only admitting that he didn’t know everything that was going on and that Laffey would remain in the Indians organization.

What was fascinating watching this unfold was the song and dance that the involved people at the Indians and the Bisons were handing out, on what would normally be a routine player move up or down which happens dozens of times throughout a season, suggesting that there were much bigger issues in play here.

Mike Harrington and his associate Jackie Friedman had a great story here, and they were gracious enough to share the unfolding drama with the rest of us on this day (Dave Ricci, Jon Splett and I in attendance in the box). It was their story, so I thought it fitting not to report in this space until it ran in the Buffalo News. Here is Jackie’s story. Mike’s blog posting is linked here.

While a reporter often keeps a breaking story quiet, such is not the case in the Dunn Tire Park media circle. Mike Harrington often shares and freely discusses topics of the day with the rest of us, offering us a regular heads up as to things going on with our team, the parent club and the rest of baseball. It is that sort of interaction that makes the media experience at Bisons games so remarkable and such fun to take part in. Small wonder why all the reporters who cover Bisons games have become such good friends and are such a tight knit group.

All in all it was a fascinating lesson and a window onto what news gathering and reporting is really all about. But for all the detective work and day long speculation through 14 innings of baseball yesterday, Bisons PR director Brad Bisbing cleared the mystery up down in the clubhouse after the game with just one sentence: “Yeah his (Laffey’s) locker is all cleaned out.”

After all the buzz and excitement Jeremy Sowers generated here in Buffalo and up in Cleveland ln his rookie year last season, this year has to be a disappointment. Starting in the Bigs, then being demoted to Buffalo in June had to be tough to take. Tonight the woes continued, as Sowers took the loss against Durham by a score of 6-1. His record with Buffalo drops to 0-3.

“It looks awful and it sounds awful, said Bisons Manager Torey Lovullo tonight. “But he actually pitched a superb game.” Referring to the third inning, where the Bisons were torched for 5 runs, Lovullo said, “What I liked most about Jeremy’s work there was his damage control.”

While Lovullo stated emphatically that Sowers isn’t phased a bit at not getting his first win, Sowers himself was more subdued in his cubicle after the game, lamenting about the big inning. “Single, single, double there.” Always the optimist, Lovullo countered “We’re going to be counting on him down the stretch.”

One more game Sunday, a 1:05 start and Adam Miller returns to the mound as starter. Then it’s the All Star break.

The Buffalo Roadtrip Herd gathered tonight for an evening of baseball, food, libations and Pass The Cup at Dunn Tire Park.

Me and Pete joined up with The Commish, Kevin Dale, brother Derrick, Bruce Dale and Billy Zilliox, starting off the evening at happy hour over at Swannee House in the Cobblestone District, where the pitchers of beer kept coming and the wings and fries were tasty. From there it was off to the ballpark, where the group assembled in sec 102 to catch the Buffalo Bisons/Durham Bulls game and a spirited game of Pass The Cup.

So what is Pass The Cup you ask? Well, HERE is a link to the official rules. Basically, each participant takes a turn and holds the cup for each batter on the field, and deposits money into the cup or takes money out depending on the outcome of the at bat. If you’re holding the cup when a home run is hit, you collect the entire pot.

What makes the game really interesting is when there are no home runs and the game ends. We had two interesting scenarios unfold tonight. The first took place in the top of the 7th inning, when the game went into a rain delay and the tarps were pulled. Yes, I was holding the cup, and had the game been called, I would have been the lucky recipient of the proceeds. But the showers were very localized, and the game resumed after about a 35 minute delay.

The Bisons were leading 3-0 heading into the top of the 9th, and with three batters to go, it was Derrick who was on the bubble as the third person to receive the cup. Durham’s Jorge Valencia grounded out and then Jeremy Owens flew out. But then with Derrick holding the cup and one strike away from collecting the pot, Michel Hernandez’ ground ball had eyes and sailed just past the outstretched arm of third baseman Andy Marte. The cup passed on to Kevin, and on the first pitch, Eliot Johnson flew out to Hector Luna. Game over. 3-0 Buffalo. A jubilant Kevin Dale poured his winnings out of the cup, and the total rang up to $29.05. Not a bad pot!

Just a note on the official cup. This is no ordinary scraped off the floor paper thingy, but a very special and revered artifact. Tonight’s official cup was brought off the shelf from the 2004 road trip to Pittsburgh, and what starts off as a plastic hospital specimen bottle is painted and ornately decorated with bits of art and logos and photos. It is a hallowed and special memento, and I had a chance to take it upstairs to the pressbox during one of the inning breaks to show it off. Official Scorer Kevin Lester was so impressed he actually threw a buck into the cup.

All in all a fun outing tonight… a chance to hang out and enjoy baseball with some very special guys, a lot of laughs, a solid Bisons win. This is what summer nights at the ballpark are all about!

I tried to stay for the whole show. I really did. Yes the air was thick with the drumbeat of war; soldiers in full uniform mingling in the service tunnel, Anna Lee Dandes singing the Dead Fat Woman’s Song during the 7th inning stretch. But I stayed, and after postgame I headed back up to the pressbox and settled in to catch the program.

And then it happened. Random pictures of celebrities, flashing in succession on the Big Board. You can’t really hear the PA too well up there so I don’t know what the significance was, but all of a sudden, there was his picture on the screen… the Rev. Jerry Falwell. Fucking Jerry Falwell, one of the most loathsome pieces of crap ever to suck oxygen on this Earth.

That was it. I shrieked. I bitched. I bid Mike Harrington and Dave Ricci, who were still up in the box, a fond goodbye and wishes for a nice holiday. And I went home.

I love baseball. I love the Bisons. I know how hard the Bisons staff works to make this event and this night so special for the fans. But why can’t this be just a pleasant night of music and fireworks, and free of the Republican agenda and their fucking war in Iraq?!

Early line on the Bisons 2008 Republican Crackpot appearance here now. Place your wager!
Ann Coulter 5:2
Rush Limbaugh 3:1
Rev. James Dobson 8:1
Jeb Bush 12:1
Scooter Libby 40:1

The Buffalo Bisons have been on fire this past week, opening up a bit of a lead in the International League North division, but they picked the biggest day of the year and the biggest crowd of the season, a sold out house of 18,025, to get spanked by the visiting Rochester Red Wings, 10-3. Rochester starter Nick Blackburn has been virtually unhittable this past month, and put in another splendid performance, allowing just one run on five hits through seven innings of work. Meantime Buffalo starter Eric DuBose was torched for five runs in the second inning, and Rochester added a grand slam in the 7th off the bat of Ken Harvey.

Bisons Manager Torey Lovullo said that the bad outing was frustrating for him. “It is the ultimate in frustrating, especially with the house packed. I’m beckoning for us to do something to have this crowd erupt.” Nonetheless, Lovullo was pleased at this past week’s perfomance, taking five of seven games against the two teams chasing them in the division. First baseman Ryan Mulhern, who went 2-4 at the plate with one RBI tonight, also said that the pennant chase begins in earnest after the All Star Break. “We took two of three in Scranton, and that has become a really tough place to play in, what with the big crowds there and the Yankee mystique going. It almost felt like a playoff atmosphere.”

The Bisons begin a four game set against the Durham Bulls starting Thursday night. Pitcher Adam Miller is set to return to the starting rotation on Sunday afternoon.

Jon Splett at Buffalo Baseball Blog is down in Coney Island covering the Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Eating Constest, so I am pinch hitting tonight with the Bisons recap. As I write this, Jon is undoubtedly standing on the hood of his car down in NYC, wearing only his boxer briefs and chugging beers and eating Nathan’s, partying well into the night.

USRT excursions have been few and far between lately, so we take what we can get, and a quick hop to Frontier Field in Rochester to see the Bisons play the Red Wings is always a real treat. Tonight we invited our bud Drew Smeltzer to join us and made the trek 70 miles east for a night of baseball.

It was just about a packed house in Roch-cha-cha tonight, with a perfect weather evening, the Zooperstars entertaining the fans, and the beginning of the Fourth of July holidays underway.

For the Bisons and their fans who made the trip, it was a great outcome - a 4-1 win which put them up three games in the IL North Division standings. Aaron Laffey pitched a real gem, allowing just 6 hits and striking out 9 in 8 1/3 innings of work. He tried to pitch the entire game but labored a bit in the ninth, throwing a lot of pitches and allowing two baserunners before finally being pulled. Mike Koplove came on to finish and earn the save. Ryan Mulhern had two RBI’s, including a solo shot in the third, his 12th home run of the season.

After the game, Manager Torey Lovullo praised his pitcher, mentioning especially the final two outs in the eighth, where Laffey made acrobatic leaps on the mound to snare the ball and get the put outs to first. “Plays like that tend to lift the entire bench and Aaron has shown again and again that he’s a gamer” Lovullo said.

While we have made the visit to Rochester many and many a time, this was Drew’s first trip ever to Frontier Field, so being the big sports fans that he is, we asked him for his objective impressions of the ballpark experience there. Said Drew “It really is an amazing place, very clean and such a great atmosphere. But the truly great thing there is the food. Most ballparks have one unique or distinct signature food item; this place has like… ten.”

To top things off, we took Drew down to the Bisons clubhouse after the game so he could see the set up for himself and also got him in on the postgame interview with Torey. See? These are the cool things you experience when you kick with the USRT!

Peter, Drew and Andrew checking out the ballpark

Harry Canary of the Zooperstars sings the 7th inning stretch

Next Tuesday’s Fourth of July extravaganza is all set, as the Bisons have sent out a news release outlining the postgame program.

“The concert will begin with a several tributes to American stage and motion pictures. There will be medleys to celebrate the 15th anniversary of Tony Award winning Beauty and the Beast, the 25th anniversary of American Film Institute’s 25th Greatest Movie of all time, E.T., and the 50th anniversary of West Side Story. The BPO and Chorus will also perform several sing-alongs from Mary Poppins to honor its 2007 Broadway revival.
Next, fans will be able to pay tribute to the 231st birthday of out great nation as the BPO and Chorus present the “Star Spangled Spectacular Sing Along” and “God Bless America.” The “Armed Forces Salute” will allow the fans in attendance to honor the brave men and women that are fighting to protect our freedoms both home and abroad. Finally, Independence Day classics like “Overture 1812” and “Stars and Strops Forever” will lead into the Largest Fireworks Show of the season.”

What do I like most about this event? Mostly seeing a packed house at Dunn Tire Park, which only happens a couple times a year.

What do I like least about this event? This happy happy concert has too much of a feel of a paramilitary rally - Pledge of Allegiance, the Dead Fat Woman croaking that Irving Berlin song, military themes… Last year I stuck around some, but when they flashed the photo of Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts on the Big Board, I had seen enough and decided to leave.

Take this to the bank… you will NEVER see an image of Justices Ruth Bader Ginsburg or John Paul Stevens at a Bisons game.

Tickets and 4-packs still available… weather outlook looks promising… no surprise there it hasn’t rained in what… Two years?

See you at the ball game!

The Buffalo Bisons have held first place in the International League north division standings since May 5, which is somewhat remarkable considering their lack of dominance on the field these past six weeks. But despite Buffalo’s occasional stumbles, the two teams pursuing the Bisons, the Rochester Red Wings and the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees, have failed to seize the opportunity to grab the division lead.

Well don’t look now, but Rochester has been on a real streak of late, and going into today’s play, are just half a game behind the Bisons in the standings. When the two teams met in mid-May there was just a one and a half game separation between the two, and Buffalo took 3 games of the 4 game set played in the two cities.

Well here we are again, neck in neck, and the two teams will play another four game series starting this weekend. The first two will be played at Frontier Field in Rochester before the series switches to Buffalo. With the weekend and then the pre July 4th festivities in full swing, look for big crowds and perhaps first place on the line. Won’t that be great?!

Here’s the schedule:
Sat June 30 7:05pm Frontier Field
Sun July 1 7:05pm Frontier Field
Mon July 2 7:05pm Dunn Tire Park
Tue July 3 6:05pm Dunn Tire Park

Faith Night at Dunn Tire Park this Saturday.

This act got booted from Turner Field in Atlanta last summer, and yes this was the event where pitcher John Smoltz delivered his famed “sermon on the mound”. Fans attending that game were greeted by religious pilgrims from Focus on the Family passing out materials outside the stadium about its programs. Some of the brochures highlighted at the game, according to the Focus on the Family’s website, included its Focus on Parenting program, which features a “Hot Topic” about children and homosexuality and how gay activist groups are “targeting” public schools. Other materials passed out included a packet on its endorsements of reparative therapy, or the “ex-gay” movement.

And there was more… our Lord and savior Jesus Christ, or someone who was a dead ringer, was also in attendance outside the ballpark grounds that day, wearing his white robe, thorny crown and dragging his heavy cross, while his entourage passed out slingers urging support of a ballot referendum defining marriage in Georgia as between a man and a woman. So those pesky homos in Georgia want to get married??? Oh, the horror of it all!

The Braves and their owners, Time Warner, received so many complaints from fans that they pulled the plug on future Faith Nights. Yet the Buffalo Bisons apparently see fit to open up our ballpark for these traveling clowns.

I think I’ll pass on Faith Night. Call me instead when the Bisons bring in these two as headliners: