Last year NYBD was at the Atlantic League All Star Game and asked some of the participants the difference between independent ball, specifically the Atlantic League, and big league ballplayers. Some of the answers from the managers ranged from mechanic flaws, consistency, to organizations just not having room for a particular individual. For those that [...]

The game MVP was Steve Moss (Bridgeport). He went 2 for 2 with a 2 run homer. Esposito with a 1-2-3 inning to close it out.  Liberty Division wins 7-1.Randy Leek (Long Island) the winner, and Jesus Sanchez (York) the losing pitcher. CLICK HERE FOR THE BOXSCORE Local kid Joe Esposito (Long Island) in to close [...]

The Long Island Ducks today announced the team has entered into a sponsorship deal with T-Mobile USA, Inc. as the presenting sponsor of the Atlantic League’s 2010 All-Star Game. After 10 seasons of averaging over 100% attendance capacity, Long Island prepares to enter their second decade of play by hosting the 2010 Atlantic League All-Star [...]

The Newark Bears announced the signing of Armando Benitez and Edgardo Alfonzo yesterday. It’s been 10 years since the duo starred for the NL Pennant winners. Alfonzo last played in the big leagues in 2006. In both 2007 and 2008 he was a member of the Long Island Ducks. Benitez played for the Bears last [...]

Former Yankees pitcher Sidney Ponson has signed with the Long Island Ducks. To see how far the Yankees pitching has come, Ponson started 15 games in 2008, going 4-4 with an ERA of 5.85. He also made a cameo with the team in 2006 starting 3 games. Last year in Kansas City Ponson’s ERA was [...]

The Long Island Ducks signed former Mets catcher Robinson Cancel on Friday. Cancel will be remembered for helping keep the Mets alive in the Wild Card chase back in 2008. It was his eighth inning RBI single that tied a September 25th game against the Cubs, one in which the Mets would win 7-6 on [...]

Press release courtesy of the Long Island Ducks. CARTER NAMED MANAGER OF SAILFISH (Palm Beach, Fla., October 13, 2009) – 2009 Ducks manager Gary Carter was today named manager of the Palm Beach Atlantic University Sailfish. The Sailfish compete on the NCAA Division II level, and are a Christian liberal arts college founded in 1968. [...]

The Somerset Patriots have won their second straight Atlantic League Championship and fifth in team history. Manager, and former Yankees closer, Sparky Lyle now has “one for the thumb.” Lyle has been the only manager in Somerset history. Ironically Sparky was not in the dugout for the game because of his ejection in Game 3. [...]

The Long Island Ducks quest to win their second Atlantic League title ended Tuesday night with a 7-5 loss to Southern Maryland in the fifth and decisive game. It was a tale of two ballgames as the Ducks fell behind 7-0 in the fourth inning and then mounted a furious comeback late. They pecked away [...]

The Ducks wasted no time tonight as they scored 5 runs in the first inning and never looked back in their 15-5 Game 4 victory. The win tied the series at two and set up a decisive Game 5 Tuesday at Citibank Park on Long Island. Long Island relievers have yet to allow an earned [...]

The Ducks were six outs away from elimination last night, but scored 4 runs in the eighth inning to beat Southern Maryland 7-4 at Citibank Park on Long Island. The Ducks would get two runners on to start the frame and RF Johnny Hernandez would tie the score with an RBI single. They nearly blew [...]

The Southern Maryland Blue Crabs have put the Ducks season in “must win mode” with a 5-4 at Regency Furniture Stadium in Waldorf, Md. Southern Maryland jumped out to a 5-0 lead after five innings. Ducks starter Kenny Ray was ineffective lasting only four innings. Ray Navarrete had 3 hits and an RBI. Matt Cavagnaro [...]

It’s a long way from being one of the prospects traded for Randy Johnson or pitching for the 116 win Seattle Mariners, but Brooklyn born John Halama shut out the Ducks 1-0 last night in Game 1 of the Atlantic League Division Series at Regency Furniture Stadium in Waldorf, Maryland. Halama has pitched outstanding in [...]

Gary Carter was hitting grounders, Kevin Baez throwing BP, and a team of hopefuls geared up for the Atlantic League playoffs during yesterday’s workout at Citibank Park. That was the scene as I attended the Long Island Ducks playoff workout held for the media. Among the stars were Game 1 starter Troy Cate and former [...]

I erroneously reported earlier this week that the Long Island Ducks lost the last Wild Card spot to Newark. Since both Southern Maryland and Somerset won both halves, there would be a Wild Card spot for the second and third place team. The Ducks are that second team. Congrats to former Mets catcher Gary Carter [...]