By Roger Hoover / Smokies Radio Network
Earlier today I sat down with Huntsville Stars broadcaster Alex Cohen to get his thoughts on the Southern League and the 2012 version of the Stars.
Cohen is in his first year as the play-by-play voice of the Stars, and you can follow him on Twitter: @alexmcohen.
Check the post below for listening information on tonight’s second game of the series.
Right-hander Nick Struck will start tonight for Tennessee. Photo Courtesy: Roger C. Hoover.
By Roger Hoover / Smokies Radio Network
After losing six of their last seven games, the Tennessee Smokies aim to return to the winning track on Tuesday night, facing the Huntsville Stars at Smokies Park at 7:15 p.m.
The Stars have taken five out of the six meetings in the season series this season, and won the opening game of this set 8-4 last night.
Tennessee will send right-hander Nick Struck to the mound for his eleventh start of the season. Struck is 4-5 with a 4.86 ERA. Huntsville will start right-hander Evan Anundsen, who is 3-1 with a 2.55 ERA.
Here are more notes on tonight’s game, direct from the official Tennessee Smokies game notes compiled by Cody Chrusciel:
WORTH NOTING
Over their past three games, the Smokies are 2-for-27 with RISP with 27 LOB. Jae-Hoon Ha has hit leadoff in each of the past four games, going 3-for-18. The Smokies have scored in the first inning in six of their last nine games. 16 of Tennessee’s last 18 losses have been by three runs or less. The Smokies are 19-13 when scoring three or more runs but just 2-17 when scoring less than three times. The Smokies are 7-3 against Chattanooga and 14-27 against the rest of the SL. The Smokies have plated 193 runs in 51 outings (3.8 per game). Last season, they averaged five runs per contest while leading the league in batting with a .274 average. The Smokies are in the middle of a 15-game stretch without the use of the designated hitter as they take on Mississippi (Braves), Mobile (Diamondbacks), and Huntsville (Brewers).
THE BOUR IDENTITY
Justin Bour leads the Southern League with 36 RBIs.
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE?
The Smokies have allowed 37 unearned runs in 51games – the most in the Southern League. No other tam has allowed more than 31 unearned runs. The Smokies have gone three straight games without committing an error, matching their longest such streak of the season.
Fans can listen to the game on the Smokies Radio Network, with the “Voice of the Smokies” Mick Gillispie entering his sixth season as Tennessee’s Director of Broadcasting. The 2010 Southern League Broadcaster of the Year is assisted by Cody Chrusciel, Roger Hoover, Jonathan Guess, and Adam King. Chrusciel and Hoover will host the Pilot Oscar-Meyer Pregame Show beginning at 7 p.m. on the Smokies Radio Network.
Tonight’s broadcast will air on the Smokies Radio Network’s flagship station The Sports Animal WNML AM 990, FM 99.1 and 99.3 plus the Smokies mobile app. Click the link below to listen live online.
Listen Live to the Stars and Smokies May 29, 2012
You can also follow along with the game by following the Smokies Radio Network on Twitter and liking us on Facebook.
Filed under Game Preview
By Adam King / Smokies Radio Network
Last night Smokies team physician Dr. John McGraw presented the Smokies with an American flag that flew in Afghanistan when Dr. McGraw was deployed there with the U.S. Army last year.
“Doc” McGraw’s story was featured here on the Smokies Radio Network website a few weeks ago, and we are happy he is back home in East Tennessee.
Here is a video of the flag presentation from Doc McGraw to Smokies general manager Brian Cox before the opening game of the Smokies-Stars series at Smokies Park.
Filed under Videos
Challenger the bald eagle from Pigeon Forge, Tenn., flew during the National Anthem at Wrigley Field on Memorial Day. Photo Courtesy: Phil Velasquez, Chicago Tribune
By Roger Hoover / Smokies Radio Network
The Tennessee Smokies opened their series against Huntsville by dropping the first contest 8-4 at Smokies Park on Monday night.
With the loss the Smokies have now lost five of their last six games.
It’s time for today’s What We’re Reading, but keep checking the blog and our Facebook and Twitter pages for more info throughout the day on today’s game at Smokies Park.
- Knoxville News Sentinel: Smokescreen? Looks that way for Smokies
- Bleed Cubbie Blue: Cubs Minor League Wrap: May 28
- Chicago Tribune: Cubs put out Rizzo firestorm
- Chicago Tribune: Relief for Cubs as skid ends
- Chicago Sun-Times: Cubs president Theo Epstein won’t rule out Ryan Dempster
- CSN Chicago: Hoyer knows Rizzo can’t be the savior for Cubs
- ESPN: Convicted felon’ Bonds interested in Giants gig
- ESPN Golf: Phil Mickelson wants to buy Padres
- The New York Times: Pujols Is Starting to Look Like His Usual Fearsome Self
- Baseball America: By and Large, NCAA Baseball Field Right
Filed under What We're Reading
By Adam Kline / Smokies Radio Network
KODAK, Tenn. – Rebel Ridling’s sixth home run of the season wasn’t enough to overcome a six-run deficit as the Tennessee Smokies fell to the Huntsville Stars Monday night, 8-4. The loss, in front of 3,787 at Smokies Park, drops the Smokies to 21-30 on the season. Huntsville improved to 28-22, 1.5 games back of first-place Jackson.
Tennessee jumped on the scoreboard in the first off Huntsville starter Josh Stinson. Jae-Hoon Ha led off with a single and moved to third on a double by Logan Watkins. Ha would score two batters later on a RBI groundout by Justin Bour to give the Smokies an early 1-0 lead.
The Stars would strike bake in the top of the second, tagging Tennessee starter Dae-Eun Rhee for five runs. Huntsville started the inning with a single by Domnit Bolivar, and former Tennessee Volunteer Kentrail Davis brought him home with a double. Lee Haydel followed with an RBI single and Tommy Manzella and Scooter Gennett would drive in three more runs between them with an infield single and a two-run double, respectively, to give Huntsville a 5-1 lead.
After getting the leadoff batter in the third out, Rhee allowed four consecutive singles allowing one more run to score. Smokies reliever Jeff Antigua entered the game with bases loaded and walked in a run before retiring the side with the Stars ahead 7-1.
Rhee (3-2) lasted 2.1 innings allowing seven earned runs on nine hits.
Stinson (6-2) kept the Smokies bats quiet over his five innings of work. He allowed one run on three hits while striking out three.
Ridling tried to spark the Tennessee offense with his home run to left field in the sixth to narrow the deficit to 7-2.
Trailing 8-2 in the eighth, the Smokies staged a rally scoring twice, but left the bases loaded. Bour walked and Ridling reached on an error by Gennett. A wild pitch by Stars reliever Darren Byrd advanced the runners a base, and Luis Flores smacked a two-RBI single to left field. Elliot Soto hit a pinch-hit single and Mike Burgess walked to load the bases for Ha. Huntsville turned to their closer Jesus Sanchez (S, 5) who got Ha to strike out and end the Smokies’ threat.
Tennessee looks to bounce back in Game 2 vs. Huntsville Tuesday night at 7:15 at Smokies Park. The Smokies will send RHP Nick Struck (4-5, 4.86) to the mound, while RHP Evan Anundsen (3-1, 2.55) will get the start for the Stars. Tickets can be purchased at www.smokiesbaseball.com or by calling (865) 286-2300.
LISTEN TO GAME HIGHLIGHTS: May 28, 2012 Stars 8 Smokies 4
Filed under Uncategorized
By Cody Chrusciel / Smokies Radio Network
The Smokies Radio Network took a tour of the Hank Aaron Childhood Home and Museum during Tennessee’s May 2012 series in Mobile against the BayBears.
This tour is hosted by BayBears Assistant General Manager and Museum Curator Mike Callahan, as he takes an in depth look at the museum located at Hank Aaron Stadium.
We hope you enjoy this unique look at one of the Southern League’s treasures, the Hank Aaron Childhood Home and Museum.
Filed under Videos
By Mick Gillispie / Smokies Radio Network
Here’s a review of this past road trip for the Tennessee Smokies plus a preview of their upcoming homestand against the Huntsville Stars at Smokies Park.
Check the post below for listening information on tonight’s opening game of the series.
Filed under Videos
