Monthly Archives: June 2010

Hey Smokies Fans!

On Wednesday June 30, the Smokies and Diamond Jaxx will play in a rare day game at Pringles Park. The Smokies Radio Network will provide coverage of the game, which will begin at 1:05 p.m. ET.

The broadcast will air on the Smokies Radio Network’s affiliates WJFC AM 1480 and FM 102.9 in Jefferson City, and ESPN Radio 106.3 FM in Sevier County. Our coverage will begin at 12:45 p.m. with the Pilot Oscar-Mayer Pregame Show, featuring an interview with Smokies catcher Steve Clevenger. Also, fans can listen to the game here online on smokiesbaseball.com.

Chris Carpenter (5-3, 3.43 ERA) will pitch for Tennessee against West Tenn’s Steven Hensley (6-4, 2.59 ERA).

Enjoy the game at work on Wednesday, and as always- thanks for listening!

Hey Smokies Fans!

We’re pleased to announce that nine Tennessee Smokies have been named to the 2010 Southern League All-Star Team for the league’s All-Star Game in Huntsville on July 12.

Here’s the official release from smokiesbaseball.com:

KODAK, Tenn. – Nine members of the 2010 Tennessee Smokies roster were named Tuesday by the Southern League of Professional Baseball Clubs to the 2010 Southern League All-Star Game.  Position players Tony Campana, Robinson Chirinos, Steve Clevenger, Blake Lalli and Ty Wright will join teammates Austin Bibens-Dirkx, Ryan Buchter, David Cales and Hung-Wen Chen on the North Division roster at Joe Davis Stadium in Huntsville, Ala. for the July 12 game.

Players selected for the Southern League All-Star teams are selected by a vote of Southern League field managers, radio broadcasters, general managers and print media.  The South Division roster will be announced tomorrow, June 30.  Starting lineups for the North and South Divisions will be released on July 1 and 2 respectively.

We’re very excited that these players will wear the Smokies uniform in the showcase of the league’s best talent. Congratulations to Tony, Robinson, Steve, Blake, Ty, Austin, Ryan, David, and Hung-Wen!

Tonight’s game coverage begins with the Pilot Oscar-Mayer Pregame Show at 7:45. Tonight we’ll feature Part 2 of the Dale Murphy interview series. You can listen to the game here online on smokiesbaseball.com or on the Smokies Radio Network’s flagship station,  The Sports Animal.

Thanks for listening!

Hey Smokies Fans!

We’re pleased to announce that Tennessee Smokies manager Bill Dancy will serve on manager Don Baylor’s coaching staff for the United States team in the 2010 XM All-Star Futures Game in Anaheim, Calif. on Sunday July 11.

Now in its 12th year, the XM All-Star Futures Game features the top Minor League prospects competing in a nine-inning contest as part of Taco Bell All-Star Sunday. The game will begin at 6 p.m. ET and can be viewed live on ESPN2, ESPN2 HD and MLB.TV. SIRIUS XM will provide satellite radio play-by-play coverage of the XM All-Star Futures Game on XM 175 in addition to its other comprehensive live coverage from Anaheim. Taco Bell All-Star Sunday is the first of three days of All-Star events at Angel Stadium, culminating with the 81st All-Star Game on Tuesday, July 13.

Dancy will serve on a staff that includes four other Minor League managers — Mike Sarbaugh of the Columbus Clippers (Indians), Steve Decker of the Fresno Grizzlies (Giants), Tony Franklin of the Trenton Thunder (Yankees), Bill Dancy of the Tennessee Smokes (Cubs) and Brian Poldberg of the Northwest Arkansas Naturals (Royals) — and one pitching coach — Rod Nichols of the Lehigh Valley IronPigs (Phillies).

One of the players on the roster for the U.S. is current Tennessee Smoky Brett Jackson, who hit a home run in his Tennessee debut on Sunday against Carolina.

To learn more about Dancy’s role in the 2010 XM All-Star Futures Game, listen tonight to the Pilot Oscar-Mayer Pregame Show before tonight’s opener against West TEnn. You can listen to the game here online on smokiesbaseball.com or on the Smokies Radio Network’s flagship station,  The Sports Animal.

Thanks for listening!

Brett Jackson homered in his Smokies debut on Sunday.

Hey Smokies Fans!

The Tennessee Smokies are hitting the road for six games against the West Tenn Diamond Jaxx at Pringles Park in Jackson, Tenn. This will be the longest road series of the season, as the Smokies face the team they beat for the first-half North Division championship.

Here are some notes to keep in mind as the series begins tonight in Jackson:

Swinging Above the Rest: The Smokies carry the top batting average in the Southern League into tonight’s game against West Tenn. Tennessee is currently hitting .285 in 2010, 12 points better than the next closest team. The Smokies also lead the league in hits, with 719. The Smokies also have hit more doubles than any other team in the Southern League, with 148.

Jackson Goes Long in Smokies Debut: In his first game as a Tennessee Smoky, centerfielder Brett Jackson hit a solo homer in his second at-bat on Sunday against Carolina. Jackson was selected by the Cubs in the first round of the 2009 draft with the 31^st overall pick, and hit .316 with sixhomers and 16 RBI. Jackson was rated by Baseball America as the Chicago Cubs number two prospect coming into this season.

Smokies Welcome Two New Pitchers: RHP Christopher Archer and RHP Aaron Shafer have been promoted to the team from High-A Daytona..  Archer and Shafer will be active for tonight’s series opener against West Tenn. Archer began the season in Daytona, going 7-1 with a 2.86 ERA in 14 starts.  In 72.1 innings, he has allowed 27 runs (23 earned runs), walking 26 while striking out 82.  Originally selected in the fifth round of the 2006 MLB Draft by the Cleveland Indians, Archer was traded to the Cubs, along with P Jeff Stevens and P John Gaub, for INF Mark DeRosa in 2008. Shafer also began the season in Daytona, going 2-1 with a 0.96 ERA in 24 appearances.  In 46.2 innings, he has allowed seven runs (five earned), walking 10 while striking out 47.  The Moscow Mills, Mo. native was selected by the Cubs in the second round of the 2008 MLB First-Year Player Draft.

First Half North Division Champions: The Tennessee Smokies clinched the first half Southern League North Division championship with West Tenn’s 5-0 loss to the Chattanooga Lookouts, ending the Diamond Jaxx’s chances of winning the first half.The news of the division championship came while the Smokies were at the plate in the top of the first inning against the BayBears.

2009 Revisited: In 2009, the Smokies and Diamond Jaxx were locked in a tight battle for a playoff spot nearing the end of a half. Going into the final weekend of the second half, Tennessee brought a one game lead into Pringles Park with five to play against West Tenn. The Diamond Jaxx won the first contest on Thursday night in Jackson to tie the teams with four games left to play. Tennessee won the next four games against the Diamond Jaxx, and clinched the second half division crown on Sunday Sept. 6, 2009 with a 7-0 victory.

Rafael Dolis will take the mound tonight to make his Smokies debut. Dolis went 4-5 with Daytona with a 2.92 ERA in 13 stars. Mauricio Robles will pitch for West Tenn, and he is 6-4 with a 4.61 ERA.

Our broadcast begins with the Pilot Oscar-Mayer Pregame Show, which begins at 7:45 p.m. You can listen to the game here online on smokiesbaseball.com or on the Smokies Radio Network’s flagship station,  The Sports Animal.

Thanks for listening!

Hey Smokies Fans!

The Smokies’ five-game winning streak came to an end last night as the Mudcats won 11-4 on Fireworks Friday at Smokies Park. It was Tennessee’s first loss of the second half, but the Smokies are still tied with the Lookouts for the division lead at 3-1.

Tonight we’ll debut part one of the Bob Dernier Interview Series on the Pilot Oscar-Mayer Pregame Show. Dernier played 10 seasons in the major leagues as a center fielder for the Philadelphia Phillies and the Chicago Cubs. Dernier was the lead-off hitter for the 1984 Cubs Eastern Division Champion team, where he was a teammate of 2009 Smokies manager and Hall-of-Famer Ryne Sandberg. “Ryno” batted second behind Dernier, and Cubs broadcaster Harry Caray dubbed them “The Daily Double” for their speed and scrappy hitting. Dernier also won a gold glove in 1984, making him the first Cubs outfielder to earn this honor.

Bobby Dernier slides in safe back to first base against the San Diego Padres in the 1984 NLCS at Wrigley Field

Dernier currently serves as the outfield and base running coordinator for the Chicago Cubs minor league system. This is Dernier’s fourth season in that role for the Cubs.

The Pilot Oscar-Mayer Pregame Show will begin at 6 p.m. on the Smokies Radio Network. You can listen to the game here online on smokiesbaseball.com or on the Smokies Radio Network’s flagship station,  The Sports Animal. If you miss the first portion of the Dernier interview series, you can listen to it after the game on our Multimedia page.

Thanks for listening!

Hey Smokies Fans!

Three games in the second half, three one-run games that have ended in Tennessee victories. The Smokies are now 3-0 to begin the second half, and can take the Mudcats series tonight in game four of the series.

Tonight is Fireworks Friday at Smokies Park, as well as a Michael Jackson tribute night. In tonight’s Pilot Oscar-Mayer Pregame Show we’ll feature an interview with Smokies first baseman and clubhouse leader Blake Lalli to get his thoughts on the first half North Division championship.

The Pilot Oscar-Mayer Pregame Show will begin at 7 p.m. on the Smokies Radio Network. You can listen to the game here online on smokiesbaseball.com or on the Smokies Radio Network’s flagship station,  The Sports Animal.

Thanks for listening!

Hey Smokies Fans!

Tonight we’ll have former Atlanta Braves slugger Dale Murphy join us for the first segment of his interview series on the Pilot Oscar-Mayer Pregame Show before the third game of the Mudcats series. ItTennessee has won the first two games of the first half against Carolina, with last night a thrilling 6-5 victory.

Murphy won consecutive National League Most Valuable Player Awards in 1982 and 1983. He also won the Silver Slugger award four straight seasons (1982-85) and was a Gold Glover for five consecutive seasons (1982-86). He was also a seven-time All-Star in his 18-year big league career. He retired with 398 home runs, and is still widely regarded as one of the finest sluggers in his era.

Murphy is here as a part of “Dale Murphy Night” at the ballpark, where he will sign autographs for fans and speak with the Smokies and Mudcats.

Austin Bibens-Dirkx returns to the mound for the Smokies. Bibens-Dirkx is 5-3 with a 3.76 ERA in 13 starts with Tennessee. He will be opposed by Carolina’s Scott Carroll, who is 1-2 with a 2.21 ERA.

Thefirst segment of the Murphy Interview Series will air on the Pilot Oscar-Mayer Pregame Show, which will begin at 7 p.m. on the Smokies Radio Network’s flagship station, The Sports Animal. You can listen to the game here online on smokiesbaseball.com or on the Smokies Radio Network’s flagship station,  The Sports Animal.

Thanks for listening!

Hey Smokies Fans!

We’re pleased to announce that on Wednesday June 23 we will air an interview with former big leaguer and college baseball star Ben McDonald.

McDonald, who spoke with our Mick Gillispie, played in college at LSU and pitched in the majors for the Baltimore Orioles (who selected him as the number one overall pick in the 1989 MLB Draft) as well as the Milwaukee Brewers.

McDonald (with baseball in mouth) was on the cover of Sports Illustrated with teammate Mike Mussina on July 18, 1994

McDonald now works with ESPN as an analyst for college baseball broadcasts, and gave his thoughts on the game to Mick.

The interview will air on the Pilot Oscar-Mayer Pregame Show, which will begin at 7 p.m. on the Smokies Radio Network’s flagship station, The Sports Animal. You can listen to the game here online on smokiesbaseball.com or on the Smokies Radio Network’s flagship station,  The Sports Animal.

Thanks for listening!

Dale Murphy Night is on Thursday June 24

Hey Smokies Fans!

Your 2010 First Half North Division Champion Tennessee Smokies are home this week for a six game home series against the Carolina Mudcats. This is the first opportunity for the fans to welcome the champions back to East Tennessee.

There are many great promotions lined up during the series, and here (from smokiesbaseball.com) is a detailed description of the events going on as the Smokies face the Mudcats:

We’re kicking off the second half of our 2010 homestand this Tuesday, June 22 with six games against the Carolina Mudcats. Tuesday’s home opener is featuring the Principal Financial Group Family Fun Fest from 4:15-7:15 p.m. just outside our stadium gates.

Similar to years past, the Principal Financial Group Family Fun Fest is FREE fun for the entire family! In addition to the plethora of inflatables that will be lined up for the kids to play in, other attractions will include a minor league baseball museum featuring more than 100 years of baseball history, a state-of-the-art Home Run Derby video game arcade, batting and pitching cages, bungee runs and FREE souvenir personalized baseball cards!

Remember fans that this is a FREE three-hour event before our 7:15 p.m. game that night against the Mudcats. But if you can’t make it out to the ballpark on Tuesday, we’ve got a lot more fun and excitement lined up for you through next Sunday, June 27!

Click on a date below to purchase tickets to that particular game.

Tuesday, June 22 – If you’re looking to stay for our 7:15 game after hitting up the Principal Financial Group Family Fun Fest beforehand, make sure to bring with you a KRAFT Singles package wrapper to our ticket window when buying your tickets, as it will get you a “Buy 1 Get 1 Free” ticket deal to the game!

Wednesday, June 23 – All residents and employees of Sevier County get a $2 ticket discount off walk-up ticket purchases to tonight’s game, as part of “Sevier County Night!”

Thursday, June 24 – You definitely want to be out here today and tonight as former Atlanta Braves great Dale Murphy will be here for our ‘Dale Murphy Luncheon’ at 12:00 p.m. inside our Double Play Cafe to meet with fans and sign autpgraphs. And during our 7:15 game, he will be doing the same. More on this great event can be found HERE!

Tonight’s also about the kids with “Kids Eat Free” and “Kids Run the Bases” at the ballpark. All kids 12-and-under with a paid field level or bleacher seat get a FREE hot dog, chips and small soda, courtesy of STAR 102.1. And after the game, they get to run the bases, courtesy of Shoney’s Family Restaurants.

And finally, we’ll have some winners at tonight’s game. Every fan coming to the game will win with Pilot Prize Night (make sure to grab that scratch-off card as you come in) and one lucky fan will win two (2) round-trip tickets on Allegiant Air!

Friday, June 25 – Prep yourself for July 4 with our post-game fireworks spectacular tonight at Smokies Park, courtesy of Pepsi, Coors Light, Knoxville News Sentinel, WVLT-TV and WIVK-FM.

Saturday, June 26 – Join us for our 6:15 p.m. game and Knoxville Harley Davidson Night here at the ballpark and catch a glimpse of the pre-game motorcycle parade on the field. You might even be selected to roll the dice during the game to spell “H-A-R-L-E-Y” and win a Harley Davidson motorcycle!

During the game, make sure to purchase those numbered tennis balls on our stadium concourse for your chance to win big in our Post-Game Ball Toss!

Sanday, June 27 – Wrapping up the homestand is Jimmy Buffett Night here at the ballpark, courtesy of WBIR-TV 10! In paying tribute to Jimmy Buffett, we’ll be having $2 cheeseburgers and $2 Coronas all night long. And make sure to stay after the game, as Buffett tribute band, Key West, will be performing live for a 90-minute set down our third base line!

You can learn more about all our ticket deals and promotions by visiting our Facebook and Twitter pages, and signing up for text alerts by texting “SMOKIES” to 62447. Adult field level or bleacher seats are $10/$8. Child (12-and-under) and senior (55+) field level or bleacher seats are $9/$7.

Alberto Cabrera will take the ball for Tennessee tonight in the opening game of the second half. Cabrera is 0-3, with a 6.61 ERA this season. Starting for the Mudcats is Matt Klinker, who is 4-4 with a 1.82 ERA.

Our broadcast begins tonight at 7 p.m. with the Pilot Oscar-Mayer Pregame Show, featuring an interview with manager Bill Dancy.

You can listen to the game here online on smokiesbaseball.com or on the Smokies Radio Network’s flagship station,  The Sports Animal.Thanks for listening!