From the Tunnel - 04/29/10

2010. © Straphanger Productions.

BW: Hello again ladies, gentlemen and Straphangers fans from around the globe. Welcome to the latest edition of From the Tunnel, the insider show for all the news, stories, interviews and updates for the DMBL's Sardine City Straphangers. I'm Bill White, and I'm here with my partner in the booth, "The Scooter" Phil Rizutto.

PR: Thanks Bill! With all that's happening in the organization, there's so much to talk about today I don't even know where to begin. Maybe we should start with The Money Store, where qualified homeowners can get instant approval on a fixed rate first or second mortgage loan. And, best of all, the low interest payments may be fully deductible.

BW: Thanks Scooter! You are correct about one thing. There have been a number of issues the Straphangers have faced so far this season and it's time we address a few of them. First of all, the Straphangers have been muddling through the season. No one inside or outside the organization can be pleased with what they are seeing at the plate.

PR: Holy cow! You got that right, Bill! It's been anemic. Manager Joe Torre and Hitting Coach Reggie Jackson aren't quit e sure what else they can do about it short of handing the guys a canolli before every at bat. They've juggled the lineup, worked on approach, preached plate discipline and the players are in the cage and taking extra batting practice. Nothing seems to be working!

BW: It's inexplicable as the offense was solid in the preseason and looked ready to take on all comers. As of today, only four everyday players are hitting over .265 and only three have an OBP over .315. To put it mildly, that's a major concern. Across the board, the Straphangers are struggling in every major offensive category and that means the starting pitchers simply aren't getting any run support. In fact you just won't win a lot of games averaging only a meager 3.9 runs per game.

PR: No, they definitely aren't getting the run support and the offense has scored the second fewest runs in the league. Now, the defense hasn't been perfect behind them, but they've been good, have kept the errors to a minimum and done enough to keep games close. It's the pitchers who have clearly been the strength of the team and they have allowed the fewest runs in the league.

BW: The relievers have been solid, but not superb, yet let's not forget to mention Mike Wuertz has been a perfect 7 for 7 closing out the games when given the opportunity.

PR: The Straphangers pitchers certainly have been money so far. And when you need money, you should look no further than The Money Store. The Money Store can help…

BW: (interrupting) Right…right…And although it hasn't shown in the win column, the starting pitching has been excellent. Josh Johnson has been far better than his win/loss record dictates. Young ace in the making Ubaldo Jimenez is beginning to fulfill the promise he showed last year.

PR: We recently had a moment to sit down with Sardine City's co-owners and get their take on the season so far. Let's check it out.

PR: Thanks for being with us on From the Tunnel. What have you seen so far on the field that makes you take pause?

GC: From a development and growth standpoint, I love what I'm seeing. We've been doing our best to stick to our plan of drafting and trading for young, upside players with good character and developing them in our farm system. We've traded some key players like BJ Upton, but when you are faced with hard decisions, you must sometimes make them. And we've added some more quality with Nick Markakis and solidified our staff with John Lackey. With Braun, Longoria, and Wieters establishing themselves as offensive threats, the youth movement is alive and well in Sardine City. Obviously, not every player can become a superstar, and we've whiffed on a couple, but, on the whole, we feel very good about the team we are building. The future looks bright with Cole, Josh Johnson and Ubaldo leading the way in the bigs and with Feliz, Rasmus and Smoak performing as well or better than expected in the minors.

PR: What are your feelings about the season thus far?

CC: Well, we clearly don't like the level of play on the field at the moment and would like to see some more wins in the standings. All things being equal, I think we are bound for a lengthy hot streak given the season long, team wide, batting funk. When that happens, I see a vault up the standings into playoff contention, provided our pitching remains consistent and our defense keeps us in games.

PR: Do you feel the coaching staff is taking the proper corrective measures to right the ship?

GC: Yes, without a doubt. Joe and Bucky are doing all the right things, but, quite frankly, they can't go out there and take the swings or make the plays. It's up to the players on the field to put in the extra work to get things going in the right direction again.

PR: Are you looking at making any moves to shake up the chemistry?

CC: That's certainly possible. As long as we feel it will improve the situation of our franchise, then we are willing to deal. We've made a couple of inquiries and had some inquiries about our players as well. Nothing more than taking temperatures at this point and that's pretty much the norm at this time of year.

PR: Thanks for chatting with us today. It's great to be with you both and we look forward to the next our next conversation.

BW: Thanks for joining us on this edition of From The Tunnel. Stay tuned for future episodes and more insider access, highlights and information you need about the Sardine City Straphangers. So, for my partner “the Scooter” Phil Rizzuto, I'm Bill White. We'll see you next time on From the Tunnel. Until then, “Stand clear of the closing doors…” Good Night.

Torre to replace Dent

(10/22/07) - With the SCS post season meetings in Hilton Head, SC still on going, the team today announced some major changes to the coaching staff.

Management has agreed to Bucky Dent's request to focus more on the coaching aspects of his duties than on team management responsibilities. As such, Bucky will continue his role as SS coach and resign as Manager. Bucky said, "Although I love the managerial position, I feel my skills are better suited to more hands on duties. I love working with the players on a daily basis and want to help the team shore up our defense up the middle. It was a key we seemed to lose focus on at times during the season and it cost us some close games."

Additionally, Bucky will be taking on the role of Bench Coach, which has been vacated with the announcement by Don Zimmer of his retirement.

Finally, with Bucky Stepping down, Straphangers management has announced the hiring of Joe Torre as the new Manager. The management team of Gregory and Christoper Calvosa will introduce Torre as manager as a press conference scheduled for Monday. Christopher said, "We are immensely pleased by the fact Joe will be part of the Sardine City Straphangers organization. His expertise, experience and ability to work with young and veteran players alike is something important as we continue to build this franchise through the draft." Terms of the agreement have not been disclosed.

From the Tunnel - 01/27/07

(01/27/07) - The following is a transcript from The Premiere episode of From the Tunnel, the official weekly update show of the Sardine City Straphangers.

BW: Hello ladies, gentlemen and baseball fans from around he globe. Welcome to this very special occasion. Thank you for joining us in this our very first telecast of From the Tunnel, the insider show for all the news, stories, interviews and updates for the DMBL's newest franchise, the Sardine City Straphangers. I'm Bill White, and I'm here with my partner in the booth, "The Scooter" Phil Rizutto, and together we'll be with you all season long.

PR: Thanks Bill! I can't be anymore excited about the birth of the Franchise and I'm pleased to be able to share it with a huckleberry like you. I'm also pleased to be able to tell everyone about some of lowest lending rates in years at The Money Store. For any of you looking for home loans, be sure to check out what The Money Store can do for you. And speaking of checking things out, I'm really looking forward to checking out the season that's about to get underway. Can you believe it? After all this time, we are almost ready to toss out the inaugural first pitch. Holy Cow!

BW: Well, Scooter, that is something to be excited about! Until then, we have a lot to share with all our fans. First, let's talk about the team. For those who don't already know the new logo and jerseys were recently revealed to a packed audience here in NYC at the Straphangers practice facility.

PR: What can I say Bill. I think they look great, almost as great as The Money Store's low, low lending rates. As a long time straphanger who rode the subways from my Manhattan home up to the Stadium in Bronx during my playing days, I thought the logo paid homage to a great icon in this city. I'm no art critic, but it looks pretty good to me.

BW: I agree Scooter. I asked the question of one of the co-owners of the team, Gregory Calvosa, during a recent interview. Let's take a look:

BW: First, thanks for taking the time to join us here on From the Tunnel. We are honored to have you as our very first guest.

GC: I'm pleased to be here. I also have a special surprise for you on the show. Even though he's down at the Florida training facility, I arranged for my brother and co-owner Chris to join us via satellite. We've always been a great team and we simply had to do the 1st interview together. We've taken every step in building this franchise in this fashion and will continue moving forward that very same way. We think it sets a good example not only for our players, but for the organization as a whole. Teamwork will run throughout the organization at every level: from the ballboys, to the grounds crew, to the players, to the great management team we have put in place, to the front office and the teams of people that make everything happen behind the scenes. The Sardine City Straphangers will be the shining beacon of teamwork in the DMBL and across all of professional, collegiate, and amateur sports. So, Chris, can you hear us?

CC: There's a little echo on the line, but I sure can! I share those sentiments. Greg and I are looking forward to creating a franchise that will set the pace in the League and become champions. And you know why? Teamwork. The Straphangers are the only team in the league with dual ownership, and as such, we really want to demonstrate the value and power of this partnership. When everyone works together there is no limit to what can be achieved both on and off the field. It sounds cliché, but that's truly our team philosophy.

BW: So, Chris, tell me about the presentation of the new logo and uniforms.

CC: Sure. I first have to say, Bill, it was no easy task to develop a name, logo or uniform for the team. There were so many great ideas to choose from, but at the end of the day, we decided the subway was such a huge part of this city and we've both spent so many hours using the trains in our lifetimes, we agreed that honoring it, and our own Straphanger heritage, would do justice to the city and really allow us to connect with the millions of daily riders. It really can be a sardine city down there some days, but that doesn't mean it's a negative; there is strength in numbers after all. We have great people in this city and this team will belong to all of them. Every straphanger owns a little piece of this team because the trains are an aspect of New York that everyone can share. When we developed a logo, it needed to reflect the tenets I described, and I think it does that very well. The uniforms were the fun part. We're certainly not fashion designers, but these uniforms came together quickly and easily. We think everyone will respond positively and run out to get a Straphangers jersey all their own.

GC: We asked Andruw, Freddy, Chris and BJ to serve as the models for our little fashion show and they had some fun with it. Despite the initial embarrassment, they all did a great job and despite the horsing around on our mini-runway no one fell off the stage, so we came out with our players intact.

BW: As you began to build your franchise, was there something specific you looked for in your potential players?

CC: Absolutely. We wanted players with upstanding character, great skills, youth and potential to become great players on the field and strong role models for the community. I think Greg and I had the same sort of players in mind as we went through the process. We agreed Freddy, Andruw and BJ were the type of players around whom we could build a franchise. They have the talent and leadership ability that can serve as the bedrock foundation for our team.

GC: We thought it was important to find as much talent as we could. We thought Freddy's versatility in the field gave us a lot of options when we began looking to fill our roster. Obviously, anytime you can add a batting champ to your roster, you do it. Andruw is a proven superstar in CF and his defensive prowess can single-handedly keep you in games. He's a rare player and we definitely need his bat as a power source. BJ is that Closer every team covets and fears when he makes the trip from the pen to mound. Batters don't want to face him and he's shown he can put games to bed. We'll need that sort of stability late in games. He's our Mariano Rivera, and we are happy to know he has our 9th.

BW: What was the process in finding and hiring your coaching staff and manager?

CC: It was really a challenge to get the guy we wanted...but only because we had to try to convince ourselves that we weren't acting hastily. We knew from day one, Bucky was our guy, and he was the first person we approached. Nonetheless, you have to go through the process and speak to as many people as you can so you can make the most well-informed decision possible. Bucky was impressive in every meeting. He has such a high baseball IQ. He knows the game, he understands the situations, and he makes smart choices. As a champion player who knows the role of hero and retains eternal status a part of Yankee lore, he has proven himself graceful under pressure in many situations as both a player and a manager.

GC: After speaking with some very strong candidates, the more people to whom we spoke, the more certain we were that Bucky was the right person to lead the Straphangers. We recognize he has a unique ability to reach today's players, and he had their respect before he met a single player. Bucky is the man who will lead this team to a championship some day soon.

BW: Thanks to both of you for joining us today.

PR: Wow! That's great! I can't think of two guys who are more enthusiastic about this team and the start of the season. And I am equally enthusiastic about The Money Store and their low, low...

BW: I can't agree more, Scooter, thanks. Well, that about wraps up this edition of From the Tunnel. Be sure to join us next time as we talk more with the players and relay the other stories that will get us ready for Opening Day 2007.