Need inspiration?

How many times have we seen the Spirit sweep a 3-game series at home?

(Hint: lots of times)

Need more inspiration?

From Joy of Sox:

"10.17.2004

One. One game. One win. That's all.

Not four, not three, not two.

One.

Tonight."

GAME FOUR




GAME FIVE




GAME SEVEN

Second Game Of Championship Tonight

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Come one,come all was the theme last night-as the Pride sold tickets for only $1 and had creazy sales in their pro shop. Even though at the end of the night the Pride had a 1-0 series lead....it was a fun trip,and I wanna go again tonight--but can't because I have class from 4-6:30. ='[

Tonight is game two of the championship series pitting the Spirit against the Pride. Tonight Matt Bishop will face off against the Pride's Joe Gannon.
Let's take a look at both pitchers last playoff outings really quick,shall we?

Matt Bishop pitched against Atlantic City in Game 2 of the Semis. He went 6.1 innings. In that time he gave up 2 runs (both earned) on 10 hits while walking none and striking out 2. He walked away with a 1.50 ERA.

Joe Gannon faced off against New Jersey in the Semis in Game 4. He went 6 innings,giving up 3 runs (only one earned) on 5 hits giving him a 1.50 EAR,and the win. He also sturck out 6 while walking just 2.


I think we have a strong chance at winning tonight. While Matt's last outing wasn't the best,I think he'll pick things up this game and give us 5-6 strong innings. But the Spirit just need to remember two things.......stirke early,but also take baby steps (SEE: runs every now and then....no big amount unless REALLY needed)

To anyone goign up,have a great time! And if you see the Pride Booster Club members that were at Fraser go over and say hi,they are incredibly friendly people =]
To those of you listening on the radio.....I'll,most likely, join ya here in an in-game post around 7:30ish.

GO SPIRIT!

Game 1 (or not)

Bic is scheduled to face A-OK tonight in Game 1 @ Nashua, but rain is making it look highly unlikely:

http://www.weather.com/weather/wxdetail/USNH0156?from=36hr_fcst_undeclared

Let's keep it going.

Game 3.

Gary Galvez vs. JC Huguet.

To steal/modify a rallying cry from my favorite Red Sox blog, we've just got to win one game tonight. Not win two games, not win five games, not save the franchise... just win one game. Tonight.

Semi-interesting albeit unimportant tidbit:

The Spirit are 3-2 all-time in 'game threes'.

2003: Spirit defeat Quebec in the semifinals to sweep
2003: Rox sweep the Spirit in the finals
2004: Spirit win game 3 in Quebec in the infamous 'turn out the lights game'
2004: Jackals start their comeback at Fraser
2006: Spirit take a 2-1 series lead in Quebec

On the road, the Spirit are 6-4 in the playoffs all-time.

2003: 1-0 @ Quebec, 0-1 @ Brockton
2004: 2-1 @ Quebec, 2-0 @ New Jersey
2006: 1-2 @ Quebec

It's clinching time....

With a win tonight over Worcester, the Spirit would clinch a berth in the 2007 playoffs. They would also win the Commonwealth Cup [whoopee]. Thus, I am coming to the ballpark fully prepared to celebrate for what I hope will be the first of five raucous celebrations at Fraser this year [playoff berth, 2nd half title, regular season title, semifinal victory, championship].

It could be a fun couple of weeks. :)

Matt Bishop is on the hill for the Spirit, squaring off against Alex Pena - so it ought to be a good pitcher's duel.

And so it goes...

It's crunch time. Two big ballgames tonight, one for the Spirit in Little Falls and another for that Boston team down in Tampa Bay.

I'm feeling pretty confident about both teams' chances to make the playoffs, but even the most optimistic fan has to at least have some doubt and fear at this point.

The Spirit have an easier road than the Red Sox do: a record of 7-7 in these last 14 games gets us in to the playoffs, regardless of what mayhem unfolds behind us. But the real prize here is the 2nd half title and getting those last 3 games at home, and the lead there is a tenuous 2.5 over Atlantic City. Also in play is the #1 overall record, for which the Spirit have a 2 game lead on the Jackals.

The Jackals are a sleeping giant, struggling in the 2nd half since dominating the first half, but I fully expect them to wake up before the postseason starts. That wakeup call seems to have already started, as the Jackals are 4-1 in their last 5 games. And with their acquisition of ace pitcher John Kelly, don't be surprised to see NJ in the championship series.

Not-so-breaking news:

from northshorespirit.com----

Saturday, August 18, 2007

Lynn, MA – The North Shore Spirit has announced the signing of infielder/outfielder Nilson Teilon, reuniting the player with the team he played for in 2004.

Teilon has just finished an MVP season for Edinburg of the United League. In his best professional season to date, the righty leads the United League in batting average (.361), RBI’s (90), and doubles (30). He places second in home runs (20) and stolen bases (15).

In his lone season with the Spirit in 2004, Teilon saw the majority of his playing time at third base, while hitting a very respectable .305 with 11 home runs and 55 RBI’s. His 111 hits that season ranked fifth on the Spirit’s all-time single season record list.

Teilon was signed by the Chicago White Sox as an undrafted free agent in 1998. He has also spent time in the Arizona Diamondbacks farm system.

I AM PUMPED!!!!!!!!! now we just need another pitcher.

Off to Fenway...

I'm going to Fenway tonight to see Jon Lester's return. So, sadly, you will not all get the privilege of following along with my emotional rollercoaster live-blog of tonight's Spirit @ Rox game. ;)

I'll have a recap of the Spirit game [as well as some pics from Fenway] upon my return.

Random ooh-RAH, let's-kick-Brockton's-ass post

GO SPIRIT!!!

CORRECTION--Tonight's Game

Last night it was reported that last night's game aginst the Brockton Rox will be finished today at 4 PM, followed immediately by a full 9-inning game.
This is false as the game starts at 4,resumes the game-in-progress through all 9 innings then a 7-inning game will be played after.

Fans from last night's game can redeem last night's ticket for a ticket to today's double-header.
Tonight we will have the scheduled pitching matchups of Bryan Morse Vs Matt Bishop for game one and Mike McTamney Vs Gary Galvez in game two.

The Spirit Fans Blog sincerly regrets this error.



IN OTHER NEWS: The Blog has started the "Who's Now: The CanAm League Edition",based off a segment from ESPN. This is a fun game,and I encourage all to read the previosu post and join in.



SCORES FROM LAST NIGHT:
Atlantic City 16, Quebec 8
New Haven County 9, Grays 5
New Jersey 9, Worcester 0
Nashua 4, Sussex 1

It's pouring...

Which is really bad news because

1) Tonight's game was supposed to have a sellout crowd

and

2) It's supposed to rain all weekend, and this is the last time we play Nashua... I do not want to be jipped of two potentially crucial games, AGAIN

On to game 2...

Well what do you know, kids - the Spirit have won 6 in a row. And they didn't just win game 1 in Quebec, they won it in breathtakingly awesome fashion by a final score of 7-2.

Ryan Bicondoa was spectacular. He gave up 2 runs on 3 hits in a complete game effort. He retired the side in order in every inning from the 2nd thru the 6th and retired 19 in a row overall during his dominant stretch.

The Spirit set the tone in the 1st, putting up 3 runs including a solo homer by Alex Trezza. North Shore tacked on 3 more in the 2nd. During the 2nd, Josue Lopez hit his 3rd home run of the season.

Josue Lopez and Vic Davilla each had two runs batted in on the day.

Joey Siak takes the hill against Quebec's Shawn Ryan in game 2, which will start at about 7:35.

Border War.... IT'S ON

vs.




































BRING IT ON!!!!!!!!!!!

Agh

After that heartbreaker in game 1, I'm goin' out for a while -- ouch. I'll be back later tonight to report on the end of numero 2.

We have to win game 2 - we can't lose a series to New Haven.

On the bright side, I'm feeling darn good about our chances with Farley on the hill.

Not looking good...

According to the weather forecast, West Haven is experiencing more rain today. This is not good. Not only does it break up the Spirit's momentum, it also might lead to the cancellation of two games against New Haven. (They would probably cancel, not postpone, these games since the first half is almost over.) Getting games against New Haven and Sussex cancelled is like taking wins off the board.

If any of you out there are intimate with the Big Man Upstairs, do what you can to get the rain away from West Haven, CT tonight.

Coming home

The Spirit's next 9 games:

vs. Nashua (6/30)
vs. Nashua (7/1)
@ New Haven (7/3)
@ New Haven (7/4)
@ New Haven (7/5)
vs. Sussex (7/6)
vs. Sussex (7/7)
vs. Sussex (7/8)
vs. Sussex (7/9)


If this team really is going to turn it around, this would be a fine place to get on a run. It's wholly conceivable to go something like 7-2 in this next 9 game stretch. Anything less than domination against New Haven and Sussex would be a bad sign.

This is exactly what we need to get firmly over .500, into the top half of the table, and into contention for a playoff spot. Forget about the first half (-6 games w/ 13 remaining), let's just put together some wins.

****

Tonight is the first of two at home against the Pride. Rumor has it that Bryan Morse will come off the DL for one of these two games, but I'm not sure if that's true.

The CanAm site lists the matchup as Hideki Nagasaka vs. TBA, and Leahy mentioned that Josue Mateos would be pitching for the Spirit tonight.

Gametime is 6:05 PM, followed by a "fireworks extravaganza." Hooray!

Back to Baseball

Off-the-field, shmoff-the-field... there is baseball to be played.

The Spirit begin a 3-game series tonight at Brockton against a similarly mediocre Rox team (14-16). Campanelli has always been a haunted place for the Spirit when the team has been successful, so maybe it will work in reverse and will be the place where the Spirit bust out and get in the groove. We have to maintain contact w/ 4th place. Roll on....

Notes from the Morning After

-Yesterday's brawl was captured in entirety by TV cameras. I expect Dave will have some footage for us within a few days so we can get another good look at it.

-We also did a few 're-enactment videos' in the parking lot after the game, those will be on YouTube ASAP.

-We created the official Eddie Lantigua Haters United group on Facebook here

-Eric, Dave, Alan, Cathy and I are taking the trek to Brockton on Tuesday night... anyone else going to the Land of the Drunks? Let me know and we can sit together... Also, anyone thinking about going to Nashua next Friday night?

-The Spirit added former Worcester INF Robert Tewksbury to the lineup before last night's game and cut Vic Davilla.

Critical homestand

Unfortunately, I'll only be able to make it to 2 or 3 of these six upcoming home games, but I'll certainly be following closely, because this is a big homestand. We are at the halfway point of the first half and the Spirit still haven't 'gotten it together.' The Spirit are still in the race because the league in general is mediocre. But we're going to have to crank it up sooner or later.

Tonight, we start a 3-game set with the Surf before the defending champion Quebec Capitales come to town. Then, it doesn't get any easier as the Spirit have to make a trip to Brockton.

Our chances in the first half will hinge on whether or not we can put together a good 7-10 stretch here.

In other news, now the Donut actually means something:

Northshorespirit.com-

One lucky fan will have a chance to bring home the dough this season if a Spirit player can hit home-run through the donut just above Fraser Field’s right field wall.

That fortunate fan will receive a cash prize of $10,000 courtesy of Dunkin Donuts.

Pre-Game Post: Grays @ Spirit, May 30

Can-Am First Half Game 5/48

Grays (1-3) @
North Shore Spirit (3-1)

7:05 PM at Fraser Field, Lynn, MA

Season Series:
0-0

Pitchers:
UPDATE: Bryan Morse v. TBA

Weather:
Gametime temperature will be a nice 76 degrees, dropping to 70 by 10 PM, with clear skies throughout.

Notes:
The Spirit are coming off an impressive opening weekend, taking 3-of-4 from the improved Nashua Pride, and now will open up at home against the Grays. North Shore fans will get to see first hand if this year's edition of the traveling road-show is any good. Conventional wisdom says that this is a series the Spirit should sweep.

Out of Town:

New Haven at Worcester UPDATE: Worcester wins 5-1
Atlantic City at Brockton (7)
Quebec at New Jersey (7)
Sussex at Nashua (7)

Info:

Broadcast-
1510 the Zone &
Here

Pre-Game Post: Spirit @ Pride, May 27

I'll be listening to the end of today's game, at least.
*

Can-Am First Half Game 4/48

North Shore Spirit (2-1) @
Nashua Pride (1-2)

2:05 PM at Holman Stadium, Nashua, NH

Season Series:
2-1 Spirit

Pitchers:
Chris Farley? vs. TBA (If anyone has this info please let me know)

Weather:
72 and cloudy with a slight chance of rain late in the day

Notes:
-Ricardo Cordova missed last night's game, so we'll see if he's back in there today

-Every Spirit bullpen pitcher except Drage was used last night

Out of Town:

New Haven at Brockton - 1:05 PM
New Jersey at Sussex – 2:05 PM
Grays at Atlantic City – 7:05 PM

Info:

Broadcast-
1510 the Zone &
Here