Tiger's quest for records.

Tiger Woods will go down in history as the greatest golfer to play the game and I try to watch every tournament he enters.
The media has alleged that Tiger has a sex addiction and medication addiction. Hopefully, Tiger will seek treatment or change his behavior.
The basketball legend, Wilt Chamberlain, claims in his books that he made love to twenty thousand women(surely the numbers were exaggerated).
If Tiger does not change his behavior, he will be mentioned along with Chamberlain for their sexual behavior.

Brad Dodson leaves the Sand Gnats

Brad Dodson is pictured at last years Chile cook-off at Grayson Stadium. Since 2005, I have been a season ticket holder and Brad was the co-general manager for the Sand Gnats in 2005. He reportedly left the Sand Gnats at the end of this season and is residing in Nashville, Tn. Under his leadership, the Sand Gnats increased their attendance figures every year. We wish Brad the best of luck in his future endeavors.

Savannah Sand Gnats season tickets.

The Savannah Sand Gnats announced on their web site that the price of a 2010 box seat for 70 home games will be $440. Last year the cost was $490. The price includes many benefits, one of which is a parking pass close to the front gate. It was also announced that the Sand Gnats will offer fans half-season packages in the box seat sections at an introductory price of $250 for 35 games. The general admission season tickets will remain unchanged at $225 for 70 home games. It is nice to see an organization help the fans during the downturn in the economy.

Ex-Sand Gnats playing for the Washington Nationals.

The Atlanta Braves played the Washington Nationals in the Braves final home stand of the year. Their were four starting players for the Nationals who played for the Savannah Sand Gnats in the opening series. John Lannon was the starting pitcher(2006), Ian Desmond was the shortstop(2005), Ryan Zimmerman played third base(2005), and Justin Maxwell was the starter in center field(2006). Both Maxwell and Desmond hit home runs during the end of the season.

Maxwell made his pro debut with the Sand Gnats on April 29, 2006, and hit a three-run home run in his second at bat.

Former Savannah Sand Gnat pitcher, Lou Brissie, autographs his book.

On Saturday(9-12-09) former Savannah Sand Gnat pitcher, Lou Brissie, was at Barnes and Noble in Savannah to autograph his book.
Serving in the Army during World War 11, Brissie was severely wounded in his left leg. He had undergone 23 major operations to his leg. When he returned to baseball, he had a metal plate in his leg.
Brissie's amazing comeback began with the Savannah Sand Gnats in 1947, at that time affiliated with the Philadelphia Athletics, when he won 23 games. At the book signing, several men said they saw every game or most of the games the lefty pitched at Grayson Stadium in 1947. One fan brought pictures from an old scrapbook she kept'
Brissie was accompanied by his wife and both were very cordial with the fans. Their was a good turn out during the first hour I attennded the session.
During his major league career, Brissie pitched for the Philadelphia Athletics and the Cleveland Indians.

Former Savannah Sand Gnat shortstop debuts with Nationals

Former Savannah Sand Gnat shortstop, Ian Desmond, made his debut yesterday(9-10-09) with the Washington Nationals and helped to beat the Phillies, 8-7. Desmond was 2for4, homered and drove in four runs.

Desmond played shortstop for the Savannah Sand Gnats during the 2005 season. He appeared in 73 games for the Gnats, hit 10 doubles, 2 triples, 4 homeruns, and batted .247.

On September 20, Desmond will celebrate his 24th birthday.

The 2005 season was my first year as a season ticket holder with the Sand Gnats. Several players from that team are currently playing for the Nationals, including Ryan Zimmerman.

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Former Sand Gnat pitcher, Lou Brissie

Lou Brissie, former Gnat pitcher, will be at Barnes and Noble Book Store at Oglethorpe Mall in Savannah on September 12, at 2:00pm to autograph his book, "The corporal was a pitcher."
Brissie served in the Army in World War 11 and in 1944 his left leg was severely wounded from mortar fire. Doctors said amputation was necessary, but Brissie refused saying he had a goal to play baseball. After rehabilitation and wearing a steel brace, he returned to his dream of pitching.
During the 1947 season, Brissie pitched for the Savannah Sand Gnats and had an increadible record. He won 23 games, had an ERA of 1.91 and led the South Atlantic League with 278 strikeouts.
Brissie appeared in 176 major league games playing for the Philidelphia Athletics and the Cleveland Indians. The lefty won 41 games and lost 46 games.
The legendary Bob Feller said, "Lou Brissie would have been a Hall of Fame pitcher if it hadn't been for World War 11."

Gnats shut out Rome in final home game of 2009

The Savannah Sand Gnats played their final home game of the 2009 season 0n Sunday afternoon shutting out the Rome Braves, 2-0.
Starting Sand Gnat pitcher, Jeurys Familia, became the 1st Gnat pitcher to win 10 games. He struggled in the 1st inning giving up a hit and walking two and pitched behind in the count. Familia settled down and pitched 5 innings, gave up 6hits, no runs, 5 strike outs, and 3BB.
The Gnats scored their first run in the second inning when Eric Campbelled doubled and moved to third on Nick Giarraputo's single. Michael Moras hit a scracrifice fly to right field scoring Campbell.
In the third inning, Evan Leblanc led off with a single, and Wilmer Flores singled moving LeBlanc to third. Josh Satin flied to center, scoring LeBlanc from third.
Gnat reliever, Mike Lynn entered the game in the 6th inning and gave up 0 hits, no runs, 0BB and struck out three. Jimmy Johnson closed out the nineth inning retiring the three batters he faced.
For the game the Gnats had 7 hits. Both Evan LeBlanc and Nick Giarrputo went 2for3. Both Satin and Campbell doubled.

Gnats beat Braves,6-2 to even the series at 1-1.

The Savannah Sand Gnats won the second game of the series with the Rome Braves, 6-2 Saturday night.
The Braves started their 1st round 2009 draft pick from Vanderbilt, Mike Minor, who looked good in his limited performance. The lefty went 4 innings, allowed 3 hits, no walks, 4 strike outs and gave up 1 earned run. He lost his first game.
Gnat starter, Kyle Allen, had another quality outing. He had a seasons-high 9 strike outs. Allen pitched 6.2 innings, alowed 3 hits, 1BB and gave up 1 run. He won the game improving his record to 9-6.
In the first inning, the Gnats scored one run. Josh Satin doubled and went to third on Ratliff's ground out. Eric Campbell doubled scoring Satin.
The Gnats scored 5 runs in the 5th inning. Raul Reyes singled. Luis Alen walked and Jose Jimenez was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Josh Satin walked and a run scored. Sean Ratliff walked and a run scored. Eric Campbell doubled and three runs scored.
Reliever, Brad Burns entered the game in the 7th inning and pitched 2.1 innings. He gave up 1 run on 4 hits, struck out 6, and did not walk anyone.
Eric Campbell drove in 4 runs with his two doubles. He also made two outstanding fielding plays at third base.

Rome wins opener over Gnats,5-2

The Savannah Sand Gnats opened a three game series with the Rome Braves Friday night.The Gnat relievers were not able to stop the Braves, who won 5-2. The Gnats had 10 hits and left 12 men on base.
Starting Gnat pitcher, Eric Beaulic, entered the game leading the Gnat pitchers with the most strikeouts (113) and completed 6 innings and added 11 more strikeouts to his total. He gave up 8 hits,1BB, and 2 runs(earned). Beaulic was effective when he threw his curve ball around the knees. The 11 strikeouts was a career-high for Beaulac.
The Gnats scored their two runs in the 3rd inning. Evan LeBlanc was hit by a pitch leading off the inning. After two fly outs to left, Sean Ratliff singled moving LeBlanc to third. Eric Campbell walked to load the bases. Raul Reyes singled to score LeBlanc and Ratliff.
Wilmer Flores went 2for 4. Nick Giarraputo continued his hot hitting going 2for4 and raising his average to.415-he has had at least one hit in every game he has played(10). Michael Moras caught his 3rd game and was 2for3 raising his average to.545.
With the score tied at 2 all, Phillips Orta took the mound in the 7th inning to replace Beaulac.
Orta pitched 1.1 innings, walked 3, allowed 2 runs and took the loss(1-3). John Church followed Orta giving up 1 run on two hits, two wild pitches, in 1.2 innings.
The picture of Eric Beaulac was taken at a recent golf tournament.

Gnats beat GreenJackets,5-1 to win 2 out of 3 for the series.

The final game of the three game series between the Augusta GreenJackets and the Savannah Sand Gnats was played Thursday evening at Grayson Stadium. The Sand Gnats beat the GreenJackets,5-1 to win two out of three games for the series.
Armando Rodriquez first start of the season as a Gnat was very impressive. He gave up his only hit of his 5.2 outing in the fourth inning after two outs. Rodriquez gave up 1 run(ER), 4BB and had 9 strikeouts. In the 6th he would leave the game after walking the bases loaded. Reliever Rhiner Cruz walked the first batter he faced to give the GreenJackets their only run of the game. Cruz went 2.1 innings, gave up 1 hit, 0 runs, 1BB and one strikeout. Jimmy Johnson pitched the nineth and gave up 1 hit and and struck out the last two batters he faced.
The Gnats had 11 hits for the game. Raul Reyes had a triple and a single, Michael Moras had two singles, Nick Giarraputo singled and doubled. Sean Ratliff and Eric Campbell each doubled.
Legendary "Frank the Beer Man" attended the game with his wife,Cathy. Frank worked at Grayson for 14 years. It was his birthday and the 2,974 fans sang Happy Birthday to Frank.

Gnats edge GreenJackets, 4-3 in 11 innings

The Savannah Sand Gnats had to rally in the second game of the series with the Augusta GreenJackets to win 4-3 in 11 inning.
Starting pitcher for Augusta, Andrew Reichard, pitched 7 innings and gave up 4hits, no runs and struck out seven. Gnats starter, Robert Carson, pitched 5 innings, gave up 1 run(earned), 4 hits, and struck out four. Carson had to pitch out of several jams.
The Gnats threatened in the first when Jefry Marte singled and advanced to second on a ground out. Sean Ratliff singled and Marte raced from second and was taged out on a close play sliding into home. Marte did not return to the field and was replaced at 3rd by Eric Campbell.
In the 9th inning, Sand Gnats sent 9 batters to the plate. One base on balls and 5 singles produced 3 runs to tie the game and extend to extra innings.
Wilmer Flores won the game for the Gnats in the 11 inning when he singled and Josh Satin scored from second to win the game.
Sean Ratliff went 4for 5 -he hit four singles, stole a base and scored a run. Nick Giarraputo continued his hot hitting-he singled in the fifth inning. Catcher Mike Moras played his first game as a Gnat and had two singles. The GreenJackets tested Moras throwing arm by stealing 5 bases-he threw out one runner.
Gnats relievers, Mike Lynn pitched 4 innings gave up 2 runs on 2 hits and John Church pitched two scoreless innings and did not give up a hit. Church got the win(1-2)
Leaving the game , I saw New York Mets General Manager, Omar Minaya, walking down the steps talking to fans and heading for the Savannah Sand Gnats locker room.

GreenJackets open series with win over Gnats, 4-3in 10 innings

The Savannah Sand Gnats returned home to Grayson Stadium Tuesday evening to complete their final home stand for the 2009 season. The first game of a three game series was won by the Augusta GreenJackets, 4-3 in ten innings.
The Gnats scored all of their runs in the first inning. Jefry Marte singled and moved to second when Eric Campbell reached first on an error. Wilmer Flores singled to load the bases. First baseman Nick Giarraputo, who entered the contest with a .435 batting average, hit a single driving in Marte from third. Jean Luc Blaquiere hit a single, driving in runners from second and third.
The Gnats had six hits for the game-four hits came in the first inning. Giarraputo had another single starting off the 10 inning but was left stranded. Sand Gnats left 11 men on base.
Starting pitcher Jeurus Familia pitched five innings: giving up 7 hits, 3 runs(2 earned), 6 strikeouts, and hit two batters. Phillips Orta and Jimmy Johnson pitched in relief (3.2 innings)and combined efforts giving up 1 hit and no runs. Rhiner Cruz took the loss for the Gnats- he gave up one run in the 10 inning.
Augusta comitted five errors for the game.
The picture of Jean Luc Blaquiere was taken at a recent golf tournament. Jean Luc left the game in the bottom of the third when Luis Alen ,catcher, batted for starting catcher.

Carlos Guzman as a Sand Gnat

Enjoyed reading about Carlos Guzman in one of the articles. Guzman joined the Savannah Sand Gnats 0n May 14, 2008 and hit a home run in his first at-bat as a Sand Gnat. During the 2008 season, he appeared in 84 games, batted .269, 8 home runs, 33 RBI's, and SLG.405. Carlos was very friendly with the fans-his outgoing personality made him one of the fan favorites. Hope he continues to improve and that next year he gets promoted from Lucy to Binghamton(AA).

Sand Gnats win over Shorebirds in finale game, 3-1

The 2,141 fans at Grayson Stadium Monday night saw good pitching, good fielding , and timely hitting as the Savannah Sand Gnats beat the Delmarva Shorebirds 3-1.
Third baseman Jefry Marte drove in two of the Sand Gnats three runs-his double in the eight inning drove in the go-ahead run for the Gnats. Catcher Jean Luc Blaquiere hit two doubles. Eric Campbell , back in action after several games absence, hit a double.
Starting Gnat pitcher, Kyle Allen, had a good outing pitching 5.2 innings: he gave up 3hits, no runs, 3BB and struck out 7. Phillips Orta pitched 2 innings in relief and gave up a run. Closer Rhiner Cruz pitched 1.1 innings , giving up 3hits, no runs and won the game(3-2).
Gnat left fielder, Evan LeBlanc, in the 9th inning, made two diving catches for the 2nd and 3rd outs to help the Sand Gnats even up the four game series with the Shorebirds, 2-2.

Shorebirds edge Gnats in 2nd game of the double header,4-3

The Delmarva Shorebirds edged the Sand Gnats in the second game of the double header,4-3. Starting Sand Gnat pitcher, Eric Beaulac, had a shaky second inning in which he gave up 3 singles, one walk, and one wild pitch-he did strike out the side. Beaulac completed 5 innings, giving up 7 hits, 3 earned runs, 3BB and 6 strikeouts. Brad Burns pitched two innings in relief and took the loss(0-1)
The Sand Gnats scored their first run in the 3rd inning when catcher Luis Alen singled and later scored from 3rd base when Wilmer Flores hit a sacrifice fly.
Josh Satin led off the 4th inning with a double and scored when Raul Reyes followed with a triple. Evan LeBlanc grounded out to score Reyes.
In the 6th inning, the Gnats had runners on third and second with no outs, but could not score.
The announced attendance for the doubleheader was 2,473.

Shorebirds beat Gnats in the 1st game of double header, 4-2

The first game of the double header between the Delmarva Shorebirds and the Savannah Sand Gnats was won by Delmarva 4-2.
Starting pitcher for Delmarva, Ryan O'Shea won his 8th game of the season. He pitched 6 innings, giving up 4 hits, 2 earned runs, 1BB, and 5 strikeouts.
Chris Schwinden started for the Gnats and took the loss- his record is now(8-6). He pitched 6.1 innings and did not give up a hit until the 5th inning. Schwinden allowed 5hits, 2BB, 4 earned runs and 5 strikeouts.
In the 5th inning, Wilmer Flores hit a single, followed by Sean Ratliff"s 15 home run of the year, a shot over the right-center field wall. The other three hits for the Gnats were singles by, Reyes, LeBlanc, and Jimenez.
Home plate umpire, Jeff Klinghoffer, was hit in the face mask on a foul tip and had to leave the game. Starting the 5th inning, both teams had to furnish base umpires for the remainder of the doubleheader.
Ex- Met pitcher, Al Jackson, attended the doubleheader.

Gnats rally in the 9th to edge Shorebirds, 5-4

The Delmarva Shorebirds were in Savannah last night for the first time this year for a four game series with the Sand Gnats. The Shorebirds, an affiliate with the Baltimore Orioles, are based in Salisbury, Maryland.
Starting pitcher for the Sand Gnats, Robert Carson, was looking for his 9th victory of the year. The radar gun clocked his fast ball in the 89-92 range. He had several 3-2 counts and he was able to pitch out of several jams. Carson pitched 5 innings, gave up 1 run(earned), 5 hits, 2BB and 5 strikeouts.
The Sand Gnats scored a run in the first when Josh Satin doubled scoring Jefry Marte from second who singled to start out the inning.
In the 5th inning, Wilmer Flores hit a line drive down the third base line which bounced off the wall which looked like a double scoring Jimenez from second. Home plate umpire ruled the ball fair-the umpires got together and the call was reversed and called it a foul ball. Manager Edgar Alfonzo argued vehemently and was ejected from the game. A fan in the stands stated"Manager Alfonzo showed the most energy on the field tonight". When Flores returned to bat, he hit a pop fly to the first baseman to end the inning-in frustration Flores threw his batting helmet to the ground and he was ejected by the home plate umpire.
In the bottom of the 9th, with runners on second and third, two outs, and the score tied at 4, catcher Jean Luc Blaquiere hit a line drive over the center fielders head scoring Satin from third with the winning run. The catcher had two singles for the game and Jose Jimenez DH hit two singles.
Rhiner Cruz, who pitched in the 9th inning for the Gnats, won the game, his second win of the season

Gnats beat Colon/Kannapolis, 2-0

Chicago White Sox pitcher, Bartolo Colon, was at Grayson stadium on a rehab assignment pitching for Kannapolis. He was very effective when he made a lot of pitches at the knees. In seven innings he struck our 8 Gnats- 5 were the backward K variety(called third strikes). The radar gun had his fastball around 87-88. I noticied one 91 reading.
In the 6th inning, Colon elevated his pitches to waist high and the Gnats hit line drives scoring two runs in the inning which turned out to be all the runs they would need to win the game.
Josh Satin, batting in the fourth inning, hit a ball off his leg and left the game in the seventh inning.

Kannapolis beats Gnats in opening game.

It was a strange game last night at Grayson stadium with the Intimidators beating the Gnats 3-2. On one play the third baseman for the Gnats, Marte, charged a bunt and threw wild to first. Fans in the stands thought Marte should have let the ball roll to see if it would roll foul. Earlier in the game, Flores laid down a good bunt down the third base line and the ball rolled foul short of the bag at third. In the fifth inning, Kannapolis had runners on second and third with two outs when a ground ball was hit to Marte who elected to try to tag the runner between second and third. During the 5-6-1 rundown and before the tag was made, the runner on third scored which was the winning run. Mack, i think you were right months ago when you said you believed Marte should have started the season in a league other than the SAL. The good news is that Marte will soon have one year of pro ball experience behind him. Hopefully, when he returns to Savannah for the 2010 season, he will have a positive experience like Flores is having now.