From the Desk of the GM - August 31, 2009

"Playoff Edition"

Regardless of the outcome of tonight's fan appreciation game (7 pm at Canwest), the Goldeyes will finish the 2009 regular season in second place. With Fargo finishing third, the Goldeyes will face their arch rivals from North Dakota in the first round which is a best of five series.



Here are some historical facts and stats about the Goldeyes and RedHawks:

- The RedHawks and Goldeyes have not faced each other in the playoffs since 2006. In that series, the Goldeyes took the first two games in Fargo before coming home to Winnipeg. The RedHawks took games 3 and 4 in Winnipeg and then won a very exciting game 5 that was played back at Newman Outdoor Field.
- The Fish have not defeated the Hawks in a playoff series since 2001.
- In 2009, the teams each won 9 games. The Goldeyes were 5-4 in Fargo and the RedHawks were 5-4 in Winnipeg.
- Fargo is currently first in team batting average with a .292 mark and is fourth in team ERA at 4.79.
- Winnipeg is third in team batting average, sitting at .276 and is first in team ERA with 4.24.
- Winnipeg has hit a total of 119 homers compared with Fargo's 113.
- This is the 9th playoff meeting with the RedHawks having the lead at 5-3
- All-time playoff record for Winnipeg vs. Fargo is 14-18; at Winnipeg Stadium 2-3, at Canwest Park 4-6 and at Newman Outdoor Field 8-9.

Here is the schedule:

Wednesday, September 2 - at Newman Outdoor Field - 6 pm
Thursday, September 3 - at Newman Outdoor Field - 6 pm
Friday, September 4 - at Canwest Park - 7 pm
Saturday, September 5 - at Canwest Park - 6 pm (if necessary)
Sunday, September 6 - at Canwest Park - - 7 pm(if necessary)

All games can be heard live on 1290 CFRW AM or at www.cfrw.ca with the voice of the Goldeyes Paul Edmonds calling the play by play.

Tickets for all playoff games can be purchased at the Canwest Park box office, by calling 780-3333 or by visiting www.ticketmaster.ca or by clicking the links above for each game.

In the other first round matchup, Kansas City (#4 seed) will be looking to defend their Northern League title when they face Gary (#1 seed). That series will start in KC on Wednesday and Thursday before moving back to the Steel Yard for games 3, 4 and 5 (if necessary).

Playoff baseball is always exciting, but anytime the Goldeyes and RedHawks get together, the excitement and intensity moves to a whole new level. The players would love to see a full house on Friday night when Fargo comes to town. Hope to see everyone there!

For up to the minute information about the Goldeyes, check us out on Twitter.

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Until next time…

From the Desk of the GM - August 21, 2009

“Upcoming homestand – August 24-26 & 28-31, 2009”

Only 7 regular season home games left. Here’s what’s going on at Canwest Park next week:

Monday, August 24 vs. Joliet JackHammers – 7 p.m. – Put on those cowboy boots, old blue jeans and Stetson hat and come on down to the ballpark for Country Night sponsored by QX104. Hear some great country tunes by Holly Vee and the Coyotes on the Winnipeg Free Press entertainment stage on the promenade before the game and then listen during the game as Paul Duque dusts off the old slide guitar. Okay, so maybe he’ll be playing pre-recorded music from a computer, but since you can’t see him, how would you know?

Tuesday, August 25 vs. JackHammers – 7 p.m. Magnum Oil and the good folks at Quaker State are the sponsors of this game. The first 5,000 through the gates will each receive a car air freshener courtesy of Magnum Oil.


Wednesday, August 26 vs. JackHammers – 7 p.m. – Field of Dreams Night. We will be recognizing many of the charities who received funding from the Winnipeg Goldeyes Field of Dreams Foundation during the pre-game. This would be a perfect night to hand in your K’s for Kids form to the Subway Fan Services Booth. Don’t have a form yet? No problem! Download one right here. We will also be handing out $1,000 scholarships to three Baseball Manitoba members.


Friday, August 28 vs. Schaumburg Flyers – 7 p.m. – Flashback Friday #8 – Ryan Robertson
will be here wearing his familiar #24 jersey, throwing out the opening pitch, signing autographs and saying hello to some old and new friends. Don’t forget, that jersey that he will be wearing for the opening pitch will be autographed by Ryan and auctioned off during the game. Goldeyes will be wearing the retro jerseys and hats again for the last time during the 2009 season, unless of course they make an appearance during the playoffs.

Saturday, August 29 vs. Flyers – 6 p.m. - Way back in October, the voice of the Goldeyes, Paul Edmonds was selected as the Broadcaster of the Year by the publishers of Ballparkdigest.com. The editor of the website, Kevin Reichard will be on hand in the pre-game to make a presentation to Paul in recognition of this very well deserved award.

Please note - this presentation will now take place prior to the game on Friday, August 28.

Sunday, August 30 vs. Flyers – 1:30 p.m. – The fun gets underway at 9 a.m. on this second to last day of the regular season. The Goldeyes Fun Run starts and ends at Canwest Park at 9. The route will take runners and walkers through a fantastic downtown route. Following the run/walk there will be great food, prizes and of course, a great ballgame. Download a form here or check out the Running Room website to register.

Pickup a second half team photo on your way into the ballpark then head down to the field to get it signed by all your favourite Goldeyes players and coaches. On-field autograph session takes place from 12:30 to 1 p.m. on Sunday.

Monday, August 31 vs. Flyers – 7 p.m. – It’s the last regular season home game of 2009 so that means Fan Appreciation Day! We will be handing out 5,000 sets of player cards and nine lucky fans will win a complete autographed team set, all compliments of the good people at Rogers. After the game, Archangel Fireworks will be putting on what will no doubt be the best show of the season.

The 2009 playoffs are right around the corner. Please keep checking www.goldeyes.com for details about when the Goldeyes will be at home. Tickets are on sale now by calling 780-3333, on-line at www.ticketmaster.ca or by visiting the Canwest Park box office.

Here are the dates of the playoff games which will depend where the Goldeyes finish in the standings (both post-season series are best of five):

1. If the Goldeyes finish 1st or 2nd:
• Game 1 – at seed 3 or 4 – Wednesday, September 2
• Game 2 – at seed 3 or 4 – Thursday, September 3
• Game 3 – at Canwest Park – Friday, September 4 – 7:00 p.m.
• Game 4 – at Canwest Park – Saturday, September 5 – 6:00 p.m. (if necessary)
• Game 5 – at Canwest Park – Sunday, September 6 – 1:30 p.m. (if necessary)

2. If the Goldeyes finish 3rd:
• Game 1 – at Canwest Park – Wednesday, September 2 – 7:00 p.m.
• Game 2 – at Canwest Park – Thursday, September 3 – time TBA
• Game 3 – at seed 2 – Friday, September 4
• Game 4 – at seed 2 – Saturday, September 5 (if necessary)
• Game 5 – at seed 2 – Sunday, September 6 (if necessary)

Until next time…

From the Desk of the GM - August 13, 2009

"Upcoming homestand - August 17-19, 2009"

Only 10 regular season home games left. Here’s what’s going on at Canwest Park next week:

Monday, August 17 vs. Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks – 7 p.m. – We celebrate the 40th anniversary of Woodstock at the park this night. Woodstock was a music festival that took place on a farm in rural New York state between August 15 and 18, 1969. Who better to sponsor a tribute to Woodstock than the station that brings us all the classic rock hits than 92 CITI FM? If you weren’t around during this time, or were too young to remember it, or were around but don’t remember it for other reasons, read all about it here. Come dressed in your favourite 60’s-era attire and enjoy some classic tunes and a great ball game.

Tuesday, August 18 vs. RedHawks – 6 p.m. – Due to those back to back rainouts we had in June, tonight’s event is a double header starting at 6 p.m. Fireworks after the game provided by our good friends at Archangel Fireworks. Game sponsor for the double header is Canadian Footwear. The good folks at Canadian Footwear are asking fans attending that game to bring along a pair of new or gently used shoes and new socks which will be given to those less fortunate.

Wednesday, August 19 vs. RedHawks – Noon – Our third and final weekday nooner of the season. This is a great day to take an extended lunch break and watch some baseball. Game sponsor for this afternoon game is WalMart.

A few final notes... a very happy 15th wedding anniversary to my brother Doug and his wife Ronda. All the best to you both and best wishes on many more years together.

Congrats to Lorraine Maciboric and the organizers of the Princess Auto and Tallman Foundation golf tournament on August 12. It was a great day and all for a very good cause. Great job!

For up to the minute information about the Goldeyes, check us out on Twitter.

GoldeyesGM on Twitter
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Until next time…

From the Desk of the GM - August 5, 2009

"Favourite Goldeyes Memory - Part II"

From Mickey Steen

“The number 1 memory would be that June 1994 evening when under the guidance of Sam Katz, Professional Baseball returned to Winnipeg after way too many years away. Having to call the football stadium a ballpark was a little far fetched but the best at the time.
Number 2 – June of 1999 and walking into an actual ballpark, Canwest Global, seeing construction workers still busy but looking out onto a baseball diamond, what a fantastic feeling.
Number 3 – Goldeyes beating Fargo anytime, but do recall 1997 1st round of the playoffs, Goldeyess losing the first 2 at home and then going into Fargo and winning 3 straight, how sweet it was.
Number 4 – The Goldeyes team of 2001 was probably one of the best Winnipeg fans had the opportunity to watch, Cappuccio, Ortiz, Robertson, Sachs, Myrow, Raffy, "Tiny" Thomas, to name a few.
Number 5 – The Winnipeg Goldeyes Organization, right from the beginning in 1994 to todays 2009 group, an outstanding job and each and every one of you should be proud of a job "done well".

Could keep going but better cut it off here. Well done.

p.s. Also a great memory was former Goldeyes player, Nolan Lane, playing with Gary, coming in to Canwest in 2002, hit a home run, took himself out of the line-up and retired as a player."

From Rocky McLellan

“One of my favorite Goldeyes memories occurred on Friday, June 24, 2005, it was the 33rd game of the season and the Goldeyes were playing the St. Paul Saints, who had decided to have their championship ring ceremony that night, and the Goldeyes came away with a 4-3 victory. I was elated with that particular victory since championship ring ceremonies are usually held during the home opener of the following season.”

Feel free to keep sending me your Goldeyes memories, I will be posting them as the season continues.

For up to the minute information about the Goldeyes, check us out on Twitter.

GoldeyesGM on Twitter
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Until next time…