From the Desk of the GM - July 16, 2009

“Upcoming homestand – July 21-26, 2009”

We've packed a ton of great stuff into these next six games:


Tuesday, July 21 vs. Kansas City T-Bones – 7 p.m. – Donnie Smith Night – This is a game a lot of fans and Goldeyes staff members have been looking forward to since we announced the jersey retirement on January 21. For the past six months, we have been hard at work planning this night and the pre-game ceremony that will honour the local lad for his accomplishments and dedication to the Goldeyes organization on and off the field since 1998. The ceremony should be a fun event and no doubt emotional for Donnie, his wife Tara, their two boys Tyler and Colson, their parents and friends who will be in attendance.

The first 2,500 fans at the park will receive a fantastic canvas print of Donnie Smith, sponsored by Pepsi and the Winnipeg Free Press.

Wednesday, July 22 vs. T-Bones – 7 p.m. – Shirt off our Backs Night – Come on down to the park this night and have a chance to go on field and take a jersey right off a players back. We will be giving these game worn items away using such methods as lucky program and fishlines prizes, seat location draws and some other top secret methods. Cambrian Credit Union has been the sponsor of this fantastic theme game since 1997. It is with their help, we have been able to give away more than 140 Goldeyes players and coaches jerseys over the past 12 years.

Thursday, July 23 vs. T-Bones – 6 p.m. – Turn Back the Clock Night – We turn back the clocks to the 50's and 60's next Thursday. Starting things off will be Free Ride performing as the Beatles on the Winnipeg Free Press entertainment stage on the promenadedue prior to the game. After the game, Free Ride will be back to perform as the Rolling Stones. Due to weather we’ve had this spring and early summer that hasn't been conducive to growing corn, the players won’t be running through a corn field in left field, but they will be driven on field in vintage T-Birds. Goldeyes players will be wearing their 50's uniforms and watch out for the Goldeyes staff who will be doing their best (or worst) "Grease" impressions.


Friday, July 24 vs. Gary SouthShore RailCats – 7 p.m. – Flashback Friday with Rafael Gross. Raffy was not only one of the best pitchers ever to wear a Goldeyes uniform, but was also one of the finest pitchers in Northern League history. A few highlights of Raffy’s career:

• Baseball America All-Independent team in 2001 and 2003
• Three-time Northern League All-Star
• Goldeyes franchise leader in victories with 36
• Northern League Pitcher of the Year in 2003
• Selected to the All-Goldeyes team in 2003

Fireworks after the game! This is the rescheduled fireworks show that was originally scheduled for July 10, however, due to the 15 inning affair that night, noise by-laws prevented us from shooting them off that night. Archangel Fireworks continues to provide shows full of shock and awe.

Saturday, July 25 vs. Gary – 6 p.m. – Christmas in July – with the weather we’ve had for most of the spring and summer, it’s almost felt like Christmas since December, so instead of dwelling on the below normal temperatures, we’re going to celebrate it on July 25! The ballpark will be decorated like it’s December 25th and throughout the game, we will be giving away nine $50 gift certificates for Granny’s so you will have a head start when the real thing rolls around in five months. Watch for the Manitoba Hydro float on the promenade and a display table on the concourse where you can get information about next November’s Manitoba Hydro Power Smart Parade.

Sunday, July 26 vs. Gary – 7 p.m. – Dave the Horn Guy – the fourth and final entertainment act of the summer. Dave has a lot to live up to after Mad Chad, Quick Change and Brian Glow were all spectacular in entertaining the fans.

How do I get tickets to these action packed games you might ask? Simply call 780-3333, visit the Goldeyes box office or click on the following links for each specific game:

Tuesday, July 21 at 7 pm
Wednesday, July 22 at 7 pm
Thursday, July 23 at 6 pm
Friday, July 24 at 7 pm
Saturday, July 25 at 6 pm
Sunday, July 26 at 1:30 pm

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

GoldeyesGM on Twitter
Winnipeg Goldeyes on Twitter

Until next time…

From the Desk of the GM - July 10, 2009

"Upcoming series information, etc."

With the first half in the books, we look forward to the second half of the schedule and hopefully the team can duplicate or better their first half successes.

At the 2009 Northern League All-Star Game in Joliet this past Tuesday, the Goldeyes represented Winnipeg and the Great Plains team very well. Read all about who did what here.
Here are a few photos from the all-star break featuring Chris Browne (GM of KC), Wally Backman (manager of Joliet) and Josh Buchholz (GM of Fargo) golfing, Josh and the JackHammer statue and Juan Diaz taking a mighty swing during the home run derby:


The lineup of promotions for this weekend's series against the RailCats:

Friday, July 10 vs. Gary SouthShore RailCats at 7 pm - Flashback Friday with Dan Guehne and fireworks after the game!

Saturday, July 11 vs. RailCats at 6 pm - Ballgame and a movie. Stick around after the game, stay in your seats or grab a patch of grass in the outfield and watch Kung Fu Panda on the video board. Where else in Winnipeg can you watch Fish and Cats battle it out on the field and then see a giant panda, snake, tiger, praying mantis and a crane battle it out with a crazy snow leopard, kung fu style, on a large video board? I'm guessing nowhere else but Canwest Park.

Sunday, July 12 vs. RailCats at 1:30 pm - Master of Illusion Brian Glow is in the house and will be entertaining from start to finish. I don't want to spoil the surprises he has in store, but I can guarantee that you will leave the ballpark saying "how did he do that?".


On a completely unrelated note...a huge thank you to my wife for putting up with my eclectic taste in music and accompanying me to the Green Day concert last night. It was a fantastic show with the band playing a great selection of new and old songs, ending the two and a half hour show with my personal favorite "Good Riddance (Time of Your Life)". Thanks Carleigh!

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

GoldeyesGM on Twitter
Winnipeg Goldeyes on Twitter

Until next time…

From the Desk of the GM - July 3, 2009

“A review of the first half at Canwest Park”

Flashback Fridays – the first four Flashback Friday guests have been fantastic. Not only did the guests themselves and the fans have a great time, in the case of Brian Duva and Carmine Cappuccio, their families did as well. Brian and Carmine brought their wives and two children to see the city they called home while they played for the Goldeyes.

Troy Fortin, Chris Kokinda, Duva and Cappuccio were the first four of eight flashback Friday guests this year, with another four coming in the second half of the home schedule. The lineup in July and August is as follows:

Friday, July 10 – Dan Guehne
Friday, July 24 – Rafael Gross
Friday, August 7 – Chad Thornhill (was originally scheduled to be Jeff Zimmerman, but he is pitching in Seattle’s organization and will be unavailable that date)
Friday, August 28 – Ryan Robertson

Entertainment acts – Mad Chad and Quick Change. To spice up the entertainment aspect of Goldeyes games, we booked four different entertainment acts this summer. The first two, Mad Chad and Quick Change, were very entertaining. People are still asking themselves two questions: 1. How does someone decide they would like to juggle three chainsaws?, and 2. How did they change their clothes so fast without us seeing how they did it?

Home record – The Goldeyes ended the first half with a home record of 15 wins and 7 losses. Being someone who enjoys stats and breaking down the numbers, I’ve broken down our record at home:

Monday – 1-2
Tuesday – 4-0
Wednesday – 2-1
Thursday – 1-0
Friday – 1-2
Saturday – 2-1
Sunday – 4-1

Double headers – 3-1

Weather – The home schedule started out cold, then warmed up a little, then it rained…a lot, then it finally got nice out for our final four games of the first half. We had three rainouts in June, including back to back rainouts on June 26 and 27. It was the first time we had back to back rainouts since May 29 and 30 in 2004.

Attendance – our attendance started slow, which can largely be attributed to the near freezing temperatures and large amount of rain the city endured most of May and early June, but did pick up near the end of June. We ended the first half with an average attendance of 6,001 (120,023 in 20 openings). Even with the slow start, the Goldeyes lead all of independent baseball in average attendance. The next two closest teams are the Long Island Ducks of the Atlantic League (5,647) and the St. Paul Saints of the American Association (5,167). Goldeyes fans have proven throughout the years that they are the best in baseball. They come out when the temperature is near zero, when the winds are blowing through Canwest at 70 km/hr and they come out even when the heavens have opened up, dropping five inches of rain on the field, with the hope that we will still play the game.

Canada Day – Everything except the final outcome of the game on Canada Day was spectacular. The team looked great in their replica 1999 Team Canada jerseys and hats, the weather was beautiful and the place was packed near capacity with flag-waving, face painted fans. As with just about everything we do, we can always do it better. On this day, it was the fact that we neglected to put up our red and white bunting in honour of Canada Day. It was something we hadn’t thought of because we just purchased the new bunting prior to the 2008 season and we didn’t have a game on Canada Day last year. Prior to 2008, we had the traditional red, white and blue bunting, which was obviously not appropriate to put up on Canada Day. It is something that has been noted and will be fixed for next July 1 game we have.

A brief preview of upcoming promotions in the second half home schedule:

July 10 - Flashback Friday - Dan Guehne & Fireworks after the game
July 11 - Ball game and a movie - stick around after the game and watch a movie on the video board from the field
July 12 - The magic of Brian Glow
July 21 - Donnie Smith jersey retirement night
July 22 - Shirt off our Backs night
July 23 - Special 6 pm start and Turn Back the Clock Night
July 24 - Flashback Friday - Rafael Gross
July 25 - Christmas in July
July 26 - Dave the Horn Guy
August 4 - Luau at the ballpark & Fireworks after the game
August 5 - Bookmark Giveaway Night
August 6 - Pajama Party!
August 7 - Flashback Friday - Chad Thornhill
August 8 - Pre-game BBQ for season ticket holders
August 9 - Tin Lunch Box Giveaway
August 17 - 40th anniversary of Woodstock celebration
August 18 - Double header starting at 6 pm & Fireworks after the game
August 19 - Special mid-week noon game
August 24 - Country Night!
August 28 - Flashback Friday - Ryan Robertson
August 30 - Second half team photo giveaway and on-field autograph session
August 31 - Fan Appreciation Day, Player Card Set giveaway & Fireworks!

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

GoldeyesGM on Twitter
Winnipeg Goldeyes on Twitter

Until next time…