Examine individual changes

'@@ -26,33 +26,29 @@ The "Ducks" name refers to [[Long Island]]'s duck-farming heritage, which is further represented by the [[Big Duck]] [[ferrocement]]. The Big Duck is in [[Suffolk County, New York|Suffolk County]], in which Central Islip is also located.<ref name=reading1>[http://www.cr.nps.gov/nr/twhp/wwwlps/lessons/6roadside/6facts1.htm Determining the Facts Reading 1: Representational Architecture], Roadside Attractions, National Park Service.</ref> -The Ducks currently own the independent league baseball single-season attendance record of 443,142 fans. They reached this total in the summer of 2001, surpassing the previous record of 436,361 fans which the team had also set in 2000. The Ducks reached the 3 million mark in attendance in September 2006. +The Ducks set the independent league baseball single-season attendance record at the time by welcoming 443,142 fans during the 2001 season. This surpassed the previous record of 436,361 fans which the team had also set in 2000. The Ducks reached the 5 million fan mark in attendance in July of 2011 and will welcome their Atlantic League record 6 millionth fan in 2014. [[Bud Harrelson]], a 1971 [[Rawlings Gold Glove Award]] winner, is a part-owner of the Ducks. He was the first manager of the team following a stint as the [[New York Mets]] manager. ==History== -Residents of [[Long Island]] anticipated the arrival of professional baseball for many years, until the Ducks' inaugural 2000 season. The [[New York Mets]] and the [[New York Yankees]] own the territorial rights to keep an affiliated team, [[Major League Baseball|Major]] or [[Minor League Baseball|Minor]] League, from moving within 75 miles of their respective ballparks. The last attempt by any team to move to Long Island was made by the [[Albany-Colonie Yankees]]. The Albany-Colonie team hoped to reestablish themselves in [[Suffolk County, New York|Suffolk County]], home to the Ducks, but the Mets prevented the move. The Yankees later moved to [[Norwich, Connecticut]], becoming the [[Norwich Navigators]] and, later, the [[Connecticut Defenders]] (now the [[Richmond Flying Squirrels]]).<ref>{{cite web | title=History of Long Island baseball | work=digitalballparks.com | url=http://www.digitalballparks.com/Atlantic/Citibank3.html | accessdate=July 1, 2006}}</ref> Baseball fans on Long Island enthusiastically support the Ducks and have led the Atlantic League's attendance since its beginning.{{Citation needed|date=July 2011}} In 2007, team owner Frank Boulton expressed his contentment with the Ducks to Baseball America saying, "The Long Island Ducks are the best thing I've ever done in baseball."<ref>[http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/minors/features/265158.html Baseball America's 2007 Independent organization of the year]</ref> Despite their success at the gate, the Ducks did not field a championship team until the 2004 season, when they defeated the [[Camden Riversharks]] in a three-game sweep to capture the Atlantic League Championship Series. +Residents of [[Long Island]] anticipated the arrival of professional baseball for many years, until the Ducks' inaugural 2000 season. The [[New York Mets]] and the [[New York Yankees]] own the territorial rights to keep an affiliated team, [[Major League Baseball|Major]] or [[Minor League Baseball|Minor]] League, from moving within a certain distance of their respective ballparks. -In 2005, a controversial former MLB player [[John Rocker]] signed with the Ducks in an attempt to revive his career. He asked New Yorkers to "bury the hatchet," claiming his willingness to play on Long Island proved he had matured since his controversial comments. Rocker was poorly received by the fans and ended up pitching with an 0-2 record and an [[Earned run average|ERA]] of 6.50. +Baseball fans on Long Island enthusiastically support the Ducks, and the team has led the Atlantic League in attendance in 12 of their 14 seasons. In 2007, team owner Frank Boulton expressed his contentment with the Ducks to Baseball America saying, "The Long Island Ducks are the best thing I've ever done in baseball."<ref>[http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/minors/features/265158.html Baseball America's 2007 Independent organization of the year]</ref> -On August 14, 2007, the Ducks appeared in national headlines in the United States after former Major League player [[José Offerman]] assaulted opposing players of the [[Bridgeport Bluefish]]. In his second at-bat with Bluefish pitcher, Matt Beech, Offerman was hit by a pitch. He retaliated by hitting Beech's hands with a bat, as well as striking catcher John Nathans in the head. Nathans was taken out of the stadium on a stretcher, and Offerman was arrested and taken into custody.<ref>{{cite web | title=Offerman Charges Mound, Hits Two with Bat | work=FoxSports at MSN | url=http://msn.foxsports.com/other/story/7124110?MSNHPHMA | accessdate=August 15, 2007}}</ref> +Along with their success at the gate, the Ducks celebrated their first Atlantic League championship in 2004 when they defeated the [[Camden Riversharks]] in a three-game sweep to capture the Atlantic League Championship Series. Outfielder Justin Davies was named Championship Series Most Valuable Player. That summer, shortstop Kevin Baez was named the MVP of the Atlantic League All-Star Game, which was also held at Camden's Campbell's Field. -On Monday November 10, the Ducks announced that [[Gary Carter]] would be the new manager for the 2009 season. +On Monday, November 10, 2009, the Ducks announced that former Major Leaguer and Hall-of-Famer [[Gary Carter]] would be the new manager for the 2009 season. That year, he led the Ducks to a 74-66 record along with the Second Half Liberty Division championship. It would be the sixth consecutive season that the Ducks reached the postseason. After Carter's passing in 2012, the Ducks honored his memory by dedicating the season to their former skipper and wearing a commemorative #8 patch on their uniforms all season long. -Former MLB All-stars [[Dontrelle Willis]]<ref>{{cite web | title=Dontrelle Willis Joins Long Island | url=http://liducks.com/news/current/?article_id=354}}</ref> and [[Ramón Castro (catcher)|Ramon Castro]]<ref>{{cite web | title=Ramon Castro Inked by Ducks | url=http://liducks.com/news/current/?article_id=355}}</ref> signed with the Ducks in 2013. In 2014, the Ducks made headlines when they stated they were open to signing [[Alex Rodriguez]] after he had been suspended by MLB for over a year due to his PED controversy.<ref>http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/eye-on-baseball/24406048/inevitable-long-island-ducks-open-to-adding-a-rod-for-2014-season</ref> On April 1, 2014 they called a press conference reportedly to announce the signing of Rodriguez, but it was revealed to be an April Fools joke. A sign on the lecturn where signed players are typically introduced revealed the joke. - -===Go Green=== - -The Long Island Ducks have implemented an environmental conservation program called "Go Green." The program includes the placement of solar panels on the roof of Bethpage Ballpark to power the luxury suite level, the placing of "Ricky Recycle" receptacles throughout the ballpark for each home game so fans can recycle their bottles and cans, the enrollment in an electricity reduction program called Operation Save New York, and the participation in "Reuse a Shoe" program, in which sneakers are collected at Bethpage Ballpark to be recycled and used for materials to create new playing surfaces and sports equipment.<ref>[http://liducks.com/GoGreen Go Green]</ref> +Former MLB All-stars [[Dontrelle Willis]]<ref>{{cite web | title=Dontrelle Willis Joins Long Island | url=http://liducks.com/news/current/?article_id=354}}</ref> and [[Ramón Castro (catcher)|Ramon Castro]]<ref>{{cite web | title=Ramon Castro Inked by Ducks | url=http://liducks.com/news/current/?article_id=355}}</ref> signed with the Ducks in 2013. Among the other former Major Leaguers on Long Island's roster in 2013 were [[Ben Broussard]], [[Leo Rosales]], [[Josh Barfield]], [[Bill Hall]], [[Bryant Nelson]], [[Ian Snell]] and [[Lew Ford]]. ==Logos and uniforms== -The official colors of the Long Island Ducks are black, green, orange, and white. The primary logo features the "Ducks" wordmark in orange with black outline. The wordmark begins with a stylized, cartoon duck head in the form of a capital, cursive "D." The secondary logo is the webbed foot of a duck in orange with black outline. +The official colors of the Long Island Ducks are black, green, orange, and white. The primary logo features the "Ducks" wordmark in orange with black outline. The wordmark begins with a stylized, cartoon duck head in the form of a capital, cursive "D." -The Ducks wear caps produced by [[The Game Headwear]] and uniforms by [[Rawlings (company)|Rawlings]]. The home caps are black throughout with the cap logo centered on the front. The cap logo is the stylized, cartoon duck head. The away caps are green with the duck head cap logo. The batting helmets are green with the webbed-foot logo. +The Ducks wear caps produced by FlexFit and uniforms by [[Rawlings (company)|Rawlings]]. The home caps are black throughout with the duck head logo centered on the front. The away caps are black with an orange brim and the duck head logo. The batting helmets are black with the webbed-foot logo. -The home jersey is white with black pinstripes with the "Ducks" wordmark centered across the front. The numbering on the jersey is primarily in green with white outline and black drop shadow. The away jerseys are grey with the "Long Island" cursive wordmark centered across in green with white and orange outline. The numbering is in green with white outline and orange drop shadow. The alternate is a sleeveless, green jersey with the "Ducks" word mark centered across the chest. The numbers are in orange with white drop shadow. +The home jersey is white with black pinstripes with the "Ducks" wordmark centered across the front. The numbering on the jersey is primarily in green with white outline and black drop shadow. The away jerseys are grey with the "Long Island" cursive wordmark centered across in green with white and orange outline. The numbering is in green with white outline and orange drop shadow. The alternate is a orange jersey with the "Ducks" word mark centered across the chest. ==Season-by-season records== @@ -65,29 +61,37 @@ !align="center" colspan="1"|Finish !align="center" colspan="1"|Playoffs |- -|2004 || 65-61 || .516 || 3rd in North Division || 5-1 (won championship) +|2000 || 82-58 || .586 || 3rd in North Division || Did Not Make Playoffs +|- +|2001 || 62-64 || .492 || 1st in North Division || Did Not Make Playoffs +|- +|2002 || 65-61 || .516 || 2nd in North Division || Did Not Make Playoffs |- -|2005 || 66-74 || .471 || 1st in North Division ||1-2 (lost division final) +|2003 || 67-59 || .532 || 1st in North Division || Did Not Make Playoffs |- -|2006 || 73-53 || .579 || 2nd in North Division || 0-2 (lost division final) +|2004 || 65-61 || .516 || 3rd in North Division || 5-1 (Won Championship) |- -|2007 || 72-54 || .571 || 1st in North Division || 0-2 (lost division final) +|2005 || 67-73 || .479 || 1st in North Division || 1-2 (Lost Division Final) |- -|2008 || 71-69 || .507 || 1st in Liberty Division || 0-2 (lost division final) +|2006 || 73-53 || .579 || 2nd in North Division || 0-2 (Lost Division Final) |- -|2009 || 73-65 || .528 || 1st in Liberty Division || 2-3 (lost division final) +|2007 || 72-54 || .571 || 1st in North Division || 0-2 (Lost Division Final) +|- +|2008 || 71-69 || .507 || 1st in Liberty Division || 0-2 (Lost Division Final) +|- +|2009 || 74-66 || .529 || 1st in Liberty Division || 2-3 (Lost Division Final) |- |2010 || 70-68 || .507 || 3rd in Liberty Division || Did Not Make Playoffs |- -|2011 || 78-47 || .624 || 1st in Liberty Division || 4-4 (lost in championship round) +|2011 || 78-47 || .624 || 1st in Liberty Division || 4-4 (Lost Championship Series) |- -|2012 || 63-74 || .460 || 3rd in Liberty Division || 6-4 (won championship) +|2012 || 63-74 || .460 || 3rd in Liberty Division || 6-4 (Won Championship) |- -|2013 || 63-77 || .450 || 2nd in Liberty Division || 6-2 (won championship) +|2013 || 63-77 || .450 || 2nd in Liberty Division || 6-2 (Won Championship) |- -|Totals (2000–2013) ||1,040-954 ||.522 ||1st Place 5 times || 3 championships +|Totals (2000–2013) ||972-884 ||.524 ||9 Playoff Berths || 3 Championships |- -!Playoffs || 23-22 || .511 ||-||- +!Playoffs || 24-22 || .522 ||-||- |} <br style="clear:both;"> @@ -95,34 +99,30 @@ == Back to Back Championships== -The Long Island Ducks won back to back Atlantic League Championships in 2012 & 2013. They have accomplished this feat despite posting losing records in each of those seasons. In each year they have defeated opponents in the championship series that won at least 25 more games than the Ducks won. +The Long Island Ducks won back to back Atlantic League championships in 2012 & 2013. They became the third consecutive team in Atlantic League history to win back to back league titles after the [[Somerset Patriots]] accomplished the feat in 2008 and 2009 and the [[York Revolution]] did so in 2010 and 2011. It was Long Island's second and third league championships, respectively, giving them the second-most titles in Atlantic League history behind Somerset's five. -The Atlantic League uses a split season format to determine playoff berths. The league currently consists of two divisions with four teams each. The division winners in the first half play the division winners in the second half of the season in a five game playoff, then the playoff winners meet in a five game championship series. As customary in split season playoff formats, the winners of the first half division are guaranteed a playoff berth and have little incentive to win games in the second half. There is no additional benefit for a team to win a division in both halves of the season. If a team does win both halves, a wild card team is selected to compete in the playoffs against said team. The wild card team is the with the best overall record who has failed to win either half of its division. As a result it is rare for a team to win both halves of the season. Oftentimes a team who wins the first half plays to a far worse won loss record in the second half. This playoff format have proven vital to the Ducks winning their championships despite their losing records in both years. +The Atlantic League uses a split season format to determine playoff berths. The league currently consists of two divisions with four teams each. The division winners in the first half play the division winners in the second half of the season in a five-game divisional playoff. Then, the first round winners meet in a five-game championship series. As customary in split season playoff formats, the winners of the first half division are guaranteed a playoff berth. If a team does win both halves, a wild card team is selected to compete in the playoffs against said team. The wild card team is the one with the best overall record, regardless of division, who has failed to win either half of its division. -In 2012, the Ducks won the first half of their division with a 39-30 record. With their playoff berth secure in July, they played the second half of the season to a 24-44 record finishing in last place. Their overall record was 63-74. They defeated the second half winner Southern Maryland Blue Crabs in five games in the divisional playoff series then upset the Lancaster Barnstormers, who had won a league record 88 games (against 52 losses) that year and who won both halves of its division. The Ducks were able to play the deciding fifth game in their own ballpark because the league employs a rotating division system as to what team gets home field advantage in the championship round. As such the Ducks won their title with a walk-off bunt single by SS Dan Lyons in the bottom of the ninth scoring the runner from third. +In 2012, the Ducks won the First Half Liberty Division title with a 39-30 record. It marked the second consecutive season in which the Ducks won the first half title and was their third consecutive half season division title. In the playoffs, they defeated the second half winner Southern Maryland Blue Crabs in five games during the Liberty Division Championship Series and then upset the Lancaster Barnstormers, who had won a then-league record 88 games that year, in the Atlantic League Championship Series. Long Island rallied from 1-0 and 2-1 series deficits to win the series in five games on a walk-off bunt single by shortstop Dan Lyons in the bottom of the ninth, scoring the Matt Esquivel as the winning run from third. For his dramatic efforts in Game Five, as well as his game-winning three-run triple in the ninth inning of Game Two, Lyons was named Championship Series Most Valuable Player. -In 2013 they surprised the league by winning their second consecutive championship. They finished the first half with a 30-40 record, well behind the division winners Southern Maryland Blue Crabs at 37-32. With their playoff berth guaranteed, the Blue Crabs had little motivation to continue winning into the summer and finished the second half of their division with a far worse record of 28-42. The Ducks won a weak division in the second half with a 33-37 record, for a combined record of 63-77. It was actually the sixth best record posted in the eight team league. Meanwhile in the other division there were two teams with far superior records than the Ducks. The Sugar Land Skeeters a second year expansion team that plays just outside of Houston Texas won both division halves and posted a best overall record of 95-45, bettering the record set the year before by the Barnstormers, and better than the Ducks by a mind boggling 32 games. Their division rivals the Somerset Patriots were close behind the skeeters all season long and posted a 90-49 record, and entered the playoffs as the wild card. The Patriots posted a mild upset in the divisional playoffs by sweeping the Skeeters, and the Ducks did the same to the Blue Crabs setting up the championship series. The Ducks were helped by the late season signing of former major leaguer Lew Ford who had played in the majors as recently as 2012 and had just been released by the Baltimore Orioles AA affiliate in late August 2013. He had hit in 16 of the 17 regular season games he participated in and hit .412 in the playoffs. The Ducks defeated the Patriots in the first two games at home and the Patriots took the next two games in their park, setting up a deciding game five at Somerset. The Ducks won the game 6-4 with the help of a three run home run in the top of the fourth by Ray Navarrete, giving the Ducks a 6-1 lead that they would never relinquish. They won a championship over an opponent that was 27 1/2 games better than them in the standings. It exceeds the record at the major league level for largest deficit to overcome to win a championship series, set in 1906 when the Chicago white Sox at 93-58 defeated the Chicago Cubs at 116-36 for a 22 1/2 game differential. The Cubs record still stands today as the best regular season winning percentage in major league history. +In 2013, the Ducks successfully defended their Atlantic League championship to earn their second consecutive title. After failing to clinch a playoff spot in the first half, the Ducks won the Second Half Liberty Division title by a game and a half over the Bridgeport Bluefish. This guaranteed Long Island it's third consecutive playoff berth and ninth in 10 years. The Ducks were helped by the late season signing of former Major Leaguer Lew Ford, who had played in the Majors as recently as 2012 and had just been released by the Baltimore Orioles in late August, 2013. He had a hit in 16 of the 17 regular season games he participated in and went on to bat .412 in the playoffs. -In a league where player turnover is high as it consists of players constantly being signed away by major league affiliates, Navarrete has played for the Ducks since 2006 and is their longest tenured player, and holds most of the teams offensive records. He has become a fan favorite and has even married a former team employee. He had announced earlier in the season that he retire from playing and the game where hit the game deciding home run would be his final game as an active player. +In the postseason, the Ducks defeated the Blue Crabs for the third consecutive season in the Liberty Division Championship Series by sweeping the three-game series. Long Island won games one and two at home before claiming the series clincher in Southern Maryland. The Ducks went on to face the Somerset Patriots in the Atlantic League Championship Series after the Patriots swept the Sugar Land Skeeters, who had won a league record 95 games during the regular season, in the first round. Long Island defeated Somerset in the first two games at home while the Patriots took the next two games in their park, setting up a decisive game five at Somerset's TD Bank Ballpark. The Ducks won the game 6-4 with the help of a three-run home run in the top of the fourth by Ray Navarrete, giving the Ducks a 4-1 lead that they would never relinquish. In a league where player turnover is high, as it consists of players frequently being signed by Major League organizations, Navarrete played for the Ducks from 2006 to 2013. He was their longest tenured player and holds most of the team's offensive records. He had announced earlier in the season that the 2013 season would be his last in professional baseball, and his game-winning home run came in his final game as an active player. Right-handed starter John Brownell was named Championship Series Most Valuable Player after he earned wins in both Game One and the decisive Game Five, pitching into the ninth inning of the final game. ==Ferry Cup== -The Long Island Ducks contend with the [[Bridgeport Bluefish]] over the Ferry Cup, which is sponsored by the Bridgeport & Port Jefferson Steamboat Company. The two teams border on [[Long Island Sound]], and many fans of both teams regularly cross it to support them. The current Bluefish/Ducks rivalry record is 85-83, in favor of Bridgeport.<ref>{{cite web | title=Bluefish and Ducks introduce Ferry Cup | work=Bridgeport Bluefish | url=http://www.bridgeportbluefish.com/news/index.html?article_id=250 | accessdate=May 12, 2009 }}</ref> +The Long Island Ducks contend with the [[Bridgeport Bluefish]] over the Ferry Cup, which is sponsored by the Bridgeport & Port Jefferson Steamboat Company. The two teams border on the [[Long Island Sound]], and many fans of both teams regularly cross it to support them. The current Bluefish/Ducks rivalry record is 135-133 in favor of Bridgeport. ==Radio== -All of the Long Island Ducks weekend games are broadcast on [[WRCN]]/103.9 starting in 2013, with the rest of the games broadcast over the Ducks official website. Chris King, David Weiss and Michael Polak serve as the team's official broadcasters. - -==Live on Internet TV== - -The Long Island Ducks' games are broadcast live on [http://www.ibnsports.com/ iBN Sports]. +All of the Long Island Ducks weekend games (Friday, Saturday and Sunday) are broadcast on [[WRCN]]/103.9-FM LI News Radio starting, with the rest of the games broadcast over the Ducks official YouTube channel and website. Michael Polak, Chris King, David Weiss and Marc Schwartz currently serve as the team's official broadcasters. ==Mascot== -The Long Island Ducks' official [[mascot]] is an [[Anthropomorphism|anthropomorphic]] duck named QuackerJack. He wears the Ducks' full home uniform with green and white sneakers. He debuted on March 18, 2000 at Citibank Park.<ref>{{cite web | title=QuackerJack | work=Long Island Ducks | url=http://www.liducks.com/QuackerJack | accessdate=June 11, 2011}}</ref> His name alludes to a popular baseball game food produced by the [[Cracker Jack]] brand, and the quacking sound of a duck. +The Long Island Ducks' official [[mascot]] is an [[Anthropomorphism|anthropomorphic]] duck named QuackerJack. He wears the Ducks' full home white uniform with green and white sneakers. He debuted on March 18, 2000 at then-Citibank Park.<ref>{{cite web | title=QuackerJack | work=Long Island Ducks | url=http://www.liducks.com/QuackerJack | accessdate=June 11, 2011}}</ref> His name alludes to a popular baseball game food produced by the [[Cracker Jack]] brand, and the quacking sound of a duck. ==Current roster== -{{Long Island Ducks roster}} +{{Long_Island_Ducks_roster}} ==Retired numbers== @@ -150,7 +150,7 @@ *[http://www.youtube.com/ducksbaseball Official Long Island Ducks YouTube Page] ===Blogs=== -*[http://www.atlanticleaguebaseball.com Atlantic League Baseball] +*[http://quackofthebat.wordpress.com Quack of the Bat] *[http://www.atlanticleagueindependent.com Atlantic League Independent] <!--Navigation boxes--><br/> '