Lakeland Flying Tigers 2007 Inagural Season

[hueytaxi]

Wednesday night the Tigers will be introduced to the fans and practice under the lights for the first time prior to their opener with the Yankees Thursday night. There is an admission charge and some concessions will be available. I believe it begins at 7 PM, but did not take notes.

[grandma g]

A CHARGE for an open workout? WM always were free..this year we have a 7 inning scrimmage w/local collage, Grand Valley....Lakeland better lighten up, FREE admittance so they get some support! Guess I would still go even if i had to pay....Support your team, folks!

[whitecapwendy]

Something just seemed to be missing from this thread

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/208/440221500_d645e37733.jpg

[hueytaxi]

Wendy, that is a rare piece as you know; not available to the public.

[zCor]

Nice Pin, Wendy

[whitecapwendy]

I guess the staff accidently put it in the souvenir shop for one day. Team Mom was at the right place at the right time and my birthday landed in the right place at the right time. Thanks team mom and thanks whoever made a mistake.

[Deadshot]

There is a charge, but I believe it is free for season ticket holders.

[fyrftrjim]

Wednesday night the Tigers will be introduced to the fans and practice under the lights for the first time prior to their opener with the Yankees Thursday night. There is an admission charge and some concessions will be available. I believe it begins at 7 PM, but did not take notes.

You are right Roger it's from 7pm-9pm, but I believe Deadshot is right it's free for season ticket holders.

[keglerv]

I am just excited for the Opener and the chance to see Maybin play and meet a few of the fellow morons. All of you in Lakeland make it easy for me and others I am sure to follow the progress of our minor leaguers.

[hueytaxi]

ttp://www.minorleaguebaseball.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20070320&content_id=193949&vkey=news_t570&fext=.jsp&sid=t570

The 2007 Flying Tiger season will get underway Thursday, April 5th with an opening night celebration featuring a salute to our military with a flyover, special appearance by two of the 1941 Flying Tigers, live big band music and much, more more. Gates open at 5 p.m. with the pregame events to begin at 6 p.m. The first pitch of the 2007 season is set for 7:05 p.m. against the Tampa Yankees. Box seats for Lakeland Flying Tiger home games are $6 for adults and $5 for senior citizens (55 & over) and youth (14 & under). Reserved seats are $5 (adults) and $4 (senior citzen/youth). Parking is free. This story was not subject to the approval of the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues or its clubs.

[grandma g]

GO FLYING TIGERS....Have a great season...

[hueytaxi]

GO FLYING TIGERS....Have a great season...And Go Caps.....Great time again. Also so good to know how many players read our comments and never heard a complaint about our opinions. We'll be out there early in the morning to send the GR boys on their way. They hope to be on the road by Noon or early PM.

[grandma g]

Got a v/m from Ott today...he hit a home run today...good for him....we will see them Monday/Tuesday, and Tuesday is our potluck with the players & host families...only about 10 players have picked their families so far.... so will have fun at the party....

[hueytaxi]

I saw the run, never knew who scored it. They had a following of about 25 fans. If I can recover my "lost" photos, I'm sure you will recognize some of them.

[Yoda]

There is a charge, but I believe it is free for season ticket holders.

One thing I don't get is how will they know who the season ticket holders are? Maybe some of you got a card or something but I didn't get anything but my tickets.

[Deadshot]

One thing I don't get is how will they know who the season ticket holders are? Maybe some of you got a card or something but I didn't get anything but my tickets.

They probably have a list - the last I knew there were only 52 people.

[hueytaxi]

Cards are to be available opening day (fan club and ST holders)

[Yoda]

Cards are to be available opening day (fan club and ST holders)


Very good. Thanks.

[Deadshot]

Anyone have any more details about this game? Will there be food there?

[hueytaxi]

Limited concession Wed night, normal staffing and new concession Mgmt on Thursday.

[estrepe1]

Who in the heck is actually on the Lakeland roster? All of the other official rosters are out. The Lakeland one is not.

[hueytaxi]

I'll probably have to take notes tomorrow and post it myself.

[hueytaxi]

Tonight the Flying Tigers Staff introduced the Team and Coaching Staff to the Fan Club and Season Ticket holders. A First Class event. Beginning with fielding drill, moving into BP and then on to free food and drinks with the players joining us. After the energy level was boosted, the Team introduced themselves and each took a turn at the mike. Dessert was originally 3 cakes celebratiing the first night with the team and quickly became Cameron Maybin's 20th Birthday cake with the fans singing his Birthday Song.

Here Commander Kevin Bradshaw leads his team onto the field

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/185/446750760_3ebfe0b5a5.jpg

Hitting Coach Larry "Hondo" Herndon says hello before signing one of our posters can.

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/175/446757659_7165ed9ce9.jpg

Justice, Maybin and Ryan

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/208/446757757_4d2159dd1c.jpg

Food! (and Miller is taller than me even when he bends over).

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/245/446757857_e4a6a7a197.jpg

When Cameron was sung to, I was too far away, too slow of a lens and too little with the flash.

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/190/446757913_c1e32bc6d7.jpg

Orlando Perdomo and Wilkin Rameriz have fun with me and i think that is Freddie Dolsi getting in the photo.

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/180/446757519_98d7011056.jpg


But if you just have to find your guy, he is in this set...I won't even try to label the names at this point. I recognize about 80% of the guys, but with the lighting and a slow lens, some are dark.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/hueytaxi/sets/72157600048743504/

[keglerv]

Sounds like it was a good time, now on to the games!

[grandma g]

Lakeland Roster is now posted www.minorleaguebaseball.com/app/index.jsp?sid=t570

Think it is Justin Justin w/Cam & Dusty, not Haske....nice shots...looks like you all had fun...our event was indoors due to S-N-O-W & blowing winds!

[hueytaxi]

Lakeland Roster is now posted www.minorleaguebaseball.com/app/index.jsp?sid=t570

Think it is Justin Justin w/Cam & Dusty, not Haske....nice shots...looks like you all had fun...our event was indoors due to S-N-O-W & blowing winds!Fixed, thanks.

[hueytaxi]

Sounds like it was a good time, now on to the games!I have you on my calendar as being in town tomorrow. Is that still correct?

[estrepe1]

Miller is pitching tomorrow right?

[hueytaxi]

Someone else may have an answer. Reps teamed up with the fans in a meeting as BP commenced. I was there to watch practice. Miller would be the right thing to premiere.

[Deadshot]

Miller is pitching tomorrow right?

Yes, all sources have been telling me Miller. It looks to be a fun night.

[fyrftrjim]

It was a fun evening hung out with our resident photographer Hueytaxi most of the night, got to talk to Pedro Cotto, Matt Righter, & Ricky Stiek. With there personalities this should be a fun year and great group of guys in Lakeland.

[keglerv]

I have you on my calendar as being in town tomorrow. Is that still correct?

That is correct. I plan on rolling in between 5 and 6 PM. My tickets are at will call and I am section 106 row AA seats 15 and 16. You are 105 AA seats 1 and 2 and Yoda is BB seat 1 if I remember correctly? I can't wait to watch some baseball. Three days of Disney, my body is killing me. I will have on my Tigers AL champs hat and a 6 year old girl with me, I shouldn't be to hard to spot.

[lesgoblu02]

I'll be in town for the week of the 4th of July this year. Will be attending at least one game, maybe 2. Hope to get to meet all of you Lakelanders!

[209A12]

When were the player intros? Nobody informed us about that. After our meeting with our season ticket rep, we said good night around 8:45. Very disappointing.

[Yoda]

When were the player intros? Nobody informed us about that. After our meeting with our season ticket rep, we said good night around 8:45. Very disappointing.

Not sure who your rep was but ours told us that there was a meeting later on to meet all of the players and have some cake.

[fyrftrjim]

When were the player intros? Nobody informed us about that. After our meeting with our season ticket rep, we said good night around 8:45. Very disappointing.

Right after we met with our season ticket rep, they were coming off the practice field and met us on the 1st base concourse.

[Deadshot]

That is correct. I plan on rolling in between 5 and 6 PM. My tickets are at will call and I am section 106 row AA seats 15 and 16. You are 105 AA seats 1 and 2 and Yoda is BB seat 1 if I remember correctly? I can't wait to watch some baseball. Three days of Disney, my body is killing me. I will have on my Tigers AL champs hat and a 6 year old girl with me, I shouldn't be to hard to spot.

It will be good to have you visiting. My seats are in the same section (row DD 16 I believe).

[Yoda]

That is correct. I plan on rolling in between 5 and 6 PM. My tickets are at will call and I am section 106 row AA seats 15 and 16. You are 105 AA seats 1 and 2 and Yoda is BB seat 1 if I remember correctly? I can't wait to watch some baseball. Three days of Disney, my body is killing me. I will have on my Tigers AL champs hat and a 6 year old girl with me, I shouldn't be to hard to spot.


Awesome, Yes, I'll be sitting right behind Roger. Should we address you as Keglerv? Please don't call me Yoda haha. It's Deran, pronounced Darrin.

[estrepe1]

I'll be in town for the week of the 4th of July this year. Will be attending at least one game, maybe 2. Hope to get to meet all of you Lakelanders!

Hopefully you don't get to see Maybin or Miller.

[chuckles396]

It was a fun evening hung out with our resident photographer Hueytaxi most of the night, got to talk to Pedro Cotto, Matt Righter, & Ricky Stiek. With there personalities this should be a fun year and great group of guys in Lakeland.

Cotto is one of the coolest guys you'll ever meet. Ricky Stiek is a great guy to talk to. I had some fun talking with him by the bullpen here in WM.

[chet lemon]

Does anyone know if Lakeland has a local radio station that calls the game. I noticed that there is not a feed for it on milb.com. I was hoping that maybe a local station has a feed on their website.

[redshark63]

Does anyone know if Lakeland has a local radio station that calls the game. I noticed that there is not a feed for it on milb.com. I was hoping that maybe a local station has a feed on their website.

There is not one. Tampa does not either.

This was the other place I used to check before MiLB.com got settled.
http://oursportscentral.com/services/netcasts/

[fyrftrjim]

Does anyone know if Lakeland has a local radio station that calls the game. I noticed that there is not a feed for it on milb.com. I was hoping that maybe a local station has a feed on their website.

Unfortunately no they don't. The only time you can listen to them is when they are playing certain teams that have feeds in the FSL, not quite sure Huey made know more then me but I thought there was some discussion in TT to possibly getting there on feeds for the games.

[chet lemon]

Thanks for the replies.

[keglerv]

Awesome, Yes, I'll be sitting right behind Roger. Should we address you as Keglerv? Please don't call me Yoda haha. It's Deran, pronounced Darrin.

Nah, I am Mike, or more often Mikey to my friends. I am glad you put pronunciation for your name because I was never quite sure.

[keglerv]

It will be good to have you visiting. My seats are in the same section (row DD 16 I believe).

Thats cool, I guess I will get to meet quite a few of the fellow morons tonight!

[baseball3]

Enjoy hitting the refresh button every few minutes or so...........we did last year. It's ashamed that there is no radio coverage for home games for the L-Tigers, some of the road games will be covered by various teams' home stations that you can get, but, other than that, refresh, refresh and know that what you're looking at is at least 15 minutes behind actually being there !

[Chaz]

I can't make it out tonight, but there is some rain in the area..hopefully it won't be a rain out!!!

[hueytaxi]

It was a rain out after 5 with Lakeland ahead 2-0. More later.

[209A12]

It was a rain out after 5 with Lakeland ahead 2-0. More later.

Final, after 4-1/2, LFT wins 3-0. Justice with a towering home run, very nice infield play, and Miller was ..... Miller. Announced crowd around 1400. Maybe 1000.

[keglerv]

Bummer that it was rain shortened, but I am glad I got to meet up with the motown gang. Miller was sharp giving up just 3 hits, 1 of which was a flukey infield chopper. I can't see how left handed batters ever stand a chance of hitting him. The movement on his pitches is frightening and with speed ranges of 73-98 on the Lakeland radar gun. He looked like a man amongst boys to me.

[Yoda]

Bummer that it was rain shortened, but I am glad I got to meet up with the motown gang. Miller was sharp giving up just 3 hits, 1 of which was a flukey infield chopper. I can't see how left handed batters ever stand a chance of hitting him. The movement on his pitches is frightening and with speed ranges of 73-98 on the Lakeland radar gun. He looked like a man amongst boys to me.

It was good meeting you too! You need to head down here more often.

[hueytaxi]

The 7:15 game began at 6 PM with a quartet playing Big Band music of the 40's. Thursdays will be USO nights with a 40"s theme. The staff were in modern full camo gear and we had a flyby to open the night headed by an A-6 Texan and I believe a couple of Stearmans

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/240/447898434_a253078bd7.jpg
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/186/447898486_42dc19f85d.jpg

Matt Rusch displays the Home uniform,

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/183/447902183_647e6f2670.jpg

and the arm patch everyone wants:

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/253/447898666_919dbd2957.jpg

The local National Guard comes on to the field, but the passenger looks out of uniform...

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/251/447898736_6544a9996a.jpg

[keglerv]

It was good meeting you too! You need to head down here more often.

I hope to sometime in the future but not sure if I will be able to this year. I am going to Atlanta for the Tigers series and not sure how much more time off I will be able to take this summer. Just being there 1 day really makes me want to try and squeeze in a couple of days, if not then next year for sure.

[hueytaxi]

And as the Humvees stopped, we found our flying Tigers coming out of the vehicles:

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/211/447898814_6010efccfb.jpg

I can't caption this properly....

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/251/447898862_906a545c48.jpg

If you have been to Spring Training, here in the Camo, is Jim, who "guards" the Clubhouse entrance and Ken who is the "stealth fighter" of autograph fans (quiet, never intrusive and gets what he wants. Both super people.

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/250/447898968_5845368daf.jpg

Bernie, the head usher is another major part of "living" your Summer in Tigertown. Get to know him. Buy him a beer after a game.

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/191/447899042_318f836d75.jpg

The National Anthem:

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/231/447902739_55216efa64.jpg
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/233/447899294_4ef877ffbf.jpg
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/233/447899294_4ef877ffbf.jpg

Two members of the Original Flying Tigers were introduced and later threw out the first pitches, Arrived in a '41 Lincoln.

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/199/447903111_19f8a557dd.jpg
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/195/447899612_ed5b751607.jpg

And another flyover. One of the aircraft (right side) appeared to be an early model Mustang B or C Model. I didn't hear the Merlin engine, so not really sure what it was...no bubble canopy.

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/202/447899662_1878abb4fb_b.jpg

[Johnny Mac]

love the photos huey

[hueytaxi]

Southpaw meets a new arrival

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/241/447903297_57f9a8d29e.jpg

And introduces "Captain Ace' to the Tigers and the fans

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/183/447899866_bd68a7d7db.jpg
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/178/447899944_0df22fbec1.jpg

Andrew Miller dominated the mound

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/234/447899998_e06fff4f65.jpg

Commander Bradshaw giving advice to Dusty Ryan after Miller's 1st inning

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/219/447902031_aa146efe2c.jpg

Cameron in A+ Lakeland

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/178/447900118_5f4c6bb4bb.jpg

[Johnny Mac]

are those camo jerseys a one time thing or are they going to be like a 3rd jersey?

[hueytaxi]

are those camo jerseys a one time thing or are they going to be like a 3rd jersey?Don't really know, so let me speculate. They took BP in blue/white numbers. Game time came out in the uniform seen in the early pix. (Home uniform). Then the whites went into their equipment bags. I believe the camo is to tie in the USO Thursdays (turn back the clock to 1940's) as the staff plans to also be in Camo these nights. Looks like four jerseys and I believe their may be more special theme jerseys and
equipment as the Team aligns with some of the Cancer Awareness drives. I understand the Team may offer some of these items for auction at a later date. Check their website as it seems to be getting new life. If i hear it, I will post it here.

[dt35456884]

I can't caption this properly....

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/251/447898862_906a545c48.jpg

Coming soon to an episode of "Dateline NBC: To Catch an Internet Predator."

[hueytaxi]

Also sighted tonight, Romulo Martinez, http://www.thebaseballcube.com/players/m/romulo-martinez.shtml
still hanging with our milb players. One of the first pitchers I ever met. Double surgeries and never made it past Lakeland on his second trip. Hanging this way is not a pretty sight.

[fyrftrjim]

Don't really know, so let me speculate. They took BP in blue/white numbers. Game time came out in the uniform seen in the early pix. (Home uniform). Then the whites went into their equipment bags. I believe the camo is to tie in the USO Thursdays (turn back the clock to 1940's) as the staff plans to also be in Camo these nights. Looks like four jerseys and I believe their may be more special theme jerseys and
equipment as the Team aligns with some of the Cancer Awareness drives. I understand the Team may offer some of these items for auction at a later date. Check their website as it seems to be getting new life. If i hear it, I will post it here.

Yeah Roger you are right during USO Night (Thursday) they will be in camo jersey and they are supposed to be acutioned off at the end of the year.

[baseball3]

Roger,

As always, you make us feel like we're right there with you. Awesome night, fantastic new uniforms and mascot along with the airplanes. Sorry the night was rainshortened, but, what a fantastic outing Miller had. Interesting that Mayin is wearing #11 this season.

The new uniforms look fantastic as does all the changes. Thank goodness they choose the Flying Tigers and not the Swans !!

[Mr.MelissaG915]

Thanks for the pix Roger! Outstanding seeing our boys from last year's WM team. The flying tiger patch on the uniforms is great. That is a must have as well as the camo jerseys. I'll start the bidding on the Cotto jersey now.

[baseball3]

What number did Maybin have last year at West Michigan?

10 ?
or

30?

[MelissaG915]

30. Justice is still in 24, Hernandez is still wearing 13. I think Cotto is still 17.

[Yoda]

I just sent Zach, Jeremy, Shannon and Ron and email thanking them all for the show they put on last night. That was simply amazing. By far the most fun I've had at a game here in Lakeland, excluding 2005 playoffs.

[fyrftrjim]

I'm sure they'll appreciate it, the entire staff did a great job last night it was a very enjoyable night, well until the rains came. I just hope we can keep getting the big crowds because it looks like the Flying Tigers will be a very competative team this year.