Spinners Gear Now on eBay!

AUTHENTIC LOWELL SPINNERS GAME-WORN JERSEY AUCTION

You heard it here first! The Spinners are auctioning off some awesome collectors' items on eBay.com.

Check out the newest item, an official game-worn Spinners jersey from the past three seasons.

All of the players that wore the jersey are listed. Just follow the link below! Happy bidding!

AUTHENTIC LOWELL SPINNERS GAME-WORN JERSEY AUCTION

If you watched today’s Red Sox game…

Today’s Red Sox/Twins Spring Training game was featured on national TV. If you were watching, you saw:

• 3B Kevin Youkilis (’01)
• 3B Andrew Pinkney (’04)
• INF Dominic Ramos (’05)
• OF Yahmed Yema (’05)

In addition, Jonathan Papelbon (’03) pitched yesterday against the Yankees.

Did you see any other former Spinners in a Spring Training game with the Red Sox? Were you there? Let us know!

Who was better?

An inter-office debate has been raging here at LeLacheur Park. Stemming from an innocent comment about Pete Rose’s ineligibility for the Hall of Fame, a discussion of Rafael Palmeiro’s chances in Cooperstown led to a comparison of Palmeiro and Frank Thomas.

Following, we’ll outline the cases of each. Please weigh in with your take — your say will help us come to a conclusion. Rest assured, there’s a lot of pride riding on this one… PLEASE NOTE — ALTHOUGH PALMEIRO WAS FOUND TO HAVE TAKEN STEROIDS, WE ARE DISREGARDING STEROIDS FOR THE SAKE OF THIS ARGUMENT.

FOR FRANK THOMAS:
When you think of current players that should be sure-fire Hall of Famers, there’s no doubt in my mind that Frank Thomas is an automatic. He was an absolute monster in the early-to-mid 1990’s, hitting well over .300 in his first eight Major League seasons. Add on a steady barrage of home runs — an average of 37 homers per 162 games — and innumerable walks, Thomas was known as the most dominant hitter, let alone first baseman, in the 1990’s.

If you want the hardware, check this out: Thomas won back-to-back MVP’s from ‘93 to ‘94 and was in the top-three in MVP voting three other times; he is a five-time All-Star; and he’s led the league in OBP and OPS four times. I should mention his career AVG/OBP/SLG line of .307/.427/.568, an astronomical total.And I know we’re disregarding steroids, but Thomas lit it up to the tune of back to back 41 and (strike-shortened) 38 longballs before the offensive age officially began in ‘95.

FOR RAFAEL PALMEIRO:
3000 hits, 500 HR, 1800 RBI — BOTTOM LINE!!!
One of only 4 players in history to accomplish this feet — who are the others you ask? Hank Aaron, Willie Mays and Eddie Murray, all Hall of Famers.

Let us know what you think — who’s the better first baseman? Was it Thomas? Was it Palmeiro? Was it someone else? Click on each player’s name for their stats.

Lowrie Belts a Homer

Jed Lowrie, who hit four home runs in 201 at-bats with Lowell last summer, belted a Spring Training blast in the ninth inning of yesterday’s match up with the Dodgers. Lowrie’s two-run blast pulled Boston within two runs, but it was all Boston would score on route to a 6-4 loss.

Lowrie belts two-run homer in ninth

Luis Alicea updates

We’re not the only ones taking on the blogosphere. Check out Luis Alicea’s new blog. He was the Spinners manager in 2004 and 2005 and has led Lowell to its best season ever with 42 wins last season.

Luis Alicea - Spring Training Blog

Alicea is the new manager of the Red Sox Class A Affiliate in Greenville. He’ll probably have more than a few 2005 Spinners in Greenville this year. We wish him the best!

Jed Lowrie in Major League Camp

Red Sox prospect Dustin Pedrioa recently went down with a shoulder injury, opening a spot in Red Sox camp for infielder Jed Lowrie, a Spinner in 2005. In three Spring Training games, Lowrie is holding his own with a hit, a walk and a run scored in six at-bats.

You can track his stats here: Boston Red Sox : Sortable Player Stats

Jon Shestakofsky, Media Relations

WORLD BASEBALL CLASSIC A HIT?

I’ll be the first to admit that I was not a big fan of the World Baseball Classic (WBC) mainly due to the timing of the tournament.  I’d like to think there is a better time to run this tourney.  But after watching the Dominican and Venezuelan game on Tuesday followed by the USA-Mexico match-up, I’m intrigued.  The Latin clash had the flavor of a World Series game and did you see all the marquee players on those teams?  What lineups they both have.  My favorite Latin American club has to be the Dominican Republic club.  Not due to their lineup but because they have a great manager (Manny Acta).  Got to give some props to my friend.  He and I grew up in the Astros system together.  He never got that cup of coffee as a player but has made his mark as a Major League coach. He’ll make a great Major League manager some day. He’s a true class act and I’m so happy for Manny, Cindy and Leslie. 

Then there was the USA-Mexico clash.  Great game.  I thought we’d blow them out but I never knew Vinny Castillo, Karim Garcia, Albie Lopez and other big names had Mexican ties (what if Nomar had opted to play?).  They put up a great fight in Phoenix.  But, was anyone else miffed that the USA club seemed to be playing a “road” game in Phoenix?  Good for Mexican baseball, bad for the USA.  Come on fans!  If this was played here in New England we’d rock the house even in the cold climate.   Anyway…they have my attention now. 

I’ll be watching and cheering for the best sport in the World.  I can’t wait for the American club to claim the trophy over the Dominican team (sorry Manny).  After all, it is the American pastime.  WBC, WBC, WBC…USA, USA, USA!!!

Tim Bawmann, GM

When it rains, it…

…breakdances?

Hi everyone — Jon Shesta here with my favorite Spinners memory. In keeping with our Tenth Anniversary theme, we’re hoping everyone in the front office will chime in with their favorite Spinners memories. But most of all we’re looking for you fans to share some of yours. So leave them in the comments! Now onto my memory. And check out Jon Goode’s Tenth Anniversary Memories as well.

Last season was my second with the team so my memory bank may be a bit smaller than some other members of our front office staff, but last season I witnessed something I never expected to see at the ballpark in a million years.

August 14, 2005 — It was pouring — and I mean pouring — pushing back the start of a game against the Oneonta Tigers. But we were trying our hardest to wait out the weather and play.

Now, rain delays aren’t terrible by any means. We have the VideoBoard and PA blaring. But some of the players got antsy and organized a competition between the two teams. Eventually, they radioed to the PA booth with their musical requests and got their groves on, dancing one team at a time until Oneonta brought out the can-can. Both benches emptied on the the warning track behind home plate to showcase their dance moves and prove their dancing dominance.

What a way to pass the time! The fans that stuck around saw quite a show — those guys could dance!

So what’s your most memorable Spinners moment? Let us know by leaving a comment below!