Retirement Guys: Hope for a new season (of life)

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April 12, 2015

If you know me (Mark) very well, you know that I am a big sports fan and a lifelong fan of all Detroit sports teams, especially the Detroit Tigers. This is obvious when you come into my office, sit down and look up at the wall and notice the many framed photos of me and some of my boyhood Tigers heroes like Willie Horton and Mickey Lolich. These photos were obtained for my 50th birthday when my wife Lisa sent me to the Detroit Tiger Fantasy Camp for one of the most fun and thrilling times of my life.

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I got to hang out with some former Tiger players, who served as my coaches as I played baseball with fellow Tigers fans ranging in age from 21 up into their 80s. What a fun time, even though on the second day I blew out a hamstring running to first base.

I was speaking at a Retirement Guys public workshop that we hold periodically and mentioned how I used to love playing some serious softball in my younger days. I talked about how I loved playing on a team, hanging out with the fellas and doing my best to help win the game. A guy by the name of Fritz came up to me afterward and told me I ought to consider playing in the Sylvania Senior Softball League.

I expressed to Fritz my reservations about being too old and fat and not being able to run. He told me not to worry about it and that I would do just fine. I was not so sure. I was so scared about being able to function on the field that after I made the decision to “make a comeback,” I hired a personal trainer to get me to the point that I could survive. I lost 25 pounds of fat and gained 10 pounds of muscle at last check, and yes, I survived the first season after a 21-year layoff, even though I blew out that dreaded hamstring. It was a fun time and I was really impressed with how organized the league is and how good the players are at 50 and older.

Many of the players are older than 60 and a lot of these guys are still hitting the ball over the fence and motoring around the bases. At 52, I felt a lot of these older guys were running circles around me. Our Fricker’s #3 team started out 4-1, but then sadly lost five in a row. Our hopes for the title went down with our losing streak.

The great thing about baseball though is that there is always hope for next year. And next year is here! Spring has sprung and it is time to get ready for a new season.

My Tigers have won the first two games of the year and the season starts soon for The Retirement Guys softball team, since we are sponsoring a team this year. Our team will play on Thursday nights at Pacesetter Park in Sylvania, so come on out and root us to victory. If you want to come see me play, starting May 7, I will be playing on Thursdays at either 6:15 p.m. or 7:30 p.m.

So what does all of this have to do with retirement planning, you ask? We are a big believer in enjoying every phase of life. Especially retirement.

Maybe it is time for you to explore a new career, or make a comeback. It’s not too late to do something. Figure out what it is and go for it. Fun and quality of life are what we are all about and you should be, too.

One last thing: My friend Marty called me and left me a voicemail. He said, “Mark, I got us on the same team this year. I had to trade for you, though.” I about died laughing when I heard that. I hope he did not trade more than a 10th-round draft pick or some stale Peeps from his Easter basket. What a riot. Play ball!

For more information about The Retirement Guys, tune in every Saturday at 1 P.M. on 1370 WSPD or visit www.retirementguysnetwork.com.

Summer camps let Hens players connect with kids

By

Ashley McMahon

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April 12, 2015

camps2 — The Mud Hens host a number of camps for kids ages 7-14 and a special needs camp open to all ages. Photo courtesy Toledo Mud Hens

Baseball season is finally here. America’s favorite pastime brings warmly welcomed mild weather, nights filled with fireworks and plenty of smiling Toledoans to Fifth Third Field to watch their beloved Mud Hens.

The Mud Hens host a number of camps for kids ages 7-14 and a special needs camp open to all ages. Photo courtesy Toledo Mud Hens

Along with the action-packed International League games, the “world famous” minor league team hosts a plethora of summer camps for area youth.

Emily Croll, special events coordinator for the Mud Hens, is entering her fourth year as camp leader and said these camps are a mainstay for young baseball lovers.

“We’ve maintained them because they’ve been very steady and very popular,” she said. “We have people who call in every year and specifically ask for these camps. With these, we’ve found we have a lot of success in keeping them constant.”

Most of the camps are offered to children ages 7-14, which allows youth to attend for a number of years, developing their skills on the field along the way.

The programs include a one-day camp, an adult-child camp, a three-day camp and a special needs camp, which is open to all ages.

All of the camps are coed and are hosted by the Mud Hens players inside Fifth Third Field. As an added bonus, all of the campers get a ticket to attend the game on the evening of the camp.

“They get to come to camp in the morning, the Mud Hens players are running it and then they get to attend the game at night and get to see guys playing who they had just hung out with in the morning,” Croll said.

The camps are a popular with the team as well as area youth and many players look forward to participating in the action.

“We put up sign-up sheets for a lot of these events and we never have a problem filling these events. Especially the special needs camps,” Croll said.

“The guys love coming out and being with the kids,” she said. “It brings them back. They remember that this is how they started. At some point there was someone that made them love baseball, so this is a good opportunity for them to share that love with other kids and be a kid for a morning.”

Over the years, the camps’ popularity has continued to rise, attracting large numbers to each event. The one-day and three-day camps have about 150-175 participants and the adult-child camp has about 200 participants. The special needs camp has experienced the most growth, according to Croll.

“Three years ago, it had 50 participants and last year there were close to 100 participants,” she said.

The Hens’ partnership with the Miracle League of Northwest Ohio helped build the camp’s attendance, Croll said.

The one-day camp is open to youth ages seven to 14 and costs $50 to attend. It takes place May 23.

There are two three-day camps, open to kids ages 7-14. These cost $140 and take place on July 8-10 and August 4-6. Lunch is served each day and the game ticket is for the final night of camp on each session.

On the last day of the three-day camp, there is a skills competition, a scrimmage and an awards ceremony.

“With the three-day camp, you get to know the campers a little more because you’re seeing them for three straight days,” Croll said. “You get to see their personality a little more and they really open up by the third day.”

The adult-child camp is open to kids ages 7-14 and one parent. This costs $80 for the pair and takes place July 18.

“You see a lot of really excited parents,” Croll said. “Whether you’re an adult or a child, getting to play on a professional level playing field with professional players is always cool. It’s really fun to see the parents and children interact together along with the players.”

The special needs camp is open to all ages and costs $25. It takes place June 20.

Participants with any type of special need are welcome to participate. It’s a time for them to come out and have fun, Croll said. It’s the least skills-specific camp and the participants get a chance to play with the Mud Hens players.

“The Mud Hens pitch to them, we do a scrimmage where everyone gets to bat,” Croll said. “We even added an aspect where they get to play from home plate and we announce them. They come up to home plate, and we announce who’s at bat and we do a live shot of them on the big video board and they get to do an at-bat against the Mud Hens player.

“The special needs camp has always been my favorite,” she said. “Some of these kids come every year. We get to know these families and we do not have any age limit for that one. It’s been really great to see families who a lot of times have stress outside of this just come and forget that for a day.

“They get to come hang out, the players are always super awesome with them and having them come to the game afterwards has been really great, to see it grow the way it has.”

Along with the Mud Hens game ticket, each camp registration includes a camp T-shirt and a baseball signed by the player that hosted the camp.

Participants are urged to register at least one week in advance; they can do so online at mudhens.com/camp or by calling (419)-725-HENS.

Croll said the best aspect of the summer camps is the one-on-one interaction participants get with the players.

“I know a lot of people look at the Mud Hens and say, ‘Well, they’re not quite professionals, they’re not big leagues.’

“But especially in our three-day camp, we have a lot of times where a player may work camp two days and then he gets called to the Tigers the third day and isn’t even there,” she said.

“So these kids are getting a chance to say, ‘Man, that guy was showing me how to bat yesterday and now he’s playing with the Tigers.’ For us that’s been really awesome.”

OMGLiterallyDead: Instagram skeleton takes Internet by storm

By

Jeff McGinnis

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April 12, 2015

omgliterallydead with Dana — Dana Herlihey with Skellie. Photo courtesy Dana Herlihey

On the surface, she’s like many other young women posting photos to social media. She loves coffee. She takes shots of her daily outfit. She playfully poses under the covers. She posts embarrassing old pictures. Really, she leads a fairly typical life. Or at least she would, if she were … well, alive.

Dana Herlihey with Skellie. Photo courtesy Dana Herlihey.

She is Skellie, and she is literally just a plastic novelty skeleton. But she is also the star of OMGLiterallyDead, an Instagram account that has skyrocketed in popularity over the past few months. Currently over 250,000 followers keep up with Skellie’s daily exploits.

The character is the brainchild of Dana Herlihey, a social media manager from Toronto.

“The concept came on a whim,” Herlihey said in an interview with Toledo Free Press. “A plastic, poseable skeleton arrived at work one day as a gag Halloween decoration. My coworkers took to it, posing it in each other’s chairs.

“One day I took a photo of the skeleton drinking from a Starbucks cup. The next day, I dressed it in my cardigan and toque. I found the voice for Skellie came to me naturally when doing this, so I made an Instagram account dedicated to this skeleton. It all kind of snowballed from there.”

“Snowballed” is one way to put it. “Avalanched” is another. Only about six months have passed since that first Starbucks photo was posted, and Skellie has blossomed into a full-fledged Internet phenomenon.

“I was walking home from work one day thinking of all these hilarious ideas for the skeleton. I realized that I was becoming pretty passionate about the little hobby project I had going and that there must be potential in that.”

The process for taking a Skellie photo (a “skelfie”) can be as simple or as complicated as you might imagine, Herlihey said. She now has four skeletons to work with (she’s going to buy her fifth shortly) and many of the best concepts come to her on a whim.

“Photo ideas can come up quite naturally. I’m watching ‘Friends’ on Netflix all day, well, why not Skellie? I’ll pose her, take a quick photo, and write a caption on the spot.”

Mud Hens craft plan for Opening Day Beer Bash at ballpark

By

Dave Kubacki

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April 12, 2015

Drinking beer while watching baseball is a time-honored American tradition. With the inaugural Opening Day Beer Bash, the Toledo Mud Hens will formalize that relationship.

From 3-5 p.m. April 16, the Mud Hens will have 30 different craft beers available to sample, as well as an all-American buffet. Headlining the event and pouring some local suds will be Maumee Bay Brewing Co. They will be joined by regional and national favorites including: SweetWater Brewing Company, Saugatuck Brewing Company, Goose Island Beer Company, Frankenmuth Brewery, Kona Brewing Company, Summit Brewing Company, Redhook Brewery and O’Fallon Brewery.

According to Toledo Mud Hens’ President of Concessions Craig Nelson, having a beer tasting event made a lot of sense, due to the growing popularity of craft beers.

“Craft beer has been growing so much in general over the past five years,” Nelson said. “The other tastings we’ve held have gone extremely well and is something people look forward to.”

According to Nelson, craft beer has garnered such interest that the Mud Hens are looking at additional places to serve it within the stadium.

“We’re looking at a another locations, somewhere on the main concourse,” Nelson said. “We’re looking at two auxiliary locations to offer craft beers on the main concourse, somewhere on the third baseline. We have Pub 315, which is in the right field corner under the Roost so it covers that side of the stadium, but we are hoping to have something on the other side.”

With the additions of Black Cloister Brewery Company, Sugar Ridge Brewery and Black Frog Brewery, as well as Toledo staples Maumee Bay Brewing Co. and Great Black Swamp Brewing, there are a lot of options for the Mud Hens to grow their craft beer offerings locally.

“We are trying to look at more and more breweries to have at our tastings or possibly bring them in to other areas,” Nelson said.

The Opening Day Beer Bash packages are $45 and include a game ticket, a dozen 3-ounce beer samples, a souvenir beer tasting glass, an all-you-can-eat buffet and soft drinks. Packages for designated drivers are $35 and include a game ticket, the buffet and soft drinks. Tickets for the Opening Day Beer Bash are available at mudhens.com.

Mestrow: Veterans job fair planned

By

Leslie Mestrow

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April 12, 2015

Many of us have seen the joyous reunions that unfold as veterans get off a plane and run into the arms of children, wives and husbands after being deployed for significant lengths of time. It’s a beautiful thing to witness. But what happens after this homecoming?

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Many veterans face the struggle of transitioning from the service to a civilian lifestyle. Our nonprofit organization, United States Vets Inc., recognizes these issues and has become a prime resource for helping these men and women in this fight. It is our mission to serve them as they have served our country and assist them in meeting their life-sustaining needs.

This year, thanks to coverage by WTOL-11, 13abc and other local media, we have been able to make the Toledo community aware of United States Vets. Inc. and what it’s doing.

A January fundraiser was just the beginning. We are planning an employment seminar for veterans from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. May 9 at the West Toledo Branch of the Toledo-Lucas County Public Library, 1320 W. Sylvania Ave. That will be followed up by a veterans’ job fair from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. May 20 at the Huntington Room in the Main Library, 325 N. Michigan St.

The employment seminar — open to veterans only — will prepare the veterans to write outstanding resumes, cover letters and profiles as well as understand the recruiting process. Information for those interested in starting their own businesses will be offered along with resources available through the Toledo-Lucas County Library system. Register by contacting me at lclouden7@gmail.com. Veterans should be aware that their military/veteran ID is required to attend the seminar. If credentials need to replaced or updated, our website, unitedstatesvets.org, has information on where vets can get this critical identification.

The followup job fair is specifically designed for veterans seeking employment. We have invited prospective employers who are interested in hiring veterans with qualifications that match their business needs. Unlike other job fairs, we put the veterans and their needs in the forefront. If your business or company is interested in participating in the job fair, please contact us soon as space is limited.

The world of a veteran returning home is multifaceted. Their integration back into civilian society can be challenging. As advocates, we strive to meet the emotional, social and even spiritual needs of these men and women who have bravely served our country. We want to close the gap and help these veterans live a fulfilling life outside their military service by becoming productive members of our Toledo community.

As a nonprofit, we continually seek support and commitment from the community as we aim to identify veterans’ needs and expand our scope in assisting them. No soldier, airman, sailor, Marine or guard should be living in substandard accommodations, worrying about their next meal, lacking medical or professional aid or wondering where they can find a job. The questions, the paperwork and the maze of resources are confusing.

Our website is designed to make this easier — almost like one-stop shopping. Every resource is researched before it is placed on the site. This makes the process of searching for assistance less daunting. Our focus is on eliminating the red tape and pointless phone calls and emails for veterans looking for the resources that will specifically help them. Their issues and needs can be different, and we must be respectful of that.

We have stepped up to the plate to become their source of hope and it is our sincere desire that the Toledo community, businesses and organizations will join us in our efforts. Become part of the solution. Your support — no matter how large or small — and your involvement in our events will help our local heroes in so many ways. Contact us soon, and sign up for our monthly newsletter at our website. Become a hero to our heroes.

Leslie Mestrow is the public relations coordinator for Toledo-based United States Vets Inc. (unitedstatesvets.org) and can be contacted at lclouden7@gmail.com

Local author’s book chronicles Toledo’s glass history

By

Vicki Kroll

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April 12, 2015

Barbara Floyd READS photo — The University of Toledo’s Barbara Floyd, author of ‘The Glass City: Toledo and the industry that built it.’ Floyd will speak at UT on April 16. Photo by Daniel Miller / Courtesy University of Toledo.

Barbara Floyd spent one year piecing together the history of the business that led to Toledo’s nickname.

The University of Toledo’s Barbara Floyd, author of ‘The Glass City: Toledo and the industry that built it.’ Floyd will speak at UT on April 16. Photo by Daniel Miller / Courtesy University of Toledo.

In “The Glass City: Toledo and the Industry That Built It,” she follows Toledo’s glass roots from the first fledgling company that fired up furnaces in 1888 to the triumphant reign of three powerhouses — Owens-Illinois, Libbey-Owens-Ford and Owens Corning — that made the town the world leader in glass production, to when that supremacy started to shatter.

“I came away from this project with a new found appreciation for how unique Toledo was in its industrial history — the way the city produced some of the most important developments and technological innovations in industrial history,” Floyd said. “Toledo companies invented the automatic bottle machine, Fiberglas, insulated glass, safety glass for automobiles, structural glass that made skyscrapers possible, glass-composite products and many others.

“In addition, the people who developed new techniques for industrial glass also helped to create the studio glass movement that produced beautiful works of art made of glass.”

A University of Toledo alumna, Floyd is director of UT’s Ward M. Canaday Center for Special Collections. While writing her book, she utilized Carlson Library’s extensive records on Toledo’s manufacturing glass commerce.

“Beginning in the 1980s, the Canaday Center has been attempting to collect records that document Toledo’s most important industries,” said Floyd, who also serves as university archivist. “The first glass-related collection we acquired was the records of Libbey-Owens-Ford, the producer of window glass. A few years later, we acquired the records of Owens-Illinois, the producer of bottles, and then most recently, the records of Owens Corning, the producer of Fiberglas. These collections represent the most important documentation of industrial glass in the country.”

Knowing that information was stored at UT and that Floyd was the author of several local history works, Scott Ham of The University of Michigan Press reached out to see if she would be interested in preparing a book proposal.

“While there had been historical studies of particular companies in the past, there had not been a comprehensive book that looked at the overall and interconnected histories of Toledo’s glass companies since the 1940s,” said Floyd, who also conducted research at the Toledo Museum of Art, the Museum of American Glass in West Virginia, the Center for Archival Collections at Bowling Green State University and the Harry Ransom Center at the University of Texas.

The history of glass in Toledo all began 127 years ago, when Edward Drummond Libbey moved his New England Glass Company to the shores of the Maumee River.

“Edward Drummond Libbey is arguably the most important person in Toledo’s history,” Floyd said. “Not only did he bring to the city its most important industry, but he also founded one of the most important art museums in the country. And he hired one of the most important innovators in glass technology — Michael Owens.”

At age 10, in 1869, Owens started working in the hot, dangerous glass factories as a “blower’s dog,” the name given to boys who helped glassblowers make bottles.

“I think because of his experience as a child, he began to experiment with a machine to automatically make bottles around the turn of the century,” Floyd said.

By the late 20th century, changes in glass production began to dull Toledo’s once sparkling brilliance. Libbey-Owens-Ford was sold to Pilkington Brothers PLC in 1986, and ongoing asbestos legal battles forced Owens Corning to declare bankruptcy in 2000. Toledo, Floyd noted in her book, was “as fragile as the product it produces.”

Never was that more apparent than when the Toledo Museum of Art’s Glass Pavilion opened in 2006 with large, glass walls that were fabricated in Shenzhen, China. This reflected the globalization of glass production, Floyd said.

“Toledo glass has changed the world. And most significantly, the industry made the city what it is today,” she said. “While the glass industry may play a smaller role in Toledo now, the history between the city and the industry should not be forgotten.”

Floyd will talk about “The Glass City” at 4 p.m. April 16 at the Canaday Center and sign copies of her book, which will be on sale for $30 during a reception after the event.

PHOTO BY DANIEL MILLER / COURTESY UNIVERSITY OF TOLEDO

IL Western Division teams to vie for Governors’ Cup

By

Matt Culbreath

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April 12, 2015

Each season at Fifth Third Field gives fans another chance to experience exciting action, eat great food and watch the rising stars of baseball play — but some of those future household names aren’t playing for the hometown Mud Hens.

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The 14-team International League (IL) is full of talent from top to bottom and ready to entertain area fans who visit Downtown Toledo this year.

Thirteen teams, including the Hens, will be looking to dethrone the Pawtucket Red Sox, last season’s Governors’ Cup champions.

Here is a look at the IL’s Western Division teams and how they stack up.

Indianapolis Indians

Major League club:

Pittsburgh Pirates

Record last year: 73-71

Hoosiers will have a hometown boy to root for on the Indians roster as pitcher Clayton Richard will starts his year on the AAA level. Richard is a Lafayette, Indiana native, and has seen some time in the bigs, but hasn’t been on the major-league level since 2013, after which he had two shoulder surgeries.

Catcher Elias Diaz, left fielder Alen Hanson, and outfielder Mel Rojas are all players with major league talent, but the Tribe will not have the services of Andrew Lambo: the big time slugger made the major league roster out of camp.

Columbus Clippers

Major League club:

Cleveland Indians

Record last year: 79-65

Columbus will have a glut of talent that’s had its time in the bigs.

Their starting rotation players all have names that you’ve seen play either for or against the Cleveland Indians: Bruce Chen, Shaun Marcum, Danny Salazar and Josh Tomlin will all get starts on the bump for the Clippers.

Offensively, 1B Jesus Aguilar will once again join the Clippers after falling just short in spring training: he led the Clippers last season batting .304 and netting 77 RBIs. He’ll be joined in the infield by shortstop wunderkind Francisco Lindor.

Tyler Holt, James Ramsey and Carlos Moncrief will all return to the outfield, and with Destin Hood and Jerry Sands joining them, manager Chris Tremie will have an embarrassment of riches.

Expect the Clippers to compete hard.

Louisville Bats

Major League club:

Cincinnati Reds

Record last year: 68-75

The Bats will have one of the Reds’ top prospects in the rotation this year as Michael Lorenzen takes the step up from the Red’s AA team, the Pensacola Blue Wahoos.

He’ll be joined by Dylan Axelrod and David Holmberg, who each saw a spell with the Redlegs last year, and Louisville returnees Josh Smith and Jon Moscot.

The outfield will have its share of vets and newcomers. Bats mainstays Donald Lutz and Steve Selke return to Louisville once again.

The Bats infield is a new beast: Only second baseman Hernán Iribarren returns to the Bats lineup, but is joined by IL All Star shortstop Iván De Jesús, third baseman Jermaine Curtis, and Josh Satin who can play anywhere and hit anything.

The other teams in the International League are:

Buffalo Bisons (Major League club: Toronto Blue Jays)
Lehigh Valley IronPigs (Major League club: Philadelphia Phillies)
Pawtucket Red Sox (Major League club: Boston Red Sox)
Rochester Red Wings (Major League club: Minnesota Twins)
Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders (Major League club: New York Yankees)
Syracuse Chiefs (Major League club: Washington Nationals)
Charlotte Knights (Major League club: Chicago White Sox)
Durham Bulls (Major League club: Tampa Bay Rays)
Gwinnett Braves (Major League club: Atlanta Braves)
Norfolk Tides (Major League club: Baltimore Orioles)

“Shaggy” Matt Culbreath is sports director for 1370 WSPD.

Gallery owner calling for mural designs

By

Sarah Ottney

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April 12, 2015

DeeMurals — Sixteen designs will be chosen for a series of mini-murals on the Davis Building garage door next to Delightful Art with Dee. Photo courtesy Dee Brown.

Dee Brown of Delightful Art with Dee grew tired of looking at the shabby garage door next to her gallery, which opened in December at the Davis Building, 137 N. Michigan St.

Sixteen designs will be chosen for a series of mini-murals on the Davis Building garage door next to Delightful Art with Dee. Photo courtesy Dee Brown.

She asked building manager Mike Moriarty if she could have a mural painted on it. Instead, Moriarty suggested 16 murals, one in each square of the garage door.

“I loved the idea,” Brown said. “We do things in fast motion here. Once the idea hits, we roll with it.”

Brown issued a call for artists last week and has already received 11 submissions. Up to three designs per person can be submitted by April 19 to delightfulart@yahoo.com or via Facebook at “Delightful Art With Dee’s Art With A Heart.” The only stipulation is the designs cannot contain nudity or extreme violence to maintain the gallery’s family-friendly atmosphere, Brown said.

A group of finalists will be named April 25 during Aftermatic, an Artomatic 419! afterparty and Moriarty will choose the 16 winners from that group.

The finished murals will be unveiled during a June 18 fundraiser for Brown’s Art with a Heart program, coinciding with The Arts Commissions’ Third Thursday Loop.

“This building is historical. I’m trying to add to its history and culture by adding more art, trying to bring back some of its beauty,” Brown said. “Transforming the outside with art adds some new history.”

Parrish optimistic about this year’s crop of talent

By

Jay Hathaway

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April 12, 2015

Larry Parrish is returning at the Mud Hens’ helm. Photo courtesy Toledo Mud Hens

Toledo loves its Mud Hens, and the city is ready to welcome back the team and its veteran skipper, Larry Parrish.

Parrish has seen some ups and downs in his time in the Fifth Third Field dugout, but he is optimistic about this season despite some early question marks regarding his starting pitching rotation. The questions are especially relevant since Toledo’s big league affiliate, the Detroit Tigers, are beginning the season a man short.

“The starting pitching is a little up in the air right now, with the [Justin] Verlander injury,” Parrish said.

Additionally, Mud Hen pitcher and Tigers prospect Drew VerHagen will start the year on the disabled list.

Still, Parrish has seen enough from his team this spring to give him hope.

“The bullpen looks solid right now. It seems to be a much better bullpen than we had last year.”

For his position players, Parrish said he is looking forward to seeing some of them return for a second year in Toledo to hone their skills and move up to the next level.

“[Steven] Moya is dealing with plantar fasciitis with his ankle, but we’ve got [Dixon] Machado, [Jefry] Marte at third. For the outfield, we still had a lot of these guys last year, and hopefully they do well and improve in their second year.”

The Hens recently received some additional depth behind home plate when Detroit assigned Bryan Holaday to catching duties in Toledo following spring training. Holaday bore a heavy load as the Tigers’ backup catcher last season, especially during starting catcher Alex Avila’s injury troubles.

Former Mud Hen James McCann has moved up to take Holaday’s place in Detroit.

“We’re really happy with the catching,” Parrish said. “Our catching last year with McCann was very good, and now we have Holaday, who is a guy who is known to work with a pitching staff very well.”

Parrish said Hens catcher Manny Piña should not be overlooked, either.

“Piña is a guy who can throw — I mean, he can really throw — so for catching, we’re very strong. That’s a position we have some depth at right now.”

Parrish said he can foresee McCann contributing at the big league level, especially after getting a good glimpse of his abilities in Toledo last season.

“He was always highly regarded as a catch and throw guy, and his bat is getting better and better. He is a really hardworking kid. He’s knocking on the door to be a regular big league catcher.”

Parrish also spoke optimistically about Moya’s potential, once he returns from the disabled list.

“He had super numbers last year at AA,” Parrish said. “He’s a super strong kid, and when he hits it, it goes a long way.

“But he’s also a very big kid, and those long levers that give him big pop also create some holes for pitchers to throw at, so he may have to go through a little bit of a learning curve before he gets to the big league. … But then again, he might not — you just never know.”

Parrish said neither he nor longtime Mud Hens hitting coach Leon “Bull” Durham plan on trying to shorten Moya’s swing to possibly cut back on strikeouts while sacrificing power.

“That’s not his game,” Parrish said. “He’s going to be one of those guys that hits it out of the ballpark 30-plus times and drives you in runs.”

Parrish said he is happy with the mix of player types on his roster this year, on both sides of the ball.

“We’ve got a couple different type players,” he said. “[Infielder Dixon] Machado has always been able to play defense, but he started to put up some numbers last year.”

Rounding out the team this year is minor league veteran Mike Hessman. The big man has had several stints with the Hens during his extensive career, and many of his all-time minor league record 417 career home runs came in a Toledo uniform.

The 37-year-old Hessman has seen plenty of the ups and downs minor league players endure while trying to reach the big leagues, and his presence is enough to inspire younger players around him.

“That’s a guy who leads by example,” Parrish said of Hessman. “He shows up to work every day, plays hurt, and you know what he’s going to do. He’s going to hit the ball out of the ballpark.”

Parrish, a two-time major league All Star during his own playing career, also acknowledged the significance of Hessman’s home run record.

“That’s a lot of home runs, no matter where you’re playing.”

With the regular season kicking off, Parrish is ready to compete, though he has not noticed a clear favorite among International League teams so far.

“You have no way of knowing,” he said. “In spring training, we only see about three other clubs.”

Despite the uncertainty that looms in the air on every Opening Day, there is always something to focus on and anticipate, Parrish said.

“I think you look forward every year to guys getting better, and hopefully get into the playoff picture. We want to play some extra games at the end of the year.” O

Mud Hens go retro with quirky promotions

By

Tom Konecny

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April 12, 2015

StarWars2013_Herr — The Mud Hens’ popular Annual ‘Star Wars’ Night is set for May 9. Toledo Free Press File Photo by Joseph Herr

Every self-respecting baseball executive knows that promotions are part of the game, a necessary lifeblood in order to sell tickets.

The Mud Hens’ popular Annual ‘Star Wars’ Night is set for May 9. Toledo Free Press File Photo by Joseph Herr

Thankfully, an offbeat nickname like the Mud Hens lends itself perfectly to sensible silliness, and the team’s upcoming promotional calendar will not disappoint the inner child in anyone.

“We focus on all of the opportunities during the game to entertain the fan,” said Mike Keedy, Toledo Mud Hens manager of special events. “And we always try to keep that fresh, and to be unique.”

So, can we expect bat days and dollar dogs in 2015? Please, that’s amateur night. These days it takes dinosaurs, time travel and yolk-covered uniforms to raise the promotional bar.

“‘Jurassic Park’ and ‘Back to the Future’ are probably our two biggest theme nights,” Keedy said.

During those games on June 6 and July 11, respectively, fans will see their home team dressed in movie-specific jerseys, which attendees can bid on during an in-game silent auction. Guests will also enjoy movie-themed food and drinks.

At “Back to the Future” night — which also happens to be a doubleheader — the first game will feature ’80s music, themed scoreboard graphics and an overall old-school experience, while the second will transport fans into how the Hens might look decades from now, no DeLorean required.

But perhaps its most innovate night will involve some teamwork with the opposition. That’s because frying pans are set for “Bacon & Eggs Night” on Aug. 6, where the visiting Lehigh Valley IronPigs will sport their nationally recognized bacon-themed jerseys, accompanied by what else — a new Hens egg-centric uniform.

Even the IronPigs’ front office can’t wait to see bacon facing eggs in, say, a force-out at second.

“I think [the fans] are going to laugh and get a kick out of it,” said Lindsey Knupp, IronPigs director of promotions and entertainment, who was approached by the Hens about the theme night collaboration. She agreed, figuring the Pigs-bacon vs. Hens-egg connection was too good to pass up.

“It makes too good of sense,” she said.

If looking at nearly edible uniforms wasn’t enough, your taste buds can do something about it at two food-centered specialty events this season.

One hot ticket will be the Taste of Fifth Third Field on May 8, when fans can sample featured dishes from around the stadium.

Then on July 10, the Hens are elevating the classic ballpark hot dog to a place of prominence it has never known.

“Fans can make their own [hot dog] creation with over 50 different toppings, and several different buns,” Keedy said. “The cool thing is that you can then submit your recipe, and if it wins, it will be on the menu at games next year.”

The team also unveiled new peanut-free sections for two games in April — a small step toward possible stadium-wide peanut-free games in the future.

“That hasn’t been done here,” Keedy said. “As you can imagine, logistically, it’s a difficult thing to do. So far the feedback has been great. We’ve had a lot of requests from fans.”

Speaking of Hens supporters, Keedy said they’re the ones who help shape the team’s promotional lineup each year, as every offseason it solicits requests for what fans would like to see.

“We’ve had hundreds of ideas [from fans], and if anybody ever wonders if we look at it, we absolutely do,.

“It’s all a part of immersing yourself in the community,” he said.

The 2015 promotional lineup also includes a dose of still-admired bobbleheads, “Star Wars” night, scout sleepovers and the ever-popular postgame fireworks.

To view a complete list, visit mudhens.com and click on “Tickets & Promotions.”

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