WINNIPEG GOLDEYES DAILY CLIPPINGS

TUESDAY, JULY 14th , 2020

- Lambson First Pitcher of the Week in 2020— Goldeyes (Steve Schuster), 7/14/20 - Goldeyes Bounce Back Against Canaries— (Steve Schuster), 7/12/20 - July 12 th Game Highlights (Video Link)—Winnipeg Goldeyes (Jason Young), 7/12/20 - Goldeyes Sink Canaries, Birds Stay in First Place— (Adam Bertsch), 7/12/20 - Goldeyes Bus Blows Tire and Hits Guard Rail Driving to Sioux Falls—CTV Winnipeg (Mason DePatie), 7/11/20 - City Fishes for New Lease Deal With Goldeyes—Winnipeg Free Press (Joyanne Pursaga), 7/8/20 - Goldeyes Manager Stressing Patience During Unique Season—Winnipeg Sun, 7/8/20

LAMBSON FIRST PITCHER OF THE WEEK IN 2020 STEVE SCHUSTER – WINNIPEG GOLDEYES – TUESDAY, JULY 14 th WINNIPEG, MB – Winnipeg Goldeyes’ left-handed pitcher Mitchell Lambson has been named the American Association’s Pitcher of the Week for July 3rd -12 th .

Over the course of the Goldeyes’ first nine games of the season, Lambson won both of his starts while posting a 0.75 ERA. The Montclair, California native combined for 10 strikeouts and three walks in 12.0 innings of work. Lambson defeated Fargo-Moorhead on Opening Night (July 3 rd ), allowing one earned run in six innings and throwing just 83 pitches. The 29-year-old followed that up with six shutout frames against the RedHawks on July 8 th on only 75 pitches.

Lambson earned Pitcher of the Week honours once during the 2019 season and was ultimately voted the American Association’s Pitcher of the Year. Lambson’s selection is the first for a Goldeyes player in 2020.

The Goldeyes open a three-game series against the St. Paul Saints on Tuesday night at Sioux Falls Stadium in which the Saints will serve as the home team. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. Lambson (2-0, 0.75) faces right-hander Matt Quintana (0-1, 3.60). All the action can be heard locally on 93.7 FM CJNU and worldwide at www.cjnu.ca

For information on Goldeyes’ merchandise and 2021 season tickets, visit the Goldeyes’ official website at www.goldeyes.com

GOLDEYES BOUNCE BACK AGAINST CANARIES STEVE SCHUSTER – WINNIPEG GOLDEYES – SUNDAY, JULY 12 th SIOUX FALLS, SD – The Winnipeg Goldeyes (5-4) beat the Sioux Falls Canaries 8-2 at Sioux Falls Stadium on Sunday evening.

The Goldeyes took the lead for good just two batters into the game when smacked an opposite-field, solo home run to left-centre.

With two outs and no one on base in the top of the second, Jonathan Moroney chopped a double just fair down the left field line and scored Winnipeg’s second run when Wes Darvill lined a single to right-centre.

Kevin Lachance opened the third with a single to right-centre. Two batters later, Lachance stole second, took third on the ensuing throwing error, and scored on Logan Hill’s sharp single up the middle. Kyle Martin walked to put runners on first and second, and the Goldeyes took a 4-0 lead on a two- out, RBI single to left from John Nester .

The Canaries cut the lead in half with two runs in the bottom of the fifth. Andrew Ely singled to left with one out and scored from first on a double to left- centre by Jabari Henry. Alay Lago followed with an RBI single to right before Goldeyes’ starter Kevin Hilton escaped further trouble.

Winnipeg re-extended its lead in the next half inning. Lachance doubled to left-centre leading off. After Sweeney was retired on a bunt attempt, Lachance stole third. Hill walked to put runners on the corners, and the Goldeyes made it 6-2 on back-to-back, two-out RBI singles from Eric Wood and Nester.

Moroney and Darvill hit consecutive singles to start the top of the seventh, and Moroney went on to score the Goldeyes’ seventh run on a Sweeney groundball to second.

In the top of the ninth, Nester coaxed a two-out, bases loaded walk to force home Sweeney to make it 8-2.

Hilton (2-0) earned the win, allowing two earned runs on eight hits in five innings. Hilton walked one and struck out two.

Sam Bragg (1-1) started for the Canaries and took the loss, allowing four earned runs on seven hits in three innings. Bragg walked two and struck out three.

Kent Hasler (2.0), Nate Antone (1.0), and Kevin McGovern (1.0) combined for four shutout innings in relief of Hilton. Hasler struck out the side in the sixth, while McGovern struck out the side in the ninth to close out the game. Eight different Goldeyes had at least one hit, while all nine starters reached base at least once. Winnipeg’s offence drew 11 walks and saw 205 pitches. Nester finished with three RBI, while Lachance and Darvill each had three hits. With the win, the Goldeyes avoided a sweep at the hands of the Canaries, which has not happened since July of 2011.

The Goldeyes open a three-game series against the St. Paul Saints on Tuesday night at Sioux Falls Stadium in which the Saints will serve as the home team. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. Mitchell Lambson (2-0, 0.75) faces right-hander Matt Quintana (0-1, 3.60). All the action can be heard locally on 93.7 FM CJNU and worldwide at www.cjnu.ca

For information on Goldeyes’ merchandise and 2021 season tickets, visit the Goldeyes’ official website at www.goldeyes.com

VIDEO: JULY 12 th GAME HIGHLIGHTS JASON YOUNG – WINNIPEG GOLDEYES – SUNDAY, JULY 12 th LINK: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZmxTZSjYz-k

GOLDEYES SINK CANARIES, BIRDS STAY IN FIRST PLACE ADAM BERTSCH – SIOUX FALLS CANARIES – SUNDAY, JULY 12 th SIOUX FALLS, S.D. -- The Sioux Falls Canaries (6-3) dropped the final game of the homestand 8-2 to the Winnipeg Goldeyes on Sunday afternoon.

Jabari Henry provided the bulk of the offense with an RBI double and a run scored, but the Birds' winning streak ended at five games. The Canaries remained in first place in the American Association standings despite the defeat.

Winnipeg (5-4) jumped out in the top of the first for the second straight day. This time it was a solo home run for Darnell Sweeney to give the Goldeyes the 1-0 lead.

Another run for the visitors came in the top of the second on an RBI single by Wes Darvill that scored Jonathan Moroney from second to increase the lead to 2-0.

Two more runs came in the top of the third for Winnipeg on RBI singles for Logan Hill and John Nester to stretch the lead to 4-0.

The Canaries cut the deficit in half with two runs in the bottom of the fifth. Andrew Ely led off with a single and scored on an RBI double by Jabari Henry. Henry came into score one batter later on an RBI single by Alay Lago to trim the deficit to 4-2.

That was all the offense the Birds could produce as Goldeyes added those two runs back in the top fo the sixth before adding another in the seventh and one more in the ninth to take the win.

Both starters on the mound picked up the decision. Kevin Hilton earned the win for Winnipeg and Sam Bragg took the loss for Sioux Falls.

UP NEXT The Canaries play their first game away from the Birdcage on Tuesday, July 14. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 in Chicago against the Dogs. Birds fans can find links to watch and listen at sfcanaries.com .

GOLDEYES BUS BLOWS TIRE AND HITS GUARD RAIL DRIVING TO SIOUX FALLS MASON DEPATIE – CTV WINNIPEG – SATURDAY, JULY 11 th WINNIPEG -- The Winnipeg Goldeyes Club took an unexpected pit stop on Friday when their bus blew a tire and hit a guard rail.

The team was travelling from Fargo to Sioux Falls when the incident happened, said a tweet from the team's general manager.

The bus driver was able to keep control of the bus and avoid a more serious incident.

In his tweet, the GM said all players and staff are okay.

Danielle Doiron, a spouse of one of the players, also posted a photo with a caption that said in part, "Beyond grateful for highway guardrails after the [Goldeyes] bus crash earlier today."

She said her husband, Kevin McGovern, told her the guardrail stopped them from flipping into a ditch. The rail ended about five feet from where the bus made contact, and Doiron said it easily could have been much worse.

The Goldeyes are one of six American Association teams competing in a shortened season. As the league's only Canadian team, it is playing as a "road-only" team this season.

The , Sioux Falls Canaries, , and the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks are sharing their stadiums with the road-only teams and acting as hub cities.

So far, the Goldeyes are 4 and 3 this season, putting them third among the six teams.

CITY FISHES FOR NEW LEASE DEAL WITH GOLDEYES JOYANNE PURSAGA – WINNIPEG FREE PRESS – WEDNESDAY, JULY 8 th A NEW stadium lease could soon be struck with the Winnipeg Goldeyes — if the baseball team and city council approve it.

In a new report, city staff propose a 15-year lease agreement for Shaw Park to replace the Goldeyes’ current $1-per-year lease.

Instead, the team would pay an annual rent of $75,000 in Years 1 to 5, $85,000 in Years 6 to 10, and $95,000 in Years 11 to 15.

The current lease for Shaw Park is set to expire July 27, 2023.

City staff also propose to offer the independent league team annual grants that equal the amount of entertainment tax the club pays each year ($325,000 in 2019), as well as the municipal portion of property taxes on the ballpark itself ($43,100 in 2019).

Those grants would last until Nov. 14, 2029, when a similar deal with / Moose owner True North Sports and Entertainment Ltd. expires.

Coun. Cindy Gilroy, chairwoman of council’s property and development committee, said little about the proposal Tuesday, other than to note it would require millions of dollars of taxpayer support over its term.

"The proposed agreement represents a multimillion-dollar subsidy for a team, so I will be scrutinizing it thoroughly throughout the committee process," Gilroy (Daniel McIntyre) said in a brief emailed statement.

Meanwhile, Goldeyes president/owner said he’s concerned the report overlooks the team’s $13-million investment in its $20-million ballpark’s original price. Shaw Park opened in 1999.

Katz, a former Winnipeg mayor, said that investment helped spark the initial $1-per-year lease and should be acknowledged within any new deal. "We think we’ve paid our fair share."

He also called the proposed tax grant "pretty standard," noting the same benefit is provided to the Jets of the NHL and of the CFL. However, he expressed concern about the clause that specifies those grants would last only until 2029.

"If that expires, the Goldeyes would expire as well. The business model doesn’t work that way," said Katz.

The baseball team is also concerned the lease proposal includes a parking lot at 41 Westbrook Ave. for its initial 15-year term, but not necessarily during two optional five-year extensions.

Katz said the team wants to keep its current home but must ensure a viable business model, especially after COVID-19 is forcing it to play all American Association of Independent Professional Baseball games in the United States this season.

"There’s no secret what we’re going through right now. We’ll have zero revenue for 20 months… That’s hard to overcome, let alone survive," he said. Gord Chappell, a real estate administrator for the city, said the new rent amount was chosen based on an appraisal. Chappell said the city also wants to keep its options open for some parts of the downtown stadium site, such as potentially redeveloping the Westbrook parking lot after the initial lease ends.

"We want to maintain that right to potentially redevelop that lot if it becomes available. Otherwise, it very well might be included in a future option to extend (the lease)," he said Tuesday.

Coun. Brian Mayes (St. Vital), a former Winnipeg property and development chairman, said he believes the lease proposal offers a fair deal for the city, and plans to support the deal.

"For the next 20 years or so, this is the best use for the land, and it’s a good amenity for downtown," said Mayes.

"You have people saying we shouldn’t subsidize this. Well, we subsidize the Jets a whole lot more."

Council’s property and development committee will vote on the report July 13.

GOLDEYES MANAGER STRESSING PATIENCE DURING UNIQUE SEASON WINNIPEG SUN – WEDNESDAY, JULY 7 th All things considered, the American Association’s opening weekend was a success.

The Goldeyes won two of three from the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks, and came within three outs of sweeping the series. All six clubs participating in this unique season earned at least one victory, including the first in the managerial careers of Milwaukee’s Anthony Barone and Fargo-Moorhead’s Chris Coste.

Sunday presented a brief setback when a positive COVID-19 test resulted in the postponement of a game between the Milwaukee Milkmen and Chicago Dogs. However, those same two teams returned to action Tuesday during Chicago’s home opener at Impact Field.

Still, the league is only four games into an abbreviated 60-game schedule, and Goldeyes manager Rick Forney is fully aware of the need to stay vigilant over the long haul.

“You don’t know what to expect, because you just don’t know how much the players are ready for it physically or mentally,” Forney said. “You have to respect the process and let them go out there and play, but protect their health at the same time. Both their baseball health and doing the best you can to fight the COVID situation as well.”

One of the unique aspects of the American Association is a burning desire to compete and win up and down the hierarchies of each organization. That competitive spirit is no more evident in the field managers.

Given everything that had to break right just for the league to make last weekend a reality, Forney admits expectations have to be managed somewhat, at least in the short term.

“This isn’t easy on these guys,” said Forney. “They’re basically getting out of bed, coming up here, and playing. You can’t be impatient with them. There are so many unknowns this year, and it’s going to be a different feeling for everybody.”

One of the reasons Forney is stressing patience is the understanding that early-season games weren’t the only development tool players missed out on. With gyms and baseball facilities unavailable during the peak of the lockdown, even the most dedicated of players had a difficult time maintaining a consistent routine.

“I built my own home gym in my basement to stay in shape,” Goldeyes pitcher Kevin McGovern said. “I would long toss alone to build my arm up. Friends from home that I played ball with also agreed to stand in and catch me whenever I needed it. I wouldn’t be as close to ready without them.”

Winnipeg scored 31 runs in the three-game series against Fargo, but its team defence may have been most impressive. In normal years, it could take anywhere from two to three weeks for a collective defence to catch up to game speed. However, the Goldeyes committed just one error and turned eight double plays, two of which would have led to the RedHawks immediately winning Sunday’s game had they not been turned.

Upon their arrival in Fargo two weeks ago, Forney has observed a very tangible desire in his players. And even with expectations tempered for the moment, Forney’s goal each night is the same as it has been since he took over as manager in 2006.

“For me, if we’re at the ball park to play a real game, and they’re keeping score, then we want to win,” Forney concluded.