Squirrels Finish Atop Eastern League

On a balmy sunlit Labor Day afternoon the Richmond Flying Squirrels came from behind with a four-run outburst in the bottom of the fourth inning. It was enough to win their last game of the season, topping the Bowie BaySox by a score of 4-3.

Although the Flying Squirrels didn’t post a winning record, 67-73, in their inaugural season in Virginia’s capital city -- with its fans much accustomed to Triple A baseball -- the Squirrels did finish with the best record in the Double A Eastern League in one rather important bottom line.

"The final crowd of the season put Richmond’s season attendance total at 463,842," the Squirrels’ Director of Broadcasting Jon Laaser said, "for an average of 6,626 fans per opening."

In what was perfect baseball weather Richmond’s fans edged out Reading’s, which averaged 6,613 for home games there.

That this feat was accomplished at The Diamond, a facility much vilified during the Great Baseball Stadium Debate of 2009, has to be even more satisfying to the Squirrels ownership and management team.

Rather than complain about the limitations of The Diamond, the story from the Squirrels front office remained positive all season long. That the team faded from being a contender in the EL in the second half of the season didn’t spoil the fun for fans who were glad be part of a baseball crowd.

Meanwhile, out in the leftfield stands, longtime Richmond Braves fan Mike Johnson was told by a friendly Squirrels staffer that he had to put his shirt back on. Alas, Johnson had grown used to basking in the sun, stripped to the waist, during sunny day games in the R-Braves era.

Johnson said he’d been to about a dozen games this season, about half as many as he was used to attending to watch the R-Braves. What does he think of the entertainment value of the Eastern League?

"Not as good a ball," grumbled Johnson with a wee smile, comparing AAA to AA. Furthermore, he is not a supporter of all the goofy on-field promotions the Squirrels like to feature between innings.

To be fair, the many children in attendance didn’t seem to be in agreement with Johnson. No, they mostly seemed to enjoy seeing Frisbees being tossed into pizza boxes for prizes, and flying water balloons, etc.

Down in the Squirrels Nest the customers for baseball caps and other Squirrels souvenirs were buying into the promotional aspects of AA baseball in a big way. T-shirts, caps and whatnot were priced at 40 percent off. The store was packed!

What was the hottest item?

"Lots of hoodies for the winter," said Shardé Dean, a cashier in the Nest.

Wayne Settle also used to attend R-Braves games regularly. Like Johnson, Settle prefers the view from the third base side. Settle said he’d been to about 10 games this season, usually on Fridays. "The Squirrels have put more effort into drawing a crowd [than did the R-Braves]."

After a sharply-hit foul ball crashed into the seats just a few rows above his seat, Settle chuckled, "I’m still wishing I was out there [on the field of play]."

In the rally the Squirrels mounted when they were down 2-0 in the fourth, Brad Boyer led off the bottom of the inning with a single. Sharlon Schoop doubled down the leftfield line to score Boyer. Then Clay Timpner contributed a single to keep it going. Juan Ciriaco pushed Richmond ahead with a timely two-run double. Eliezer Zambrano’s double down the leftfield line scored the inning’s fourth run, which proved to be enough.

Squirrels closer Rafael Cova finished the season off with a perfect top-of-the-ninth inning to record save No. 23, an EL best for 2010.

Before the last game of 2010 the Squirrels front office named award winners for the season. Outfielder Thomas Neal (.291, 12 HRs, 69 RBI) was tapped as the season’s Most Valuable Player. David Mixon (11-7, 3.50 ERA) was the Pitcher of the Year.

As far as next year is concerned, last week the Squirrels and the San Francisco Giants agreed to a two-year player-development extension. Which probably means the ultimate decision about what to do about a new or refurbished baseball stadium in Richmond needs to be made in the next year … or here we go again.

This time it won’t be so much about where to build. It will be about how to finance a sensible but state-of-the-art minor league baseball stadium on North Boulevard. The Squirrels have done their part with style.

Can the region's politicians play ball?

Squirrels Finish Atop Eastern League

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