Rock Cats Baseball

Rock Cats Positioned For A Run At The Playoffs

NEW BRITAIN — There's a little more spring in their step, a little more volume in their dugout, a little more of everything.

The season is coming to an end but the New Britain Rock Cats are still in contention.

"A lot of teams aren't in the position we're in," said Brian Dozier, who hit a two-run homer in the Cats' 3-1 victory over first-place New Hampshire Friday night. "For a lot of teams, the season is dragging on. It's a lot more fun when you have something to play for."

A year ago, the Rock Cats finished 44-98, one of the worst records in all of minor league baseball. Many of those players returned to New Britain this year, including righthander Bobby Lanigan (7-9, 4.49 ERA), who pitched seven scoreless innings to get the win Friday.

"It's a complete 180 from last year," Lanigan said. "When you're in a situation like we were in last year, you're looking at yourselves as individuals and asking 'OK, what can I do to get better for next year?' We're through that phase now. To be playing at this level, you have to be a competitive person and our goal from day one was to make the playoffs as a team."

What hasn't changed from last year is the fan support. Some 8,192 turned out Friday to see the Rock Cats and the fireworks that followed the game. There have been 10 rainouts, so breaking the franchise record or reaching 400,000 for the season are no longer goals in play, but the Cats are averaging more than 5,700 per game, which would be a franchise mark.

"And you can feel the intensity," Lanigan said. "When Joe Benson hit that triple in the first inning, it was loud. And we feel that."

The Rock Cats (62-63) got off to a good start this season and at one point were 10 games over .500. Then came a midseason lull — they lost 9 of 10 between July 30 and Aug. 10 — and a tumble down the standings. But the recent road trip seems to have rejuvenated the Rock Cats, who have won six of their last nine.

"We've been playing hard all year, I expect that," Rock Cats manager Jeff Smith said. "But this last road trip, you could feel the intensity pick up. It was a little louder in our dugout. Even [Thursday], when we lost 8-7 at Binghamton, we came back [from a 6-3 deficit] to tie that game, and we had good intensity tonight. The guys know they're playing for something.

Eastern League Report: New Britain Rock Cats ... - Baseball Digest

Trenton, New Jersey – If there is a such thing as ‘bullpen mentality’ Tyler Robertson is proving he has it.

The Twins decision to convert Robertson from a starter to a reliever has been successful, though not without some early bumps in the road.

“It the beginning it was a little bit of an adjustment,” Robertson said before the New Britain Rock Cats began a series against Eastern League rival Trenton Thunder. “But I think the biggest thing is that I feel a lot more confident and I’m keeping the ball down better.”

Drafted by the Twins in 2006 in the third round, Robertson has spent two seasons with the Rock Cats. In 2010 he made just one appearance for Triple-A Rochester, but went 4-13 for New Britain. He finished the season with a 5.41 ERA, allowing 57 walks in the process, the most of his career.

His time in the Arizona Fall League in 2010 didn’t produce a lot of positive results. Robertson’s excellent professional debut in 2007 was followed by a 2008 season-ending injury. His 127 strikeouts in 2007 in the Midwest League had Twins brass and fans looking forward with excitement. Robertson has had his troubles since then, but the Twins haven’t given up. Reassessing his future, they saw an opportunity to send him in a new direction.

Asked if the decision was not a welcome one, Robertson is honest.

“Yeah, a little bit at first. You kind of take it as a demotion, but it’s really not. They told me that’s where they thought I had the best chance of moving up. I still believe I can start, but if the bullpen is a better fit, we’ll see what happens.”

The twenty-four-year-old is 9-3 with 16 saves in 84 innings of work. He’s allowed just six home runs this season.

Robertson’s unconventional delivery caused worry that he could run into more injuries in his career. Putting him in the pen allows him to use stamina and that big arm without being overworked. If he’s economical it can only put him in a better position to be successful. So far, the plan is working.

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