BridgeH20: Road Warriors

Despite repeatedly insisting that he was Chinese and not Japanese, the Bridgewater Weasels still sent Chien-Ming Wang out onto the mound in Tokyo believing that he could excel in his home country. They were right... about the excelling. Wang pitched nine strong innings in front of his Japanese brethren.


Road Warriors
Stevie Miller, BridgeH2O Today

Starting off the season on a two week road trip around the world, Bridgewater comes home with the best record in the EHCC.

First, it was a trip across the country to Golden where the Weasels battled all week but pulled out the big win behind the bats of Derek Lee and Nate McLouth, along with the pitching of Chien-Ming Wang and Tim Hudson. Then, the team took the long flight to the other side of the world to face the Omyoujis in Tokyo. There, Ryan Howard and Lance Berkman’s bats came alive and a couple of pitching gems by Wandy Rodriguez and Joe Saunders sealed the deal.

Manager Kenny Beltram said “I like what I’m seeing out of this team thus far, we’re getting production out of all our guys, both young and old.”

Some of the old agree.

“We’re clicking together real well right now,” said Berkman, “well beside Placido who is just awful right now, but it’s okay because he’s Dominican.”

The Weasels are going to need Polanco’s bat for next week’s match against the Piglets. Alex Rodriguez did not get off to the hot start like he had a year ago, but he’s still putting up decent numbers.

A-rod had a few off the field issues before the season, like being fined by Weasels General Manager Nastra Diggus for his cover of the EHCC 2008 the video game where A-rod was donning a baby blue and white Santo Domingo uniform, which is far from the Weasels crimson red and black colors.

When asked why he was wearing the wrong uniform, A-rod responded, "Well I was running late to the photo shoot because I came straight from the strip club and didn't have time to stop at home and grab my uniform. You know how it is, eight lap dances are never enough and I had to make it rain at least one time before I left. So when I got to the photo shoot the only uniform they had there was a Santo Domingo outfit."

When asked if this would be a distraction on the season, he replied “no I should be fine. The fine is just going to cost the guys down at the strip club a days pay from me.”

With the Weasels now coming back to Bridgewater for their home opener, they have a tough week ahead of them. Facing a very good Quebec City they will have their work cut out for them.

“They are a great team and this will be a great test for us,” said Beltram. “Hopefully we can show people we deserve to be in first.”

Although the Weasels did get another boost going into this week with the signing of Brandon Lyon and the return of B.J. Ryan from injury, they have the possibility of four closers in their bullpen for the first time in team history.