Aberdeen was a proving ground Wednesday night. Major league prospects, rather than Army ordinance, were being tested off I-95 in Ripken Stadium, as the Aberdeen IronBirds hosted the second annual New York-Penn League All-star Game.
George Greer, the Brooklyn Cyclones manager, took the helm of the National League affiliate all-stars last night.
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“This provides a wonderful experience for players to come and visit with players from other teams,” Greer said. “It gives them a sense of camaraderie among baseball players, and it gives them a chance to showcase their talents in a little more relaxed atmosphere.”
The Brooklyn manager said he enjoys meeting all the different players from around the league.
“I am familiar with the names but need to get names with faces,” Greer said. “You see them with hats and helmets and you see them 300 feet away, and you don?t get to know them and they don?t get to know you either.”
Greer said his strategy in the game, which ended too late to be included in this edition, was to keep everybody happy.
“I am trying to get to the point where no one has a vendetta out for me or the Brooklyn Cyclones because they didn?t play.”
Oneonta Tigers second baseman Scott Sizemore was in the home dugout for the first time as a member of the American League affiliate team. The Detroit Tigers? fifth-round draft pick in 2006, Sizemore came into theall-star game with a .333 average.
“It is always a challenge,” he said. “It is a pitcher?s game, really. It gets harder when they see your average and they start throwing you a little more breaking balls.”
While Sizemore said he didn?t really think about making this all-star game, Vermont Expos outfielder Michael Daniel had made it a goal at the beginning of the season.
“I set out to get here, and I am glad that I achieved it,” said the University of North Carolina graduate. “I had some good breaks go my way, and I am looking forward to playing in the all-star game.”
Daniel, who was drafted by the Washington Nationals in the seventh round this year, said that despite the nature of the all-star game and the developmental NYPL, he still wants to win every night.
All-stars in Aberdeen
» George Greer has guided the Brooklyn Cyclones (32-22) into first place in the McNamara Division, four games ahead of the IronBirds.
» Scott Sizemore has 30 RBI with his .333 average. He has 10 doubles, four triples and three home runs.
» Michael Daniel lives in Charlotte, N.C., but is originally from New Orleans. “I had a lot of family members go through Katrina,” he said. “It definitely put things in perspective.”
