I'm with you! I travelled 50 minutes tonight to see the team, and will get limited sleep for my early class tomorrow just to be there to cheer them on! I would love to be able to be at their last few home games, so everyone in Batavia should take advantage of being able to be there and witness this great Muckdogs team!

Too cartoony Muckdawgs. I'd never wear a Muckdawgs hat or jersey or shirt and that takes some fun out of attending.
Never felt a -close- tie to the team, really. Guess it's too big of a small town or situated in too dumpy an area or
Pretty good family friendly entertainment, though.


How about instead of a new sign for the mall we put up some tributes to the team or some crap around town that gets noticed
rename a road
Find a way to link it with the blind school since "nobody" cares about the school much, either. I think the blind school should be really important to Batavia and I just don't see the pride there, either.

Isn't it the 10 year anniversary of the Muckdawgs? Last year?

Cartoon characters in logos are nothing new in baseball. The San Diego Padres have used the swinging frier since I was a little boy. Minor league teams all over the country have similar logos. In fact, the Muckdogs team name and logo is among the most popular -- most licensable -- in the game.

Too cartoony!? I'm a huge fan of the Muckdogs logo. That grizzle-jawed mutt looks ready to tear a new one in the pants-bottom of anyone who dares to step to the plate against his team.

I happen to like the logo.....

But on the other points that he mentioned, Lazario is right, we should continually put more focus on the Muckdogs as a big part of what keeps our local economy moving and at the heart of our community, perhaps we could rename the street in-front of the stadium to "Muckdog Ave" or something of that nature. He's also right about the Blind School, we need to put more emphasis on our innovation and opening doors for every child.

go muckdogs.When are the last games?The boys and i love going to them.

Jamestown at 1 p.m. on Sunday, then Sept. 4 at 7:05 p.m. (I am going to that one, I think); State College the 5th and 6th.

The Muckdogs sent us 20 coupons redeemable for GA admission to the Sept. 5 game (Advertiser Appreciation night).

Dan, you can have three of them to take your boys to the game, if you like. Just hook up with Philip.

And the rest are free to anybody who asks ... just let Philip know.

Howard thanks ,how do i get ahold of philip?

Dan: Give me a call at 802-3032 and we'll arrange a time for you to come by and pick them up at our office (at Main and Center).

DUMPY AREA?????? Batavia Senior High School is a stones throw away as is the New York Blind School, United Memorial Hospital,nice clean houses?
Just where would you like the ball park?
Crap around town?

Dumpy area as in the dump located right next door and the fact that not only is BHS a throw away ..so is DIY storage or whatever it is
Dumpy as in on the outskirts of the city. True, Batavia isn't that big but it still feels as though you're going "over to that end"

It's too
I dunno. Apartments mixed in with homes but not in a way that's pleasing
It's HERE ARE THE APARTMENT COMPLEXES STUCK BACK WELL FROM THE ROAD SO YOU DON'T NOTICE THEM BUT YOU SURE DON'T NOT NOTICE THAT FACT
herearethesinglefamilyhomes
Here is a dump Over there is a school and up that hill is another school but we don't talk about it much.
There ARE very nice things in the area but nothing to really promote/sell them. It's just ....THERE IT IS! and once you've past it it's as though nothing was there at all.


For the Muckdogs logo
Just my opinion. BUT "most licensable" sure is a good way to put it. The cartoony logos don't usually last very long. The Padres now use ..what? ..a WAVE in their logo? Too flavor of the month. They get tired. I like the classic, simpler designs that tend to stay for the long haul.
How do you keep traditions if you keep changing the face of Santa? Santa with an anime haircut and no hat one year in order to sell Christianity to the youth?

All I'm saying is that the YANKEES are a religion. Muckdogs have been around for a decade.

Padres still using the swinging frier. They also use a wave set against a home plate.

I think what you're getting at is really -- there's nothing around the stadium that compliments it. It's not like you can head over there, grab some dinner, walk to the game and hit a bar after (if that's your thing). It's a single-point destination.

And Batavia has had a team since 1939, with a break in the 50s, and the current team has been in town since 1959.

Perhaps I'm in the camp that you're speaking to, but I'll only claim to speak for myself when I say that the Muckdogs aren't "my" team, for a number of reasons. First, I'm not a baseball fan. I understand the appeal the sport has for many people with its surfeit of statistics, its sudden spurts of activity, and no one can argue against the game's historical place in our country's history and identity. The playoffs and World Series are something I watch, or at least check in on, but I rarely even check the standings in the regular season. So, a trip to a minor league ballpark is pretty unlikely for me.

Second, I don't have any stake in the team's success nor any connection with the players or coaches. A minor league team's goal is to audition players for a move elsewhere. That's not conducive to building my allegiance. I'm sure there's any number of people who enjoy watching young ballplayers develop and move on to the 'bigs' and I can appreciate that, but it doesn't appeal to me personally. None of this is intended as a critique. Its just an explanation of why the Muckdogs aren't 'my' team.

People will go to games or they won't go. Their sense of local loyalty probably doesn't extend too far when it comes to transient, professional athletes. Its not a knock on either the local public or the Muckdogs. Its just my take on the situation. Extolling the entertainment value of the team's games is a good strategy. Anything that smacks of scolding probably falls on deaf ears.

That's fair and a good point.
Baseball games are a great place for conversations in a beautiful setting. Who knows? You just might enjoy yourself!

I think there is a point of view that is missing. There is a slice of people who do not go for the sport. I really don't care for baseball. I don't know the players names either. I go to spend some time with my kids and sit with my friends. I like the fireworks, the promotional games between the innings and sitting out on a nice day. Having a hotdog without pulling out your own grill is nice too. The games are a way to say Hi to your neighbors, they give us something to do. The games are a part of why we live in Batavia.

Its all preference. When my two older ones played for Notre Dame, you still might find me at a Batavia High game that neither of my kids were playing in because it was a sport (football or basketball) that I liked, attended by people with whom I shared a common interest and some history. I've gone to Christmas tournaments to watch teams that have kids I've never heard of because I know the coaches and the fans. That's much more appealing to me, and I can see how its the other side of the same coin.

Russ, then I'll see you at the game on Sunday, your hotdog is on me.

Opening day at Dwyer Stadium is like the first day of school. You see all you “baseball friends” who you haven’t since the end of the last season.

I am a life long baseball fan. When I moved to Batavia 10 years ago, the Muckdogs were an added bonus.

Who is on the field is not important; what is important is the pride the fans have in this team. Because it’s community owned, it’s OUR team. Unlike every other team in professional sports, except a handful, the team is not owned by some rich guy who owns the team as a hobby. It was purchased by Batavians a dollar at a time a generation ago. That gives every member of the community a vested interest in the success of the franchise.

I am personally heavily invested in the franchise. As a season ticket holder, I attend most of the home games. I spend a lot on concessions (although it’s not nearly as much as Dave thinks!) and I buy merchandise. I wear the merchandise with pride because to me it’s more then a logo, it’s who I am. Not a Muckdog, but a BATAVIAN!

Exactly!Being around a ballpark,your ballpark,just feels good. Like hanging at the corner when you were a kid with your "buds" I've been in baseball since 1988 because I love getting paid for hanging on the corner. When I leave Batavia, I'm going to find another corner,another field with the Boys of Summer.
Looking forward to going to work is great and Dwyer Stadium was and is a little bit of summer tucked in the middle of a wonderful and safe neighborhood.

I've been to Muckdogs games. I've brought people from outside the area to Muckdog games because its a great stadium and a great atmosphere. But, its largely a novelty to me. To be honest, I've seen more Junior College (national? tournament?) games than Muckdogs games at the stadium. College and high school sports hold my interest more than lower level professional sports.

More than the Muckdogs, the atmosphere of the stadium itself holds greater appeal.

In these days of computer genrated fun for your kids a ballgame at Dwyer is the anti-internet. I see kids of all ages playing catch talking to each other or spending time with those of the opposite gender. I do not know the players and have noreal stake in whether they win or lose. I just like good baseball and the chance to get away from my TV and enjoy 3 hours in the sun/lights of the outdoors. Rember in January those pictureas of golfers in Florida and Hawaii, wishing we where there. So take the last couple of chances to go outside and spend some time with family and friends. As far as snacks,,I have heard of people buying a bag of peanuts at Wal-Mart or Northside deli and sneaking them in....you can do it with a litre of soda....I just heard about it. I would also say to those in control of the baseball operations that the current GM has done a superior job during the season. Maybe attendance is not what was expected but the preseason unsettledness may have turn some away. But Mr. Wellenzohn has shown the same energy and enthutsiasum all season and it would be a big mistake for him not to be here next year. So let us all make our feelings known up in Redwing land that we want a GM with this kind ofpersonality not a robot type intern.

All fans of Dave Wellenzohn band together a send the Red Wing front office ourdesire to keep him in Batavia for next year and many years to come. Any man that can go through the season he has and still have that smile and enthusiasium he brings to the ballpark each night is what we need in Batavia. He is the kind of person that will bring fans to the park and make sure they have a great time. Make some noise FANS and keep our GM as ours. Don't stay silent use the internet and save the DAVE.

I agree to your comment in full sir.

I used to see the "BATAVIA CLIPPERS" GAME AND GET AUTOGRAPHS when I was young.

I collected their cards Too.

They used to visit "Big Daddys" after each home game.

I love the muckdogs and say rah, rah.

Thats it for me.

This team is the best i have seen in a while. I know we are better than staten island and j-town. We have the best starter in the league in nieto and the best closer in Reifer. I see the P word in the definate future for us. We need the crowds to come out we need 2000. I can see it too. Im tired or travis bringing the number of attendance to me being in the low 1000's. We have had a crap load of promotions this year. It is going to get a hell of alot better. Im glad to see Dejohn in a happy mood these days when i get the lineups every game. He is due for a title. This City is Due for a Title. Muckdog fans i will return to the PA this sunday at 1:05.

Woah woah woah wayne ball. What do you mean by robot type intern. Thats kinda harsh dont ya say. Dont get me wrong big Dave is freaking awesome but us interns have worked pretty hard putting in 10 hour workdays when we dont get paid. This is a team effort

I WOULD RATHER JAM A FINGER IN MY OWN EYEBALL THAN GO TO A MUCKDOGS GAME.

I Love the muckdogs and will jam my finger in anyone elses's eye that plays against them.
{ KIDDING }

Thats the kinda guy I am...

Go Muckdogs! This has been one of the best season's we have had here in Batavia in a long time! Poetic Justice? We almost lost this franchise that Batavia has had since 1939! Lets get the entire community, county and western New York area out to support our team. Tell your friends, co-workers and fellow baseball fans about the special season we are having! I challenge everyone on here that has posted or read this blog to bring two people to the rest of the games and the playoffs! Look for me waving our Muckdog flag down on the beer garden! Thanks for your support! Thank you Red Wings!

Can't make it on Thursday, darn it!
We will be there (weather permitting)for Friday and Saturday.
This is an exciting finish to a great season. The entire city should be part of the experience.