July 17, 2008 08:05 am
—
By Ed Farrell
Herald Assistant Sports Editor
FORGET ABOUT Major League Baseball’s 3-day break for its annual All-Star Game, because it’s just another marathon day at the office for Mahoning Valley Scrappers’ general manager Dave Smith.
While the Scrappers celebrate their 10th-year anniversary this season, Smith and his staff circumvent an uneasy economy, while navigating other options for consumers’ entertainment dollar.
As Major League Baseball’s traditional midpoint arrived, the Single-A Short Season Scrappers stood 12-15 while embarking on the longest road trip — Lowell, Mass. — of their 76-game regular-season slate.
“Somebody has to be at the office,” Smith said Monday night between innings of the Scrappers-Hudson Valley Renegades game. In addition to his daily duties, Smith also needed to partake Tuesday in a community-related engagement at Eastwood Field.
Although $4 per gallon gasoline has adversely affected families’ incomes in an already tough economic and employment climate in northeast Ohio and northwestern Pennsylvania, the Scrappers have been steady. Average attendance has dwindled from the franchise’s first two seasons (5,344 in 1999; 5,429 in 2000) to last summer’s 3,703, but that steadfast survival skill is a source of pride for Smith, who was seen helping seat a few fans prior to Monday’s game.
“I think it’s just minor league baseball as a whole. I mean, obviously, there’s a game going on, there’s talent (that) the Indians are developing these guys. But it’s so much more to the fans that come out here to a game,” he recently related. “There’s the action going on, but it’s all the additional things — the fun, the promotions, the entertainment.
“We always like to call on our mission statement, which we set up back in ’99 when we first came to town. ... basically that it’s the goal of the organization to provide fun, affordable family entertainment, while at the same time building a long-term relationship within the community. So I think we’ve really accomplished that over 10 years,” Smith assessed. “We continue to entertain. I think our product is still the most affordable entertainment option anywhere ($9 box seats, $7 general admission; $2.50 parking) here in the valley — northeast Ohio, for that matter. I think fans can really come out here
See NOTEBOOK, page B-3
for a very affordable night, bring the kids out and enjoy baseball, enjoy concessions, enjoy fireworks, enjoy give-aways and different promotions. It’s just, overall, a fine entertainment experience.”
Under manager Teddy Kubiak (currently Cleveland’s defensive coordinator), the Scrappers posted back-to-back New York-Penn League Pinckney Division titles (43-33 in ’99, 48-28 in 2000) before embarking on a roller-coaster ride (26-49, 46-30, 38-36, 46-34, 33-43, 40-36 and 37-37) under Dave Turgeon (’01), Chris Bando (’02), Kubiak again (’03), Mike Sarbaugh (’04), Rouglas Odor (’05-06) and Tim Laker (’07). Five times during the past six seasons the Scrappers ended as Pinckney Division runners-up. This season former Indians’ All-Star Travis Fryman is at the helm.
“Anytime you have somebody with Travis’ big-league resumé, I think it resonates within the community here,” Smith observed. “I think he’s going to be a great draw for the community; I think he’s going to be a great asset, too, for the Indians’ organization. With this being a developmental league and a lot of these players getting their first taste or professional baseball, I don’t think you could ask for a better type of mentor than somebody that’s had 10 years in the major leagues, a 5-time All-Star. The credentials speak for themselves, and I think that’s going to be a huge asset to mentor these young kids,” Smith praised.
The 35-year-old Smith, after interning for a year with the Atlanta Braves’ Class AAA Richmond affiliate, joined what was then Palisades Baseball (now AML Entertainment) in 1996 with the Erie Seawolves, then came on board with the Scrappers soon after the ’99 season.
“It’s been an enjoyable run for me. It’s my 13th year in baseball,” Smith began, relating, “I’m from the school of ‘guy that used to play baseball and realized that the day had finally come where I wasn’t going to be able to be where these guys are today,’ ” he said gesturing toward the field. “So it allowed me an opportunity to pursue a career and work in baseball. It keeps me close to the game.”
When the Scrappers commenced the campaign a month ago on a Tuesday night, it meant a 20-hour day for Smith, beginning approximately 5 a.m. that morning and continuing until at least midnight or 1 a.m.
“ ... but you come with a smile on your face ’cause it’s opening day,” he emphasized, later noting,
“My enjoyment comes each night here, seeing the fans, seeing the enjoyment on their faces and realizing that we’ve done something to put a smile on their face.”
Copyright © 1999-2008 cnhi, inc.
Photos
Ed Farrell, Herald assistant sports editor. The Herald