Yard Goats manager Denorfia enjoying second season at helm
A year ago, Chris Denorfia was driving to work from his Southington home each day — or at least for each home game — and enjoying his first season as a manager with the Hartford Yard Goats, even though the team was mired in last place.
Fast forward to this season, and Denorfia is still driving to work from his Southington home, but he’s enjoying his second season at the helm much more. The Yard Goats just completed a stirring first half of their schedule, barely missing out on winning the Eastern League’s Northeast Division crown for the first half of the season, but still in great position to be playing in the postseason come September.
“I’m happiest for the guys and the progress they’re making,” Denorfia said. “They continue to get better every day. And not just individually, but as a team. That’s something we’re really stressing this year with the (parent club) Rockies. We want to develop winners, as well.”
The Eastern League’s season is divided into two halves. The Northeast Division winner of the first half plays the winner of the second half in a best-ofthree championship series in September. The winner of that round plays the winner of the Southwest Division playoffs for the Eastern
League title in another bestof-three set.
The Yard Goats entered last week needing to win four of six games against first-place Somerset to clinch the first-half title. They won three of the first four games, temporarily taking over first place, but then lost the final two, including the first-half finale on a 10th-inning walk-off homer by Yankees top shortstop prospect Anthony Volpe.
Somerset won the firsthalf title by a single game, but Denorfia wasn’t dismayed.
“Last week, just as a developmental experience, was fantastic for these guys,” he said. “To play that level of baseball this early in the year, with a chance to do it again at the end of the year, was pretty cool.”
If the Yard Goats win the second half of the season, they’ll play Somerset in the playoffs. If Somerset wins again, it will play the team with the next-best record — and the Goats have about a 13-game edge in that department over their next competitor.
The only way Hartford couldn’t reach the Eastern League playoffs is if a team other than itself or Somerset wins the second half.
“I have a feeling we’re going to be right there to win the second half,” Denorfia predicted. “But if Somerset continues with their team the way they are, we’ve got a pretty good shot
there, as well.”
Denorfia couldn’t have been happier with the way the Goats kicked off the second half.
“One of my favorite parts about it, though, is how we came in here (Tuesday),” he said. “They’re not giving out trophies in June, we’ve still got a long way to go. We got a good head-start on making the playoffs for the second half. If we continue to play like we do, then we’re going to be right in the mix again at the end.”
And that’s really what it’s all about at this level. Sure, most fans go to Yard Goats
games not exactly invested in whether the home team wins or loses. Food, fireworks shows and betweeninning contests can be just as much of an attraction.
But for players at this level, learning how to win is a big deal. Especially with Hartford, which stumbled to a grisly 39-79 record last season. Rockies’ brass want these young kids to learn how to win.
“Developmentally, it’s important for these guys to feel the pressure of baseball, to play selflessly,” Denorfia noted. “A lot of times, when you’re in the middle of a long season, your ego can get in the way a little bit, and you start thinking about your own numbers. There was no room for that last week. It was a very team-oriented atmosphere, and these guys thrived on it. We executed the game of baseball correctly. We couldn’t be prouder of the way they played last week, or the rest of the season, as well. But the way they carried themselves and represented the Rockies as they did last week in that series, it was fantastic.”
HALL OF FAME FOES
Of course, the Yard Goats also faced some big-league competition over the past week. Hall of Fame competition, you might say. On June 24 against Somerset, rehabbing Yankee reliever Aroldis Chapman threw an inning at the Goats, allowing one hit and striking out one. Chapman, a potential future Hall-of-Famer, was back again for a perfect inning on Sunday, striking out one.
Then on Wednesday, first-ballot Hall of Fame shoo-in Max Scherzer took the hill for Binghamton at Dunkin’ Donuts Park. Scherzer struck out eight over 42⁄3 innings and 80 pitches, allowing four hits, three runs (two earned) and walking one.
Prior to the game, Denorfia talked about how his players were preparing to face Scherzer.
“They’re asking questions. I just keep telling them, ‘He’s still got to throw strikes. His velocity, you’ve seen it before. You’ve seen harder, you’ve seen more spin. You’ve seen all those things that light up the (scoreboard), it’s just that you have to execute a game plan better than he executes his. He’s still got to throw strikes, he’s still going to make mistakes. Are you going to let him being a big-leaguer get in your head and get in the way of you executing your plan?’ That’s what I challenged them with. Just execute your plan, swing at strikes, take balls, and you’ve got a good shot.”
The Goats certainly got some good shots against Scherzer, none bigger than a two-run double by Aaron Schunk. The team looks like it’s picked up right where it’s left off and should be in contention for the playoffs, even if they lose a few players to promotions at some point. Shortstop Ezequiel Tovar is having a tremendous season, hitting .314 with 13 homers and 47 RBIs, and is likely ticketed to a promotion to Triple-A (or perhaps even straight to Colorado) by August. First baseman Michael Toglia (14 homers, 45 RBIs) could get promoted, as well.
But the Yard Goats have enough talent to withstand any departures. What a difference a year makes.