The Long Island Ducks defeated the Somerset Patriots tonight, earning the 2016 Liberty Division Championship title and the right to play the Sugar Land Skeeters this week for the Atlantic League Championship.
The Ducks became just the second team in league history to rally from an 0-2 start to win a best-of-five playoff series. (The 2001 Patriots were the first to pull it off, defeating the Newark Bears.)
The Ducks are managed by former New York Mets infielder Kevin Baez. Buddy Harrelson is a part-owner and part-time coach (though unfortunately he no longer travels with the team, even during the playoffs.) Former Mets 2B Ruben Gotay and LHP Daniel Herrera are part of the Ducks’ roster.
Unfortunately, Long Island’s victory means I saw my last live baseball game of 2016 on Thursday. I’m afraid I won’t be traveling to Central Islip to see the finale of the Atlantic League Championship Series, or down to Philadelphia to see the Mets and Phillies wrap up the 2016 MLB season. (And MLB playoffs, should the Mets make it and get to host any games, are too cost-prohibitive.)
But that’s okay… 2017 will be here before we know it.
PaulHadsall.com 