Keith Elkins on the Lexington Legends

There is lots of excitement this week around Whitaker Bank Ballpark as the Legends get ready to open the season Thursday night, April 7 against the Charleston RiverDogs.  Tuesday is the annual media luncheon, where Manager Rodney Linares will introduce his staff and the players.  The luncheon begins at 11:30 a.m. at the ballpark.   Fans are welcome to attend.  Tickets are $22 in advance, $27 at the door.  Call me at 859 422-7859 or send an e-mail to kelkins@lexingtonlegends.com.  Game time Thursday night is 7:05 p.m.  It’s a Thirsty Thursday, and there will be fireworks after the game.  Check out lexingtonlegends.com for more information.  The homestand continues Friday, Saturday and Sunday with games against Charleston, and then top draft pick Bryce Harper and the Hagerstown Suns come to town for four games April 11-14.

The weekly radio show, Legends Inside Scoop, will air at 7 p.m. Wednesday this week instead of Tuesday due to NCAA women’s basketball coverage on WLXG-AM, ESPN Sports Radio 1300.

Just back from Astros’ spring training in Kissimmee, FL.  Talked with manager Rodney Linares and several former Legends, and got a look at some of the players who are expected to be with Lexington in 2011.  Last week’s “Inside Scoop” radio show originated from Kissimmee, and there will be more interviews from spring training on this week’s show. Inside Scoop airs Tuesday nights at 7 p.m. on ESPN Sports Radio 1300, WLXG.   Baseball this week at Whitaker Bank Ballpark:  EKU vs. Marshall Tuesday at 3 p.m.;  Carroll Co. vs. Franklin Co. Thursday at 7 p.m.   Legends opener is Thursday, April 7 at 7:05 p.m. at Whitaker Bank Ballpark against the Charleston RiverDogs.

Former Legends Koby Clemens, J.D. Martinez, Jiovanni Mier, Doug Arguello, Sammy Gervacio and Rene Garcia were among the players reassigned to minor league camp today by the Legends’ parent club, the Houston Astros.   Optioned to the minor leagues were former Legends Jorge DeLeon, Arcenio Leon and Jimmy Paredes.   The Astros now have 49 players remaining in major league camp.  High school baseball is coming up at Whitaker Bank Ballpark: March 23-Nelson Co. vs. Woodford Co.; March 24th-Rockcastle Co. vs. Estill Co.; March 31st-Carroll Co. vs. Franklin Co.  Also, Eastern Kentucky takes on Marshall March 29th.  Due to NCAA basketball coverage this week on ESPN Sports Radio 1300, Legends Inside Scoop will air tonight (Monday) at 7 p.m. instead of its usual Tuesday night time slot.  We’ll go back to Tuesdays next week.

The Legends caravan rolls on to Manchester today (Wednesday, March 9).  We’ll be at the Manchester Wal-mart from 4 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. with Legends souvenirs, schedules and a chance to win tickets to opening day.  We’re just 28 days away from the 2011 season opener at Whitaker Bank Ballpark against the Charleston RiverDogs.

The 2011 season opener is just 37 days away!  The Legends annual Fan Fest is set for Saturday, March 5 from 10 a.m.- 2 p.m. at Whitaker Bank Ballpark.  Fan Fest marks the first day that tickets to individual games will be on sale.  In addition, those who have purchased season ticket packages may pick up their tickets.   Ballpark tours and plenty of fun for the kids, along with some great food from our partners at Chick-fil-A, Penn Station, Repicci’s Italian Ice and Waffle House will be part of Fan Fest as well.  (There will be free food for anyone who buys individual game tickets at the box office windows or picks up their 2011 season seat package.)  A free nacho bar will be offered, and Pepsi, cold beer and mixed drinks will be available for purchase.  For more information, call 859 422-7867 or visit www.lexingtonlegends.com.  The Legends also are teaming with St. Baldrick’s Foundation to fight cancer in children.  Hair stylists from Bak 4 More Studio will be at the ballpark to shave heads and raise funds for St. Baldrick’s, which supports children’s cancer research.  For more information about St. Baldrick’s, contact Lauren Shrader at 859 422-7854 or lshrader@lexingtonlegends.com.

From spring training camp in Kissimmee, Florida:  Right-hander Jordan Lyles, who set the Legends’ single-season strikeout record with 167 K’s in 2009, is scheduled to pitch for the Astros Wednesday in a spring training game against the New York Yankees. Shortstop Jiovanni Mier, second baseman Jimmy Paredes and third baseman Jonathan Meyer, all of whom played in Lexington in 2010, saw action for Houston in the Astros’ spring training opener today (Monday) against the Atlanta Braves.  The Braves won the game 13-3.

Busy week for the Legends staff — caravan continues with stops in Richmond and Somerset Wednesday, and in Columbia Thursday.  We’re at the EKU Powell Building from 1-2:30 p.m. Wednesday, where MLB umpire Sam Holbrook, an EKU grad, is our guest.  Then we move on to Gold’s Gym in Somerset from 4-5:30 p.m.   Legends’ Hall of Famer Josh Anderson will join us there.  Thursday afternoon we’re in Columbia at Wendy’s on Jamestown Road from 3:30-5 p.m. Central time. We’ll have Legends items to give away, and fans can register for a chance to win tickets to opening night April 7.  Tonight’s Inside Scoop show (7 p.m. on ESPN Sportsradio 1300) features interviews with some of our caravan guests from the Lexington stop last week, including former big leaguers Jeff Parrett, Willie Blair, John Shelby and Andy Green, as well as Ben Revere, who was called up last September by the Minnesota Twins.  National Anthem tryouts are this weekend at Fayette Mall, and Fan Fest is set for March 5.  We’re just 59 days away from opening day 2011.  More info at lexingtonlegends.com.

Had a great time at the Legends’ caravan stop Thursday night at Calistoga Cafe in Lexington.  Thanks to our baseball guests, who met with fans, signed autographs and did several interviews…Willie Blair, Andy Green, Keith Madison, Marcus Nidiffer, Jeff Parrett, Ben Revere, Dick Robinson, Chaz Roe, Jeremy Shelby, John Shelby Jr. and John Shelby III.  Thanks also to Chris Cross, Mike Cameron, Matthew Laurance and producer Ressie Dukes of the Sports Huddle program on ESPN sportsradio 1300, the Legends’ flagship station, which broadcast Thursday night’s show live from Calistoga.   And check out Mark Maloney’s story about Marcus Nidiffer, who may become the first former Wildcat to play for the Legends.  It’s on kentucky.com.  Thanks to Jeremy, the manager at Calistoga, and all the staff for their big part in the making the event a success.  And of course, thanks to all the Legends fans who stopped by.  It was good to see you.  We’re all looking forward to the 2011 season.

First entry to the blog from Whitaker Bank Ballpark!  Thanks to everyone who came out for the announcement Thursday.  The weather was bad and getting worse in the late afternoon, but we had a great turnout.   New signage is up, with more to come.   The Legends annual caravan will make its Lexington stop Thursday, Feb. 3 at Calistoga Bakery Cafe, 2217 War Admiral Way near the intersection of Winchester Road and Sir Barton Way.  More details will be announced soon, but as always, we’ll have several baseball guests with us.  Watch for more information at www.lexingtonlegends.com.   It’s just 73 days until the season opener, Thursday, April 7 at 7:05 p.m. against the Charleston River Dogs.  Former Legends Jordan Lyles, Patrick Urckfitz, J.D. Martinez, Jiovanni Mier, Rene Garcia and Koby Clemens have been invited to major league spring training with the Houston Astros, the Legends’ parent club.  Several 2010 Legends are among the players invited for the early mini-camp.  Pitchers Tanner Bushue, Jose Cisnero, Brad Dydalewicz, Zach Grimmett, Juan Minaya and Yordany Ramirez, along with catchers Ben Heath and Roberto Pena will get a look from Astros Manager Brad Mills and his staff before they turn their full time and attention to the big leaguers’ workouts and exhibition games.  Several former Legends from 2009 are also on the mini-camp roster, including pitchers Kyle Greenwalt, Ross Seaton, Danny Meszaros and Matt Nevarez, and outfielder Jay Austin. 

Happy 2011!  We’re 91 days away from opening day, Thursday April 7.   The Legends will get the baseaball momentum going with the annual caravan in February.  The schedule should be final in just a few days, so watch for that at www.lexingtonlegends.com, and make plans to join us at a stop near you.  The Astros continue to work on strengthening the farm system, so we’re optimistic that the Legends will again field a competitive, entertaining team in 2011.  The 2010 team finished at 71-68 and had several outstanding individual performances, led by South Atlantic League batting champion and MVP J.D. Martinez, and Legends MVP Jake Goebbert.  Be sure to catch Legends Inside Scoop on ESPN Sportsradio 1300 each Tuesday night from 7-7:30 p.m.