January 18th

Bobblehead and sponsor must be approved by the Grizzlies before the Chinese New Year begins. Once the holiday begins, the production factory shuts down for three weeks. With the Matt Cain promo scheduled for May 18th, missing these three weeks can be the difference in receiving the bobbleheads in time or having fans wonder why the Grizzlies didn’t deliver on their promotion. As we all know, bobbleheads are not something to mess around with when it comes to Minor League Baseball fans.

January 22nd

Almost to the finish line. If you notice, the green on the back is a lighter shade of green from the front of the base. To keep it consistent, we asked the production company to make the same color throughout the base, front and back.

January 29th

One of the crucial parts of all giveaways: the sponsor. The final mock-up was sent to us with the sponsor added, PG&E.

Sponsorships of giveaways allows two businesses to work together to grow. With PG&E, the inclusion on the bobblehead is a component of the larger sponsorship deal. By including them, they are gaining the visibility on an item that fans will display at home or in the office for a long time. Meanwhile, the Grizzlies are able to offset some of the costs of the giveaway item while still hoping to increase ticket sales for that particular game.

Want to see the final version of the Matt Cain Farm Grown Bobblehead? Come out to the game on May 18th at Chukchansi Park!

Plays of the Game
Perez hits a HR on the 2nd pitch of the game off of Brad Hand.
Dominguez hits a 3 run homerun off of Brad Hand in the bottom of the 1st.

Player of the Game
Juan Perez was the player of the Game with a single, a double and a homerun.

National Anthem
1:28.8 Eloise Golden

Song of the night
Kool & The Gang: Ladies Night
It was Ladies Night at Chuckchansi park tonight.

Fan of the game
Section 214 lady in neon orange leopard pint shirt

Random Fun Fact
Drag Kings performed tonight to Lady Marmalade

California State Senator Berryhill will also be joining us tomorrow night to speak about Farm Forum in The CRU Club at 5pm. Farm Forums are a series of “meet the speaker” engagements that will take place at every Friday home game during the 2013 season. This event will provide those involved in the agricultural industry, as well as those interested in agriculture, an opportunity to interact with representatives from government, businesses, non-profit, education, and health and wellness. Former Fresno mayor Alan Autry will be hosting all of the Farm Forums and the purchase of a ticket will include CRU club seating for the game.

January 9th
The first painted images of the Matt Cain bobblehead have arrived! Going from the clay to paint is definitely a night-and-day flip. The detail on the bobblehead is great to see, from the hat to the jersey logo to the Grizzlies sleeve patch.

The one suggestion and fix made to this version was moving him to the left. This will help center him more and not lean so heavily to the right of the base.

January 14th
This round of moldings shows the Matt Cain bobblehead moved to the left per the suggestions from last time. As shown in the photo (more visible in the photo from behind the bobblehead), the slight change makes a big difference.

The first step in creating a bobblehead is finding images of the player. We have to find a pose for the bobblehead, ideally with an accompanying photo.

Thankfully, Cain had a historic outing: a perfect game on June 13, 2012. There was an iconic image after the final out was recorded, Cain fist-pumping with a celebratory look on his face. As a staff, we felt this was a great shot to replicate our bobblehead after as it helped us deliver the message: Farm Grown to Perfection in Fresno.

We also had to find images of Cain from his time with the Grizzlies. Pitchers, especially top prospects, may be tough to gather photos of because they might be here temporarily, not leaving our team photographer an opportunity to get a good collection of photos (see: Lincecum, Tim).

Cain, though, was with the Grizzlies for all of the 2005 season, leaving us a bank of photos to select from. We also have to make sure we get all angles of the player to help show the bobblehead producers the small details of the hat, jerseys, pants, etc.

Up next, we show you the first images of the Cain bobblehead.

Weekly installment of the week that was, as told by the statistics from the baseball games themselves.

16

Brett Pill had 31 RBIs entering the week, an RBI number held in envy by the rest of the PCL as he was atop the leaderboard. Six games later, and Pill increased his RBI total to 47 RBIs after driving in 16 runs over the week. That is over 2.5 RBIs per game. If Pill only had his RBIs from this past week, he still would rank third on the Grizzlies.

Instead, Pill is leading all of baseball in RBIs, drawing affiliated baseball to drool over his gaudy RBI count. That includes Minors and Majors. The highest total in the MLB (though May 12) is Miguel Cabrera of the Detroit Tigers with 40. Pill had 40 midway through last Thursday’s (May 9) game.

5

Kensuke Tanaka had six stolen bases entering the week, which were tied for the most on the Grizzlies. The Grizzlies second baseman then went on to steal 5 bases (in as many chances) to bump his season total to 11. His 11 stolen bases are tied for the third-most in the PCL (through May 12).

Tanaka has already nearly matched the Grizzlies’ 2012 stolen base leader, Skyler Stromsmoe and his 13 steals.

Tanaka also had 13 stolen bases in all of 2012 with the Nippon Ham Fighters of Japan. The infielder has stolen as many as 34 stolen bases in a season (2010) during his career. He did have his 2011 season cut short due to a fracture in his left foot, which affected his 2012 campaign and ability to steal bases.

4

Heath Hembree entered the week tied for second in the PCL in saves, and he left the week as the league lead dog. The right-hander was a perfect 4-for-4 in save opportunities, although some of those saves were easier than others.

On May 10 at Nashville, Hembree entered the bottom of the 12th inning of an already long game (there was a one hour, 13 minute delay in the first pitch). The Grizzlies took the lead in the top half of the inning, but Hembree promptly allowed back-to-back singles to lead off the bottom half followed by a walk to load the bases. With the pressure turned up, Hembree locked in by striking out two and inducing a fly out to end the game unscathed.

In his other three outings during the week, Hembree did not allow a hit over 2 2/3 innings. (He did allow an inherited runner to score on May 7, but the run crossed home plate via a sacrifice fly. One cannot blame Hembree completely for doing what he was asked to do: get an out).

3

The Grizzlies finished the week on a three-game winning streak, and those three wins were not automatic wins either.

Each win in the three-game winning streak was of the come-from-behind nature. On May 10 at Nashville, the Grizzlies scored two runs in the top of the first — only to have that advantage evaporate when the Sounds tied the game at 2-2 in the bottom half of the first and later score one run in each the fourth and sixth innings. No fear, though, as the Grizzlies scored two runs in the seventh that forced extra-innings. The game turned out to be the longest for Fresno this season, but the wait was worth it as they walked away with a 5-4 win in 12 innings.

In the first game of the Memphis series on May 11, the Grizzlies shook off an early-game offensive slumber by breaking out for six runs in the sixth-inning. Pinch-hitter Chris Dominguez capped the frame with a three-run home run.

The next day, on May 12, the Grizzlies jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first inning. For the second time in three days, however, the Grizzlies allowed their opponent to flip the Grizzlies’ advantage into a 4-2 lead of their own. The Grizzlies rallied by scoring two runs in the seventh to force extra innings (as they did two days earlier). The only difference in the May 12 game compared to May 10: the Grizzlies scored more than one run in extra-innings. On May 12, the Grizzlies made sure there was no hope for their opponent as Fresno scored three runs in the 11th inning of an eventual 7-4 win.

2

Chris Heston went 2-0 in his two starts this past week despite posting a 6.55 ERA (8er, 11.0ip). Welcome to the PCL. He did strike out 13 and walk two. The right-hander is fifth in the PCL in strikeouts with 42 through May 12.

At the Grizzlies’ game on Friday, May 3, 2013, things got a little awkward during the ballpark staple, Kiss Cam.

1,759

The Grizzlies did something they have not done for 1,759 games: win without registering a strikeout. On May 2, Shane Loux, Jake Dunning, and Dan Runzler threw nine innings but did not fan one Sacramento River Cats batter. It did not matter, though, because the trio of hurlers limited Sacramento to five runs – while the Fresno offense supported them with 11 runs.

Prior to this past week, the last time the Grizzlies won a game without striking out a batter was August 21, 2000 at Tucson. Ryan Jensen (7.1 IP) and Jason Davis (1.2 IP) threw in the game.

The Grizzlies have played in a game in which their pitchers did not record a strikeout, though, before the 2000 season. The last time that happened was June 16, 2004, also against Sacramento. The Grizzlies had three games during the 2004 season in which their pitchers did not strike out any of their opponents.

13

Brett Pill had a hitting streak reach a baker’s dozen. His 13-game hitting streak ended on May 3, but it still matched Roger Kieschnick for the longest hitting streak by a Grizzlies batter this season. Pill had 23 hits over the 13-game stretch.

It fell one game short of tying his career-high hitting streak of 14 games set twice (Last: July 29-August 11, 2010 with Fresno).

7 1/3

Michael Kickham tossed 7 1/3 scoreless innings on May 3 vs. Colorado Springs, which was the longest outing so far by a Fresno pitcher this season. It was Kickham’s longest outing since July 12, 2012 with Richmond.

It was the most shutout innings thrown by a Fresno pitcher since another left-hander turned in a complete game shutout on June 21, 2011 vs. Salt Lake: Giants pitcher Barry Zito.

Ok, Zito was on MLB Rehab assignment. He was an established Major League pitcher (read: Cy Young winner), so pitching against Triple-A hitters was a step below from he sees every fifth day currently in his career.

So the last non-MLB-Rehab-assignment Grizzlies pitcher to throw more than 7 1/3 innings of shutout baseball before Kickham? Another left-hander familiar to Grizzlies and Giants fans: Madison Bumgarner, on May 28, 2010 vs. Salt Lake.

First

Carter Jurica delivered a walk-off single in the bottom of the 11^th inning to give the Grizzlies’ their first walk-off win of the season as they beat the Sacramento River Cats 8-7 on April 29.

The Grizzlies had 9 walk-off wins in 2012.

Farm Forum

The first Farm Forum of the season will feature George Radanovich, former U.S. Representative of California’s 19^th District. Radanovich will be on hand to discuss his experience in Washington, D.C. as a Representative for the Central San Joaquin Valley as well as his background in the wine industry.

Each Farm Forum is hosted by former mayor of Fresno Alan Autry and is held in The CRU Club before the game.

Farmer’s Market

There will be 15 vendors located along the Chukchansi Park concourse selling their products to Grizzlies fans. Which ones in particular? Here’s the list:

Wild West Eggs: free range chicken and duck eggs

Blossom Bluff Orchards: organic dried stone fruit

Pepichile: fruit and vegetable seasoning

Adams Olives: bottled olives, olive oil

Simonian Farming Company: pomegranate jelly

Friar’s Choice: honey

National Hmong American Farmers: Asian fruits and vegetables

Lanna Coffee: 12 oz. bags ground and whole bean coffee

Gary’s Organic Raisin and Herb Vinaigrette: vinaigrette

Hamada Farms: wide range of fruits

Yurosek Farms: pistachios, cherries

Vintage Cheese: varieties of cheese

Tesche Pecans: pecans

Ferrer Farms: strawberries and other fruit

Ortiz Farms: strawberries, raspberries, and blackberries

Farm Grown Theme Jersey

The Grizzlies will be wearing special Farm Grown theme jerseys during their game against the Colorado Springs Sky Sox. Fans will be able to bid on the game-worn jerseys through a silent auction. Winners will receive the jerseys right off the Grizzlies backs after the game along with a photo with the player.

The Farm Grown jersey proceeds will benefit the Carolee Boele Memorial Scholarship.

Post-Game Fireworks

A Friday night staple at Grizzlies games, fans will be able to watch the Downtown Fresno skyline be lit up a spectacular fireworks show, presented by Ag Safe.

First pitch is at 7:05 pm, but gates open at 6:05 pm. Be sure to stop by early to take in all the Friday night action.

It’s simple to be a maker. All you need is a few household items and you can make a fun, interactive project, enjoyed by children and adults.

Watch the video above to learn how to make a water bottle submarine (Grizzlies mascot Parker is not included).

Then, come out to Fresno’s first Mini Maker Faire ever on Sunday, April 21st. The event is from 12-5 pm at Chukchansi Park, which is before and during the Grizzlies game.