If you love minor-league baseball, the Red Wings aren't the only show in the Rochester area. A little ways west down the Thruway sits Dwyer Stadium, the home of the Batavia Muckdogs, a member of the NY-Penn League, a Single-A, short-season group of 14 teams scattered across New York, Pennsylvania (hence the name, I suppose) and New England. (The Staten Island Yankees won the title last year.) The Muckdogs kicked off their 20th season last night with a road game at the Auburn Doubledays. Unfortunately, the contest was suspended in the second inning with the score knotted at 1-1. However, the 'Dogs home opener is tonight at 7:05 p.m. against those same Doubledays. This afternoon I talked to Batavia GM Derek Sharp and asked him how this year's team looks. "We got rained out last night, so it's kind of hard to tell right now, but I think we'll be good," he said. I was hoping he'd elaborate a little more, but he seems to be a man of few words. As a result, I don't know much about this year's team, other than it's managed by Mark DeJohn. They also have a very cute muckdog mascot named Maxwell. The 2007 campaign actually holds huge meaning for the franchise — after 19 seasons as an affiliate of the Philadelphia Phillies, the team inked a two-year player development deal with the St. Louis Cardinals in September. Again, Sharp was very succinct. "We're definitely looking forward to it," he said. Single-game tickets are only $6 for box seats and $5 for general admission. You can but some of them by calling (585) 343-5454 or going to Dwyer Stadium at 299 Bank St. in Batavia. For more general information, check out www.muckdogs.com. I definitely plan on catching a few games. I love road trips, and I love minor-league baseball. And how can you not root for a team named the Muckdogs?

 

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