Ducks to celebrate their 10th anniversary
The Long Island Ducks will note their 10-year anniversary with the return of a fan-voted all-time team to Citibank Park before today's 5:05 p.m. game against the Somerset Patriots.
"We're starting a Hall-of-Fame type situation here," Ducks co-owner and former Met Bud Harrelson said. "You've got some history now."
The team of 11 - which includes one player for each starting position, a utility player and a closer - features three current Ducks: Ray Navarette in the utility spot, closer Bill Simas and starting pitcher Randy Leek.
Former Mets third baseman Edgardo Alfonzo was named to the team at shortstop, as was former centerfielder Justin Davies, the team's all-time leader in games played, hits and stolen bases. Drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays in 1998, Davies played the first of six seasons with the Ducks in 2000, the team's inaugural year.
"He was as good a centerfielder as you're going to have out there," Harrelson said. "We brought in major league guys who were supposed to be real good and he was better. Some of these guys were just moving through, Justin didn't care if he went anywhere - he was playing every day."
Davies hit .266 in 96 regular season games for the 2004 Ducks team that won the franchise's only Atlantic League title. Today's game also marks the anniversary of the Ducks' first playoff clinching win, which came in that championship season.
Harrelson got an early return visit from one of the all-time team members, first baseman Doug Jennings, another six-year veteran. Jennings, who works as a hitting coach in Florida, stopped by Friday night during a 7-6 loss to the Somerset Patriots (19-9), who lead the Freedom Division.
"It's reminiscing the years that we won with some of these guys, and guys that have moved on," Harrelson said.
Friday's loss was the eighth in a row for the Ducks (12-15), who entered Saturday four games out of first place in the Atlantic League's Liberty Division.
Despite the losing streak, a few Ducks have played consistent. Entering Saturday, Juan Francia had hit safely in 11 straight games, and Lew Ford had reached base in 25 straight.
