LaPoint proud of Ducks
The Ducks' season - which featured solid years from longtime Duck Randy Leek and new additions Matt Esquivel and Robinson Cancel, brief stints by former major-leaguers Sidney Ponson and Kip Wells, unfortunate injuries to league MVP Ray Navarrete and an Atlantic League All-Star Game on Long Island - will come to an end this week.
Although there won't be postseason baseball at Suffolk County Sports Park this season, Ducks manager Dave LaPoint is proud of the way his team played.
"The team has been in the hunt of things all year long even with the amount of injuries we have suffered," he said. "As a manager, all you can do is ask that they played hard right until the very end."
LaPoint, who also managed the Ducks in 2007 and 2008, spent 12 seasons in the majors, including two with the Yankees, after being drafted by the Brewers in the 10th round of the 1977 amateur draft. The lefthander won 80 games with a 4.02 ERA.
Q&A
Most memorable Ducks moment of 2010?
"Matt Esquivel's walk-off home run earlier in the season [a 5-4 win over Newark on July 20]."
Most memorable moment of your baseball career?
"Winning the 1982 World Series."
Most intimidating batter you ever faced?
Most embarrassing on-field moment?
"Dropping a routine ball at first base from Keith Hernandez during the World Series. No better stage to do it than in front of 56 million people."
Most famous person in your cell phone?
"I've probably got like 10 Hall of Famers. Most recently, Bruce Sutter, Whitey Herzog."
If you were MLB commissioner for a day, what would you do? "I would let Pete Rose in the Hall of Fame."
Something your players tease you about?
"My walk and my lack of hair."
