Serenity Summers: News & Notes
Opening Week Edition

* Florida fans were able to celebrate a win on Opening Night for Streets' new Featherheads team.  35,000 fans rabid fans watched Chris Saunders pitch 7 innings, allowing 2 runs while two stingy hits.

* McNeill opened the season going 2-for-3 with the go ahead solo homerun.  Kevin McNeill definitely has something to prove this season with the signing of Miguel "Boom Boom" Soto and the bashing of Featherheads personality, Nelly.

* As cited in my preseason column, the bullpen has been delivering the goods in the first week of the season.  Florida's bullpen leads the Imperial League in ERA with a microscopic 0.61 mark.  Overall, the Featherheads rank second with a team ERA of 2.55.

* Speaking of pitching, the tandem of Browne and Contreras is making me eat crow…. well at least for the first week.  In my column, I blasted those two for being in the rotation.  In his first start, Contreras only gave up 1 run over 5.2 innings, good for an ERA of 1.59.  Browne is 1-0 with a 1.42 ERA.  I highly doubt these two can keep this up.  If they do, there must be something strange in the Florida waters.

* In my previous blog on the website, I mentioned Streets will bring the idea of declaring a captain to the baseball diamond similar to what you see in other sports.  This year's captain is second baseman Mark Richardson.  Streets has given me the ok to reveal the "perk" that comes with this announcement.

For 2009, we will follow Mark Richardson during the team's highs and lows.  You will get exclusive interviews and behind the scenes look through the captain's eyes.  You may get an A.K and Nelly interview with Richardson after a walk-off homerun.  More than just interviews, Florida fans might see how Richardson prepares himself before the game.  Or better yet, fans will be able to see what Richardson does on his off days.  Anything is possible and we will be right there to cover it!

This is what Streets envisioned when he wanted the fans to nominate this year's captain.  A captain leads the team on the field.  Not only that, but a captain is expected to connect with the fans.  Streets wants the fans to connect to the team.  He wants to show the baseball world that baseball is more than just looking up box scores and reading game logs.  Streets wants fans to do more than just wake up in the morning to check their team standings on their favorite baseball website.  Instead of looking up how many hits or strikeouts a player got in the last game, Streets wants the fans to be curious enough to want to look up that player's favorite ice cream or movie.  Baseball is fun.  Baseball has personality.

Streets will bring this aspect to the fans.  Expect some insider coverage on team captain Mark Richardson later this week.  Will it be an interview?  Perhaps it will show Richardson at home watching sports highlights.  Or maybe Richardson will be in studio mo-capping his likeness in this year's PEBA video game.  Tune in to find out!

* Remember when we ran a contest for fans to submit pictures of their Featherheads’ costumes?  The top 10 pictures get free season tickets?  Well, we have some great pictures for you!  Check out below for some of the entries!

Featherheads.com