Serenity Summers: News & Notes
Weekly Edition of 9-27-09

* Once again, I am back, Florida Nation!  The last time I wrote a blog was after Chris Saunders ' injury.  It looks like the theme continues.  I'm back here again and the biggest news of the day is that Team Captain Mark Richardson is out for the remainder of this season with a fractured cheekbone after being hit by a pitch in a game against New Jersey.  Not only will he miss the last 3 games of the season, but he will be out for all of the 2010 season!  Florida fans, please wish him a speedy healthy recovery.  Not to be pessimistic, but is this the last we have seen Richardson in a Featherheads jersey?  I certainly hope not.  I know every Featherheads fan is feeling down in the dumps right about now, so this weekly edition will solely focus on positive things and feel-good stories.

* My first feel-good story is about rookie sensation Dustin Moyer.  Now undoubtedly the IL Wunderkind Award should be given to Charleston's slugger Yong-zhan Hu, but I'd like not to overlook the rest of the rookie crop.  You have Felipe "Undertaker" Gómez, who has recorded 31 saves with a 1.93 ERA.  Other than Gómez and Hu, the league should take notice of a 28-year-old rookie by the name of Dustin Moyer.

Moyer is 10-5 on the season after joining the team in May.  In the PEBA he ranks in the top 15 in the following categories: ERA (2.84 ERA, ranked 12^th), WHIP (1.11, ranked 14^th), Quality Start % (.773, ranked 8^th), H/9 (6.9, ranked 9^th) and OAVG (.215, ranked 9^th).  Moyer is living proof that you do not need to be a top round pick to be productive in the league.

* My second feel-good story is about the Florida fans.  It can be said that Florida has a modest fan base who loyal and deeply passionate about their team.  It is no secret that Florida has struggled to compete against larger market teams.  Only 4 teams have smaller media contracts than Florida does.

But this what makes Florida so great to the fans and to our very own owner, Drew Streets.  It's the appealing role of the underdog.  It's a chance to transform a franchise from rags to riches.  Drew Streets believes in working hard for every penny and earning respect.  He came to Florida to transform the franchise and give stability to a franchise previously rumored to be on put up for sale each and every season.

So with that said, it feels good to say that Florida has improved its revenue by nearly $7 million with 3 games left to go.  Florida will have an estimated $12 million in profit this season.  You can trust Drew Streets that this money will not be stuffed into his very own pockets.  Expect an increased budget next year that will be used to pursue free agents and lock up young players.  Expect the excess money to be stored away in a ballpark fund because the loyal Florida fans truly deserve a state of the art stadium.  Kudos to all the Florida fans that helped made this happen.  Your support for the team will help the Featherheads be a team to look out for in the Dixie Division.

* Speaking of success, it feels good to say that Florida has a chance to finish above .500 for the first time in franchise history.  Furthermore, Florida has locked up third place in the division.  This would be their best finish in the division since the league's inception in 2007.

* Okay, time for the best news saved for last.  I have a bunch of goodies and teasers for you to make you all feel better on the Richardson injury.

Teaser #1:  To show that Florida fans are the best in the world and deserve only the best, we are in the progress of updating our website.  A teaser can be seen here.  Be warned though; it is still a work in progress so there's a few things missing here and there.

Teaser #2:  In an effort to improve the team's attitude and culture, Drew Streets has worked on giving an organization an identity.  An example of this is that Drew Streets has secretly been working very hard to improve those generic uniforms and logos of Florida's minor league organizations.  Shown is an example of Drew Streets' commitment to the Florida organization from top to bottom.

Ewa Beach's New Logo Next Year

Teaser #3:  Continuing the theme of teaser #2, Streets has purchased banners to proudly represent each and every team's accomplishments.  This is the type of passion Florida fans can expect out of their owner.  See below for a preview of one such banner.  (And whoops did we reveal another logo?)

Beaufort's Divisional Banner

Teaser #4: Not only is Drew Streets committed to his team, but he is committed to the league as well.  Ever since MLB disbanded, baseball cards became defunct.  Companies like Topps, Donruss and Upper Deck were hesitant to invest in the PEBA.  Being the entrepreneur that he is, Streets saw this as an opportunity.  Streets was particularly moved when one day he stumbled upon a baseball forum.  There in the forum, a big time baseball card collector was voicing his dismay over the death of baseball cards.  This card collector, by the name of “Tyler”, had to resort to collecting American History cards.  So through a secretive partnership, Streets presents to you the following:

Ryuichi Yamauchi's No-Hitter Celebrated on a Baseball Card

Teaser #5: Okay, you've seen 4 teasers.  Technically, there is no fifth teaser.  But I will say this… after seeing teasers #1-4, do you really think Drew Streets will run out of tricks up his sleeves?  Mr. Streets did not become a renowned cruise line entrepreneur by accident.  So expect the unexpected.  From day one, Mr. Streets vowed to turn around the Florida Featherheads.  He vowed to change the way baseball was looked upon.  So look for more goodies in the future.

Closing Comments: As a journalist and beat writer, I'm trained to be objective.  So I apologize at the "homerism" seen in this particular blog.  But with Richardson's devastating injury, all I can do is help make everyone feel better.

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