Storm Baseball

Welcome to the new Storm Blog! This is the place where you will find all of your latest Storm related news. Once you’ve read the stories you have the ability to post your own comments about each one. In order to do so though, you will first have to create a username and password to login. This is all you need to Get Caught In It for the 2008 season. If you have any questions please call 951-245-HITS or e-mail us here.

Looking for a new way to close that big deal? Check out the Storm on Thursday, May 15, for a Business Man Special with a 2:08pm first pitch. Gates open at 1pm and as always Thursdays at The Diamond mean Thirsty Thursday $1 draft beers and sodas with tickets starting at just $8. As the Storm conclude a four game series with the Stockton Ports it’s a perfect opportunity to entertain clients and employees or play hookie for an afternoon of baseball and beverages.  Either way make sure you clear your calendar and make plans to do lunch at The Diamond on May 15.

Here is a list of excuses that your bosses might accept…
- My car conveniently broke down in Lot C at The Diamond
- I promise I’ll get cover sheets on all of my TPS Reports when I get back on Friday
- Baseball Players could be an untapped niche market, I’ll have to do some research
- In a study completed at Harvard Business School, work place productivity is directly correlated to the consumption of baseball and beer
- $1 beers?!  I quit!

Download the Official Storm Dr.’s Note

On May 11, 2008 the Lake Elsinore Storm will host a Mother’s Day Brunch. It will take place from 10am - 2pm in the Diamond Club Restaurant just over the Tiki Terrace in left field. It will cost $25.95 and the menu will include a build your own omelet bar, build your own waffle bar with strawberries and whipped cream, a station with assorted pastries and deserts, a traditional station with scrambled eggs, bacon, sausage, and potatoes, a Mexican food station, a carving station, and a salads, fruit and pasta salad bar. So remember to pay homage to moms on this once a year occasion and bring them out to the Diamond. It’s the least you can do for all they do for you.For more info call 951-245-4487

In this blog space we want you, the fan, to write to us giving all your creative ideas on what we should do for promotions this season.  It’s one click away.  Just sign-up with an e-mail and a password and you’re in.  No idea is a bad idea, so give us everything you’ve got.

Best Buy Kids Club Sundays

- Registration Information:
All Storm fans age 12 and under are eligible for membership. Best Buy Kids Club registration forms are available at the Storm front office during busineess hours, at every home game at the Storm Information Booth and online at www.stormbaseball.com. This Best Buy Kids Club membership ($100 value) will be offered to all youngsters 12 and under for only $10. Please call 951-245-HITS for more information.

- Membership Rewards:
- Official membership card - Free admission to 10 Sunday home games with Best Buy Kids Club membership card ($80 value)
- Exclusive Kids Club T-shirt ($10 value) - Birthday wishes from Thunder via e-card
- Special Kids Club Newsletter from Thunder
- Invite to Thunders birthday party at The Diamond (August 10)
- Kids Club Pre-game Parade with Thunder (August 31)
- Sunday Meet and Greet with select Storm players on the 1st Sunday of every month.
- Pre-game pizza party with Thunder (August 31, $10 value)
- Best Buy Reward Zone Membership
- This is mostly for Best Buy. I believe we will just give Best Buy the contact information of our Kids Club members. Though, we will still mention this in the membership rewards.

- Dates To Remember:
May 4 - Kids Club Sunday - Game time: 2:08 pm start

May 25 - Kids Club Sunday - Game time: 2:08 pm start

June 1 - Kids Club Sunday - Game time: 2:08 pm start

June 15 - Kids Club Sunday/Father’s Day - Game time: 2:08 pm start

July 6 - Kids Club Sunday - Game time: 6:08 pm start

July 20 - Kids Club Sunday - Game time: 6:08 pm start

July 27 - Kids Club Sunday - Game time: 6:08 pm start

August 10 - Kids Club Sunday/Thunder’s B-day Bash - Game time: 6:08 pm start

August 17 - Kids Club Sunday - Game time: 6:08 pm start

August 31 - Kids Club Sunday/Fan Appreciation Day - Game time: 6:08 pm start

Download the Registration Form HERE

For the Storm’s second Showtime Saturday of 2008 there will be a very special performance.  Don’t miss the Storm’s own Green Man Group.  The group will perform in between each inning break and will be part of all the promotions on the field for the second night of Go Green weekend.  It’s a guaranteed hit.

April 18, 19, and 20 marks the second year in a row that the Storm promotes “Going Green.”  Go Green weekend will include plenty of entertainment and fun for the whole family, as well as environmentally conscious displays and information tables for all to enjoy.  On Friday April 18 there will be a car sunshade giveaway for the first 1000 cars into the parking lot, brought to you by the Toyota Dealers of Southern California.  On Saturday April 19 the Storm bring you their second Showtime Saturday of 2008 with a performance by the Storm’s own Green Man Group.  Also there will be a seeded postcard giveaway at the front gates presented by Coca Cola.  Don’t miss the Health and Sustainability Festival that will take place on the sidewalk approaching the front gates.  The festival will include booths that will have information about “Going Green” in 2008.  And on Sunday April 20 the Storm will host a Youth Baseball Clinic brought to you by State Farm Agent Julie Ngo.  You need to sign up in advance so make sure you call 951-245-4487 for information.  It’s also Kid’s Day Sunday where all kids run the bases after the game.

The Storm take on Modesto in a four game series that will start on Thursday April 17 (Thirsty Thursday- $1 Draft Beers and Sodas) and continue through Go Green Weekend.  Come out and enjoy all the festivities and come “Get Caught In It.”

Last night, April 3rd, 2008, Jake Peavy had his Storm number officially retired.  The ceremony drew 8,269 Storm fans from all over to witness the historical event.  The ceremonies began with Peavy getting a key to the city of Lake Elsinore while also having the day proclaimed in his honor, by the mayor.  Next, Peavy addressed the crowd with a heartfelt speech about the honor of being aske to this prestigious event.  Following that was a presentation of his Storm jersey under glass, the unveiling of his number in center field, and, of course, the ceremonial first pitch.  Peavy and his grandfather stayed in a suite to oversee the event.  The night ended with a loss but it was a great night in all other aspects of the park.  From concessions, to merchandising everything ran without a hitch.  Overall it was one to remember for all in attendance.  The Storm play tonight, April 4, against the Quakes in game two of a four game series.

1) Chase Headley (3B/LF) Second-Round, 2005
Height: 6-foot-2 Weight: 215-lbs
Age: 23 Bats/Throws: S/R

2007 Highlights: Headley had the best year of any Padres’ prospect in a very long time winning Texas League Player of the Year honors.

2) Mat Latos (RHP) Draft-and-follow 2007, originally drafted in 11^th-round, 2006
Height: 6-foot-6 Weight: 215-pounds
Age: 20 Bats/Throws: R/R

2007 Highlights: Nick Schmidt may have been the first pitcher the Padres selected in the 2007 draft, but Latos is the one that has everyone excited. He improved every month, finishing with a 3.08 ERA and 37 strikeouts in 26.1 innings.

3) Matt Antonelli (2B) First-round. 2006
Height: 6-foot-1 Weight:195-pounds
Age: 23 Bats/Throws: R/R

2007 Highlights: Antonelli had a true breakout season this year, proving that he could hit with power, play second and, most importantly, continue to work deep in counts. In short, he is everything the padres are looking for in a leadoff hitter.

4) Cedric Hunter (CF) Third-Round, 2006
Height: 6-feet-0 Weight: 190-pounds
Age: 19 Bats/Throws: L/L

2007 Highlights: At first glance, Hunter appears to have had an off season in Fort Wayne, especially after the Triple Crown performance in the Arizona League last year. He had a much better year, however, when all the factors are considered. His speed makes many plays in the outfield seem effortless.

5) Chad Huffman (OF) Second-Round, 2006
Height: 6-foot-1 Weight: 205-pounds
Age: 22 Bats/Throws: R/R

2007 Highlights: Huffman was the best player over the first half in Lake Elsinore with 15 home runs and 76 RBIs in 84 games. If it hadn’t been for some nagging injuries that affected his performance in San Antonio, he might have been on the same level of Headley and Antonelli.

6) Wade LeBlanc(LHP) Second-Round, 2006
Height: 6-foot-2 Weight: 180-pounds
Age: 23 Bats/Throws: L/L

2007 Highlights: LeBlanc posted a great year and was a big part of the Missions’ drive to the Texas League crown. LeBlanc’s has two devastating changeups to go along with a fastball that can touch 90 MPH that appears faster. His control is impeccable, walking only 36 batters in 149.1 innings against 145 strikeouts for a 2.95 ERA.

7) Kyle Blanks (1B) Draft-and-follow 2005, 42^nd-round pick in 2004
Height: 6-foot-6 Weight: 285-pounds
Age: 21 Bats/Throws: R/R

2007 Highlights: “Gigantor” finally demonstrated the type of power that earned him praise from scouts, setting personal records for home runs, extra-base hits, and slugging percentage in Lake Elsinore. The huge first baseman is also surprisingly athletic, legging out four triples to go along with 11 stolen bases.

8 ) Yefri Carvajal (OF) Signed out of the Dominican Republic in 2006
Height: 5-foot-11 Weight: 200-pounds
Age: 19 Bats/Throws: R/R

2007 Highlights: Carvajal has created quite a bit of excitement ever since the Padres signed him at 16 out of the Dominican Republic. Last year, he battled injuries and only played in 19 games, but he made up for lost time this year in the Arizona League before being promoted to Eugene.

9) Kellen Kulbacki (OF) Supplemental First-Round, 2007
Height: 5-foot-11 Weight: 190-pounds
Age: 22 Bats/Throws: L/L

2007 Highlights: Kulbacki was the Padres second overall pick in 2007 after putting up some monster numbers at James Madison University. His last year with the Dukes, pitchers pretty much refused to pitch to him, as he drew 56 walks in 53 games. He briefly struggled for the first half of the year in Eugene before finishing off August strong.

10) Drew Cumberland (SS) Supplemental First-Round, 2007
Height: 5-foot-10 Weight: 175-pounds
Age: 19 Bats/Throws: L/R

2007 Highlights: In 2005, it was Blanks. Last year, it was Hunter. This year, it’s Drew Cumberland - the Padres wonderkid. He was sent him up to the Northwest League for the last four games of the season where he had six hits in 18 at-bats.

Lake Elsinore, CA, March 26, 2008 – The Lake Elsinore Storm will have a special guest on Opening Night, April 3, as Jake Peavy will be honored with the retiring of his number at The Diamond. The 2007 National League Cy Young Award Winner will be on hand for the pre-game ceremony starting at 6:30pm as the Storm celebrate their 15^th season in Lake Elsinore. After the unveiling of his number 22 in center field, Jake will kickoff 2008 by throwing out the season’s first pitch. The entire Storm team will pay tribute to the hard-throwing right-hander by wearing number 22 Peavy jerseys. Gates open at 6:00pm with the first pitch slated for 7:08pm.

When the Storm became a Padres affiliate in 2001, Jake was the first San Diego prospect to take the mound at The Diamond. He made 19 starts for Lake Elsinore going 7-5 with a 3.08 ERA before a promotion to Double-A Mobile. Along with Oliver Perez and Xavier Nady, Peavy led the Storm to the 2001 California League Championship on their way to being named Baseball America’s Minor League Team of the Year. “Jake has been an integral part of Storm history and played a major role in the team being named Baseball America’s Minor League Team of the Year. We are happy for his success at the Major League level and are honored to have his number immortalized in center field symbolizing his importance to our team history. As good a baseball player as Jake is, he’s an even better person. This will be a great day for Storm baseball,” said team President Dave Oster.

Opening Night also marks the season’s first Thirsty Thursday, meaning $1 draught beers and sodas all night long, as the Storm commence another season of affordable family fun at The Diamond. Tickets start at just $8 in addition to military discounts and weekly promotions.

For more information visit stormbaseball.com or call (951) 245-HITS.