There is Good Baseball Here
By Robin Vinci | Editor at April 15, 2024 | 9:00 am | Print
New Britain Bees Hold Media Day to Meet Players, Coaches
Coaches, players and other staff of the New Britain Bees turned out Tuesday as the club held it’s first ever media day.
“We have nine days until opening day. We are really cranking. The stadium will look wonderful,” said General Manager Pat Day. “The City of New Britain has done a fabulous job as a partner.”
Manager Stan Cliburn said the first workout has been completed.
“They repainted the whole concourse. The stadium was re-sodded and is the best it’s ever been done. The stadium is the top of all the leagues,” said Cliburn. “A gentlemen from Fenway Park came and helped out.”
Cliburn said the players looked good on Tuesday.
“On day one we worked inside at RBI’s in Southington. I liked what I saw,” Cliburn. “I signed 28 players up. Three are on trial waivers. We’ve got some decisions to make.”
He said there are a lot of big leaguers like Nick Greenwood who pitched for the St. Louis Cardinals and Josh Outman who played for the major leagues for six years.
“We don’t know how these guys will turnout. Hopefully out of these bunch we will have someone you look at 15 years from now in the major leagues who played in the inaugural season for the Bees,” said Cliburn. “My job is to promote that and get that to happen. It will take all of us to make this work. The core is here.”
Cliburn said although the Bees aren’t affiliated with anyone, baseball is here in New Britain.
“It’s minor league baseball promoting these guys to where they belong. It’s good quality talented baseball,” said Cliburn. “I’m looking forward to leading this team this year.”
Cliburn said there will not be a revolving door. He will develop players. Scouts will come and ask Cliburn for advice on players and then take them to another level.
“If you put up numbers they will find you,” said Cliburn. “It’s a very heavily scouted league.”
Day said 7 to 8 contracts will be purchased by major league teams.
“The word needs to get out. There is good baseball here,” Cliburn. “The Atlantic League is pretty good baseball. Just give it a chance. We are not in competition with anybody. It is not the Rock Cats. We love the Rock Cats, but lets love the Bees.”
Cliburn said there are many reasons the players came here. It could be disagreements, injuries or more, but the players are in New Britain to get back to the majors.
“There will be 60-70 players in this league signing with major leagues in Mexico, Taiwan or Japan. It’s an international league,” said Cliburn. “If they can pitch here, they can pitch in the major leagues.”
Presently, there is a 28 man roster, but it drops to 25 on June 1 as some players will move up to major league teams. There is a reserve list to replace players rather than a farm system.
“There is so much talent out there. There are good players who don’t have jobs,” Cliburn added. “I challenged our guys today and told them there are guys out there who don’t have a job. They need to step up.”
It will take the nine days to figure out which players will start. There will be four pre-season scrimmage game.
“We’re excited,” said Player/Manager Craig Maddox, a catcher. “We have a lot of good arms. They are impressive.”
