Article: St. Paul Saints, Marching On

[Ben Szeremeta]

Once again the Saints had an incredibly successful homestand at CHS Field. Surprising I know. Now they really need an incredibly successful homestand to keep the season alive.

 

Starting September 1st, the good guys finished the 2015 regular season by sweeping a four game series with the Gary SouthShore Railcats. Then they took two of three from the New Jersey Jackals to close out the schedule, ending the year at a franchise best 74-26. Next up was a showdown with the only team in the league with a better record, the 75-25 Sioux City Explorers. But more on that in a minute.The keys to success for St. Paul were shutdown pitching and clutch offense. On the mound. Kramer Sneed continued to lead the way for the Saints earning his American Association record tying 15th victory in Thursday's 4-1 win over the Railcats. Robert Coe also continued his roll of stellar starts, winning twice during the stand.

 

  Ben Szeremeta writes about the Saints regularly at SaintsTrain.com  

 

A victory Friday night in the series finale versus Gary showed us something we haven't seen all year: a walk-off win. The Saints won the game 8-7 when Vinny DiFazio scored on a wild pitch in the bottom of the ninth. They then decided it was so much fun, why not do it again Sunday? This time they bested the Jackals 3-2 on an Anthony Phillips single to center.

 

Simply put, there was a "playoff atmosphere" inside CHS Field for the walk-off wins. During the ninth inning of both games, everyone was standing and cheering for almost every pitch. Even the players were getting in to it, waving to the fans to cheer louder. Man, I can't wait for the first home playoff game. It's going to be electric.

 

My MVP for the stand is Ryan Cavan. The newly acquired second baseman hit .375 with three doubles, four runs scored, and two home runs for the stand.

 

To go along with Sneed's record for victories a few other franchise marks were set this homestand as well. Alonzo Harris swiped his 39th base of the year Monday. Also, Vinny DiFazio and Angelo Songco tied for the most RBIs in a season at 82.

 

When record-breaking seasons happen, awards always seem to follow, and this year is no different. To start, catcher Vinny DiFazio and first baseman Angelo Songco were both named postseason All-Stars after their great seasons at the plate. Songco finished the year batting .339 with 64 R, 17 HR and 82 RBI. DiFazio hit .361, with 70 R, 17 HR and 82 RBI.

 

Vinny DiFazio also took home the league's top award of the season, being named the 2015 American Association Player of the Year. Vinny led the league in batting average, tied for third in home runs and tied for the lead in RBI. A near Triple Crown - wow. Great season Vinny!

 

Reliever Mike Zouzalik was named Rookie of the Year after going 4-1 with a 2.06 ERA. He also recorded three saves and had 49 strikeouts in 48 innings pitched while holding his opponents to a .140 batting average for the year.

 

But it's not only the players that can set records in St. Paul this year. For the first time the Saints passed 400,000 in season attendance, setting a new franchise record with 404,528 fans visiting the Field in 2015. That bested the previous mark by more than 105,000.

 

After a well-deserved day off Tuesday the Saints headed to Sioux City for the first two games of their series with the Explorers. The final three games will be played at CHS Field.

 

You might be asking yourself, why do the top two teams in the league play each other in the first round? It's all about geography in the American Association. The other matchup is between the Wichita Wingnuts and the Laredo Lemurs. So while we don't get a championship round match-up between the two best teams record wise, we at least get to see them play each other.

 

The opening game of the playoffs was just what you'd expect, a nail-biter of a contest till the last out. Kramer Sneed tossed a complete game with a career high 15 strikeouts. Angelo Songco went 2-5 with a home run and 2 RBI. But in the end it wasn't enough as the Saints lost the game 3-2 to the Explorers.

 

The second game is one the Saints need to forget on the bus ride back to St. Paul. The lost 12-1, managing just one hit, a solo home run by Angelo Songco in the 2nd inning. Tossing 7.2 innings for Sioux City was Patrick Johnson, the 2015 American Association Pitcher of the Year.

 

Even with our home team down 0-2 in the series I can't wait for the first playoff game at CHS Field this Saturday. The boys have played great at home and I know the fans are going to do their best to cheer them on to three straight victories.

 

There are still tickets left, the weather's going to be perfect, and it's playoff baseball. What are you waiting for? Get to CHS Field Saturday night and let's show them all what home field advantage really means!

 

Go Saints!!!

 

TRAIN!

 

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[Rosterman]

When you look at the Saints attendance figures you go "wow." What if it was the High-A farm club of, say, the Minnesota Twins. The Saints are printing money this year (consider that the Chattanooga Lookouts, AA franchise of the Twins, played their first playoff game to under 2,000 fans).

 

Yes, it was a new stadium. Yet they managed to oversell the actual seating by nearly 1,000 standing or blanket sitters a game. That's not counting people like me or walked regularly thru the turnstiles abckwards around inning 7 because I live in the neighborhood and no one was paying attention.

 

It brought some life to Lowertown. It had its problems with some businesses. Parking was an issue, yet there was still available palces in most lots (St. Paul wants to meter the streets to 10 p.m. to free up those spaces for business and neighbor visitors). 

 

Plus, the team one. Hard to believe that they weren't the best team in indy ball record wise.

 

Curious to see if any of the players join major league organizations during the off season. And wonder what the mailbox looks like for people wanting to play for the Saints in 2016!

 

 

[Seth Stohs]

It's hard to believe that with the Saints record Sioux City had an even better record. That's some great baseball. That attendance thing is amazing too. Affiliated ball doesn't come close to these types of numbers until AAA, AA in some places. It's remarkable. And, the stadium is tremendous!

[theBOMisthebomb]

It was a great season and a great atmosphere at CHS Field. The new stadium is gorgeous and you are right that it is an electric atmosphere. However the way the matchups in the playoffs ended up in the first round make it to feel like a slow pitch softball tournament. Having two teams with winning percentages over .700 meet in the first round is just wrong.

[Otto von Ballpark]

Has the league become more imbalanced recently? Those are some crazy records for St Paul and Sioux City.

[Otto von Ballpark]

Thinking of going to my first game at CHS Field.  Any recommendations on where to sit?  I know at Midway, we loved being right above the visitor's dugout where the PA announcer was.  Is there any preferred spot around the infield at CHS like that?

[theBOMisthebomb]

Honestly, there is no bad seat at CHS. They pretty much thought of everything. I like to be in my seat for the beginning of the game then walked around the park for a few innings - there are great views on the entire walk around the stadium. Although I am not the biggest fan of the berm - too steep.

[Otto von Ballpark]

I like to move around too, although I will be with the family this time.  My daughter liked the contests and games they used to do above the visitor's dugout at Midway, so I just got those same seats at CHS -- will report back.

[Otto von Ballpark]

I guess the other variable is parking. Sunday 5 PM game, toddler, infant, and grandma in tow, so closer is better and money is no object. Any tips?

[theBOMisthebomb]

Go saints!There is ample parking at the stadium. The rumors of parking problems are just wrong. Enjoy tomorrow's game. I was there tonight and it was fun to see the Saints get back on track. Go Saints!

[Otto von Ballpark]

For anyone else wondering, the between inning entertainment has been moved over to the 1st base side at the new park.

 

Saints season ended tonight, hope I wasn't the bad luck!

[Sarah]

I was also at the last game of the season, kind of ironic that I ended up going to the first and last games of the season. It was a beautiful night and aside from their loss in the playoffs obviously it was a great first season for them at CHS Field. Already looking forward to more beautiful nights for baseball next year!