News Update- November 17th

Posted on November 17, 2012 by Fox — No Comments ↓

Another week went by with surprisingly favorable weather for stadium construction. It was apparently dry enough to begin pouring concrete for the walls of the stadium. To see this latest update on the stadium construction go to the City of Hillsboro’s Construction Journal.

In more construction news. It appears that the stadium is a safe investment. “Moody’s Investors Service deemed the city’s outlook “stable” in a report issued Nov. 7 previewing the anticipated bond sale.” See the Oregonian article here.

Finally, the Hillsboro Hops’ 2013 schedule dates have been released without naming who the opposition will be for each series. However, this week, the AP released that the Hops will be facing off against their new rivals, the Eugene Emeralds. Article Here.

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Hillsboro Hops First Release Fan Gear

Posted on November 5, 2012 by Fox — No Comments ↓

 

What the people have been waiting for… besides hats. I like the colors. The shirts are definitely wearable. Smart move to have Nike brand them. Get yours today at:

http://hillsborohops.milbstore.com/

 

 

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The votes in! Beer and Baseball win. Zoo Keepers and Air Traffic Controllers lose.

Posted on November 5, 2012 by Fox — No Comments ↓

In case you didn’t know its time to vote. If you didn’t, crawl out from beneath your rock and become a better citizen. Also, if didn’t know, it is time for everybody to make election themed everything. Im sorry. It is, and I am just here to do my part.

In June, the Hillsboro city council just took a vote that was arguably more influential than some things on their ballot tomorrow. They voted to bring professional baseball to Hillsboro. Not long after, the people of Hillsboro took another vote that was arguably more important than any decision they ever made … I said arguably.

The baseball team’s management asked local baseball fans and well, everybody who has the Internet for suggestions on the name via Oregonlive.com. About the same time the Hillsboro Argus asked its readers for suggestions and came up with this:

Sunsets  4.9%  (10 votes)

Intel employees coming back from Silicon Valley. Thats why?

Hops  11.76%  (24 votes)

Vines  1.96%  (4 votes)

Lobos  3.43%  (7 votes)

Bruins  1.47%  (3 votes)

Pioneers  14.22%  (29 votes)

Aviators  22.06%  (45 votes)

Jets  3.92%  (8 votes)

For the Techies, Atari figured this is what Robot/ Android would look like in a few years and it sucked. Ken Griffey Jr. baseball Rules!

Other:  36.27%  (74 votes)

Total Votes: 204

I can’t say that I really loved all the names, especially the airport names. As it turns out, Hillsboro is not the only city with a municipal airport. Also I have never heard of bear coming into Washington County and I would be very surprised to hear of a wolf. And “Other,” that is a terrible name to get over 1/3rd of the vote.There were also some notable facebook write-ins:

Thumbs up: Lumbermen, Pioneers, Sasquatch, Buckaroos, Teckies, Chips, and even ferocious the Garter Snakes.

Thats an Ocelot. Really? From National Geographic.

 Thumbs Down: Ocelots (small cats native to South American jungles,) Hippos (Africa,) Honey Badgers (“Honey Pots” after a bad loss,) Hurricanes (Sometimes it gets windy here but really?)  Hillsburritos (I thought we were passed that,) and the Hankees (That just like looking at something around you and then suggesting that.)

In my opinion it is important, especially for a minor league team to reflect it’s local area. I can understand something agricultural, something timber related, or something high-tech. “Hops” completes the tough task of representing the agricultural aspects of the area while also appealing to trendy craft beer drinking urbanites, and basically 90% of beer drinkers and baseball fans.

Electoral College, Good choice. We got lucky.

Tomorrow check in on the exit polling to see how the selection went over.  Until then represent you Hillsboro Hops with new fan gear. The light blue and navy blue, Hops Logo t-shirts made by Nike are available today.

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Diamondbacks Minor League Review: Yakima Pitchers – AZ Snake Pit

Posted on November 2, 2012 by Fox — No Comments ↓

This is an excellent round up 2012 Yakima Bears pitchers by John Baragona on azsnakepit.com.

With the transiency of minor league pitching, especially at the Short Season Single A level its hard to say for sure if we will see any of these young guns pitching for the Hillsboro Hops in 2013. We could potentially see appearances from Victor Acosta, Will Locante, Kyle Owings, Derek Schultz, Blake Forslund, and Austin Platt. Take a look, it gives a good idea of the quality of pitching you will see in the Northwest League.

Diamondbacks Minor League Review: Yakima Pitchers – AZ Snake Pit.

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Northwest League Names Mike Ellis as New League President

Posted on November 1, 2012 by Fox — No Comments ↓

Northwest League news from milb.com. By Rob Fai:

Northwest League Names Mike Ellis as New League President | Hillsboro Hops News.

(Boise, ID) – The Northwest League of Professional Baseball Board of Directors have chosen Michael Ellis, an executive with 20 years of experience in Minor League Baseball, as the next President of the Northwest League, effective January 1st, 2013. Ellis succeeds Bob Richmond, who retires after serving as League President for 30 years.

“After a thorough selection process with many highly qualified candidates, it became clear that Mike Ellis was a perfect fit for our league,” states Andy Billig, Chairman of the Northwest League Executive Committee. “Mike’s broad experience and strong relationship within baseball will help him to be an effective leader for the Northwest League.”

Ellis, a Missoula, MT resident, has served in various baseball capacities including team owner/operator, league Director/ Vice President, and as a member of Minor League Baseball’s Board of Trustees. Ellis, along with his wife Judy, will continue as the majority owners of the Missoula Osprey of the Pioneer League.

“Mike Ellis has developed a sterling reputation within Minor League Baseball through his club ownership, service on the Board of Trustees and seats on various committees within the National Association” said Pat O’Conner, President of Minor League Baseball. “As a League President, I fully expect his administrative skills, knowledge of the business of baseball and stable demeanor to serve the Northwest League well for years to come.”

The Northwest League has been a circuit that Ellis has appreciated for many years. “I am extremely honored to be chosen for this position. The Northwest League is a highly successful and respected League which has benefitted from the hard work and dedication of Bob Richmond. Bob, along with a talented group of team owners and management have set a standard that I will strive to maintain.”

Bob Richmond will continue as President of the Arizona League, a position he has held since the league’s inception in 1988, as owner of Baseball Opportunities, Inc., a firm that brokers the sale of Minor League Baseball Franchises, and as co-owner of the Class AA Midland RockHounds of the Texas League. He served as president of the Northwest League from 1974-81 and 1991-2012.

Richmond added “Mike is a most capable baseball man and he will do a terrific job as president of the Northwest League. I am most pleased that the League has chosen him as my successor.”

About Mike Ellis: 

Ellis is a graduate of Eastern New Mexico University and San Francisco State University with degrees in Civil Engineering Technology and Urban Studies. He had a long career in planning, engineering and land development. He left his position as Executive Vice President of Irvine Community Development Company (a subsidiary of The Irvine Company), in 2005, to spend more time with his family and baseball activities. Baseball has been a family affair for the Ellis family. Judy Ellis, a past Rawlings Women Executive of the Year, first started as a day of game employee in 1984. Their son Matt, a 25-year veteran within the minor leagues, is currently Executive VP of the Missoula Osprey.

This story was not subject to the approval of the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues or its clubs.

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Whats In a Name?

Posted on October 28, 2012 by Fox — No Comments ↓

Unveiled October 16tth via facebook and Twitter, the name that team management chose, which by now, is not news is the Hillsboro Hops.

The name pays homage to the ingredient that gives us the other good reason to drink beer and it is a major agricultural crop in Oregon.  Also, the name has already been integrated in to the games’ lexicon. Crow hop, candy hop, good hop, bad hop, Doctor Seuss would have had a field…yup, field day with Hillsboro’s new professional baseball team’s name.

The Short Season LCC press release explains the name:

“The name ‘Hops’ recognizes Hillsboro’s proud agricultural heritage and the fact that Oregon is the second largest hop producing state in the United States,” said K.L. Wombacher, General Manager of the Hillsboro Hops. “Hops is also a term used regularly in baseball – short hop, bad hop, crow hop. We feel ‘Hops’ encompasses several different components we wanted to include in our team name.”

I am personally proud of the ownership and management’s to choice of such an awesome name despite the feathers it could have potentially ruffled. Its a worthy nod to some real notoriety the area gets and it is definitely fresh. The name is a winner in my book.

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“Family, Community, and Winning” Emphasized at Stadium Groundbreaking Ceremony

Posted on October 24, 2012 by Fox — No Comments ↓

It fires me up to hear Hillsboro Hops owner Mike McMurray say that that this groundbreaking was the “most exciting day” of his 14-year team ownership history. Better yet, he says, “We’ve found our permanent home” in Hillsboro. With the nature of minor league baseball being relatively flighty, it’s refreshing to hear this kind of commitment, especially from an owner.

The theme for the day echoed by Mayor Jerry Willey, General Manager K.L. Wombacher, and former Diamondback third baseman and current Farm Director, Mike Bell , was “Family, Community, and Winning.” They all spoke highly of the work Hillsboro did in welcoming the club and providing a good home. In return, the club management promised affordable family entertainment that strengthens the community, a strong representation of the city, and an effort tos put a winning team on the field while developing young D-Back talent.  Commit to that permanently, and we will truly have a “Win, Win” future for baseball in Hillsboro.

Check out the video of the Hillsboro Hops Stadium Groundbreaking Ceremony:

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Hopped up on the Hillsboro Hops!

Posted on October 23, 2012 by Fox — No Comments ↓

I am so glad that baseball is coming back to this neck of the woods! I can’t tell you how bitter I was when I found out that major league soccer would be playing in the old PGE Park. The place was old but well worn  like my high school baseball hat. The place still keeps the ghosts of a venue where people would dress in suits to go to the game, pitchers threw high and tight, and the only performance enhancers were that extra cup of coffee and topical horse anti-inflammatory.

I miss the majesty of that old ballpark, but as hard as it is for me to admit, its time had passed. I stopped wearing that old baseball hat too.

The Hops hats aren’t available yet, but you can bet as soon as I can get my hands on one, I will be showing my Hillsboro Hops love.. Hillsboro is the perfect place for a Northwest League, Short Season Single A Baseball team. Hillsboro is the just edges out Beaverton as being Oregon’s 5th largest city with nearly 90,000 residents. The market is perfect. Its a young and expanding suburbia full of kids who will attend their first baseball game wondering what the heck a Hop is and why the mascot looks like a cross between Oscar the Grouch and Big Bird. To this day I remember my first single A game. I saw the Eugene Ems and my friend tried to convince me that a grand slam was a ball that was hit out of the stadium and I asked for the bat boys autograph after the game.

I can already see it, Kids standing up, shakin’ and dancin’ to “Danny and the Jurors’ “At the Hop” as the mascot bounces his big grinning hop bud body. And this is how families fall in love. Mom is happy that the kids are happy. Dad is happy to be sharing America’s pastime with kids and maybe even prompting a game of catch. They’re both happy because they can sit back and enjoy a beer as the kids bounce around the, the inflatable, you guessed it, “Hoppy Castle.”

Did someone mention beer? I’m counting the days until Thirsty Third Thursday. A day that will pull yuppies and hipsters on MAX trains to Hillsboro from the Pearl to Alberta and as far as Gresham. Local music plays before the game and a lively social beer deck doesn’t watch the game. And as for the beer batter, are you kidding me!? I can already hear the music playing after the second strike. Fans ask each other what the featured beer is this week. 1st strikeout, one dollar off; second strike out, two dollars off, and the magical hat trick makes beer half priced!

The Hillsboro Hops was a great idea. I can’t wait to see what life it takes on. Please subscribe to my RSS feed to keep up on latest news, commentary and profiles from the team.

Heres to the Hops!

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