ROCK CATS HISTORY LESSON

(Rock Cats notes, courtesy of broadcaster extraordinaire Jeff Dooley)

The New Britain Rock Cats are the longest tenured professional franchise in Connecticut history.  The team was affiliated with the Boston Red Sox when it moved from venerable but antiquated Muzzy Field in Bristol prior to the 1983 season.  This year marks the 29th season of operation in the state. ....

Of the teams entering Eastern League play in 2011, the New Britain franchise ranks second in longevity.  Only the Reading Phillies (1967) have been EL members longer than the Red Sox/Rock Cats. ...

This season marks the 17th that the New Britain franchise has been affiliated with the Minnesota Twins.  The Red Sox' tenure in Willow Brook Park was terminated by the late Joe Buzas after the 1994 season because the Sox wanted their Double-A franchise moved to Springfield. ...

New Britain is now 9-20 in season openers after dropping a 6-4 decision to the Richmond Flying Squirrels on Thursday, April 7.  The franchise has posted a 4-11 mark in road lidlifters and has been on the short end in five of the last six seasons. ...

Seven of the last eight openers have come against the Double-A affiliates of the Toronto Blue Jays, six against the New Hampshire Fisher Cats and the 2003 opener against the defunct New Haven Ravens. ...

The Rock Cats' roster features 20 who played for last year's club and seven who did not.  The roster includes 12 pitchers, three catchers, nine infielders and three outfielders.  The Rock Cats' top prospects, as assessed by Baseball America, are: OF Joe Benson (#4); RHP Liam Hendricks (#6); RHP Dave Bromberg (#13); 1B Chris Parmelee (#18).  Bromberg, Parmelee, Benson and RHP Deolis Guerra are on the Minnesota Twins' 40-man roster. ...

The season marks a homecoming of sorts for RHP Mike Tarsi.  Tarsi, from Danbury, pitched for the University of Connecticut.  He is the first state player on the team since Plainville's T.R. Marcinczyk in 2001.  Jeff Bagwell (Killingworth; University of Hartford) and Mo Vaughn (Norwalk) played for the New Britain Red Sox. ...