Spring Training Report   (updated: 4/15/06)

4/15/06

The ongoing problem with the toxic seepage in center field at Hertz Field has forced the Snakes to move the remainder of their Spring Training to Clarendon Elementary School in Secaucus.  Monday (4/17) the Brooklyn Cyclones will travel to Clarendon to play the Snakes in the final exhibition game before Opening Day.  The Snakes remind fans that seating will be limited.

4/8/06

The Jersey City Snakes will be entering the 2006 baseball season with a lot less game experience than before.  

Heavy rains have forced cancellation of nine of the team's 10 exhibition games thus far.   But yesterday, Mother Nature provided sunny skies for the Snakes' pre-season match up with the Staten Island Yankees. Unfortunately, a sprinkler pipe ruptured in the fifth inning, flooding the infield before the water main could be shut off and causing the cancellation of the game.

The bad luck may turn out to be a blessing for the Snakes who have suffered a rash of injuries and can use the time off to heal up.

INJURY REPORT: (updates in bold)

Jake Banks (2B) - twisted elbow, skin rash

Billy Ray Mix (1B) - strained hamstring, viral infection, respiratory congestion

Gunther Rodriguez (OF) - compound ankle fracture (injured reserve for the season), skin rash

Hasegawa Masahiro (SS) - fractured sternum, bruised ribs, broken nose, bruised shoulder, bruised knee

Felipe Arroz-Akira (RHP) - blisters

Benny Tugg (OF) - sprained ankle, respiratory congestion, skin rash

Ladell Pitts (OF) - hip pointer, conjunctivitis, respiratory congestion, migraines

Champ Leigh (LHP) - viral infection (cleared to play)

Dan Sharpa (LHP) - blisters, split callus on throwing hand, advanced skin rash

Moses Carr (C) - cardiac arrhythmia, jammed thumb

Judson Petty (3B) - respiratory congestion

Ronny Banks (C) - bruised spinal cord (day to day)

WHO'S HOT!

Walker Smith (RHP) - Though his scheduled starts have been rained out, pitching coach Ray Hill says Smith has been looking "real sharp" in workouts.

Champ Leigh (LHP) - Champ's infection and attendant rash has almost completely disappeared and he has been cleared to play on Opening Day.  Way to go, Champ!