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Wednesday, July
23, 2008
BISONS'
FOUR-RUN SIXTH PUTS TIDES OUT OF REACH
The
Virginian-Pilot
John
Halama allowed two unearned runs in nine innings, pitching the host
Buffalo Bisons to a 4-2 victory against the Norfolk Tides on Tuesday
night.
Halama
scattered nine hits and posted his second straight complete-game win.
Hayden
Penn (4-6) took the loss for the Tides. He allowed two earned runs on
eight hits in seven innings. Penn walked one and struck out four but
was done in by a four-run sixth inning.
Michael
Aubrey got the Bisons on the board with a two-run homer and Buffalo
plated two more runs on a throwing error by Mike Costanzo.
Chris
Roberson, Tike Redman and Jeff Fiorentino each had two hits for the
Tides.
The
teams continue their four-game series at 7:05 p.m. today.
Lightning's
new era rumbles into Norfolk
By
Paul White, The Virginian-Pilot
They're
taking this AHL business seriously.
For
weeks now, the Tampa Bay Lightning brain trust has insisted the
organization is determined to return the Norfolk Admirals to glory. On
Tuesday, they delivered that message in person, sending a cadre of top
officials - including new Lighting coach Barry Melrose - north to
introduce Darren Rumble as the Admirals' new head coach.
"We're
upgrading everything we're doing down here," said Brian Lawton,
vice president of hockey operations for the Lightning. "We want
the fans to know that and we want the players to know that.
"And
there's no better way to say it that to show up and say it in
person."
Rumble,
an Admirals assistant last season, will be aided on the bench by Alan
May, a former NHL tough guy who set the Washington Capitals' franchise
record with 339 penalty minutes in 1989-90.
Also
on hand Tuesday was general manager Mike Butters, who will replace
Claude Loiselle and provide more of a hands-on approach in running the
Admirals' day-to-day operations. Loiselle commuted between Norfolk and
Tampa; Butters will live and work in Norfolk full time.
"It's
another example of how they're investing in this," Butters said.
The
hires are consistent with the new era of sweeping change throughout
the Lightning organization as Tampa Bay's new owners work feverishly
to avoid repeats of last year's nightmarish NHL and AHL campaigns.
"Now
we're just going to pour everything we have into reviving this
franchise," Rumble said.
At
first glance, the rehiring of Rumble might seem curious. The former
defenseman, 39, has never been a head coach. He was Steve Stirling's
lieutenant during a 2007-08 season that was the worst in franchise
history. And the Lightning's new ownership team had cleaned out
virtually every other position of authority in the organization.
But,
despite the Admirals' struggles last season, Rumble's relentless work
ethic made an impression.
Lawton
called Rumble the type of quality person the Lightning want throughout
the organization. Melrose praised Rumble's passion and enthusiasm.
Admirals forward Brandon Segal raved about the new coach's technical
savvy.
"He
structured his practices well, he's good with the video and he breaks
things down in a way that's easy to understand," said Segal, who
arrived in Norfolk at midseason. "My goal is to be in Tampa, but
if I wind up playing for Darren Rumble, that'll be great, too."
Rumble
also figures to be a hit with Admirals fans, who enjoyed his
heart-on-his-sleeve energy - especially when contrasted against
Stirling's relatively laid-back in-game style.
"If
I see a missed call by the ref, I may let 'em know about it, along
with the other 6,000 people in the building," Rumble smiled.
"But I won't cross the line."
Under
Rumble, the Admirals will adopt the same playing style as Melrose's
Lightning, who are being advertised as aggressive, physical and
up-tempo.
"The
game should be played fast," Melrose said. "When people
leave the building, I want them to say, 'Man, those guys play
hard!'"
While
he expressed confidence that he can deliver a winning product, Rumble
acknowledged the Lightning are taking a bit of a chance hiring a
first-year coach. Then again, the move is an example of the
out-of-the-box thinking new owners Oren Koules and Len Barrie have
employed in reassembling the teams.
An
even better example is Melrose, who will return to coaching after a
13-year stint as an analyst for ESPN.
"We're
doing a lot of things differently," Lawton said. "We're not
bound by the past."
Or,
if these moves work out, destined to repeat it.