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Ballpark Brothers enjoying time as Ducks Smithtown natives Jimmy and Bryan Goelz have always been brothers, but as members of the 2006 Long Island Ducks, they have b e c o m e something else as well: teammates. This is actually the only time that the siblings, both of whom currently reside in St. James, have ever played organized baseball together on the same field, let alone the same team. Then, a little over a week ago (Friday, May 19th to be exact), Jimmy, 30, and Bryan, 26, made it into the Ducks starting lineup on the same night for the first time. "We actually had a big family party that night for my aunt's 50th birthday," Jimmy Goelz explains, "so unfortunately most of them couldn't be here, but it was like a dream come true." Jimmy and Bryan had always played in separate leagues while growing up because of the four year age difference but this did not stop them from finding the extra time to practice with each other. "We were always together working on our game and throwing each other pitches to hit," says big brother Jimmy, "For all that time and work to now culminate on the field in a professional game, it was very special." Most people would probably cringe at the thought of having to go to work with their brother everyday , but not Bryan Goelz. "It has been great coming to the ballpark everyday with Jimmy, you can't beat a situation like this," says Bryan, "I kind of always thought it was more likely that I would be playing against him, but playing together has been even better, it is really awesome." Jimmy and Bryan both say that their interest in baseball started at a very young age. "We were around the game a lot as children because our father played softball, so we basically grew up on the ball field," Jimmy remembers. Both brothers list the Yankees as their favorite team, which is somewhat surprising for two Long Island boys growing up in the mid-eighties. The differences between the two brothers on the baseball field are also interesting. If the last names and the physical resemblance are taken away it would be hard to guess that they were brothers while watching them play. Jimmy bats and throws righthanded while Bryan is a lefty, and Jimmy is an infielder, most often playing at second base or shortstop, while Bryan says he has been an outfielder since his early-teens. According to the brothers, playing different positions has now turned out to be a big positive because it allows them to be in the Ducks lineup at the same time. For guys who never played together previously, the Goelz brothers have taken very similar paths to reach this point in their careers. B o t h w e r e d r a f t e d by the Los Angeles Dodgers (four y e a r s a p a r t ) and spent t i m e playing with the team's minor league affiliates. Then each brother also had short stints within the Boston Red Sox system, but never did they find themselves on the same team at the same time until this year on Long Island. Jimmy Goelz, now in his second season with the Ducks, says that playing with a team so close to his hometown has been great. "I was just really lucky because growing up they didn't have this team, there was only the Yankees and Mets and that was it," Jimmy says, "It is almost too good to be true that there is a quality league and a real good organization just 20 minutes from my house." Jimmy continues, "But this isn't just a local team where you go to have a good time, it is serious baseball, and that makes it even better." Bryan joined the Ducks this season after finishing last year with an independent league team in Chicago. He says he wanted to be closer to home and playing with the Ducks was the perfect fit. "Coming in, I really didn't know what to expect from this league but it is definitely good competition," says Bryan, "I think it keeps getting better and better because people are finding out about it and now when guys are released from Double-A and Triple-A teams they don't want to go to the Northern League or the Can-Am League, everybody wants to go to the Atlantic League." Jimmy and Bryan also acknowledge that the experience of playing at Citibank Park as members of the Ducks is even a little more special for them because of their ties to Long Island. "I can definitely sense it in the crowd that they cheer a little extra for the local guys," says Jimmy, "The crowd support here is always amazing but I think they especially appreciate the players who are from around this area." As for this year's Ducks team, the Goelz brothers both agree that all the players just seemed to click right from spring training. "Everybody gets along well and I think that is a big reason why we are winning," says Jimmy. Bryan adds, "This is a great group of guys and many of them have a lot of experience so it's been fun playing with them." Jimmy says that he and his brother just want to keep getting better as players and are looking to help the team in any way that they can, but there is nothing they would want more than to win a championship in 2006 with their hometown team. "Yeah, that's what we are trying to do," Bryan says, in agreement with his brother, "That is what you play for, nothing less than that." Extra Innings: On the field, the Ducks won four of seven games during the past week to maintain their position at the top of the North Division standings. After Long Island closes out their three game series against the Road Warriors on Tuesday and Wednesday night, the team has an off day on Thursday to prepare for their weekend series against the Somerset Patriots, which starts Friday night at Citibank Park.
This week the Ducks announced that starting pitcher Ryan Jensen had been purchased by the Texas Rangers and will be assigned to the team's Double-A affiliate, the Frisco Rough Riders. Only a month into the season, Jensen already becomes the second member of Long Island's Opening Day pitching rotation (joining Nelson Figueroa) to sign with a major league organization. "We are excited for Ryan," says Ducks general manager Michael Hirsch. "We expected him to re-sign with an affiliated club and we wish him the best of luck with the Rough Riders."
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