Miracle playoff hopes slim

By David Dorsey
Fort Myers News Press

The Fort Myers Miracle might have to rely on their team nickname in order to get a spot in the Florida State League playoffs.

The Miracle, the Class A baseball team affiliated with the Minnesota Twins, will begin a three-game homestand at 7:05 tonight at the Lee County Sports Complex against the Tampa Yankees, a series that will help determine the Miracle's hopes to reach the postseason.

"It's not over yet," said Fort Myers manager Riccardo Ingram, whose team entered today 3 1/2 games behind the Dunedin Blue Jays in the Western Division standings.

With just seven games remaining following a 2-2 road series in Dunedin, the Miracle must overtake the Blue Jays in order to secure a playoff spot.

"We're not eliminated mathematically," Ingram said. "We've got to keep our hope alive."

The Miracle would have had higher hopes had they fared better in Dunedin. Instead, Fort Myers split the series, including a doubleheader Thursday (a 6-2 win and a 6-4 loss), a 7-1 defeat Friday and a 4-1 victory Saturday.

"I tell you, it's kind of unfortunate, I guess, to look back on this last trip," Ingram said. "We had an opportunity to win every single game."

After the three-game series against the Yankees, the Miracle will finish the regular season with four games against the Sarasota Reds, who have a 27-33 record.

Meanwhile, the Blue Jays will close with a series against the Reds, followed by one versus the last-place Clearwater Threshers (23-38).

"Basically, they control their destiny," Ingram said of the Blue Jays. "We have to hope we get some help from some other teams.

"To win out is hard. Seven in a row is tough. You just hope we finish strong down the stretch. We put ourselves in this position. We're still hanging in there, finding a way to get some wins. Guys are playing hard, trying to get that last spot."

Friday morning, after a doubleheader against the Dunedin Blue Jays that ended at 1:45 a.m., Miracle manager Riccardo Ingram woke up in time to see Fort Myers general manager Steve Gliner on ESPN's Cold Pizza, talking about the suspended Florida Marlins' batboy.

Before tonight's 7:05 game at the Lee County Sports Complex against the Tampa Yankees, the Miracle will give a free pint of milk to all children ages 14 and under to pay tribute to the unnamed Marlins' batboy who was suspended for taking a $500 dare.

Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Brad Penney offered the boy the money for drinking a gallon of milk within one hour without throwing up, and the Marlins suspended the boy for taking the dare. (The boy didn't finish the milk in time, either).

"That's pretty crafty," Ingram said of the promotion. "I thought it was pretty interesting. It was fun."

Here's a look at two other promotions for this week:

7:05 p.m. Tuesday: NASCAR Night. A tribute to auto racing.
7:05 p.m. Wednesday: Gas Giveaway Night. The Miracle will randomly choose fans between innings to win free gas. Women will have a chance to get into the game for free with the "Exemplary Housewife Contest." Husbands, children, friends and neighbors are encouraged to send their "Exemplary Housewife" story to fanmail@miraclebaseball.com, explaining how important Mom is to the family. The six best stories will be chosen and those women will get free admission for themselves and their families, as well as the chance to throw out the ceremonial first pitch.