The first pitch at Canal Park will not be thrown until 6:35 p.m. Thursday, but the Akron RubberDucks already have named their MVP. His name is Sir Duke Walsh.
The frisky 7-year-old boxer has free run of the pristine field. Considering he is the first line of defense to protect the team’s home turf, there’s little wonder why he is the Duck’s Most Valuable Pup.
The team has a lot riding on this wildcard prospect, who happens to be the pet of chief groundskeeper Chris Walsh.
In the offseason, the minor-league baseball team spent around $400,000 ripping out the entire field at Canal Park to put in new sod and improve drainage. It marked the first complete field renovation since Canal Park was constructed in 1996.
The biggest challenge in maintaining the green, green grass of home is not so much the weather or the turf-tearing dives in the outfield, but keeping so-called foreigners out of the park.
Walsh said the bane of existence for groundskeepers, landscapers and homeowners alike is Canada geese.
The lovely flowing, historic canal just over the outfield fence is not only attractive for walkers and tourists, but also the large migrating birds.
The ballpark’s outfield grass provides a tempting place for the birds to lounge in the sun after frolicking in the water.
Over the years, Walsh said, the ballclub has tried a variety of tactics from coyote decoys and sound effects to blinking lights to drive them away.
Walsh said these Canadian visitors are pretty smart bird brains and quickly figured out it was all just a ruse.
Sir Duke will tear into the outfield faster than a ball off the bat of outfielder Bradley Zimmer at the sign of one of the wayward birds.
“Duke has been the most effective deterrent,” Walsh said.
The team agrees. Not only has it named Sir Duke the assistant manager of geese management, it also had him pose for an “official” team photo this year just like other MVPs such as top prospect Clint Frazier.
Sir Duke takes his notoriety in stride and won’t stray far from his boss.
When Chris Walsh steers the club’s tractor back and forth along the infield dirt to groom it, Sir Duke runs right by his side with his stubby tail wagging and long tongue lolling while keeping a watchful eye for any sign of trespassers in the outfield.
Walsh said the real problem for the park’s new 100 percent Kentucky Blue Grass turf is what the geese leave behind.
Not only is the goose poop gross, Walsh said, it also carries remnants of everything the bird has consumed.
The tiny seeds from everything from weeds to other plants and grasses are left behind in the droppings to take root in the outfield and every other grass surface in the park.
The contamination of undesirable grass and weeds became so prevalent in the old field, Walsh said, that it was next to impossible to kill it without also damaging the good grass.
This is why Sir Duke’s visits from the family’s Cuyahoga Falls home have become more common this season.
While he has the run of the ballpark, Walsh said, like any employee, he has some boundaries — particularly when nature calls.
“He knows the field is not a place to go to the bathroom.”
Craig Webb can be reached at cwebb@thebeaconjournal.com or 330-996-3547.