Imagine if you will, the Buffalo Sabres fielding an entirely new team of players and coaching personnel. Now imagine the Columbus Blue Jackets coming to town, and there behind the bench is their Coach, Lindy Ruff. Between the pipes for the Jackets is Ryan Miller, and there’s Thomas Vanek wearing #26 for Columbus.

Crazy, huh? Yet that’s sort of how things felt at Coca Cola Field this afternoon, as the Columbus Clippers arrived to begin their four game visit against the Bisons. Now the affiliate of the Cleveland Indians, their roster bears a very healthy sprinkling of players we have come to know as Buffalo Bisons, and leading their charge is the quintessential Buffalo guy, Manager Torey Lovullo.

How did the game turn out? Yeah another Buffalo loss, but that was no surprise. Trailing 6-4 going into the bottom of the 9th, the Bisons got their first two runners aboard. A short pop up and a round the horn double play later, it was lights out and another dreary Bisons outing.

A sizable media contingent was on hand in the bowels of the ballpark awaiting Lovullo, who managed here in Buffalo for three seasons before departing along with the Cleveland organization at the end of last year. “It was a little unusual, I got here early, gave my hellos to all the guys. I was very happy at the outcome I wanted to get the distractions out of the way early.” Lovullo admitted that a number of his players who were here last season wanted to make the statement, including Trevor Crowe, who went 4-5 at the plate today. Travis Hafner, down on a rehab assignment from the Indians, added three hits of his own.

And how has the reception been in Columbus for the Indians farmhands? “I think it’s a statewide thing,” Lovullo replied. “The fans have been great. The new stadium is beautiful. It was bittersweet leaving here but all in all we have great fan support and we have the Indians playing right next door and we can’t beat that situation.”

As for their new ballpark, Huntington Park, located in downtown Columbus’ Arena District. “We’re still working the kinks out. The last homestand I think we were 6 and 2. We’re looking forward to going back home after this road trip.”

As for this visit to Buffalo… “It was a bit awkward. Somewhat surreal,” said Lovullo. “I had some thoughts about what I wanted to do. I got here very early in the day. I didn’t want to be distracted. But I didn’t walk onto the field until 5 minutes before the game. I said a couple hellos at that point it was all about the game.”

The Buffalo-Columbus series continues with games Friday through Sunday at Coca Cola Field.

An appearance from New York Mets’ great Darryl Strawberry and the return of the Cleveland Indians’ affiliate highlight an eight-game homestand for the Buffalo Bisons, Triple-A affiliate of the New York Mets, that starts Thursday, May 21 at Coca-Cola Field.

The Bisons will welcome in Strawberry to the ballpark on Saturday, May 23. The Mets’ All-Time Home Run King will throw out a first pitch and then be available in the Coca-Cola Field concourse for autographs. The first 4,000 fans through the Swan St. Gate will also receive a complimentary Darryl Strawberry Bobble Head, presented by NAPA Auto Parts.

Saturday’s game will be one of four for the Bisons against the Columbus Clippers, the new AAA affiliate of the Cleveland Indians (May 21-24). Led by Buffalo Baseball Hall of Famer Torey Lovullo, the 2009 Clippers currently feature 16 players that once wore a Buffalo Bisons uniform.

The eight-game homestand also features a fridaynightbash!®, with post-game Fireworks on May 22 and the team’s Memorial Day Pre-Game BBQ on Monday, May 25 (2:05 p.m.), presented by Famous Dave’s BBQ.

Please see below for a complete promotional scheduled for all eight games. Tickets are available by calling THE-HERD (716-843-4373) or charge-by-phone at 1-866-223-6000. You can also order online at Bisons.com or visit the Coca-Cola Box Office (Mon-Fri, 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m., Saturdays, 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.).

Columbus Series (May 21-24)

Thursday, May 21 @ 1:05 p.m. (Gates 12:00 p.m.)
-Business Person’s Matinee Special.
-Win some great Bisons prizes by playing Baseball Bingo during the game. Get your bingo card at the gate to win while you watch.

Friday, May 22 @ 7:05 p.m. ( Pre-Game Plaza Party, 5:00 p.m.)
-A fridaynightbash!®, presented by Seneca Gaming Corporation, is the best night of the week and a weekend tradition in Western New York .
- Pre-Game Plaza Party begins at 5:00 p.m. with live music from the band, Papa and Mama Root (‘70s covers).
-Plaza Party to feature $3 specials on hot dogs, hamburgers, Italian Sausage and 12 oz. beers.
-National Kidney Foundation Night
-Post-Game Fireworks Show will light up the Buffalo sky.

Saturday, May 23 @ 1:05 p.m. (Gates 12:00 p.m.)
-Darryl Strawberry Appearance, with in-game autograph session in the concourse.
-Darryl Strawberry Bobble Head Giveaway, to the first 4,000 fans through the Swan St. Gate, presented by NAPA Auto Parts.
-High School Saturday, presented by Niagara University . High School students can purchase two tickets for only $12 when they present a valid high school ID.

Sunday, May 24 @ 1:05 p.m. (Gates 12:00 p.m.)
-Kids Growth Chart Giveaway to the first 5,000 fans in attendance, presented by Excelsior Orthopaedics.
-A Family Fun Sunday, presented by Uncle Bob’s Self Storage.
-Kids’ games on the field before the game, presented by Wegmans. After the Bisons game, children are welcomed down the field for Kids Run the Bases, presented by Tim Hortons.

Lehigh Valley Series (May 25-28)

Monday, May 25 @ 2:05 p.m. (Tent BBQ Party 1:00 p.m.)
-Memorial Day with Pre-Game BBQ, presented by Famous Dave’s BBQ. Stop the Buffalo Security Pavilion in centerfield and for $7 you can enjoy a hot dog or hamburger, potato salad and a Famous Dave’s BBQ Specialty Item. Fans will also receive a complimentary Coca-Cola beverage.
-Markdown Monday has the best values in town. Tickets are ONLY $7 for the game and concession stands will feature $1 popcorn and $1 ice cream specials. There will also be a special discounted merchandise table set up in the concourse.

Tuesday, May 26 @ 7:05 p.m. (Pre-Game Concert 5:00 p.m., Gates 6:00 p.m.)
-Bisons Faith Night.
-Pre-Game Faith Concert, presented by Tyndale University & Seminary, begins at 5:00 p.m. in the centerfield Buffalo Security Pavilion. Come enjoy a night of fellowship and friendship while listening to the music of Christ Records and Relevant Worship.

Thursday, May 28 @ 1:05 p.m. (Gates 12:00 p.m.)
-Business Person’s Matinee Special.
-Win some great Bisons prizes by playing Baseball Bingo. Get your bingo card at the gate to win while you watch.
-“529 Day,” presented by New York ’s 529 College Savings Program. Get some helpful advice on how to plan for your and your child’s future, no matter how young they are.

Just got back from the State of the County Address at the “UB Gateway” building. Never heard of the place? It used to be the old M. Wile building at 77 Goodell Street. M. Wile was founded in Buffalo in 1877 by a German immigrant and operated for over 90 years as a clothing manufacturer. In the 1970s, the company employed over 2000 western New Yorkers at the factory on Goodell Street and in the city of Dunkirk.

UB bought the place in September 2007. It was then called Century Center 2. UB and the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus (BNMC) have been buying up real estate for the new medical corridor that’s part of the big UB 2020 plan UB President John Simpson keeps telling us about. He couldn’t tell us today, because we were informed that he’s out of the country. Good for him. It was minus 6 degrees in Buffalo this morning.

Here’s a shot of the crowd huddled in the old defunct factory that used to serve as a thriving workplace.

It’s got a great view.

I didn’t stay for the address, but here’s a copy of it if you want to read. Just click here. In it, County Executive Collins points out, on page 18: “You are sitting in the former manufacturing facility of Buffalo’s own M. Wile clothing company. UB now owns this facility which is part of the downtown expansion of the University and it’s (sic) interconnection with the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus. This building, once a symbol of our past, is now a symbol of our future.”

Not sure what that means. Is he saying our future is an underused, nearly vacant hulk of a structure owned by a state entity?

There are also plenty of plugs for “Lean Six Sigma.” Fourteen mentions between pages 3-5. But any of you brown-nosers wanting to sign up quick so you can get your yellow, green or black belt in Six Sigma, you’re gonna have to wait. There’s a list of people ahead of you waiting for the training. The only place you can get this certification around here is…you guessed it…at the UB Center for Industrial Effectiveness. It’ll run you $4,900 to get your black belt, grasshopper.

Outside the old M. Wile building, there were a dozen yard signs promoting a Web site called bragaboutbuffalo.com. You can see one of the signs at the top of this post. If you visit the site, you won’t find out anything about who they are, but you will be offered tips on how to brag about Buffalo. For example, if someone asks, “Are there any big schools there?” we are supposed to reply, “If by “big” you mean the biggest one in New York State, then yes.”

That kind of positive talk might not turn the region’s fortunes around, but it should solidify our reputation as insecure dorks.

Read this before you participate:

Masten District Councilmember Demone Smith has filed two interesting letters with the Common Council this week. The first relates to Cariol Horne, the Buffalo police officer who recently was dismissed (and as a result lost her pension) after a lengthy and much-publicized discipline case. Smith thinks justice may have been a little too blind in Horne’s case, and he has a few questions for Police Commissioner McCarthy Gipson:

First, why was Officer Horne required to retain legal counsel to represent her during departmental proceedings? Second, why was Officer Horne relieved from her duties during the hearing process? Third, if Officer Horne was eligible for retirement from the Buffalo Police Department why was she not allowed to do so thereby providing her access to pension benefits that she earned? Fourth, why were witnesses who observed the confrontation between the two officers not allowed to testify regarding the events in question? Finally, what are the options available to Ms. Horne now that a decision has been made to terminate her employment with the City

Here’s the full letter.