Fresno Grizzlies planning PCL postseason party

The Fresno Grizzlies will return to the postseason for the first time in 17 years Wednesday, and the front office staff is flexing its muscles in an attempt to create a historic atmosphere in downtown Fresno.

Fireworks, free parking, rally towels and more are in line for the first playoff game at Chukchansi Park – more than 6,200 days since the Grizzlies’ last postseason game, a 9-3 loss to Calgary in Game 5 of the Pacific Conference Championship on Sept. 13, 1998.

The Grizzlies still don’t know who they will face – Las Vegas held a half-game lead on El Paso for the Pacific Coast League’s Pacific Southern Division crown entering Saturday, with the regular season wrapping up Monday – but their focus is fixed on the postseason.

Manager Tony DeFrancesco’s squad is 7-0 when playing in front of announced crowds of 10,500 or more at Chukchansi Park.

“What we’re looking for is a a big crowd on Wednesday night,” DeFrancesco said Friday. “Back in February, our goal was to get to the playoffs. We’re there; now, hopefully we can get you guys a championship.

“There’s going to be some September call-ups, the roster could change, but the 25 guys that are still in this building are going to give it everything they got like they did all year.”

Fresno announced RH Dan Straily (10-9, 4.77 ERA) as its starter for Game 1 and he’s hoping to harness all the emotional support he can get from a big crowd.

“It’s a lot easier to play in front of that atmosphere because your focus is that much greater,” Straily said. “You kind of rise to it, you kind of get that extra bit of adrenaline. It’s just a lot of fun.

“This community has been our home for the last six months; it’s been a good ride. We’re just hoping the people can come on Wednesday and Thursday night. We’re trying to get as hot as possible as a team, and getting ready to go and just make a push and have some fun with it.”

To entice the crowds, free parking will be offered Wednesday in two nearby parking garages (across Tulare Street and the spiral at Inyo and Van Ness), as well as metered parking on the streets surrounding the stadium, Grizzlies general manager Derek Franks said. Van Beurden Insurance and the city of Fresno played a part in easing parking fees.

Rally towels will be given to the first 5,000 fans at the stadium for each of the first two games in the series.

Fresno will stick with its regular uniforms, ditching its “Tacos” themed jerseys the club had been wearing on Thursdays.

It’s a whole new ballgame for fans and Triple-A Fresno. Franks – a 12-year veteran with the club – said he felt like a rookie all over again.

He admitted it felt “pretty good” asking his friends across the PCL for postseason advice.

“Instead of getting the Grizzlies ready to hibernate for the offseason, the franchise will have a chance to keep playing well through September and try to bring a championship to Fresno.”

For playoff ticket packages, contact Andrew Milios at 559-320-2533 or amilios@fresnogrizzlies.com.

This story was originally published September 5, 2015 at 7:13 PM with the headline "Fresno Grizzlies planning PCL postseason party."