By TOM PULEO
Hartford Courant

NEW BRITAIN -- The Rock Cats' Riccardo Ingram has a new buzzword for the
2007 season, his second as a professional manager.

"Chemistry," he said Wednesday. "It's the bond. This team is a little more
eager. They're hungry and know what they can accomplish."

As New Britain opens the season at New Hampshire tonight, no one is
happier to turn the page on 2006 than Ingram.

Behind him are the frustration of a losing record (64-78) and the shaky
veteran leadership that undermined the clubhouse. Gone too, Ingram hopes,
are his own self-doubts and his days as a makeshift therapist and
babysitter.

"You put last year behind you," he said. "You find the pluses, take away
the minuses and move on."

The Rock Cats are a different bunch this year, led by a group of prospects
who won together last season at Class A Fort Myers.

"It's a great group of guys," said righthander Anthony Swarzak. "We had a
great year in Fort Myers and ended up 20 games over .500."

Swarzak, 21, is ranked the Twins' No.5 prospect by Baseball America. He
welcomes his role as a team leader, a spot that last year's early-season
ace, Glen Perkins, never quite warmed to before making his way to
Minnesota.

"Guys are going to play hard and give it their all," Swarzak said. "I have
no doubt about it. We're going to try to turn it around this year."

Ingram, who coached Swarzak in the Gulf Coast League, called the Fort
Lauderdale native a "gritty kid" with an "electric arm."

Swarzak was 11-7 last season and allowed 131 hits in 1452/3 innings,
striking out 131.

He will get help in the rotation from a pair of 2006 holdovers in Nick
Blackburn (today's starter) and Brian Duensing. New Britain also added
righthander Jesse Floyd, who went 4-4 with a 4.00 ERA in 25 games last
year with the Connecticut Defenders.

Another fresh face is shortstop Trevor Plouffe, 20, the lone first-round
pick on the roster. Baseball America ranks Plouffe the Twins' No.19
prospect.

He will be joined in the infield by first baseman Brock Peterson (21
homers in Fort Myers), 2006 Eastern League All-Star second baseman Felix
Molina and two capable third basemen in Brian Buscher, also acquired from
Defenders, and David Winfree, who hit 13 home runs in Fort Myers and is
rated as the Twins' No.17 prospect.

Replacing Denard Span (promoted to Triple A Rochester) in center field is
another speedster, Brandon Roberts, 22, who stole 50 bases in 2006.

Newcomer Matt Allegra, 25, acquired from the Oakland organization, also
will play in the outfield, along with returnee Garrett Guzman.

Despite a losing record last year, the Rock Cats drew a record 328,406
(5,052 average).

Team president and CEO Bill Dowling said he likes what he sees. The Rock
Cats' home opener is next Thursday at 6:05 p.m. against the Fisher Cats.

"Chemistry is very important, particularly when you have a mix of veterans
and young players," Dowling said. "The veterans set the tone. Unless you
have veterans who understand what it takes to win, and what's required,
some of these young kids can go off in different directions."

April 5, 2007