Baseball is a game that can be hard to predict. There are few other sports in which fortunes can change so quickly and so often. Just ask the BlueClaws, who went from down and out to a first half contender in span of two weeks. And while the Lakewood first half playoff push fell just short, there was no lack of exciting and dramatic moments that characterized their rise to among the South Atlantic League elite.

Michael Taylor, Drew Naylor and the rest of the BlueClaws were 19-23 and 7.5 games behind Lake County on May 18. Less than a month later, they closed out their best first half in team history at 38-32, creeping to within one game of the eventual champs before just missing out on the title.

And plenty of the moments and games that helped the BlueClaws reach previously unknown first half success came in the friendly confines of FirstEnergy Park. Traditionally known as a pitchers park, the BlueClaws found success both on the mound and at the plate in their home yard.

Mitchell, Taylor push 'Claws to fourth straight victory

The top of the BlueClaws order brought their big bats to West Virginia, as Lakewood beat up the Power 7-3 at Appalachian Power Park on Saturday night. The first four hitters in the BlueClaws order-T.J. Warren, Derrick Mitchell, Dominic Brown and Michael Taylor- combined to go 9-for-18 with five runs scored and five RBIs. Mitchell was especially productive, slugging his fourth home run of the season in a 2-for- 4 performance.

Anywhere Anytime Communications

Authored by: Pierre Tournassoud, Vice President Network & Technology Strategy - Alcatel-Lucent

This article discusses how new wireless tools offer affordable and ubiquitous access to underserved markets in both developed and emerging economies.

Authored by:
Annie Ohayon-Dekel, Director, Strategic Business Development, Alcatel-Lucent

Connected knowledge helps to build internal and external communities of interest, remove barriers and facilitate daily work, making the exchange of information more efficient and less hierarchical. Organizations can become Dynamic Enterprises by using "search, find, connect" anywhere, anytime, via any device. Listen to the article.

Authored by:
Olivier de Romemont, Vice President Innovation and Partnership, Alcatel-Lucent.

The emergence of a global digital economy has introduced higher levels of competition. Organizations that overcome a variety of barriers and change the way things are done, can foster innovation and process improvement to derive a powerful competitive advantage. Listen to the article.

New Rules in the Communications Economy

Authored by: José de Francisco López, Director of New Ventures & Market Development, Wireless Networks, Carriers Business Group, Alcatel-Lucent

In an environment where customers can readily choose where to take their business – and are savvy enough to want personalized, user-friendly services instead of just taking whatever is offered by a network operator – traditional mass market analyses are no longer sufficient to ensure success.
 

Navigating the Transformation

Authored by: Karl Bream is Director of Strategic Marketing, Chief Marketing Office, Alcatel-Lucent, Murray Hill, NJ, USA

Rapidly developing an in-depth understanding of the various end-user segments is critical to transforming your business. Learn about new techniques to uncover your customers’ unmet needs and developing targeted services that address them.

Navigating the Transformation

Authored by:
Jean-Francois Pigeon is Vice President Market Positioning, Carrier Business Group, Alcatel-Lucent, Paris, France.

Jean-Marc Cannet is a member of the Market Positioning team, Carrier Business Group, Alcatel-Lucent, Paris, France.

Guillaume Belin is a member of the Market Intelligence team, Alcatel-Lucent, France, Iberia Italy Regional Unit.

The Internet has altered the perception of value. With innovative business models, service providers can profit, even when services are “free”. Gaining a sustainable business advantage involves evaluating how to monetize tangible and intangible assets and taking advantage of the new forms of usage.

Authored by:
Cor Dubois, Vice President, New Market Development, Alcatel-Lucent

In responding to megatrends, organizations need to carry out a broad-range assessment of their communications strategies. This article presents three key trends and identifies how established and emerging communications technologies help enterprises optimize their positions in the marketplace. Listen to the article.

Authored by:

Patty Wong, Eco-sustainability Marketing Program and Lisa Ciangiulli, Director of Marketing, Global Advertising Solutions; Alcatel-Lucent.

Operators can become part of the value chain by delivering innovative green services for which consumers are willing to pay. Green shoppers will be loyal to companies that can be trusted about stated commitments to sustainability, and that can educate the marketplace.