[mikev]

Originally posted by recte44, Las Vegas Hustlers GM and MBBA Commish

This is not the way the Hustlers expected the midpoint of the season to be in 1995. After a rebuilding year in 1994, the Hustlers fully expected to take their customary place atop the FLP this season, but it hasn't happened.

This reporter must ask: What's wrong with the Hustlers?? Here are the top two reasons at the All-Star break:

1. The offense has been a disaster. .716 Team OPS is lowest in the Frick League. They have only stolen 50 bases this season, a usual staple of a Hustlers team. They have a lot of nice players but don't have that one player that can take the team over the top. C Riley Hinson cannot carry this offense singlehandly. LF Sean Bockus is an excellent complementary player and a borderline All-Star most years, but isn't the type of player that can carry an offense. Outside of those two, the only player on the current active roster with an OPS over .800 is part time infielder Mario Colon. The club really misses injured 1B/3B Stan Ross, who had a .946 OPS and was emerging as the offensive leader of the lineup. He'll be back in a week, and hopefully that'll help but it's clear the Hustlers are going to have to go through a slew of trades to reshape this team into a better image offensively.

2. SP Hank Daniels hasn't filled the bill as the ace of this team. The Hustlers put a lot of stock in Daniels being that guy who would be the ace they haven't had since Shamus Perfetto was dealt away, but it hasn't happened. Then to see Bob Stephan performing nicely for Hawaii and in addition prospect Mike Taft showing nice development, the Hustlers can mark down that deal as an unmitigated disaster. It certainly doesn't help that the Hustlers young foursome of pitching aces have all lumped: Johnny Madorin, Rodger Murkami, Eric Sweet, and Greg Ganzfield are now shells of their projected former selves. Mikey reminded us yesterday of an adage that all rebuilding teams need to keep at the top of their list: TINSTAAPP (There is no such thing as a pitching prospect).

So, the Hustlers go into the second half down, but not completely out. Still only 7 games out of the division lead, the Hustlers feel that with some magic by GM Terry Lieberman they can rise again. Hustler Nation can only sit and wait for something to be done.