[jamus23]

Central Division 
 
Team          W  L  PCT   GB Pyt.Rec Diff  Home  Away XInn  1Run Stk Last10 
Denver       43 20 .683    -   44-19   -1 23- 8 20-12  1-6  9- 9  W2    7-3 
Memphis      35 28 .556  8.0   36-27   -1 17-14 18-14  2-1  7- 8  W7    7-3 
Tucson       32 29 .525 10.0   33-28   -1 15-15 17-14  3-3  8-12  W1    6-4 
Grand Rapids 30 32 .484 12.5   29-33    1 17-15 13-17  2-4  8- 9  L2    3-7 
Green Bay    30 33 .476 13.0   27-36    3 13-19 17-14  3-2 14- 5  L1    7-3 
Kansas City  19 42 .311 23.0   25-36   -6  7-23 12-19  1-2  5-10  L3    4-6

Denver 12 @ Atlanta 3
Denver 5 @ Atlanta 3
Denver 0 @ Atlanta 9
Grand Rapids 5 @ Denver 3
Grand Rapids 4 @ Denver 13
Grand Rapids 2 @ Denver 8


Alexis Vazquez pretty much single-handedly won the first game against Atlanta, as he went 6 for 6, with 4 runs batted in, and 3 runs scored. Included among those hits was a double and a homerun. Vazquez is the first Denver player to collect 6 hits in a game since infielder Tomas Sato did it in 2082. Marvin Lore accounted for 5 hits of his own in the victory. The Broncos produced 13 hits and 8 walks in the second game, and hung on for another win. In the final game against the Braves, George Buentello and Thomas Sanchez battled for 6 innings in a tight pitchers' duel. When Buentello gave way to reliever Larry Waltz in the 7th inning, Atlanta clung to a 1-0 lead. Waltz, unfortunately, imploded, and gave up 8 runs in 2 innings. Meanwhile, Sanchez finished off a 5-hit, complete game shutout to help Atlanta avoid getting swept.

Denver was embarrassingly shut down by Grand Rapids' starter, Franklin Erb(7.98 career ERA), in the first game of the series with the Tigers. The second game was much easier, as the Broncos scored 6 runs in the first inning, and never looked back. Marvin Lore delivered 7 runs batted in, hitting a first-inning grand slam and a sixth-inning 3-run bomb. Robert McNett improved to 7-0 this season, and won his 15th consecutive decision, as Denver cruised to a victory in the third, and final, game of the series.


Alexis Vazquez had an utterly insane week to lead the Broncos' offense, as he hit .704(19 for 27), with a 2.020 OPS, 2 doubles, 1 triple, 4 homeruns, 12 RBI, and 11 runs scored. Jose Fuensanta continued his strong play, posting a 1.699 OPS, with 2 homeruns. Marvin Lore produced a 1.389 OPS, 12 hits, 2 doubles, 2 homeruns, and 10 RBI. Michael Phillips had a 1.033 OPS, a double, 2 homeruns, 6 runs scored. Jack Rumfelt posted a .921 OPS, with 11 hits.

Lee Chappel continued to struggle, as despite 3 doubles and a .360 on base percentage, he hit just .158, with a .676 OPS. Brooks Branco had only 4 hits in 26 at bats, and a .588 OPS, although the hits consisted of 3 doubles and a triple. Masahachirou Shunji went 0 for 12, with 8 strikeouts.

Kenny Pillsbury and Robert McNett each made 2 starts during the week, and both played well. Pillsbury gave up 4 runs in 14 2/3 innings, and struck out 12 batters. McNett allowed 4 runs in 13 innings pitched, and struck out 16 batters. George Buentello gave up 1 run in 6 innings in his only start. Ray Lockridge was the only ineffective starter during the week, with 4 runs allowed in 7 innings pitched.

There weren't any especially good bullpen performances. James Virgen tossed a scoreless inning, and Robert Soto allowed 1 run in 3 innings. On the negative side, Omar Lopez gave up 3 runs in 3 1/3 innings, and Larry Waltz surrendered 11 hits, 8 runs, and 3 walks in only 3 innings.



The injuries keep piling up for the Broncos. Center-fielder Russell Thomas(.904 OPS, 9 homeruns) will be out for at least a month and a half with back spasms, and left-fielder Masahachirou Shunji(.811 OPS, 7 homeruns) will be sidelined for about a month with an injury to his PCL. Replacing the two outfielders on the roster are veterans Shifusa Ryo and Emmanuel Abadia. The 36 year old Ryo has a .797 OPS at AAA this season, and a .646 OPS in 1145 career big league at bats. The 31 year old Abadia has been mostly a minor league slugger in his career, and this year, he has a .766 OPS and 15 homeruns at AAA. In 122 career big league at bats, Abadia has a .547 OPS. The most likely playing time allotment will have either Abadia or Arthur Elbert in left field against right-handed pitchers, and Elbert in left against lefties, and infielder Adrian Mingo in center against righties, and Ryo in center against lefties. Marvin Lore, of course, is playing right field in place of the injured Asbel Fuentez. This alignment might change soon, however, as Ellis Bolling is expected to come off the disabled list in 4 days, and the Broncos may be reluctant to send down Tamiko Teika, who has played well since being called up(.935 OPS in 35 at bats). Teika does have a bit of experience in left field, so he might be getting some time there, as well.



Around the league:

The National League Player of the Week Award went to Harrisburg's third-baseman, Coy Drews. This is Drews' first career POTW award. Drews hit .450( 9 for 20), with a 1.642 OPS, 2 doubles, 1 triple, 3 homeruns, 11 RBI, and 8 runs scored. He had 2 hits, including a triple, 1 RBI, and 1 run scored, in a 5-4 win over Portland. He had 3 hits, including a double and a homerun, 4 RBI, and 2 runs scored in a 6-5 win over the Trailblazers. His homerun was a 2-out, 2-run blast in the bottom of the ninth inning to win the game. He doubled, homered, walked, drove in 2 runs, and scored 3 runs in a 10-7 win over Hartford. Drews also had 2 hits, including a homerun, 2 walks, 4 RBI, and 2 runs scored in a 7-3 win over the Whalers.

Not surprisingly, the American League Player of the Week Award went to Denver's Alexis Vazquez. It is the 9th POTW award of Vazquez's career. In addition to the 6-hit game against Atlanta, Vazquez also had: Two hits and an RBI in a 5-3 win over the Braves. A triple, a homerun, 1 RBI, and 2 runs scored in a 5-3 loss to Grand Rapids. Four hits, including a homerun, a walk, 3 RBI, and 3 runs scored in a 13-4 thumping of the Tigers. Four hits, including a homerun, 3 RBI, and 3 runs scored in an 8-2 win over Grand Rapids. He is also currently on a 22-game hitting streak, 2 short of his career best.


Division races:

In the West, San Diego(43-20) shook off its recent lethargy and ended the week on a 4-game winning streak. Both San Jose(38-24) and Sacramento(33-29) have kept the pressure on, with 2 straight wins for the both of them. Los Angeles(32-29) has dropped 3 in a row.

New Jersey(33-30) increased its lead in the Northeast to 2 1/2 games over Rochester(29-31), but both the Devils and Rhinos closed the week on 2-game losing streaks.

Miami(46-18) is pouring it on in the Southeast. The Dolphins have won 6 straight games and have pushed their lead over Knoxville(32-30) to 13 games. At the bottom of the division, the Nashville Predators(19-44) are in a freefall, with 8 consecutive losses.

Denver's(43-20) lead in the Central Division remains comfortable, but the Broncos are not in a position to relax. Memphis(35-28) is playing extremely well right now, with 7 straight wins. The Grizzlies' strong play, combined with the Broncos' mounting injuries, could make this race a lot more competitive over the next couple of months.


Trade news:

Two months into the season, most teams have a good sense of where their season is going, and are starting to think about what that means for their roster. If the playoffs are a legitimate possibility, they look to see if they can fill any holes via trade. If the playoffs aren't likely, then teams look to the future in any trades. Portland and Green Bay kicked off this portion of the season with a 2 for 1 swap. The Trailblazers, with their season already in the toilet, acquired 26 year old right-fielder David New(.802 OPS, 9 homeruns) and 19 year old second-baseman Paul Lorenzo(.490 OPS at A-ball). The Packers, who are only 5 games behind second place Memphis in the Central Division, received 25-year old catcher Gary Jones(.338 average, .815 OPS) in exchange. The early winner of this trade is probably Green Bay, although it may complicate things for the Packers in a year or so. Previously, the Packers had veterans Roy Isenhour and Gary Lauritsen sharing time behind the plate. Both are capable backup catchers, but they are not starting material. Jones should be a significant upgrade. The potential complication arises from the fact that Green Bay's most recent first round draft pick is an 18-year old catcher named Santiago Fernandez. The young prospect is currently at AAA, where he has a .711 OPS. He's not ready for the big leagues yet, but he may be ready as soon as next season. The Packers may have to choose between Jones and Fernandez. As for the loss of New, certainly that hurts, as he is playing solidly this season as Green Bay's DH. To replace him, the Packers moved third-baseman Robert Quirk(.773 OPS, 9 homeruns) to the designated hitter spot, and backup third-baseman Charles Troutt(.717 OPS in 65 at bats) into the starting lineup. Troutt is a defensive upgrade over Quirk, but will likely be an offensive downgrade from New.

On the Portland side of things, this trade is highly questionable. The departure of Jones leaves the Trailblazers with a pair of 37 year old catchers on the roster(Aaron Quijada and Andrea Burkley), and pretty much nobody behind them. New does represent an upgrade over right-fielders Robert Schober(.721 OPS) and Tony Francois(.436 OPS), but a good, young catcher seems to be a lot more valuable than a decent, young right-fielder. As for the prospect Lorenzo, he is a modestly talented young player who could turn into a useful player, or, more likely, disappear in a couple of years


Injury news:

Denver wasn't the only team to get with injuries this week. San Diego lost backup catcher Clayton Threatt(.578 OPS in 58 at bats) for over a month with a torn abdominal muscle, and rookie starting pitcher Charles Paulk(4.24 ERA in 4 starts) for a similar length of time with an injury to his biceps. Green Bay lost its most effective starting pitcher this season, Anibal Reynoso(4-8, 3.28 ERA) for over a month with back spasms.


Ahead on Denver's schedule this week is another 3-game series at Atlanta(29-34), and a 3-game series versus Green Bay(30-33).