Players of the Month:
Delaware Conference:
Batter of the Month: Don White, Wilmington Iron Pigs
Don White battered Delaware Conference pitchers all July and wound up taking home the Batter of the Month Award. "I've been around DELMARVA Baseball League long enough to know you really have to work hard day in and day out to be able to put up this kind of consistency," the 33-year-old White told reporters. "I put in a lot of work, even on the days I might not take the field, and it's always nice when everything comes together for me like it did this last month." In 28 games, White hit .373 with 8 home runs, 34 RBIs and scored 23 runs. This season White is swinging the bat at a .295 pace. He has hit 24 home runs and scored 68 times, while driving in 93. His on-base percentage is .359 and he has played in 106 games.
Pitcher of the Month: Anthony Dundee, Georgetown Sixteens
Anthony Dundee's been around the league long enough to appreciate the honor he received today. After going 4-1 in July, the 34-year-old Georgetown hurler has been named Delaware Conference Pitcher of the Month. He fanned 37 in 49 innings, logged an ERA of 2.39 and allowed opponents to hit .239 against him. So far this year Dundee has made 23 starts, tossed 181.2 innings, struck out 119 batters and walked 28. His record is 16-5 with a 2.28 ERA and he has limited opposing teams to a .244 batting average.
Rookie of the Month: Felix Martinez, Seaford Blue Jays
A veritable toddler to the Delaware Conference, Félix Martínez just sewed up the Rookie of the Month trophy for July. Over the past month the 25-year-old catcher for Seaford hit .326 with 30 hits, 6 home runs and 18 RBI. He also logged 14 walks and compiled a .411 on-base percentage. Martínez currently has a .250 batting average with 86 hits, 9 homers, 34 RBIs, 34 runs scored and a .321 OBP.
MarVa Conference:
Batter of the Month: Kyle Boutte, Ocean City Tourists
Kyle Boutte is not used to being associated with Batter of the Month-caliber players, but today the Ocean City first baseman joined that select company when the MarVa Conference announced the results of July's voting. Boutte totaled 32 hits, 7 walks, 12 home runs, 23 RBIs and 24 runs scored last month to put together a .317 batting average and .367 on-base percentage. Currently Boutte is batting .307 with 12 home runs and 29 RBIs.
Pitcher of the Month: Jorge Padilla, Richmond Cardinals
As Jorge Padilla hoisted up the MarVa Conference Pitcher of the Month trophy for July, rumors have already begun to swirl about whether he will leave Richmond once his contract is up at the end of the season. Padilla put pressure on the Cardinals to keep him around by posting a 4-1 record and an ERA of 0.82 over 44 innings last month. He also rolled up 26 strikeouts, increasing his value both to Richmond and to every other team in the league. This season Padilla has compiled a 10-6 mark with a 2.65 ERA in 22 starts.
Rookie of the Month: Kyle Boutte, Ocean City Tourists
Youngster Kyle Boutte emerged as the latest MarVa Conference Rookie of the Month today. The young man from Ocean City deserved the honor, batting .317 with 12 home runs and 23 RBI. Is the month of July a harbinger of things to come or just a fluke? We'll find out someday, but for now, we'll just let Boutte enjoy the limelight. This season Boutte is swinging the bat at a .307 rate with 39 hits in 127 at-bats. To date he has hit 12 home runs, scored 30 runs and driven in 29.
League Leaders (as of July 1st, 2017)
Delaware Division:
AVG: Peter Peters (New Castle Colonials) .333*
HR: Alberto Trujillo (Milford Clippers) 41
RBI: Alberto Trujillo (Milford Clippers) 110
SB: Pedro Galavan (Dover Generals) 54
ERA: Jarred Perry (Lewes Braves) 2.24*
W: Anthony Dundee (Georgetown Sixteens) 16
K: Marcos Estrada (Wilmington Iron Pigs) 180
SV: Mike Banks (Newark Millers) 27*
Marva Division:
AVG: Kent Davis (Norfolk Cavaliers) .370
HR: Abraham Thomas (Washington Senators) 40
RBI: Derek Campbell (Norfolk Cavaliers) 111
SB: Roberto Perez (Norfolk Cavaliers) 38
ERA: Miguel Contreras (Norfolk Cavaliers) 1.48
W: Jose Matos (Norfolk Cavaliers) 17
K: Barney Butler (Washington Senators) 151
SV: Dalton Whitaker (Norfolk Cavaliers) 33
The Sixteens and the Generals continue to fight it out, and if I was a betting man I'd put my money on the Generals. Why? Because of the trades the Sixteens have made, I just feel like they got rid of too much for what they got back. The Generals are a young team. The Sixteens are riding high. Shoudl be good. Looks like the injuries finally caught up to the Braves... The Iron Pigs are the team to beat in the Northern Division. I am surprised that the Colonials have fallen so far behind. They need Peters to turn it up a notch and carry them. The Clippers hit the long ball, and if they continue they will give the Pigs a run for their money... Ocean City made some big trades and this month will be the tell if they were worth it. I didn't expect them to be on top, and I don't think the Admirals or the Blue Crabs did either... The Cavaliers had an off month and gained 7 games. Its too early to say its over, but it is very very close... Looks like this season may be void of any late season races. Hopefully that isn't the case.
Ex-Cavaliers Report (guys we moved in this past offseason):
Don Sweetapple (Richmond Cardinals) 23 GS, 11-9 3.02, 1.06 WHIP, 3.5 WAR
Carlos Mateo (Lewes Braves) 21 GS, 12-5 3.32, 1.07 WHIP, 2.6 WAR
Javier Uberuaga (Annapolis Admirals) 22 GS, 9-11 4.70, 1.46 WHIP, 3.2 WAR
Allen Johnson (Annapolis Admirals, AAA) 93 G .311-8-58 (3 games 0-3 w/ Annapolis)
Kevin Howse (Georgetown Sixteens) 39 G .303-3-15 0.2 WAR / (AAA) 37 G .345-14-56, 1.162
Karl Armstrong (Ocean City Tourists) 22 GS, 9-4 3.79, 1.37 WHIP, 3.1 WAR
Jacob Chaney (Ocean City Tourists) 75 G .297-1-9 (w/ Villalobos trade is now the starter), 0.2 WAR
Luis Deleon (Ocean City Tourists) (CL) 51 G (1 GS) 53.2 IP 7-2 3.89, 9 SV, 1.34 WHIP, 1.1 WAR
Pat Shelton (Christinia Blue Hens) .225-6-29 .611 OPS 1.5 WAR
Murray Pavie (Seaford Blue Jays / Salisbury Ports) 19 G .176-0-4, .531 OPS -0.3 WAR (before trade 52 G .283-2-21, .697, 0.3 WAR)
Norfolk Recap
Eventhough it doesn't seem we are that consistent the stats say otherwise. We followed a 16-11 June with a 17-11 July. Not too bad. But if you were to ask me I wouldn't of guess we played that good. Guess finishg off 7-3 does help... We do go into the final 2 months we two big question marks. A) What Jesus Rivera will show up the final two months of the season? Removing from the starting lineup seemed to set a spark under him, but we will see. B) Is Sun Ho's time in the rotation done? We have 3 guys in AAA ready and our scout is telling us to bring them up. Hopefully Ho will gather himself and finish off strong. After an 8-0 start How is 2-4 with an ERA over 4.25 in his last 11 starts. He just isn't the same guy who started the season. A point drop in Control and movement have been crushing... Its never to early to start thinking about next off-season and I have done that already. For one I'd like to get some higher level prospects, and I have some people to move. As for August 1st, here are the people that will most likely be moved in the off-season: Ron Harris, Sun Ho, Pablo Fretias, Joe Gould. doing this should free up some money so I can sign Mauro Candelaria and Kent Davis to extensions. Keeping Kent Davis around is going to be an important task.