Current Week: 7-0 (10-1 (+2))
Next Week: 3 vs Baltimore Barons, 3 @ Chesapeake Blue Crabs
Power Ranking: 1 (+2)
Fan Interest: 89
Owners Mood: Ecstatic
Runs Scored: 76 (2nd)
Avg: .341 (2nd)
HR: 12 (5-5th)
SB: 19 (1st)
Runs Against: 34 (1st)
Starters ERA: 2.84 (1st)
Pen ERA: 3.78 (3rd)
Def Eff: .731 (1st)
Game 5: Richmond 1, Norfolk 13
Ron Reilly (1-0) picked up where he left off last season with a dominate performance, going 8 innings, allowing 7 hits and 1 run for the win. The Cavaliers offense smacked 13 hits, with 5 players collecting 2 each. King Brock lead the way with 2 HR's (2) and 5 RBI's, Mauro Candelaira added a 2B, a HR and 4 RBI's, and Roberto Perez hit a solo-HR and scored 3 times.
Virginia Beach Profile
Virginia was an expansion team for the 2017 season and have dealt with some growing pains. They lost 107 games in year one, then followed that up with a 118 losses, and this year isn't promising. They have the 19th lowest (out of 20) budget and 19th lowest payroll in the league. They have a new manager this season with Lee Jackson, who comes off of 4 years being the bench coach for the Washington Senators. Jackson also was the manager for the Newark Millers for the first year, before being fired 42 games into his second season. Jackson has a career record of 91-117 (.438) as a manager and would like to lead this team to their first sub-100 loss season. Jose Villa signed a HUGE deal in 2017 to be the ace, after a 12-14 2017 season, he fell to 6-21 lst year, with 5 more years left on his contract and $78,600,000 remaining he will be with the Surf Dawgs for a long time coming. On the offensive side they are lead by Kenny Lee who signed a $112,800,000 (6yr) deal in 2017 as well. He has not lived up to the hype of the $112,800,000 dollar man hitting only .251 last season.
Game 6: Norfolk 11, Virginia Beach 2
Miguel Contreras (2-0) went 7.1 innings, allowing 5 hits, 1 run while striking out 7. Will Rose went the final 1.2 innings, allowing 3 hits an 1 run, walking 2. The offense continued to hit, collecting 18 hits. Kent Davis lead the way with a 4-hit performance. Ed Duke added 3 hits adn 4 RBI's, including a HR (2). Roberto Perez added 3 hits, including a HR (2), 2 runs and 2 RBI's. Jeff Lewis, King Brock and Mauro Candelaria each collected 2 hits.
100 Win Watch: Don Sweetapple took a loss against Ellicott City Express going 4.2 innings, allowing 7 hits and 6 runs (5 ER).
Game 7: Norfolk 11, Virginia Beach 0
Matt Hollis (2-0) pitched all 9, collecting his first shut-out in Cavalier orange. He allowed 5 hits, 2 walks, and struck out 7. Jeff Lewis lead the offense with 3 hits, including a HR, Triple, 4 runs and 3 RBI's. Roberto Perez hit a HR (3) for the third straight game, and Javier Janchez, Mike Ford and Augusto Rodriquez each collected 2 hits.
Game 8: Norfolk 3, Virginia Beach 2
Arturo Ramirez (ND) went 4.2 innings, allowing 5 hits and 2 runs, striking out 5. He threw 93 pitches, seems like his drop in stamina is hurting him this season. Elmer Hawkins (1-0) came in and threw 2.1 innings of 1 hit ball, striking out 3, for the win and Dalton Whitaker closed the door for the save (2). Kent Davis had 2 more hits. Jeff Lewis added 2 hits and 2 RBI's and Roberto Perez scored 2 runs to pace the offense.
Game 9: Norfolk 6, Virginia Beach 4
Shawn Brock (2-0) looks to have found his comfort zone, going 8 innings, allowing 4 hits and 3 runs, before handing the ball off to Dalton Whitaker who pitched the 9th for the save (3). The offense put up 9 hits, with only Jeff Lewis collecting more than 1. Ed Duke drove in 3, and Lewis and Roberto Perez each scored 2 times.
Baltimore Barons Profile
The Barons have always been the last place team in the Eastern Division of the MarVa Conference. Last year was the first year they didn't finish in 4th, finishing in 3rd, their only winning season. This year they have a lot of promise, but will be up against some tough competition in the Annapolis Admirals. With the 15th lowest payroll the Barons are a young team with a lot of promise and manager Denis Richardson hopes to lead the to the playoffs for the first time. Richardson will be making his managerial debut in 2019, after 3 years as the New Castle Colonials bench coach and 3 years of the Georgetown Sixteens hitting coach. Tommy Rutledge is the ace of this team, he went 20-7 last year as a 24 year old, and aims to win 20 again this season. Tommy signed a 4-year extension keeping him in Baltimore till 2022. Francisco Durango signed a 3-year deal at the beginning of this season to be the offensive spark the Barons need. Last season he hit .309-16-67, and is a career .312 hitter.
Game 10: Baltimore 7, Norfolk 8
Ron Reilly (ND) got roughed up over 5.1 innings, allowing 12 hits and 6 runs, before the bullpen took over and a combination of 5 kept the Barons at bay and allowed the Cav's to walk away with the win. Rick Kelly (1-0) took home his first win going 1.2 innings of no-hitball, and Elmer Hawkins threw the 9th, gave up a solo-HR, but collected the save (1). The Cav's offense was at it again, collecting 17 hits, with every offensive player (11) collecting at least one. King Brock lead the way with 3 hits. Kent Davis, Jeff Lewis, Javier Janchez and Cody Johnson each added 2 hits. Jeff Lewis hit a 2-run HR (2) and Cody Johnson added a solo-shot (1).
Injury News: The 4th inning was a bad inning for our base-runners as first Maik Wassink had to be removed from the game with an injury, and then 2 batters later. Augusto Rodriquez had to be removed. Wassink will be out for 1-2 weeks, we are waiting on a diagnosis for Rodriquez. Both players will be placed on the 11-day DL (league evolution, 15-day was reduced to 11-day). MR Ivan Pineda was recalled from AAA, as is shortstop Joe Chambers. Chambers and Cody Johnson will share time at short, and Pineda will give the pen some rest.
Game 11: Baltimore 4, Norfolk 5
Miguel Contreras (ND) went 8 innings allowed 10 hits and 3 runs, then gave the ball over to Dalton Whitaker to collect the save. Dalton gave up a solo-HR to tie the game, but was the benefactor of a walk off win (1-0, BS 1). Ed Duke lead the offense with a 2-3 day, including a HR and 2 RBI's. Mike Ford alos added 2 hits (every other player in the linuep had 1). Jeff Lewis drove in Roberto Perez in the bottom of the 9th for the game-winner.
Injury News: Augusto Rodriquez will be listed day-to-day. We jumped the gun by sending him the DL, but it will work out for the best.
100 Win Watch: Don Sweetapple became the third DBL pitcher to win 100 games. Don went 9 innings, allowing 5 hits, 3 runs and striking out 7 in a 8-3 victory over the Virginia Beach Surf Dawgs.
Around the League: - The Seaford Blue Jays were no-hit last week, and this week, they are the team throwing the no-hitter. Jorge Padilla was in a zone, throwing 9 innings, striking out 11 and walking only 3, in a 1-0 win over the New Castle Colonials.
- Dennis Marshall of the Lewes Braves will be out 11 months with a stretched elbow ligament. He pitched in only 2 games this season, last year he was 4-2 3.19 in 59 games.
- Richard Taylor, Wilmington Iron Pigs, will miss 6 weeks with a sprained ankle. Taylor was hitting .250-1-2 on the season.
Players of the Week:
Delaware: Steve MacOnie, Milford Clippers, 13-30, 2 HR's, 5 RBI's, 6 Runs
MarVa: Abraham Thomas, Annapolis Admirals, 12-27, 5 HR's, 15 RBI's
Power Rankings:
1) Norfolk Cavaliers (179.6)
2) Annapolis Admirals (143.9)
3) Ellicott City Express (136.9)
4) Georgetown Sixteens (117.5)
5) Lewes Braves (115.5)
GM Notes: This week made me feel a little better about this offense, its a really good offense when things are clicking. At this point the only offensive concern I have is Augusto Rodriquez, and as I have mentioned his glove means more than his bat, so its not an overly big concern. I still would like to see him pick it up when he rejoins the team (.142-0-5)... The pitching also showed me some things, the bullpen came through when needed, the starters looked good. The only concerns I have for the pitching staff is 1) the stamina of Arturo Ramirez and 2) the consistency of Ron Reilly. Reilly I can live with, Ramirez only going 5-6 innings, that I am not sure of. I would hate to lose him, he was our first #1 pick and last year lived up to the promise, maybe I am jumping the gun a little early. I don't know, its hard not to when Vaughan Griffith is ready to step-up... Joe Chambers is up to get a quick look, he will spend the next 11 days with us, then be sent back down to get some more work at 3B. Joe was 5-13 in AAA, and if we don't get anything worked out with Roberto Perez will be our 3B of the future... I think I like this right/lefty combo of Miguel Contreras and Matt Hollis better than Jose Matos. Matos is 0-1 in 3 starts with a 2.08 ERA.