Current Week: 6-0 (48-14 (+13))
Next Week: 4 vs Annapolis Admirals, 3 @ Ocean City Tourists
Power Ranking: 1
Fan Interest: 89
Owners Mood: Ecstatic
Runs Scored: 400 (1st)
Avg: .311 (1st)
HR: 62 (6th)
SB: 95 (1st)
Runs Against: 206 (1st)
Starters ERA: 3.20 (1st)
Pen ERA: 2.84 (2nd)
Def Eff: .718 (2nd)
Game 57: Salisbury 1, Norfolk 10
Miguel Contreras (5-0) won for the 2nd straight time, goin g8.1 innings, allowing just 1 hit and 1 run, while striking out 6. Joe Chambers was the offensive star going 3-4 with 2 runs and 4 RBI's, including a Grand-Slam (4). King Brock added a 2-run HR (7) and Jeff lewis had 2 hits.
Injury News: Javier Janchez will be out around 5 days with an intercostal sprain. I thought about putting him on the DL, but I am not going to. Instead I am going to send Ivan Pindea back down to AAA and bring up Sergio Galvez to play left field. Galvez has been learing 1B in AAA and his putting up solid offensive numbers. He will lead-off and play left for the next 5-6 days.
Game 58: Salisbury 2, Norfolk 6
Matt Hollis (10-1) didn't have his best stuff, throwing 104 pitches over 5.2 innings. He only allowed 4 hits, walked 3, no runs and struck out 4. Dan Nelson went the final 3.1 innings, allowing 5 hits and 2 runs, and was credited with the save (2). Roberto Perez had 3 hits. Kent Davis had 2 hits and 2 RBI's. Augusto Rodriquez added 2 hits, 2 runs and 2 RBI's, including a HR (3).
Transactions: Arturo Ramirez is eligible to come off the DL. Dan Nelson will be sent down to AAA to make roster space for Arturo. Vaughan Griffith will start tomorrow then Ramirez will assume his roll in the rotation.
Game 59: Norfolk 6, Washington 2
Vaughan Griffith (3-3) went 5.1 innings, allowing 5 hits, 0 runs, walking 3 and striking out 7. Dalton Whitaker struck out the final batter of the game for the save (15). Roberto Perez and Jeff Lewis each had 2 hits. King Brock hit a 3-run HR (8). Cody Johnson added a solo-HR (3). Mauro Candelaria drove in 2.
Draft News: Glenn Young isn't happy with the $150,000 we offered. Mind you he was the last player drafted in the draft and is demanding 2 million. He can go back to school, we won't negotiate any further.
Game 60: Norfolk 5, Washington 4
Takayuki Iemochi (ND) went 6.2 innings, allowing 7 hits and 4 runs (1 ER), while walking 3 and striking out 5. Jamie King (3-0) pitched 1.1 innings of scoreless ball for the win and Dalton Whitaker went the final inning for the save (16). Sergo Galvez pinch hitting for the injured Kent Davis went 2-2 with his first 2 big league hits. Ed Duke (both doubles), Mauro Candelaria and Bryan O'Neil each added 2 hits. King Brock drove in 2.
Draft News: Our 3rd round pick Carl Spence isn't happy with what we had to offer and is asking for $300,000. We will boost our offer to his demand and see what happens.
Game 61: Norfolk 11, Washington 7
Ron Reilly (6-0) went 7.1 innings, allowing 7 hits and 6 runs (5 ER), while striking out 6. Elmer Hawkins recorded the final out for the save (2). Augusto Rodriquez lead the way with 3 hits and 2 RBI's and Mike Ford added 2 hits and 3 RBI's. Cody Johnson, Roberto Perez and Sergo Galvez each had 2 hits. Perez drove in 2, scored twice and made 2 errors.
Draft News: Mark Bolton our #1 pick has signed for $1,200,000. He will be sent down to A-ball to get his career started. We are very excited to see him develop.
Injury News: Kent Davis is out, diagnosis pending. Javier Janchez is back healthy, and will move into the CF slot until we find out what is wrong with Kent.
Game 62: Norfolk 15, Washington 7
Miguel Contreras (6-0) went 8 innings, allowing 7 hits and 7 runs while striking out 5. He was the benefactor on an offense that collected 23 hits. Ed Duke lead the way with 3 hits, including a Grand-slam (15), and drove in 7. Roberto Perez added 4 hits and 2 runs. Mauro Candelaria added 2 hits, 3 runs and 2 RBI's. Jef Lewis added 3 hits, 3 runs and 2 RBI's. King Brock added 2 hits, 2 runs and 3 RBI's. Mike Ford and Javier Janchez both added 2 hits. Every Cavalier starter, but Augusto Rodriquez who had 1, had at least 2 hits!
Draft News: Jason Doyle our 4th round pick isn't happy with the $150,000 we offered and is looking for around $260,000. We will bump the offer up, not quite to his demand, but close $230,000.
Off Day:
Injury News: The off-day news wasn't good as we were informed that Kent Davis will miss 3 weeks with a pinched nerve. He was sent to the 11-day. Javier Janchez will assume CF details and Sergio Galvez will remain in LF. Dan Nelson was recalled and will be back in the bullpen for the Cavaliers.
Draft News: Carl Spence decided he didn't want to play in the Norfolk organization and has broken off further negotiations... Frank Combs our 5th round pick wasn't happy with the $150,000 we offered him and is looking for $260,000. I will offer him $225,000.
Around the League: - Todd Eldridge the #2 starter for the New Castle Colonials will miss another week after suffering a set-back during his recovery of a hamstring injury.
- Steve Jackson the young 3B for the Ellicott City Express will be out 2-3 weeks when he suffered a set-back during his rehab for shoulder tendinitis.
- The Ocean City Tourists and Annapolis Admrials pulled off an interdivisional trade, with the Tourists sending Catcher Jacob Chaney (.234-2-5) to the Admrials for 35 yr-old RF Juan Salas (.299-5-20).
Players of the Week:
Delaware: Melvin Riley, Lewes Braves, 8-16 2 HR's, 6 RBI's
MarVa: Valentin Valdes, Virginia Beach Surf Dawgs, 11-20, 1 HR, 3 RBI's, 4 Runs
Power Rankings:
1) Norfolk Cavaliers (155.4)
2) New Castle Colonials (120.3)
3) Georgetown Sixteens (115.3)
4) Milton Brewers (110.3)
5) Lewes Braves (108.5)
GM Notes: We did what we are supposed to do against the not-as-good teams in our division. Sweeping both the Salisbury Ports and the Washington Senators. For the week we didn't lose and again 5 games on the Express. Up by 13 games, we are starting to pull away... We start off next week with a big 4 game series with the Annapolis Admirals. This should be an interesting series, since it most likely will be us vs them in the playoffs (once again)... Roberto Perez shouldn't be playing third, but I have no idea where to put him. King Brock is entrenched as the DH, Mike Ford is raking at first base and I need Perez's bat in the game. But this week he committed 4 errors. One thing Joe Chambers will offer next season is a huge defensive upgrade. I still find it hard to believe that Perez actually won a Gold Glove at 3B... I am not a big fan of removing Vaughan from the starting rotation, but there are only 5 slots and I don't think going to a 6-man is the right thing to do. Next season is going to be even a harder decision, since we will have 7 solid starters...