Current Week: 5-1 (51-19 - GB (+14.5))
Next Week: 2 @ Salisbury Ports, 3 @ Richmond Cardinals
Power Ranking: 1
Fan Interest: 88
Owners Mood: Ecstatic
Runs Scored: 373 (3rd)
Avg: .280 (1st)
HR: 87 (1st)
SB: 71 (1st)
Runs Against: 240 (1st)
Starters ERA: 3.11 (1st)
Pen ERA: 3.89 (3rd)
Def Eff: .720 (1st)
Game 65: Richmond 1, Norfolk 5
Vaughan Griffith (7-4) went 8.1 innings allowing just 4 hits and 1 run, while striking out 8. Jeff Lewis with 3 hits and Yann Gosselin with 2, lead the offense. Kent Davis drove in 2. The Cav's had 11 hits and left 10 men on for the day.
Transactions: Mauro Candelaria is ready to come off the DL. He will be shipped off to AAA to get some swings and to prepare for his return.
Injury News: Luis Gonzalez is ok. Looks like he has some hamstring soreness and will need to rest for a day or 2, but nothing more than that. Phew.
Game 66: Richmond 12, Norfolk 0
Armando Lopez (1-1) didn't make it out of the first inning, only able to retire 2 batters, giving up 7 runs on 7 hits, he walked and struck out 1.
Trade Time: We pulled off a trade with the Virigina Beach Surf Dawgs today, sending 3 player to them for reliever Rafael Rodriguez. Rodriguez is a hard throwing lefty (99-101) with great stuff and pretty decent control. In return we sent them Emilio Gonzalez, youngster Alfred Aguirre and RP Dana Inman. We had bright hopes for Inman, but he lost favor over the years. Rodriguez was struggling with the Surf Dawgs this season going 1-3 with 10 saves and a 5.27 ERA. Stuff: 16/17, Movement: 11/12, Control: 10/10
Transactions: Rafael Rodriguez will join the Cavaliers in Milford and Lorenzo Reyes will be sent back down to AAA. Reyes pitched in 1 game allowing 2 runs in 3.1 innings. Lorenzo Reyes in his big league debut went 3.1 innings, allowing 3 hits and 2 runs. The offense couldn't get anything going, with the 7-8-9 hitters each getting 1 hit. For the Day the Cav's manged only 3 hits, and left 3 on.
Game 67: Norfolk 8, Milford 0
Matt Hollis (11-2) went all 9, allowing just 3 hits. Augusto Rodriguez lead the offense with 3 hits and 4 RBI's. Francisco Reyes added 3 hits. The offense bounched back with 13 hits, but left 9 men on.
Game 68: Norfolk 2, Milford 1
Arturo Ramirez (ND) took the no-decision, but had a great game, going 7 innings, allowing just 3 hits and 1 run, walking 2 and striking out 7. Derek Carter (4-0) took home the win with 1 inning of shut-out ball and Dalton Whitaker the save (20). King Brock hit a solo-HR (8) in the 6th and scored the winning run in the top of the 9th on a Jeff Lewis single, his 3rd hit of the day. The Cav's had 8 hits and left 4 men stranded.
Game 69: Norfolk 3, Milford 1
Takayuki Iemochi (10-1) went 7 innings, allowing 5 hits and 1 run, striking out 7. Dalton Whitaker picked up the save (21). Jeff Lewis lead the offense with 2 hits and 2 RBI's. Francisco Reyes went 1-1, with a walk, sac-fly and HBP. The Cav's had 7 htis and left 7 men on.
Game 70: Norfolk 9, Milford 2
Vaughan Griffith (8-4) went 6.2 innings, allowing 7 hits and 2 runs, striking out 5 for the win. Rafael Rodriguez went 2 innings and struck out 3 in his first Cavaliers performance. Kent Davis lead the offense with 2 hits and RBI's, Augusto Rodiriguez drove in and scored 2. Yann Gossline hit a PH solo-HR (8). The Cav's had 9 hits on the day and left 4 men on.
League News:- John Hunt, a reliever for Christiana Blue Hens, will miss the next 7 months with shoulder inflammation. Hunt ws 1-6 4.66 in 19 games this season.
- The oft-injured George Corbett signed a one-year extension with the Wilmington Iron Pigs. The 31-year old agreed to 8 million less than he currently makes. One the season Corbett is hitting .413-3-10 in 46 AB's.
- Rob Evans of the Wilmington Iron Pigs will be out for the rest of the season and then some. He won't be able to resume baseball activities for 6 months due to shoulder inflammation.
Players of the Week:
Delaware: Miguel Ortega (Seaford Blue Jays) 15-29, 0 HR's, 2 RBI's
MarVa: Mike Taylor (Baltimore Barons) 10-25, 4 HR's, 8 RBI's
Power Rankings:
1) Norfolk Cavaliers (139.1)
2) New Castle Colonials (117.0)
3) Lewes Braves (106.7)
4) Ocean City Tourists (104.5)
5) Wilmington Iron Pigs (104.5)
GM Notes:
Armando Lopez will get another start and depending on how it goes will get another one or will be shipped down to AAA and Paul Brown will come up for a couple of starts. Lopez really seemed over matched last game against the Cardinals... I have something to think about with Mauro ready to come off the DL (.350-0-2 5 Games). Joe Chambers has played well (.265-6-22) and Maik Wassink has been solid (.294-4-18). Mario Reyes (.231-2-15) will probably be the odd man out and sent back down, but what to do with Mauro. Start him? For who? It will be a tough choice. Maybe platoon all 3? Something to think about Mauro is ready to join the team... I almost dealt Ben Sanford, but was able to hold on to him. I am going to end up bringing him up for some time this year. I have to see what he has, his "5" (out of 20) control really bothers me, but I don't know what he has till I see it. He has had a decent minor league career 26-29 3.52, 215 Games, 1.32 WHIP... Ed Duke is 27, going to be due 8-9 million next year via Arbitration. He is having an awful year, so I am going to keep my eye out. If he warms up, time to shop. I am setting him to available.
Draft Pick Negotiations:
Round 1: Pick 15 - Michael Russel (Signed 6/14: $1,700,000)
Round 2: Pick 14 - Nathan Esparza (Signed 6/6: $430,000)
Round 3: Pick 20 - Ron Howard (Signed 6/12: $290,000)
Round 4: Pick 20 - Maurice George (Singed 6/4: $180,000)
Round 5: Pick 20 - Paul Morrissey (Broke Off 6/11: Demanded: $230,000, Offered: $215,000)