Current Week: 4-2 (91-39 - GB (+29))
Next Week: 3 @ Richmond Cardinals, 3 vs Ellicott City Express
Power Ranking: 1
Fan Interest: 82 (+1)
Owners Mood: Ecstatic
Runs Scored: 685 (2nd)
Avg: .280 (2nd)
HR: 159 (1st)
SB: 140 (1st)
Runs Against: 443 (1st)
Starters ERA: 3.24 (1st)
Pen ERA: 3.16 (1st)
Def Eff: .714 (1st)
Game 125: Norfolk 2, Ellicott City 3
Vaughan Griffith (ND) went 5 innings, allowing 6 hits and 2 runs, both on solo-HRs. Dalton Whitaker (1-5) took the loss giving up 2 hits and a run in the 9th. John O'Donegan had 2 hits and Maik Wassink doubled in a run for the offensive highlights. The Cav's had a total of 8 hits and left 8 men on base.
Game 126: Norfolk 14, Ellicott City 6
Miguel Contreras (13-2) didn't have best stuff, but got some offensive support. Miguel gave up 10 hits and 5 runs over 8 innings, while striking out 9. King Brock lead the offense with 4 hits and 6 RBI's, including 2 long-balls (25). Francisco Reyes had 3 hits, 4 runs and 3 RBI's, including a HR (39). Sergio Gavlez (7) and John O'Donegan (10) both added solo-HR's. The Cav's had 19 hits on the day, and left 9 men stranded.
Game 127: Norfolk 4, Ellicott City 2
Matt Hollis (19-4) continued to win away from home, going 7.2 innings, allowing 6 hits and 2 runs, while striking out 6. Dalton Whitaker took home the save (35) by striking out the side. King Brock hit a 3-run HR (26) and Francisco Reyes hit a solo-shot (40). Reyes also walked 3 times. The Cav's had 6 hits and left 5 men on.
(I looked at the schedule wrong we are home, not away again)
Game 128: Salisbury 1, Norfolk 2
Tommy Rutledge (13-4/4-1) went 8 strong innings, allowing just 3 hits and 1 run, while striking out 7. Dalton Whitaker threw the 9th for the save (36). The Cav's had only 5 hits, with back-to-back doulbes by Francisco Gallegos and John O'Donegan creating the big "offensive" highlight on the day. The Cav's had 5 hits and left 9 men on.
Injury News: King Brock was hit by a pitch in the 6th inning of todays game. After being examined by the head trainer, it looks like Brock will be out 3-4 weeks with a fractured thumb. Yann Gosselin will return to the Cav's to take his roster slot, and Yann, Maik Wassink and Francisco Gallegos will split time at DH and 1B in his absence. We hope King is back for the playoffs.
Game 129: Salisbury 4, Norfolk 8
Takayuki Iemochi (16-5) threw 8.1 innings, allowing 7 hits and 4 runs, while walking 5 and striking out 9. Dalton Whitaker struck out the only batter he faced with the bases loaded in the 9th for the save (37). Ramon Granados lead the offense with a 4-5 day, including 2 runs, 3 RBI's and a HR (10). Jeff Lewis also had 4 hits, before leaving the game early. Francisco Reyes drove in 2. The Cav's had 13 hits and left 9 men on.
Injury News: Jeff Lewis the game early, but it is nothing serious. He will be listed day-to-day for the next 3-4 days with a bruised thigh.
Game 130: Salisbury 2, Norfolk 1
Vaughan Griffith (13-8) threw a good game, going 7 innings, allowing 5 hits and 2 runs (both on solo-HRs), while striking out 10. Ramon Granados, Mauro Candelaria and Jeff Lewis each had 2 hits. The Cav's had 7 hits total, all singles, and left 6 men on.
League News:- Norfolk Cavaliers 'star' Jose Prado, who is 18 and in the Cav's international complex has left the team to deal with some personal problems. Many suspect Jose is off to sober up, but its all rumors. We will see where this story goes. (oh and I use the term 'star' very loosely)
- Peter Peters the New Castle Colonials MVP canidate will miss the next 6 weeks, and most likely the first round of the playoffs, if New Castle can hang on, with a bruised kneecap. Peters has slumped of late, but is still hitting .298-27-76 on the season.
- Abraham Thomas of the Annapolis Admirls will miss about a month of playing time with a fractured finger. Thomas was having a typical year for him putting up .310-38-112, his 8th season with 30+ Hr's and 89+ RBI's.
- The Wilmington Iron Pigs will be without the services of Shawn Brock for the rest of the season. Brock is done with baseball activities for the next 3-4 months after rupturing a finger tendon. Brock was 8-8 3.87 in 28 starts this season.
Players of the Week:
Delaware: Andy Kohl (Dover Generals) 10-23, 2 HR's, 6 RBI's
MarVa: Ken Fletcher (Washington Senators) 9-20, 3 HR's, 5 RBI's, 5 Runs
Power Rankings:
1) Norfolk Cavaliers (131.0)
2) Newark Millers (108.8)
3) Ocean City Tourists (102.8)
4) Lewes Braves (102.5)
5) Dover Generals (101.7)
GM Notes:
We head into September a little shakey, but with a magic number of 4. It will be an interesting September as I plan to bring up a few players to get their "cup of coffee" and give the starters a little break... Francisco Reyes became the first Cavalier to hit 40+ HR's in a season, breaking the previous record of 34 set in 2017 by Roberto Perez... This team is having a good year, but I still dont' feel that "great" about them and I am not sure why. Is it the players, is the performance, do I just have other things on my mind. Seems like we just can't put it all together... We will see how we do in September and I do plan on giving some of the younger guys some playing time. The final month of the season is always exciting.
What to watch for in September:
Mark Bolton who may just well be the catcher of the future here in Norfolk, was mulling down in single-A hitting .240/.347/.380 before I traded away Ed Duke. At that point I figured it was time to bring him up, I thought he shoudl be in AA, but Alexis and crew didn't. With Duke gone and Bolton at 22 moving up the chain slowly I said no is the time, we need him, so used my GM powers and sent him to AAA. And he has been solid in AAA hitting .350/.440/.524. I think he is on pace to be up in the bigs splitting time with John O, next season. It will give me a nice Lefty/Righty back-stop platoon. John Phillips has been playing some 3B this year, so its possible we will have 3 catchers on the roster next season. According to our head scout Bolton is just about at his full potential:
Contact: 9/10, Gap: 10/10, HR: 6/8, Eye: 9/11, Avoid K's: 10/12