Current Week: 2-5 (96-53, +22)
Next Week: 2 @ Annapolis Admirals, 2 @ Virginia Beach Surf Dawgs, 3 @ Washington Senators
Power Ranking: 3 (-2)
Fan Interest: 97 (+1)
Owners Mood: Ecstatic
Runs Scored: 776 (4th)
Avg: .276 (3rd)
HR: 155 (t-7th)
SB: 159 (1st)
Runs Against: 479 (1st)
Starters ERA: 3.01 (1st)
Pen ERA: 3.30 (1st)
Def Eff: .713 (1st)
Game 143: Wilmington 5, Norfolk 9
Paul Brown (1-0): 6.1 IP, 7 H, 4 R, 3 ER, 2 BB, 5 K
Jeff Lewis: 2-4, 2 2B, R, RBI
Javier Janchez: 1-4, HR (15), R, 4 RBI
Ramon Granados: 2-4, 2B, R, RBI
H: 11, LOB: 9
Game 144: Wilmington 4, Norfolk 3 (11 Innings)
Takayuki Iemochi: 7.0 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 6 BB, 6 K
Dalton Whitaker: 2.0 IP, 4 K
Dan Nelson (0-1): 1.0 IP, 3 H, 2 R, BB, K
Tom Dundee: 3-4, HR (1), R, RBI
Javier Janchez: 1-4, HR (16), R, RBI
H: 11, LOB: 6
Game 145: Newark 10, Norfolk 9
Vaughan Griffith (2-7): 5.0 IP, 6 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 3 BB, 6 K
Mauro Candelaria: 2-6, 2B, R
Mario Reyes: 0-1, 3 R, 4 BB
Tom Anderson: 2-5, 3B, 2 R, 2 RBI
Ramon Granados: 1-4, 2B, R 3 RBI
H: 12, LOB: 11
Game 146: Newark , Norfolk
Domingo Cardoza: 8.0 IP, 8 H, 2 R, 2 BB, 3 K (big league debut)
Will Rose (1-1): 0.0 IP, R, BB
Tom Anderson: 2-4, HR (14), R, RBI
Joe Chambers: 1-2, HR (3), R, RBI
H: 6, LOB: 1
Game 147: Baltimore 0, Norfolk 5
Miguel Contreras (20-9): 7.1 IP, 5 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 7 K
Rafael Rodriguez (SV 1): 1.1 IP, 1 K
Ramon Granados: 2-4, 2 R
John O'Donegan: 2-4, 2 RBI
Javier Janchez: 1-3, HR (17), R, 2 RBI
H: 9, LOB: 6
Game 148: Baltimore 4, Norfolk 1
Matt Hollis (15-8): 7.1 IP, 9 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 6 K
Mauro Candelaria: 3-5, RBI
Javier Janchez: 2-5
Francisco Gallegos: 3-4
H: 12, LOB: 11
Game 149: Baltimore 6, Norfolk 3
Paul Brown (1-1): 8.0 IP, 6 H, 4 R, 2 BB, 6 K
Tom Anderson: 2-5, 2B, R
King Brock: 2-3, RBI
H: 8, LOB: 7
Cavaliers News:
Who's Hot:
King Brock, .478, 1 HR, Last 8 games (continuing where he left off)
Who's Not:
none
Injuries:
Cornell Pearons, Strained Hamstring, 7 weeks
Other News:
To start the week Domingo Cardoza was added to the roster. Cardoza a starting pitcher had a solid year in AAA, going 15-1 4.21 in 25 starts. Cardoza will be slotted in as the #6 starter, as we head in to the final 2 weeks of the season and don't have a day off for 14 more games (on a 17 game no-day off streak, longest of the year).
King Brock came off the DL on Saturday. He will be inserted into the lineup, even after missing 3+ weeks, I need to get him going for the playoffs. With Brock back, Granados will be displaced as the DH after doing an admiral job. Granados will now share time with Janchez in CF.
GM Notes:
Decided to go to a 6-man rotation to keep my guys healthy for the playoffs, at least that is what I am hoping will happen.
Losing 2 out of 3 to the Barons is crushing. They will be our first round oppenent again this year and last year they sat us down and if this series was any indication we are going to have our hands full once again.
This week we showed off our complete lack of hitting in the clutch. We just couldn't get anything done, leaving way too many people on base. We are going to need some of these guys to step it up during the play offs, I am starting to get a little worried. If you asked me a few weeks ago if I thought it was our year, no question, it was, now, I am not so sure.
Javier Janchez is hot right now, and it has showed in his contract negotiations. He is good, but this year is the first time in his career he has played over 130 games. The past 2 seasons in Norfolk he was supposed to be our starting CF or LF, but injuries didn't allow that to happen. Can I really dish out big bucks to a kid who isn't going to play, because he is fragile? He does continue to get better. Something to revisit down the road. He will be a free agent around 2024 (I think).
The two kids Paul Brown and Domingo Cardoza pitched well this week, which is something I like to see. They are both going to be fighting for a rotation slot next year. Contreras (FA 2022), Hollis (FA 2025) and Pearson (FA 2024) will be holding down the 1-3 slots next year. I really need to figure out what to do with Takayuki Iemochi. He is good, but if he continues to lose his control, he won't be. He is due $490 next year, might make some really good trade bait.
Seven straight road games next week, going to be tough. Hopefully we look much better than we did this week.
Around the League:
Standings Leaders
DE Southern: Lewes Braves 83-66 (+2, M#-12)
DE Northern: Milford Clippers 86-63 (+2, M#-12)
MV Eastern: Baltimore Barons 94-55 (+8, M#-6)
MV Western: Norfolk Cavaliers 96-53 (+22, Clinched)
Players of the Week:
Delaware: Peter Peters, New Castle Colonials, 9-19, 3 HR's, 3 RBI's
MarVa: John Ellis, Virginia Beach Surf Dawgs, 10-26, 3 HR's, 6 RBI's
Power Rankings:
1) Baltimore Barons (119.6)
2) Newark Millers (113.5)
3) Norfolk Cavaliers (112.0)
4) Milford Clippers (111.9)
5) Ocean City Tourists (102.9)
News:- Herminio Bovay, of the Ellicott City Express, will miss the rest of the season after straining his hamstring. Bovay, finished the season with 238 hits and a .371 batting average.
- Luis Ortiz, backup SS, for the Salisbury Ports is out 10 months with a torn labrum. The 32 year old struggled this year hitting .160 in 25 AB's, after being called up.
- Fred Simmons, the Milford Clippers prospect, will miss 6 months, after rupturing his MCL. Simmons has answered the call since being called up in September hitting 4-9 with 3 RBI's.
- Abraham Thomas, of the Annapolis Admirals, will miss the rest of the season after getting hit by a pitch. The knee bruise shuts down the games top power hitter. Thomas finished the injury plagued season .283-41-122. Thomas is 68 HR's shy of 500, and will be a free-agent at seasons end.
- Dave McGill, of the Ellicott City Express, has suffered a set-back during his rehab and it looks like he will be shut down for the rest of the season. The 34-year old, who is suffering with a strained oblique, hit .248-10-60 on the year.