[illeracula]

Week 6
Current Week: 2-4 (27-9 - GB)
Next Week: 3 vs Ellicott City Express, 4 @ Richmond Cardinals
Power Ranking: 1 (-)
Fan Interest: 96 (+1)
Owners Mood: Ecstatic

Runs Scored: 200 (2nd)
Avg: .288 (1st)
HR: 56 (1st)
SB: 29 (1st)
Runs Against: 127 (1st)
Starters ERA: 3.06 (1st)
Pen ERA: 4.22 (6th)
Def Eff: .727 (2nd)

Game 31: Norfolk 8, New Castle 1
Miguel Contreras (4-2): 7.0 IP, 4 H, R, BB, 6 K
Henry Hamer: 2-4, HR (8), 2 R, 2 RBI
Javier Janchez: 2-4, 2 HR (3), 2 R, 5 RBI
King Brock: 1-3, 2 R
H: 8, LOB: 1

Game 32: Norfolk 6, New Castle 8
Marcos Estrada: 2.1 IP, 7 H, 5 R, BB
Eric Helton (1-2, BS 1): 0.1 IP, 2 H, 2 R
King Brock: 2-2, HR (5), R, 2 RBI
Wally Lambert: 1-1, HR (6), R, 2 RBI (PH)
Alejandro Diaz: 3-5, 2 R, RBI
H: 10, LOB: 7

Game 33: Norfolk 12, New Castle 1
Paul Brown (6-0): 7.0 IP, 3 H, R, 2 BB, 6 K
Javier Janchez: 2-5, 2 HR (5), 2 R, 6 RBI
Sergio Galvez: 3-5, HR (4), 3 R, 2 RBI
King Brock: 2-4, 2B, HR (6), 2 R, 2 RBI
Alejandro Diaz: 2-4, 2 R, RBI
H: 14, LOB: 3

Game 34: Norfolk 2, Lewes 3
Cornell Pearson: 7.0 IP, 5 H, 2 R, Bb, 6 K
Dalton Whitaker (0-2): 0.1 IP, H, R
Javier Janchez: 1-4, HR (6), R, 2 RBI
Henry Hamer: 1-4, 2B, R
H: 5, LOB: 6

Game 35: Norfolk 4, Lewes 8
Vaughan Griffith (2-1): 4.1 IP, 7 H, 6 R, 5 ER, 2 BB, 4 K
Mario Gomez: 2-3, HR (2), R, RBI
Javier Janchez: 1-3, HR (7), R, 2 RBI, 2 SB
H: 4, LOB: 4

Game 36: Norfolk 1, Lewes 2
Miguel Contreras: 7.0 IP, 3 H, 8 K
Dalton Whitaker (0-3, BS 3): 0.1 IP, 4 H, 2 R
Mario Gomez: 2-4, HR (7), R, RBI
H: 4, LOB: 8

Cavaliers News:
Injuries:
SS Mario Reyes, fractured finger, 1 week
SP Claudio Perez, ulnar nerve irritation, 8 weeks
MR Luis Martinez, torn labrum, 4 months
SP Carlos Coronado, elbow ligament reconstruction, 12 months

Other/Roster News:
Robinson Lopez was sent down to AAA in hopes to get his swing back on track, and while he is there he will take some reps at short. Lopez was hitting .172, playing in limited games. He is most likely our future SS, so hopefully this slow start doesn't hurt his confidence.

To take his slot Yoelbi Mosca will be called up. Yoelbi was hitting .304 in AAA and will play D (he is 19 @ 2B and 17 @ SS) as well as run the bases. He has only played 21 games above AA (16 this season), so we aren't expecting much from him. He isn't an offensive player, but he is a body that will hopefully give us a little stability and depth.

GM Notes:
Dalton Whitaker is now 10 for 13 in save opportunities and is posting a 5.79 ERA. Not what you want to see out of your closer. Over the last 4 games his ERA has gone from 2.08 to 5.79. He has given up 6 runs in 1 inning... When Luis Martinez returns from the DL he may be given the shot to be the closer. I am hoping Whitaker can get his swag back soon.

Looking at the team stats is driving me crazy. I think its cool to lead the league in HR's, Runs and Average, but that is not how this team was built. The starters are hovering around a 3 ERA,b ut the bullpen is just awful. Yes 4.22 is awful in my book.

Eric Helton had 2 bad outings and a good outing this week, and he will be moved from the set-up role, and will be replaced with Armando Lopez. Lopez has been lights out of of the pen so far this year. He isn't overly happy not starting, but he is impressing with his 13.1 IP and 0.68 ERA.

After a rough first game, when Jesus Ramirez gave up 6 runs, he has settled down only is starting to pitch like I had hoped. He hasn't given up a run in his last 4 games and has lowered his ERA from 162.16 (after game 1) to 8.64. He has only thrown 8.1 innings.

Jeff Lewis is, once again, quietly putting together another solid season. He is hitting .347, with 7 HR's and 22 RBI's, scoring 27 runs and is 6 for 7 in steals. If he didn't miss the last month last season he probably would of ended up being the MVP. If he continues his current pace it may end up being one of his best seasons of his career.

This offense is well rounded, with 7 of 9 starters driving in 17 or more runs. Is that going to be a pace they can continue all season long?

Overall this was a tough week, getting swept by the Braves doens't make me feel that good. The Braves are one of the best teams in the league, and if we can't win at least 1 from them at home then it might be a short post-season.

The rookie report:
Robinson Lopez: .172-2-8 (87 AB's)
Bernardo Velez: .176-0-2 (17 AB's)
Mark Bolton: .229-1-6 (25 AB's)
Henry Hamer: .278-8-21 (90 AB's)
Mario Gomez: .305-3-11 (118 AB's)

Might be time to send down Lopez to get him back in the swing of things. He is took good off a player and I don't want this start to get in hi head. Maybe he can go to AAA and play some SS. He just needs more swings.

Around the League:
Standings Leaders
DE Southern: Dover Generals: 20-16 (+0.5)
DE Northern: Newark Millers: 23-13 (+2.0)
MV Eastern: Baltimore Barons: 22-14 (+2.5)
MV Western: Norfolk Cavaliers: 27-9 (+8.5)

Players of the Week:
Delaware: Abraham Thomas, Georgetown Sixteens, 11-23, 3 HR's, 6 RBI's, 5 Runs
MarVa: Jose Lopez, Chesapeake Blue Crabs, 11-22, 2 HR's, 13 RBI's, 5 Runs

Power Rankings:
1) Norfolk Cavaliers (132.0)
2) Baltimore Barons (116.0)
3) Newark Millers (113.0)
4) Milford Clippers (108.0)
5) Chesapeake Blue Crabs (105.3)

News:
Tony Knox of the Annapolis Admirals will miss the next 6 weeks after fracturing his finger sliding into second. Knox the leadoff man for the upstart Admirals will be missed. On the season he was hitting .283-4-19.