[illeracula]

Week 9
Current Week: 2-4 (41-15 - GB)
Next Week: 2 vs Virginia Beach Surf Dawgs, 3 @ Ocean City Tourists
Power Ranking: 1 (-)
Fan Interest: 98 (+1)
Owners Mood: Ecstatic

Runs Scored: 304 (1st)
Avg: .289 (1st)
HR: 82 (1st)
SB: 47 (2nd)
Runs Against: 203 (1st)
Starters ERA: 3.22 (1st)
Pen ERA: 4.31 (5th)
Def Eff: .713 (3rd)

Game 51: Norfolk 2, Salisbury 3
Miguel Contreras (5-3): 8.0 IP, 7 H, 3 R, 2 BB, 5 K
Alejandro Diaz: 1-4, HR (9), R, RBI
Jeff Lewis: 1-4, HR (9), R, RBI
Wally Lambert: 2-4
H: 7, LOB: 6

Game 52: Norfolk 4, Salisbury 6
Marcos Estrada (6-2): 7.0 IP, 8 H, 5 R, 4 ER, BB, 8 K
Sergio Galvez: 3-4, HR (7), R, 3 RBI
King Brock: 2-4
H: 10, LOB: 11

Game 53: Norfolk 1, Salisbury 6
Paul Brown: 1.2 IP, H, 2 K (left injured)
Eric Helton: 4.0 IP, 2 H, 2 K
Pat Brooks (0-1, BS 1): 0.1 IP, 2 H, 2 R
Javier Janchez: 3-4, R
Augusto Rodriguez: 1-2, 2B
H: 7, LOB: 6

Game 54: Ellicott City 1, Norfolk 4
Cornell Pearson (6-1): 8.0 IP, 7 H, R, 6 K
Dalton Whitaker (SV 14): 1.0 IP, K
Henry Hamer: 2-4, HR (11), R, RBI
King Brock: 2-3, HR (9), R, RBI
Javier Janchez: 2-4, 2 R
H: 10, LOB: 5

Game 55: Ellicott City 5, Norfolk 7
Vaughan Griffith (5-2): 6.2 IP, 9 H, 2 R, BB, 7 K
Dalton Whitaker (SV 15): 1.0 IP, 3 H, R, 2 K
King Brock: 4-4, R, 2 RBI
Jeff Lewis: 1-4, R, 2 RBI
Alejandro Diaz: 1-5, 2B, 2 RBI
H: 10, LOB: 7

Game 56: Ellicott City 8, Norfolk 1
Miguel Contreras (5-4): 6.2 IP, 7 H, 4 R, 2 BB, 7 K
Ramon Granados: 2-5
Alejandro Diaz: 2-4
Mauro Candelaria: 2-3
Yoelbi Mosca: 1-4, RBI
H: 8, LOB: 9

Cavaliers News:
Injuries:
3B Mario Gomez, bruised wrist, 3 weeks
SP Claudio Perez, ulnar nerve irritation, 3 months
MR Luis Martinez, torn labrum, 3-4 months
SP Carlos Coronado, elbow ligament reconstruction, 11-12 months

Mario Gomez was hit by a pitch and bruised his wrist and will miss the next 3 weeks, this is a huge loss for us. Gomez is hitting .296-5-21 so far, and playing .977 D at 3rd. He will be sent to the DL and Mario Reyes will be recalled from his rehab assignment and placed on the active roster. Reyes was hitting .400 in AAA during his 9 games, and will be our starting 3B until Gomez returns.

Other/Roster News:
I am not sure how much consideration I should take this into, but wow, our player devlopment report for June 1st, rocked my world. If this continues there is no way we will be able to compete for a title...

MR Pat Brooks, Age 38, Norfolk Cavaliers:
- Current and potential stuff ratings drop from 10 to 9.
- Current velocity drops from 90-92 Mph to 89-90 Mph.
- Overall and potential ratings drop from 4.5 to 4.0 stars. (As MR)

CL Dalton Whitaker, Age 36, Norfolk Cavaliers:
- Current stuff rating drops from 15 to 14.
- Potential stuff rating drops from 18 to 16.
- Current velocity drops from 95-97 Mph to 93-95 Mph.

MR David Morán, Age 23, Norfolk Cavaliers:
- Potential control rating drops from 17 to 16.
- Current stamina rating drops from 14 to 13.

SP Vaughan Griffith, Age 26, Norfolk Cavaliers:
- Current and potential control ratings drop from 15 to 14.
- Overall and potential ratings drop from 3.5 to 3.0 stars. (As SP)

1B King Brock, Age 29, Norfolk Cavaliers:
- Overall rating drops from 2.5 to 2.0 stars. (As 1B)
- Potential rating drops from 3.0 to 2.5 stars. (As 1B)

LF Henry Hamer, Age 23, Norfolk Cavaliers:
- Current Power drops from 16 to 17
- Potential Power drops from 17 to 16
- Potential eye drops from 8 to 7
- Current defensive rating at Left Field drops from 17 to 16
- Overall and potential ratings drop from 4.0 to 3.5 stars (As LF)

A couple of the lesser hit players:
CF Ramon Granados, Age 28, Norfolk Cavaliers:
+ Current and Potential contact ratings imprve from 9 to 10
- Current speed rating drops from 10 to 9

RF Wally Lambert, Age 27, Norfolk Cavaliers:
+ Current and potential contact ratings improve from 111 to 12
- Potential eye rating drops from 11 to 10
+ Overall and potential ratings imporove from 4.0 to 4.5 starts (As RF)

There were a couple of bright spots however:
SP Paul Brown, Age 25, Norfolk Cavaliers:
+ Current control rating improves from 12 to 14.
+ Overall rating improves from 4.5 to 5.0 stars. (As SP)

2B Bernardo Velez, Age 24, Norfolk Cavaliers:
+ Current and potential contact ratings improve from 8 to 9
+ Current eye rating improves from 6 to 8
+ Potential eye rating improves from 8 to 9

3B Mario Gomez, Age 23, Norfolk Cavaliers:
+ Current power potential rating improves from 7 to 8
+ Potential power rating improves from 9 to 10

Some of my future prospects got nice bumps:
SP Miguel Angel Gonzalez, Age 22, AAA:
+ Current Stuff ratings improves from 13 to 14
+ Potential stuff rating improves from 14 to 15
+ Currnet Control rating improves from 11 to 12
+ Overall rating improves from 3.0 to 3.5 stars. (As SP)

1B Francisco Gallegos, Age 25, AAA:
+ Potential contact rating improves from 9 to 10
+ Current and potential power ratings improve from 8 to 11
+ Current eye rating improves from 13 to 14
+ Potential eye rating improves from 15 to 16
+ Overall rating improves from 2.5 to 3.5 stars (As 1B)
+ Potential rating improves from 4.0 to 4.5 stars (As 1B)

2B Robinson Lopez, Age 22, AAA:
+ Current power rating improves form 4 to 5
+ Potential power rating improves from 6 to 7
+ Current eye rating improves from 10 to 11
+ Potential eye rating improves from 13 to 14
+ Overall rating improves from 2.5 to 3.0 stars. (As 2B)
+ Potential rating improves from 4.0 to 4.5 stars. (As 2B)

Draft Pick Information:
#1/21) Jimmy Lewis (SS), Demand: $1,700,00 (Offer: $1,200,000) - Hard
-Status: Waiting to hear
#2/33) Boyd Martin (SP), Demand: $230,000 (Offer: $600,000) - Hard
-Status: Waiting to hear
#3/62) Jim Jackson (C), Demand: $320,000 (Offer: $280,000) - Extremely Hard
-Status: Waiting to hear
#3/68) Carl Whitaker (SP), Demand: $2,400,000 (Offer: $575,000) - Extremely Hard
-Status: Not happy, demands more money. Offer raised to $575,000 (from $250,000).
#4/88) Byron Callahan (3B), Demand: $240,000 (Offer: $180,000) - Very Easy
-Status: Waiting to hear
#5/108) Chance Boone (CF), Demand: $230,000 (Offer: $150,000) - Normal
-Status: Waiting to hear

GM Notes:
Miguel Contreras losing 2 games in one week? Is that a sign that the Apocalypse is upon this team? What is going on, that just doesn't happen. Its not like he pitched poorly, but the offense was stagnant this week and the bullpen wasn't much better.

Pat Brooks faulted twice this week. Hopefully that isn't a sign of things to come for him. He started off well, but with his lack of stuff it could be a sign he isn't any good anymore. I don't know, maybe I need to step away from the panic button I do have a big division lead.

I have to admit I am surprised by the amount of long-balls this team is hitting, with 6 players with 9 or more long-balls. I am curious to see how this will pan out with the amount of hits we took on our player development over the past month.

Janchez has become a team leader despite his injuries. He has been torrid since his return from the DL, putting up 9 HR's and 30 RBI's. If he can stay healthy he is going to be involved in the Silver Slugger talks once again this season.

Now we just need to get a) Contreras back on track and b) get the bullpen under control, and then I may feel better about this team. With the player dev report the +4 bullpen ERA I am not sure what to think. Maybe its time to explore some options to bolster this pen.

its not quite time to hit the panic button....

Around the League:
Standings Leaders
DE Southern: Lewes Braves: 34-23 (+5.5)
DE Northern: Newark Millers: 34-22 (+1.5)
MV Eastern: Baltimore Barons: 33-23 (+4)
MV Western: Norfolk Cavaliers: 41-15 (+11.5)

Players of the Week:
Delaware: Martin Allen, Wilmington Iron Pigs, 11-22, 6 HR's, 7 RBI's
MarVa: Matt Fisher, Richmond Cardinals, 12-26, 5 HR's, 10 RBI's

Power Rankings:
1) Norfolk Cavaliers (128.8)
2) Milford Clippers (113.9)
3) Lewes Braves (110.4)
4) Newark Millers (108.3)
5) Baltimore Barons (108.1)

News:
The Milton Brewers and the Ellicott City Express pulled off a deal this week, with the Express receiving 32 yr old Scott Smith, in return for two minor leaguers, Armando Espinoza (CL, AA) and Dan King (1B, A, #175). Smith couldn't find any suitors in 2022 and ended up sitting out the season, he returned this year with a minor league deal with the Brewers in hopes to make a return to the DBL, he pitched 2 games in 2021 for the Richmond Cardinals and 14 in 2019 for the Baltimore Barons.