Week 13
Current Week: 4-3 (52-31 .627 / +3)
Next Week: 3 @ Virginia Beach Surf Dawgs, 3 vs Washington Senators
Power Ranking: 4 (+1)
Fan Interest: 87 (+1)
Owners Mood: Delighted
Expectation: Playoffs
Runs Scored: 411 (4th)
Avg: .262 (4th)
HR: 110 (2nd)
SB: 78 (2nd)
Runs Against: 70 (1st)
Starters ERA: 2.85 (1st)
Pen ERA: 3.10 (1st)
Def Eff: .717 (1st)
Game 77: Wilmington 0, Norfolk 3
Cornell Pearson (12-2): 7.1 IP, H, BB, 10 K
Miguel A Gonzalez (SV 16): 1.0 IP, 3 K
Francisco Gallegos: 1-4, HR (12), R, RBI
Leonard Lawson: 2-4, 2B, R
Robinson Lopez: 1-3, 2 RBI
H: 5, LOB: 6
Game 78: Wilmington 6, Norfolk 3
Miguel Contreras: 3.2 IP, 7 H, 3 R, 2 K
David Moran (2-3): 2.2 IP, 3 H, R, 2 BB, K
Robinson Lopez: 3-4, 2B, 2 R
Sergio Rodriguez: 2-3
H: 6, LOB: 7
Game 79: Georgetown 5, Norfolk 6
Carlos Coronado: 8.0 IP, 8 H, 5 R, 2 BB, 7 K
Miguel A Gonzalez (4-4): 1.0 IP, 3 K
Bob Short: 1-3, 2 RBI
Leonard Lawson: 1-3, R, 2 RBI
Sergio Galvez: 1-3, 2 R, RBI
Trevor Parker: 1-2, R
*9 different players had 1 hit.
H: 9, LOB: 6
Game 80: Georgetown 8, Norfolk 4
Boyd Martin (5-6): 4.2 IP, 6 H, 3 R, 2 ER, BB, 4 K
Bob Short: 1-4, HR (12), R, RBI
Sergio Galvez: 1-4, HR (24), R, 2 RBI
Claudio Florez: 1-3, R
H: 6, LOB: 6
Game 81: Norfolk 5, Ocean City 6
Paul Brown: 8.0 IP, 8 H, 3 R, 2 BB, 9 K
Miguel A Gonzalez (BS 5): 2.0 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 1 ER, BB, 3 K
Armando Lopez (1-4): 2.1 IP, 2 H, R
Henry Rojas: 2-5, HR (2), R, 4 RBI
Robinson Lopez: 3-5
Bryant Frank: 2-5, R
Bob Short: 2-5, RBI
H: 14, LOB: 15
Game 82: Norfolk 4, Ocean City 0
Cornell Pearson (13-2): 8.0 IP, 5 H, 7 K
Sergio Rodriguez: 2-5, 3B, HR (1), 2 R, RBI
Leonard Lawson: 4-4, HR (15), R, RBI
Trevor Parker: 2-4, 3B, HR (11), R, RBI
H: 8, LOB: 7
Game 83: Norfolk 10, Ocean City 9
Miguel Contreras: 2.0 IP, 7 H, 6 R, 2 BB, K
David Moran (3-3): 0.2 IP, R, K
Miguel A Gonzalez (SV 17): 1.0 IP, H
Sergio Rodriguez: 3-3, 3B, 2 R, RBI
Sergio Galvez: 3-4, HR (25), 2 R, 5 RBI
Francisco Gallegos: 2-2, 2 2B, 3 RBI
Robinson Lopez: 2-5, 2B, 2 R
H: 14, LOB: 8
Injuries:
SP Joaquin Hernandez, Partially torn labrum, 6 weeks
Other/Roster News:
"The Contreras Watch" -- Miguel Contreras 104.1 IP @ 150 an option for 2027 kicks in worth $17,250,000. He also has a player option for 2028 worth $17,250,000, so that 150 IP could cost us $34,500,000... Contreras left his first game this week injured them said he was good to pitch and got roughed up. maybe its time to move him out of the rotation? Set-up man? I don't know, but how do you do that the best starter in the history of the DBL??
We came to terms with John O'Donegan on a minor league deal. He will get his swings, as I move our top catching prospect Gino Macciocchi to his back-up for the time being. We will see how John does and if he hits he could see himself in the Cavaliers uniform in the 2nd half. He isn't the hitter he once was, but he will give us some much needed veteran leadership in the clubhouse.
Contact: 8/8, Gap: 11/11, HR: 12/12, Eye: 9/10, K's: 10/10
We signed what we believe is the top of the international free-agents this season. This was a very weak group, but we are happy to announce the signing of Luis Sanchez for $1.6M. The 16 year old will head off to our international development complex and we will wait to hear good things.
Stuff: 4/11, Movement: 7/10, Control: 3/14
Draft Picks:
Here is how our past 3 #1 picks have faired so far this season...
2026 - 1B Paul Perkins: 25 G, .165-1-6 : Has 13 Hits and 27 K's not the best of stat lines. With Short-Season A starting up maybe he should be sent down to get some swings there.
2025 - OF Dennis Williamson: 32 G, .167-1-5 : 13 hits and 20 K's. Not as bad, but I really thought he would be getting better. I think its time for Williamson and Perkins to take their swings in SS-A. Second round pick of 2025 Flint Brooks might be the one to watch out of these two (.236-4-40).
2024 - OF Blake Quirke: 36 G, .236-5-24 : Blake has 33 hits and 32 K's, but has shown some patience with 24 walks. Quirke is well liked in the clubhouse and has shown some leadership skills that should help him down the line. He hit .261 last season and I'd like to see him get to that point again this year.
GM Notes:
Its time to make some changes with this staff... the first move is to put Armando Lopez in the rotation. I think Lopez will thrive in the rotation, and probably should of done it sooner than now. To fill the void in the bullpen its going to be tough. I tried to pull off a deal with the Braves to get their closer who makes $14M, but is a free-agent at the end of the season. They asking price was WAY too high. I will continue to look around, but Otero has a solid offer on the table and if he signs he will finish off the pen (for now). Laz Tadiotto is the next in line to get the call to the bigs. He is a starter (9-2 2.96, AAA), but will start off in the pen.
John O'Donegan didn't get enough swings in AAA to determine anything (0-5), but once he hits his groove I think he will be up and my back-up. Moving both Bolton and Baldwin down to AAA and maybe even AA. These guys have been really disappointing, especially Bolton who has progressively gone down hill the past 4 seasons: .255, .248, .227, .158... Then there is Mike Baldwin the #82 prospect in the DBL who just can't seem to get anything going .136-0-2, 22 AB's. He has only struck out 4 times, but he just can't seem to find any holes.
I looked over Teo Ha and Alberto Sanchez and decided that it was time for them to get more work in the pen, so I made their usage more often and both players ended up having rough weeks. One of the big reasons our relievers ERA went over 3. Ha gave up 4 runs in 3 innings and Sanchez 2 in 2. Both guys should bounce back, but it was quite a surprise to see both of them struggle this week.
I need Bob Short to step it up and prove to me that he is that "stud" we traded for. Right now he is having a solid season (.279-12-47) but he IS better than that. A lot of players have trouble coming to Norfolk and hitting the ball, it is well known through the DBL to be a pitchers park and when players like this "struggle" it shows how great players like King Brock, Jeff Lewis, Francisco Reyes really were in Norfolk.
We have 6 more games till the All-Star break and they are probably going to be the toughest 6 of the season. I think these 4 days off I will have to look over the roster and see if there are any moves to make... Looking at what we have the offense has been pretty consistent all year, the starters have been solid with a few hiccups and the bullpen was red hot out of the gate, but slumped lately. This team thrives on good pitching and when our pitchers struggle we struggle. Maybe that is a fault of the GM (aka me) or maybe its just an illusion. Whatever it is we need to break that, we really can't rely on solid pitching day in and day out. We need some batter to step up and take this offense on their shoulders. Last year it was Sergio Galvez, this year he is doing it again, however I am still waiting for someone else to step it up....
Standings Leaders
DE Southern: Milton Brewers: 51-32 (+9)
DE Northern: Wilmington Iron Pigs: 51-32 (+4)
MV Eastern: Virginia Beach Surf Dawgs: 54-29 (+6)
MV Western: Norfolk Cavaliers: 52-31 (+3)
Players of the Week:
Delaware: Ricardo Hidalgo, Christiana Blue Hens, 10-23, 4 HR's, 9 RBI's, 5 R's
MarVa: Roberto Alvarez, Virginia Beach Surf Dawgs, 15-35, 4 HR's, 11 RBI's, 10 R's
Power Rankings:
1) Viriginia Beach Surf Dawgs (131-1)
2) Wilmington Iron Pigs (115.6)
3) Milton Brewers (113.6)
4) Norfolk Cavaliers (112.8)
5) Washington Seantors (111.3)
News:
Washington Senators: The Senators offense took a blow with the injury to 1B Chae-heui Yi. Yi will miss 6-7 weeks with a partially torn laburm. On the season Yi is hitting .334-17-49.
New Castle Colonials: CF Miguel Torres will miss 2 months with a fractured wrist. The 25 yr-old is hitting .237-8-30.
Ocean City Tourists: LF Jeff Lewis has ran his season long hit-streak to 25 games. Lewis is hitting .378-13-47 on the season.
Seaford Blue Jays: SP Bubba Snyder will miss 13 months with a torn rotator cuff. He will have surgery and hope to return strong next season. Bubba was 5-4 4.59 in 17 starts this season.
Dover Generals: The Generals acquired MR Jesus Espinosa (1-6 5.70, 12 SV) from the Newark Millers for 2 prospects: 2B Dave Gilbert (SA) and LF Rafael Romero (A).
New Castle Colonials: Traded away prospect C Patrik Asther (SA, #165) for 3B Robert Rumpf (.243-3-11) to fill voids created by injuries.
Ocean City Tourists: Dumped 39 yr-old 2B Dave McGill (.215-5-28) to the Georgetown Sixteens in return for 2B Kevin Swift (.263-2-14) and C Randy Spears (SA).
Seaford Blue Jays: Looking to improve their offense the Blue Jays acquired 43 yr-old Cliff Jones (.270-2-29) along with $3M for 2B Mario Reyes (.240-5-11) and prospect LF Ernest Condarco (SA, #48).
Milestones:
Batting:
Francisco Reyes: 12 to 600 HR's
Roberto Perez: 1 to 300 HR's (1st member of 300/300 club)
Pedro Galvan: 5 to 600 SB's
Pitching:
Miguel Contreras: 3 to 250 W's
Carlos Mateo: 61 to 2000 K's (DL/Rehab)
Robert Walker: 71 to 2000 K's
Matt Hollis: 131 to 2000 K's
Will Wilson: 33 to 1000 G's
Manuel Petrelia: 23 to 300 SV's (2nd member of the 300 sv club)
* Eisse Bookelman was removed from this list because he is injured and done for the season, and with Wilson passing him it looks like Wilson will be the first to 1000 G's. Might not be this season however.