[illeracula]

Week 16
Current Week: 5-2 (65-32 .670 / +6.5)
Next Week: 3 vs Annapolis, 3 @ Chesapeake Blue Crabs
Power Ranking: 1 (+1 / 122.6)
Fan Interest: 100
Owners Mood: Ecstatic
Expectation: Playoffs

Runs Scored: 538 (3rd)
Avg: .284 (2nd)
HR: 108 (5th)
SB: 87 (1st)
Runs Against: 342 (1st)
Starters ERA: 3.46 (1st)
Pen ERA: 2.93 (1st)
Def Eff: .727 (1st)

Game 91: Salisbury 2, Norfolk 3
Paul Brown: 7.2 IP, 7 H, 2 R, 2 BB, 6 K
Eric Helton (3-0): 1.1 IP, 2 K
Bob Short: 1-4, HR(7), R, 2 RBI
Leonard Lawson: 2-3, 2 2B, 2 R
Francisco Gallegos/Henry Rojas: 2-5
H: 9, LOB: 10

Game 92: Salisbury 4, Norfolk 3 (14 Innings)
Armando Lopez: 7.1 IP, 9 H, 3 R, 8 K
David Moran (3-2): 2.1 IP, 4 H, R, BB, 2 K
Pedro Torres: 3-6, 2B, R
Trevor Parker: 3-7, R, RBI
Sergio Rodriguez: 2-7, R
Leonard Lawson: 1-1, RBI
H: 18, LOB: 16

Game 93: Salisbury 0, Norfolk 5
Jaoquin Hernandez (10-2): 7.1 IP, 7 H, 9 K
Mike Baldwin: 2-3, HR (6), R, 3 RBI
Pedro Torres: 2-4, HR (9), R, RBI
H: 7, LOB: 6

Game 94: Salisbury 0, Norfolk 4
Ernie Kennedy (10-5): 7.0 IP, 4 H, BB, 7 K
Eric Helton (SV 2): 2.0 IP, H, 3 K
Sergio Rodriguez: 2-3, 2 R
Sergio Galvez: 2-3, HR (13), R, RBI
Henry Rojas: 2-4, RBI
H: 10, LOB: 7

Game 95: Richmond 9, Norfolk 3
Lazzaro Tadiotto (1-3): 7.1 IP, 7 H, 6 R, 2 BB, 3 K
David Moran: 1.1 IP, 3 H, 3 R, BB, 2 K
Sergio Galvez: 1-3, HR (15), R, 3 RBI
H: 4, LOB: 3

Game 96: Richmond 4, Norfolk 5
Angel Rivera (7-4): 7.0 IP, 8 H, 4 R, 4 BB, 4 K
MA Gonzalez (SV 26): 1.0 IP, K
Sergio Galvez: 1-3, HR (16), 2 R, 2 RBI
Henry Rojas: 2-5, R
Pedro Torres: 1-3, 2B, R, RBI
H: 7, LOB: 7

Game 97: Richmond 2, Norfolk 10
Paul Brown (10-3): 9.0 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 12 K
Bob Short: 2-4, 2 2B, R, 3 RBI
Pedro Torres: 1-4, 3B, 2 R, 2 RBI
Henry Rojas: 2-4, 2B, HR (12), 2 R, 3 RBI
Sergio Rodriguez: 2-5, 2B, 2 R
H: 10, LOB: 2



Injuries:
SP Cornell Pearson, Torn UCL (Undergoing Tommy John Surgery), 6 Months
SP Carlos Coronado, Torn Labrum, 3-4 Months

Other/Roster News:
At the beginning of the week I made a few changes. 1) Claudio Flores was sent down to AAA after an awful time of it with the big club (.172-2-16, in 198 AB's). He isn't happy at all, but I really feel like I had no choice. If he wants to play he needs to hit the ball. 2) Bryant Frank was inserted into the lineup a startring short-stop. I am hoping more swings = more production. 3) Mario Vazquez is now playing SS very 5 days, and is the defenisve sub. 4) Edgardo Perdnard (AAA: .320-15-64) was called up, making an improbably journey a reality. And believe it or not, he isn't happy he isn't starting. He will be playing 2B every 5 days, the second PH bat off the bench and will get some swings as the DH. If he was a better defender he'd play more. 5) The pitchign rotation is back to 6-man strict. After one week I wasn't happy with highest rested, so we are back to this.

Thats all the changes, but there might be some more down the road. I want to win this season and there are only 14 days till the trade deadline.

GM Notes:
Well the career of Edgardo Perdnard isn't off to such a great start. In his first game he went 0-6 with a walk, and left 10 runners stranded... and in his second game he went 0-4. Not the way I figured his career would start...

I have the ability to make a deal for a starting pitcher, and I am leaning on doing it. A 30-yr-old veteran who would be a free-agent at the end of the season. It would be a 2 month rental, and all I would have to give up is Bryant Frank and Edgardo Perdnard. I am debating pulling it off before the next week starts. Making this deal means Flores will be back up at SS and my pitching staff will have another veteran presence. Right now I have a slight weakness in my bullpen, as they are once again slumping. Rivera or Lopez could move back to the bullpen or even Lazzaro.

Do I need a new shortstop?

This was good week after last weeks dibacle. I will take 5-2. I do think this week showed some of our weaknessess. We like to leave runners on base. I wish I had one of those guys that just knew how to knock people in. Robert Perez, Francisco Reyes or King Brock in their prime... Maybe its time I tinker with the line and get Sergio Galvez down into the heart of the order, away from that #2 slot. I have faith he could knock runners in, maybe switching him and Gallegos... here I go again tinkering.

I want to make this team better, but I really don't know if there is anything I can do without hurting the future. The deal mentioned above might be a good option, can't go wrong with another ace in the rotation. Plus he would fill in for Pearson till her returns. Who knows maybe I decide to sign him to a long term deal (now that would be crazy based on my pitching depth)... but then again is focusing on a starter the right place to focus? Is it my bullpen that is the problem? Or maybe the offense. I mean our pitching is rated #1, do I really want to mess with that??

One thing I could do is try to swing a semi-blockbuster, and deal a player like Bob Short. Short has value, and trading him would help me in a few ways. That would mean my five outfielders are now four, and that I would be in a better sport for next season when I will have (at least) 3 guys ready for a call-up, 2 OF's and a 1B/DH... Something has to give, but I wasn't going to do anything till the off-season.

The pressure is rising and the Express keep on getting better... I have to keep my eyes on our goal and hopefully we can make things happen over the next 2 months. I liked it better when we had 10 game lead.



Standings Leaders
DE Southern: Milton Brewers: 61-36 (+7.0)
DE Northern: Wilmington Iron Pigs: 55-43 (+3.0)
MV Eastern: Virginia Beach Surf Dawgs: 58-40 (+1.5)
MV Western: Norfolk Cavaliers: 65-32 (+6.5)

Players of the Week:
Delaware: Alonso Martinez (Wilmington Iron Pigs) 14-29, 4 HR's, 12 RBI's
MarVa: Martin Hurst (Ellicott City Express) 18-30, HR, 5 RBI's, 9 R's

Power Rankings:
1) Norfolk Cavaliers (122.6)
2) Milton Brewers (116.2)
3) Ellicott City Express (115.0)
4) Virginia Beach Surf Dawgs (111.5)
5) Wilmington Iron Pigs (107.0)

News:
Ellicott City Express: RF Javier Dominguez has now hit in 23-straight games, the longest hitting streak of the season.
Seaford Blue Jays: MR Anastasio Garcia will miss 2 weeks after he sustained a strained oblique in an off-field accident. Rumor is he fell off the back of a pick-up truck. Garcia is 3-1 3.41, 2 SV on the season.

Ellicott City Express: The Express are players this trade deadline as they pulled off their 2nd big deal to solidify their team. This time they received RF Javier Dominguez (.335/.382/.567) and $3M from the Milford Clippers for MR Jim Taylor (0-0 6.00), SP Dan Austin (AA, #100) and 1B Kyle Oglethrope (SA).
Newark Millers: Acquired SP Tommy Rutledge (0-1 2.57) and $810,000 cash from the Christiana Blue Hens for C John Laitinen (A) and SP Luis Diaz (AA, #96).
Virginia Beach Surf Dawgs: Acquired closer Matsusuke Koizumi (1-1 2.08, 10 SV) from the Lewes Braves for prospects: CF Carlos Ortiz (SA, #114), RF Lee Simmons (AA), 3B Ricardo Rodriguez (A) and SS Jimmy Daly (SA).
Lewes Braves: Acquired 3B Jose Bueno (.273/.286/.356) from the Ocean City Tourists in return for MR Macario Abelaira (2-0 3.38, 1 SV) and 3B Dan Moss (A, #120).
Washington Senators: Acquired young OF Jeffrey Whitaker (.258/.314/.338, 4 HR) and CF Alejandro Feliciano (SA, #42) from the Ocean City Tourists for SP Raimondo Bernasconi (7-9 4.85) and $3M.

Milestones:
Batting:
OF Kent Davis (Richmond Cardinals) 5 hits from 2500 (career leader)
1B Francisco Reyes (Georgetown Sixteens) 48 hits from 2500
OF Peter Peters (New Castle Colonials) 7 HR's from 500

Pitching:
Jorge Moran (Chesapeake Blue Crabs) 7 W's from 200
Pedro Rivera (Milton Brewers) 5 K's away from 2500 (3rd pitcher)
Arturo Herrera (Chesapeake Blue Crabs) 21 games from 1000 (career leader)
Mike Banks (New Castle Colonials) 30 games from 1000