Week 13
Current Week: 3-4 (40-43 .482 / -2.0)
Next Week: 3 vs New Castle Colonials, 3 vs Georgetown Sixteens
Power Ranking: 13 (85.7, -2)
Fan Interest: 67
Owners Mood: Good
Expectation: Close to .500
Home: 23-20 .535
Away: 17-23 .425
Runs Scored: 344 (t9th)
Avg: .259 (4th)
HR: 91 (9th)
SB: 31 (11th)
Runs Against: 374 (8th)
Starters ERA: 4.25 (7th)
Pen ERA: 4.30 (9th)
Def Eff: .708 (5th)
Top Performers:
Hitting: Matt Doulgas: .520-2-7 (13-25), 2 2B, 5 R, 5 BB
Pitching: Jonathan Loeffler: 4 G, 0-0 2.08, 2 SV, 4.1 IP, H, 6 K, .083 AVG
Week 13:
Game 77: Dover 10, Chadds Ford 2
Eric Harmon (4-7): 5.2 IP, 10 H, 6 H, 2 BB, 2 K
Ramon Cruz: 1-2, 3B, R, RBI
H: 6, LOB: 2
Game 78: Dover 6, Chadds Ford 11
John Robertson (6-4): 5.0 IP, 5 H, 4 R, 3 BB, 2 K
Matt Douglas: 4-4, 2 HR (5), 4 R, 6 RBI
Naofumi Ohayashi: 3-4, 2B, HR (13), 4 R, 2 RBI
Hank Davis: 3-5, 2B, R, RBI
H: 16, LOB: 6
Game 79: Dover 2, Chadds Ford 1
Robert Shepherd (4-9): 7.0 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 3 BB, 9 K
Matt Douglas: 2-4
Ramon Cruz: 1-3, HR (9), R, RBI
H: 7, LOB: 9
Game 80: Milford 3, Chadds Ford 4
Ying-Hua Ji (7-6): 7.0 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 5 K
Jonathan Loeffler (SV 17): 1.0 IP, K
Hank Davis: 2-4, HR (15), R, 3 RBI
H: 9, LOB: 8
Game 81: Milford 6, Chadds Ford 1
Nobukazu Higashi (1-2): 5.0 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 6 BB, 9 K
Naofumi Ohayashi: 1-4, 2B
H: 5, LOB: 6
Game 82: Milford 0, Chadds Ford 3
Eric Harmon (5-7): 8.2 IP, 5 H, 3 BB, 7 K
Jonathan Loeffler (SV 18): 0.1 IP, 2 BB
Naofumi Ohayashi: 3-4, HR (14), 2 R, RBI
Matt Douglas: 4-4, 2B, RBI
H: 11, LOB: 8
Game 83: Milford 6, Chadds Ford 5 (11 Innings)
John Robertson: 5.0 IP, 6 H, 4 R, 4 BB, 4 K
Jonathan Loeffler (BS 3): 2.0 IP, H, R, 2 BB, 4 K
Oscar Robinson (1-3): 1.0 IP, H, R, 3 K
Julio Casanes: 3-5, 2B, HR (15), 2 R, 4 RBI
Howard Porter: 2-4
H: 8, LOB: 7
Transactions:
none
Injuries:
CL Dani Rubio, torn laburm, 11-day DL, 2-3 months
Other/Roster News:
none
GM Notes:
Here is one of my biggest dilemma's: Bo Keller. Last year in 38 games he hit .290-3-14, which showed me he could handle being the 5th out-fielder. This season he hasn't had a day without the snowflake, and is currently hitting .114-0-3 in 18 G (5-44). I am not sure if it is time to let him go and bring up Armando Martinez (.267-3-22) or Mike Smith (.281-7-58), both players are solid defenders and fast, or do I keep him around. Why keep him around? Well he is 30 and he is looked up to. Can I risk losing a leader on this volatile club?
We are close to being a contender, at least that is what I tell myself. I think we are really missing one or maybe two pieces to the puzzle. One thing that I would like to have on this team is someone who can steal bases. Maybe that is going to be my next project. Ramon Cruz (8 for 12) and Howard Porter (8 for 13) lead the team, Ricardo Bravo (7 for 7) is our best base-stealer and Matt Douglas (5 for 11) is our worst. And because of that I am in talks with the Blue Hens for OF Phil Davis. Davis is 24 for 27 on the year and I think having someone like that in hte lineup will be a huge boost. It has to lead to more runs right??
My catchers are having the year I figured they were going to have. Rookie Raul Garcia, who should be a round for a long while, at least till our top catching prospect Miguel Cortesini is ready, has done well hitting .253-2-11 in 158 AB's. And our more offensive back-stop, Donald Hampton, is only hitting .237-5-17. I can live with the lower average, but I need him to start showing off his power. Hampton isn't great defensively would probably make a better DH, where as Garcia could be a Glove Wizard Catcher if he played full time. He has thrown out a whooping 43.9% of would be baserunners.
This team still drives me crazy with their inconsistent play. Every time I think they are about to turn corner something like a 3 and 4 week happens. We head into the final week of the first half with a tough schedule and I would really like to be able to pull off a winning week and head into the All-Star break on a high. Rest up then come out and take down the Blue Hens. We have the team to do that if we can only put it all together.
I hated letting Don Sweetapple go, but it seemed to be the best for the team. Since Bill Patterson has taken over we are 22-15, which is a huge change against Sweetapples 18-28. I hope that Sweetapple lands on his feet and becomes that solid manager, but I doubt it will be for me. Letting him go burned some bridges.
The Ramon Cruz walk watch continues... he now has 0 walks in 78 games and 302 PA's.
And finally in All-Star news Matt Douglas is the leading vote getter in the Delaware Conference for CF'ers! This is exciting.
Standings Leaders
DE Colonial: Seaford Blue Jays: 55-28 .663 (+14.0)
DE Northern: Christiana Blue Hens: 42-41 .506 (+2.0)
DE Atlantic: Georgetown Sixteens: 53-30 .639 (+8.0)
WC: Lewes Braves (DEA): 45-38 .542 (+4.0)
MV Beltway: Washington Senators: 53-29 .646 (+3.0)
MV Mountain: Richmond Cardinals: 54-28 (+6.0)
MV Coastal: Norfolk Cavaliers: 46-36 .561 (+12.0)
WC: Annapolis Admirals (MVB): 50-32 .610 (+2.0)
Players of the Week:
Delaware: Howard Gray, Seaford Blue Jays: 14-31, 3 HR's, 8 RBI's
MarVa: Oliver Ramos, Norfolk Cavaliers: 10-18, 2 HR's, 4 RBI's
Power Rankings:
1) Richmond Cardinals (128.5)
2) Georgetown Sixteens (121.9)
3) Seaford Blue Jays (115.3)
4) Ellicott City Express (113.4)
5) Annapolis Admirals (112.8)
News:
Milford Clippers: SP Antonio Cortes has been in the DBL since 2022 when he made his debut out of the Salisbury Ports bullpen going 8-0 5.05 in 51 games, 4 of which he started. In 2023 he became a full time starter, and over the next 15-seasons he would win 2 Golden Arm awards and reach the 200 win mark. Becoming the 3rd lefty to reach the 200 mark. He is tied with Jorge Moran, and trails only Julio Rocha with 212 (still active) to be the top lefty.
Annapolis Admirals: SS Leo O'Conner had a day to remember going 4-4 with 3 HR's and 7 RBI's, which included a 3rd inning grand-slam.
Virginia Beach Surf Dawgs: Claimed Emery Cardell off the waiver wire. The 28-year-old was hitting .306-3-14 with the Senators.
Baltimore Barons: SS David Gonzalez will be on the shelf for 5-weeks with a bon-spur in his elbow. The 24-year-old was hitting .279-1-24 on the year.
Virginia Beach Surf Dawgs: Ended 25-year-old Brian Battle's hitting streak at 24-games. On the season Battle is hitting .317-7-27.
Newark Millers: Acquired 2B Hugo Holderlin (.241/.361/.387, 6 HR) along with $1.2 M cash for minor leaguer OF Jesus Gonzalez (SA) from the Chesapeake Blue Crabs.
Martinsburg Mountaineers: Acquired SP David Leach (4-8 4.83, #184) from the King George Royals for 2B Dave Gilbert (AAA).
Wilmington Iron Pigs: Acquired prospect C Leslie Barnes (AAA, #201) from the Ellicott City Express for OF Pancho Montes (AAA).
Georgetown Sixteens: Traded away minor leaguers MR Marcos Barron (SA) and OF Todd Anderson (SA) to the King George Royals for MR Jesus Miranda (3-3 4.50).
Cape May Beacons: Acquired MR Paul Holloway (6-1 3.29, SV) and OF Francisco Solis (SA) from the Christiana Blue Hens for SS Jorge Galindo (.263/.363/.463, 7 HR, #49).