- AL PLAYER OF THE MONTH: Juan Garza (MIN) .425-3-9 (.326-9-41)
- NL PLAYER OF THE MONTH: Humberto Camacho (SD) .360-9-27 (.271-21-76)
- AL PITCHER OF THE MONTH: Ezequiel Cordero (CHI) 5-0 2.74 (18-7 2.36)
- NL PITCHER OF THE MONTH: Tim Kerr (SAN) 4-0 1.50 (10-8 4.78)
- AL ROOKIE OF THE MONTH: Jerry Hamilton (OH) .338-6-20 (.320-10-45)
- NL ROOKIE OF THE MONTH: Josh Roberts .343-1-9 10 2B (.245-4-40)
Robles injury might help him win/lose a batting title. Good HR races though amazing how low the totals will be on the leaders. Robles is the clear MVP in the AL and I assumed it would be Anderson in the NL but Juan Burriel is having a monster 2nd half.
This last month is going to be a dogfight, we have 3 left with Detroit. Need to be either at or ahead when that series comes in mid-September. Ohio and Chicago in the Central and once again Las Vegas and Alaska in the west. You could argue there are 6 teams in the AL WC race, 7-8 if Phoenix or Memphis heat up.
Pittsburgh is having another great year, amazing that it looks like 3 teams from the East are going to get in. The central is going to be, as is the west, win or go home. KC, Texas and San Antonio, only 1 makes it, same in the west as Portland has managed to sneak in there.
TARPONS IN AUGUST
Same color code
It's not really their fault but Sugihara and Broomhall are presenting a 5th starter long man issue. Both should be in AAA but neither can be due to their exhausted options. I am going to skip the 5th starter all month when off days permit.
The back end of the pen is and has been the MVP this year. Brad Turner is absolutely a candidate for the Gossage award and I think Galindo may be in the Rivera running since it uses the Rolaids pt formula. Our record in 1 run games is getting worse and the month was a disaster at 12-17. 11th in HR as an offense is honestly inexplicable given how much power this lineup has.
One of my winter goals will be to get an everyday catcher I can put out there 125-135 games. Not going to be easy but that's on the to-do list. Ron Turner has to hit a bit more to be a legit backup IF option. Kennan Hallamore's error total needs addressing though I am unsure how.
For the most part, the rest of the infield has been fine, nothing extraordinary.
And the two issues in our OF are Hayashi's HR total, which is mind-boggling and the continued disgust I have looking at Mike Haupt's numbers. Look at his WAR, and look at that offense. That's how good a defender he is. What a huge mistake that trade turns out to have been. I have some elite defenders in the minors that will be CF prospects.
Couldn't be happier with the minor league development. Alamogordo has had a rough year but Mendoza, Faulkner and a few others are on the map and near ready. Our lower minors is stacked, and Hobbs has been a dominant team. So much talent down there with our 4th best prospect still at the complex. Mendelsons injury was a blow for sure but I do think Arturo Mendoza will be ABA ready come next year which may allow for a move with Borrows and and maybe a pitcher to get that Catcher I want.