[gehrig38]

Been quite a year since last break.
Clearly a far better team but still a large number of holes starting with the rotation. 5th in the league in ERA but far from being a legitimate post-season threat.

• The pitching staff is 1st in Hits allowed, Opp Avg, and our defense is 1st in ZR. 2nd in BABIP, K's and Defensive Efficiency. The number impacting everything remains walks, where we are dead last, still.
• Offensively 1st in H, 2nd in AVG and SB, 3rd in XBH, K, 4th in WAR, Runs, 5th in OBP, 6th in OPS and Base Running (-2.4 is 6th, does anyone understand fundamentals anymore?). We're lagging in HR's (11th) and walks (12th).
• 29-16 at home and 30-24 on the road.
• 42-26 vs RHP 17-15 vs LHP
• I expected the LHP to be far worse as our numbers up and down vs LHP are terrible.
• 17-15 in 1R games, 5-4 in extras.
• We are 59-40 2B and leading the WC with a Pythag. Record of 56-43.
• Since June 1st we're 29-14.
• Issues?
• Danny Floyd is 4-10 5.24 and the only starter I'd consider “struggling”. Romano continues to tell me he's still got room to progress. He's 28 and coming off an 11-11 4.39 year. His WHIP is 1.39 vs 1.36 last year, although he's on pace to surrender 41 HR's after just 22 last season. BABIP is .272 vs .279 last season so no freaky stuff going on. His sinker is elite but his 4 seamer is average at best and his curve and change are well below average offerings. I think he may be better suited coming out of the bullpen.
• After discussion with the staff the thought is to let Guijosa get another rehab start or two in, get him back up here and move Floyd to bullpen and give Bobby that rotation spot moving one of the righties down or dealing them. McKitrick has huge promise and is just 23, Ricks is 26 and Diaz 27. Nicol is the only lefty down there not named Williams so I kinda need him.

The rotation is going to be juggled out of the break:

1. Morris (8-4 4.06) been a wild ride with big month followed by bad month
2. Draper (3-0 2.92) his 15K outing came out of nowhere but a pleasant surprise
3. Powers (10-5 3.62)
4. Pelletier (5-5 4.03)
5. Floyd (4-10 5.24)

• Coach has put Gross (15 SV 3.48) into the closers role again with Becker (4-2 9 Saves 2.25) as the setup guy with McKitrick (2-1 4.00).
• Ricks is the middle man (3-1 3.70) with three long guys in Nicol (2-1 5.23) Hawkins (0-1 2.92) as the emergency starter and Diaz (2-1 3.31). Williams (4-0 3.24) gets lefties out and can setup/close when needed.

• Jesse Roberts (.239-10-49) is climbing out of his funk, Garcia is turning into the 5-star talent our scouts predicted (.319-17-57) while Nieves (.291-17-55) finds his way as the youngest position player in the game. Calkins (.308-3-40) has been solid leading off but his 10 errors are an unpleasant thing. Justin Krieg (.287-5-40) won't challenge for the batting crown but is solid once again.
• Brian Stachowski (.280-8-37) has been solid at the plate with a sub-4 ERA catching. Our backup role is in dire need of punch.
• Anthony Tripp (.267-6-28) has found his legs a bit while Michael Johnson (.259-5-46) is driving in a ton of runs at the bottom of the order.
• Kevin Dietz (.244-4-30) is just fine sitting down there while shagging everything he can rnaking plays. He's 2nd in the NL with a ZR of 12.4, trailing Indianapolis's Justin Ward.

AAA NEW ORLEANS

• They've gotten hot and are the top ranked AAA club. 48-45 and 1.5 in back of the Fremont T-Bones. They're 1st in AVG and last in HR's. Dave Wheeler (.319-8-34) Rocky Weir (.323-4-21) and out of nowhere prospect Matt Chiquete (.326-14-67) pace the offense which is also 1st in runs. Their starters are middle of the pack (.392 7th) and led by Tony Mejia (2-0 1.98) is 1-0 1.06 over his last 3 starts and Dan Ferguson (5-4 3.05). Recently called up power bat Bill Brumfield homered in his first AAA appearance and then went on the DL for the next 5-6 weeks. Angel Molina 1-1 0.46 is anchoring a 3rd ranked bullpen. Romano has no one in New Orleans, that's healthy, higher than 2.5 stars.

AA MILWAUKEE

• 51-42 2 GB of the Jersey City Beacons. 3rd in runs and 1st in HR's they're pounding the ball with mid tier pitching.
• Last years revelation Jimmy Young was horrible in April but has bounced back and is currently hitting .241-23-55. They're 12th in AVG, 3rd in OPS.
• Aaron Warren (5-5 3.32) is 1-1 1.20 in his last 2 starts. Acquired in the April deal with Utah he's a 2-star guy as of today.
• 2012 2nd rounder Allen Henderson, the college closer we fell in love with, was banged up but is back and has 5 Saves and a 3.52

A ALBUQUERQUE

• Once again running away in a league they won the title last year.
• 1st in Runs, AVG, 2nd in OBP, OPS HR.
• 5-star 2012 draftee Johnny Blackwell is settling in (.252-3-7) and Andy Williams (2-star) is having another great year hitting .300-15-40 (.467-2-3 over his last 7 games). 2-Star prospect John Tite is lighting it up, hitting .260-21-55.
• Marshall Tidrick is bouncing in between starting and the pen and is 2-1 2.11 including a 0.89 over his last 7 games and 20.1 IP. Kevin Foor (2-star) is 1-1 0.57 over his last 15 appearances. I am going to have to look at that staff as well when I consider new coaching hires. They've been exceptional both years now.
• In May of last year I made a deal with Fresno acquiring SP prospect John Timmerman. This kids been a pretty consistent member of the IL. Romano has him 2.5 stars but he has yet to be healthy for any amount of time. 1-0 2.05 over 5 GS and 22 IP.
• His sprained ankle will sideline him for another 5 days.

SHORT SEASON NASHVILLE

• They are 11-14 and the home of many 2011 and 2012 draft picks. 1st overall pick Mike Johnson is back, hitting .239-6-17 with a .327 OBP. This might be the guy that gets Romano fired if things don't pick up. 2012 10th round pick AJ Lanigan is leading off hitting .325-3-13.
• 4-star (down from 5 draft day) OF Yoseiokazu Suzuki is hitting .291/.371/.468 through 23 games with 3 HR and 12 RBI's.
• Their pitching started the season with one of the worst weeks on record, but is coming around. Todd Barbour (0-2 5.29) is 0-0 0.93 in his last 2 starts. David Arroyo (down to 2.5 stars from a draft day 4) is 3-1 2.81. 2011 7th rounder Derek Dames, drafted as a potential everyday SS (15+ defender) is hitting .288/.321/.577 with 4 HR and 8 RBI. He's playing all over the field right now as 2012 draftee AJ Lanigan is hitting .325/.415/.537 through 22 games with 8 2B and 3 HR.
• 2011 2nd round pick Allan Velazquez is 11-1 2.71 and 6-1 1.79 over his last 8 starts.
• 3.5 star C prospect (down from 4 stars) Nick Turner is struggling at .140 0 HR 1 RBI and might need to be pushed back to Minneapolis.

ROOKIE LEAGUE MINNEAPOLIS

• Started the year 0-6 and getting crushed. Their offense is putrid, no other word for it as they are 16th in every category but HR (13th) and SB (4th).
• Minor league FA Phil Richards (.344-7-19) is the lone bright spot.
• Both lower clubs opened with 6 man rotations and 2nd rounder Jaden Finkelstein is on the IL still.
• Minor league FA C Carlos Mendez, just 19, is hitting .303/.378/.621 with 6 HR and 15 RBI's.
• 1st rounder in 2012 Luis Ornelas is 3-0 3.13 with 38 K's in 31.2 IP but also walked 15.