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darkcloud4579 · 05-17-2004, 10:24 PM

HARTFORD TO LEAGUE - LAST SEASON WAS NO FLUKE

HARTFORD - The defending World Series champion Hartford Knights are fighting the battle of respect. Despite one of the best records in baseball last year and knocking off the best team in baseball - Nevada - in the ALCS, en route to a title win against Cincinnati, the Knights are still looked upon as "lucky."

"You don't get lucky and win your division, your league and the World Series. Maybe a game. But to win 11 games or go home? Yeah right," said Manager Jerry Manuel.

The Knights are off to great start again this season. They lead the AL East at 16-6 and ended April with a 9-game winning streak. How are they doing it? By boasting one of the best pitching staffs in all of baseball.

Reigning Cy Young winner Alan Adamek is back with a 2-1 record and a 3.08 ERA so far. But the real story of the Knights is Joe Kennedy. Acquired last season before the deadline from the Cubs, for the playoff push, he's been outstanding. The 30-year old southpaw is 3-1 with a 1.54 ERA, leading the AL so far this season.

They're also getting good performances out of rookie SP Antonio Martinez and closer Scott Williamson is picking up where he left off in the post-season, already with seven saves this season and an ERA just over 1.00.

The team's offense is at the bottom of the league in batting average, but with pitchers who can work on a run or two of support, one can only expect that when the team gets out of their hitting slump, the Knights will be even more fierce. "They're getting a lot of mileage out of guys who many people wrote off," said one AL General Manager.

SANTANA PAYING DIVIDENDS EARLY FOR 'HAWKS
LAS VEGAS - Silverhawks pitcher Johan Santana said he "felt the pressure" of his big contract on his shoulders when he pitched his first game in a Silverhawks uniform. So far, that hasn't shown up in his record. He's 4-0 with a 2.38 ERA in five starts so far this season. "He's showing everyone why he's one of the best in baseball," said new Silverhawks pitching coach Tom Henke.

Santana, 31, leads a pitching staff that is reversing a trend of former Silverhawks clubs - being good. The Silverhawks are in the Top 10 in ERA, HR, Walks and Runs allowed. As usual, the team's offense is among the Top 10 in the league in every major category, which explains why the 'Hawks have a share of the AL West lead with the resurgent Portland A's.

Reigning AL MVP Jaime D'Antona is already off on a tear with seven homers and a batting average at .293. Newly acquired closer Brandon Puffer leads the majors in saves with 8 saves so far this season. Ironically, the player he was traded for, CL Virgil Destefano is leading the NL in saves for Cincinnati.

05-17-2004, 10:24 PM	#211
darkcloud4579 Hall Of Famer Join Date: Jun 2003 Posts: 8,689	MAY 1, 2010 - SEASON UPDATE HARTFORD TO LEAGUE - LAST SEASON WAS NO FLUKE HARTFORD - The defending World Series champion Hartford Knights are fighting the battle of respect. Despite one of the best records in baseball last year and knocking off the best team in baseball - Nevada - in the ALCS, en route to a title win against Cincinnati, the Knights are still looked upon as "lucky." "You don't get lucky and win your division, your league and the World Series. Maybe a game. But to win 11 games or go home? Yeah right," said Manager Jerry Manuel. The Knights are off to great start again this season. They lead the AL East at 16-6 and ended April with a 9-game winning streak. How are they doing it? By boasting one of the best pitching staffs in all of baseball. Reigning Cy Young winner Alan Adamek is back with a 2-1 record and a 3.08 ERA so far. But the real story of the Knights is Joe Kennedy. Acquired last season before the deadline from the Cubs, for the playoff push, he's been outstanding. The 30-year old southpaw is 3-1 with a 1.54 ERA, leading the AL so far this season. They're also getting good performances out of rookie SP Antonio Martinez and closer Scott Williamson is picking up where he left off in the post-season, already with seven saves this season and an ERA just over 1.00. The team's offense is at the bottom of the league in batting average, but with pitchers who can work on a run or two of support, one can only expect that when the team gets out of their hitting slump, the Knights will be even more fierce. "They're getting a lot of mileage out of guys who many people wrote off," said one AL General Manager. SANTANA PAYING DIVIDENDS EARLY FOR 'HAWKS LAS VEGAS - Silverhawks pitcher Johan Santana said he "felt the pressure" of his big contract on his shoulders when he pitched his first game in a Silverhawks uniform. So far, that hasn't shown up in his record. He's 4-0 with a 2.38 ERA in five starts so far this season. "He's showing everyone why he's one of the best in baseball," said new Silverhawks pitching coach Tom Henke. Santana, 31, leads a pitching staff that is reversing a trend of former Silverhawks clubs - being good. The Silverhawks are in the Top 10 in ERA, HR, Walks and Runs allowed. As usual, the team's offense is among the Top 10 in the league in every major category, which explains why the 'Hawks have a share of the AL West lead with the resurgent Portland A's. Reigning AL MVP Jaime D'Antona is already off on a tear with seven homers and a batting average at .293. Newly acquired closer Brandon Puffer leads the majors in saves with 8 saves so far this season. Ironically, the player he was traded for, CL Virgil Destefano is leading the NL in saves for Cincinnati.