The Sluggers: a fictional story

[Slugger]

After years of speculation and negotiating, the time is finally here. In an effort to bring baseball to the masses, a new league has been formed. The American Baseball Championship will run alongside the MLB and will only have teams in areas that don't interfere with a major MLB-market.

A major 200 round draft will allow all 30 ABC teams to construct their rosters in a way they see fit. Do teams prefer building a roster to win in the upstart days of the league or is there a GM that wants to build a roster full of high-upside youngsters.

This story will focus primarily on the team from Louisville, named the Sluggers. We will follow the ups and downs of the franchise in their hunt to become a true ABC powerhouse. To this date very little is known about the ownership and management of the team. Updates will be made once we learn more about the people behind the organisation.

[Slugger]

With the draft in the rearview mirror all ABC ballclubs prepared themselves for the season with a series of spring training games. These games would give teams a better idea of how their drafts have gone and can pinpoint certain areas of strenghts and weaknesses before the regular season begins.

The Louisville Sluggers, favorites of most bookkeepers and betting agencies, did not disappoint during the 23-game long spring training. The team went 16-7 while being carried by a strong offense that put up some serious runs.

The Sluggers will feel the pressure to perform at the same level during the regular season, as word has come out that the ownership is aiming high this first season and expects the team to win it all. Talk about some lofty expectations.

Before the game action kicks off, we will introduce the players on the 25-man roster, in order to get familiar with our team.

[Slugger]

#1: Christophe 'Trout' Garcia
RHP, age 32, 5 star rating, signed 2 years at 22.2 million per year
I took Garcia in the second round of the draft and feel extremely happy that he was available. Garcia has "dominant" hurler written all over him. He has excellent stuff and is able to combine it with great movement and pinpoint control. Our head scout rates him 9/10 in all 3 areas. He has a high groundball rate (70%) and hits the upper nineties on the radargun.
This guy is the ace that I wanted to have on the team. But it remains to be seen how long we will be able to hold on to him. He'll become a FA after 2 seasons and his profile says he is very greedy. Maybe we should try and lock him down sooner rather than later.
9/9/9

#2: Christobal Arce
LHP, age 28, 4 star rating, arbitration eligible
Arce is the kind of starter you want. A quality arm at the top of a rotation. His fastball is consistently in the 91-93 mph range. With improved mechanics, it will become a plus pitch. Hides his offerings fairly well, which enhances the effectiveness of his better-than-average stuff. He won't give up many home runs, as he is able to keep most of his pitches down. Solid command of the strike zone, hits the mitt most of the time. If this guy is who I think he is, it will be a key factor to get him to sign a longterm deal with our club.
7/7/8

#3: Eric Bradley
LHP, age 26, 3.5 star rating, not yet arbitration eligible
Eric knows what he is doing on the mound, and has the arsenal to back it up. Definitely mid-rotation material, possibly better. Quirky delivery enhances his pitches, which are all good quality. He has decent, but not outstanding control. He's going to have ups and downs out there. Works extremely hard and leads by example.
8/6/6

#4: Judd Hayes
LHP, age 27, 3 star rating, possible arbitration
Hayes should be fine pitching in the bottom of a rotation. His best asset is his control. He has pretty good command of his pitches, which keeps Hitters off balance. Will give up home runs to power Hitters, but should be able to limit the damage. Judd has solid stuff. He moves the ball around and doesn't let it get up in the zone very often.
6/5/7(8)

#5: Lee 'Twinkle Toes' Cook
LHP, age 23, 2.5 star rating, not yet arbitration eligible
Difficult to project stardom here, but looks like a solid big leaguer. Nice stuff for a young kid. Should toss some strong innings. Still a little inconsistent. Generates good movement on his pitches and is able to get a ton of groundballs. His control is still very inconsistent, it might get him in trouble from time to time.
6/7/5


I think our rotation should certainly be seen as a strenght. Especially our #1 and #2 should be as good as any combo in the league. We might be a bit heavy on lefthanders, but if need be, we can call on a veteran righty starter from AAA. One of my most important jobs will be to keep a close eye on the performance of our starters to see who we should be locking up longterm. If our team is not able to battle for a playoff spot, Garcia could become a prime trade candidate.

[Slugger]

Closer: Mike Holder
LHP, age 31, 4.5 star rating, signed 2 years 12.2 million total
This guy is money! Holder is one of the top relievers out there. He is an amazing athlete with a stupendous arm. A plus fastball the is complemented by above-average breaking stuff gives him a good chance at a high strikeout total. He is able to get great movement on his pitches and batters just swing on top of everything he throws at them. A strikethrower, good control of all his pitches.
10/8/7

Set-up: Anthony Joly
RHP, age 33, 4.5 star rating, signed 3 years 13.2 million total
Joly is a solid reliever. He is great as a set-up guy and could even fill in as the closer. He won't give up a lot of runs. He is confident in his stuff and can throw breaking balls when behind in the count. Causes weak contact most of the time, and the ball usually stays in the yard. Has strong command of his arsenal and knows how to put pitchers where he wants them. Puts in long hours and wants to be the best player he can be.
10/7/9

Set-up: Theodore Lowry
LHP, age 32, 4.5 star rating, signed 2 years at 4.24 million a year
Lowry should be a great asset coming out of our bullpen. He has solid stuff and moves the ball around the strikezone. His fastball has heavey boring action that prevents hitters from doing any real damage. His pitches are always around the plate, he won't walk very many.
9/8/8

Middle relief: Manuel Diéguez
RHP, age 34, 3.5 star rating, signed 2 years at 3.24 million a year (2nd year is a team option)
Diéguez is an above-average pitcher and a pretty good option to have in the pen. When he needs a K, he's able to dial it up a notch, adding a couple more mph to his fastball. Hitters go to the plate against him, just hoping to hit something out of the infield, knowing they can rarely do more than that. He has solid command of his pitches, but will have the occasional night off.
8/8/7

Middle relief: Robert 'Monster' Harris
RHP, age 23, 4.5 star rating, not yet arbitration eligible
This guy has the makings of a big-league bullpen anchor. A shut-down guy in the late innings. Robert shows respectable stuff. He gets positively filthy movement on his stuff. He shows good command, not outstanding, but definitely above average. He has great stamina 9/10 and both of his pitches (sinker and curveball) are highly rated. I have been toying with the idea of sending him down and having him work on adding another pitch to his repertoire, in an attempt to convert him into a starter. For now, he will be pitching out of our bullpen, but those plans could change during the season.
8/9/7

Middle relief: Erik Tate
RHP, age 33, 2.5 star rating, not yet arbitration eligible
Tate is a quality arm out of the pen. Nothing fancy, just goes out there and goes to work. His ERA will probably top out around 3.50. His fastball has a nice dip to it, but his other pitches are predictable and lack the movement to be truly effective. He lacks the ability to control his pitches and will walk more batters than one would like. He is seen as a clubhouse leader.
7/6/5(6)

Middle relief: Ronaldo Barbosa
RHP, age 37, 2.5 star rating, signed 1 year at 2.56 million
Barbosa is a pretty good option out of the pen. Probably not suited to be a set-up man and really not what you look for in a closer, but a serviceable part of the bullpen. His stuff is just mediocre, but he does get consistent movement on most of his pitches. Hits his spots most of the time and should be able to keep the number of walks down. He is a great influence on his teammates.
6/7/7

Long relief: Gavin Jones
LHP, age 34, 3.5 star rating, signed 1 year at 3 million
Can't go wrong if Jones is in your bullpen. He will give quality innings in relief. His stuff is mediocre at best, but does a good job pitching to contact in order the generate a lot of groundballs. Lives low in the zone and batters struggle to drive the ball deep. He's not going to impress anyone with his control, as it is graded as just average. Gavin is a team leader.
6/8/6


Our bullpen should be solid, especially if our starters can hand over the ball in the late innings. Our guys should be able to make quick work of the opposing batters and close out games. However, there are some things we should keep in mind when it comes to our bullpen. First concern has to be the average age, as most of these guys are hitting their mid 30's. They should be able to bridge the gap untill our top relief prospects are able to make the jump to big league ball. Second concern and this is more important: we are spending a lot of money on our bullpen. I'd rather allocate funds to other areas on the team, so I will be keeping a close eye on our budget.

[Slugger]

C:Bobby Fletcher
bats right, age 35, 1.5 star rating, signed 1 yearat 1.9 million
Fletcher is a below-average hitter. He does make consistent contact, but when he does, the ball won't travel far, as he has no power at all. Too impatient at the plate and will not take any pitcher. Fletcher does rate as an above average defensive catcher and he works well with his pitchers. I will be looking for an upgrade in the off-season.
6/1/3

1B:Glen Dryden
bats right, age 32, 3.5 star rating, signed 2 years at 9 million a year
Dryden has pretty good offensive instincts and is an above-average hitter. Sometimes too much of a free swinger who needs to be more selective. Pretty decent contact hitter with the ability to provide a spark in most lineups. Dryden can put on a show in batting practice and when he gets his pitch in a game, he can launch one. He should work on being more disciplined at the plate and work the count a bit more. He is seen as a capable defender at first base.
6/8/5

2B: Mike Davis
bats right, age 22, 2.5 star rating, not yet arbitration eligible
My scout says that Davis is nothing more than a role player. But I don’t agree with that. This guy has the ability to hit for a decent average and he can run. Combine that with a tremendous defensive package and I think we have ourselves a pretty solid player. Davis is able to play multiple positions and I see him as our future center fielder. For now, due to a lack of a better option, he will slot in at second base, where he is still rated as an above average defender.
6/1/3

SS: Ed Sweet
bats right, age 35, 4 star rating, signed 2 years at 16.2 million a year (second year is a vesting option,requiring 135 games)
Sweet is an excellent, if not an elite, offensive player, who you can count on to have a solid season every year. .290/.340/.430 isn’t out of the realm of possibility. Could hit 15home runs with 80 RBIs. Sweet would be a better defender at second base, so depending on what happens, he could switch to that position to upgrade our defense. It does remain to be seen if he will be with the team next season.
7/5/6

3B: Ernie ‘The General’ Lambert
bats right, age 25, 5 star rating, possible arbitration
Lambert is a threat everytime he gets to the plate. Look for him to rack up a lot of walks unless you can protect him well, because no one wants to pitch to this guy, no matter the situation. Ernie has amazing bat speed, which allows him to hit for a high average. He is a solid defender at third base. Lambert shows some leadership, is extremely intelligent and has an exceptional work ethic. He is popular in the clubhouse. I see this kid as a cornerstone to our franchise and we have to lock him up as soon as we can.
8/5/5

LF: Archie ‘Blitz’ Brooks
bats left, age 35, 5 star rating, signed 1 year at 20.2 million
Amazingly polished offensive player with great pitch recognition and a knack for getting himself into favorable counts. Makes outstanding contact and has game-changing power. Has one of the best eyes in the game. Pitchers are lucky to fool him once a game. Will draw a lot of walks. Speed isn’t part of his game and his defense is average at best. Brooks is a team leader and has a good work ethic.
8/10/9

CF: Jonathan Dalgleish
bats left, age 33, 2.5 star rating, signed 3 years at 35 million total
Dalgleish should be able to contribute in most big league lineups. The sort of guy you want at the plate when you need contact. Excellent for hit and run, and tends to get the sweet spot right on the ball. Well below-average power. Dalgleish runs well and will try to steal a base when he gets a chance. He is a capable defender and is an asset in the field.
6/2/4(5)

RF: José Padilla
bats left, age 32, 4 star rating, signed 4 years at 57 million total (year 4 is a team option with 2million buyout)
Padilla is an excellent, if not an elite, offensive player. .270/330/.490 isn’t out of the question. Could hit somewhere in the neighborhood of 30 home runs and 100 RBIs. Above-average contact ability. His power grades out as above average. He has good hands and slightly above-average defense. Padilla is an extremely hard worker, but he cares more about himself than the team.
6/7/5

I think we have a pretty solid starting lineup. I focused more on getting guys who should hit for a good average, so our lineup is lacking a bit of power. But I do think it will be easier to find a power hitter than to find a guy who can hit for a high average. Lambert and Davis are guys that I feel strongly about and they should be a part of our lineup for many years to come. Our outfield is full of solid Hitters, but Brooks (our best overall hitter) will be a free agent after the season. At age 35, I don't want to to give him a lenghty contract, but I will explore options to see if a deal can be made to keep him with the team for a while longer.

[Slugger]

C: Carl Murray
bats right, age 26, 1 star rating, not yet arbitration eligible
Murray is a well below average hitter. Not one skill that stands out, but he is a decent backup for Bobby Fletcher. We do have a great defensive, young catcher at AAA, who could take the backup role from Murray, but we want him to get some AAA AB's under his belt first. Murray should only play when Fletcher is tired, or in case of an injury.
4/4/4


SS: Doug Edwards
bats right, age 37, 1 star rating, signed 2 years at 8.88 million total (second year is a vesting option, requiring 135 games)
Edwards is a below-average hitter overall. Slighty below-average contact ability with little strenght. Average plate discipline, will draw the occasional walk. A good teammate who will put in long hours. Edwards is versatile and can take over at most positions, which makes him interesting as a utility player.
5/4/6

RF: Jonathon Fleming
bats left, age 37, 1 star rating, signed 1 year at 490K
Fleming should make a good bench player. He can hit for a respectable average and can provide some lefthanded power off the bench. Another veteran who should contribute to the clubhouse atmosphere.
5/7/4

RF: Mark Miller
bats right, age 36, 2 star rating, signed 2 years at 7.5 million a year
Considered a fringe player as a starter, but I feel he has value as a righthanded power hitter coming off our bench. He is a capable defender, so he wouldn't be a liability if he had to take over for a starter. At 7.5 million I do think he is a bit expensive as a benchplayer, so depending on how the season goes, I might try to find out what his trade value could be.
5/7/4


Our bench isn't exactly strong, but we have some versatility there. Our lineup will suffer if one of our better starters goes down for a longer period of time, which might force us into making a trade. We do have some veteran players at the AAA level who can be called upon when needed. We don't want to rush any of our prospects and harm the chance of them becoming the best players they can be.

[Slugger]

We currently have the highest ranked farm system in the league. 16 of our prospects are ranked in the top 100 and we have several players just outside or the top 100 ranking.
It is one of my main goals to provide to team with a constant flow or young talent. For that purpose we are investing a lot of money in our scouting and player development. Our prospects will get the time they need to develop.

I will list our ranked prospects, full reviews will follow when these players move up the ranks or are traded.

Ratings listed are potential ratings for our prospects

#13: Jeff Thomas
SP, lefty, age 18, A, 4.5 star potential
8/8/8

#21: Jesus Alarcom
CF, bats right, age 22, AAA, 4 star potential
6/7/6

#23: George Sullivan
SS, bats right, age 22, A, 4 star potential
6/6/7

#26: Gerard Whiffen
CL, lefty, age 24, A, 5 star potential
13/7/8

#29: Harley Hughes
SP, lefty, age 21, A, 4.5 star potential
7/6/10

#31: Duane Brossard
LF, bats right, age 19, R, 3.5 star potential
6/9/5

#32: River 'Stitch' Richardson
2B, bats right, age 23, AA, 4.5 star potential
8/1/4

#36: Malcolm Osborn
LF, bats right, age 22, R, 3.5 star potential
6/8/6

#46: Pete Campbell
3B, bats right, age 25, A, 4 star potential
5/8/7

#49: Dale Barnes
RF, bats right, age 20, R, 4 star potential
6/8/5

#51: James Martin
CL, righty, age 21, A, 4.5 star potential
10/8/7

#56: John Gaudreau
RF, bats left, age 18, R, 4 star potential
6/8/4

#61: Fletcher Hanson
2B, bats right, age 23, AA, 4 star potential
6/3/6

#65: Jessie 'Yoyo' Campbell
CL, lefty, age 21, AA, 4.5 star potential
8/7/9

#78: Brad 'Mustang' Wilson
MR, lefty, age 21, A, 4.5 star potential
11/7/6

#87: José 'King" Quinones
1B, bats right, age 22, A, 4 star potential
5/8/7

[Slugger]

Last week: 3 games @ Austin, 3 games @ Salt Lake City


Record: 3-3 (2-1 @ AUS, 1-2 @ SLC)
Standings: 4th (1 GB Des Moines)
Runs scored: 12 (15th in AC)
Runs against: 18 (t-4th in AC)
Defense: .717 (8th in AC)
Owner mood: very happy
Fan interest: 100/100


-04/01/2013: LOU 5, AUS 3: Davis (LOU) 3-5, RBI, Run, 2 SB's
-04/03/2013: AUS 1, LOU 0: Arce (LOU) 8.0 IP, 1 ER, 4 H, 2 BB, 6 K
-04/04/2013: LOU 2, AUS 1: Bradley (LOU) 7.2 IP, 1 ER, 4 H, 3 BB, 10 K
Holder (SV2)
-04/05/2013: LOU 1, SLC 0: Hayes (LOU) 8.0 IP, 0 ER, 5 H, 1 BB, 1 K
Holder (SV3)
-04/06/2013: SLC 6, LOU 0: Carr (SLC) 9.0 IP, 0 ER, 5 H, 0 BB, 7 K
-04/07/2013: SLC 7, LOU 4: Roberts (SLC) 3-5, 3 RBI, Run, 2 SB's

Next week: 3 games versus Oklahoma City (2-5), 3 games versus Des Moines (4-2)

[Slugger]

Last week: 3 games versus Oklahoma City, 3 games versus Des Moines


Record: 7-5 (1-2 vs. OKC, 3-0 vs. DMS)
Standings: 1st
Runs scored: 34 (15th in AC)
Runs against: 45 (t-4th in AC)
Defense: .695 (10th in AC)
Owner mood: happy
Fan interest: 100/100
Power rankings: 110 (7th in ABC)


-04/09/2013: LOU 5, OKC 4 (10): Padilla (LOU) 2-5, HR, RBI, 2 Runs (walk-off HR)
-04/10/2013: OKC 5, LOU 2: Hennessey (OKC) 8.0 IP, 2 ER, 5 H, 3 BB, 2 K
-04/11/2013: OKC 12, LOU 0: Plyler (OKC) 4-5, HR, 3 Doubles, 3 RBI, 2 Runs
-04/12/2013: LOU 8, DMS 3: Brooks (LOU) 3-4, 2 Doubles, 2 RBI, Run
-04/13/2013: LOU 4, DMS 1: Miller (LOU) 2-4, HR, Double, 3 RBI, Run (game-winning HR in 8th inning)
-04/14/2013: LOU 3, DMS 2: Dalgleish (LOU) 3-5, Double, 2 RBI (walk-off double)
Arce (LOU) 8.0 IP, 2 ER, 7 H, 2 BB, 7 K

Next week: 3 games @ Orlando (7-5), 3 games versus Memphis (7-5)

[Slugger]

Last week: 3 games at Orlando, 3 games versus Memphis


Record: 9-9 (0-3 @ ORL, 2-1 vs MPH )
Standings: 4th (3GB Des Moines)
Runs scored: 73 (9th in AC)
Runs against: 76 (10th in AC)
Defense: .664 (15th in AC)
Owner mood: happy
Fan interest: 100/100
Power rankings: 89 (15th in ABC)


-04/15/2013: ORL 4, LOU 3: Mollison (ORL) 8.0 IP, 1 ER, 5 H, 0 BB, 3 K
-04/16/2013: ORL 5, LOU 3: Lawrence (ORL) 3-4, 2HR, 2 RBI, 2 Runs
-04/17/2013: ORL 8, LOU 6: Cook (LOU) 3.0 IP, 5 ER, 6 H, 2 BB, 3 K
-04/19/2013: LOU 16, MPH 2: Garcia (LOU) 8.0 IP, 0 ER, 4 H, 0 BB, 8 K
entire offense was on fire today
-04/20/2013: LOU 9, MPH 5: Dalgleish (LOU) 2-4, Double, 3 RBI, BB, Run
-04/21/2013: MPH 7, LOU 2: Dalgleish (MPH) 2-5, HR, 3 RBI, Run

Next week: 3 games vs Salt Lake City (11-8), 4 games at Omaha (11-9)

[Slugger]

04/21/2013, Louisville

Sluggers come to terms with pitcher Cristobal Arce


During a press conference earlier today, the Louisville Sluggers confirmed that they had reached an agreement with pitcher Cristobal Arce. The 28-year-old lefthander has started 4 games this season and has a 0-1 record. However he has been solid in 3 of his 4 starts and has an ERA of 3.77 with 22 strikeouts in 28.2 innings. Arce would have been eligible for arbitration after the season.
The deal is said to be for 5 years at 5 million per year. If Arce turns out to be the front-of-the-rotation starter that the Sluggers believe he is, they got themselves a bargain here.


Locking up Arce was one of the high priority items on my to-do-list. I see him as a key part of our rotation and team for years to come and avoiding arbitration and buying out some years of free agency will certainly save us money along the way. (his arbitration estimate for 2014 was 5.5 million)

[Slugger]

Last week: 3 games versus Salt Lake City, 4 games at Omaha


Record: 15-10 (3-0 vs SLC, 3-1 @ OMH )
Standings: 1st
Runs scored: 112 (3rd in AC)
Runs against: 106 (8th in AC)
Defense: .661 (15th in AC)
Owner mood: happy
Fan interest: 100/100
Power rankings: 115 (4th in ABC)


-04/22/2013: LOU 4, SLC 3 (10): Padilla (LOU) 1-5, walk-off HR
-04/23/2013: LOU 7, SLC 6: Sweet (LOU) 3-4, HR, Double, 3 RBI, 2 Runs
-04/24/2013: LOU 6, SLC 1: Garcia (LOU) 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 5 H, 0 BB, 6 K (4-0, 1.71 ERA)
-04/25/2013: LOU 5, OMH 4: Brooks (LOU) 2-4, HR, 2 RBI, Run
Arce (LOU) 7.0 IP, 3 ER, 5 H, 0 BB, 8 K, 2-3, Double, 2 RBI, Run
-04/26/2013: LOU 5, OMH 4: Brooks 1-4, 2-run go ahead HR in the 9th
bench-clearing brawl in the 3rd inning, SP Eric Bradley gets 5-game suspension
-04/27/2013: OMH 6, LOU 5 (11): Dryden (LOU) 3-5, HR, Double, 4 RBI, Run
-04/28/2013: LOU 7, OMH 6 (11): Sweet (LOU) 2-5, 2 RBI, Run, BB

Next week: 3 games at Oklahoma City (10-16), 4 games versus Brooklyn (9-16)

[Slugger]

05/02/2013

Hughes and Gutiérrez swapped

A trade was announced today at a press conference in Louisville. Not satisfied with their current roster, the Louisville Sluggers general manager shook things up by acquiring 29-year-old starting pitcher Alfredo Gutiérrez from the Nashville Jams for 21-year-old minor league starting pitcher Harley Hughes. The Sluggers general manager said, "We're a better team now. We've added a key piece to the puzzle."

On his stats sheet for the year Gutiérrez shows a 3-1 record, 6 starts, 46 inning, 38 strikeouts and a 2.15 ERA.

Harley Hughes was named the #29 prospect at the start of the season.


There are several reasons that drove me to make this deal.
#1: so far this season I have not been pleased with the results from my #3-5 starters.
#2: adding another starter would enable me to send Robert Harris to AAA in an attempt to convert him into a starter. Lee Cook will be dropped from the rotation and will take the long relief role in the bullpen.
#3: Hughes has a ton of potential and on paper looks to have more potential than Gutiérrez. However, in my opinion, there is one big red flag. He only is rated 3/10 stamina. I'm afraid that could catch up to him and a move to the bullpen could be in his future.


Alfredo Gutiérrez
RHP, age 29, 4 star rating, arbitration eligible
Gutiérrez will give a lot of Hitters fits, but the best will still find success. He'll be a reliable starter, although not quite number 1 material. He can dial it up a notch if he needs a K. Gets nice motion on his pitches. Hits his spots most of the time. Unless the umpire has a tight zone, walks aren't common.
7/6/7(8)

I will start talks with Gutiérrez to see if we can work on a longterm deal. I would hope to sign him at a deal similar to the one that Arce signed (25 million for 5 years).

[Slugger]

Last week: 3 games at Oklahoma City, 4 games versus Brooklyn


Record: 20-12 (2-1 @ OKC, 3-1 vs BKL)
Standings: 1st
Runs scored: 146 (2nd in AC)
Runs against: 123 (4th in AC)
Defense: .676 (14th in AC)
Owner mood: happy
Fan interest: 100/100
Power rankings: 120 (3rd in ABC)


-04/29/2013: LOU 10, OKC 0: Garcia (LOU) 8.0 IP, 0 ER, 3 H, 1 BB, 10 K (5-0)
entire offense was productive today
-04/30/2013: LOU 5, OKC 0: Arce (LOU) 9.0 IP, 0 ER, 2 H, 2 BB, 5 K
-05/01/2013: OKC 7, LOU 2: Foster (OKC) 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 5 H, 3 BB, 5 K
-05/02/2013: BKL 6, LOU 3: Cole (BKL) 4-4, HR, Double, 2 RBI, Run
-05/03/2013: LOU 4, BKL 2: Hayes (LOU) 8.0 IP, 2 ER, 6 H, 2 BB, 8 K
Holder (SV 8)
-05/04/2013: LOU 3, BKL 0: Garcia (LOU) 7.0 IP, 0 ER, 4 H, 0 BB, 8 K (6-0)
-05/05/2013: LOU 7, BKL 2: Arce (LOU) 7.0 IP, 2 ER, 7 H, 1 BB, 7 K (3-1)

Next week: 3 games at Des Moines (17-15), 3 games at Charlotte (16-16)

[Slugger]

We finished the month of April with a 17-10 record. We won 10 of our last 12 games, so the team is starting to click. The strenght of our offense is most certainly our ability to get players on base. 6 of our starters are hitting above .296 and only Mike Davis has an OBP below .323 (Bobby Fletcher).
What we do lack is the power to go deep. We only have 2 players that have more than 2 home runs. José Padilla has 5 and Archie Brooks had a league leading 11.
The top of our rotation has been outstanding, as we can count on Garcia and Arce to give us a great chance to win every time they step on the field. We are hoping that the recently acquired Alberto Gutiérrez will be another high-end starter. Our bullpen has been performing well to start the season and we feel pretty confident that we can keep the lead when our starters hand the ball over. I'm hoping we can build on this performance and continue our hunt for the postseason.

Batter of the month: Archie Brooks (.296 with 11 home runs, 30 RBIs and 17 runs scored)
Pitcher of the month: Christophe Garcia (5-0, 45K in 39.2 inning, 1.36 ERA)

In the freezer: Lee Cook (2-1, 11/18 K/BB in 25.1 innings, 7.11 ERA), dropped from the rotation

[Slugger]

Last week: 3 games at Des Moines, 3 games at Charlotte


Record: 22-16 (2-1 @ DMS, 0-3 @ CHA)
Standings: 3rd (.5 GB SLC)
Runs scored: 167 (t-5th in AC)
Runs against: 147 (t-4th in AC)
Defense: .684 (14th in AC)
Owner mood: good
Fan interest: 100/100
Power rankings: 100 (12th in ABC)


-05/07/2013: LOU 6, DMS 2: Sweet (LOU) 3-5, 2 Doubles, 4 RBI
Gutiérrez (LOU debut) 8.0 IP, 2 ER, 7 H, 1 BB, 3 K
-05/08/2013: LOU 5, DMS 0: Bradley (LOU) 7.2 IP, 0 ER, 1 H, 3 BB, 7 K (took a no-hitter into the 8th inning)
Brooks (LOU) 2-2, 2 HR, 2 RBI, 3 Runs, BB
-05/09/2013: DMS 7, LOU 3: Hayes (LOU) 1.0 IP, 5 ER, 5 H, 2 BB, 0 K
-05/10/2013: CHA 7, LOU 1: Fonseca (CHA) 8.0 IP, 1 ER, 6 H, 2 BB, 4 K
-05/11/2013: CHA 3, LOU 2 (11): Arce (LOU) 8.0 IP, 1 ER, 3 H, 2 BB, 4 K
Joly walked a batter with the bases loaded and no outs in the 11th
-05/12/2013: CHA 5, LOU 4: Wright (CHA) grand-slam in the 3rd inning
We had 14 hits against starter Vimpany but couldn't score enough runs

Next week: 3 games versus Nashville (20-16), 4 games versus Charlotte (20-17)

[Slugger]

Last week: 3 games versus Nashville, 4 games versus Charlotte


Record: 26-19 (3-0 vs NSH, 1-3 vs CHA)
Standings: 1st
Runs scored: 194 (t-5th in AC)
Runs against: 174 (t-4th in AC)
Defense: .687 (14th in AC)
Owner mood: happy
Fan interest: 100/100
Power rankings: 107 (6th in ABC)


-05/13/2013: LOU 5, NSH 4: Cramer (NSH) 2-4, HR, Double, 3 RBI, Run
-05/14/2013: LOU 6, NSH 2: Hayes (LOU) 7.0 IP, 1 ER, 5 H, 3 BB, 6 K
-05/15/2013: LOU 4, NSH 2: Garcia (LOU) 8.0 IP, 2 ER, 4 H, 0 BB, 9 K (7-1)
Holder (SV 10)
-05/16/2013: CHA 7, LOU 4: Miller (LOU) 4-4, HR, Double, 2 RBI, Run
-05/17/2013: CHA 7, LOU 1: Owens (CHA) 7.0 IP, 1 ER, 6 H, 1 BB, 5 K (8-1)
-05/18/2013: LOU 5, CHA 2: Bradley (LOU) 6.0 IP, 2 ER, 7 H, 2 BB, 11 K
Holder (SV 11)
-05/19/2013: CHA 3, LOU 2 (14): Hayes (LOU) 9.0 IP, 2 ER, 6 H, 4 BB, 6 K


Next week: 2 games versus Omaha (26-19), 4 games at Nashville (22-21)

[Slugger]

Last week: 2 games versus Omaha, 4 games at Nashville


Record: 30-21 (2-0 vs OMH, 2-2 @ NSH)
Standings: 1st
Runs scored: 231 (4th in AC)
Runs against: 210 (t-6th in AC)
Defense: .688 (13th in AC)
Owner mood: happy
Fan interest: 100/100
Power rankings: 105 (6th in ABC)


-05/21/2013: LOU 9, OMH 6: Dryden (LOU) 3-4, Double, 2 RBI, Run
Dalgleish (LOU) 2-4, 2 RBI, 2 Runs, SB, BB
Mike Davis leaves the game with a sprained tumb, will miss about 7 weeks (Bryan Eckard is called up from AAA to take his spot on the roster)
-05/22/2013: LOU 4, OMH 3: Dalgleish (LOU) 3-4, 3 Doubles, Run
Ed Sweet leaves the game with a torn thumb ligament, he will miss 3-4 weeks (Beau Wheeler is called up from AAA to take his spot on the roster)
-05/23/2013: NSH 3, LOU 2: Gillespie (OMH) 8.0 IP, 2 ER, 9 H, 1 BB, 3 K
We give up 3 runs in the first and are not able to come back, despite only letting only 3 more players reach base the rest of the game.
-05/24/2013: LOU 8, NSH 7: Padilla (LOU) 3-4, HR, 3 RBI, 2 Runs
Both starters don't make it out of the third inning, but our bullpen was better.
-05/25/2013: LOU 10, NSH 6: Eckard (LOU) 3-5, HR, Double, RBI, 3 Runs
7 strong relief innings from our bullpen to overcome a terrible start from Hayes
Archie Brooks leaves the game with a strained oblique, he will miss 5 weeks. Matt Howard is called up from AAA to take his roster spot.
-05/26/2013: NSH 11, LOU 4: Cramer (NSH) 2-2, 2 HR's, 3 RBI, 3 Runs, 2 BB
Garcia 3.2 IP, 7 ER, 8 H, 1 BB, 3 K, Cook 1.0 IP, 4 ER, 4 H, 1 BB, 1 K
José Padilla leaves the game with an injure, diagnosis pending.

This last week was just brutal, losing 4 starters to longterm injuries. The backups will have a chance to prove what they are worth, as we face the best pitching staff in the league (Long Beach). 'Trout' Garcia has been struggling a bit of late after a great start. 3 of his las 4 starts have been below average, I really hope he can bounce back and carry our rotation.

Next week: 2 games at Long Beach, 2 games versus Long Beach (34-14), 4 games versus Des Moines (26-24)

[Slugger]

We finished the month of May with a winning record, going 17-12. 6 of those losses were against Charlotte. I certainly hope we won't have to face them if we make it to the post-season. But we are not there yet, not even close, so for now, we are putting our focus on winning as many games as we can and provide our fans with some exciting baseball.

The top of our rotation is about as good as it gets, as Garcia (9-2, 3.28 ERA), Arce (5-2, 2.84 ERA) and Gutiérrez (5-3, 3.46 ERA) all have been pitching at a high level. I do feel a little worried about Garcia, as he has been struggling a bit as of late, especially in the early innings. Our bullpen is certainly a strenght for us. I feel pretty comfortable when just about every arm out of our bullpen is called upon. Especially closer Mike Holder (16 SV, 0.66 ERA) and Anthony Joly (1-1, 1.85 ERA, 12 Holds) have been dominant.


Batter of the month: Glen Dryden .271/.310/.534, 7 HR, 8 Doubles, Triple, 21 RBI, 20 Runs
Pitcher of the month: Mike Holder 0.00 ERA, 16.0 IP, 7 H, 5 BB, 22 K, 9 SV

Injuries have forced us to replace some key players, but I am very pleased with the production we are getting from our substitutes.

Brian Eckard .315/.351/.463, 1 HR, 5 Doubles, 8 RBI, 8 Runs in 54 AB's
Mark Miller .391/.440/.652, 3 HR, 3 Doubles, 12 RBI, 8 Runs in 46 AB's
Doug Edwards .344/.397/.547, 2 HR, 7 Doubles, 13 RBI, 6 Runs in 64 AB's

The sample is still small and I'm not gonna make huge changes based on these results, but if these guys can keep performing at a high level, some changes might be coming. After next month I will start to evaluate our roster for next season. I want to get a head start on things and zoom in on areas that we can improve upon and potentially strike before the trading deadline and improve our team for the run this year, aswell as put us in a better position for the future.

[Slugger]

Last week: 2 games at Long Beach, 2 games versus Long Beach, 4 games versus Des Moines


Record: 36-23 (2-0 @ LB, 1-1 vs LB, 3-1 vs DMS)
Standings: 1st
Runs scored: 270 (t-5th in AC)
Runs against: 235 (4th in AC)
Defense: .689 (13th in AC)
Owner mood: happy
Fan interest: 100/100
Power rankings: 116 (2nd in ABC)


-05/27/2013: LOU 4, LB 0: Arce (LOU) 8.0 IP, 0 ER, 7 H, 0 BB, 5 K
José Padilla will be out 5 weeks with a strained groin. 3B John Lewis is called up from AAA to take his place on the roster.
-05/28/2013: LOU 5, LB 3: Gutiérrez (LOU) 7.0 IP, 3 ER, 6 H, 0 BB, 4 K
Holder (SV 15)
-05/29/2013: LOU 6, LB 1: Bradley (LOU) 7.2 IP, 1 ER, 7 H, 3 BB, 10 K
-05/30/2013: LB 8, LOU 5: Diéguez (LOU) 0.1 IP, 3 ER, 2 H, 1 BB in the 9th
-05/31/2013: LOU 8, DMS 5: Lambert (LOU) 2-5, 2 HR, 2 RBI, 2 Runs
-06/01/2013: DMS 7, LOU 2: Gill (DMS) 3-5, HR, 3 RBI, Run
-06/02/2013: LOU 5, DMS 1: Gutiérrez (LOU) 8.0 IP, 1 ER, 7 H, 1 BB, 7 K
-06/02/2013: LOU 4, DMS 0: Bradley (LOU) 7.0 IP, 0 ER, 1 H, 1 BB, 8 K
Miller (LOU) 2-3, 2 HR, 3 RBI, 2 Runs
CF Jonathan Dalgleish left the game with an injury. Diagnosis pending. If we lose Dalgleish, we will be without our entire starting outfield and middle infield for the next couple of weeks. Let's hope it's nothing serious.



Next week: 2 games at Albuquerque (28-29), 3 games at Buffalo (30-29)