(Fictional Association) ABL - American Baseball Legion

[thehatfield]

ABL News & Notes
The man who started the All Star Game on the mound for the Fillmore League - 31-year old right-handed starting pitcher Clancy Cannon – will be staying in Charlotte for at least the next five years after the player and team came together on a contract extension that could reach $87 million. Cannon is now signed through the 2017 season at $14,500,000 per year, a significant discount from the $20,000,000 he is making in 2012. Cannon has a player option for 2018 at the same $14.5M rate when he will be 37-years old. Even though Cannon is guaranteed at least $72,500,000 over the course of the contract, experts say he is forfeiting at least $25M to stay in Charlotte and that fact is turning the Oakland, South Carolina native into something of a folk hero not only with Copper Kings fans, but reasonable ABL fans league-wide. This season Cannon is 9-3 with a 2.35 ERA (169 ERA+), 1.04 WHIP, .211 OAVG (.249 BABIP) and 3.1 WAR.

Washington League All Star and former WL Batter of the Month Jose “Rat Race” Torres of the Queens Horses became the third player in ABL history to hit three home runs in a single game, and the first to hit each of the three homers against different pitchers. Torres went 3-for-4 against the Bronx Mutineers with four RBI and three runs scored in a 7-2 victory for the Horses on Wednesday.

Raul “Dagger” Hernandez of the Phoenix Imperials was one of the very obvious All Star snubs in the Washington League, and he came out for his first game since the break against the Chicago Violins to show everyone that he should have been there. Hernandez gave up a double on the first pitch of the game, and then retired the next 27 batters in a row for a one-hit, complete game shutout. Hernandez didn’t walk anyone and struck out eight. On the year Hernandez is 7-1 with a 1.78 ERA (223 ERA+), 0.83 WHIP, .160 OAVG (.197 BABIP) and 2.9 WAR.

Game Results
Wednesday, June 20, 2012
Game 73: 7-3 WIN vs. San Jose Victorians
W: Jon Conner (9-2) L: Everett Thompson (0-3)
HR – SJ: Dan White (2) NJ: Greg Wells (13), Rubén Jaramillo (9)
Attendance: 47,531
Game Time: 2:41
Recap: The Sentinels came into this game with a bit of an edge, and pounded San Jose pitching for 14 hits and seven runs in a game that the Victorians always seemed destined to lose. The visitors took the early 1-0 lead in the top of the 2nd inning on RF Dan White’s second home run of the year, but C Greg Wells knotted the game in the bottom of the inning with a solo blast of his own before an error led to three more NJ runs and a 4-1 deficit for San Jose. That was pretty much it for the FL West leaders, and NJ would tack on three more in the bottom of the 4th inning to put the game out of reach for good, the big blow being a LF Rubén Jaramillo two-run home run. RF Jesús Santiago went 3-for-5 in what seems like an increasingly rare start against a left-handed starting pitcher. Jaramillo, Wells, and 1B Miguel Bravo all had two hits for New Jersey. White, SS Noel Walker, and 1B Eddie Duncan each had two hits for the Victorians. Jon Conner was very effective for New Jersey, going 7 innings and allowing four hits and two walks while striking out seven for his team-leading 9th win of the year. San Jose’s Everett Thompson remained winless at the ABL level, getting wracked for nine hits and seven runs (six earned) in 3.2 innings pitched. If New Jersey can now capitalize on some momentum, this sort of victory over a good team like San Jose could become a rallying point or statement game for the second half of the season.

Thursday, June 21, 2012
Game 74: 5-3 LOSS vs. San Jose Victorians
W: Duane Irwin (7-4) L: Jeff Burns (5-5) SV: Stephen Hester (23)
HR – SJ: Eddie Duncan (14), Lester Verney (15) NJ: Greg Wells (14)
Attendance: 47,013
Game Time: 2:32
Recap: Or maybe not. In a reversal of the previous night’s game, San Jose’s LF Lester Verney poked a three-run home run down the line in right field in the top of the first inning and NJ may as well have packed up and driven back to their homes at that point. Victorians starter Duane Irwin was in full command of both his pitches and the evening, going 8 innings and allowing three runs on six hits. Irwin, who was a Fillmore League All Star, has now won seven consecutive games after losing his first four (including a 12-3 loss against New Jersey on April 4). Even when Greg Wells hit a mammoth 437-foot three-run home run to straightaway center field in the bottom of the 7th inning, Irwin calmly shook it off and retired the next five batters he faced. It was the second time this season that Wells hit one exactly 437-feet. Jeff Burns lost for the second time in the month of June, allowing five runs on eight hits and a walk in 6 innings. “They seemed to make solid contact on everything,” Burns said after the game. SS Noel Walker continued his good series for San Jose, going 2-for-4 with a stolen base and a run scored, while 1B Eddie Duncan had two hits for the second straight game.

Friday, June 22, 2012
Game 75: 8-3 LOSS vs. San Jose Victorians
W: Tom Hensley (11-1) L: Brian Baker (6-7)
HR – SJ: Eduardo Cardenas (1), David McCormick (7) NJ: Russ Thompson (8)
Attendance: 46,964
Game Time: 2:34
Recap: Tom “Crash” Hensley – a one-time target of NJ General Manager Herbert Clams - claimed his ABL-best 11th win of the year in a strong, 8-inning performance against the Sentinels in which he allowed three runs on three hits and two walks while striking out eight. The game was tied 1-1 heading into the 7th inning and was 3-3 heading into the top of the 8th, but the Victorians exploded for five unanswered runs over the final two frames to take the ballgame. NJ Manager Jorge Hinojosa has come under fire for leaving starting pitcher Brian Baker in the game too long. Baker came back out for the 8th inning after having allowed a two-run home run to RF Eduardo Cardenas in the 7th, and promptly surrendered a 420-foot home run to C Dave McCormick on the second pitch of the inning to give San Jose a 4-3 lead. But Hinojosa left Baker in and 2B Noel Walker doubled and 1B Bill Clark singled to make it 5-3 before reliever Ashton Barnett was ready. Barnett allowed two consecutive singles which allowed the inherited Clark to score before getting out of the inning, but the game was already over. For good measure, though, San Jose tacked two more on the scoreboard in the 9th inning after getting to reliever Rusty Baartwijk. McCormick and SS Tom Chartrand were 2-for-5 on the day, while Walker finished 3-for-5.

Series Recap: A disappointing series loss against San Jose has New Jersey a little frustrated in the opening days of the second half of the season. Noel Walker led the way for San Jose, raking New Jersey to the tune of 7-for-14, with two doubles and a triple in the series. NJ falls to 4-5 against San Jose this season and sees their lead in the Fillmore League East shaved down to just one game as Jacksonville Cannons have recovered from their recent stumbles with back-to-back series wins over Ft. Worth and San Francisco. During the series 2B Ray Durham reported to AAA Rock Island Resistance to begin his rehab assignment but he won’t play until Saturday, June 23 because of the AAA All Star Game. Rock Island is sending pitchers Guillermo Balderas, Garland Cannon, and Michael O’Reilly to the AAA All Star Game, along with 3B Danny Conrad, SS Brian Sellers, and LF Donald Watkins.

New Jersey entertained a number of trade offers centered around backup first baseman Nick Copeland during the series. The Bronx Mutineers, Chicago Violins, Detroit Street Toughs, Los Angeles Buskers, San Francisco Sawdust and Columbus Pants have all expressed interest in the 35-year old Copeland, with Columbus coming closest to landing him by offering 28-year old closer Phil O’Morgan. San Francisco’s offer is also very intriguing as NJ would have to take back 30-year old catcher Roberto Perez and his $4,640,000 contract in addition to receiving two long-term prospects. NJ would also have to include backup catcher Sterling Wells (making $480k) in any potential deal with San Francisco. While NJ General Manager Herbert Clams hasn’t yet agreed to any deal, it seems that Copeland’s departure is now a mere formality and it wouldn’t be surprising to see him gone within the next few days.

Next: NJ (46-29) heads to Arizona to face the Gilbert Airplanes (42-33). Gilbert is in third place in the FL West, locked in a dogfight with San Jose (44-31) and Seattle (43-32) for the division lead. NJ is 2-4 against the Airplanes this season, and really need to step up and show that they can consistently play well against good clubs.

[thehatfield]

ABL News & Notes
Los Angeles Buskers outfielder Steve Owens was named Player of the Week in the Washington League. 29-year old Owens went 12-for-23 with two home runs and eight RBI while hitting .522. Owens, who has played all three outfield positions and some first base for LA this year, is .273/.316/.528 on the season with nine home runs, 20 RBI, and a 0.7 WAR.

Philadelphia Motorcycles left fielder Hector Diaz took the award in the Fillmore League. Diaz had a powersurge with five home runs and 12 RBI while batting 12-for-27 (.444). The 30-year old Dominican is .280/.372/.513 on the season with 15 home runs, 48 RBI and a 2.6 WAR.

Seattle Hilltops defeated Jacksonville Cannons 8-4 on Sunday in a bizarre extra innings game that went 19 innings. The game was 1-1 going into the 15th inning when the Hilltops took advantage of a double and single to take a 2-1 lead. But in the bottom of the 15th Cannons struck back to tie the game after two singles and a Seattle error. The game remained 2-2 until the top of the 19th inning when the Hilltops scored six runs on five hits and a Jacksonville error. Cannons quickly hit a two-run home run with no outs in the bottom of the 19th to make it 8-4, and after two straight walks it looked like we were going to be headed for a 20th inning. But a doubleplay ball, followed by a weak infield pop out ended the longest game in ABL history.

Same top five clubs in the Weekly Team Power Rankings, just arranged in a different order. Baltimore Pit Bulls (124.9, o), stay on top, but San Jose Victorians (115.5, ++) jump up to #2, Detroit Street Toughs (114.2, +) move up one slot to #3, while New Jersey Sentinels (110.9, -) fall from #2 to #4 and Jacksonville Cannons (110.5, -) slide to #5. At the bottom of the rankings, San Francisco Sawdust (47.8, -) reclaimed the basement #24 ranking after being displaced for a week. The bottom five this week are: San Antonio Keys (68.5, -), Chicago Violins (65.5, ++), San Diego Golden Hats (61.1, o), El Paso Biscuits (52.8, --) and the Sawdust.


Game Results
Saturday, June 23, 2012
Game 76: 2-1 LOSS at Gilbert Airplanes
W: Troy Martin (6-6) L: Carlos Vargo (5-5) SV: Michael Sloan (25)
HR – NJ: Miguel Bravo (10)
Attendance: 35,065
Game Time: 2:23
Recap: Troy Martin and the Gilbert bullpen outdueled Carlos Vargo in this matchup, as the Airplanes starter allowed one run on five hits and three walks over 7 innings to notch his sixth win of the season. The Airplanes bullpen threw two perfect innings of relief to seal the victory, and included soon-to-be 35-year old Michael Sloan’s ABL-leading 25th save. Vargo allowed two runs (one earned) on eight hits in 8 innings of work while striking out eight. CF Junnosuke Saito, who has hit well against NJ as a member of the Ft. Worth Highwaymen, went 2-for-3 with two runs scored for Gilbert while LF Todd Wright was also 2-for-3. RF Jesús Santiago was 2-for-3 for NJ with a walk and his 43rd stolen base of the year. In his first live action since Spring Training, 2B Ray Durham went 1-for-2 with a double and three walks for AAA Rock Island Resistance. Resistance Manager Jesus Villarreal said: “this was about as encouraging a start as we could hope for. We’re just looking for Ray to get his timing back and be ready to go to Princeton and help the Sentinels.”

Sunday, June 24, 2012
Game 77: 8-7 WIN at Gilbert Airplanes
W: Steve Adams (2-0) L: Guillermo Salazar (5-6) SV: Justin Jones (21)
HR – NJ: Greg Wells (15), Jack Deck (3), Miguel Bravo (11) GIL: Junnosuke Saito 2 (11)
Attendance: 34,65
Game Time: 3:02
Recap: Gilbert battled back from a 7-2 deficit on the strength of Junnosuke Saito’s two home runs – a two-run shot off NJ starter Art Howard in the 6th inning and a three-run shot off reliever Carlos Perea in the 7th – but it wasn’t enough as NJ scratched out a run on three singles in the top of the 9th to pull out the win. Saito has been the ultimate NJ-killer this year, hitting .435 and slugging 1.261 with five home runs and 13 RBI in eight games and 23 at-bats. Eight of Saito’s 10 hits against the Sents have gone for extra bases. On the day Saito was 3-for-5 with six RBI and three runs scored. 1B Miguel Bravo went 4-for-5 with a home run, two RBI and two runs scored for New Jersey. C Greg Wells, LF Rubén Jaramillo, CF Jack Deck, and 3B Ricardo Romano each had two hits in the victory. NJ starter Art Howard got the no-decision for his 6 innings of work, allowing four runs on six hits and three walks. Closer Justin Jones allowed two hits in the bottom of the 9th inning to provide some drama before closing the door with two strikeouts. NJ pulverized Gilbert starter Javier Cano for seven runs (six earned) on nine hits and a walk and forced Cano out of the game after 4 innings.

Monday, June 25, 2012
Game 78: 6-5 LOSS at Gilbert Airplanes
W: Miguel Prieto (7-3) L: Jon Conner (9-3) SV: Michael Sloan (26)
HR – NJ: Jack Deck (4) GIL: Al Braxton (21), Jesus Diaz (14)
Attendance: 32,528
Game Time: 2:33
Recap: This was a frustrating game for New Jersey, who outhit Gilbert 8-6 but just couldn’t get the hits that counted with men on base. And deflating after the Sents scored twice in top of the 9th inning and left the tying run on second base when 3B Russ Thompson struck out to end the game. Thompson was 0-for-4 with four strikeouts to pick up his first golden sombrero since joining NJ. 2B Ricardo Romano went 3-for-3 with two runs scored for NJ, and 31-year old CF Jack Deck has been a nice story thus far as the scrappy utility player hit his 4th home run of the season. Gilbert’s Junnosuke Saito was 1-for-2 with a triple, a walk, and a sacrifice fly to continue to rake against the Sents. Quite frankly it’s surprising that Saito wasn’t beaned after hitting a triple in the 4th inning. Miguel Prieto improved to 2-0 against New Jersey and 7-3 on the season with a 6.2 inning performance in which he allowed three runs on seven hits and two walks while striking out nine. Jon Conner just didn’t have it, allowing six runs on six hits (including two home runs) and two walks, while striking out four in 5.1 innings of work. It was Conner’s first loss since May 4 against Philadelphia. 1B Miguel Bravo had a seven-game hitting streak snapped with an 0-for-4 night at the plate.

Series Recap: Another series loss and NJ is suddenly an unsettling 3-6 since the All Star break. It will be interesting to see if NJ decides to bean Junnosuke Saito the next time these two teams go at it. “The way he hits against us,” said Sentinels Manager Jorge Hinojosa after the series, “almost justifies trading for him just so we won’t have to face him anymore.” After going 2-for-12 in the series, Russ Thompson is now batting .222 in eight games since coming back from the Disabled List on June 18. Jack Deck went 3-for-12 in the series, but two of the hits were home runs. Despite the feel-good story and surprising power, holes are starting to show in Deck’s game now that he’s been getting regular playing time. He’s also still without a regular position, having played at second, third, and in center field in his 21 games with NJ. Kaz Tamura only has six hits in his last 39 at-bats.

Next: NJ (47-31) go back home in desperate need of a strong showing against the Columbus Pants (40-38). They will have three chances to stop All Star right fielder Alejandro Molina, who has hit safely in an ABL-record 27 straight games and who has led the Pants to a 13-8 record in the month of June. The Pants are seven games behind NJ in the Fillmore League East as the Sents retain their one game lead over Jacksonville Cannons (46-32). The FL East could become a two-team competition between New Jersey and Jacksonville if teams like Columbus don’t step up soon.

[thehatfield]

ABL News & Notes
New Jersey was able to come to terms with their top five draft picks:
#1 SP Ruben Rivera ($810,000) reporting to Class A Newark Eskimos
#2 3B Emilio Costa ($510,000) reporting to Rookie League Virginia Beach Minutemen
#3 C Pancho Viasana ($250,000) reporting to SA Bainbridge Island Greybirds
#4 CL Mario Alomar ($160,000) reporting to Class AAA Rock Island Resistance
#5 SP Emilio Santos ($130,000) reporting to SA Bainbridge Island Greybirds

General Manager Herbert Clams states that it was important in these early years of the ABL to sign all of the club’s draft choices to give the organization some much-needed depth.

San Jose Victorians have lost 35-year old starting pitcher Pietrek Brytan for the rest of the season with a torn labrum in his shoulder. Brytan was 6-3 with a 5.25 ERA in 14 starts for San Jose this season. An injury of this severity at his age could be devastating for Brytan’s career. Brytan will now miss the vesting option on his contract which required 25 games started to earn his $3,640,000 salary in 2013.


Game Results
Tuesday, June 26, 2012
Game 79: 6-3 WIN vs. Columbus Pants
W: Jeff Burns (6-5) L: Jeff Small (4-8) SV: Justin Jones (22)
HR – COL: Jeff Price (16) NJ: Russ Thompson (9)
Attendance: 46,831
Game Time: 2:43
Recap: NJ jumped out to a 2-0 lead in this one and held it until the top of the 6th when 1B Jeff Price’s three-run home run gave Columbus a 3-2 lead. Russ Thompson hit a solo shot in the bottom of the 6th, and then a three-run rally highlighted by a Greg Wells double in the bottom of the 7th put the game out of reach. Jeff Burns bounced back from a poor start in his last outing against San Jose with a solid 7-inning performance in which he gave up three runs on six hits and two walks while striking out seven to pick up his sixth victory of the season. After going eight straight starts without surrendering a home run, Burns has now allowed three in his last two starts. With the Pants starting seven left-handed batters in the lineup, NJ shockingly pulled setup man Ashton Barnett in the 8th inning with one on and one out for lefty reliever Frank Bradley. Bradley allowed an infield single, and then struck out the next two batters to preserve the lead. Bradley, who is two days away from his 34th birthday, has failed in similar pressure situations over and over this season so perhaps this outing will be a much-needed confidence boost. All Star right fielder Alejandro Molina was 3-for-4 for the Pants to extend his hitting streak to 28 games, while Price was 2-for-3 with his three RBI. The usual suspects for New Jersey – RF Jesús Santiago, LF Rubén Jaramillo, 1B Miguel Bravo and C Greg Wells – each went 2-for-4. SS Kaz Tamura’s slump continued with an 0-for-4 evening at the plate. Since the shortstop’s All Star Game snub his batting average has plummeted from .345 to .318.

Wednesday, June 27, 2012
Game 80: 2-1 WIN (10 innings) vs. Columbus Pants
W: Carlos Perea (3-2) L: Phil O’Morgan (1-1)
HR – COL: Jeff Price (17) NJ: Rubén Jaramillo (10), Russ Thompson (10)
Attendance: 46,361
Game Time: 2:37
Recap: Third baseman Russ Thompson took a big step toward winning over the New Jersey fans with a 421-foot bomb to left field in the bottom of the 10th inning for an exciting 2-1 walk-off victory for the Sentinels. All three runs in the game came on solo home runs. Like Thompson, 1B Jeff Price of the Pants homered in his second consecutive game. LF Rubén Jaramillo tied the game in the 4th inning but that was all the Sents were going to get off of Pants starter Penn Schneider. Schneider went 8 innings and allowed four hits and a walk while striking out one in an economical performance (87 pitches). Brian Baker labored through 7.2 innings on the hill for NJ, allowing six hits and three walks while striking out seven. RF Alejandro Molina’s ABL record 28-game hitting streak came to an end with an 0-for-5 performance that featured two strikeouts. There was a scare in the 9th inning when reliever Jayson Miller had to come out of the game, but general relief when it was learned after the game that Miller had strained his oblique and will only need a couple of days off. Manager Jorge Hinojosa commented that he blamed himself for having Miller warm up for too long before inserting him into the game.

Thursday, June 28, 2012
Game 81: 7-1 WIN vs. Columbus Pants
W: Carlos Vargo (6-5) L: Armando Montoya (5-9)
HR – COL: Bartolo Chávez NJ: Russ Thompson (11), Rubén Jaramillo (11), Kaz Tamura (1)
Attendance: 46,905
Game Time: 2:26
Recap: New Jersey needed a win like this – one where the outcome wasn’t in doubt – and got it on the strength of early offense and the good Carlos Vargo showing up and throwing 7 innings of 4-hit, one-run ball with 11 strikeouts. Relievers Steve Adams and Rusty Baartwijk finished off the game for NJ by pitching perfect 8th and 9th innings. The Sentinels were able to get to Pants starter Armando “Tempo” Montoya for six runs (five earned) on eight hits and had him out of the game before the end of the 6th inning. 3B Russ Thompson homered for a NJ record third straight game, while ice cold SS Kaz Tamura turned things around for a day with a 3-for-4 performance that included his first home run of the season. Jack Deck (playing second base this time) and RF Jesús Santiago each went 2-for-4 in the win.

Series Recap: It was a solid series for New Jersey, and the sweep turned out to be necessary since Jacksonville Cannons were sweeping three games from the Charlotte Copper Kings. 3B Russ Thompson had a solo home run in each game of the series. LF Rubén Jaramillo had at least one hit in each game of the series to extend his hitting streak to seven games. Fifth outfielder Jose “Jerry” Garcia hasn’t started a game since June 17 and is going to be sent down to AAA to clear a roster slot for second baseman Ray Durham, whose rehab assignment is being cut short. There’s no pressing need at the big club, but Durham has at least one hit in all six games he’s played for Rock Island and has posted a .375/.429/.792 line with three home runs and eight RBI. Even though Jayson Miller claims to be back to 100% after leaving Wednesday’s game with a mild oblique strain, the 31-year old reliever will likely be unavailable for the first game against Ft. Worth.

Next: The Sentinels (50-31) have an off day on Friday before flying out to Texas to take on the Ft. Worth Highwaymen (38-43). Even though Ft. Worth is in fourth place in the FL West, and a full 10 games behind the San Jose Victorians (48-33), they are 6-4 in their last 10 games and just took two of three games from the Gilbert Airplanes. NJ, though, is 4-2 against Ft. Worth this year and will look to build off the momentum gained.

NJ Sentinels Longest Home Runs
#1 Greg Wells: 447 feet vs. Ft. Worth Highwaymen 5/23/12
#2 César Cruz: 443 feet vs. Jacksonville Cannons 4/28/12
#3 Jack Deck: 442 feet vs. Charlotte Copper Kings 6/12/12
#4 Greg Wells: 437 feet vs. San Jose Victorians 6/21/12
#5 Greg Wells: 437 feet vs. San Diego Golden Hats 5/12/12

[thehatfield]

ABL News & Notes
35-year old San Antonio Keys second baseman Josh Underwood was named Washington League Player of the Week. Underwood went 10-for-22 with two home runs and six RBI, good for a .455 batting average. On the year he’s got a .262/.320/.520 line with 15 home runs and 45 RBI.

In the Fillmore League, 32-year old utility man Pedro Hernandez took the Player of the Week Award by going 8-for-13 with two home runs and seven RBI in limited appearances over five games.

A free-for-all broke out when shortstop Martin Valdes of the Charlotte Copper Kings and relief pitcher Dan Gray of the Philadelphia Motorcycles rushed one another on the field and had to be restrained by teammates and umpires after Gray beaned Valdes in the 8th inning after giving up a home run on the previous pitch to Charlotte’s Roberto Rosas. The ABL League Office responded swiftly by handing out five-game suspensions to both players, even though some in the media thought that the punishment was too light.

The Seattle Hilltops went shopping and acquired 28-year old starting pitcher Justin Roberts and $1MM in cash from the Chicago Violins in exchange for a pair of minor league outfielders: 23-year old Thomas Hartwell and 24-year old Rob Dorsey. Roberts was 6-6 with a 4.70 ERA in 14 starts for Chicago this year, with a 1.52 WHIP and 0.3 WAR. Roberts should provide the Hilltops with depth to the starting rotation in their death-struggle with San Jose and Gilbert atop the Fillmore League Western Division, and he will likely feature as the #3 or #4 starter. For rebuilding Chicago, Hartwell is a decent prospect with plus power while Dorsey is a speedster that needs lots of work to be ABL-ready.

Jacksonville Cannons (121.6, ++) have moved up from #5 to #1 in the latest Weekly Team Power Rankings. New Jersey Sentinels (119.8, +) move up to #2 from #4, Baltimore Pit Bulls (119.1, -) drop from #1 to #3, Detroit Street Toughs fall to #4 from #3 and the Bronx Mutineers (108.8, ++) drop the San Jose Victorians (104.1, --) clear out of the top 5. At the bottom, San Antonio Keys (70.7,o), Charlotte Copper Kings (69.6, --), San Diego Golden Hats (64.4, o), El Paso Biscuits (62.2, o) and San Francisco Sawdust (53.4, o) make up #20 through #24.

Game Results
Saturday, June 30, 2012
Game 82: 12-4 WIN at Ft. Worth Highwaymen
W: Art Howard (9-5) L: Juan Benitez (6-6)
HR – NJ: Russ Thompson 2 (13), Nick Copeland (3), Ken Bullock (5) FW: William Sanford (20)
Attendance: 33,235
Game Time: 2:57
Recap: 3B Russ Thompson extended his home run steak to four straight games with two more longballs, including a three-run home run with two outs in the 1st inning which set the tone for a 12-4 rout. By the end of the second inning NJ had knocked Ft. Worth starter Juan Benitez out of the game and held an 8-0 lead which allowed them to empty the bench and give the rest of the day off to some of the regular starters. Art Howard was in and out of trouble in his 6 innings of work, allowing four runs on five hits and four walks including a three-run shot to LF William Sanford, his third home run against New Jersey this season. SS Kaz Tamura had two hits before being substituted, and is showing signs in his last two games that he might be pulling out of the slump that has plagued him for most of the month of June. 37-year old 2B Ray Durham made his ABL debut after spending the first half of the season on the Disabled List and went 1-for-5. 1B Nick Copeland and LF Ken Bullock both came off the bench to hit solo home runs for the Sentinels. New Jersey scored at least one run against all five pitchers used by the Highwaymen.

Sunday, July 1, 2012
Game 83: 4-3 WIN at Ft. Worth Highwaymen
W: Jon Conner (10-3) L: Gerardo Gonzalez (0-2) SV: Justin Jones (23)
HR – NJ: James Griffin (4), Miguel Bravo (12) FW: William Sanford (21), Britt MacIntosh (3)
Attendance: 33.532
Game Time: 2:41
Recap: Jon Conner won his 10th game of the season with a breezy 7-inning, five-hit performance in which he allowed one earned run while striking out two. Conner pitched quickly and pitched to contact and if not for a LF William Sanford solo home run in the bottom of the second inning Conner may have been going back out for the 8th inning looking for a shutout. NJ held a 4-1 lead heading into the bottom of the 9th inning when 1B Britt MacIntosh hit a two-run home run off of NJ’s closer Justin Jones, but Jones recovered to strike out the next three batters he faced to close out the closer-than-it-needed-to-be game, 4-3. Ashton Barnett pitched a perfect 8th inning for his 17th hold of the season. All seven runs scored in the game came as a result of home runs. 1B Miguel Bravo and LF Rubén Jaramillo each went 3-for-4 with a walk, while CF James Griffin was 2-for-5 with two RBI. 2B Ray Durham was 2-for-4 with a double and played a fantastic second base. Ft. Worth starter Gerardo Gonzalez was gone after three innings, and four members of the Highwaymen bullpen combined to throw six innings of scoreless relief.

Monday, July 2, 2012
Game 84: 12-0 WIN at Ft. Worth Highwaymen
W: Jeff Burns (7-5) L: Eric Hanson (5-8)
HR – NJ: Jesús Santiago (8), Ray Durham (1), Miguel Bravo (13)
Attendance: 32,108
Game Time: 3:03
Recap: Nevermind another 12-run outburst fueled by the longball, Jeff Burns was the story of the game with his complete game one-hitter against Ft. Worth. Burns walked three and struck out eight but was never in any serious trouble as the Highwaymen hit balls directly at the NJ fielders all night long. The victory was the second shutout of the season for Burns, who joins Juan Maes of the Los Angeles Buskers and Adrian Rosado of the Queens Horses as the only pitchers in the ABL with two shutouts. I think it’s safe to say that SS Kaz Tamura has broken out of his slump as he finished off the series with a 4-for-4 performance that included a triple and three runs scored. 1B Miguel Bravo went 3-for-6 with five RBI, while RF Jesús Santiago was 3-for-5 with three runs scored and his 45th stolen base of the season. Santiago also shattered the record for longest home run in NJ history when he blasted a 459-foot shot to center field off Highwaymen starter Eric Hanson in the 3rd inning. Recently activated 2B Ray Durham was 2-for-5 in the game, hit his first home run of the season and collected two RBI. The only player without at least one hit was LF Rubén Jaramillo, who went 0-for-4 with two walks. CF Luis Carrizal broke up the no-hitter with a single in the bottom of the 8th inning.

Series Recap: For the second consecutive series, New Jersey’s sweep of Ft. Worth leaves them in the same position - just one game ahead in the Fillmore League East - as Jacksonville Cannons swept three games from San Jose. It was nice to see a couple of offensive outbursts against the Highwaymen, especially after struggling to score in the first three series after the All Star break. Ray Durham has slotted in nicely to the bottom of the lineup and by all accounts has been a noticeable defensive upgrade at second base. While there are whispers that the torn back muscle suffered in Spring Training has affected his swing to some degree, the 37-year old has been getting to balls behind second base that Jack Deck or Russ Thompson or Ricardo Romano just couldn't get to. Now that Thompson can go back to being an everyday third baseman, he should start feeling much more comfortable in New Jersey. Deck and Romano are going to have to be happy with being role players off the bench, and that might be tough in the case of Romano who has contributed and started either at second or third base for most of the season.

Next: The Sentinels (53-31) go home with a six-game winning streak to take on the Manhattan Monocles (35-49). The Mighty Mighty Monocle are in last place in the Fillmore League Eastern Division, 18 games behind New Jersey. Manhattan is 4-6 in their last 10, and dropped two of three games in their previous series against the Columbus Pants. NJ is 4-2 against the Monocles this season.

Coming up, June standings, monthly awards, and recap. And, the ongoing saga of a potential Nick Copeland trade.

[thehatfield]

ABL STANDINGS

July 3, 2012

Washington League East (WLE)
#1 Baltimore Pit Bulls 55-29, 0GB, #3
#2 Detroit Street Toughs 51-33, 4GB, #1
#3 Queens Horses 46-38, 9GB, #2
#4 Bronx Mutineers 46-38, 9GB, #5
#5 Indianapolis Cows 41-43, 14GB, #4
#6 Brooklyn Sycamores 41-43, 14GB, #6

Washington League West (WLW)
#1 Phoenix Imperials 45-39, 0GB, #3
#2 Tucson Omelets 41-43, 4GB, #2
#3 Los Angeles Buskers 39-45, 6GB, #1
#4 San Antonio Keys 35-49, 10GB,#5
#5 Chicago Violins 33-51, 12GB, #6
#6 El Paso Biscuits 31-53, 14GB, #4


Washington League Batter of the Month: RF Frank Russell – Brooklyn Sycamores
26-year old right fielder Frank Russell of the Brooklyn Sycamores went 35-for-100, .350/.416/.720 in the month of June to take the Batter of the Month Award. Russell hit nine home runs and 10 doubles, contributing 20 RBI and 22 runs scored. The promising outfielder collected a Player of the Week Award earlier in the month when he hit three home runs in a single game against the Bronx Mutineers. Russell’s hot bat was one of the key reasons that last-placed Brooklyn went 14-13 for the month. On the year Russell is hitting .266/.324/.431, with 12 home runs and 41 RBI, 0.6 WAR.

Washington League Pitcher of the Month: SP Dave Duke –Indianapolis Cows
Washington League All Star Dave Duke went 4-1 in the month of June, posting a 1.62 ERA good enough for the WL Pitcher of the Month Award. The left-handed throwing Duke had a two-hit, 10 strikeout shutout of Brooklyn at the beginning of the month and rode that momentum all the way through to the end. Duke struck out 34 in 39 innings against just 26 hits and six walks, good for a sparkling 0.82 WHIP. On the season Duke is 9-5 with a 1.88 ERA and 1.00 WHIP, .227 OAVG and 4.6 WAR. He’s walked just 17 batters in 124.1 innings pitched which is fourth-lowest in the ABL among starting pitchers with at least 100 innings thrown.

Notes: In the East, Baltimore made a big run to the top of the division on the strength of a 22-5 month that was the best overall month in the ABL. Detroit may have dropped from the top spot to second place, but their 15-12 month certainly isn’t cause for alarm and they have to be thinking that Baltimore won’t be able to keep up their amazing pace. The Queens Horses have more cause for concern, as they sputtered to a division-worst 12-15 month and dropped from second to third place, creating a gap between Baltimore and Detroit and the rest of the division. Out West, experts have been predicting a surge for the Phoenix Imperials for some time. And while they went 15-12 in June to take over first place, their rise was more to do with the shocking drop-offs of Tucson (11-16) and especially Los Angeles (8-19) rather than a big-time roll for the Imps. Phoenix, in fact, is the only WL West team with a record over .500 with just two and a half months of the season remaining. At this point, it’s hard to see any clear-cut favorite for the division crown.

Fillmore League East (FLE)
#1 New Jersey Sentinels 53-31, 0GB, #2
#2 Jacksonville Cannons 52-32, 1GB, #1
#3 Philadelphia Motorcycles 44-40, 9GB, #5
#4 Columbus Pants 42-42, 11GB, #4
#5 Charlotte Copper Kings 39-45, 14GB, #3
#6 Manhattan Monocles 35-49, 18GB, #6

Fillmore League West (FLW)
#1 Seattle Hilltops 48-36, 0GB, #2
#2 San Jose Victorians 48-36, 0GB, #1
#3 Gilbert Airplanes 46-38, 2GB, #3
#4 Ft. Worth Highwaymen 38-46, 10GB, #4
#5 San Diego Golden Hats 32-52, 16GB, #5
#6 San Francisco Sawdust 27-57, 21GB, #6

Fillmore League Batter of the Month: 1B Jeff Price – Columbus Pants
26-year old Jeff Price bounced back from a poor month of May to post a .337/.455/.807 line with 10 home runs, 25 RBI and 22 runs scored in June and took the FL Batter of the Month Award. The left-handed hitting Price has been a mainstay in the Pants lineup this season, batting .285/.386/.533, with 19 home runs, 63 RBI, 54 runs scored, and a 3.3 WAR. His 63 RBI is tied for 5th best in the Fillmore League.

Fillmore League Pitcher of the Month: SP Tom Hensley – San Jose Victorians
Tom “Crash” Hensley became the first player ever to win a second Player of the Month Award by going 5-0 with a 1.24 ERA in 43.2 innings pitched in June. Hensley struck out 45 batters while walking just 8, good enough for a 0.66 WHIP for the month. Opponents hit .139 off Hensley. On the season Crash is 12-1 with a 2.57 ERA, 0.99 WHIP, 115 strikeouts, and 3.4 WAR in 126 innings pitched.

Notes: New Jersey overtook Jacksonville in the Fillmore League East, but just barely. It took a 19-8 month from the Sentinels to move one game ahead of the Cannons in the division, and experts think it will be a battle to the wire between the two clubs for the division title. Philadelphia quietly went 18-9 during the month to climb out of fifth place and into third. Charlotte Copper Kings had the worst month in the Eastern Division, posting an 8-19 mark which saw them fall from third place to fifth. In the Western Division, Seattle, San Jose, and Gilbert are all in the mix and all played within a game of each other in June so no one is making a run just yet. San Diego Golden Hats were actually worse in June (8-19) than the club with the overall ABL-worst record San Francisco Sawdust (10-17).

[thehatfield]

ABL News & Notes
Jacksonville Cannons have made a move to strengthen their bullpen by sending 18-year old 1B Jim Thompson and 20-year old 3B Bill Austin to the Charlotte Copper Kings in exchange for 25-year old right-handed reliever Ben Bryant. Bryant has featured in 31 games for Charlotte, posting a 1-3 record with one save and 46 strikeouts in 40.2 innings pitched. Bryant has a 1.2 WAR with a WHIP of 1.06, and 2.43 ERA while opponents are hitting .221 against him. Thompson and Austin are at Short Season A and A ball respectively, and both players are a minimum of a couple of years away from playing at the ABL level.

Game Results
Tuesday, July 3, 2012
Game 85: 6-1 WIN vs. Manhattan Monocles
W: Brian Baker (7-7) L: Kidlat Ogilvie (5-7)
HR – NJ: Rubén Jaramillo (12), Russ Thompson (14), Ken Bullock (6)
Attendance: 46,321
Game Time: 2:33
Recap: New Jersey knocked Manhattan starter Kidlat Ogilvie out of the game after a 35-pitch 1st inning that saw Ogilvie surrender four runs on four hits and two walks, including a Rubén Jaramillo two-run home run. That was all Brian Baker (7-7) needed to set the Sentinels up for victory as the 25-year old lefty went 6 innings, allowing a run on seven hits while striking out seven. The score remained 4-1 until the bottom of the 8th inning when New Jersey added two more runs on solo home runs from 3B Russ Thompson and pinch hitter Ken Bullock off Manhattan’s closer Pete Barnes who was just out there getting some work in a non-save situation. Both Jaramillo and Thompson had two hits for New Jersey, while SS Trey Owens and C Eddie Harford each went 2-for-3 for the Monocles. 2B Ray Durham went 1-for-4 for NJ, and has now hit safely in all 10 games (including his minor league rehab assignment) since coming back from injury.

Wednesday, July 4, 2012
Game 86: 3-2 WIN vs. Manhattan Monocles
W: Steve Adams (3-0) L: Pete Barnes (1-6)
HR – None
Attendance: 39,799
Game Time: 2:43
Recap: Jesús Santiago’s third hit of the game, a single pulled to right field with two outs in the bottom of the 9th inning, was good enough for a walk-off victory for New Jersey in the sort of inspiring manner that could really make a positive impact on the club. Manhattan held a 2-0 lead for most of the game as starter Dustin Brown seemed in command. But in the bottom of the 8th inning a throwing error by Brown on an infield hit led to an unearned run, and the Sentinels manufactured another to tie the game before Santiago’s heroics against Monocles closer Pete Barnes an inning later. New Jersey shockingly used Frank Bradley and Steve Adams in tie-game situations rather than Ashton Barnett or Carlos Perea. SS Kaz Tamura was 2-for-4 for NJ with an RBI. CF James Griffin went 1-for-4 but his one hit was a triple in the bottom of the 8th inning which set him up to score the game-tying run. Carlos Vargo started the game for the Sentinels and allowed two runs in 7 innings pitched while striking out seven. Manhattan 1B Chris Dean went 3-for-4 with a run scored and SS Trey Owens went 3-for-4 with an RBI. In six games against New Jersey this season, Dean is hitting .577/.607/.962 with three home runs and five RBI. He’s 15-for-26 with a walk and two strikeouts.

Thursday, July 5, 2012
Game 87: 2-0 LOSS vs. Manhattan Monocles
W: Josh Martin (4-3) L: Art Howard (9-6) SV: Mike Farmer (1)
HR – MAN: John Wilson (4)
Attendance: 46,448
Game Time: 2:48
Recap: Nothing like following up a potentially inspirational win by putting up three hits and getting shut out in the next game, and that’s what happened to New Jersey in this one. 24-year old Monocles starter Josh “Deacon” Martin allowed five walks and three hits over 8 innings of work before handing the game over to reliever Mike Farmer who closed out the game since Pete Barnes was unavailable. Not to be outdone in the walk department, Art Howard tied a career-high by issuing six walks in his 6.2 innings of work for the Sents, allowing two runs and four hits including the one big mistake - CF John Wilson’s two-run home run in the 4th inning. All Star second baseman Mal Huffman went 2-for-4 with a walk, and Surya Djajadiningrat was 2-for-5. 2B Ray Durham picked up one of NJ’s three hits to keep his hit streak alive since coming back from injury. Jayson Miller threw two scoreless innings of relief for NJ.

Series Recap: Despite the disappointing series finale, NJ took 2-of-3 games from Manhattan and picked up a game on Jacksonville Cannons in the Fillmore League Eastern Division race. After a long run of seemingly good power output and three home runs in the opening game of the series, the Sents didn’t hit any homers in the second or third games against the Monocles. Kidlat Ogilvie is now 0-1 with a 6.30 in three starts against NJ after his one-inning start on Tuesday. Ogilvie has only been able to throw 10 innings in his three starts, allowing 16 hits and eight walks.

Next: New Jersey (55-32) heads to San Francisco (29-58) to face the Sawdust before an important three game set with Jacksonville. The Sawdust are 6-4 in their last 10 games and have won their last three straight series’ including taking 2-of-3 from Ft. Worth in their latest matchups.

New Jersey 2012 July Outlook
New Jersey has three players that other clubs have inquired about repeatedly: 29-year old starting pitcher Garland Cannon, 31-year old left-handed reliever Allan Byrd, and 35-year old first baseman Nick Copeland.


Garland Cannon
Cannon started the year with New Jersey, and lasted three starts before being sent down to AAA Rock Island Resistance. The emergence of Jeff Burns in the Sentinels rotation has blocked any recall opportunities for Cannon, but the Ft. Worth native remains a valuable insurance policy in case there’s an injury to a starting pitcher during the stretch run. Cannon is 8-4 with a 2.72 ERA in 14 starts for Rock Island, with a 1.07 WHIP in 106 innings pitched and a .219 OAVG.
Trade Possibilities: NJ could probably get a top-level prospect for Cannon from the clubs that are engaged in divisional battles: Baltimore, Detroit, Phoenix, Tucson, Seattle, San Jose or Gilbert. GM Herbert Clams has said that it’s not worth it to trade Cannon unless he gets a top-level starting pitching prospect and an ABL-ready left-handed reliever. Whether he’s serious or bluffing remains to be seen, but with the Sentinels locked in their own divisional battle with Jacksonville he may be intentionally asking for too much for Cannon.



Allan Byrd
Allan Byrd was originally thought to be a key member of the bullpen heading into the season, being a left-hander that could throw multiple innings. But in his 12 appearances for NJ early in the year he allowed 18 hits and 13 walks in 19.2 innings, prompting a demotion to AAA in mid-May. Byrd temporarily took over the closer role for Rock Island, and went 2-1 with 11 saves in 13 opportunities, 2.25 ERA and 1.42 WHIP.
Trade Possibilities: Byrd has been involved in one of the most scandalous trade rumors in the entire ABL in recent weeks. NJ was supposedly approached by the very team they are locked in a divisional battle with - Jacksonville Cannons - and were offered closer Mauro Aguilar and his $4,800,000 contract for Byrd who makes $1,340,000. Another offer is apparently on the table from Manhattan in a proposed trade involving their 27-year old catcher Eddie Harford.


Nick Copeland
Nick Copeland has been the backup first baseman for New Jersey since the beginning of the season. He has just 46 at-bats in 31 games, posting a .239/.407/.435 line and displaying an uncanny ability to draw a walk in pinch hitting situations. He’s an okay defensive first baseman, but not good enough to warrant being a defensive replacement for Miguel Bravo late in games. The guy, though, has tremendous power and his bat has been much in demand by ABL General Managers throughout the season.
Trade Possibilities: Copeland’s salary of $1,930,000 has not been a hindrance in trade talks, but the fact that Copeland could be a free agent after 2012 has hurt his value as a bargaining chip. The most serious talks about Copeland have revolved around a one-for-one trade with the Columbus Pants in exchange for left-handed closer Phil O’Morgan. O’Morgan makes $2,840,000 this year, but he’s arbitration eligible after the season and missed the first two months of the season with shoulder inflammation.

[thehatfield]

Note: Thanks to Gern44 for the logo!

Manhattan Monocles Unveil Logo

Organization Becomes First ABL Club With Official Logo



GREENWICH VILLAGE, NYC - The Manhattan Monocles became the first club in the American Baseball Legion to have a custom logo as they unveiled their official club logo on Friday.

“The ownership group came to an agreement that no ABL club would have a logo until after the All Star Game,” said Rick Cantrell, the 52-year old Queens native who owns the Monocles. “That time has come, and we’ve been in deep discussions about this logo since the season began so I think the timing is perfect. It’s nice to go down in ABL history as the first club with a logo. It’s something we’ll always treasure.”

Cantrell hasn’t exactly been the most popular owner in Manhattan, and his Queens upbringing just compounds the distaste Monocles fans have for him. While he claims to be fiscally generous, Manhattan ranks #14 in overall team salary ($80.5MM) and fans have been waiting all season for the club to make a big move or two to take on salary.

But it hasn’t happened. In last place in the Fillmore League East for much of the season, Cantrell is reportedly furious with General Manager Lockwood Bancroft and Manager Mike Leonard for the on-field results. The Monocles are currently 36-51, 19 games behind New Jersey.

“We thought we were being smart by drafting three starting pitchers with our first six picks in the ABL Inaugural Draft,” said Cantrell, “so after that we focused on other areas and didn’t worry too much about the rest of the rotation.”

The three players – Anthony Booker, Luis Manuel Meza and Dustin Brown – have all had mixed levels of non-success.

26-year old Booker, the 19th overall pick in the Inaugural Draft, missed the first two months of the season with shoulder tendinitis. He’s back with Manhattan now after one rehab start at AAA, and is 2-3 with a 4.76 ERA in seven starts. He’s thrown 39.2 innings and allowed 35 hits and 13 walks for a 1.21 WHIP. Opponents are hitting .236 against him and he’s posted a 0.7 WAR.

37-year old Meza, who makes $15,100,000 this season, may be done for the year after tearing a muscle in his back during a start against Columbus at the end of May. Prior to his injury he was 3-2 with a 4.02 ERA and 1.32 WHIP in eight starts and 47 innings. The veteran has a 0.6 WAR. Meza is not under contract for next season.

The soon-to-be 27-year old Dustin Brown has been included in a couple of trade packages offered to New Jersey involving first baseman Nick Copeland. The 6th round draft choice (126th overall) in the ABL Inaugural Draft has been an unspectacular member of the Monocles rotation all season, going 4-6 with a 4.30 ERA and 1.42 WHIP in 88 innings pitched. Opponents are hitting .261 against Brown, who has more walks (42) than strikeouts (40).

But back to the festivities, Manhattan’s All Star first baseman Chris Dean commented on the new logo: “it looks pretty sweet. It could have been corny with a name like Monocles, but I like it a lot. I think we’ll have a better logo than a lot of the clubs out there, if they ever decide to unveil theirs!”

“It should help us solidify our identity,” said under-fire Manager Mike Leonard. “I think anything that we can use as a rallying point right now will help the club, and right now the owner has given us a logo. So that’s what we’ll use.”

General Manager Lockwood Bancroft had no comment.

[thehatfield]

New Jersey Moves Garland Cannon to Manhattan For Prospects
Fans Upset at Perceived Lack of Skilled Return Players


Garland Cannon

After lots of rumors, speculation and broken down discussions, New Jersey finally found a trading partner to take 29-year old right-hander Garland Cannon as the Sents sent Cannon and $500,000 to the Manhattan Monocles for three minor leaguers. It seems like a good move for both clubs – Manhattan doesn’t give up a top-level prospect and gets a guy that will plug in near the top of their starting rotation, and New Jersey gets depth in their minor league system for a guy that has been stuck at AAA for most of the year.

23-year old first baseman Mike Parrish, 24-year old starting pitcher Clyde MacDonald, and 21-year old shortstop Brian Lucas come back to New Jersey in the deal. Parrish seems like a younger version of Nick Copeland and his acquisition probably means that Copeland will be dealt prior to the July 31 ABL trading deadline. Lucas is a great defensive shortstop with some good upside, and MacDonald is a run-of-the-mill starter that the Sents think may be effective out of the bullpen.

New Jersey fans are not pleased with the deal. Rather than get the top prospect from a team in a playoff race as had been rumored in recent days, the club decided instead to go for depth and project players.


Herbert Clams

“I know we live in an instant society” said NJ General Manager Herbert Clams, “but we have to make the best moves for the long-term good of the organization.”

Cannon was extremely pleased that a deal had finally been reached so that he could prove himself at the ABL level.

“I want to thank Mr. (Javier) Ordóñez for giving me an opportunity to play for his franchise in New Jersey,” said Garland Cannon after the trade was made official, “and to Herb Clams for keeping me informed about what was going on every step of the way.”

“While it wasn’t always easy to keep waiting to see if I was going to stay or go,” Cannon said, “I had a feeling that something was going to happen. I have nothing but good things to say about my time in NJ, I just wish I was able to contribute more to the organization.”

[thehatfield]

ABL News & Notes
Ft. Worth Highwaymen sent 26-year old starting pitcher Juan Benitez to the Indianapolis Cows in exchange for 22-year old third baseman Nathan Head and 17-year old center fielder Tim Murdock. Head was the key to the deal for Ft. Worth as he is projected to be an above average offensive player somewhere down the line, whereas scouts predict Murdock should be out of baseball by the time he’s 20. For his part, left-hander Benitez was 6-7 in 16 starts with a 4.62 ERA, 1.43 WHIP and 0.3 WAR. Opponents are hitting .224 (.254 BABIP) against him this season. It’s an interesting trade as both clubs have underachieved this year and both could use something to spark a strong final two months of the season.

Father time hasn’t quite caught up to 38-year old Tucson Omelets first baseman Joseph Ford as he took home the Washington League Player of the Week Award. Ford went 14-for-28 with two home runs and seven RBI to prove that he isn’t ready to be put out to pasture just yet. “I may be 38,” said a self-conscious Ford when picking up his award, “but I still know how to play baseball. And how to hit it.” The stats seem to suggest otherwise, however, as Ford has posted a -0.5 VORP and -0.6 WAR thus far on the season.

26-year old Seattle Hilltops superstar third baseman Bob Harrell took home the Fillmore League Player of the Week Award on the strength of a 12-for-27 performance at the plate with four home runs and eight RBI. On the season Harrell leads the entire ABL in home runs with 28, and is hitting .283 with a second-best in the ABL 72 RBI. Harrell’s WAR is presently 3.1.

Weekly Team Power Rankings
Top 5
#1 New Jersey Sentinels (127.0, +), #2
#2 Jacksonville Cannons (115.0, -), #1
#2 Detroit Street Toughs (115.0, +), #4
#4 Baltimore Pit Bulls (114.0, -), #3
#5 Seattle Hilltops (101.0, ++), #9
#5 Phoenix Imperials (101.0, +), #7

Bottom 5
#20 Charlotte Copper Kings (73.0, +), #21
#21 Manhattan Monocles (69.0, --), #17
#22 Chicago Violins (67.0, --), #19
#23 El Paso Biscuits (63.0, o), #23
#24 San Francisco Sawdust (53.0, o), #24

Game Results
Friday, July 6, 2012
Game 88: 7-0 WIN at San Francisco Sawdust
W: Jon Conner (11-3) L: Mike Lee (2-10)
HR – NJ: Russ Thompson (15), Ray Durham (2), Miguel Bravo (14)
Attendance: 18,188
Game Time: 2:27
Recap: Just 18,000 showed up at San Francisco Grounds for what turned out to be another masterpiece by a New Jersey starting pitcher as Jon Conner went the distance on a two-hitter while striking out 12. 1B Miguel Bravo went 2-for-3 with a walk, a home run and four RBI to lead the New Jersey offense, while RF Jesús Santiago, SS Kaz Tamura, and 2B Ray Durham each had two hits. Russ Thompson continued his recent barrage of solo home runs with a 447-foot bomb to left field in the 4th inning that ties Greg Wells for the second-longest in Sentinels history. San Francisco starter Mike Lee fell to 2-10, allowing five runs on eight hits including two home runs in 4.1 innings pitched. 1B George Hill had both hits for San Francisco, including a double in the 2nd inning. This was Conner’s second shutout of the season and second in three weeks as he blanked Charlotte on four hits on June 12.

Saturday, July 7, 2012
Game 89: 8-5 WIN at San Francisco Sawdust
W: Jeff Burns (8-5) L: José Costa (3-10) SV: Justin Jones (24)
HR – None
Attendance: 19,674
Game Time: 3:02
Recap: Jeff Burns almost made it back-to-back shutouts for himself personally and for the team as he took an 8-0 lead into the 9th inning, but he ran out of gas as the Sawdust got to him for a run and then loaded the bases before reliever Rusty Baartwijk was ready to come in. Baartwijk allowed all three inherited runners to score, and then loaded the bases again by the time closer Justin Jones was summoned with two outs in the bottom of the 9th. LF Jackie Martin promptly singled home a runner that Jones had inherited, but the Sawdust were greedy and LF Ken Bullock threw out 2B Conrad Serdio who was trying to score from second base with a bullet throw to home plate to end the game. 3B Russ Thompson had three walks on the day, including two walks with the bases loaded. C Greg Wells, SS Kaz Tamura, and 1B Nick Copeland each had two hits for NJ. Martin, SS Manuel Flores, and C Roberto Perez each had two hits for San Francisco, while RF Adrien Ghisolfi was 3-for-5 with two RBI. The final line on Burns was 8.1 innings pitched, four runs allowed on nine hits and three walks, with eight strikeouts. San Francisco had at least one baserunner against Burns in every inning.

Sunday, July 8, 2012
Game 90: 9-0 WIN at San Francisco Sawdust
W: Brian Baker (8-7) L: Felix Rivera (4-10)
HR – NJ: Russ Thompson (16), Miguel Bravo (15)
Attendance: 18,691
Game Time: 2:44
Recap: Brian Baker made the most of his opportunity to pitch against San Francisco and gave the NJ bullpen another day off with a complete game three-hitter. Baker took a no-hitter to two outs in the bottom of the 8th inning when 20-year old right fielder Chet Steward singled to break it up. The Sawdust seemed to lay down for this game, as they fell behind 4-0 after the 1st inning, and trailed 7-0 after three innings. 3B Russ Thompson’s three-run home run in the 1st inning set the tone for the NJ victory. Thompson finished the day 2-for-3 with a walk, three RBI and two runs scored. The only bright spot for San Francisco was that relievers Albert Martinez and Lance Gowen each threw two innings of scoreless relief. 2B Ray Durham continued to roll, going 2-for-4 with a double and a run scored.

Series Recap: NJ sweeps San Francisco for the third time this season to raise their season record to 9-0 against the Sawdust. Overall the Sentinels are 9-1 in their last 10 games. 2B Ray Durham was 5-for-11 in the series and has now hit in all nine games since being activated from the Disabled List. If not for the Jeff Burns 9th inning implosion, NJ could have shut out the Sawdust for the entire series. 3B Russ Thompson had two home runs in the series, and now has eight homers in his last 12 games. SS Kaz Tamura was 4-for-9 but went 0-for-3 in the final game of the series.

Next: New Jersey (58-32) goes home for an important three-game series against Jacksonville Cannons (55-35). The Sentinels now hold a three-game lead over Cannons in the Fillmore League Eastern Division and have an opportunity to widen the gap with a strong performance at the Princeton Fieldhouse. The Sentinels are 29-16 both at home and on the road so far this year. Cannons are 7-3 in their last 10 games, and just took two of three from the Manhattan Monocles. New Jersey is 4-2 against Jacksonville this season.

Roster Management Notes
It seems like all that is left for the Nick Copeland to Columbus for Phil O'Morgan trade to get completed are a couple of extra pieces. Columbus wants NJ's 26-year old outfield prospect Tom Covington included in the trade, while NJ wants to get back a quality starting pitching prospect if they have to include Covington. A deal will likely be finalized prior to the Jacksonville series.

The roster is bracing for possible shakeup, as the acquisition of O'Morgan will likely mean a demotion to AAA for either Rusty Baartwijk, Carlos Perea or Steve Adams. Meanwhile, a new backup first baseman would need to be called up to NJ as well.

The Sentinels also have a number of players who will be free agents or arbitration eligible at the end of the season that they may want to tie up at least for the short-term. The list includes relievers Jayson Miller, Frank Bradley, Adams and Perea, backup catcher Sterling Wells, and utility players Jack Deck and Ricardo Romano. O'Morgan would also be arbitration eligible if acquired. Starting pitcher Art Howard already received a two-year extension with a team option for a third year shortly after being acquired from the San Antonio Keys in May.

[thehatfield]

NJ Acquires Phil O’Morgan from Columbus
Nick Copeland Now a Member of the Pants

Rumors of a Nick Copeland for Phil O’Morgan trade have been circulating in dirt sheets and podcasts for months, but the two clubs finally got it together and completed a six-player deal early on Monday morning. Columbus had stalled the trade in recent weeks as they suddenly asked that NJ’s 26-year old outfield prospect Tom Covington be included in any trade for O’Morgan. After careful consideration, NJ General Manager Herbert Clams agreed to send 35-year old Copeland, 26-year old Covington, and 27-year old minor league starting pitcher Michael O’Reilly to Columbus for O’Morgan, 24-year old starting pitching prospect Doyle Beatty, and 26-year old minor league first baseman Pepe Rosario.


Phil O’Morgan

In 28-year old Phil O’Morgan, New Jersey adds a potent left-handed arm to their bullpen. The Sents had been rolling along with Frank Bradley as the only lefty option out of the pen but now Manager Jorge Hinojosa will be able to use O’Morgan in critical late-game situations, and will not be afraid to use Bradley more liberally in matchup situations earlier in a game. O’Morgan was 1-1 with 13 saves in 13 opportunities for Columbus this season after coming back from shoulder inflammation which caused him to miss the first two months of the season. He only has 16.1 innings pitched at the ABL level this season and has a 1.65 ERA (240 ERA+), 0.92 WHIP, .210 OAVG (.293 BABIP) with 20 strikeouts and two walks.

“Phil is going to be our primary left-handed setup man down the stretch,” began NJ General Manager Herbert Clams, “at least, that’s where we envision him helping the club the most at this time. Justin Jones is our closer and will continue in that role, and Ashton Barnett thus far has proven himself capable of being the main righty out of the bullpen for the 8th inning. Not much is going to change except that we now have a little more flexibility in terms of making late-inning matchups against lineups with dangerous left-handed hitters.”

There is another change, though. 28-year old Dutch reliever Rusty Baartwijk has been moved to AAA Rock Island Resistance to clear a space in the bullpen for O’Morgan. Baartwijk will get a few opportunities as a starter for Rock Island.

“We’re going to try a couple of things with a couple of guys,” Clams said about the Baartwijk switch. “Rusty has some stamina so it will be interesting to see what he can do as a starter.”

New Jersey was also happy to receive 24-year old starting pitcher Doyle Beatty in the deal. Beatty, a NJ native from Asbury Park, was thrilled about the possibility of pitching for his home state team. Beatty was 6-3 with a 5.00 ERA in 12 starts for AA Lubbock Heaters. He has reported to AAA Rock Island for New Jersey.

26-year old first baseman Pepe Rosario was a throw-in, and shouldn’t ever develop into anything more than a defensive replacement if he even makes it to the ABL level.


Nick Copeland

Nick Copeland heads to Columbus as the focus of the trade, but certainly outfielder Tom Covington became a key component to finalizing the deal in recent days.

Copeland was 5-for-17 with two home runs and an incredible eight walks as a pinch hitter for NJ this season, posting a .294/.538/.647 line in that limited sample size. On the season he was .241/.397/.426 in 54 at-bats for the Sentinels with three home runs and seven RBI. He has tremendous power which is why a number of clubs inquired about him throughout the season, and he should get a chance to show it by playing more often for Columbus.

Covington is a great team-first guy with good work ethic. He hit .282/.346/.394 with 12 RBI and 10 runs scored in 71 at-bats at AA-level for NJ this season. He doesn’t have a lot of power, but he has a good eye and with time scouts project he could develop into an above-average gap hitter and tough grinder at the plate. He’s a very good left fielder, an average right fielder, and can be an emergency option in center field.

27-year old lefty starter Michael O’Reilly was a key member of the Rock Island rotation this season at AAA, going 6-3 with a 4.06 ERA in 99.2 innings pitched. He has been assigned to AA Lubbock Heaters by Columbus.

NJ will call up 33-year old first baseman Orlando Olmedo from AAA to take over Copeland’s spot as the backup behind Miguel Bravo.

[thehatfield]

ABL News & Notes
The Manhattan Monocles continued to make moves, as they sent 29-year old starting pitcher Kidlat Ogilvie and $1.5MM in cash to the Los Angeles Buskers for 21-year old second base prospect Kel Harris. The Monocles have apparently had enough of Ogilvie as they wound up covering his salary and trading him away for a low minor leaguer. Ogilvie was 5-8 with a 5.03 ERA (79 ERA+), 1.52 WHIP and -0.4 WAR in 18 starts. He had 87.2 innings pitched with 38 walks and 64 strikeouts. Harris hit .392/.516/.725 in 51 rookie-level at-bats in the Los Angeles organization. He will go to Short Season A level with Manhattan.

The Detroit Street Toughs have wrapped up 31-year old star starting pitcher Art Rowe for the next five years by agreeing to a guaranteed extension through 2017 that will pay out $102,600,000. The All Star right-hander is 10-3 with a 1.97 ERA (201 ERA+) in 18 starts, 1.01 WHIP, .210 OAVG (.292 BABIP), 29 walks and 147 strikeouts in 118.2 innings pitched. Rowe is at or near the top of the Washington League in all major pitching stat categories, and is a strong candidate for WL Pitcher of the Year. Rowe will make $16.2MM next season (a decrease from the $18.2MM he's taking home this year), but by 2017 will be making $24.8MM.

The ABL member clubs have agreed on a logo for the ABL organization as a whole and league officials will be unveiling it in the next couple of days.

Game Results
Monday, July 9, 2012
Game 91: 4-3 LOSS vs. Jacksonville Cannons
W: Julius Swift (3-0) L: Ashton Barnett (1-3) SV: Mauro Aguilar (27)
HR – JAC: Victor Alou (12)
Attendance: 45,544
Game Time: 2:49
Recap: Jacksonville came out swinging with four consecutive singles against Carlos Vargo in the 1st inning to jump out to a 2-0 lead. The Sentinels came back by scoring a run in the 2nd, 3rd and 4th innings to take a 3-2 lead, but Jacksonville knotted the game at 3-3 in the top of the 5th inning. In the top of the 8th inning, 1B Victor Alou smoked a solo home run off setup man Ashton Barnett to give the Cannons a 4-3 lead. NJ threatened in the bottom of the 9th inning against closer Mauro Aguilar, loading the bases with no outs on an error and two walks and the heart of the lineup coming up. But Kaz Tamura struck out swinging, and Rubén Jaramillo and Miguel Bravo each flew out to shallow left field to end the threat and the game. CF Ernesto Salinas went 3-for-5 with two runs scored, while RF Monte Kaufman and Alou each went 2-for-4 with an RBI. Reliever Phil O’Morgan pitched in his first game for New Jersey in the 7th inning, completing the inning without incident after issuing a leadoff walk. Vargo went 6 innings for the Sents, allowing three runs on nine hits while striking out nine. NJ left 10 men on base during the game as they just couldn’t get the big hit when it mattered.

Tuesday, July 10, 2012
Game 92: 1-0 WIN vs. Jacksonville Cannons
W: Art Howard (10-6) L: Larry Reid (10-6)
HR – NJ: Ray Durham (3)
Attendance: 47,591
Game Time: 2:27
Recap: With palpable nervous energy bouncing around the Princeton Fieldhouse after a loss for New Jersey in the series opener, a tense pitcher’s duel broke out between Art “Skid Row” Howard and Larry “Whistler” Reid and in the end it would be Howard allowing the home fans to breathe on the back of a complete game, two-hit, one-walk, five strikeout shutout of Jacksonville Cannons. It was Howard’s second two-hit shutout of the year, and his first since coming to New Jersey. Reid was nearly Howard’s equal, aside from one mistake pitch that 2B Ray Durham deposited in the left field seats in the bottom of the 5th inning for the only run of the ballgame. Reid allowed one run on five hits and a walk in 7 innings while striking out three. C Greg Wells was 2-for-2 with a walk, and Durham was 2-for-3 for NJ.

Wednesday, July 11, 2012
Game 93: 9-0 WIN vs. Jacksonville Cannons
W: Jon Conner (12-3) L: Mike Matthews (7-7)
HR – NJ: Jesús Santiago (9)
Attendance: 47,651
Game Time: 2:36
Recap: Jon Conner has been on fire, throwing his second consecutive shutout to beat Jacksonville Cannons 9-0. Conner allowed six hits and a walk while striking out 10. With his 12th victory of the season, Conner is now second in the Fillmore League in wins behind San Jose’s Tom Hensley. The news of the game wasn’t all good though, as C Greg Wells had to come out of the contest in the 4th inning after apparently injuring himself while running to second base after hitting a double. RF Jesús Santiago was 2-for-5 with three RBI and a run scored, while LF Rubén Jaramillo was 3-for-4 before being substituted. C Sterling Wells, playing for the injured Greg Wells, went 1-for-2 with a big two-run double in the eight-run 5th inning for New Jersey. Jacksonville starter Mike Matthews allowed eight runs, on six hits and five walks in 4 innings pitched, but only three were earned because of two Cannons errors. 1B Orlando Olmedo made his ABL debut as a defensive replacement for Miguel Bravo in the 9th inning.

Series Recap: This was an extremely important series win for NJ over Jacksonville, tempered of course by the possible loss of catcher Greg Wells. A full diagnosis is pending; the only good news about the situation is that backup catcher Reese Haley is due to come off the Disabled List in the next couple of days after being out for over a month with a fractured rib. 2B Ray Durham had his hitting streak stopped at nine games by going 0-for-3 in the series opener but he hit safely in the next two games to start a new streak. NJ’s recent run of fierce starting pitching is pushing the club up near the top in the Fillmore League in terms of team statistical leaders. Jacksonville will be holding a press conference in the next several days to unveil their logo.

Next: New Jersey (60-33) heads to Seattle to face the Hilltops (51-42). The Hilltops were inexplicably swept by the San Francisco Sawdust in their last series so who knows what their mindset will be like heading into this one. Seattle are one game behind co-leaders San Jose and Gilbert in the Fillmore League Western Division but are 4-6 in their last 10. The Sents are 4-2 against Seattle this season.

[thehatfield]

Note: Thanks to Ky55Marine for this logo!

ABL Announces Official Logo

NEW YORK CITY, NY – The American Baseball Legion took care of some official league business on Thursday, July 12, 2012. The league owners came together in New York City and voted 24-0 to create an official ABL governing body called the Board of Regents. With the creation of the Board, each of the 24 owners becomes one of the Regents and will have a full vote in any future ABL business. With 24 member clubs, the Board then decided that they need a Commissioner to break any ties in voting.

60-year old Dan Stevens of the Ft. Worth Highwaymen and 65-year old Noel Newman of the Detroit Street Toughs officially put forth their names at the meeting to become the first ABL Commissioner, while a third - 46-year old Joe Camp of the Chicago Violins – emerged as a late dark horse representing a faction of younger, more progressive owners. Stevens represents a more “traditional baseball” approach but is open to being fiscally liberal and hearing out the concerns of players, while Newman is a ruthless power-to-the-owners type who wants to do away with free agency. Camp has been a loud proponent of adding the Designated Hitter Rule to the ABL, and wants it included as early as the 2013 season. The Board decided to table the vote on Commissioner until a later date this year with an eye toward reaching a final decision prior to the commencement of the ABL playoffs. It remains to be seen if the new Commissioner will have to sell controlling interest in their current ABL member club.

The Board of Regents were able to pass one major piece of business, the unveiling of the official American Baseball Legion:



NJ Sentinels owner Javier Ordóñez, who strangely attended the meeting with Sentinels Bench Coach Augusto Peña, said that he thought the logo was a step in the right direction.

“The logo is a nice opening statement,” the 58-year old Mexican began, “for what we’ve got going on here. I think it will be good for the fans and media to have this symbol to help identify the association in their mind’s eye. On a very real level it makes us more professional. I think it will also help the fans know that all of the great products that they’re buying or intending to buy are officially licensed by the league so that they don’t get counterfeit or poor-quality items or goods.”

Ordóñez, one of four minority owners in the ABL, dropped the official-sounding talk when asked why he was being accompanied by Augusto Peña.

“Thanks a lot! Thanks! I’m really looking forward to seeing what the club is going to do in the final couple of months,” Ordóñez said while ushering himself into a waiting limousine, “it’s an exciting time to be a Sentinels fan!”

If nothing else, this meeting confirmed that there are brewing philosophical divisions within the ABL ownership group between neo-traditionalists, progressives, the old guard wealthy, and foreign owners. Whether these different groups with different interests can get together for the good of the league as a whole remains to be seen, but all indications are that the ABL has been doing things "the right way" since its inception and will continue to follow the precedent set in these early days.

[thehatfield]

ABL News & Notes
Jacksonville Cannons made yet another move to strengthen their club for the stretch run by trading two minor leaguers to the Bronx Mutineers for 29-year old left-handed starting pitcher John Basile. Cannons, who completed a deal earlier this month with the Charlotte Copper Kings for reliever Ben Bryant to strengthen the bullpen, will now have a deeper starting rotation even though they already lead the Fillmore League in starters ERA (3.25). Basile was 7-9 in 19 starts for the Bronx this season, posting a 4.27 ERA (93 ERA+), 1.42 WHIP, .289 OAVG (.331 BABIP), 2.7 WAR with 32 walks and 86 strikeouts in 124.1 innings pitched. Rebuilding Bronx gets 21-year old left-handed hitting outfielder Logan Cooper and 23-year old right-handed starting pitcher Dave Osborn. Osborn was originally a 20th round draft choice of Jacksonville in the ABL Inaugural Draft (427th overall) and was shopped aggressively by Cannons General Manager Chris Carlson almost the instant after being selected.

31-year old catcher Gustavo Mendez of the San Antonio Keys was named Washington League Player of the Week. Mendez was 10-for-18 with three home runs and 10 RBI in five games this week. On the season the Puerto Rico native has a .288/.355/.531 line with 20 home runs, 65 RBI, and 2.7 WAR. Mendez is one of the top hitting catchers in the entire ABL.

Columbus Pants left fielder Jack Miles hit .545 with four home runs and 11 RBI to take home the Fillmore League Player of the Week Award. On the season Miles has been a very consistent performer for the Pants, batting .338/.427/.620 with 13 home runs, 42 RBI, and 3.6 WAR. Miles was a 12th round draft choice by Columbus in the ABL Inaugural Draft (284th overall) and looked like he might be an All Star this season before a strained muscle in his rib cage knocked him onto the Disabled List for the month of June.

Weekly Team Power Rankings
Top 5
#1 New Jersey Sentinels (121.3, o), #1
#2 Baltimore Pit Bulls (116.4, +), #4
#3 Jacksonville Cannons (112.8, -), #2
#4 Detroit Street Toughs (109.8, -), #2
#5 Tucson Omelets (103.8, ++), #12

Bottom 5
#20 San Antonio Keys (74.0, -), #18
#21 Manhattan Monocles (69.1, o), #21
#22 San Francisco Sawdust (62.9, +), #24
#23 El Paso Biscuits (61.6, o), #23
#24 Chicago Violins (55.6, -), #22

Game Results
Friday, July 13, 2012
Game 94: 4-3 WIN (11 innings) at Seattle Hilltops
W: Phil O’Morgan (2-1) L: Marvin McCoy (2-2) SV: Justin Jones (25)
HR – NJ: Jesús Santiago 2 (11) SEA: Mark Butler (10), Jermaine Berry (18)
Attendance: 34,691
Game Time: 3:18
Recap: New Jersey jumped out to a 1-0 lead on the first pitch of the game as RF Jesús Santiago smashed a Justin Roberts fastball 405-feet to right field. But Roberts would settle down and allow just three more hits over 7 innings of work and left the game with a 3-1 lead after CF Mark Butler and 2B Jermaine “Weed” Berry hit long home runs off Sentinels starter Jeff Burns. In the 8th inning, however, Seattle reliever Esteve Brandi entered the game and walked pinch hitter Ken Bullock before Santiago hit his second home run, a game-tying opposite field laser down the left field line. The score would remain 3-3 until the top of the 11th inning when CF James Griffin led off the inning with a single against Hilltops closer Marvin McCoy. After C Sterling Wells struck out, Griffin stole second base and pinch hitter Jack Deck singled him to third where he would score the winning run on a Santiago sacrifice fly. NJ closer Justin Jones came on for a one-two-three bottom of the 11th to seal the win for the Sents. Phil O’Morgan threw 2 innings of scoreless relief for NJ. Santiago was 3-for-5 with two home runs and all four RBI on the day. Butler and Berry both went 2-for-5 for Seattle. NJ received tough news after the game that regular starting catcher Greg Wells would be lost for the next 6 weeks with a torn quad muscle. Wells was placed on the Disabled List and Reese Haley was activated and recalled to the main roster.

Saturday, July 14, 2012
Game 95: 5-3 LOSS at Seattle Hilltops
W: Chuck Elmore (5-3) L: Brian Baker (8-8) SV: Marvin McCoy (26)
HR – SEA: Ken Goodman 2 (6), Cisco Diaz (13)
Attendance: 34,693
Game Time: 2:40
Recap: When the opposing starting pitcher goes out of the game in the first inning with a strained oblique you have to like your chances at coming away with a victory. But Seattle would use six relievers and the longball to stymie New Jersey and even the series with a 5-3 victory. Brian Baker went 7 innings for the Sents, allowing four earned runs on six hits and two walks while striking out nine, but a three-run home run by C Cisco Diaz and the first of two solo home runs from 3B Ken Goodman gave Seattle all of the runs they would need in this one. Goodman would add his second home run in the bottom of the 8th inning against Phil O’Morgan. CF James Griffin went 2-for-4 and returning catcher Reese Haley went 2-for-4 in his first game since June 7. Seattle reliever Esteve Brandi redeemed himself from the day before with 3 innings of hitless relief and six strikeouts for the Hilltops.

Sunday, July 15, 2012
Game 96: 6-4 WIN at Seattle Hilltops
W: Frank Bradley (1-2) L: Rick Alexander (4-4) SV: Justin Jones (26)
HR – NJ: Rubén Jaramillo 2 (14), Miguel Bravo (16) SEA: Lorenzo Rosario (12)
Attendance: 34,613
Game Time: 2:49
Recap: LF Rubén Jaramillo went 3-for-4 with two home runs and three RBI and 1B Miguel Bravo was 2-for-4 with three RBI to lead NJ to a 6-4 series victory over Seattle. Carlos Vargo started for NJ and went 6.2 innings, allowing four runs on six hits and three walks while striking out seven in an uneven performance that still left NJ in a position to win. Reliever Frank Bradley allowed his inherited runner to score in the 7th inning which tied the game at 4-4. It was Bradley’s first blown save of the year. In the top of the 8th, though, the Sents would bail Bradley out by scratching out two runs off Hilltops reliever Rick Alexander on a walk, a single, and a double after the first two batters in the inning had made out. It was the kind of rally that could really make an impact on the club as they work toward keeping ahead of Jacksonville in the Fillmore League East. RF Ed Harrell was 2-for-3 for Seattle with a walk.

Series Recap: For all of the power output in this series, NJ for once came out of a Seattle series without being victimized by Ed Harrell (.347/25HR/69RBI) or unrelated namesake Bob Harrell (.272/28HR/74RBI). “We pitched them carefully this time around,” said Manager Jorge Hinojosa. “And now that we have an extra lefty in the bullpen, we were able to match up against them better later in games.” For the first time this season, a player hit two home runs in each game of the series. Outfielder James Griffin didn’t have an amazing series at the plate, but he always seemed to be involved in important scoring rallies. Greg Wells going to the Disabled List is going to be a blow to the Sents over the next six weeks, and even though Reese Haley happened to be ready to come back from his fractured rib he is a big step down from Wells as a hitter.

Next: New Jersey (62-34) go home to face the third place Philadelphia Motorcycles (50-46). Philly leads the season series 4-2. The ‘Cycles are coming off a series loss against Jacksonville Cannons where they were outscored 13-0 in the final two games.

[thehatfield]

ABL News & Notes
With the trade deadline approaching at the end of July, a number of trades went through in the last few days.

Arguably the biggest deal to be completed thus far was between Washington League Eastern Division rivals Queens Horses and Indianapolis Cows, and the absolute fleecing Queens was able to accomplish. The Horses acquired 28-year old left-handed starting pitcher Ron Roy ($4.4MM in 2012), 25-year old outfielder Jason Kaufman, and 23-year old reliever Scott Harris in exchange for 34-year old left-handed reliever Adrian Morales, 30-year old left fielder Carlton Smith ($9.1MM in 2012), and 23-year old minor league starting pitcher Roberto Ledezma. “I have no idea why Indianapolis would go for this deal,” said a league source that wishes to remain anonymous. “Not only does Queens get back the better players, they shed some payroll as well. Doesn’t make sense.” Roy was 7-12 with a 4.99 ERA in 20 starts for Indianapolis this season and will now eat innings for Queens in the middle of the rotation. Kaufman (.268/.317/.523, 19 HR, 54 RBI) is essentially a younger, cheaper version of Smith (.235/.324/.486, 14 HR, 39) with a better upside. Queens immediately announced a very reasonable two-year, $10MM extension for Roy.

Jacksonville Cannons remained hyper-active in the trade market, trading one of the organization’s top prospects 3B Trey Barnes in a package with a minor leaguer to the Chicago Violins for 23-year old right-handed reliever Chris Patterson and two minor leaguers. Patterson spent most of the season as a starter at AAA (5-2, 4.78 ERA, [99 ERA+], 1.52 WHIP, 11 GS), but did have 11 relief appearances for the Violins in the ABL. Prior to the season, Patterson was named the #19 prospect in the ABL. This looks like a trade that will benefit both organizations, as Barnes was rated the #31 prospect in the ABL and is a consensus premium talent among ABL scouts.

The Columbus Pants and Los Angeles Buskers exchanged underachieving outfielders when 29-year old center fielder Anthony Matson went to Columbus for 27-year old right fielder John Warren.

The San Francisco Sawdust traded one of the last players on their roster not making the league minimum – 35-year old outfielder Jackie Martin – to the San Antonio Keys in a package for a number of players and prospects. The Sawdust were able to acquire 23-year old left-handed starting pitcher Luis Gutierrez in the deal who scouts project as a prospect with “front-of-the-rotation” skills even though his fastball tops out at 89 MPH. Gutierrez was named the #36 prospect in the ABL prior to the season. This year in 20 starts between AA and AAA in the San Antonio system he went a combined 8-6 with a 3.63 ERA (166 ERA+), 1.28 WHIP, 108 strikeouts and 59 walks in 129 innings pitched. Opponents hit .221 (.273 BABIP) against him.

San Jose and Baltimore agreed to a deal that sent 31-year old third baseman Edgar Durango and 22-year old minor league starting pitcher Leonardo Medina to the Pit Bulls in exchange for 28-year old left-handed starter Craig Bowden. Bowden was 9-6 with a 3.76 ERA (106 ERA+) in 19 starts for Baltimore this season and expressed his excitement about being traded into a tight Fillmore League Western Division race. Durango was San Jose’s starting third baseman although he filled in for 15 games at second base. He hit .244/.322/.474 with 13 home runs and 46 RBI in 270 at-bats, all good for a 1.4 WAR. For Medina, this was the second time this season he has been traded after being drafted initially by Seattle in the 21st round of the ABL Inaugural Draft (483rd overall).

Columbus Pants have lost All-Star right fielder Alejandro Molina for the rest of the season with a ruptured Achilles tendon. Molina, the owner of the longest hitting streak in ABL history at 28 consecutive games, is facing at least the next 8 months on the Disabled List but promises to be ready for Spring Training next season. Molina hit .340/.442/.562 in 365 at-bats with 17 home runs, 58 RBI, Fillmore League-leading 77 runs scored, 67 walks and 56 strikeouts. Molina has a 5.7 WAR. At the time of his injury he was 7th in the Fillmore League in batting average.

Game Results
Monday, July 16, 2012
Game 97: 7-3 WIN vs. Philadelphia Motorcycles
W: Art Howard (11-6) L: Chris McCandles (9-4)
HR – PHI: Pancho Castellanos (21) NJ: Russ Thompson (17)
Attendance: 39,462
Game Time: 2:38
Recap: The Sentinels sent 11 batters to the plate in a six-run bottom of the 4th inning that broke open a 0-0 game and put it out of the Motorcycles' reach. New Jersey was able to knock Motorcycles starter Chris McCandles out of the game in the 4th inning after getting to him for seven hits and three walks in 3.2 innings pitched. Art “Skid Row” Howard had a dominant game on the hill for NJ, allowing one hit and one walk while striking out 11 through 7 innings. Howard allowed two runs (one earned). 1B Miguel Bravo was 2-for-3 with a walk and two runs scored, 3B Russ Thompson was 2-for-4 with a double, home run and two RBI, and CF Jack Deck was 2-for-3 with three stolen bases, an RBI and a run scored for New Jersey. CF Roderick Leonard had two of Philadelphia’s three hits.

Tuesday, July 17, 2012
Game 98: 3-2 LOSS vs. Philadelphia Motorcycles
W: Jeff Hicks (8-7) L: Jon Conner (12-4) [/b]SV:[/b] Manny Cordova (12)
HR – PHI: Claudio Vazquez (7), Pancho Castellanos (22)
Attendance: 46,439
Game Time: 2:31
Recap: 1B Pancho Castellanos hit a two-run home run in the top of the 1st inning to set the tone and Philadelphia led wire-to-wire in a close game to knot the series at a game apiece. For Castellanos it was his fifth home run against New Jersey in his 8th game. CF Roderick Leonard was 2-for-4 for the second straight game for the ‘Cycles. 3B Claudio Vazquez smacked a pinch hit solo home run against NJ starter Jon Conner in the top of the 8th inning to provide the final margin of victory in another game where the Sentinels’ starting pitcher was left in for one too many batters. 24-year old Philly starter Jeff Hicks (no relation to ex-NJ pitcher Jack Hicks) allowed one run on four hits and two walks while striking out one in 7 innings of work. Conner only allowed four hits in 7 innings pitched for New Jersey but two of the four hits were home runs. SS Kaz Tamura was 2-for-4 for NJ. RF Jesús Santiago and C Reese Haley combined to leave seven baserunners on base.

Wednesday, July 18, 2012
Game 99: 8-1 WIN vs. Philadelphia Motorcycles
W: Jeff Burns (9-5) L: Akio Yano (11-7
HR – PHI: John Welson (13) NJ: Russ Thompson (18), Jesús Santiago (12), Reese Haley (1)
Attendance: 47,176
Game Time: 2:38
Recap: New Jersey scored in each of the first four innings to take an 8-0 lead and cruise to an easy 8-1 victory. In the bottom of the 1st inning RF Jesús Santiago knocked the second pitch he saw from Philly starter Akio Yano 371-feet into the right field seats as foreshadowing of what was to come from NJ in the early going. Yano would end up going 3 innings and allowing six runs on seven hits (including three home runs) and two walks while striking out three. He threw 82 pitches in his 3 innings. Jeff Burns went 7 innings and allowed six hits and a walk while striking out nine. The final line wasn’t indicative of the sort of struggles Burns faced, loading the bases twice, going to full counts on a number of batters, and having a number of balls hit extremely hard but right at fielders. In the late innings NJ emptied the bench and rested a number of regular starters, a practice that will probably be used whenever possible especially since the injury to C Greg Wells. C Reese Haley was 2-for-4 with three RBI and his first career ABL home run. LF Rubén Jaramillo was 2-for-3 before coming out of the game and Santiago finished up at 2-for-5 with two RBI.

Series Recap: NJ won their first series against Philadelphia this season, and despite being able to produce some runs it looks like it is going to be a tough 6-week stretch without Greg Wells’ bat in the #5 slot in the lineup. With all of the moves that Jacksonville Cannons are making in the trade market there is a little bit of pressure growing in the local media on the Sentinels to make a move to keep up. But General Manager Herbert Clams has been adamant recently that unless a major opportunity presents itself that is too good to refuse, New Jersey is likely finished with major roster moves for the season. With the Wells injury, the lineup looks like: RF Jesús Santiago, SS Kaz Tamura, LF Rubén Jaramillo, 1B Miguel Bravo, 3B Russ Thompson, CF Jack Deck/James Griffin, 2B Ray Durham, C Reese Haley.

Next: New Jersey (64-35) hits the road to face the 5th-place Charlotte Copper Kings (45-54). Charlotte is 6-4 in their last 10 games but the inconsistent club has lost three of the last four.

[thehatfield]

ABL News & Notes
After five deals being completed earlier in the week, ABL clubs took a few days off from any trades with just about a week and a half left before the trade deadline.

The Bronx Mutineers took a hit in their chances to make a run in the Washington League Eastern Division when they learned that they will again be without starting shortstop Julio Rubio for six weeks with a herniated disc in his back. Rubio, who was playing in just his eighth game back in the lineup after a six-week DL stint with a strained medial collateral ligament, came out of Friday’s game against the Brooklyn Sycamores in the 8th inning complaining about his back after making a tough defensive stop in the hole. Rubio is batting .295/.360/.375, 105 OPS+, 9.9 VORP, 0.9 WAR.

Game Results
Thursday, July 19, 2012
Game 100: 7-3 WIN at Charlotte Copper Kings
W: Brian Baker (9-8) L: David Holt (2-4)
HR – None
Attendance: 21,817
Game Time: 2:54
Recap: NJ struck for two runs against Charlotte starter Curt Fitzgerald in the top of the first inning when LF Rubén Jaramillo tripled home SS Kaz Tamura and then scored on a 1B Miguel Bravo sacrifice fly. In the bottom of the 2nd inning, Brian Baker couldn’t find the plate after a one-out double by C Roberto Rosas. Baker walked the next three straight batters to allow a run before a sacrifice fly by Fitzgerald tied the game at 2-2. Fitzgerald made it through the 3rd inning, but had to come out of the game in the 4th complaining of tightness in his shoulder. Preliminary tests appear to be negative and Fitzgerald will just need a few days of rest for a mild shoulder strain. Charlotte reliever Paul Goring was able to pitch three strong innings of relief, but New Jersey was able to break through with two runs in the 7th, one in the 8th, and two more in the top of the 9th against the rest of the Copper Kings bullpen to put the game away. Tamura was 3-for-5 with two runs scored, and Jaramillo was 3-for-4 with a walk, an RBI and two runs scored for the Sents. Charlotte committed three errors, one of which allowed two unearned runs to score against reliever David Holt which put NJ out in front for good. NJ grounded into three double plays on the day, 3B Russ Thompson doing the trick twice. Baker finished the game with nine strikeouts, including three times each for #3 and #4 Charlotte hitters 3B Manuel Aviles and RF Pedro Morales.

Friday, July 20, 2012
Game 101: 12-4 WIN at Charlotte Copper Kings
W: Carlos Vargo (7-5) L: Clancy Cannon (11-6)
HR – NJ: Ken Bullock 2 (8), Miguel Bravo (17)
Attendance: 21,419
Game Time: 3:03
Recap: NJ scored at least one run in every inning from the 4th inning on in a 19-hit pummeling of the Copper Kings and their All Star starting pitcher Clancy Cannon. Cannon, who started the All Star Game for the Fillmore League, allowed a career-high 11 hits and tied a career high with six runs allowed in 6.2 innings. Even though Sentinels starting pitcher Carlos Vargo went 8 innings, allowing two runs on six hits with nine strikeouts and had a 3-for-4 day at the plate (all singles) on top of it, 1B Miguel Bravo took home Player of the Game honors on the strength of a 4-for-5 performance at the place with a double, home run, and five RBI. Ken Bullock, playing left field to give Rubén Jaramillo an off day, promptly went 3-for-4 with a walk, two home runs and three RBI. RF Jesús Santiago was 4-for-6 with two RBI, three runs scored, and his ABL-leading 52nd stolen base. C Reese Haley was 0-for-4 with two strikeouts. Charlotte catcher Roberto Rosas was just about the only Copper Kings player to do anything positive in this game, going 3-for-4 with a walk, an RBI and two runs scored. After a stretch of nine games without allowing a run, left-handed reliever Frank Bradley allowed two runs in the 9th inning on a walk and a double (Jayson Miller then came in and allowed Bradley’s inherited runner to score).

Saturday, July 21, 2012
Game 102: 5-4 WIN at Charlotte Copper Kings
W: Art Howard (12-6) L: Fernando Ramos (5-13) SV: Justin Jones (27)
HR – NJ: Ken Bullock (9)
Attendance: 22,207
Game Time: 3:05
Recap: After the first two games in this series, we finally had a baseball game and it looked like Charlotte was going to come away with this one after taking a 3-0 lead off NJ starter Art “Skid Row” Howard in the bottom of the 2nd inning. But like a number of recent Howard starts, once he allows his early runs that’s pretty much all you’re going to get off him as he settled down for 6.2 innings of six-hit, one-walk baseball with six strikeouts. The Sents kept the pressure on Charlotte starter Fernando Ramos, or, rather, Ramos kept the pressure on himself with an astronomical eight walks allowed in his 6.1 innings of work. The big blow came in the top of the 7th inning when Ken Bullock hit a monster 450-foot, three-run home run after Ramos had walked the previous two batters. Bullock, who had two homers playing left field in place of Rubén Jaramillo yesterday, was left in the lineup today to rest Jesús Santiago in right field and perhaps capitalize on his hot bat and it worked. Bullock’s shot gives him the 2nd longest home run ever hit by a NJ Sentinel. 1B Miguel Bravo was 1-for-2 with three walks, and C Sterling Wells (playing in place of Reese Haley) was 2-for-3 with a walk and a run scored. RF Pedro Morales was 2-for-3 with a walk and a run scored for Charlotte, and 1B Salvador Martinez was 2-for-4 with an RBI double. The Copper Kings outhit the Sents 10-8.

Series Recap: The sweep of Charlotte helped NJ put one more game between themselves and Jacksonville Cannons in the Fillmore League East, as Cannons took two-of-three from the Gilbert Airplanes. NJ (67-35) now holds a five-game lead over Jacksonville (62-40) and hasn’t been intimidated into a panic or reactionary move in the trade market despite all of Jacksonville’s recent activity. NJ is obviously still trying to mix-and-match to account for the loss of power in the lineup that C Greg Wells’ injury has created, as evidenced by Ken Bullock getting two starts in the series. If all goes well for Wells in his recovery over the next five weeks (and for NJ in the standings), the Cincinnati, Ohio native should be back with the club with about 10-15 regular season games left to get ready for the playoffs. NJ currently has 113 home runs as a club, which places them 5th in the Fillmore League. Seattle leads the league (and the ABL) with 177 home runs, 42 more than the club with the second-most (Philadelphia Motorcycles at 135).

Next: New Jersey will go home to face the San Diego Golden Hats (42-60). The Hats are in 5th place in the FL West, 16 games behind the San Jose Victorians. NJ is 5-4 against the Hats this season, but lost two-of-three the last time the clubs met in June. San Diego is 4-6 in their last 10 games and dropped two-of-three in their last series against the Philadelphia Motorcycles.

[thehatfield]

Note: Thanks to Ky55Marine for this logo & uniform set!

New Jersey Announces Logo

New Jersey became the latest ABL member club to announce its official club logo and uniforms at a press conference this week.



“This is a great step forward for the organization,” said owner Javier Ordóñez. “Having a logo helps people feel closer to the club. We wanted something bold that helps illustrate what it means to be a Sentinel and I believe we’ve achieved that.”

At the beginning of the season, the ABL announced that no club could announce its official logo or uniforms until after the inaugural All Star Game. Member clubs have thus far been using generic uniforms provided by the league. The Manhattan Monocles were the first club to unveil their logo, and now NJ joins them.

“It’s something that is needed,” added General Manager Herbert Clams, “and we’re glad to put this to bed. This was probably the biggest piece of off-field business that we needed to take care of this season and now that the organization is pleased with our graphic identity, we can really focus on these final 50 games of the season and get the best possible team out there and be in position to win the division.”

New Jersey players Rubén Jaramillo and Miguel Bravo helped model the new uniforms at the press conference.


Rubén Jaramillo


Miguel Bravo

“These are very nice,” said Jaramillo in his heavy Dominican accent, “the material seems a good quality. There are little vents, vents I think you say, under the armpits too which will be nice.”

“We needed this,” owner Ordóñez bizarrely continued, “we really needed this. Everyone in the state of New Jersey needed this, it is a great time to be from NJ and it is a once-in-a-lifetime experience to be here when we announce our first logo and uniforms. Grandfathers will relay this experience to their children (sic) long after we’re all dead. The fans kept sending me tweets with photoshops of what they wanted the uniforms to be and hopefully now that will stop. You know, if you’re waxing a surfboard and miss a small area, you may as well not have done anything at all.”

Ordóñez was then cut off by members of his entourage without further comment and whisked away into a waiting limousine. There is ongoing speculation from fans on Twitter that the owner was drunk or otherwise inebriated.

[thehatfield]

ABL News & Notes
28-year old right-handed starting pitcher Martin Rivera of the Queens Horses made history on Sunday when he became the first ABL pitcher to throw a no-hitter in a 5-0 victory over the Los Angeles Buskers. Rivera, who missed close to two months of the season when he went on the Disabled List in May with back spasms, struck out eight and walked three during his masterpiece. Because of the injury, Rivera is just 5-4 in 11 starts this season with a 2.98 ERA (134 ERA+), 0.97 WHIP, .196 OAVG (.224 BABIP), and 55 strikeouts in 81.2 innings pitched.

21-year old Phoenix Imperials center fielder Ramon Perez was named Washington League Player of the Week on the back of a 14-for-31 (.452) performance at the plate with four home runs, nine RBI and 10 runs scored. Perez, who is a fan-favorite for his baseball rat mentality and hard-nose play, was a 21st round pick of the Imperials in the ABL Inaugural Draft (488th overall) and named the #89 prospect prior to the season. Perez, who has great potential to be a future star, is 4th in the Washington League in stolen bases with 25 and he’s only been caught once. He has a .257/.330/.461 line with an OPS+ of 117 and 1.4 WAR.

In the Fillmore League it was another 21-year old can’t miss center field prospect taking Player of the Week honors: Joe O’Neill of the San Diego Golden Hats. O’Neill – the first pick by San Diego in the ABL Inaugural Draft (23rd overall) – went 10-for-23 (.435) with four home runs and eight RBI. Named the #18 prospect in the ABL prior to the season, O’Neill has excellent power potential and scouts think he’s going to have a long and successful professional career. O’Neill is batting .282/.359/.446 with 11 home runs and 54 RBI as the primary center fielder for San Diego this season.

The San Francisco Sawdust and San Jose Victorians got together again for their second trade in a month as the Sawdust sent 24-year old left fielder George Hill to San Jose for 27-year old second baseman Cordell McClure and 17-year old minor league outfielder Sam Williams. Williams, the #32 prospect in the ABL, was key to the deal for San Francisco as they continue to stockpile young players with good potential. Hill will start at first base in San Jose after splitting time between first base and left field in San Francisco. The acquisition of McClure for San Francisco was made necessary because of a season-ending fractured finger injury suffered by starting second baseman Conrado Serdio after being hit by a pitch in a game against the Manhattan Monocles.

The Sawdust then turned around and sent 19-year old first base prospect Jorge Garza to the Chicago Violins for 29-year old left-handed starting pitcher Glenn “The Kraken” McCracken. McCracken is a reliable innings-eater and went 6-10 with a 5.83 ERA (68 ERA+) in 20 starts for Chicago. McCracken walked just 21 but allowed 140 hits and 19 home runs in 117.1 innings for a 1.37 WHIP. It shows how badly San Francisco needs starting pitching that McCracken will likely be the #3 starter for the Sawdust. Garza has gained something of a reputation for being arrogant in the clubhouse and has spent the entire season at Class-A ball where he posted a .271/.334/.362 line with five home runs and 39 RBI in 376 at-bats.

San Jose also made a second move, this one a trade with the Brooklyn Sycamores for some bullpen help. The Victorians sent 22-year old minor league closer Juan Perez (#72 prospect in the ABL) to the Sycamores for 29-year old righty reliever Teddy Hess. Hess was 4-1 with a save, 2.67 ERA (149 ERA+), and 1.20 WHIP in 57 games for Brooklyn. Perez had 22 saves at Class-AA in the San Jose system, but some scouts says he could possibly be converted into a starter at some point down the road.

The Detroit Street Toughs were dealt a blow in their efforts to keep pace with the Baltimore Pit Bulls in the Washington League Eastern Division when 36-year old starting pitcher Michael Lynch went down for the season with a ruptured bicep tendon. Lynch was 8-9 with a 3.63 ERA (110 ERA+) in 21 starts for the Street Toughs with a 1.34 WHIP and 2.3 WAR. This is likely a very bad long-term injury for Detroit as they have Lynch signed for $16.2MM per season through 2014.

Weekly Team Power Rankings
Top 5
#1 New Jersey Sentinels (129.8, o), #1
#2 Baltimore Pit Bulls (117.6, o), #2
#3 Jacksonville Cannons (115.1, o), #3
#4 Detroit Street Toughs (111.1, o), #4
#5 Phoenix Imperials (108.1, +), #6

Bottom 5
#20 San Diego Golden Hats (70.4, -), #18
#21 Chicago Violins (67.2, ++), #24
#22 El Paso Biscuits (66.4, +), #23
#23 San Francisco Sawdust (62.9, -), #22
#24 Manhattan Monocles (59.9, --), #21

Game Results
Sunday, July 22, 2012
Game 103: 5-3 WIN vs. San Diego Golden Hats
W: Jon Conner (13-4) L: Ken Richard (4-3) SV: Justin Jones (28)
HR – SD: George Beasley 2 (18) NJ: Jack Deck (5), Rubén Jaramillo (15), Reese Haley (2)
Attendance: 47,530
Game Time: 2:31
Recap: San Diego held a 2-0 lead heading into the bottom of the 7th inning as 1B George Beasley’s two solo home runs were the difference. But NJ smacked three solo home runs in the 7th off Golden Hats starter Ken Richard to take the lead for good and propel them to a 5-3 victory in a game where they were outhit 9-to-7. LF Rubén Jaramillo was 2-for-4 with two runs scored and a solo home run, while CF Jack Deck went 2-for-3 with two RBI for the Sents. Beasley finished the day 2-for-3 with two RBI, two runs scored and a walk while RF Orlando Garcia was 2-for-4 with an RBI for San Diego. Jon Conner, one of the unexpected pitching stars for New Jersey this season, improved to a team-leading 13-4 with a 7-inning performance, allowing three runs on eight hits (including both Beasley home runs) while striking out six. NJ’s lefty reliever Frank Bradley got into trouble in the 8th inning when he allowed a single and a walk after getting the first out and was pulled for Jayson Miller who walked this first batter to load the bases before striking out the next two to keep the lead.

Monday, July 23, 2012
Game 104: 10-1 WIN vs. San Diego Golden Hats
W: Jeff Burns (10-5) L: Dave Wilcox (4-10)
HR – SD: Cris Valencia (5) NJ: Jack Deck (6), Jesús Santiago (13)
Attendance: 40,069
Game Time: 2:57
Recap: Jack Deck – playing second base today – hit a three-run home run in the bottom of the first inning to send New Jersey on their way to a 10-1 bludgeoning of the Golden Hats. RF Jesús Santiago went 3-for-5 with three RBI and two runs scored while LF Rubén Jaramillo was 2-for-3 with a walk and two runs scored. Deck finished 1-for-3 with his three-run bomb and an RBI sacrifice fly. San Diego had 11 hits in the game, 10 of them singles to go along with SS Cris Valencia’s solo home run. Valencia finished the game 2-for-5 for the Golden Hats, while C Komaki Pakiana was 3-for-5 and 1B George Beasley 2-for-4 with a walk. NJ made substitutions in the 7th inning to protect Jaramillo, 1B Miguel Bravo, and C Reese Haley. Jeff Burns was dominating through 6 shutout innings, allowing seven hits (all singles) and a walk while striking out 11, but had to came out of the game having hit 100 pitches. After reliever Carlos Perea pitched the 7th inning and allowed Valencia’s home run, Frank Bradley continued to show signs of improvement by throwing the 8th and 9th innings to finish off the blowout.

Tuesday, July 24, 2012
Game 105: 9-4 WIN vs. San Diego Golden Hats
W: Brian Baker (10-8) L: Mike Young (10-7)
HR – SD: Komaki Pakiana (1) NJ: Jack Deck (7), Russ Thompson (19), Rubén Jaramillo (16), Ricardo Romano (5)
Attendance: 47,489
Game Time: 2:58
Recap: This game was over after three innings as the Sentinels hit four homers - good for seven runs - off San Diego starter Mike Young. 1B Miguel Bravo was 3-for-4 with two runs scored, Jesús Santiago was 2-for-5, and 3B Russ Thompson was 2-for-2 with a walk, two RBI and two runs scored. San Diego C Komaki Pakiana had three hits for the second straight game, including his first career home run (in his 331st at-bat) in the losing effort. Brian Baker threw 7 innings for NJ, allowing two runs on six hits and a walk while striking out five. Reliever Phil O’Morgan pitched the final two innings and allowed two runs on three hits including back-to-back doubles from SS Cris Valencia and 2B Carmelo Brezzi in the 8th inning.

Series Recap: Jack Deck was 4-for-10 with three home runs and nine RBI in the series as Manager Jorge Hinojosa continued to tinker with the starting lineup to make up for the lack of power that the Greg Wells injury represents (although you wouldn’t know it from this series). With teams like San Diego in full “rebuilding” mode, it’s hard to tell if NJ played very well or if they just went up against a club that’s already looking toward 2013 and fielding a number of replacement-level players. “It seems as the season has gone on that we either have a very hard series, or a very easy series,” said Hinojosa, “nothing in between. We just keep trying to do the best that we can and hopefully we’ll be there in the end.” The sweep of the Hats gives NJ the best record in the ABL at 70-35, and increased their lead in the Fillmore League Eastern Division by another game to 6 over Jacksonville Cannons (64-41) after the Cannons took 2-of-3 from Ft. Worth Highwaymen.

During the series, NJ rejected a trade proposal from the Chicago Violins who were looking to unload their 36-year old closer Scott "Cha Cha" Smith and his $14MM salary in exchange for four prospects. "Scott Smith is a very good relief pitcher," said NJ General Manager Herbert Clams, "but we just can't take on that much salary and give up so many prospects. Unless something unbelievable comes our way before the end of the month that also makes sense financially we're pretty much locked in for 2012 at this point."

Next: After an off day for travel on Wednesday, NJ will be in San Jose for a matchup of division leaders against the 59-46 Victorians. The FL West leading Victorians lead the season series against NJ 5-4, but this may be a good time for NJ to face them as they are 5-5 in their last 10 games and just dropped 2-of-3 against the Charlotte Copper Kings.

[thehatfield]

ABL News & Notes
The Brooklyn Sycamores announced a guaranteed two-year extension with a player option for a third year with 30-year old All Star third baseman Jeff Young. Young, who makes $14.6MM this year, agreed to a lower base salary of $12MM per year over the course of the new deal. Young is second in the Washington League in home runs with 24 and third in RBI with 69. He presently has a 2.8 WAR.

With just three days left until the trade deadline, Brooklyn sent 28-year old starting pitcher Joey Taylor to the WL West leading Phoenix Imperials for 20-year old minor league catcher Ramon Lopez. Taylor was 5-6 for the Sycamores in 16 starts, posting a 3.41 ERA (116 ERA+), 1.15 WHIP, and 1.2 WAR. Lopez has spent most of the year at Class-AAA in the Phoenix system and is regarded as a quality hitting catcher with plus potential in batting and power, but he is a distinctly average defensive catcher with a below-average throwing arm.

Phoenix also sent 27-year old center fielder Mathew Anderson to the Detroit Street Toughs for 34-year old second baseman Don Oglethorpe, 24-year old minor league outfielder Jack Williams, and $600,000 in cash. With Phoenix 9 games up in the Washington League West and Detroit 1 game behind the Baltimore Pit Bulls in the WL East, this trade of ABL-ready position players looks to solidify the Imperials and boost the Street Toughs. Both clubs seemed happy with the trade.

The Columbus Pants sent 25-year old minor league reliever Tommy Lyons to the Los Angeles Buskers for two minor league first basemen: 21-year old Ramiro Montano and 24-year old Manuel Montes. It is an odd trade as Lyons doesn’t project to be good enough to ever make it to the ABL level and GM’s around the league seemed puzzled as to how the Pants could have fleeced a rebuilding Buskers club in this one.

And finally the El Paso Biscuits sent 26-year old second baseman Manuel Yanez and a second round draft pick to the Tucson Omelets for 26-year old reliever Tom Harris and 23-year old minor league catcher Shane Kelly. Yanez hit .279/.348/.452 with an OPS+ of 121and 0.8 WAR in 290 at-bats for El Paso. Harris was 0-0 with a save in 29 relief appearances for Tucson, posting a 3.64 ERA (109 ERA+), 1.18 WHIP and 0.0 WAR.

Game Results
Thursday, July 26, 2012
Game 106: 4-1 WIN at San Jose Victorians
W: Carlos Vargo (8-5) L: Craig Bowden (9-7) SV: Justin Jones (29)
HR – NJ: Jack Deck (8), Miguel Bravo (18)
Attendance: 43,717
Game Time: 2:26
Recap: 1B Miguel Bravo hit a three-run home run in the top of the first inning and that was all New Jersey would need as they rode 8 strong innings from Carlos Vargo to a 4-1 win in the series opener against San Jose. CF Jack Deck added a solo home run in the top of the 4th inning to tie 3B Russ Thompson’s club record with a home run in four consecutive games. The Sentinels spoiled the San Jose pitching debut of recently-traded starter Craig Bowden, who allowed all four runs on just three hits (two being home runs) and three walks. NJ starting pitcher Carlos Vargo also allowed three hits and three walks, but his came over 8 innings with five strikeouts mixed in. The game was actually a frustrating one for NJ at the plate as they squandered numerous scoring chances by hitting into five ground ball double plays. 2B Ray Durham went 0-for-4 and is just 2-for-24 in his last 6 games.

Friday, July 27, 2012
Game 107: 5-2 WIN at San Jose Victorians
W: Art Howard (13-6) L: John Gibbs (4-10) [b]S:[b] Justin Jones (30)
HR – NJ: Russ Thompson (20), Rubén Jaramillo (17) SJ: Walt Turner (16)
Attendance: 43,669
Game Time: 2:32
Recap: RF Jesús Santiago, LF Rubén Jaramillo and 3B Russ Thompson each went 2-for-4, and SS Ricardo Romano hit a key two-RBI double with two outs in the 4th inning to lead NJ to a 5-2 victory over San Jose in the second game of the series. Art Howard improved to 13-6 on the season, and 10-2 since joining New Jersey in a trade from San Antonio. Howard threw 7.1 innings, allowing a run on five hits and two walks while striking out seven. Reliever Steve Adams finished off the 8th inning, but got in trouble in the 9th inning when he allowed three consecutive hits and a run, prompting Manager Jorge Hinojosa to bring in closer Justin Jones to record the final out for his 30th save of the year. Victorians starter John Gibbs went just 5 innings, allowing four runs on eight hits and a walk while striking out three. San Jose CF Walt Turner was 2-for-3 with an RBI and two runs scored, while RF Dan White was 2-for-4 with the other RBI. Santiago – who still leads the ABL with 52 stolen bases - was caught stealing twice, giving him just one stolen base and 11 caught stealing in his last 12 games. Santiago’s 17 caught stealing on the season also leads the ABL, two more than Chicago Violins infielder Todd Hunt (who has 30 successful steals).

Saturday, July 28, 2012
Game 108: 12-5 WIN at San Jose Victorians
W: Jon Conner (14-4) L: Chris Nelson (5-7)
HR – NJ: Reese Haley (3) SJ: Dave McCormick (13), Rob Erickson (2)
Attendance: 43,800
Game Time: 3:17
Recap: NJ hit yet another early-inning three-run home run, this one by C Reese Haley in the top of the 2nd inning, and added three more in the top of the 5th in what was shaping up to be another runaway win. But Sents starting pitcher Jon Conner imploded in the bottom of the 7th inning, allowing five earned runs on two homers before reliever Jayson Miller came in to bail him out. In the top of the 8th, however, San Jose coughed up the game by committing four errors as NJ rallied for 6 unearned runs off San Jose closer Stephen Hester. NJ reliever Ashton Barnett pitched the bottom of the 8th inning in a non-hold situation to get some work in because he hadn’t thrown in a live game in a week. CF James Griffin returned to the lineup in place of Jack Deck and promptly went 4-for-5 with three RBI and three runs scored. 2B Ray Durham went 2-for-4 in what might be a sign that he is ready to come out of his slump. San Jose CF Walt Turner was 2-for-2 with a walk and is now hitting .324/.439/.588 against New Jersey in nine games. Conner was lucky to get the win for NJ considering a line in which he allowed five runs on eight hits and a walk while striking out five in 6.1 innings.

Series Recap: With the sweep New Jersey has won 10 games in a row for the first time in their history. Since starting catcher Greg Wells went down with injury on July 11, the club is an astonishing 13-2. Despite this run, Jacksonville Cannons remain within striking distance in the Fillmore League East and swept the lowly San Francisco Sawdust in three tight games by a combined score of 7-2 (3-1, 1-0, and 3-1). There are just three days left for ABL member clubs to complete a trade before the July 31st deadline.

Next: NJ (73-35) will finish off the month of July in Arizona against the Gilbert Airplanes (59-49). Gilbert is 4-6 in their last 10 games and even though they lost two of three games to San Diego in their last series they pulled into a tie with San Jose atop the Fillmore League West. NJ is 3-6 against Gilbert this season, one of two clubs (Philadelphia Motorcycles being the other) against which the Sentinels still have a losing record.

[thehatfield]

ABL News & Notes
New Jersey and El Paso made a deal centered around two prospects: 24-year old right-handed starting pitcher Mike “Dingo” Richardson who went to the Sentinels, and 24-year old catcher Brad Moore who went to the Biscuits. New Jersey also included 31-year old left-handed pitcher Allan Byrd, 32-year old left-handed reliever Curt Parsons, and $2MM in cash. El Paso included 23-year old minor league infielder Michael McGee in the deal. Byrd and Parsons, who had been at AAA for New Jersey, will report directly to El Paso and there are rumors that the Biscuits want to try Parsons out as a starter. “It’s tough to lose guys like Allan Byrd and Brad Moore,” said NJ General Manager Herbert Clams, “but to be able to bring back a quality pitching prospect like Mike Richardson is something that will help this club tremendously in the future.” Richardson is mostly a fastball/curveball pitcher but if he can develop his changeup – and all indications are that he’ll be able to – he should be devastating at the ABL level. For his part, Moore projects to be a plus contact hitter and above-average defensive catcher, the sort of guy that could anchor a club behind the plate for years. Biscuits General Manager Kane Ivory, a 30-year old Australian, was pleased at the deal considering the circumstances: “For us to get back two ABL-ready pitchers, a stud catching prospect, and two million dollars was quite a haul, even if we did have to part with a big-time pitching prospect. There’s no hiding we were in a bit of a financial bind heading into the last several weeks of the season so part of this deal was financially motivated.”

The San Antonio Keys entered full rebuild mode, sending 31-year old catcher Gustavo Mendez and $3MM to the Charlotte Copper Kings for three minor leaguers. Mendez amassed a .274/.343/.497 line in 100 games played with the Keys, with a 131 OPS+, 21 home runs, 72 RBI, and 2.4 WAR. San Antonio really seemed keen to move Mendez as there were rumors surrounding the player for weeks, and got the deal done just minutes prior to the midnight deadline. 20-year old closer Francisco Morales who featured in the AA All-Star game, and 19-year old Canadian outfielder Jim Fleury (#78 overall ABL prospect) were key components heading back to San Antonio.

The Queen Horses may be 8-games out in the Washington League Eastern Division, but a crazy trade of five minor leaguers in exchange for Chicago Violins closer Scott “Cha Cha” Smith means that all of their eggs are in one basket for 2012, and that Queens thinks a closer will help them close the gap in the divisional race. The Horses seemed to mortgage the future to bring in Smith and his $14MM contract even though Smith is not under contract beyond this season. If Queens cannot agree to an extension with Smith before the end of the season, this trade is likely going to be the biggest steal in the ABL’s first season. Smith is 2-3 on the season with 25 saves (two blown), 1.46 ERA (271 ERA+), 0.69 WHIP, 66 strikeouts and just three walks in 49.1 innings pitched, and 1.8 WAR. The two biggest chips going back to Chicago are 24-year old catcher Cordell Bruce and 20-year old starting pitcher Jose Flores.

And finally, the Ft. Worth Highwaymen sent 27-year old 4th outfielder Luis Carrizal to the San Francisco Sawdust for 21-year old minor league third baseman Mark O’Higgins. The Sawdust have made a couple of recent moves to bring in ABL-ready talent to solidify themselves for 2013 and Carrizal will slot directly into the starting lineup. In 55 games and 143 at-bats Carrizal hit .308/.379/.462 with three home runs, 19 RBI, and a 1.6 WAR.




Gabriel Jensen had a great week at the plate for the Detroit Street Toughs to take the Washington League Player of the Week Award. The 33-year old third baseman went 11-for-25 (.440) with three home runs and seven RBI. On the season the All-Star is hitting .283/.364/.602, 164 OPS+, 21 home runs, 46 RBI, 58 runs scored, and a 3.8 WAR.

In the Fillmore League, 31-year old San Diego Golden Hats catcher Komaki Pakiana took the Player of the Week honors on the strength of an amazing .619 batting average (13-for-21), with two home runs and five RBI. Pakiana has a 1.8 WAR on the season in 98 games behind the plate.

Weekly Team Power Rankings
Top 5
#1 New Jersey Sentinels (143.0, o), #1
#2 Jacksonville Cannons (123.3, +), #3
#3 Detroit Street Toughs (113.0, +), #4
#4 Phoenix Imperials (107.0, +), #5
#5 Columbus Pants (104.1, ++), #11

Bottom 5
#20 El Paso Biscuits (74.4, +), #22
#21 San Diego Golden Hats (67.7, -), #20
#22 Charlotte Copper Kings (67.6, --), #17
#23 Chicago Violins (62.1, -), #21
#24 San Francisco Sawdust (47.4, -), #23



Game Results
Sunday, July 29, 2012
Game 109: 2-0 WIN vs. Gilbert Airplanes
W: Jeff Burns (11-5) L: Johnny Hughes (9-10) SV: Justin Jones (31)
HR – None
Attendance: 47,516
Game Time: 2:32
Recap: Jeff Burns and Johnny Hughes were locked in a duel as the score remained 0-0 heading into the bottom of the 7th inning. Ken Bullock, playing right field to give Jesús Santiago the day off, led off the inning with the first triple of his career. C Reese Haley fell behind in the count 0-2 before blooping an RBI single to right field over the second baseman’s head. A walk and two more singles made the score 2-0 and that was good enough to get Burns his 11th win of the year. Burns was actually pinch hit for during the rally, and Steve Adams threw the 8th inning before Justin Jones closed out the game for his 31st save of the season. LF Rubén Jaramillo, 3B Russ Thompson, and Haley all went 2-for-4 for the Sentinels. RF Bill “Lizard” Patterson and NJ-killer CF Junnosuke Saito went 2-for-4 for Gilbert. Hughes and 1B Edmond Olivier both committed errors for the Airplanes, while 2B Ray Durham committed his first error of the season for NJ. None of the errors contributed to the scoring.

Monday, July 30, 2012
Game 110: 8-7 WIN vs. Gilbert Airplanes
W: Jayson Miller (7-0) L: Amato Ramos (1-3) [b]S:[b] Justin Jones (32)
HR – GIL: Junnosuke Saito (17) NJ: Miguel Bravo 2 (20)
Attendance: 46,637
Game Time: 2:43
Recap: It looked like NJ’s winning streak was going to end at 11 games after taking a 2-0 in the bottom of the 1st inning only to have Brian Baker go out in the top of the 2nd and get shelled for seven runs including a three-run blast by CF Junnosuke Saito. Sentinels manager Jorge Hinojosa left Baker in to “take one for the team” and Baker gutted out three more innings before departing after 5. Baker’s final line was 7 runs allowed on 9 hits and a walk with 7 strikeouts in 5 innings pitched. NJ picked up a run in the bottom of the 5th to make it 7-3, and then Miguel Bravo made it 7-4 with a solo home run in the bottom of the 6th. In the bottom of the 7th inning after an RBI triple from Rubén Jaramillo made the score 7-4, Bravo hit a two-run homer off Airplanes starter Sixto Flores to knock him out of the game and make it 7-7. In the bottom of the 8th inning CF Jack Deck hit a line drive to center field off reliever Amato Ramos which went over the head of Saito for a triple. After striking out two batters, Ramos walked the next three which forced Deck in with the go-ahead run. NJ closer Justin Jones got ready in a hurry and came in to finish off the thrilling comeback win in the 9th. Gilbert catcher Bernardo Cruz was 3-for-4 with two RBI and RF Bill Patterson had another 2-hit game for the Airplanes. Reliever Carlos Perea threw two shutout innings of relief for New Jersey after Baker had exited the game.

Tuesday, July 31, 2012
Game 111: 8-3 WIN vs. Gilbert Airplanes
W: Phil O’Morgan (3-1) L: Troy Martin (7-8)
HR – GIL: Bradley Tinker (8) NJ: Jack Deck (9), Jesús Santiago (14)
Attendance: 46,363
Game Time: 2:36
Recap: Gilbert held a 3-2 lead going into the bottom of the 8th inning in this one before a 6-run New Jersey eruption, including a grand slam by CF Jack Deck and a solo home run by RF Jesús Santiago, put the game out of reach. It really was tough luck for Gilbert starter Troy Martin, who until the 8th had done a fantastic job of keeping the Sentinels guessing and was able to wriggle out of the trouble he managed to create for himself. Martin’s final line was a bloated 7 runs on seven hits and four walks while striking out three. Reliever Amato Ramos actually surrendered the grand slam but Martin had loaded the bases before being pulled. Carlos Vargo got the no-decision for New Jersey, going 7 innings and allowing three runs on eight hits and two walks while striking out eight. Every starter except for 2B Ray Durham (0-for-4) had at least one hit for NJ, and SS Kaz Tamura was 2-for-4 with two runs scored. RF Bill Patterson went 2-for-4 for the third straight game and is now batting .381/.422/.524 (16-for-42) against New Jersey this season.

Series Recap: New Jersey extends their team record to 13 consecutive victories, and this was an important sweep as Jacksonville Cannons dropped 2-of-3 games against the Seattle Hilltops. This was certainly a much more exciting series for New Jersey with the nature of the victories on Monday and Tuesday than recent contests and the Sentinels showed some real fight, especially battling back from the 7-2 deficit on Monday. It remains to be seen if the pitching is going to be able to hold up for the final six weeks of the season but for now you couldn’t ask for a better way to close the month of July.

Next: NJ (76-35) goes to Columbus (59-52) to play three against the Pants. The Sents are a dominating 8-1 against Columbus this season, but Columbus is 8-2 in their last 10 games and has won six consecutive games coming into this series with sweeps over the Charlotte Copper Kings and the San Jose Victorians.

[thehatfield]

ABL STANDINGS

August 1, 2012

Washington League East (WLE)
#1 Baltimore Pit Bulls 68-43, 0GB, #1
#2 Detroit Street Toughs 66-45, 2GB, #2
#3 Queens Horses 60-51, 8GB, #3
#4 Bronx Mutineers 60-51, 8GB, #4
#5 Indianapolis Cows 56-55, 12GB, #5
#6 Brooklyn Sycamores 54-57, 14GB, #6

Washington League West (WLW)
#1 Phoenix Imperials 64-47, 0GB, #1
#2 Tucson Omelets 56-55, 8GB, #2
#3 Los Angeles Buskers 51-60, 13GB, #3
#4 San Antonio Keys 49-62, 15GB,#4
#5 El Paso Biscuits 42-69, 22GB, #6
#6 Chicago Violins 40-71, 24GB, #5

Washington League Batter of the Month: SS Jim Greer – Tucson Omelets
32-year old infielder Jim Greer picked up the Washington League Batter of the Month Award by hitting .348 with three home runs, 31 RBI and 25 runs scored. On the season Greer is batting .273 with 13 home runs, a Washington League-leading 90 RBI, and 3.0 WAR. Greer, who makes $18.2MM this season and is under contract for $24.2MM next year, is having a subpar season when considering his pre-season projections and may be one of the main culprits in Tucson lagging behind Phoenix in the WLW.

Washington League Pitcher of the Month: CL Robert “Redbeard” Nix – Indianapolis Cows
All-Star closer Robert Nix took the Washington League Pitcher of the Month Award for July. Nix made 13 relief appearances for the Indianapolis Cows, throwing 15 innings, with 6 saves, a 4-0 record, 23 strikeouts, and a 0.00 ERA. On the season Nix is 4-2 with a 0.32 ERA (1134 ERA+), 45 appearances, 51.2 innings pitched, 0.60 WHIP, .136 OAVG, .220 BABIP, and 28 saves in 28 save opportunities with a 2.3 WAR.

Notes: The WLE tightened up a bit in July, but teams remained in the exact same position in the standings as they were at the beginning of the month. The Queens Horses and Bronx Mutineers are both sitting on the outside of the division race, 8-games behind the division leading Baltimore Pit Bulls (68-43) and 6-games behind the Detroit Street Toughs (66-45). Baltimore couldn’t follow up on their excellent month of June and went 13-14 since we last looked at the division standings, opening the door for Detroit who shaved two games off the lead with their 15-12 month. It should be a tight, two-team race for the division crown over the next six weeks. Out West, the Phoenix Imperials went 19-8 and made a couple of trades near the trade deadline to strengthen the club as they look to win the division going away, doubling their lead over the second-place Tucson Omelets to 8 games since the beginning of July. Phoenix is an example of a complete team as they don’t lead the league in any one category but rank between 2nd and 6th on all of the major Washington League team stats leaderboards. The magic number for the Imperials is 32. The Chicago Violins were in free-fall for much of the month, posting a 7-20 mark since the last standings and dropping into last place as the El Paso Biscuits managed to go 11-16 and sneak into fifth position.

Fillmore League East (FLE)
#1 New Jersey Sentinels 76-35, 0GB, #1
#2 Jacksonville Cannons 68-43, 8GB, #2
#3 Philadelphia Motorcycles 59-52, 17GB, #3
#4 Columbus Pants 59-5, 17GB, #4
#5 Charlotte Copper Kings 48-63, 2GB, #5
#6 Manhattan Monocles 46-65, 30GB, #6

Fillmore League West (FLW)
#1 Seattle Hilltops 59-52, 0GB, #1
#2 San Jose Victorians 59-52, 0GB, #2
#3 Gilbert Airplanes 59-52, 0GB, #3
#4 Ft. Worth Highwaymen 52-59, 7GB, #4
#5 San Diego Golden Hats 45-66, 14GB, #5
#6 San Francisco Sawdust 36-75, 23GB, #6

Fillmore League Batter of the Month: 1B George “Boss” Beasley – San Diego Golden Hats
George Beasley is in the final year of his contract with San Diego and today added a timely piece of hardware to his trophy case. Playing in 26 games in July the 35-year old first baseman ripped Fillmore League pitchers for a .398 batting average, nabbing him the Batter of the Month Award. Beasley also added nine home runs, 26 RBI and 28 runs scored. On the season Beasley is batting .281/.404/.496 with 18 home runs, 62 RBI, 68 runs scored and 2.8 WAR.

Fillmore League Pitcher of the Month: SP Jeff Burns – New Jersey Sentinels
One of the biggest surprises in the ABL this season has been the pitching performances of Jeff Burns, an unheralded 26-year old right-hander from Los Angeles, California taken in the 14th round of the ABL Inaugural Draft (325th overall). Despite his rather high draft selection, Burns has been able to stay under-the-radar for much of the season, even starting the year at AAA. Now that underground hero status might be under threat since he was named the Fillmore League Pitcher of the Month by going 5-0 with a 1.62 ERA in six starts in July. In 44.1 innings Burns allowed 36 hits and fanned 49 batters. Burns is 11-5 on the season with a 2.22 ERA (178 ERA+), 1.07 WHIP and 5.7 WAR.

Notes: In the FLE, New Jersey put up a ridiculous 23-4 record since we last looked at the standings on July 3 and put seven more games between themselves and the second-place Jacksonville Cannons who still managed a good 16-11 showing. It just illustrates how strong the Sentinels have been lately. The Columbus Pants actually had the second best month, going 17-10 to get into a third-place tie with the Philadelphia Motorcycles. Even the Manhattan Monocles in last place weren’t putrid, going 11-16 and actually closing the gap on the fifth-place Charlotte Copper Kings to two games from four games. The FLW continues to be a mess, with the division-leading clubs posting records of 11-16 (Seattle & San Jose) and 13-14 (Gilbert). The division has been so volatile that even the Ft. Worth Highwaymen who are seven games back at 52-59 in fourth-place aren’t yet officially out of the post-season discussion. The San Francisco Sawdust remains the worst team in the ABL, going 9-18 in July.