Millennial League Baseball, est. 2001

[Questdog]

Saturday, April 21, 2001

New Orleans Pelicans (11-6 .647 1 GA in 1st place in the Southern Division) at
Jacksonville Jays (3-14 .176 8 GB in 8th (last) place in the Southern Division)

NO: Dennis Farmer (23-R) (1-1 0.69 ERA 13 IP, 9 H, 0 HR, 4 BB, 9 SO in A Ball) vs.
JAX: Mike Gaddis (32-R) (0-3 10.93 ERA 14 IP, 26 H, 5 HR, 4 BB, 7 SO)

Farmer is making his Major League debut today. He was acquired in a trade a week ago from Syracuse. He was rated as prospect #107 by Baseball American this Spring.

In his best start of the season, Gaddis gave up 5 runs in 5 IP on 9 hits and 3 HR....

Lineups: Pos Name (Age-Bats BA-AB-HR-RBI-OPS-SB DEF)
NEW ORLEANS
1: LF Omar Camacho (28-L .246-69-2-9-.645-4 B+)
2: RF Jimmy Dixon (29-L .246-57-0-9-.684-1 B+)
3: 1B Jerry Rafanello (30-S .400-75-1-12-.917-0 D)
4: CF Victor Ocasio (25-R .302-63-2-7-.814-4 A)
5: C Niel Williams (25-R .325-40-1-1-.906-0 B)
6: 3B Chuck Corrigan (25-R .258-66-0-7-.643-0 A)
7: 2B Dan Carroll (23-R .200-25-0-0-.511-3 A) Rookie
8: SS Benito Abonza (29-R .300-60-0-7-.737-0 A)
9: P Dennis Farmer (23-S Major League debut F) Rookie

JACKSONVILLE
1: CF Joe Roberts (30-L .308-26-0-2-.654-1 C+)
2: 2B Frank Roadman (26-R .203-64-3-7-.629-3 B)
3: LF Cal Doty (24-L .262-65-0-3-.622-1 B+)
4: RF Dennis Brown (26-L .270-63-3-6-.757-0 C) Rookie
5: 3B Brian Porter (33-S .210-62-0-4-.520-0 C+)
6: 1B Tony Becerra (31-L .203-64-2-4-.540-0 A+)
7: SS Leander Gooding (30-R .218-55-0-1-.539-0 B)
8: C Bert Swope (29-S .279-43-0-2-.694-0 B)
9: P Mike Gaddis (32-R .400-5-0-0-.800-0 F)

Game Start: 7:05 PM
Ballpark: Connie Mack Stadium
Weather: 72 F, Clear Skies, with a 9 MPH wind blowing out to center
Attendance: 5,914

Top of the First:
Omar Camacho draws a walk... Jimmy Dixon grounds into a force at 2nd, 1-6. Jerry Rafanello lines out to center. Dixon tries to steal 2nd, but C Bert Swope throws him out!

Bottom of the First:
Joe Roberts flies out to very deep center. Frank Roadman draws a walk. He steals 2nd and goes to 3rd when C Niel Williams throws the ball away! Cal Doty grounds out to 3rd and Roadman scores. 1 to 0, Jays! Dennis Brown flies out to center.

Top of the Second:
With 2 outs, Chuck Corrigan grounds a double down the left field line. Dan Carroll grounds a hit to center and Corrigan beats the throw home... Tie Game: 1 to 1. Carroll tries to steal, but C Bert Swope throws him out!

Bottom of the Second:
With 2 outs, Leander Gooding gets beaned. Bert Swope grounds a hit to center and Gooding heads to 3rd. The throw by Victor Ocasio is into the dugout for an error and Gooding scores! 2 to 1, Jays!

Top of the Third:
Benito Abonza leads off with a double to center. P Dennis Farmer bunts him to 3rd. With the infield in, Omar Camacho grounds out to 2nd and the runner holds. Jimmy Dixon doubles to left center and Abonza scores... Tie Game: 2 to 2. Jerry Rafanello doubles to left and Dixon scores... 3 to 2, Pelicans. We have 1 hit so far and they have 4 doubles... P Mike Gaddis is less than useless....

Top of the Fourth:
Niel Williams leads off with yet another double... The Bullpen is up. Chuck Corrigan does not double! But he beats out an infield hit... Dan Carroll grounds a hit to left and Williams scores... 4 to 2, Pelicans. Call to the Bullpen: John Newberry (33-L) and his 11.05 ERA. Another crap outing an he will head to Daytona (A). Benito Abonza grounds a hit to center and the bases are loaded with no outs... P Dennis Farmer flies out to center and Corrigan tags up and beats the throw home and Carroll goes to 3rd. 5 to 2, Pelicans. Omar Camacho grounds into a force at 2nd, 4-6, and Carroll scores. 6 to 2, Pelicans. Jimmy Dixon beats out an infield hit. Jerry Rafanello grounds out to 3rd!

Top of the Sixth:
Dan Carroll leads off with a walk and goes to 2nd on a wild pitch and to 3rd on a ground out. P Dennis Farmer doubles to left and Carroll scores... 7 to 2, Pelicans. With 2 outs, Jimmy Dixon lines a single to left and P Farmer beats the throw home... 8 to 2, Pelicans. Jerry Rafanello hits a home run to left... 10 to 2, Pelicans.

Bottom of the Seventh:
Brian Porter hits one 475 ft. to dead center! 10 to 3, Pelicans. With 1 out, Leaner Gooding grounds a hit to left and goes to 2nd on a ground out. PH Mike Volkman (33-L) grounds a hit to center and Gooding scores. 10 to 4, Pelicans.

Bottom of the Ninth:
P Dennis Farmer is at 98 pitches. 1B Ismael Gonzales (33-R) and SS Junior Danielson (29-R) each beat out an infield hit. A wild pitch moves them up. C Garrett Bender (27-R) pops out to left and the runners hold. PH Frank Wendell (33-R) grounds out to 2nd and Gonzales scores. 10 to 5, Pelicans. New Pitcher: Francisco Sotelo (29-L), who pitched 2 innings and gave us 2 runs on Thursday. Joe Roberts singles to center and Danielson scores. 10 to 6, Pelicans. New Pitcher: Jim Rutherford (31-R), their closer with 4 SV and a 2.57 ERA in 14 IP. 2B Rick Dundore (35-R) beats out an infield hit. Cal Doty loops a hit to left and the bases are loaded with the tying run at the plate... We seem to have a knack for scoring in the 9th inning of hopeless games... Until we get the tying run to the plate, of course... Dennis Brown swings at a 3-2 pitch and misses....

Lost - 10 to 6

We had 11 hits and made no errors
New Orleans had 15 hits and made 2 errors

4 times now, we have scored 5 or more runs in a game.
We are 0-4 and have been outscored, 38 to 24 in those games...

Mike Gaddis (L 0-4) went 3+ innings, allowed 6 runs, 8 hits, 1 walk and struck out 2. I think Pia my Personal Assistant would not have much worse numbers in our rotation...
LHP John Newberry went 4 innings, allowed 4 runs, 5 hits, 1 home runs, 1 walk and struck out 1. He threw a WP. Pia is buying a couple of train tickets to Daytona Beach....
RHP Barry Finney pitched 2 scoreless innings, allowed 2 hits, 1 walk and struck out 3.

Dennis Farmer (W 1-0), in his Major League debut, went 8.2 innings, gave us 6 runs (5 earned), 8 hits, 1 home run, 1 walk, 1 HBP and struck out 3. He threw a WP. At bat, he went 2 for 2 with a double, scored a run and had 2 RBI.

CF Joe Roberts had 2 hits and an RBI. LF Cal Doty had 2 hits and an RBI. 3B Brian Porter hit his 1st home run of the season. 1B Ismael Gonzales had an infield hit and scored a run in his only at bat. SS Leander Gooding went 1 for 2, was hit by a pitch and scored 2 runs. SS Junior Danielson had an infield hit and scored a run in his only at bat. PH Mike Volkman had a hit and an RBI. PH Frank Wendell had an RBI.

For New Orleans, RF Jimmy Dixon had 4 hits with a double, scored 2 runs and had 2 RBI. 1B Jerry Rafanello hit a double and a home run and had 3 RBI.

Down on the Farm: As bad as things are in Jacksonville, they are even worse in Daytona Beach. The Tortugas (A) lost at the Durham Bulls, 10 to 2, to drop their record to 2-15....

[Westheim]

Originally Posted by Questdog

Saturday, April 21, 2001

Down on the Farm: As bad as things are in Jacksonville, they are even worse in Daytona Beach. The Tortugas (A) lost at the Durham Bulls, 10 to 2, to drop their record to 2-15....

I have no doubt the Jays will find 13 under .500 eventually

[Questdog]

Sunday, April 22, 2001

SP Mike Gaddis (32-R) and RP John Newberry (34-L) were sent to Daytona (A). It was not a nice birthday present for Newberry... Normally, I like to give guys until May 1 to get things going, but these two have been historically terrible with a combined ERA of 11.44 in 28.1 IP with 53 H and 9 HR allowed. SP Marco Gonzalez (26-R) and RP Roger Wallace (25-R) have been called up. Gonzalez was 0-3 in 4 starts with a 3.20 ERA, the only pitcher with an ERA under 5.00 in Daytona's rotation. But he has walked 14 in 25.1 IP. Wallace has only pitched 6 innings, but has 1 of their 2 wins and has only allowed 5 hits and no walks and no runs with 5 strikeouts. He was our 2nd highest rated prospect this Spring at #189...

New Orleans Pelicans (12-6 .667 1 GA in 1st place in the Southern Division) at
Jacksonville Jays (3-15 .167 9 GB in 8th (last) place in the Southern Division)

NO: Reggie Hawkins (27-R) (0-0 6.89 ERA 15.2 IP, 19 H, 4 HR, 6 BB, 6 SO) vs.
JAX: Mackie Reed (29-R) (0-2 8.16 ERA 14.1 IP, 22 H, 3 HR, 4 BB, 8 SO)

Hawkins gave up 4 runs on 9 hits and no walks in 6 IP last time out in a no decision.

Reed had a promising no decision last time out: 6 IP with 2 runs (1 earned), 6 hit and no walks allowed.

Lineups: Pos Name (Age-Bats BA-AB-HR-RBI-OPS-SB DEF)
NEW ORLEANS
1: LF Omar Camacho (28-L .233-73-2-10-.620-4 B+)
2: RF Jimmy Dixon (29-L .290-62-0-11-.768-1 B+)
3: 1B Jerry Rafanello (30-S .400-80-2-15-.960-0 D)
4: CF Victor Ocasio (25-R .284-67-2-7-.777-4 A)
5: 3B Chuck Corrigan (25-R .268-71-0-7-.668-0 A)
6: 2B Dan Carroll (23-R .241-29-0-2-.601-3 A) Rookie
7: SS Benito Abonza (29-R .313-64-0-7-.769-0 A)
8: C Bobby Thomas (30-S .250-4-0-1-.500-0 B+)
9: P Reggie Hawkins (27-R .250-4-0-0-.500-0 F)

JACKSONVILLE
1: CF Joe Roberts (30-L .323-31-0-3-.677-1 C+)
2: 2B Frank Roadman (26-R .200-65-3-7-.631-4 B)
3: LF Cal Doty (24-L .271-70-0-4-.634-1 B+)
4: RF Dennis Brown (26-L .250-68-3-6-.702-0 C) Rookie
5: 3B Brian Porter (33-S .215-65-1-5-.573-0 C+)
6: 1B Tony Becerra (31-L .194-67-2-4-.516-0 A+)
7: SS Leander Gooding (30-R .228-57-0-1-.566-0 B)
8: C Bert Swope (29-S .283-46-0-2-.693-0 B)
9: P Mackie Reed (29-R .000-3-0-1-.000-0 D+)

Game Start: 2:05 PM
Ballpark: Connie Mack Stadium
Weather: 73 F, Clear Skies, with a 7 MPH wind blowing out to right
Attendance: 5,652

Top of the First:
Omar Camacho strikes out! Jimmy Dixon lines one to left, but Cal Doty makes a great catch! Jerry Rafanello grounds out to 1st, unassisted! 1-2-3!

Bottom of the First:
Joe Roberts strikes out... Frank Roadman flies out to center. Cal Doty swings at the first pitch and pops out to short...

Top of the Third:
They go 8 up and 8 down and then the floodgates open... P Reggie Hawkins and Omar Camacho each single and Jimmy Dixon clears the bases with a double to right center... 2 to 0, Pelicans.

Bottom of the Third:
We also go 8 up and 8 down, but with 4 strikeouts, and P Mackie Reed then beats out an infield hit. Joe Roberts doubles to right and P Reed scores from 1st! 2 to 1, Pelicans. Frank Roadman grounds a hit to left and Roberts beats the throw home and Roadman goes to 2nd! Tie Game: 2 to 2. Then we end the mirroring of the Pelicans when Cal Doty loops a hit to left and Roadman scores! 3 to 2, Jays! Dennis Brown strikes out. That is 5 strikeouts for P Reggie Hawkins already, who only had 6 in his first three starts combined... And we are the toughest team to strikeout in the League!

Bottom of the Seventh:
New Pitcher: Bucky Nicholson (28-R), with a 1.93 ERA in 9.1 IP. Brian Porter grounds a hit to right and Tony Becerra bunts him to 2nd. Leander Gooding bloops a hit to center. Bert Swope grounds one slowly to 2nd and their only play is at 1st and Porter scores! 4 to 2, Jays!

Top of the Ninth:
On the Hill: Gary Adamson (35-R), after a scoreless 8th. Frank Wendell (33-R) is in to play right. Bobby Thomas grounds out to 1st, 3-1. RF Hal Buzzell (32-R), 2 for 8 on the season, hits a home run to left... 4 to 3, Jays. 2B Fred Heff (19-R), batting .281 with no home runs in 32 AB, swings at the first pitch and grounds out to 2nd. 1B Ray Teague (25-S), 4 for 11 (.364) on the season, swings at the first pitch and fouls out to 3rd and THIS Ball Game Belongs to the Jays!

Won - 4 to 3

Our first series that we have not lost! A split, 2 games to 2!

We had 8 hits and made no errors
New Orleans had 10 hits and made no errors

You would think that with a record of 4-15, that we would have to have a bad record in 1 run games, but in point of fact, we are 3-2! Which means that we are really even worse than our record shows!

Mackie Reed (W 1-2) went 6+ innings, allowed 2 runs, 5 hits, 2 walks and struck out 2. At bat, he had a hit and scored a run. His 2nd straight decent start!
LHP Bill Grant (H 1) went 1 scoreless inning and allowed 2 hits. Our 1st Hold in History!
RHP Gary Adamson (SV 1) went 2 innings, allowed 1 run, 3 hits and 1 home run. Our 1st Save in History!

Reggie Hawkins (L 0-1) went 6 innings, gave us 3 runs, 6 hits, no walks and struck out 6, doubling his season total. At bat, he was 2 for 2 and scored a run. If we could just get pitchers out, our pitching stats would be a lot prettier...

CF Joe Roberts hit a double, scored a run and had an RBI. 2B Frank Roadman had a hit, scored a run and had an RBI. 3B Brian Porter had 2 hits and scored a run.

[Questdog]

April 23, 2001

Monday Morning Report
Player of the Week - Ed Yeager, RF, Ottawa (25-L .314/.368/.586) Had 9 hits with 1 2B, 4 HR, 2 BB, 3 SO, 5 R and 9 RBI in 5 G

(Slash lines are for the season, not the week)

April 16 - Mike Harrison (34-L) of Charlotte pitched a 5 hit shutout at Memphis. He walked 2, hit a batter and struck out 7. The Hornets won, 5 to 0.
April 17 - Juan Ledesma (29-R) of Ottawa pitched a 4 hit shutout at home versus Indianapolis. He did not walk a batter and struck out 9. The Otters won, 1 to 0, and only had 2 hits themselves.
April 18 - Richmond won at New Orleans, 9 to 6, in 17 innings. The Pelicans scored 5 runs in the 6th inning to take the lead, but never scored again.
April 19 - LF Mickey Lynn (28-L) of Buffalo hit a double and 2 home runs, drew a walk and had 6 RBI at home versus Providence. The Bombers won, 9 to 6.
April 20 - Doug Jones (24-R) of Buffalo pitched a 3 hit shutout at home versus Providence. He walked 2 and struck out 7. At bat, he had a hit. The Bombers won, 6 to 0.
April 21 - Jim Gibson (29-R) of Providence pitched a 5 hit shutout at Buffalo. he walked 2 and struck out 5. At bat, he had 2 hits with a double, scored 2 runs and had 3 RBI. He is the 1st pitcher to pitch a 2nd shutout on the season. The Steamrollers won, 8 to 0.
April 21 - Jack Brown (25-R) of Charlotte pitched a 4 hit shutout at Orlando. He did not walk a batter and struck out 4. The Hornets won, 8 to 0.
April 21 - RF Juan Nunez (34-R) of Memphis had 4 hits with a home run, scored 2 runs and had 4 RBI at home versus Birmingham. The Mules won, 8 to 6, in 10 innings, on a 2 out home run by SS Leo Toruno (27-L).
April 22 - Joe Tucker (40-R) of Rochester pitched a 4 hit shutout at home versus Columbus. He walked 3 and struck out 4. At bat, he had a hit and an RBI. The Roosters won, 11 to 0.

[Questdog]

Tuesday, April 24, 2001

Orlando is here to play a short 2 game set. They split 4 games at home with Charlotte over the weekend. The Juice are 9th in scoring with 3.68 runs per game (Jacksonville is still dead last, but up to 2.74!). They are last in HR with 7 and we are tied for 3rd worst with 9. They are 5th in fewest runs allowed with 3.47 per game (Jacksonville is up to #15 with 4.84!). Their run differential is +4 and ours is -40, still the worst in the League. 2nd worst is Providence at -24.

Orlando Juice (9-10 .474 3 GB in 7th place in the Southern Division) at
Jacksonville Jays (4-15 .211 8 GB in 8th (last) place in the Southern Division)

ORL: Victor Mandujano (32-L) (1-1 1.96 ERA 23 IP, 19 H, 0 HR, 13 BB, 14 SO) vs.
JAX: Victor Espinoza (36-R) (1-2 1.74 ERA 31 IP, 27 H, 2 HR, 7 BB, 17 SO)

Mandujano had his worst outing of the season to date last time out with 3 runs allowed on 5 hits and 9 walks in 7.2 IP in a loss. In his 1st 2 starts, he had only walked 4 in 15.1 IP.

Espinoza pitched a shutout in his last start, allowing 9 hits and 1 walk.

Lineups: Pos Name (Age-Bats BA-AB-HR-RBI-OPS-SB DEF)
ORLANDO
1: 2B Tom Howard (24-R .283-60-2-6-.782-4 A)
2: SS Ernie Patterson (20-R .182-22-0-3-.409-2 A) Rookie #2 prospect
3: RF Gil Weaver (23-L .274-73-0-6-.664-3 C+)
4: 1B Herman Chance (31-R .217-60-1-4-.566-0 C+)
5: 3B Charlie Yonker (38-R .224-58-0-3-.557-2 B)
6: LF Russ Baker (21-S .375-16-0-1-.787-0 B+) Rookie #88 prospect
7: CF Ray McDonald (20-L .154-26-0-1-.385-1 C+) Rookie #20 prospect
8: C Ricky Tejada (27-L .148-27-0-3-.462-0 B)
9: P P Victor Mandujano (32-L .167-6-0-1-.452-0 D+)

JACKSONVILLE
1: SS Leander Gooding (30-R .233-60-0-1-.571-0 B)
2: 2B Frank Roadman (26-R .203-69-3-8-.623-4 B)
3: LF Cal Doty (24-L .270-74-0-5-.627-1 B+)
4: 3B Brian Porter (33-S .235-68-1-5-.606-0 C+)
5: RF Dennis Brown (26-L .239-71-3-6-.673-0 C) Rookie
6: 1B Ismael Gonzales (33-R .600-5-0-1-1.200-0 D+)
7: CF Frank Wendell (33-R .300-20-0-3-.783-2 C+)
8: C Bert Swope (29-S .286-49-0-3-.692-0 B)
9: P Victor Espinoza (36-R .100-10-0-0-.200-0 F)

Game Start: 7:05 PM
Ballpark: Connie Mack Stadium
Weather: 61 F, Partly Cloudy, with a 15 MPH wind blowing left to right
Attendance: 5,512

Top of the First:
Tom Howard strikes out! Ernie Patterson flies out to deep center. Gil Weaver grounds out to 1st, unassisted! 1-2-3!

Bottom of the First:
Leander Gooding grounds out to 2nd. Frank Roadman draws a walk. Cal Doty pops out to short. Brian Porter grounds out to the pitcher...

Bottom of the Sixth:
With 1 out, P Victor Espinoza walks on 4 pitches. Leander Gooding grounds our second hit of the game to left. Frank Roadman swings at the first pitch and grounds a hit to center and the bases are loaded. Cal Doty doubles to left center and 2 runs score!! 2 to 0, Jays! They walk Brian Porter intentionally. Dennis Brown flies out to center and Roadman tags up and scores without a throw! 3 to 0, Jays!

Top of the Seventh:
Herman Chance grounds one to short, but Leander Gooding boots it... Our shortstops are not supposed to be butter fingers, but they have been... With 1 out, Russ Baker grounds a hit to right and Chance beats the throw to 3rd. The Bullpen gets up. Ray McDonald grounds into a force at 2nd, but we cannot turn the double play and Chance scores. 3 to 1, Jays.

Bottom of the Seventh:
With 1 out, Bert Swope draws a walk and goes to 2nd on a ground out by PH Bobby Scrogham (25-R). Leander Gooding lines a hit to center. Frank Roadman grounds a hit to center and Swope scores! 4 to 1, Jays!

Top of the Eighth:
New Pitcher: Barry Short (32-R). PH Jim Wilt (26-R), in his season debut, grounds a hit to center. With 1 out, Ernie Patterson lines a hit to center. Gil Weavers swings at 3-2 pitch and lines a hit to right center and the bases are loaded... Herman Chance grounds a hit up the middle and a run scores... 4 to 2, Jays. Call to the Bullpen: Barry Finney (25-R). Charlie Yonker strikes out looking! Russ Baker grounds out to 2nd!!

Bottom of the Eighth:
New Pitcher: Gary Malone (36-R), with no runs and only 1 hit allowed in 4.1 IP. Brian Porter grounds a double down the right field line. They walk Dennis Brown intentionally. PH Tony Becerra (31-L), who will stay in to play 1st, takes a 3-2 pitch for strike three... PH Joe Roberts (30-L), who will stay in to play center, grounds one to 2nd, but Tom Howard makes a bad throw to 2nd and the bases are loaded. Bert Swope flies out to right and Porter tags up and beats the throw home and Brown goes to 3rd! 5 to 2, Jays! Can we win a game where we score 5 or more runs? We have not yet... PH Mike Volkman (33-L) grounds a hit to right and Brown scores! 6 to 2, Jays!

Won - 6 to 2

We had 8 hits and made 1 error
Orlando had 8 hits (all singles) and made 1 error

Victor Espinoza (W 2-2) went 7 innings, allowed 1 unearned run, 4 hits, 2 walks (1 INT) and struck out 6. He threw a WP. At bat, he drew a walk and scored a run.
RHP Barry Short (H 1) got 1 out, allowed 1 run and 4 hits. He is useless...
RHP Barry Finney (H 1) faced 2 batters and got them both out with 1 strikeout.
RHP Gary Adamson pitched a perfect 9th with 1 strikeout.

Victor Mandujano (L 1-2) went 7 innings, gave us 4 runs, 6 hits, 4 walks (1 INT) and struck out 1. The 1st time a lefty has not pitched CG win against us!

SS Leander Gooding had 2 hits and scored a run. 2B Frank Roadman had 2 hits and a walk, scored a run and had an RBI. LF Cal Doty hit a double and had 2 RBI. 3B Brian Porter hit a double and was walked intentionally and scored a run. RF Dennis Brown had a hit and a walk (INT), scored a run and had an RBI. C Burt Swope drew a walk, hit a SF and scored a run and threw out both runners who tried to steal. PH Mike Volkman had a hit and an RBI.

[Questdog]

Wednesday, April 25, 2001

Orlando Juice (9-11 .450 3 GB in 7th place in the Southern Division) at
Jacksonville Jays (5-15 .250 7 GB in 8th (last) place in the Southern Division)

ORL: Larry Hemmerling (25-R) (1-1 3.21 ERA 28 IP, 29 H, 2 HR, 9 BB, 22 SO) vs.
JAX: Frank Cook (35-R) (0-3 2.57 ERA 28 IP, 18 H, 1 HR, 12 BB, 15 SO)

Hemmerling gave up 4 runs on 8 hits, 4 walks and 2 home runs in 6.1 IP last time out in a no decision.

Cook gave up 3 runs in 7 IP last time out, which was good enough for a loss.

Lineups: Pos Name (Age-Bats BA-AB-HR-RBI-OPS-SB DEF)
ORLANDO
1: 2B Tom Howard (24-R .281-64-2-6-.765-4 A)
2: SS Ernie Patterson (20-R .192-26-0-3-.423-2 A) Rookie
3: RF Gil Weaver (23-L .286-77-0-6-.681-3 C+)
4: 3B Russ Baker (21-S .421-19-0-1-.897-0 B) Rookie
5: LF Ted Mason (23-R .222-36-0-1-.521-0 B+) Rookie #34 prospect
6: CF Ray McDonald (20-L .133-30-0-2-.333-1 C+) Rookie
7: C Kevin Landman (32-R .190-42-0-1-.471-0 D+)
8: 1B Bill Balogh (30-R .450-20-1-7-1.300-0 B+)
9: P P Larry Hemmerling (25-R .455-11-0-4-1.000-0 F)

JACKSONVILLE
1: CF Joe Roberts (30-L .306-36-0-4-.667-1 C+)
2: 2B Frank Roadman (26-R .222-72-3-9-.662-4 B)
3: LF Cal Doty (24-L .269-78-0-7-.634-1 B+)
4: RF Dennis Brown (26-L .247-73-3-7-.688-0 C) Rookie
5: 3B Brian Porter (33-S .239-71-1-5-.632-0 C+)
6: 1B Tony Becerra (31-L .188-69-2-4-.501-0 A+)
7: SS Leander Gooding (30-R .246-65-0-1-.588-0 B)
8: C Bert Swope (29-S .275-51-0-4-.671-0 B)
9: P Frank Cook (35-R .143-7-0-0-.393-0 C+)

Game Start: 7:05 PM
Ballpark: Connie Mack Stadium
Weather: 73 F, Partly Cloudy, with a 15 MPH wind blowing out to right
Attendance: 5,052

Top of the First:
Tom Howard flies out to right. Ernie Patterson grounds a hit to right. He tries to steal 2nd, but C Burt Swope throws him out! Gil Weaver walks on 4 pitches... Russ Baker grounds out to 2nd!

Bottom of the First:
Joe Roberts lines a double to right! Frank Roadman strikes out... Cal Doty gets beaned. Roberts steals 3rd. Doty then steals 2nd! Dennis Brown beats out an infield hit and Roberts scores! 1 to 0, Jays! But Brown comes up lame... Pinch-runner: Mike Volkman (33-L), who will stay in to play right. Brian Porter swings at a 3-2 pitch and doubles to right center and Doty scores! 2 to 0, Jays! Tony Becerra jacks one down the line and over the wall!!! 5 to 0, Jays! First time we have ever scored 5 or more runs in back to back games! Leander Gooding gets beaned and is hurt.... Pinch-runner: Junior Danielson (29-R), who will stay in to play short. A wild pitch sends Danielson to 2nd. Bert Swope lines a hit to center and Danielson beats the throw home! 6 to 0, Jays! P Frank Cook puts a charge into one to left, but it is caught near the warning track. That does it for P Larry Hemmerling. New Pitcher: Angel Ochoa (27-L), with a 1.69 ERA in 5.1 IP and is pitching with a sprained ankle. Joe Roberts doubles down the right field line! Frank Roadman lines out to center.

Top of the Second:
With 1 out, Ray McDonald doubles to center and then goes to 3rd on a ground out. Bill Balogh beats out an infield hit and McDonald scores... 6 to 1, Jays.

Bottom of the Second:
With 1 out, Mike Volkman takes a 3-2 pitch for ball 4. Brian Porter lines a hit to left center. Tony Becerra gets beaned to load the bases up, already the 3rd batter their pitchers have plunked. A wild pitch scores Volkman! 7 to 1, Jays! Junior Danielson grounds out to short and Porter scores. 8 to 1, Jays! That ties our team record for runs!

Top of the Third:
With 1 out, Gil Weaver swings at the first pitch and lines a hit to left center. Russ Baker doubles to right. Ted Mason grounds out to 3rd and Weaver scores. 8 to 2, Jays.

Top of the Fourth:
With 1 out, Bill Balogh takes a 3-2 pitch for ball 4. P Angel Ochoa grounds a double play ball to 2nd, but Frank Roadman boots it... Tom Howard walks on 4 pitches to load them up. Ernie Patterson grounds into a force at 2nd, 4-6, and Balogh scores. 8 to 3, Jays.

Top of the Fifth:
Russ Baker grounds a hit up the middle. Ted Mason grounds a double play ball to short, but Junior Danielson makes a bad throw to 2nd for an error... With 1 out, Kevin Landman takes a 3-2 pitch for ball 4 to load the bases up... Bil Balogh lines a hit to center and a run scores... 8 to 4, Jays. Fourth straight inning that they have scored.... The Bullpen is up. PH Jerry Mangrum (35-R), 3 for 9 on the season, grounds a hit to left and 2 runs score... 8 to 6, Jays.The next two make outs.

Top of the Ninth:
On the Hill: Barry Finney (25-R), after a scoreless 8th. Ray McDonald strikes out! Kevin Landman grounds out to short! Bill Balogh grounds out to 2nd and THIS Ball Game Belongs to the Jays! Three wins in a row! A new team record!

Won - 8 to 6

A mini-sweep!
Our 1st series win ever!

We had 9 hits and made 2 errors
Orlando had 11 hits and made 1 error

Frank Cook (W 1-3) went 5 innings, allowed 6 runs (4 earned), 9 hits, 4 walks and struck out 2. In his 1st 4 starts, he had all Quality outings, but went 0-3. This time, he stinks and gets a win!
LHP Bill Grant (H 2) went 2 scoreless innings, allowed 1 hit and 1 walk.
RHP Barry Finney (SV 1) pitched 2 scoreless innings, allowed 1 hit, 1 walk and struck out 2.

Larry Hemmerling (L 1-2) got 2 batters out, gave us 6 runs, 5 hits, 1 home run, no walks and struck out 1.

CF Joe Roberts hit 2 doubles, stole a base and scored a run. RF Dennis Brown had an infield hit and an RBI in his only at bat. LF Cal Doty had a hit, was hit by a pitch, stole a base and scored a run. PR/RF Mike Volkman drew 2 walks and scored 2 runs. 3B Brian Porter had 3 hits with 2 doubles, scored 2 runs and had an RBI. The Jays radio network interviewed him as the 'Star of the Game', the first Jay hitter so honored! 1B Tony Becerra hit his 3rd home run of the season and had 3 RBI and was beaned. SS Leaner Gooding was beaned in his only appearance. PR/SS Junior Danielson did not have a hit or a walk, but scored a run and had an RBI, but also made an error. C Bert Swope had a hit and a walk and an RBI, threw out the only runner who tried to steal and picked another off at 1st!

For Orlando, 3B Russ Baker had 3 hits with a double and a walk and scored a run.

Trudy the Trainer was busy. Her report on RF Dennis Brown is a strained muscle that will hobble him for 3 or 4 days. She recommends complete rest. SS Leander Gooding just has a bruise on his wrist and should be fine by tomorrow.

[Questdog]

Thursday, April 26, 2001

The Charlotte Hornets are here to play a 4 game series through the weekend. They just split a pair of games in Louisville. They are 7th in scoring with 3.90 runs per game (Jacksonville is up to #15 with 3.14!). Let's eat a piece of pie in celebration! The Hornets are 5th in fewest runs allowed with 3.57 per game (Jacksonville is back to last with 4.76, even though we got a little better). Their run differential is +7 and ours is -34, still the worst in the League.

Charlotte Hornets (12-9 .571 1 GB tied for 2nd place in the Southern Division) at
Jacksonville Jays (6-15 .286 7 GB in 8th (last) place in the Southern Division)

CHAR: Jack Brown (25-R) (2-2 2.03 ERA 31 IP, 21 H, 1 HR, 8 BB, 19 SO) vs.
JAX: Marco Gonzalez (26-R) (0-3 3.20 ERA 25.1 IP, 27 H, 2 HR, 14 BB, 14 SO in A Ball)

Brown pitched a 4 hit shutout with no walks and 4 strikeouts last time out.

Gonzalez is making his season debut.

Lineups: Pos Name (Age-Bats BA-AB-HR-RBI-OPS-SB DEF)
CHARLOTTE
1: 2B Jim Sabin (32-R .213-75-0-2-.567-6 B+)
2: 3B Larry Davis (25-S .417-72-0-6-1.010-3 C+)
3: 1B Terry Wolf (29-L .259-85-0-9-.638-0 B+)
4: LF John Hartz (36-R .133-45-1-4-.515-4 B)
5: RF Ron Bylina (25-L .265-34-2-9-.833-0 B)
6: CF Dave Sanders (27-R .345-55-1-6-.919-1 B)
7: SS Marty Derringer (23-R .269-78-2-7-.715-3 B+)
8: C Larry Griffin (29-S .231-39-0-3-.584-0 C+)
9: P Jack Brown (25-R .200-10-0-0-.400-0 B+)

JACKSONVILLE
1: CF Joe Roberts (30-L .317-41-0-4-.732-2 C+)
2: 2B Frank Roadman (26-R .211-76-3-9-.637-4 B)
3: LF Cal Doty (24-L .268-82-0-7-.635-2 B+)
4: 3B Brian Porter (33-S .263-76-1-6-.695-0 C+)
5: 1B Tony Becerra (31-L .194-72-3-7-.560-0 A+)
6: RF Mike Volkman (33-L .389-18-0-2-.839-0 D+)
7: SS Leander Gooding (30-R .246-65-0-1-.598-0 B)
8: C Bert Swope (29-S .278-54-0-5-.681-0 B)
9: P Marco Gonzalez (26-R Season debut F)

Game Start: 7:05 PM
Ballpark: Connie Mack Stadium
Weather: 72 F, Partly Cloudy, with a 7 MPH wind blowing left to right
Attendance: 4,743

Top of the First:
Jim Sabin lines a hit to center... Larry Davis lines out to right. Terry Wolf lines one to center and Joe Roberts makes a diving catch! John Hartz lines a hit to center. A wild pitch moves the runners up. Ron Bylina takes a 3-2 pitch for ball 4 to load the bases up with 2 outs. Dave Sanders strikes out!

Bottom of the First:
Joe Roberts bounces one past the 3rd base man and ends up with a double! Frank Roadman grounds out to 3rd. Cal Doty flies out to deep left and Roberts tags up and beats the throw to 3rd. Brian Porter strikes out...

Bottom of the Second:
Tony Becerra and Mike Volkman lead off with back to back hits to right and we have runners at the corners with no outs. Leander Gooding grounds into a 4-6-3 double play and Becerra scores. 1 to 0, Jays.

Top of the Third:
With 1 out, Terry Wolf grounds a double down the right field line. With 2 outs, Ron Bylina grounds a hit to right and Wolf beats the throw home... Tie Game: 1 to 1.

Bottom of the Fifth:
Leaner Gooding leads off with a triple to center! With the infield in, Bert Swope grounds out to 2nd and Gooding stays put. With P Marco Gonzalez up, we try a suicide squeeze, but they get the out at home, 1-2...

Top of the Eighth:
Terry Wolf leads off with a walk. With 2 outs, Dave Sanders beats out an infield hit. Call to the Bullpen: Gary Adamson (35-R). Frank Wendell (33-R) is in to play center and Joe Roberts moves to right in a double switch. Marty Derringer lines a hit to right and Wolf heads home, but Joe Roberts throws him out!!!!

Top of the Ninth:
PH Tom Barker (28-L), 2 for 10 with a HR, lines a hit to right... PH Ken Hawco (36-R), 1 for 6 on the season, bunts the runner to 2nd. Jim Sabin grounds a hit to center and Barker scores... 2 to 1, Hornets. Every batter that has swung the bat has gotten a hit off Adamson so far... Larry Davis lines out to left. Terry Wolf flies out to deep left.

Bottom of the Ninth:
New Pitcher: Mike Hall (32-R), not their closer (who pitched the 7th and 8th). He has pitched 4.1 scoreless innings, with only 2 hits and a walk allowed with 3 SO. 3-4-5 up for us. Cal Doty swings at a 3-2 pitch and flies out to deep center. Brian Porter lines out hard to right. Tony Becerra grounds out to 2nd...

Lost - 2 to 1

We had 5 whole hits and made no errors
Charlotte had 9 hits and made no errors

Marco Gonzalez, in his season debut, went 7.2 innings, allowed 1 run, 6 hits, 4 walks and struck out 3. He threw a WP. A lot better than the fellow he replaced ever did!
RHP Gary Adamson (L 1-1) went 1.1 innings, allowed 1 run and 3 hits.

Jack Brown went 6 innings, gave us 1 run, 5 hits, 1 walk and struck out 3.
RHP Alan Howard (W 3-0) pitched 2 perfect innings with 2 strikeouts.
RHP Mike Hall (SV 1) pitched a perfect 9th.

CF Joe Roberts hit a double and threw a runner out at home. 1B Tony Becerra had 2 hits and scored our only run. SS Leander Gooding hit a triple.

[Questdog]

Friday, April 27, 2001

Today is rookie RF Dennis Brown's 27th birthday!

Charlotte Hornets (13-9 .591 0.5 GB tied for 2nd place in the Southern Division) at
Jacksonville Jays (6-16 .273 7.5 GB in 8th (last) place in the Southern Division)

CHAR: Ron Simon (28-R) (0-4 6.86 ERA 21 IP, 25 H, 5 HR, 11 BB, 15 SO) vs.
JAX: Mackie Reed (29-R) (1-2 6.64 ERA 20.1 IP, 27 H, 3 HR, 6 BB, 10 SO)

Simon gave up 7 runs on 12 hits in 5.2 IP last time out for a loss.

Reed picked up his 1st win last time out with 6 IP and 2 runs allowed on 5 hits and 2 walks. He has had 2 straight good outings.

Lineups: Pos Name (Age-Bats BA-AB-HR-RBI-OPS-SB DEF)
CHARLOTTE
1: 2B Jim Sabin (32-R .225-80-0-3-.581-6 B+)
2: 3B Larry Davis (25-S .390-77-0-6-.946-3 C+)
3: 1B Terry Wolf (29-L .258-89-0-9-.650-0 B+)
4: LF Ron Bylina (25-L .270-37-2-10-.835-0 B)
5: SS Marty Derringer (23-R .268-82-2-7-.705-3 B+)
6: CF Dave Sanders (27-R .339-59-1-6-.892-1 B)
7: RF Gabe Valdez (29-R .250-40-1-11-.693-0 A)
8: C Alex Martinez (26-R .229-35-1-3-.700-0 B+)
9: P Ron Simon (28-R .000-4-0-0-.000-0 C)

JACKSONVILLE
1: CF Joe Roberts (30-L .311-45-0-4-.733-2 C+)
2: 2B Frank Roadman (26-R .200-80-3-9-.606-4 B)
3: LF Cal Doty (24-L .256-86-0-7-.607-2 B+)
4: 3B Brian Porter (33-S .253-79-1-6-.677-0 C+)
5: 1B Tony Becerra (31-L .211-76-3-7-.583-0 A+)
6: RF Mike Volkman (33-L .381-21-0-2-.816-0 D+)
7: SS Leander Gooding (30-R .250-68-0-1-.630-0 B)
8: C Bert Swope (29-S .263-57-0-5-.648-0 B)
9: P Mackie Reed (29-R .200-5-0-1-.367-0 D+)

Game Start: 7:05 PM
Ballpark: Connie Mack Stadium
Weather: 78 F, Clear Skies, with a 9 MPH wind blowing in from right
Attendance: 6,141

Our biggest crowd since Opening Day!

Top of the First:
Jim Sabin swings at a 3-2 pitch and lines a hit to center. He steals 2nd. Larry Davis swings at a 3-2 pitch and flies out to deep center. Terry Wolf flies out to center. Ron Bylina swings at the first pitch and pops out to 3rd!

Bottom of the First:
Joe Roberts grounds an 0-2 pitch to right for a hit. Frank Roadman takes a 3-2 pitch for strike three... Cal Doty pops out to short... Brian Porter flies out to center.

Top of the Second:
Marty Derringer swings at the first pitch and lines a hit up the middle. A wild pitch sends him to 2nd. Gabe Valdez swings at a 3-2 pitch and lines a hit to left. Alex Martinez swings at the first pitch and lines a hit to left and Derringer scores. 1 to 0, Hornets. P Ron Simon swings at the first pitch and grounds a hit to center and the bases are loaded with 1 out. Maybe not make that first pitch so fat... Jim Sabin flies out to left and the runners hold. Larry Davis flies out to center!

Bottom of the Fourth:
Brian Porter leads off with a line drive double down the left field line. With 1 out, Mike Volkman swings at the first pitch and grounds a double down the left field line and Porter scores! Tie Game: 1 to 1. Leander Gooding lines a hit to right. Bert Swope grounds out to 1st, 3-1, and Gooding goes to 2nd, but Volkman holds at 3rd. P Mackie Reed takes a 3-2 pitch for ball 4 to load the bases up with 2 outs. Joe Roberts swings at the first pitch and lines one hard to right, but Gabe Valdez makes a diving catch...

Top of the Fifth:
Larry Davis lines a hit to left and then steals 2nd. Terry Wolf grounds a hit to right and Davis heads home, but Mike Volkman throws him out! Ron Bylina lines one to center and Joe Roberts makes a running, lunging grab, but is hurt... New center fielder: Frank Wendell (33-R). Mary Derringer hits one over Wendell's head for a triple and Wolf scores... 2 to 1, Hornets.

Bottom of the Fifth:
With 1 out, Cal Doty gets beaned. Brian Porter lines a hit to right and Doty goes to 3rd. Tony Becerra flies out to deep left and Doty tags up and beats the throw home! Tie Game: 2 to 2. Mike Volkman grounds a hit to right and Porter beats the throw to 3rd and Volkman takes 2nd. Leander Gooding grounds a hit to center and both runners score!! 4 to 2, Jays!

Top of the Sixth:
Gabe Valdez swings at the first pitch and lines a double down the left field line. The Bullpen is up. With 1 out, PH Bruce McArthur (24-L), 2 for 8, lines a hit to center. Call to the Bullpen: Bill Grant (30-L). Jim Sabin grounds a hit to center and Valdez scores and McArthur beats the throw to 3rd... 4 to 3, Jays. Larry Davis pops out to 2nd. Terry Wolf flies out to left!

Bottom of the Eighth:
New Pitcher: Larry Durbin (34-R), with a 7.27 ERA in 8.2 IP. Burt Swope lines a hit to right center. PH Bobby Scrogham (25-R) draws a walk. Frank Wendell bunts the runners up. With the infield in, Frank Roadman grounds out to short and the runners hold. They walk Cal Doty intentionally. Brian Porter grounds out to 2nd...

Top of the Ninth:
New Pitcher: Barry Short (32-R), who has allowed 19 hits in 9.2 IP... Larry Davis lines a 3-2 pitch down the right field line for a double... Terry Wolf grounds out to short. If Short loses this lead, I think he will head to Daytona Beach... Rob Bylina grounds a hit to center and Davis scores... Tie Game: 4 to 4. Marty Derringer lines a hit to right... Call to the Bullpen: Roger Wallace (25-R), making his Major League debut. PH Tom Barker (28-L), 3 for 11 (.273) with a HR on the season, takes a 3-2 pitch for strike three! Gave Valdez swings at a 3-2 pitch and misses!!

Bottom of the Ninth:
Tony Becerra swings at the first pitch and lines out to center. Mike Volkman grounds out to short. Leander Gooding grounds out to 3rd...

Extras!

Top of the Tenth:
PH Larry Griffin (29-S), batting .244 in 41 AB, takes a 3-2 pitch for ball 4. There are no fresh arms in the Pen. The Hornet bench is empty, so P Larry Durbin bats and bunts into a 1-6-3 double play!! Jim Sabin strikes out!

Bottom of the Tenth:
New Pitcher: Alan Howard (28-R), their closer, who got the win yesterday with 2 perfect innings. Bert Swope swings at a 3-2 pitch and grounds a hit up the middle. P Roger Wallace bunts him to 2nd. Frank Wendell walks on 4 pitches. Frank Roadman plunks one in front of the plate and they get the force at 2nd, 2-4, and Swope goes to 3rd. Roadman steals 2nd... Stupid! Now they will walk our best hitter... They walk Cal Doty intentionally... But Brian Porter is our hottest hitter and he grounds a hit to right and THIS Ball Game Belongs the the Jays!!!!!!!

Won - 5 to 4

We are now 3-0 in extra innings!
4-16 in 9 inning games!

We had 13 hits and made no errors
Charlotte had 17 hits and made no errors

For the 1st time ever, we have gone 2 games without anyone hitting a home run for either side.

Mackie Reed went 5.1 innings, allowed 3 runs, 12 hits, no walks and struck out 3. He threw a WP. At bat, he drew a walk.
LHP Bill Grant (H 3) went 2.2 scoreless innings, allowed 2 hits and 1 walk.
RHP Barry Short (BS 1) got 1 out, allowed 1 run and 3 hits. Pia, my PA, is buying a train ticket.
RHP Roger Wallace (W 1-0), in his Major League debut, went 1.2 scoreless innings, allowed 1 walk and struck out 3.

Ron Simon went 5 innings, gave us 4 runs, 9 hits, 3 walks, 1 HBP and struck out 2. At bat, he was 2 for 2.
RHP Alan Howard (L 3-1) got 2 outs, gave us 1 run, 2 hits and 2 walks (1 INT).

LF Cal Doty, who is cold as ice, was hit by a pitch, walked intentionally twice and scored a run. 3B Brian Porter had 4 hits with a double, scored 2 runs and had the game winning RBI. RF Mike Volkman had 2 hits with a double, scored a run and had an RBI and threw a runner out at home. SS Leander Gooding had 2 hits and 2 RBI. C Bert Swope had 2 hits and 2 walks and scored a run. PH Bobby Scrogham drew a walk.

For Charlotte, SS Marty Derringer had 4 hits with a triple, scored a run and had an RBI.

Trudy's report on CF Joe Roberts is a sprained elbow that she figures to take a month to heal, but should only hinder his throwing. Since we have very few outfielders who are not slackers, he will continue to play.

[Questdog]

Saturday, April 28, 2001

RP Barry Short (32-R) and his 22 hits allowed in 10 IP were sent to Daytona (A). Rookie RP Bob Craig (23-R) was called up. He had pitched 5 scoreless innings for the Tortugas, allowing only 1 hit and no walks and striking out 5.

Charlotte Hornets (13-10 .565 1 GB tied for 3rd place in the Southern Division) at
Jacksonville Jays (7-16 .304 7 GB in 8th (last) place in the Southern Division)

CHAR: Mike Harrison (34-L) (2-0 3.00 ERA 30 IP, 27 H, 2 HR, 8 BB, 21 SO) vs.
JAX: Spencer Shuff (32-R) (0-2 4.70 ERA 15.1 IP, 18 H, 4 HR, 6 BB, 1 SO)

Harrison has won his last 2 starts, including a 5 hit shutout.

Shuff managed to go 2.1 innings last time out and allowed 3 runs (2 earned) in a loss. He is the next candidate for a train ticket out of town, but I have no idea who could take his place.

Lineups: Pos Name (Age-Bats BA-AB-HR-RBI-OPS-SB DEF)
CHARLOTTE
1: 2B Jim Sabin (32-R .233-86-0-4-.587-7 B+)
2: 3B Larry Davis (25-S .390-82-0-6-.950-4 C+)
3: 1B Terry Wolf (29-L .255-94-0-9-.637-0 B+)
4: LF John Hartz (36-R .140-50-1-4-.506-4 B)
5: RF Tom Morris (27-R .237-59-3-10-.744-0 B+)
6: SS Marty Derringer (23-R .299-87-2-8-.777-3 B+)
7: CF Gabe Valdez (29-R .267-45-1-11-.727-0 B)
8: C Larry Griffin (29-S .244-41-0-3-.633-0 C+)
9: P Mike Harrison (34-L .000-8-0-1-.000-0 F)

JACKSONVILLE
1: SS Leander Gooding (30-R .260-73-0-3-.641-0 B)
2: CF Frank Wendell (33-R .231-26-0-3-.632-2 C+)
3: LF Cal Doty (24-L .247-89-0-7-.608-2 B+)
4: 3B Brian Porter (33-S .282-85-1-7-.734-0 C+)
5: 1B Ismael Gonzales (33-R .429-7-0-1-.857-0 D+)
6: RF Bobby Scrogham (25-R .250-12-0-1-.724-0 D+) Rookie
7: 2B Rick Dundore (35-R .375-8-0-0-.944-0 B)
8: C Garrett Bender (27-R .133-15-0-0-.267-0 B+)
9: P Spencer Shuff (32-R .333-3-0-1-1.167-0 C+)

Game Start: 7:05 PM
Ballpark: Connie Mack Stadium
Weather: 72 F, Clear Skies, with an 8 MPH wind blowing in from center
Attendance: 6,672

Again, our biggest crowd since Opening Day!

Top of the First:
Jim Sabin grounds out to 3rd. Larry Davis swings at the first pitch and grounds out to short. Terry Wolf hits a home run to right, his 1st of the season... 1 to 0, Hornets. John Hartz walks on 4 pitches. Tom Morris grounds out to 2nd.

Bottom of the First:
Leander Gooding lines a hit to left. Frank Wendell pops out to 2nd. Cal Doty grounds into a 4-6-3 double play...

Two innings, 2 GDP for us...

Top of the Fifth:
Larry Griffin doubles off the wall in left and gets bunted to 3rd by P Mike Harrison. Jim Sabin lines a double to right and Griffin scores. 2 to 0, Hornets. Sabin is hurt. Pinch-runner: Ron Bylina (25-L). The next two make outs.

Top of the Sixth:
John Hartz and Tom Morris lead off with back to back hits. The Bullpen gets up. With 2 outs, Larry Griffin grounds a hit to right and Hartz scores... 3 to 0, Hornets.

Top of the Ninth:
New Pitcher: Bob Craig (23-R), in his Major League debut. RF Ron Bylina strikes out! Larry Davis lines a double to right. Terry Wolf is walked intentionally. John Hartz is walked unintentionally to load the bases up with 1 out. The Bullpen gets back up. Tom Morris, now at 2B, lines a hit to right and Davis scores. 4 to 0, Hornets. Marty Derringer grounds into a force at home, 6-2. Gabe Valdez walks to force in a run... 5 to 0, Hornets. Larry Griffin takes a 3-2 pitch for ball 4 to force in another run... 6 to 0, Hornets. Call to the Bullpen: Barry Finney (25-R). P Mike Harrison grounds out to 1st, unassisted.

Bottom of the Ninth:
P Mike Harrison is at 106 pitches. With 1 out, Frank Wendell beats out an infield hit. Cal Doty lines a hit to center. Brian Porter draws a walk to load the bases up with 1 out. Ismael Gonzales lines out to deep right and Wendell trots home. 6 to 1, Hornets. No Shutout! Bob Scrogham flies out to center...

Lost - 6 to 1

Another CG by a lefty.
They have 6 in 7 starts against us...

We had 4 whole hits (all singles) and made no errors
Charlotte had 10 hits and made no errors

We have gone 3 straight games without making an error for the 1st time ever!

Spencer Shuff (L 0-3) went 6 innings, allowed 3 runs, 7 hits, 1 home run, 2 walks and struck out 1. He stinks, but no one at Daytona (A) has better numbers than he has in the Majors...
RHP Gary Adamson went 2 scoreless innings, allowed 1 hit, 1 walk and struck out 3.
RHP Bob Craig, in his Major League debut, got 2 outs, allowed 3 runs, 2 hits, 4 walks (1 INT) and struck out 1.
RHP Barry Finney faced 1 batter and retired him.

Mike Harrison (W 3-0) went 9 innings, gave us 1 run, 4 hits, 5 walks and struck out 7. 129 pitches. At bat, he drew a walk.

LF Cal Doty had a hit and a walk. 3B Brian Porter had a hit and 2 walks.

The Hornets announced that 2B Jim Sabin had a mild calf strain and should be fine in 3 or 4 days.

[Questdog]

Sunday, April 29, 2001

Charlotte Hornets (14-10 .583 0.5 GB tied for 2nd place in the Southern Division) at
Jacksonville Jays (7-17 .292 7.5 GB in 8th (last) place in the Southern Division)

CHAR: Rick Cox (30-R) (2-0 2.25 ERA 36 IP, 33 H, 0 HR, 16 BB, 24 SO) vs.
JAX: Victor Espinoza (36-R) (2-2 1.42 ERA 38 IP, 31 H, 2 HR, 9 BB, 23 SO)

Cox is their #1 starter. He gave up 1 run on 6 hits and 3 walks in 7 IP last time out, but had a no decision.

Espinoza has only allowed 1 unearned run in his last 2 starts combined, both wins. He is now 2nd in the League in ERA. Still no trade offers, though.

Lineups: Pos Name (Age-Bats BA-AB-HR-RBI-OPS-SB DEF)
CHARLOTTE
1: 2B Jim Sabin (32-R .239-88-0-5-.607-7 B+) Mild calf strain
2: 3B Larry Davis (25-S .379-87-0-6-.930-4 C+)
3: 1B Terry Wolf (29-L .258-97-1-10-.682-0 B+)
4: RF Ron Bylina (25-L .273-44-2-11-.795-0 B)
5: CF Dave Sanders (27-R .323-62-1-6-.850-1 B)
6: LF Gabe Valdez (29-R .265-49-1-12-.721-0 A+)
7: SS Randy Dodson (27-L Season debut B+)
8: C Alex Martinez (26-R .237-38-1-4-.713-0 B+)
9: P Rick Cox (30-L .091-11-0-0-.182-0 F)

JACKSONVILLE
1: SS Leander Gooding (30-R .260-77-0-3-.634-0 B)
2: CF Joe Roberts (30-L .313-48-0-4-.729-2 C+) Sprained elbow
3: LF Cal Doty (24-L .250-92-0-7-.617-2 B+)
4: RF Dennis Brown (27-L .257-74-3-8-.705-0 C) Rookie
5: 1B Tony Becerra (31-L .212-80-3-8-.576-0 A+)
6: 3B Bobby Scrogham (25-R .200-15-0-1-.627-0 C) Rookie
7: 2B Frank Roadman (26-R .195-87-3-9-.581-5 B)
8: C Bert Swope (29-S .283-60-0-5-.697-0 B)
9: P Victor Espinoza (36-R .091-11-0-0-.258-0 F)

Game Start: 2:05 PM
Ballpark: Connie Mack Stadium
Weather: 72 F, Clear Skies, with a 7 MPH wind blowing out to center
Attendance: 7,171

Our biggest crowd since Opening Day for the 3rd day in a row!

Top of the First:
Jim Sabin grounds out to short. Larry Davis grounds out to short. Terry Wolf swings at a 3-2 pitch and grounds out to short! 1-2-3!

Bottom of the First:
Leander Gooding strikes out on 3 pitches... Joe Roberts loops a hit to right center. Cal Doty lines out to center, Dave Sanders making a diving catch... Dennis Brown grounds out to 2nd.

Top of the Third:
Randy Dodson lines a hit to right and goes to 2nd on a wild pitch. With 1 out, P Rick Cox lines one to short, but Leander Gooding drops it for an error... Jim Sabin strikes out. Larry Davis grounds out to 3rd!

Top of the Fifth:
Gabe Valdez grounds a hit to left. Randy Dodson grounds a double play ball to short, but Leander Gooding makes a bad throw to 2nd... That is 9 errors already by our shortstops... Gooding is now fielding .924... He fielded .984 last season... Alex Martinez grounds into a 5-4-3 double play and Valdez goes to 3rd. P Rick Cox grounds out to 3rd!

Top of the Sixth:
Jim Sabin lines a hit to center. Larry Davis lays down a bunt, but we get the force at 2nd, 1-6. Terry Wolf takes a 3-2 pitch for ball 4. With 2 outs, Dave Sanders doubles to right center and Davis scores... 1 to 0, Hornets. Gabe Valdez clears the bases with a double grounded down the left field line... 3 to 0, Hornets.

Bottom of the Sixth:
PH Mike Volkman (33-L) beats out an infield hit. With 1 out, Joe Roberts lines a double down the left field line. Cal Doty takes a 3-2 pitch for ball 4 to load the bases up with 1 out. Dennis Brown swings at a 3-2 pitch and misses... Tony Becerra strikes out looking...

Top of the Ninth:
On the Hill: Roger Wallace (25-R), after 2 scoreless innings. Alex Martinez doubles to right center. The Bullpen is up. With 1 out, Jim Sabin grounds one to 2nd, but Frank Roadman boots it... Larry Davis grounds into a force at 2nd, 1-6, and Martinez holds at 3rd. Terry Wolf clears the bases with a triple to right center... 5 to 0, Hornets.

Bottom of the Ninth:
P Rick Cox is at 117 pitches. With 2 outs, PH Brian Porter doubles to right center. Bobby Scrogham lines a hit to left center. Frank Roadman lines a hit to center and Porter scores! 5 to 1, Hornets. No Shutout! That does it for P Rick Cox. New Pitcher: Alan Howard (28-R), their closer, who has a win and a loss in this series. Bert Swope takes a 3-2 pitch for ball 4 to load the bases up and bring the tying run to the plate. We have done this several times in seemingly hopeless games, but the tying run at the plate always has made an out... 1B Ismael Gonzales (33-R) grounds a hit to left and Scrogham scores! 5 to 2, Hornets. Leander Gooding grounds out to 1st, unassisted...

Lost - 5 to 2

We had 8 hits (4 in the 9th inning) and made 3 errors
Charlotte had 9 hits and made no errors

Since we had gone 3 straight games without an error, we had to make 3 today to makeup the difference...

Victor Espinoza (L 2-3) went 6 innings, allowed 3 runs, 6 hits, 1 walk and struck out 4. He threw a WP.
RHP Roger Wallace went 3 innings, allowed 2 unearned runs, 3 hits, 1 walk and stuck out 4.

Rick Cox (W 3-0) went 8.2 innings, gave us 2 runs, 7 hits, 2 walks and struck out 6. 130 pitches.
RHP Alan Howard (SV 6) got 1 out, gave us 1 hit and 1 walk.

CF Joe Roberts had 2 hits with a double. LF Cal Doty had a hit and a walk and stole a base.

[Questdog]

April 30, 2001

Monday Morning Report
Player of the Week - Mickey Lynn, LF, Buffalo (28-L .341/.443/.739) Had 9 hits with 2 2B, 4 HR, 4 BB, 0 SO, 9 R and 8 RBI in 5 G

(Slash lines are for the season, not the week)

April 24 - Terry Luckett (26-L) of Columbus pitched a 2 hit shutout at home versus Hartford. He walked 3 and struck out 7. At bat, he had a hit and an the only RBI in the game. The Explorers won, 1 to 0, and only had 5 hits themselves.
April 28 - Ken DeWaters (25-R) of Louisville pitched a 10 inning shutout at home versus Memphis. He allowed 9 hits, 2 walks and struck out 2. 130 pitches. The Colonels won, 3 to 0, in 10 innings on a 1 out home run by PH Larry Evans (25-L).
April 29 - Terry Luckett (26-L) of Columbus pitched a 5 hit shutout at Syracuse. He did not walk and batter and struck out 8. It is his 2nd shutout in a row. The Explorers won, 3 to 0, and only had 5 hits themselves.
April 29 - LF Omar Camacho 28-L) had 3 hits with a home run, scored 3 runs and had 3 RBI at home versus Orlando. The Pelicans won, 15 to 6.

[Questdog]

Monday, April 30, 2001

We are in Birmingham to play a short 2 game set. They won 3 of 4 at Richmond over the weekend. We are 0-3 against them on the season, having been swept in 3 games the first time we were here, April 13-15. The Barons are 4th in scoring with 4.72 runs per game (Jacksonville is #15 with 3.00!). They lead the League in walks (100), while we are last (56). They are 8th in fewest runs allowed with 3.88 per game (Jacksonville is up to #14 with 4.68!). Their run differential is +21 and ours is -42, still the worst in the League by a good margin.

Jacksonville Jays (7-18 .280 8.5 GB in 8th (last) place in the Southern Division) at
Birmingham Barons (15-10 .600 0.5 GB tied for 2nd place in the Southern Division)

JAX: Frank Cook (35-R) (1-3 3.27 ERA 33 IP, 27 H, 1 HR, 16 BB, 17 SO) vs.
BIRM: Gene Hall (32-R) (2-2 4.31 ERA 31.1 IP, 31 H, 6 HR, 8 BB, 13 SO)

Cook had his 1st poor outing of the season last time out, but picked up his 1st win.

We scored 5 runs on 13 hits and 1 walk in 8.2 IP against all in our first trip here, but he got a win anyway.

Lineups: Pos Name (Age-Bats BA-AB-HR-RBI-OPS-SB DEF)
JACKSONVILLE
1: LF Cal Doty (24-L .253-95-0-7-.625-3 B+)
2: CF Joe Roberts (30-L .327-52-0-4-.769-2 C+) Sprained elbow
3: 3B Brian Porter (33-S .295-88-1-7-.779-0 C+)
4: RF Dennis Brown (27-L .244-78-3-8-.670-0 C) Rookie
5: 1B Tony Becerra (31-L .205-83-3-8-.555-0 A+)
6: C Bert Swope (29-S .270-63-0-5-.675-0 B)
7: 2B Frank Roadman (26-R .198-91-3-10-.577-5 B)
8: SS Junior Danielson (29-R .250-12-0-1-.583-1 B)
9: P Frank Cook (35-R .111-9-0-0-.311-0 C+)

BIRMINGHAM
1: SS Stan Stephens (23-R .387-106-0-8-.907-12 D+)
2: LF Benny Dreher (23-R .232-69-0-4-.559-2 A) Rookie #36 prospect
3: 1B Jose Fernandez (32-L .283-46-3-12-.905-0 B)
4: CF Sergio Acevedo (27-R .278-90-3-15-.883-10 B+)
5: 3B Gerald Young (28-R .172-87-1-7-.490-0 B)
6: RF Dave Jay (35-R .207-29-0-3-.523-0 A+)
7: C Bob Marcuson (30-R .212-33-0-3-0 C+)
8: 2B Ken Kelly (22-S .302-53-1-7-.805-3 A) Rookie #23 prospect
9: P Gene Hall (32-R .167-12-0-0-.333-0 F)

Game Start: 7:05 PM
Ballpark: Briggs Stadium
Weather: 66 F, Partly Cloudy, with an 8 MPH wind blowing in from left
Attendance: 10,501

Top of the First:
Cal Doty swings at a 3-2 pitch and grounds out to 3rd. Joe Roberts grounds out to 2nd. Brian Porter swings at the first pitch and flies out to deep right...

Bottom of the First:
Stan Stephens swings at the first pitch and lines out to 3rd, Brian Porter making a nice snag! Benny Dreher strikes out! Jose Fernandez strikes out! 1-2-3!

Bottom of the Third:
Bob Marcuson leads off with a triple to center... Ken Kelly flies out to left and Marcuson holds. With the infield in, P Gene Hall grounds a hit to left and Marcuson scores... 1 to 0, Barons. Oh, if we could only get pitchers out at bat...

Top of the Fifth:
Tony Becerra leads off with a home run to right! Tie Game: 1 to 1.

Bottom of the Fifth:
Dave Jay grounds a hit up the middle and gets bunted to 2nd. Ken Kelly lines a hit to center and Jay beats the throw home... 2 to 1, Barons. P Gene Hall bunts the runner up. Stan Stephens grounds a hit to left and Kelly beats the throw home... 3 to 1, Barons.

Top of the Sixth:
Cal Doty grounds a hit up the middle. With 1 out, he steals 2nd. Brian Porter lines a hit to center and Doty beats the throw home and Porter goes to 2nd! 3 to 2, Barons. The next two strike out...

Top of the Seventh:
With 2 outs, Junior Danielson doubles to left center. That does it for P Gene Hall. New Pitcher: Jeff Shearin (38-R), their closer with 6 SV, but a 5.19 ERA. 1 of the Saves was against us. Todd Barham (35-R) is in to play short in a double switch. Stan Stephens moves to 3rd. PH Mike Volkman (33-L) bloops a hit to left and Danielson heads home. The throw by Benny Dreher is to the backstop for an error and Danielson scores and Volkman goes to 2nd! Tie Game: 3 to 3. They walk Cal Doty intentionally. Joe Roberts swings at the first pitch and lines a hit to center and Volkman beats the throw home! 4 to 3, Jays!

Bottom of the Eighth:
On the Hill: Barry Finney (25-R), after a scoreless 7th. Stan Stephens walks on 4 pitches... Benny Dreher lays down a bunt and beats it out for a hit... Jose Fernandez grounds into a 6-4-3 double play and Stephens goes to 3rd. Sergio Acevedo strikes out on 3 pitches!!

Top of the Ninth:
With 1 out, Junior Danielson grounds one to 2nd, but Jose Fernandez, who is playing there now, throws the ball away for a 2 base error. P Barry Finney is allowed to hit, because the Bullpen is depleted, and he swings away and grounds out to 1st, 3-1, and Danielson goes to 3rd. They walk Cal Doty intentionally for second time today. He steals 2nd. Joe Roberts grounds a hit to right and both runners score!! 6 to 3, Jays! Roberts steals 2nd. Brian Porter doubles off the wall in center and Roberts scores! 7 to 3, Jays! That does it for P Jeff Shearin. New Pitcher: Manny Santoya (37-L), with a 6.52 ERA and 15 hits allowed in 9.2 IP. PH Frank Wendell (33-R) flies out to center.

Bottom of the Ninth:
With 1 out, Dave Jay flies out to deep center, but P Barry Finney calls out Trudy the Trainer... New Pitcher: Bill Grant (30-L). Bob Marcuson takes a 3-2 pitch for ball 4... SS Rick Halverson (24-L), batting .364 with 1 HR and 13 RBI in 77 AB, grounds a double down the right field line... 1B Al Chase (29-R), batting .462 with a HR and 5 RBI in 13 AB, sends one to deep left.... Cal Doty gets to the track and has it, but then drops it for a 2 base error and both runners score... His 3rd error already... 7 to 5, Jays. Stan Stephens lines one to right, but Joe Roberts makes a running catch and THIS Ball Game Belongs to the Jays!

Won - 7 to 5

We had 10 hits and made 1 error
Birmingham had 8 hits and made 2 errors

Frank Cook (W 2-3) went 6 innings, allowed 3 runs, 5 hits, 1 walk and struck out 3.
RHP Barry Finney (H 2) went 2.2 scoreless innings, allowed 2 hits, 1 walk and struck out 1.
LHP Bill Grant got 1 out, allowed 2 unearned runs, 1 hit and 1 walk.

Gene Hall went 6.2 innings, gave us 3 runs, 6 hits, 1 home run, no walks and struck out 5. At bat, he had a hit and an RBI.
RHP Jeff Shearin (L 0-2, BS 3) went 2+ innings, gave us 4 runs (1 earned), 4 hits, 2 walks (2 INT) and struck out 1.

LF Cal Doty had a hit and 2 intentional walks, stole 2 bases and scored 2 runs. CF/RF Joe Roberts had 2 hits, stole a base, scored a run and had 3 RBI. 3B Brian Porter had 2 hits with a double and 2 RBI. 1B Tony Becerra hit his team-leading 4th home run of the season. SS Junior Danielson had 2 hits with a double and scored 2 runs. PH Mike Volkman had a hit, scored a run and had an RBI.

Trudy's report on RP Barry Finney is a sore shoulder that should be fine in 4 or 5 days.

[Questdog]

Monthly Awards for April, 2001
Player of the Month: Mickey Lynn, lf, Buffalo (28-L) .337/.436/.717 92 AB, 5 2B, 0 3B, 10 HR, 16 BB, 14 SO, 2 SB, 1 CS, 21 R, 24 RBI in 25 G
Pitcher of the Month: Ramiro Huerta, rhp, Birmingham (28-R) 5-0 1.93 ERA 6 GS, 42 IP, 37 H, 1 HR, 12 BB, 20 SO
Rookie of the Month: Buford Nolan, rhp, Ottawa (24-R) 3-0 2.93 ERA 4 GS, 27.2 IP, 28 H, 0 HR, 14 BB, 13 SO

WARNING! The following statistics are not for the faint of heart or those with squeamish dispositions! Parental Guidance Strongly Suggested! Rate R for rancidness.

[Questdog]

Tuesday, May 1, 2001

Jacksonville Jays (8-18 .308 8 GB in 8th (last) place in the Southern Division) at
Birmingham Barons (15-11 .577 1 GB tied for 3rd place in the Southern Division)

JAX: Marco Gonzalez (26-R) (0-0 1.17 ERA 7.2 IP, 6 H, 0 HR, 4 BB, 3 SO) vs.
BIRM: Ray Miller (26-R) (0-1 4.96 ERA 16.1 IP, 17 H, 2 HR, 10 BB, 16 SO) Rookie

This will be the 2nd start for Gonzalez.

When we faced Miller before, he had to leave the game with an injury after retiring the leadoff batter.

Lineups: Pos Name (Age-Bats BA-AB-HR-RBI-OPS-SB DEF)
JACKSONVILLE
1: CF Joe Roberts (30-L .333-57-0-7-.772-3 C+) Sprained elbow
2: LF Mike Volkman (33-L .429-28-0-4-.931-0 D+)
3: 3B Brian Porter (33-S .301-93-1-9-.791-0 C+)
4: RF Dennis Brown (27-L .232-82-3-8-.637-0 C) Rookie
5: 1B Tony Becerra (31-L .207-87-4-9-.587-0 A+)
6: C Bert Swope (29-S .254-67-0-5-.639-0 B)
7: SS Leander Gooding (30-R .244-82-0-3-.597-0 B)
8: 2B Frank Roadman (26-R .200-95-3-10-.574-6 B)
9: P Marco Gonzalez (26-R .000-2-0-0-.000-0 F)

BIRMINGHAM
1: SS Stan Stephens (23-R .382-110-0-9-.897-12 D+)
2: LF Benny Dreher (23-R .233-73-0-4-.556-2 A) Rookie
3: 1B Jose Fernandez (32-L .260-50-3-12-.836-0 B)
4: CF Sergio Acevedo (27-R .269-93-3-15-.862-10 B+)
5: 2B Rick Halverson (24-L .372-78-1-13-.922-3 B)
6: RF Dave Jay (35-R .242-33-0-3-.578-1 A+)
7: C Bob Marcuson (30-R .229-35-0-3-0 C+)
8: 3B Turner Morache (21-R .Major League debut A) Rookie #62 prospect
9: P Ray Miller (26-R .200-5-0-0-.400-0 F) Rookie

Game Start: 7:05 PM
Ballpark: Briggs Stadium
Weather: 65 F, Partly Cloudy, with a 7 MPH wind blowing left to right
Attendance: 10,529

Top of the First:
Joe Roberts grounds out to short. Mike Volkman grounds out to 2nd. Brian Porter doubles to right center. Dennis Brown lines a hit to right and Porter beats the throw home and Brown goes to 2nd! 1 to 0, Jays! Tony Becerra strikes out...

Bottom of the First:
Stan Stephens grounds out to 3rd. Benny Dreher flies out to center. Jose Fernandez grounds a hit to left. Sergio Acevedo strikes out looking!

Bottom of the Second:
Rick Halverson leads off with a walk. With 1 out, Halverson steals 2nd, but Bob Marcuson ends up walking anyway. Turner Morache, in his first Major League at bat, grounds into a force at 2nd, 5-4, and Halverson goes to 3rd. 2 outs and the pitcher up.... P Ray Miller grounds a hit to left and Halverson scores... Tie Game: 1 to 1. This has gotten to be beyond ridiculous how we cannot get pitchers out... Stan Stephens triples down the right field line and 2 more runs score... 3 to 1, Barons. Benny Dreher grounds one to short and Leander Gooding boots it and Stephens scores... 4 to 1, Barons. Also, beyond ridiculous is the number of errors our shortstops are making... That makes 10 in 26 games plus 2 innings.... On pace for over 60 for the season...

Top of the Fifth:
Leander Gooding takes a 3-2 pitch for ball 4. Frank Roadman grounds into a force at 2nd, 5-4. P Marco Gonzalez bunts him to 2nd. Joe Roberts lines a hit to right center. Mike Volkman sends one deep to center, but Sergio Acevedo is there, but the ball hits off the heel of his glove for a 2 base error and Roadman scores! 4 to 2, Barons.

Top of the Sixth:
Dennis Brown leads off with a home run to right! 4 to 3, Barons.

Bottom of the Seventh:
New Pitcher: Bob Craig (23-R), the rookie who had a rough debut. Cal Doty stays in to play left after pinch-hitting. Jose Fernandez walks on 4 pitches... Sergio Acevedo lines a hit to left center. With 2 outs, Bob Marcuson grounds a hit to right and Fernandez scores... 5 to 3, Barons.

Bottom of the Eighth:
With 1 out, Stan Stephens swings at the first pitch and lines a hit to right center. With 2 out, SS Todd Barham (35-R), 3 for 27 (.111) on the season, hits a home run to left... 7 to 3, Barons. It appears that Craig is not ready for the Big Time...

Lost - 7 to 3

We had 7 hits and made 2 errors
Birmingham had 10 hits and made 2 errors

Marco Gonzalez (L 0-1) went 6 innings, allowed 4 runs (3 earned), 6 hits, 3 walks and struck out 5. 111 pitches.
RHP Bob Craig went 2 innings, allowed 3 runs, 4 hits, 1 home run, 1 walk and struck out 3. He is heading back to Daytona Beach...

Ray Miller (W 1-1) went 8 innings, gave us 3 runs (2 earned), 7 hits, 1 home run, 3 walks and struck out 5. At bat, he had a hit, scored a run and had an RBI.

CF Joe Roberts had 3 hits. 3B Brian Porter hit a double and scored a run. RF Dennis Brown went 2 for 2 with his 4th home run of the season, drew 2 walks and had 2 RBI. PH/LF Cal Doty had a hit.

For Birmingham, SS/1B Stan Stephens had 3 hits with a triple and a walk, stole a base, scored 2 runs and had 2 RBI.

[Questdog]

Friday, May 4, 2001

RP Bob Craig (23-R) and 2B Rick Dundore (35-R) have been sent back to Daytona (A). 2B Ed Diskin (37-R) has been activated from the Disabled List and RP Justin Reddick (28-R) has been called up. Reddick stinks, but he has Major League experience.

We are back home to play Ottawa a 4 game series through the weekend. Yesterday's game was rained out, so we will try to play a doubleheader today. They just won a pair of games at home versus Columbus and have won 5 of their last 6. The Otters are 12th in scoring with 3.63 runs per game (Jacksonville is #15 with 3.15). They are 2nd in fewest runs allowed with 3.44 per game (Jacksonville is #14 with 4.78). Their run differential is +5 and ours is -44, still the worst in the League, but the Whalers, who have lost 10 in a row, are now at -42.

Ottawa Otters (16-11 .593 1 GB in 2nd place in the Northern Division) at
Jacksonville Jays (8-19 .296 8.5 GB in 8th (last) place in the Southern Division)

Game 1
OTT: Bill Cortright (33-R) (2-3 5.28 ERA 30.2 IP, 36 H, 4 HR, 8 BB, 20 SO) vs.
JAX: Mackie Reed (29-R) (1-2 6.31 ERA 25.2 IP, 39 H, 3 HR, 6 BB, 13 SO)

Cortright has alternated losses and wins all season and is due for a win.

Reed gave up 12 hits in 5.1 IP last time out, nut no walks and only 3 runs in a no decision. He is 1-0 with a 3.12 ERA in his last 3 starts.

Lineups: Pos Name (Age-Bats BA-AB-HR-RBI-OPS-SB DEF)
OTTAWA
1: CF Tom Spiess (23-L .246-57-0-1-.552-2 B) Rookie #30 prospect
2: 2B Tom Van Diest (27-R .149-74-3-7-.510-2 B+)
3: RF Ed Yeager (26-L .319-94-5-23-.908-0 C)
4: 1B Phil Shumate (27-S .241-87-0-7-.659-1 C+)
5: LF Tom Beyke (32-R .423-26-2-8-1.246-0 B+)
6: C Doug Peacock (32-S .118-76-0-5-.357-0 B)
7: SS Joel McCormick (32-R .177-79-0-8-.485-0 A)
8: 3B Dave Behm (24-R .197-61-5-15-.718-0 B+)
9: P Bill Cortright (33-R .167-12-0-0-.333-0 C+)

JACKSONVILLE
1: LF Cal Doty (24-L .260-100-0-7-.645-5 B+)
2: CF Joe Roberts (30-L .361-61-0-7-.820-3 C+) Sprained elbow
3: 3B Brian Porter (33-S .299-97-1-9-.789-0 C+)
4: RF Dennis Brown (27-L .250-84-4-10-.721-0 C) Rookie
5: 1B Tony Becerra (31-L .198-91-4-9-.562-0 A+)
6: C Bert Swope (29-S .239-71-0-5-.606-0 B)
7: SS Leander Gooding (30-R .235-85-0-3-.584-0 B)
8: 2B Frank Roadman (26-R .192-99-3-10-.551-6 B)
9: P Mackie Reed (29-R .167-6-0-1-.417-0 D+)

Game Start: 1:05 PM
Ballpark: Connie Mack Stadium
Weather: 65 F, Partly Cloudy, with an 8 MPH wind blowing out to center
Attendance: 9,317

Another new record crowd outside of Opening Day!

Top of the First:
Tom Spiess pops out to 3rd. Tom Van Diest grounds out to 3rd. Ed Yeager flies out to center! 1-2-3!

Bottom of the First:
Cal Doty strikes out... Joe Roberts strikes out... Brian Porter strikes out on 3 pitches.... Oh, my...

Top of the Second:
Phil Shumate lines a double to left and goes to 3rd on a ground out. Doug Peacock, the .118 hitter, is walked on 4 pitches... Joel McCormick swings at a 3-2 pitch and misses. Dave Behm lines a hit to center and Shumate scores.... 1 to 0, Otters.

Bottom of the Fourth:
Brian Porter leads off with a double to right, his 12th of the season! Dennis Brown lines out to 3rd and they double Porter off base....

Top of the Eighth:
Tom Beyke leads off with a home run to left center... 2 to 0, Otters.

Top of the Ninth:
New Pitcher: Bill Grant (30-L). After the first two batters strike out, Tom Van Diest draws a walk. Ed Yeager doubles to center. Phil Shumate hits his first home run of the season to left... 5 to 0, Otters. Remember when we thought we had a good reliever in Grant?

Lost - 5 to 0

We had 5 whole hits and made no errors
Ottawa had 8 hits and made 1 error

Mackie Reed (L 1-3) went 8 innings, allowed 2 runs, 6 hits, 1 home run, 6 walks (1 INT) and struck out 4. 133 pitches. At bat, he had a hit.
LHP Bill Grant went 1 inning, allowed 3 runs, 2 hits, 1 home run, 1 walk and struck out 2.

Bill Cortright (W 3-3) pitched 9 shutout innings (CG), gave us 5 hits, 2 walks and struck out 7. 122 pitches. At bat, he had a hit.

3B Brian Porter hit a double. He is now tied for the League lead with 12. 1B Tony Becerra had a hit and a walk. PH Mike Volkman had a hit.

For Ottawa, 1B Phil Shumate hit a double and a home run, scored 2 runs and had 3 RBI.

Game 2
OTT: Buford Nolan (24-R) (3-0 2.93 ERA 27.2 IP, 28 H, 0 HR, 14 BB, 13 SO) Rookie vs.
JAX: Victor Espinoza (36-R) (2-3 1.84 ERA 44 IP, 37 H, 2 HR, 10 BB, 27 SO)

Nolan is making his first start in May, after being named Rookie of the Month for April.

Espinoza gave up 3 runs in 6 IP last time out and took a loss. He is currently 3rd in the League in ERA.

Lineups: Pos Name (Age-Bats BA-AB-HR-RBI-OPS-SB DEF)
OTTAWA
1: 3B Wes Fitzgibbons (25-R .277-47-2-6-.746-4 A)
2: 2B Kim Byrne (25-R .227-66-1-2-.623-5 A)
3: RF Ed Yeager (26-L .327-98-5-23-.927-0 C)
4: 1B Phil Shumate (27-S .250-92-1-10-.710-1 C+)
5: LF Tom Beyke (32-R .387-31-3-9-1.216-0 B+)
6: CF Tom Spiess (23-L .242-62-0-1-.540-2 B) Rookie
7: C Joe Tomlinson (26-R .320-25-0-0-.852-0 C) Rookie #49 prospect
8: SS Tom Van Diest (27-R .143-77-3-7-.509-2 C+)
9: P Buford Nolan (24-R .455-11-0-0-.909-0 D+)

JACKSONVILLE
1: RF Mike Volkman (33-L .394-33-0-4-.853-0 D+)
2: CF Joe Roberts (30-L .344-64-0-7-.791-3 C+) Sprained elbow
3: LF Cal Doty (24-L .260-104-0-7-.640-5 B+)
4: 3B Brian Porter (33-S .297-101-1-9-.788-0 C+)
5: 1B Tony Becerra (31-L .202-94-4-9-.573-0 A+)
6: 2B Ed Diskin (37-R .000-10-0-0-.000-0 B)
7: SS Junior Danielson (29-R .313-16-0-1-.750-1 B)
8: C Garrett Bender (27-R .118-17-0-0-.284-0 B+)
9: P Victor Espinoza (36-R .083-12-0-0-.237-0 F)

Game Start: 7:05 PM
Ballpark: Connie Mack Stadium
Weather: 71 F, Partly Cloudy, with an 8 MPH wind blowing out to left
Attendance: 10,224

Yet another new record crowd outside of Opening Day and only about 150 less than Opening Day!

Top of the First:
Wes Fitzgibbons grounds out to short. Kim Byrne grounds out to short. Ed Yeager strikes out looking! 1-2-3!

Bottom of the First:
Mike Volkman grounds out to 3rd. Joe Roberts grounds out to short. Cal Doty grounds a hit to left. Brian Porter lines a hit to right center and Doty beats the throw to 3rd and Porter takes 2nd. Tony Becerra bloops a hit to left and both runners score!! 2 to 0, Jays! Becerra steals his first base of the season! Ed Diskin takes a 3-2 pitch for ball 4. Junior Danielson grounds out to 2nd.

Top of the Fourth:
With 1 out, Ed Yeager lines a hit to left. Phil Shumate grounds a hit to center and Yeager goes to 3rd. Tom Beyke pops out to center and the runners hold. Tom Spiess swings at a 3-2 pitch and pops out to center! But when Victor Espinosa comes into the dugout, he goes to see Trudy the Trainer....

Bottom of the Fourth:
Garrett Bender leads off with a walk. PH Dennis Brown (27-L) swings at the first pitch and flies out to center. Mike Volkman swings at the first pitch and grounds a hit to right. Joe Roberts lines a hit to right and the bases are loaded with 1 out. Cal Doty grounds a hit to right and 2 runs score!! 4 to 0, Jays! Brian Porter grounds into a 4-6-3 double play...

Top of the Sixth:
On the Hill: Roger Wallace (25-R), after a perfect 5th. With 1 out, Kim Byrne hits a home run to left center... 4 to 1, Jays.

Won - 4 to 1

We had 10 hits and made 1 error
Ottawa had 8 hits and made 1 error

Victor Espinoza pitched 4 shutout innings, allowed 3 hits, no walks and struck out 4. At bat, he drew a walk.
RHP Roger Wallace (W 2-0) went 2 innings, allowed 1 run, 2 hits and 1 home run.
RHP Justin Reddick (H 1), in his season debut, went 2 scoreless innings and allowed 2 hits.
RHP Gary Adamson (SV 2) pitched a scoreless 9th, allowed 1 hit and struck out 1.

Buford Nolan (L 3-1) went 7 innings, gave us 4 runs, 9 hits, 4 walks and struck out 3.

CF/RF Joe Roberts had 2 hits. LF Cal Doty had 2 hits, scored a run and had 2 RBI. 1B Tony Becerra had a hit and a walk, stole a base and had 2 RBI. 2B Ed Diskin hit a triple and drew a walk. CF Frank Wendell had a hit in his only at bat.

Trudy's report on P Victor Espinoza is forearm stiffness that will bother him for a week or so. Complete rest is recommended.... So we will need a spot starter sometime soon... Trudy also informed me that CF Danny Stewart (30-L), on the DL with a forearm strain, is not healing as fast as expected and it is unclear when he will be able to play.

[Questdog]

Saturday, May 5, 2001

Ottawa Otters (17-12 .586 1.5 GB in 2nd place in the Northern Division) at
Jacksonville Jays (9-20 .310 8 GB in 8th (last) place in the Southern Division)

OTT: Bob Stephens (24-R) (1-1 4.00 ERA 27 IP, 23 H, 6 HR, 6 BB, 21 SO) vs.
JAX: Frank Cook (35-R) (2-3 3.46 ERA 39 IP, 32 H, 1 HR, 17 BB, 20 SO)

Stephens gave up 1 run in 4 IP last time out in a no decision and had to leave the game with a sore back.

Cook has won his last 2 starts, but they have been the worst starts of his season.

Lineups: Pos Name (Age-Bats BA-AB-HR-RBI-OPS-SB DEF)
OTTAWA
1: 3B Wes Fitzgibbons (25-R .255-51-2-6-.688-4 A)
2: 2B Kim Byrne (25-R .243-70-2-3-.686-5 A)
3: RF Ed Yeager (26-L .333-102-5-23-.939-0 C)
4: 1B Phil Shumate (27-S .260-96-1-10-.721-1 C+)
5: LF Tom Beyke (32-R .371-35-3-9-1.138-1 B+)
6: CF Tom Spiess (23-L .242-66-0-1-.537-2 B) Rookie
7: SS Joel McCormick (32-R .171-82-0-8-.476-0 A)
8: C Doug Peacock (32-S .115-78-0-5-.366-0 B)
9: P Bob Stephens (24-R .000-8-0-0-.000-1 D+)

JACKSONVILLE
1: LF Cal Doty (24-L .269-108-0-9-.653-5 B+)
2: CF Joe Roberts (30-L .353-68-0-7-.803-3 C+) Sprained elbow
3: 3B Brian Porter (33-S .295-105-1-9-.777-0 C+)
4: RF Dennis Brown (27-L .236-89-4-10-.682-0 C) Rookie
5: 1B Tony Becerra (31-L .206-97-4-11-.583-1 A+)
6: 2B Ed Diskin (37-R .077-13-0-0-.374-0 B)
7: SS Junior Danielson (29-R .300-20-0-1-.700-1 B)
8: C Bert Swope (29-S .224-76-0-5-.570-0 B)
9: P Frank Cook (35-R .100-10-0-0-.282-0 C+)

Game Start: 2:05 PM
Ballpark: Connie Mack Stadium
Weather: 71 F, Clear Skies, with a 13 MPH wind blowing out to right
Attendance: 10,161

Top of the First:
Wes Fitzgibbons grounds a hit to right. Kim Byrne lines out to right. Ed Yeager sends one to deep right, but Dennis Brown races back and makes a diving catch! Phil Shumate lines a double to center and Fitzgibbons scores... 1 to 0, Otters. Tom Beyke swings at the first pitch and doubles to right and Shumate scores... 2 to 0, Otters. Tom Spiess swings at a 3-2 pitch and misses.

Bottom of the First:
Cal Doty flies out to deep left. Joe Roberts grounds out to 2nd. Brian Porter draws a walk. Dennis Brown flies out to very deep center...

Top of the Second:
Joel McCormick fouls off 2 3-2 pitches before taking a walk. Doug Peacock grounds into a force at 2nd, 6-4. P Bob Stephens bunts into a force at 2nd, 1-6. He steals 2nd, the second steal of the year for him... Wes Fitzgibbons lines a double down the right field line and P Stephens scores... 3 to 0, Otters.

Top of the Fifth:
Wes Fitzgibbons triples off the wall in right center... The Bullpen is up. Kim Byrne strikes out looking. Ed Yeager grounds a double down the left field line... 4 to 0, Otters. Phil Shumate lines a hit to right and Yeager scores ahead of the throw and Shumate goes to 2nd... 5 to 0, Otters. Call to the Bullpen: Barry Finney (25-R). Tom Beyke grounds out slowly to 3rd and Shumate goes to 3rd. A wild pitch scores Shumate... 6 to 0, Otters.

Top of the Sixth:
Doug Peacock grounds a hit to right. With 1 out, Wes Fitzgibbons beats out an infield hit. Kim Byrne lines a hit to center and the bases are loaded. Ed Yeager lines a hit to right and a run scores... 7 to 0, Otters. Suck it up, time... Phil Shumate takes a 3-2 pitch for ball 4 to force in a run... 8 to 0, Otters. Tom Beyke grounds into a 5-4-3 double play.

Top of the Seventh:
New Pitcher: Justin Reddick (28-R). He strikes out the side in order!

Top of the Ninth:
With 1 out, Phil Shumate hits a home run to right... 9 to 0, Otters.

Bottom of the Ninth:
P Bob Stephens is at 104 pitches. The reason we are cutting in on the game here is that the Jacksonville Jays have yet to get a hit... RF Mike Volkman flies out to center. Cal Doty swings at a 3-2 pitch and doubles to right! That does it for P Stephens. New Pitcher: Chuck Meredith (30-R), a rookie making his season debut. PH Ismael Gonzales (33-R) grounds out to short and Doty takes 3rd. 3B Bobby Scrogham (25-R) takes a 3-2 pitch for ball 4. CF Frank Wendell (33-R) swings at the first pitch and grounds out to 3rd...

Lost - 9 to 0

We had 1 whole hit and made no errors
Ottawa had 14 hits and made no errors

Frank Cook (L 2-4) went 4.1 innings, allowed 6 runs, 8 hits, 2 walks and struck out 2.
RHP Barry Finney went 1.2 innings, allowed 2 runs, 5 hits, 1 walk and struck out 1. He threw a WP.
RHP Justin Reddick went 3 innings, allowed 1 run, 1 hit, a home run, and struck out 5.

Bob Stephens (W 2-1) went 8.1 scoreless innings, gave us 1 hit, 2 walks and stuck out 6. 113 pitches. At bat, he stole a base and scored a run.

LF Cal Doty hit a double.

For Ottawa, 3B Wes Fitzgibbons had 4 hits with a double and a triple, scored 3 runs and had an RBI. 1B Phil Shumate had 3 hits with a double and his 2nd home run of the season and series, drew a walk, scored 3 runs and had 4 RBI.

[Questdog]

Sunday, May 6, 2001

Ottawa Otters (18-12 .600 1.5 GB in 2nd place in the Northern Division) at
Jacksonville Jays (9-21 .300 9 GB in 8th (last) place in the Southern Division)

OTT: Jim Hower (32-R) (3-1 3.16 ERA 5 SV 25.2 IP, 22 H, 1 HR, 5 BB, 11 SO) vs.
JAX: Marco Gonzalez (26-R) (0-1 2.63 ERA 13.2 IP, 12 H, 0 HR, 7 BB, 8 SO)

Hower began the season as the Otters' closer. This will be his 2nd start. In his 1st, he gave up 3 runs on 8 hits and 3 walks in 7 IP and got a win.

Gonzalez gave up 4 runs (3 earned) on 6 hits and 3 walks in 6 IP and struck out 5 in a loss last time out.

Lineups: Pos Name (Age-Bats BA-AB-HR-RBI-OPS-SB DEF)
OTTAWA
1: 3B Tom Van Diest (27-R .136-81-3-7-.485-2 B+)
2: 2B Kim Byrne (25-R .240-75-2-3-.668-5 A)
3: RF Ed Yeager (26-L .340-106-5-25-.956-0 C)
4: 1B Phil Shumate (27-S .280-100-2-14-.795-1 C+)
5: LF Tom Beyke (32-R .350-40-3-10-1.076-1 B+)
6: C Doug Peacock (32-S .122-82-0-5-.372-0 B)
7: CF Bob McCord (32-R .250-60-1-5-.598-1 C+)
8: SS Joel McCormick (32-R .176-85-0-8-.491-0 A)
9: P Jim Hower (32-R .000-4-0-0-.000-0 F)

JACKSONVILLE
1: LF Cal Doty (24-L .268-112-0-9-.656-5 B+)
2: CF Joe Roberts (30-L .338-71-0-7-.770-3 C+) Sprained elbow
3: 3B Brian Porter (33-S .292-106-1-9-.776-0 C+)
4: RF Dennis Brown (27-L .231-91-4-10-.667-0 C) Rookie
5: 1B Tony Becerra (31-L .200-100-4-11-.566-1 A+)
6: 2B Ed Diskin (37-R .067-15-0-0-.376-0 B)
7: SS Junior Danielson (29-R .261-23-0-1-.609-1 B)
8: C Bert Swope (29-S .215-79-0-5-.550-0 B)
9: P Marco Gonzalez (26-R .000-3-0-0-.000-0 F)

Game Start: 2:05 PM
Ballpark: Connie Mack Stadium
Weather: 74 F, Partly Cloudy, with a 7 MPH wind blowing out to center
Attendance: 8,824

Top of the First:
Tom Van Diest flies out to left. Kim Byrne grounds out to short. Ed Yeager grounds out to 2nd! 1-2-3!

Bottom of the First:
Cal Doty swings at the first pitch and lines one to center, but Bob McCord makes a diving catch... Joe Roberts swings at the first pitch and grounds out to 1st, unassisted. Brian Porter pops out to center...

Top of the Third:
Joel McCormick grounds a hit to center. P Jim Hower lays down a bad bunt and 3B Brian Porter has a play at 2nd, but makes a error on the throw... Tom Van Diest walks to load the bases up with no outs... Kim Byrne grounds into a force at home, 5-2. Ed Yeager pops out to left and the runners hold. Phil Shumate, who has torn us up this series, lines one hard to center, but Joe Roberts flags it down!! No runs!

Bottom of the Third:
Junior Danielson draws a walk and goes to 2nd on a ground out. With 2 outs, Cal Doty lines a hit to center and Danielson beats the throw home! 1 to 0, Jays!

Top of the Fourth:
With 2 outs, Bob McCord doubles to right center. We walk Joel McCormick, batting under .200, intentionally to get to the pitcher... Which seems extremely stupid under normal circumstances, but the way we have not been able to get pitchers out makes it plain suicidal... P Jim Hower grounds a hit to left and McCord scores... Tie Game: 1 to 1. Unbelievable...

Top of the Ninth:
On the Hill: Gary Adamson (35-R), after getting 2 outs in the 8th. PH Joe Bowden (25-R), a rookie who is 0 for 1 this series, pops out to short. Bob McCord strikes out on 3 pitches! Joel McCormick strikes out!

Bottom of the Ninth:
New Pitcher: Bobo McCoy (26-R), their new closer, with 2 SV and a 1.64 ERA in 11 IP. Top of our order up. Cal Doty takes a 3-2 pitch for ball 4. He steals 2nd! Joe Roberts strikes out... Doty steals 3rd! Stupid! But he made it! Brian Porter swings at a 3-1 pitch and lines a hit to right and THIS Ball Game Belongs to the Jays!

Won - 2 to 1

10 wins!

We had 5 whole hits (all singles) and made 1 error
Ottawa had 4 hits and made no errors

Marco Gonzalez went 7.1 innings, allowed 1 run, 4 hits, 3 walks (1 INT) and struck out 3. At bat, he had a hit.
RHP Gary Adamson (W 2-1) faced 5 batters and got them all out with 3 strikeouts.

Jim Hower went 8 innings, gave us 1 run, 4 hits, 1 walk and struck out 4. At bat, he had a hit and their only RBI.
RHP Bobo McCoy (L 0-1) got 1 out, gave us 1 run, 1 hit, 1 walk and struck out 1.

LF Cal Doty had a hit and a walk, stole 2 bases, scored the winning run and had an RBI. 1B Tony Becerra had 2 hits.

[Questdog]

May 7, 2001

Monday Morning Report
Player of the Week - Dennis Fuller, LF, Rochester (27-L .384/.425/.687) Had 12 hits with 2 2B, 3 HR, 2 BB, 1 SO, 7 R and 8 RBI in 6 G

(Slash lines are for the season, not the week)

May 1 - SS Buddy Hendricks (21-R) of Rochester had 2 hits and 2 walks, stole a base and scored 5 runs at Hartford, setting a new record. RF John King (31-R) hit a double and a home run, drew a walk and had 5. The Roosters won, 17 to 3.
May 2 - RF John King (31-R) of Rochester had 3 hits with 2 home runs and a walk, scored 3 runs and had 3 RBI at Hartford. The Roosters won, 6 to 4. The Whalers have lost 10 in a row.
May 3 - Hartford won at Louisville, 7 to 4, ending their 10 game losing streak.
May 3 - 3B Norm Geiger (25-R) of Indianapolis hit a double and 2 home runs, scored 3 runs and had 5 RBI at home versus New Orleans. The Arrows won, 6 to 3.
May 4 - RF John King (31-R) of Rochester had 2 hits with a Grand Slam and 5 RBI at Orlando. The Roosters won, 12 to 6. SS Josue Camacho (29-R) also hit a Grand Slam. Both came in the 2nd inning, when the Roosters scored 10 runs.
May 4 - Yui Ogawa (26-L) of Indianapolis pitched a 4 hit shutout at home versus New Orleans. He walked 1 and struck out 5. At bat, he drew a walk. He is now 3-4 with a 4.15 ERA in 7 starts. The Arrows won, 3 to 0, and only had 5 hits themselves.
May 4 - Eli Kyzar (28-R) of Syracuse pitched a 5 hit shutout at Birmingham. He walked 1 and struck out 7. At bat, he went 2 for 2 with a walk and scored a run. He is now 1-3 with a 2.85 ERA in 6 starts. The Sycamores won, 6 to 0.
May 5 - Cesar Rodriquez (27-R) of Birmingham pitched a 3 hit shutout at home versus Syracuse. He walked 2 and struck out 6. It is his 2nd shutout of the season. He is now 4-1 with an 0.59 ERA in 6 starts. The Barons won, 4 to 0.
May 6 - CF Frank Bates (29-R) of Syracuse hit 2 home runs, drew a walk and had 6 RBI at Birmingham. The Sycamores won, 8 to 6.

[Questdog]

Monday, May 7, 2001

We are in Providence to play the Steamrollers a 4 game series. They just split 4 games in Charlotte. They are tied for 11th in scoring with 3.68 runs per game (Jacksonville is last again with 2.94). They are 12th in fewest runs allowed with 4.52 per game (Jacksonville is #13 with 4.68). They have now passed us for allowing the most HR with 34 (we are 3rd from last with 28). Their run differential is -26 and ours is -54.

Jacksonville Jays (10-21 .323 8 GB in 8th (last) place in the Southern Division) at
Providence Steamrollers (11-20 .355 9.5 GB in 8th (last) place in the Northern Division)

JAX: Spencer Shuff (32-R) (0-3 4.64 ERA 21.1 IP, 25 H, 5 HR, 8 BB, 2 SO) vs.
PROV: Norm Kent (34-R) (0-5 9.55 ERA 21.2 IP, 35 H, 7 HR, 9 BB, 10 SO)

Shuff gave up 3 runs on 7 hits, a home run and 2 walks in 6 IP in another loss last time out.

Kent has allowed 15 runs in his last 3 starts combined and managed to pitch 9 innings.

Lineups: Pos Name (Age-Bats BA-AB-HR-RBI-OPS-SB DEF)
JACKSONVILLE
1: LF Cal Doty (24-L .270-115-0-10-.662-7 B+)
2: CF Joe Roberts (30-L .320-75-0-7-.729-3 C+) Sprained elbow
3: 3B Brian Porter (33-S .291-110-1-10-.766-0 C+)
4: RF Dennis Brown (27-L .223-94-4-10-.646-0 C) Rookie
5: 1B Tony Becerra (31-L .214-103-4-11-.588-1 A+)
6: 2B Ed Diskin (37-R .056-18-0-0-.317-0 B)
7: SS Junior Danielson (29-R .240-25-0-1-.589-1 B)
8: C Bert Swope (29-S .207-82-0-5-.532-0 B)
9: P Spencer Shuff (32-R .250-4-0-1-.900-0 C+)

PROVIDENCE
1: RF Tom Tye (34-R .182-44-0-6-.467-0 A)
2: LF Jim Polston (27-S .290-62-4-8-.911-1 B+)
3: 1B Gus Milam (33-R .202-109-4-16-.627-1 C+)
4: 3B Mike Hughes (26-R .302-53-0-9-.773-0 B)
5: CF Juan Duarte (22-R .319-91-0-5-.799-2 C+) Rookie #33 prospect
6: C Bill Forsyth (30-S .211-19-0-3-.568-0 C)
7: 2B Ken Barr (29-R .292-48-2-6-.838-2 A)
8: SS T.R. Hunter (24-R .294-51-1-8-.843-1 B+)
9: P Norm Kent (34-R .167-6-0-0-.333-0 C)

Game Start: 7:05 PM
Ballpark: Providence Stadium
Weather: 63 F, Rain, with an 11 MPH wind blowing in from center
Attendance: 5,334

Top of the First:
Cal Doty pops out to short. Joe Roberts grounds out to 2nd. Brian Porter swings at the first pitch and lines out to left...

Bottom of the First:
I bet they will not be as kind to our stinky pitcher as we were to theirs... Tom Tye grounds out to short. Jim Polston grounds out to 2nd. Just when I thought that maybe they would be nice, Gus Milam swings at an 0-2 pitch and hits a home run 435 ft. to center.... 1 to 0, Steamrollers. Mike Hughes pops out to 1st.

Top of the Second:
Dennis Brown lines one to 3rd, but Mike Hughes drops the ball for an error. Tony Becerra lines a hit to left. Ed Diskin grounds into a force at 2nd, 6-4, and Brown goes to 3rd. Junior Danielson grounds into a force at 2nd, 6-4, and Brown scores! Tie Game: 1 to 1.

Bottom of the Third:
P Norm Kent grounds a double over the 3rd base bag... But the next three all fly out to center!

Top of the Fifth:
Cal Doty leads off by taking a 3-2 pitch for ball 4 and then he steals 2nd. Joe Roberts lines a 3-1 pitch (I though he might get his first walk of the year) to left center for a hit. Brian Porter lines out to deep center and Doty tags up and scores. 2 to 1, Jays! Roberts steals 2nd. But the next two make outs...

Bottom of the Sixth:
Gus Milam swings at the first pitch and hits a home run to left, his 2nd of the game... Tie Game: 2 to 2. The Bullpen gets up. Mike Hughes hits his first home run of the season to left... 3 to 2, Steamrollers.

Bottom of the Eighth:
New Pitcher: Barry Finney (25-R). Gus Milam takes a 3-2 pitch for ball 4. Mike Hughes bloops a hit to right... Juan Duarte tries to bunt and fails to make contact, so with 2 strikes he swings away and accomplishes the same thing with a slow roller to short. We walk Bill Forsyth intentionally to load the bases up with 1 out. Ken Barr grounds into a 6-2-3 double play!!

Top of the Ninth:
On the Hill: Larry Domino (65-L), their closer after a scoreless 8th. Top of our order up. Cal Doty grounds a hit up the middle. PH Frank Wendell (33-R) bunts Doty to 2nd... They say you should not play for a tie on the road, but here we are trying just that.... Brian Porter pops out to short. Dennis Brown swings at a 1-2 pitch and doubles off the wall in right center and Doty scores! Tie Game: 3 to 3. 1B Ismael Gonzalez (33-R) pops out to 2nd.

Bottom of the Ninth:
PH Ricky Sanchez (29-L), batting .275 with 2 HR in 40 AB, swings at a 3-2 pitch and grounds out to 2nd. PH Alfredo Herrera (31-R), batting .182 in 55 AB with 0 RBI, takes a 3-2 pitch for ball 4... He tries to steal, but C Garrett Bender throws him out! Tom Tye swings at a 2-2 pitch and gets jammed but muscles a hit over the 2nd baseman.... He steals 2nd. Jim Polston swings at a 2-2 pitch and lines a double down the right field line....

Lost - 4 to 3

We had 7 hits and made no errors
Providence had 12 hits and made 2 errors

Spencer Shuff went 5.1 innings, allowed 3 runs, 8 hits, 3 home runs, no walks and struck out 1.
RHP Roger Wallace went 1.2 scoreless innings and allowed 1 hit.
RHP Barry Finney (L 0-1) went 1.2 innings, allowed 1 run, 3 hits and 3 walks (1 INT).

Norm Kent went 7 innings, gave us 2 runs (1 earned), 5 hits, 4 walks (1 INT) and struck out 1. At bat, he hit a double.
LHP Larry Domino (W 1-2, BS 4) went 2 innings, gave us 1 run, 2 hits and 1 walk.

LF Cal Doty had 2 hits and a walk, stole a base and scored 2 runs. RF Dennis Brown hit a double, scored a run and had an RBI. 1B Tony Becerra had 2 hits. C Burt Swope drew 2 walks (1 INT). He is 0 for his last 22...

[Questdog]

Tuesday, May 8, 2001

3B Bobby Scrogham (25-R) was sent to Daytona (A). We called up P Tom Betke (25-R) to start the game today because he was the only starter rested enough. If we had planned a little, we could have had more of a choice to make, but they all stink, so it does not matter....

Jacksonville Jays (10-22 .313 9 GB in 8th (last) place in the Southern Division) at
Providence Steamrollers (12-20 .375 8.5 GB in 7th place in the Northern Division)

JAX: Tom Betke (25-R) (0-5 5.87 ERA 30.2 IP, 43 H, 1 HR, 14 BB, 18 SO in A Ball) Rookie vs.
PROV: Jim Gibson (29-R) (4-0 1.96 ERA 46 IP, 35 H, 2 HR, 9 BB, 29 SO)

Betke will be making his Major League debut today. And possibly his swan song...

Gibson is tied for the League lead in shutouts with 2.

Lineups: Pos Name (Age-Bats BA-AB-HR-RBI-OPS-SB DEF)
JACKSONVILLE
1: LF Cal Doty (24-L .277-119-0-10-.678-8 B+)
2: CF Joe Roberts (30-L .316-79-0-7-.717-4 C+) Sprained elbow
3: 3B Brian Porter (33-S .289-114-1-11-.754-0 C+)
4: RF Dennis Brown (27-L .222-99-4-11-.644-0 C) Rookie
5: 1B Tony Becerra (31-L .226-106-4-11-.608-1 A+)
6: 2B Ed Diskin (37-R .048-21-0-0-.310-0 B)
7: SS Junior Danielson (29-R .214-28-0-2-.552-3 B)
8: C Bert Swope (29-S .205-83-0-5-.540-0 B)
9: P Tom Betke (25-R Major League debut F)

PROVIDENCE
1: RF Tom Tye (34-R .204-49-0-6-.501-2 A)
2: LF Jim Polston (27-S .284-67-4-9-.889-1 B+)
3: 1B Gus Milam (33-R .214-112-6-18-.705-1 C+)
4: 3B Mike Hughes (26-R .316-57-1-10-.841-0 B)
5: C Doug Bowers (26-R .235-68-1-8-.648-0 C)
6: CF Juan Duarte (22-R .315-95-0-5-.788-2 C+) Rookie
7: SS Andy Povich (25-L .175-80-0-6-.493-2 B+)
8: 2B T.R. Hunter (24-R .278-54-1-8-.799-1 A+)
9: P Jim Gibson (29-R .333-18-0-4-.705-0 F)

Game Start: 7:05 PM
Ballpark: Providence Stadium
Weather: 57 F, Partly Cloudy, with a 9 MPH wind blowing in from right
Attendance: 7,128

Top of the First:
Cal Doty doubles over the center fielder's head! Joe Roberts lines a hit to center. Brian Porter swings at a 3-2 pitch and pokes a hit to center and Doty scores and Roberts goes to 3rd! 1 to 0, Jays. Dennis Brown grounds into a 4-6-3 double play and Roberts scores... 2 to 0, Jays. Tony Becerra grounds out to 1st, unassisted.

Bottom of the First:
Tom Tye swings at the first pitch ever thrown in the Major Leagues by P Tom Betke and lines a double to right center... Jim Polston walks on 4 pitches... Gus Milam pops out to left. They pull off a double steal... Mike Hughes grounds out to short and Tye scores. 2 to 1, Jays. Doug Bowers doubles to center and Polston scores... Tie Game: 2 to 2. Juan Duarte grounds out to 2nd.

Top of the Third:
With 1 out, Joe Roberts doubles to left. Brian Porter lines a hit to center and Roberts beats the throw home! 3 to 2, Jays! With 2 outs, Tony Becerra walks on 4 pitches. Ed Diskin flies out to right.

Top of the Sixth:
With 2 outs, Bert Swope takes a 3-2 pitch for ball 4. P Tom Betke swings at the first pitch and lines a double down the right field line and Swope scores from 1st without a throw! 4 to 2, Jays!

Bottom of the Sixth:
Gus Milam takes a 3-2 pitch for ball 4... The Bullpen is up. Mike Hughes takes a 3-2 pitch for ball 4. But the next three make outs!!!

Bottom of the Seventh:
T.R. Hunter lines a hit to center. The Bullpen is back up. PH Ricky Sanchez (29-L), 0 for 1 in this series, grounds a hit to right and Hunter beats the throw to 3rd. Tom Tye lines a hit to center and Hunter scores. 4 to 3, Jays. Call to the Bullpen: Bill Grant (30-L). Frank Wendell (33-R) is in to play center in a double switch. Joe Roberts moves to right. PH Rich Treanor (33-R), 0 for 1 in this series, strikes out looking. They pull off another double steal... Gus Milam hits a home run to left... 6 to 4, Steamrollers. The next two make outs.

Top of the Ninth:
On the Hill: John Williams (36-L), after a perfect 8th. He is not their closer, who pitched 2 innings yesterday. Frank Wendell grounds out to short. Cal Doty swings at the first pitch and flies out to center. PH Ismael Gonzales (33-R) grounds out to short...

Lost - 6 to 4

And we have reached the 13 games under .500 that the soothsayer predicted.
However, we are still safely ahead of Daytona (A), who are 19 games under (7-26)...

We had 8 hits and made 1 error
Providence had 9 hits and made no errors

Tom Betke (L 0-1) went 6+ innings, allowed 5 runs, 7 hits, 3 walks and struck out 4. At bat, he hit a double and had an RBI.
LHP Bill Grant (BS 1) went 2 innings, allowed 1 run, 2 hits, 1 home run and struck out 3.

Jim Gibson went 6.2 innings, gave us 4 runs, 8 hits, 4 walks and struck out 2.
RHP Luis Mejia (W 1-0) faced 1 batter, threw 1 pitch and got him out.
LHP John Williams (SV 1) pitched 2 perfect innings.

LF Cal Doty hit a double and scored a run. CF/RF Joe Roberts had 3 hits with a double and scored 2 runs. 3B Brian Porter had 2 hits and a walk and 2 RBI.

For Providence, 1B Gus Milam hit a home run, his 3rd of the series (only 2 games so far), drew a walk and had 3 RBI.