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Steaming Down the Tracks - The WV Alleghenies Blog

Posted: Thu Sep 03, 2015 6:10 pm
by Alleghenies
Steaming Down the Tracks – The West Virginia Alleghenies Blog

It’s not easy taking over a team only a few days before the season starts, but after going 5-2 the first week, I’m cautiously optimistic about our chances. There’s still a long way to go, but if our pitching continues along the path they’ve set and our offense comes around, we’ll be giving our fans a lot of reasons to think that we can make the playoffs again and maybe make a run for the Trans-Atlantic title.

Our #5 Starter, Arturo Velasquez, pitched 8 innings of 1 hit ball against Amsterdam, walking none and striking out 9 but getting a no decision due to zero runs of support. We lost on a squeeze bunt in the top of the 11th, which was perfectly executed by Ray Gilbert.

Our pitching staff is 1st in ERA (both starters and bullpen), opponents against and home runs in the Imperial League. The only thing that could use improving is our bases on balls, as we’ve given up 14 in only 7 games.

Our batters on the other hand, need to get their sticks going. While we’re 2nd in both hits and walks in the IL, we’ve ground into 6 double plays already, 4 of which came against Amsterdam in Velasquez’s start.

I know it’s early and our pitching will probably get worse and hopefully our bats will get a little better, but it’s never too early to think of ways to improve.

Down on the farm, we saw our AAA affiliate, the Mansfield Mohicans, and our AA affiliate, the Maine Lobsters, get off to the starts of their seasons as well. The Mohicans went 2-6, ending up 5th in the RML Central Division. The Lobsters went 4-3, which is good enough for a tie for first in the AMAL New England Division.

The Mohicans best pitcher was Aaron Anderson, who gave up no runs in 6 innings of his start against Sayga, striking out 11 and walking 3 for a 0.00 ERA.

Derrick Dwyer was leading the Mohican offense with a .440 average with 1 HR, 3 2Bs and 4 BB with only 1 K. That’s no surprise as he’s bat over .330 at every level but the PEBA, where he bat a measly .206 in 53 games last year. He’s an above average 2B and if Mike Martin has any slip in performance, he could see his job being filled by the in-form 22 year old.

The Lobsters saw some good things from Craig Grant, who starts off the season batting .406 for his first 7 games, with 4 2B, 2 BB and 6 K. The batting definitely makes the 2 errors he made in the field look a little better, although coaches say he’s not going to get much better at 3B. He may be a long term designated hitter, although he’s not a big power guy, only hitting 11 HR in 131 games last year.

Re: Steaming Down the Tracks - The WV Alleghenies Blog

Posted: Thu Sep 03, 2015 6:45 pm
by roncollins
WV is an interesting club.

Re: Steaming Down the Tracks - The WV Alleghenies Blog

Posted: Thu Nov 23, 2017 3:12 pm
by Alleghenies
Steaming Down the Tracks – The West Virginia Alleghenies Blog
-Casey Jones

Welcome back to Streaming Down the Tracks as I, Casey Jones, have been hired as the team’s new coverage reporter. Hopefully during my tenure here I will be able to bring some good stories and insight into the West Virginia Alleghenies team and management.

First let me start with rumors behind the scenes, while it is well known that GM Abcarian has had his troubles with the manager Salvador González, his job is not in jeopardy as he is currently 18 games over .500. When GM Abcarian was about his relationship with Salvador this is what he replied, “Look, Salvador is a great manager, he wins games, there is no denying that. Now personally do I like him, well let’s put it this way, he won’t be coming over for Thanksgiving Dinner, but then again, neither are you. If he does his job well on the field, then our personal relationship has nothing to do with anything.”

The rumor that has been popping up though is the team might promote Joe Randall from AAA manager to be the bench coach and then send bench coach Kunitaro Aoki to SA to manage. Why would they want to do this? First to let Randall get some PEBA experience and grumblings have it Aoki not well liked as the bench coach. What does that mean for SA manager Kano Yoshioka and who will manage AAA? Those questions haven’t been answered, but the answer could be in the question. The team is hesitant to move either Ian Quinn or Shintaro Akiyamaas they are defending their championships.

In other news, it is no secret the team is trying to raise some cash, but why they are has been a mystery. With their picks signed and it being almost All-Star time, maybe the team has been working a behind the scenes trade for a catcher. That is one position GM Abcarian has not had any success filling since he has arrived. Since he has arrived in 2022 here is a list of the catchers to appear: Will Dupre, Cisco Rivera, Ray Tuff, Reid Wood, Chris Risdale, Allen Wells and Samuel Kettley(injured 12 games in). While defensively overall they have been above average, offensively it has been a black hole. The team recently just waived Rivera and reinstated Chris Risdale (who recently passed through waivers 3 times) as the starting catcher.

Lastly the team recently signed AAA Pitching Coach Ricardo Santos to a 4 year extension. If he ends up completely that contract he will be coaching until he is 69 years old. We here at Streaming Down the Tracks hope that he does and we can continue talking about him for the next 5 ½ seasons.