Steaming Down the Tracks - The WV Alleghenies Blog
Posted: Thu Sep 03, 2015 6:10 pm
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.
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.