April 15^th, 2012 3:37 PM
Jacksonville, Florida

Featherheads Off to Sluggish Start
Currently, the Featherheads have a .500 record at 6-6.  Most teams would be content with such an April start, but this is a poor showing by the reigning champs’ standards.  Offensively, the team has struggled to hit the ball; the Featherheads rank last in the IL with a team batting average of .237.  Luis Torres, Luis Torres, Kevin McNeill and Tsumemasa Morimoto are all hitting below .200.  The starting rotation has been inconsistent.  A 20-game winner last season, Franklin Browne is 0-2 with a 12.71 ERA.  Florida’s big acquisition, Keitaro Kodo, lasted only two innings in his last start while giving up five runs.  This last performance ballooned his ERA to 7.00 for the season.  All five starting pitchers have an ERA above 4.00 in the young season.

No one is panicking in the clubhouse, though.  After last game’s loss to New Orleans, manager Jaime Sánchez answered questions about the state of the team in his post-game interview.  Sánchez cited last season as an example, when Florida struggled to hit right out of the gate.  The team picked up their bats as the season wore on and finished second overall in runs scored.  Sánchez went on to say that the team is not worried at all.  In fact, he is very happy to see the team scrap out a .500 record despite playing this poorly.

Trio of New Faces Looking Impressive
Rookie reliever Michael Smallbridge has made the most out of his opportunity.  Smallbridge’s strong spring training showing has continued into the regular season.  He is 2-0, has yet to give up a hit in six appearances, and has been entrusted with the setup role.  The team’s strong faith in Smallbridge’s development was made evident with the trading of Jesse Powell and François Bernard to Omaha.

Speaking of trades, Ben “Jackrabbit” McGinnity and Glen Harris have both looked impressive in early April.  Jackrabbit is hitting over .400 with a .700+ slugging percentage.  Those numbers should not last all season, but it is a good sign to see McGinnity get comfortable in his new surroundings.  McGinnity has put up these numbers while playing the new position of shortstop – which makes it all the more impressive.  The veteran Harris is hitting over .300 and has been a nice replacement to the departed Michael Kelly – who, by the way, is still unemployed.



Florida Set to Make Roster Moves
It was announced earlier that rookie pitcher Danny Williams has been sent down to AAA.  Although Williams has looked better in his last few appearances, he has been optioned to Chesapeake Bay in order to clear a roster spot for António Delgado.  Delgado, who missed most of last year with a torn flexor tendon, is ready to make his 2012 debut.  It is unknown how Delgado will perform after suffering such an injury, but the club felt it owed him an opportunity at the very least.  The former closer saved 32 games for the Featherheads in 2010.

Along with clearing a spot for Delgado, Williams’s demotion allows him to focus on improving his control.  Williams has walked ten batters and given up three home runs in just ten innings of work.

The Featherheads also placed Kwang-chih Zhu on the 14-day disabled list.  Zhu, who made several trips to the DL last season, was hit on the wrist by a pitch in last Sunday’s game against Arlington.  Fortunately for Zhu, X-rays did not reveal any fracture.  The diagnosis is a deep bone wrist that will put Zhu out for another estimated two weeks.

It is currently unknown who will replace Zhu on the roster.  There is a good chance that outfielder prospect Roberto Holguín may get a look.  Holguín is batting .360 through 13 games down at AAA Chesapeake.

Farm Update
The Chesapeake Oysters are off to a 7-6 start.  Offensively, the aforementioned Roberto Holguín and recently acquired Larry Martin have looked impressive.  Martin is hitting .306 along with a .519 on base percentage in 13 games.

On the mound, top prospect Roberto Córdova has rebounded from a poor first start, in which he gave up five runs in less than three innings of work in his first start.  Since then, Córdova has surrendered only one run in 15 innings and collected two wins.  For the season, Córdova is 2-1 with a 3.06 ERA.

Designated as the Oysters’ closer, Miguel Huerta has looked impressive in his new role.  The 25-year-old has collected four saves and allowed zero runs in five innings of work.  Huerta has only allowed one hit and base runner in that span.

At AA Beaufort, Florida scouts are buzzing despite the team’s 5-8 record.  The team boasts several arms that could one day be big league caliber.  Starting pitcher Scott Bailey continues to impress ever since being drafted in the fourth round last year.  The 22-year-old possesses a 2.79 ERA and 1.14 WHIP after three starts.  Opposing batters are only hitting .224 off him.  Despite his stellar start to the season, Bailey has yet to earn a winning decision in his starts.

Chris “Moondog” York has been superb in the closer role.  The former Oregon State closer possesses a 1.50 ERA and a miniscule 0.83 WHIP thus far on the young season.  York’s setup man, Martin “Jack of Diamonds” Cantin, has looked equally impressive.  Cantin has struck out 10 batters and has yet to allow a run through 12+ innings of work.  Opposing batters are only hitting .167 off of him.

Offensively, Corbin Hickman has been stealing the headlines.  Sporting new facial hair, Hickman has been a new man this season.  On the year, he is hitting .349 with three home runs in 12 games.