The Connecticut Nutmeggers are reeling. There’s really no other way to put it. The Nutmeggers took possession of 1st place in the Pan Atlantic on May 1st, and had been there ever since (with a brief August 15th tie with Gloucester) until September 4th. That date marked the 7th loss in an 8 game losing streak that came at the worst possible time. The only saving grace this September was taking 3 of 4 from the Underground.

The pitching staff has carried the team this season, but they’re starting to look tired. Carlos Rivera, Luis Gusmán, and Niccolo Arcimboldo have all thrown 200 innings this year, and Randolph Teagueis set to join them shortly. Each of those pitchers have already started 30 games. The bullpen has been relied upon heavily as well. The offense, whose amazing start to the year spurred on the team’s ascension, has since been beset by injuries and a return to expectations.

It’s at times like this that one starts to look around for a leader with experience. Someone who has been there and can explain to the team what it takes to win. The problem for the Nutmeggers is that there’s percious little of that on the team. In fact, the only player on the active roster at the start of the year who had ever experienced a postseason game at the PEBA level was center fielder En-guo Guao. Glen Ganey and Larry Cox, who were called up to the majors late in the year, also have some limited postseason experience.

However, the only other player on the roster is right fielder Ricardo Longoria. He was acquired in part because he’s been there before, but his performance this year has been so disappointing that he’s been spending more of his time trying to figure out where his power has gone. After hitting 30 or more home runs each of the past 4 seasons, he’s still got some work to do to even reach 15.

So now is the time. Now is when Longoria needs to step up and show that he can carry a team. It’s the time to turn deep disappoinment into tremendous gratitude. He’s only 29 years old, and he has the most experience of anyone. Reports out of Crystal Lake prior to the trade raved about the type of leader he is. Let’s see it. Let’s see him put the team on his back and finish the job this team began in April without him. He was brought in to to add to the group, not to detract from it. Yet that’s all he’s done to this point.

Ricardo, you have been called out. Connecticut fans have been hungering to adore you. If that’s not incentive enough, you’ve got free agency staring you in the face. Show potential employers that you still have what it takes to be an offensive force in the PEBA. You’ve been there a number of times in your young career. Things came easy. But now things are different. The Sandgnats are in decline and you were brought in to a situation that was on the upswing. It’s time to show us all that you’ve still got it.