Another week, another injury… Hansen went down for a month and a half and now Gates is sidelined for a couple of weeks.  However, I love the quote from Tanner's blog at Trendmaker.blogspot.com… "It's weeks like these that make me look like a genius."  Of course Tanner is refrencing the signing of CF Ángelo González and the return of 1B slugger Augusto Valdéz.  González has three things going for him, as I see it: his defense, his above average ability to not strike out (think the anti-Hansen), and team sources indicate that he brings a presence to the locker room that had previously been lacking in that area.  One of the first things he did upon signing with the team was to call Claudio up and tell him to stop hitting like a girl; Claudio responded with 9 hits, 2 hr's and 7 rbi's.  Augusto reclaimed his old locker and his form rather quickly (Tanner is hoping Gusto will replace the power lost with Conard on the DL).  Augusto added 2 hr's and 7 rbi's in his first week of play.

3B Desi James is erasing the memory of last seasons slow start with one of the best April's by any player this season.  James has benefited from the batters in front of him consistently being on base and in scoring position; out of his 90 AB's this year 37 of then have come with runner's in scoring position.  Out of those 37 attempts James has gotten a hit 17 times for a bawrisp of .459, and a Imperial league leading 26 RBI's. James gives credit to Gagne who played 3b for the Trendsetters during the second half of last season for teaching him how to approach each at bat.  James, who is only 22, seems to be intent to lock up the job at 3B for the Trendsetters for many years to come.  I say lock this kid up for the next ten to twenty years. (contractually speaking)

posted by trndsttrfanwithtoomuchtime

Posted: 3 May 2009 09:37 am