NL South Weekly Review - Week 2

NL South Weekly Review

Welcome to the weekly review of the NL South. It’s been an interesting second week for the NL South as the Huntington Blazers (20-16) as been in a free fall allowing the surging Charlotte Knights (19-17) to come within 1 game. The Charleston Chiefs (18-18) are struggling as well but are still within 2 games. The Jacksonville Hurricanes (15-21) are hanging in there at 5 games back.

Huntington Blazers (20-16) AAA (24-12)/ AA (26-10)/ HIA (14-22)/ LOA (16-20)

The great start by the Blazers as turned into a nightmare the second week of the season. The Blazers have gone 5-11 during the last week, only winning one game each series that they’ve played. They are now 12-11 at home, 8-5 on the road and 11-15 playing against teams outside there division. The citizens of Huntington have gone out on search parties, looking for the missing offensive of the Blazers but as of today it has not been found. Last week they only scored 60 runs, good for 3.75 runs per game. The offensive as fell to 5h in runs scored (192) even as they still lead the league in Hits (375), AVE (.289) and second in OBP (.356), it is clear that the problem the team is struggle with men in scoring position. The strikeouts continue to cause problems as they still led the league with 273.
Mac Hyun (1B) – (.294, 12, 28) leads the team in Runs (27), HR (12), and RBI (28)
Allen Sutton (2B/RF) – (.281, 4, 13)
Carlos Trinidad (3B) – (.327, 8, 27) leads the team in Hits (48)
Benito Polanco (LF) – (.289, 7, 24) tied for the led SB (10) and leads the team in SO (37)
Trenidad Rincon (SS) – (.320, 8, 27) leads the team in Walks (18) and tied in 2B’s (6)

The pitching staff it seems as ran away with the offensive the last week. They have allowed 94 runs, 5.88 runs per game during the week. They have fallen to 9th in the National League with a 4.51 ERA. The starters are only averaging 5.5 innings per start and out of the teams 36 games only 17 have been quality starts. The team is hoping with their new acquisition of Pedro Martinez will provide enough innings to give the tired bullpen a breather. The bullpen as already pitched over 130 innings so far with Javier Hernandez already pitching in 23 games. The team as not found a closer yet, as Eric Baker as been hit hard his recently, losing the closer job to Haywood Brewer who as saved to 2 games.
Johnny Linden – (3-3, 4.98) leads the team in IP (43.1), GS (8), and tied in wins (3)
Rafael Torres – (3-2, 3.35) leads the team in SO (35) and tied in wins (3)
Haywood Brewer – (3.04, 2SV)

Can the Blazers stop the sinking ship or will they continue to sink to the bottom?

DL
Edgar Ordonez (shoulder surgery) – Out for the season
Roster Moves
Pedro Martinez (P) – Traded from New Britain
Jared Fischbach (RF) – Sent back to AAA
Alfonso Romero (P) – Sent to AAA

Charleston Chiefs (18-18) AAA (27-9)/ AA (19-17)/ HIA (17-19)/ LOA (22-14)

The Chiefs are cold once again, as there season seems to be going up and down already. They have only one 6 times in there last 16 games. With the Blazers struggling as well the Chiefs are still right behind the leaders. They are 9-10 at home, 9-8 on the road and 14-12 playing against teams outside there division. The offensive has gone ice cold the last week, unable to provide any kind of support to the pitching staff. The new GM as express that a team with a high payroll and high priced vets that this team is expected to win. Last week the offensive scored only 62 runs, scoring 3.88 runs per game during the week. The team has dropped to the middle of the pack in most offensive categories; expect they are second in the league in steals with 57.
Edgar Cornejo (2B) – (.315, 7, 21) leads the team in Runs (31), Hits (46), 2B (12), Walks (20), SO (29), and SB (25)
Miguel Nunez (RF) – (.308, 7, 20)
Orlando Molina (3B) – (.296, 10, 35) leads the team in HR (10), RBI (35)
Magglio Elcano (CF) – (.262, 1, 12)
Edgardo Ortiz (SS) – (.214, 4, 14)

As the offensive has struggled the pitching staff has been great. They have allowed 69 runs, 4.31 runs per game during the week. They are 3rd in the National League in ERA at 4.06. The starter’s average 6.8 innings per start, 5 complete games and they have 20 quality starts out of the 36 games played. Don Morgan as thrown the only shutout for the team so far. The bullpen has only pitched 71 innings so far, but it’s still closer by committee so far, with five different pitchers recording at least one save, Stevie Brumfield leading the team with 3, but they have also blown 5 saves as well.
Don Morgan – (3-3, 3.03) leads the team in IP (62.1), SHO (1) and SO (50)
Brett Hoover – (6-1, 2.72) leads the team in Wins (6), and CG (3)
Stevie Brumfield – (4.50, 3SV)

Can the veterans pull themselves out of there slump or will the pitchers need to step up even more.

DL
None
Roster Moves
Stevie Brumfield (P) - Promoted to ML
Miguel James (P) – Sent to AAA

Charlotte Knights (19-17) AAA (16-20)/ AA (13-23)/ HIA (21-15)/ LOA (9-27)

The Knights are hot, winning 10 out of there last 17 games. They have surged to within 1 game of the Huntington Blazers for the lead in the division. They are now 11-8 at home, 8-9 on the road, 14-12 playing against teams outside there division. The problems that plagued the offensive during the first week of the season, has been forgotten by the team, but more importantly by the fans themselves. The blazing hot offensive has gotten 165 hits, hit 32 homeruns, and scored 111 runs, 6.53 runs per game during the week. They are 2cd in runs scored with 205 and RBI with 201, they also led the league with 63 long balls. The team has gotten its AVE (.255), OBP (.328) up from the previous week, which as helped the offensive to explode.
Vladimir Valentin (2B) – (.257, 11, 35) tied with team led in RBI (35)
Timothy Stokes (RF) – (.298, 3, 17) leads the teams in Hits (39), 2B’s (10), and BB (18)
Lorenzo Park (3B) – (.248, 8, 25) leads the team in SO (29)
Dario Newfield (CF) – (.278, 14, 35) leads the team in Runs (27), HR (14), and RBI (35)
Phil File (1B) – (.197, 6, 14)

The pitching staff hasn’t had to be perfect the last week, but they where still pretty good. They have allowed only 74 runs, 4.63 runs per game during the week. They are 8th in the league in ERA at 4.45. The starter’s average 5.6 innings per start, 1 complete game and they have 19 quality starts out of the teams 37 games. Out of the 17 games played during the week, the starters won 8 times, as the bullpen was able to hold more leads this week. The bullpen has just pitch over 100 innings so far, with closer Einar Olivares leading the team with 18 games. The blown saves are still a real concern for the team as they have already blown 7 games this season.

Can the Knights hold onto leads late in the games or will that cost them more and more as the season goes forward.

Seth White – (3-2, 3.64) tied with the team led of 3 wins
Henry Nathan – (2-1, 2.45)
Einar Olivares – (4.91, 8SV)
DL
None
Roster Moves
None


Jacksonville Hurricanes (15-21) AAA (11-25)/ AA (23-13)/ HIA (19-17)/ LOA (16-20)

The Hurricanes just can’t get over the hump of being a .500 team. When ever they get close they seem to lose a couple in a row, forcing them to play catch up once again. The week started at well, winning there 5 out of the first 7 games, but have lost 8 out of the last 10 games. They are now 8-12 at home, 7-9 on the road, 13-12 playing against teams outside there division. The offensive has improved scoring 99 runs, 5.82 runs per game during the last week. The Hurricanes are having no problems getting men into scoring position as they led the league in doubles with 68, getting 360 hits and hitting .283 as a team, but they still are having a tough time getting them to score with only 182 runs scored so far this season.
Warren Richardson (RF) – (.275, 13, 35) leads the team in HR (13), and RBI (35)
Gus Martin (2B) – (.350, 6, 30) leads the team in Hits (49), and SO (31)
Marino Aramboles (SS) – (.274, 1, 6)
David Yamakazi (1B/LF) – (.270, 7, 22) leads the team in Runs (26)
Kent Miles (C) – (.321, 4, 16) leads the team in 2B’s (12)
The pitching staff has improved slightly during the last week. They have allowed 83 runs, 4.88 runs per game during the week. The moved up one stop with a 5.42 ERA. The starters are averaging 6.1 innings per game, 1 complete game and they have 15 quality starts out of the 36 games played. The team has found Geronimo Valdes is truly the staff ace leading the team in wins and ERA. The bullpen has pitched under 100 innings so far, giving them lots of rest to perform to there best abilities. Elroy Cogan has been solid when ever he gets a chance to be, but it’s been kind of an adventure in the bullpen to get to there great closer.
Clay Adams – (1-2, 4.47)
Geronimo Valdes – (5-2, 4.25) leads the team in W (5)
Elroy Cogan – (2.84, 5SV)

If the Hurricanes offensive starts to get hot will they still need to win games 8-7, 9-6 so they can approach .500 again?

DL
Artie Spencer (broken wrist) – 15 Day DL
Roster Moves
Teddy Black (1B) – Promoted to ML


NL SOUTH PLAYER OF THE WEEK
3/5/2008 - 3/12/2008
Dario Newfield
(Charlotte Knights)

Dario Newfield is the Player of the Week. He went 17/51 for a batting average of .333 and hit 7 homeruns in 14 games. Molina also drove in 22 runs, scored 16 runs and .804 Slugging Percentage.


NL SOUTH PLAYER OF THE WEEK
3/5/2008 - 3/12/2008
Henry Nathan
(Charlotte Knights)

Henry Nathan is the Pitcher of the Week. He gave up 4 earned run(s) in 21.0 innings for an ERA of 1.71. He went 2-0 over a span of 3 games. Nathan struck out 13 while only walking 3.