Aubrey Huff is having one hell of a comeback season. Huff hasn't had a full DMBL season since 2005 with Carolina. It looked likely that he was done as a full-timer, as he barely contributed in 2006 and 2007, totalling 46 at bats in the two seasons. But Hillsborough took a chance at what looked like a washed up veteran and gave him a part-time role last year. Although Huff only had 251 at bats with a .725 OPs, the Hitmen protected him for the 2009 season and soon Huff earned a full-time role again. And he's been tearing it up ever since. Huff currently leads the league in slugging (.732), runs (35), extra base hits (27), and is tied with Ryan Howard for the home run lead (14). He's already won Player of the Week honors once and has finished in the honorable mentions as well. This week he led all players in the statistical triple crown categories: average (.500), on base percentage (.567) and slugging (1.000). He also hit 3 home runs with 8 RBIs and 6 runs scored to capture his second JR Cigars Smokin' Batter of the Week award.
Hot on Huff's heels is Newark's J.D. Drew, who led the league with 5 home runs this week and 14 RBIs, and sported a hefty 1.416 OPS. If not for his weaker .387 batting average, Drew may have been smoking some Belinda Vintage Coronas instead of Huff. Other top batters this week: DC's Jose Reyes (.433/.469/.633, 3 stolen bases, 2 2Bs, 2 3Bs) and Carlos Beltran (.414/.414/.655), Carolina's Grady Sizemore (.500/.524/.900), Hoboken's trifecta of Blake DeWitt (.455/.538/.636), Mike Napoli (.423/.545/.808, 3 HRs), and Denard Span (.414/.469/.621), Las Vegas' Matt Holliday (.414/.471/.897, 10 runs, 9 RBI), Marietta's Josh Hamilton (.407/.448/.741, 3 HR, 7 RBI), Philadelphia's Jimmy Rollins (.424/.441/.636, 10 R) and Albert Pujols (.387/.457/.774, 3 HR), and Vancouver's Victor Martinez (.450/.522/.800).
With all that offense, you know that the pitchers were going to suffer this week. The pickings were slim for Pitcher of the Week candidates, but our esteemed panel decided to select Blue Ridge's Justin Duchscherer as this week's OffensiveParking Pitcher of the Week award. A big park of the Bombers' 5-game winning streak that propelled the team back into the mix, Duchscherer was 2-0 on the week with a 2.87 ERA and 1.02 WHIP in 15.2 innings. Duchscherer, as you may remember, was the first round pick for Blue Ridge in this year's draft, but had gotten off to a rough start, losing his first three decisions and posting a 6.75 ERA after three starts. But since, the Duke seems to have straightened out the ship and now has a respectable 4.44 ERA and 3-4 record. Other pitchers of note this week: Jeremy Guthrie of Hoboken (1-1, 2.19, 0.97 WHIP), Ryan Dempster of Marietta (2-0, 2.19, 1.46 WHIP, 15 K), Scott Kazmir from Philadelphia (1-0, 3.46, 1.08 WHIP), and Las Vegas' Tim Lincecum (2-0, 3.65, 1.70 WHIP, 17 K).
Monday, April 20, 2009
Friday, April 17, 2009
Crawford leads Bombers to 5 straight
Blue Ridge continued their hot streak, taking their fifth straight and sweeping Arkansas with an 8-6 win. The Falcons scored 6 runs in the first inning but the Bombers would not be deterred. The Bombers took the lead with a 5-run 4th inning that featured a 2-run Mark DeRosa home run. Neither starting pitcher lasted long. Gavin Floyd was chased in the first inning and the Falcons' Ricky Nolasco was ousted in the 4th, but the bullpens did the job. The two bullpens only gave up one run in their 12.2 innings combined - and that one earned run was given up by Jose Valverde, who left the game with an injury. Carl Crawford was 4-5 with 3 RBIs, missing the cycle for the second straight day by one home run.
Jose Reyes was 5-5, leading his team to a 7-2 win over Vancouver. Reyes had a double and a triple, plus a stolen base in the contest. Oliver Perez held the Fist to only 2 hits over 6.2 innings, but he was wild, giving up 4 walks and 2 runs. In the game, Ryan Spilborghs' hitting streak came to an end - yes we got the death threats about jinxing him yesterday, thank you Chester M. in Tacoma.
Amityville knocked off Hoboken 8-6 yesterday, perhaps basking in the positive glow of picking up outfielder Lastings Milledge off waivers from D.C. Milledge was 1-2 in the game, but the team said he brought something more to the game. "It's the intangibles that Milledge brings and a general positive outlook" said teammate Pat Burrell. Burrell was so inspired by Milledge's optimism that he hit a 3-run game winning home run yesterday.
Newark took the rubber match of their series with Vegas yesterday, but it wasn't easy. The two teams battled it out for 14 innings, until Newark broke the 2-2 tie with a 4-run inning. Vegas tried to rally but could only score one more run - OK, the Sugar Bears practically gave it to them when Joey Devine walked two batters and then Scott Downs tossed a pitch in the dirt to score the lone run, but I digress.
Jose Reyes was 5-5, leading his team to a 7-2 win over Vancouver. Reyes had a double and a triple, plus a stolen base in the contest. Oliver Perez held the Fist to only 2 hits over 6.2 innings, but he was wild, giving up 4 walks and 2 runs. In the game, Ryan Spilborghs' hitting streak came to an end - yes we got the death threats about jinxing him yesterday, thank you Chester M. in Tacoma.
Amityville knocked off Hoboken 8-6 yesterday, perhaps basking in the positive glow of picking up outfielder Lastings Milledge off waivers from D.C. Milledge was 1-2 in the game, but the team said he brought something more to the game. "It's the intangibles that Milledge brings and a general positive outlook" said teammate Pat Burrell. Burrell was so inspired by Milledge's optimism that he hit a 3-run game winning home run yesterday.
Newark took the rubber match of their series with Vegas yesterday, but it wasn't easy. The two teams battled it out for 14 innings, until Newark broke the 2-2 tie with a 4-run inning. Vegas tried to rally but could only score one more run - OK, the Sugar Bears practically gave it to them when Joey Devine walked two batters and then Scott Downs tossed a pitch in the dirt to score the lone run, but I digress.
Thursday, April 16, 2009
Here come the Bombers
Watch out for the Blue Ridge Bombers! Yesterday's 5-4 win over Arkansas was the team's 4th straight, bringing them to 3 games under the .500 mark. Edwin Encarnacion and Carl Crawford each had 3 hits. Crawford, in fact, only needed a home run to hit for the cycle. The club broke a tie with Arkansas to move into 5th place alone.
Vancouver's Ryan Spilborghs was 2-4 yesterday, bringing his league-high hitting streak up to 14 games. Spilborghs, who is now batting .333 for the season, led the team to a 5-3 win over D.C. Jeff Clement and Jerry Hairston each were 2-3. The Fist suffered a blow though when starter Hiroki Kuroda, in only his second DMBL start, tripped over a blade of grass in the second inning. "They cut the honorable grass to high!" said Kuroda through an interpreter. This opens the door for the return of Vancouver legend Greg Maddux, who announced that this will be his final season in the DMBL. Maddux has already accepted a part-time role as pitching coach for the team.
Denard Span and Mike Napoli each had 4 RBIs in an 11-2 clubbing of Amityville. Span hit a two-run double and Napoli capped the same inning off with a grand slam in a 4th inning that saw the Cutters score 7 runs. Jeremy Guthrie limited the Ant Slayers to 4 hits in 6 innings of work to even his record at 3-3.
Las Vegas got revenge against Newark with a 9-3 victory, pounding Randy Johnson for 7 runs in 2.2 innings. Jeff Keppinger (3-5, 2 RBIs), Chris Davis (3-5, 2 homers, 3 RBIs) and Richie Sexson (3-4) led the Rat offensive and Tim Lincecum improved to 4-1. The Sugar Bears remained in a 2nd place tie with Marietta, who lost 6-5 to New Jersey, but both teams lost a game to the Rats in the standings.
Vancouver's Ryan Spilborghs was 2-4 yesterday, bringing his league-high hitting streak up to 14 games. Spilborghs, who is now batting .333 for the season, led the team to a 5-3 win over D.C. Jeff Clement and Jerry Hairston each were 2-3. The Fist suffered a blow though when starter Hiroki Kuroda, in only his second DMBL start, tripped over a blade of grass in the second inning. "They cut the honorable grass to high!" said Kuroda through an interpreter. This opens the door for the return of Vancouver legend Greg Maddux, who announced that this will be his final season in the DMBL. Maddux has already accepted a part-time role as pitching coach for the team.
Denard Span and Mike Napoli each had 4 RBIs in an 11-2 clubbing of Amityville. Span hit a two-run double and Napoli capped the same inning off with a grand slam in a 4th inning that saw the Cutters score 7 runs. Jeremy Guthrie limited the Ant Slayers to 4 hits in 6 innings of work to even his record at 3-3.
Las Vegas got revenge against Newark with a 9-3 victory, pounding Randy Johnson for 7 runs in 2.2 innings. Jeff Keppinger (3-5, 2 RBIs), Chris Davis (3-5, 2 homers, 3 RBIs) and Richie Sexson (3-4) led the Rat offensive and Tim Lincecum improved to 4-1. The Sugar Bears remained in a 2nd place tie with Marietta, who lost 6-5 to New Jersey, but both teams lost a game to the Rats in the standings.
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Jackson leads Sardines to victory
Blue Ridge stole one away from the Falcons yesterday. The Falcons posted a quick 4-0 lead but the Bombers came back and knotted the game in the 5th. The Falcons took the lead again in the 8th when Lance Berkman doubled in Ray Durham. But Joakim Soria couldn't hold it down in the 9th. He started the inning with a walk and a single. A sac bunt put the runners in scoring position and pinch hitter Hunter Pence came through with a bloop into center field that scored both runners, giving the Bombers a 6-5 victory.
Conor Jackson was 3-3 with 4 RBIs, including a triple, a homer and a stolen base to lead the Sardine City Straphangers to a 10-4 drubbing of Carolina. Evan Longoria also had 3 hits in the game and Alexei Ramirez was 2-4 with a triple and 2 RBIs. Cole Hamels evened his record at 3-3 with an 8-inning performance, limiting the Cats to 7 hits and one earned run.
The Sugar Bears offense was firing on all cylinders in yesterday's blowout win against Las Vegas. J.D. Drew was 3-4 with 2 homers and 5 RBIs, Bobby Abreu also hit 2 homers, Chipper Jones went 3-5 with a measly one homer 2 RBI and Mike Fontenot (yesterday's goat) was also 3-5. In total, the Sugar Bears hit 8 home runs (and Vegas hit 4 in defeat) in the 16-9 victory.
Scott Kazmir 2-hit the Hired Hitmen for 7 innings before giving way to Dan Wheeler, who preserved the 8-0, 2-hit shutout for the Endzone Animals. Kazmir struck out 8 Hitmen and walked 3. Albert Pujols was 4-5 with a homer and a double and 3 RBIs.
Conor Jackson was 3-3 with 4 RBIs, including a triple, a homer and a stolen base to lead the Sardine City Straphangers to a 10-4 drubbing of Carolina. Evan Longoria also had 3 hits in the game and Alexei Ramirez was 2-4 with a triple and 2 RBIs. Cole Hamels evened his record at 3-3 with an 8-inning performance, limiting the Cats to 7 hits and one earned run.
The Sugar Bears offense was firing on all cylinders in yesterday's blowout win against Las Vegas. J.D. Drew was 3-4 with 2 homers and 5 RBIs, Bobby Abreu also hit 2 homers, Chipper Jones went 3-5 with a measly one homer 2 RBI and Mike Fontenot (yesterday's goat) was also 3-5. In total, the Sugar Bears hit 8 home runs (and Vegas hit 4 in defeat) in the 16-9 victory.
Scott Kazmir 2-hit the Hired Hitmen for 7 innings before giving way to Dan Wheeler, who preserved the 8-0, 2-hit shutout for the Endzone Animals. Kazmir struck out 8 Hitmen and walked 3. Albert Pujols was 4-5 with a homer and a double and 3 RBIs.
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Light Monday in the DMBL
Yesterday was a very light day on the DMBL schedule with only three games on the docket.
Vancouver took care of Hillsborough 10-3 to take the best of three series two games to one. Jeff Clement, in a rare start at DH, was 3-5 with 4 RBIs and Chase Utley was 3-5. Amazingly, the Iron Fist didn't hit a single home run in the game. Billy Wagner, for some insane reason, pitched 3.1 innings in relief, ceding one earned run and striking out 5.
D.C. rallied to earn the victory against Philadelphia yesterday. With the score 7-4 in Philadelphia's favor going into the 8th, the O-Bombers scored three runs to tie it up. Dan Uggla and Jose Reyes both made key errors that led to a run that gave Philly the lead back. In the 9th, Jay Bruce led off with a solo home run to tie the game up at 8. Hideki Matsui then hit a 3-run home run to give D.C. an 11-8 lead. That left the 9th to automatic Jonathan Papelbon, who sent down the Endzone Animals in order for his 5th save. Matsui ended up 3-5 with 6 RBIs in the game.
In the last game of the day Team Buddah and the Sugar Bears battled it out into extra innings. The Sugar Bears held a slim 5-4 lead in the 9th, but a Fernando Tatis sac fly tied the game up and sent it to OT. The Sugar Bears did nothing in the top of the 10th. Alfonso Soriano led off the bottom with a double then moved to third on a single by Casey Blake. Finally, Robinson Cano hit a weak dribbler to second base that Mike Fontenot tossed to first base to get the out - but the game was over! "I thought if I really impressed the ump with my fundamentals, he might not notice Soriano scoring" said Fontenot after the game.
Vancouver took care of Hillsborough 10-3 to take the best of three series two games to one. Jeff Clement, in a rare start at DH, was 3-5 with 4 RBIs and Chase Utley was 3-5. Amazingly, the Iron Fist didn't hit a single home run in the game. Billy Wagner, for some insane reason, pitched 3.1 innings in relief, ceding one earned run and striking out 5.
D.C. rallied to earn the victory against Philadelphia yesterday. With the score 7-4 in Philadelphia's favor going into the 8th, the O-Bombers scored three runs to tie it up. Dan Uggla and Jose Reyes both made key errors that led to a run that gave Philly the lead back. In the 9th, Jay Bruce led off with a solo home run to tie the game up at 8. Hideki Matsui then hit a 3-run home run to give D.C. an 11-8 lead. That left the 9th to automatic Jonathan Papelbon, who sent down the Endzone Animals in order for his 5th save. Matsui ended up 3-5 with 6 RBIs in the game.
In the last game of the day Team Buddah and the Sugar Bears battled it out into extra innings. The Sugar Bears held a slim 5-4 lead in the 9th, but a Fernando Tatis sac fly tied the game up and sent it to OT. The Sugar Bears did nothing in the top of the 10th. Alfonso Soriano led off the bottom with a double then moved to third on a single by Casey Blake. Finally, Robinson Cano hit a weak dribbler to second base that Mike Fontenot tossed to first base to get the out - but the game was over! "I thought if I really impressed the ump with my fundamentals, he might not notice Soriano scoring" said Fontenot after the game.
Monday, April 13, 2009
Ramirezes passed over, but Prince rises again
It was a good week to be a Ramirez this week. Newark's Manny Ramirez had an outstanding week for the Sugar Bears, smacking 5 dingers to go with his .429 average and 13 RBIs and 9 runs. He might just have something to do with that 8-game winning streak the Sugar Bears have. Hoboken's Hanley Ramirez may have had an even better week - Hanley hit .520 with a .625 OBP and .960 slugging. He also scored 7 runs and hit 3 doubles and 2 homers. Those were both impressive lines, but we had to give this week's JR Cigars Smokin' Batter of the Week honors to Blue Ridge's Prince Fielder. Fielder also hit 5 home runs this week, but batted .469 with a .541 on base percentage. He drove in 11 runs and scored 7. The other top candidate for hitting this week was Marietta's Josh Hamilton (.440/.548/.920, 4 HRs, 12 RBIs).
Other top batters this week: Marietta's Adrian Gonzalez (.435/.552/.826 10 R), Vancouver's Ryan Spilborghs (.480/.533/.560), Hillsborough's Carlos Delgado (.355/.364/.774, 4 HR, 8 RBI), Las Vegas' Joe Mauer (.476/.571/.714) and Arkansas' Ryan Ludwick (.417/.440/1.000 4 HR, 7 RBI).
This week's Omodern Pitcher of the Week prize goes to Tim Hudson of Carolina. Besides Monday's historic victory, Hudson had a very good week, going 1-0 witha 1.15 ERA and .083 WHIP. He ptiched in 15.2 innings and struckout 10. Hudson's main competition came from Hillsborough's Felix Hernandez, who's enjoying a great season. Felix went 2-0 to raise his season record to 5-1, with a 1.29 ERA and 0.93 WHIP this week. He also struck out 14 batters in 14 innings.
Old Man Rivera keeps moving along - the future Hall of Famer saved three games and picked up a victory by pitching 5.1 perfect innings and striking out 7 for the Mighty Men.
Other top pitchers: Newark's Chien-Ming Wang (2-0, 2.25, 0.56 WHIP) and Gil Meche (2-0, 2.84, 15 K), Philadelphia's Brandon Webb (2-0, 1.23), Marietta's Mike Mussina (2-0, 2.87, 1.09 WHIP), and Hoboken's Craig Breslow (2-0, 0.00 ERA, 0.19 WHIP in 5.1 IP).
Other top batters this week: Marietta's Adrian Gonzalez (.435/.552/.826 10 R), Vancouver's Ryan Spilborghs (.480/.533/.560), Hillsborough's Carlos Delgado (.355/.364/.774, 4 HR, 8 RBI), Las Vegas' Joe Mauer (.476/.571/.714) and Arkansas' Ryan Ludwick (.417/.440/1.000 4 HR, 7 RBI).
This week's Omodern Pitcher of the Week prize goes to Tim Hudson of Carolina. Besides Monday's historic victory, Hudson had a very good week, going 1-0 witha 1.15 ERA and .083 WHIP. He ptiched in 15.2 innings and struckout 10. Hudson's main competition came from Hillsborough's Felix Hernandez, who's enjoying a great season. Felix went 2-0 to raise his season record to 5-1, with a 1.29 ERA and 0.93 WHIP this week. He also struck out 14 batters in 14 innings.
Old Man Rivera keeps moving along - the future Hall of Famer saved three games and picked up a victory by pitching 5.1 perfect innings and striking out 7 for the Mighty Men.
Other top pitchers: Newark's Chien-Ming Wang (2-0, 2.25, 0.56 WHIP) and Gil Meche (2-0, 2.84, 15 K), Philadelphia's Brandon Webb (2-0, 1.23), Marietta's Mike Mussina (2-0, 2.87, 1.09 WHIP), and Hoboken's Craig Breslow (2-0, 0.00 ERA, 0.19 WHIP in 5.1 IP).
Friday, April 10, 2009
D.C. loses game, third bagger
C.C. Sabathia improved to 4-1 on the season with a victory over Blue Ridge yesterday. The Hitmen won their third straight to stay atop the Morris Division. Sabathia lasted 8 innings, striking out 9, and holding the Bombers to 3 runs on 7 hits and 2 walks. Carolina kept pace, taking out the O-Bombers 5-1. Vernon Wells was 3-4 and Ben Molina had a 2-run homer to lead the Mudcat offense, while Daisuke Matsuzaka held D.C. to only 2 hits in his 5.2 innings of work, striking out 9 in the process. The news got worse for D.C. as third baseman Ryan Zimmerman was lost for almost two months due to injury.
Team Buddah added insult to injury to the Cutters with a 6-3 victory. Mike Jacobs was 2-4 with 3 RBIs and Casey Blake hit a two-run homer that gave the Buddahs a 3-0 lead in the 4th. Hanley Ramirez was 3-3 in the team's defeat.
Manny Ramirez hit a 3-run bomb to propel the Sugar Bears to a 6-3 victory over Sardine City. Ramirez singled in another run to give him 4 RBIs on the night. The Sugar Bears only had 7 hits in the contest, but they also walked 7 times. Newark starter Joe Saunders pitched 6 solid innings, giving up only one run. The Sugar Bears have now won 4 in a row.
Philly edged Arkansas 6-5 yesterday behind Chris Young (2-3, 3 runs) and Jimmy Rollins (3-4, 2 RBIs). The Endzone Animals kept their transaction streak alive by cutting Aaron Miles and signing Kyle Davies.
Team Buddah added insult to injury to the Cutters with a 6-3 victory. Mike Jacobs was 2-4 with 3 RBIs and Casey Blake hit a two-run homer that gave the Buddahs a 3-0 lead in the 4th. Hanley Ramirez was 3-3 in the team's defeat.
Manny Ramirez hit a 3-run bomb to propel the Sugar Bears to a 6-3 victory over Sardine City. Ramirez singled in another run to give him 4 RBIs on the night. The Sugar Bears only had 7 hits in the contest, but they also walked 7 times. Newark starter Joe Saunders pitched 6 solid innings, giving up only one run. The Sugar Bears have now won 4 in a row.
Philly edged Arkansas 6-5 yesterday behind Chris Young (2-3, 3 runs) and Jimmy Rollins (3-4, 2 RBIs). The Endzone Animals kept their transaction streak alive by cutting Aaron Miles and signing Kyle Davies.
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