No, The Bigs is not having a baby (thank goodness). We're about a third of the way into the season and here's what we're seeing so far:
NL East- Atlanta looks like the best team in the division, if not the entire NL right now. Washington is staying within striking distance. Norfolk and Trenton are non-factors and will battle for third.
NL North- Kansas City is a game above .500 and is leading the division. Minnesota is currently is second. Philadelphia and Fargo have some talent but have underachieved thus far.
NL South- Austin and Huntington are in a dead heat right now. San Juan and New Orleans are below .500.
NL West- In the division of surprises, Vancouver leads the division by a game over Salem. Salt Lake City is only 3 off the pace and always dangerous. Las Vegas is 6 games behind every other NL team. Except for scoring the fewest runs and giving up the most runs in the NL, they're looking great.
AL East- Is this New York's year? They lead Louisville by 5 games. Boston and Scranton are well off the pace.
AL North- Ottawa has not slowed down after a hot start and has the best record in the AL and a six game lead over incumbent St. Louis. Rebuilding Milwaukee is at .500 and Buffalo is surprisingly in last.
AL South- This is going to be a three team race all year. Right now Montgomery leads Mexico City by a game and Monterrey, maybe the most talented team in the division, trails by 4. Charlotte is by far the worst team in the AL.
AL West- This could be a wide open division. Anaheim is leading the division at .500. Boise is a game back and Cheyenne and Seattle are three back.
IFAs: We've already had 7 international players receive bonuses of at least $10 million. The biggest so far was to CF Julian Mieses, who received $18,9 million from Atlanta. Minnesota grabbed two pitchers in Anibal Sojo ($12.2 million) and Enrique Castilla ($14.9 million)
Sunday, September 12, 2010
Thursday, September 2, 2010
Limits Lose Porter...More Pressure On Staff
The Austin City Limits have lost Week 1 POW and offensive linchpin Rich Porter for an 11-day stint.
Porter strained a calf running down an 8th-inning single by Salt Lake City's Red Karl in Austin's 5-4 Thursday PM2.
The Limits can ill afford Porter's loss. Through 28 games he's hitting .386 with 10 doubles, 5 homers and 23 RBI, with 6 steals tossed in. He's also played an error-less CF with 3 "+" plays. Other key players are struggling: 1B Jimmie Williams has been invisible, hitting .204 with 11 RBI; RF Ken Keagle is well below his usual pace at .257; and 2B Julio Rosa weighs in with an anemic .583 OPS with a measly 2 RBI.
This means the pitching staff will have to shoulder even more of the load. The good news is the team ERA is down nearly a half-run a game from last year's 3.78. New closer Rey Jung is 11-for-11 in saves with a 0.73 ERA; Matt Skinner has embraced his new setup role with a 1,75 ERA in a whopping 25 and 2/3 innings; Jason Sprague is showing there's still life in his 33 year-old wing at 4-0, 2.56; and ace Louie Feliz has been excellent at 5-1, 2.72.
Porter strained a calf running down an 8th-inning single by Salt Lake City's Red Karl in Austin's 5-4 Thursday PM2.
The Limits can ill afford Porter's loss. Through 28 games he's hitting .386 with 10 doubles, 5 homers and 23 RBI, with 6 steals tossed in. He's also played an error-less CF with 3 "+" plays. Other key players are struggling: 1B Jimmie Williams has been invisible, hitting .204 with 11 RBI; RF Ken Keagle is well below his usual pace at .257; and 2B Julio Rosa weighs in with an anemic .583 OPS with a measly 2 RBI.
This means the pitching staff will have to shoulder even more of the load. The good news is the team ERA is down nearly a half-run a game from last year's 3.78. New closer Rey Jung is 11-for-11 in saves with a 0.73 ERA; Matt Skinner has embraced his new setup role with a 1,75 ERA in a whopping 25 and 2/3 innings; Jason Sprague is showing there's still life in his 33 year-old wing at 4-0, 2.56; and ace Louie Feliz has been excellent at 5-1, 2.72.
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
Feliz Outduels Gates In Early-Season NL South Showdown
The ace starters of the last 2 World Series Champs locked up in a key early-season series in the PM cycle. Austin came out ahead this time, with Louie Feliz tossing 6 innings of 1-hit ball to top Lonny Gates and his Huntington Riverdogs, 4-0.
Feliz fanned 7 and walked a pair in his 89-pitch outing; Matt Skinner was perfect over the last 3 innings to pick up his first save. Mariano Terrero had a pair of solo jacks for the City Limits, while David Cortez added a 2-run homer among his 4 hits.
Gates was very good for Huntington, giving up just 3 runs. But this day clearly belonged to Feliz and Skinner.
City Limits skipper blanch13 downplayed the importance of the game: "Certainly it's a bonus to beat Gates, 'cause that just isn't going to happen often, but it's way too early to conclude anything about my team. They're the deserving champs and we hope to hang with them over a long season."
Feliz fanned 7 and walked a pair in his 89-pitch outing; Matt Skinner was perfect over the last 3 innings to pick up his first save. Mariano Terrero had a pair of solo jacks for the City Limits, while David Cortez added a 2-run homer among his 4 hits.
Gates was very good for Huntington, giving up just 3 runs. But this day clearly belonged to Feliz and Skinner.
City Limits skipper blanch13 downplayed the importance of the game: "Certainly it's a bonus to beat Gates, 'cause that just isn't going to happen often, but it's way too early to conclude anything about my team. They're the deserving champs and we hope to hang with them over a long season."
Monday, August 23, 2010
Opening Day for Season 11 in the Bigs Part II
The other 16 teams, including the champs, opened their seasons in the night session.
NATIONAL LEAGUE
In Huntington, the Riverdogs opened their World Series defense with a 5-3 win over San Juan. Yorvit Terrero's 3rd inning 3-run homer was the big blow for the Dogs and Lonny Gates (6 IP, 1 ER) looked good in his debut coming off last season's injury.
In Washington, the Atlanta Bandits' old gun (Dave Dunwoody) outdueled the Blue Coats' young gun (Carter Leonard) to win a 3-0 decision. Dunwoody pitched 8 shutout innings for the win.
In Fargo, former Dirtbags ace Sammy Pierce outdid current ace Javier Henriquez to pace the Kansas City Scouts to a 3-0 win. Fargo managed just 3 hits off Pierce and two K.C. relievers.
In Salem, David Mendez's 10th inning single scored Luis Sanchez for a walkoff 4-3 victory over the Salt Lake City Shakers. Mendez drove in 2, as did CF George Lowe for SLC in a losing effort.
AMERICAN LEAGUE
In Montgomery, Alibamu SS Santiago Manzanillo hit a walk-off solo homer in the 9th to give Montgomery a 4-3 win over the Monterrey Sultans of Swat. Stone Curtis pitched 5 innings of 1-hit baseball for the Alibamu.
In Milwaukee, the Manic Maulers also hit a 2-out, walk-off solo shot in the 9th to win their game, this one over the St. Louis River City Rage. Brook Teut went 3 for 4 with 2 RBI for Milwuakee.
In Louisville, New York Knickerbockers 1B Pedro Morales's 2-run homer in the 7th turned a 4-3 deficit into a 5-4 win over the Legends. Denny Moss added a 2-run shot of his own in the 1st.
Finally, in Boise, the hometown fans went home happy as Shadow Wolves ace Einar Crespo tossed a 7-hit shutout to beat the Seattle Killer Whales by a score of 2-0. Hiram Spooneybarger hit a solo homer in the 4th.
NATIONAL LEAGUE
In Huntington, the Riverdogs opened their World Series defense with a 5-3 win over San Juan. Yorvit Terrero's 3rd inning 3-run homer was the big blow for the Dogs and Lonny Gates (6 IP, 1 ER) looked good in his debut coming off last season's injury.
In Washington, the Atlanta Bandits' old gun (Dave Dunwoody) outdueled the Blue Coats' young gun (Carter Leonard) to win a 3-0 decision. Dunwoody pitched 8 shutout innings for the win.
In Fargo, former Dirtbags ace Sammy Pierce outdid current ace Javier Henriquez to pace the Kansas City Scouts to a 3-0 win. Fargo managed just 3 hits off Pierce and two K.C. relievers.
In Salem, David Mendez's 10th inning single scored Luis Sanchez for a walkoff 4-3 victory over the Salt Lake City Shakers. Mendez drove in 2, as did CF George Lowe for SLC in a losing effort.
AMERICAN LEAGUE
In Montgomery, Alibamu SS Santiago Manzanillo hit a walk-off solo homer in the 9th to give Montgomery a 4-3 win over the Monterrey Sultans of Swat. Stone Curtis pitched 5 innings of 1-hit baseball for the Alibamu.
In Milwaukee, the Manic Maulers also hit a 2-out, walk-off solo shot in the 9th to win their game, this one over the St. Louis River City Rage. Brook Teut went 3 for 4 with 2 RBI for Milwuakee.
In Louisville, New York Knickerbockers 1B Pedro Morales's 2-run homer in the 7th turned a 4-3 deficit into a 5-4 win over the Legends. Denny Moss added a 2-run shot of his own in the 1st.
Finally, in Boise, the hometown fans went home happy as Shadow Wolves ace Einar Crespo tossed a 7-hit shutout to beat the Seattle Killer Whales by a score of 2-0. Hiram Spooneybarger hit a solo homer in the 4th.
Opening Day for Season 11 in the Bigs
Amazing- Opening Day is upon us again- seems like it came so fast. Here's a look around the league on the first day of the season:
NATIONAL LEAGUE
In Austin, William Satou and Ken Keagle each had two hits and drove in two apiece as the City Limits beat the New Orleans Voodoo 5-2. Starter Louie Feliz pitched 6 strong innings, yielding only 1 run on four hits.
In Norfolk, Trenton 3B Enrique Park-signed on the eve of the season- hit a 9th inning home run to break a 4-4 tie and give the Traffic a 5-4 victory. Park, Watty Miller, and B.C. Stone each had 3 hits and Stone scored three times.
In Philadelphia, Bernard Robinson pitched 8 shutout innings to lead the Phantoms to a 3-0 win over the Minnesota North Stars. Newly acquired Steve Sweeney went 0 for 4.
In Las Vegas, Wendell Durrington hit a two-run homer in the 10th inning to give the visiting Vancouver Golden Otters a 3-1 lead over the Snake Eyes. But Richard Gabriel's 3-run walk off homer gave Vegas a 4-3 win in a wild Opening Day affair.
AMERICAN LEAGUE
In Anaheim, the defending AL champs opened their defense of the pennant with a 5-2 victory over the Cheyenne Frozen Ropes. Vic Mercado's 3-run homer in the 6th was the difference, providing the offense for Mateo Batista's 8-inning performance.
In Mexico City, Dennis Tamura and newly acquired Stephen Mills each had 3 hits as the Chupacabras pounded out 11 on their way to a 6-1 victory over the Charlotte Lions.
In Buffalo, Alex Jose had 3 hits and drove in two to lead the visting Ottawa O-Jays past the Blue Cheese. Andres DeLeon went 8+ innings for the win and Bert Price came into the game in the 9th to earn the save.
In Scranton, Janitors pitcher Luke Stein went 6 innings, giving up only three hits and one run but ended up on the losing end of a 1-0 decision to the Boston Bambinos. Eric Edwards also went 6 innings, yielding three hits as well and no runs.
NATIONAL LEAGUE
In Austin, William Satou and Ken Keagle each had two hits and drove in two apiece as the City Limits beat the New Orleans Voodoo 5-2. Starter Louie Feliz pitched 6 strong innings, yielding only 1 run on four hits.
In Norfolk, Trenton 3B Enrique Park-signed on the eve of the season- hit a 9th inning home run to break a 4-4 tie and give the Traffic a 5-4 victory. Park, Watty Miller, and B.C. Stone each had 3 hits and Stone scored three times.
In Philadelphia, Bernard Robinson pitched 8 shutout innings to lead the Phantoms to a 3-0 win over the Minnesota North Stars. Newly acquired Steve Sweeney went 0 for 4.
In Las Vegas, Wendell Durrington hit a two-run homer in the 10th inning to give the visiting Vancouver Golden Otters a 3-1 lead over the Snake Eyes. But Richard Gabriel's 3-run walk off homer gave Vegas a 4-3 win in a wild Opening Day affair.
AMERICAN LEAGUE
In Anaheim, the defending AL champs opened their defense of the pennant with a 5-2 victory over the Cheyenne Frozen Ropes. Vic Mercado's 3-run homer in the 6th was the difference, providing the offense for Mateo Batista's 8-inning performance.
In Mexico City, Dennis Tamura and newly acquired Stephen Mills each had 3 hits as the Chupacabras pounded out 11 on their way to a 6-1 victory over the Charlotte Lions.
In Buffalo, Alex Jose had 3 hits and drove in two to lead the visting Ottawa O-Jays past the Blue Cheese. Andres DeLeon went 8+ innings for the win and Bert Price came into the game in the 9th to earn the save.
In Scranton, Janitors pitcher Luke Stein went 6 innings, giving up only three hits and one run but ended up on the losing end of a 1-0 decision to the Boston Bambinos. Eric Edwards also went 6 innings, yielding three hits as well and no runs.
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