AL EAST WEEKLY REPORT

July 22- July 29


1. Augusta Vacationers (14-5)

The six-time defending AL East Champs are at it again winning games at a .737 clip. As usual, pitching has been the key to the Vacs success. Augusta is first in all of baseball with a team ERA of 2.33 and second in WHIP at 1.16 while allowing a league low 13 bombs. A huge blow though was losing Danys Vazquez to elbow tendinitis. Vazquez was 4-0 in 4 starts with a stellar 1.67 ERA. His loss will hurt but the Vacs pitching depth is without question. Rich May is also 4-0 after 4 starts with a 1.50 ERA and a ridiculous .162 opponents batting average. Even 37 y/o veteran Cookie Whang is getting in on the act with a sparkling 0.54 ERA after 3 starts. Also, five relievers have combined to save 11 games in 11 opportunities.

DH Flip Hill, who just had a 15-game hitting streak snapped has been the most consistent offensive threat hitting .324-8-18. He also leads the team with 15 runs scored and a 1.085 OPS. C Felipe Castro has struggled at .190-4-8 yet his handling of the staff is without question. 1b Russ Flanagan who was a huge acquisition in the offseason has yawned his way so far to .250-1-9.

Minor League Watch

Pitcher- Reggie Killebrew (AA) 2-0, 1.89
Hitter- Raymond Brewer (AA) .397-7-26, 1.279 OPS

Interesting Fact- the 4 minor league teams are a combined 36-36

2. Baltimore O’s (12-6)

The O’s stormed out of the gate winning 7 of their first 8 and then were shutout twice in their measuring stick series against Augusta…but then turned the tables in game 3 of that series with a shutout of their own. They are 5-5 in their last 10 but their early season success paired with keen observations should have this team considered as a legit contender, not pretender. Pitching has been solid for the O’s with 3 of the 5 starters posting sub-3 ERA’s. Ace Willie Rios leads the staff with 3 wins and a 2.56 ERA. Former first rounder Ryan Crosby has been extremely valuable out of the bullpen so far pitching in 10 of the 18 games. His 1.53 ERA and 0.74 ERA has bridged the way to closer Felipe Cora who is 7 for 7 in save ops while not allowing a run yet and only 2 base runners in 7 innings.

Douglas Cardona leads a steady offense that has been good in manufacturing runs. Cardona is hitting .279-5-14. OF Albert Sosa has been a spark plug hitting .404 and is 9 for 10 on the base paths. In fact, Baltimore has been outstanding in the steals department swiping 22 bags in 23 attempts.

Minor League Watch

Pitcher- Jerry Goldberg (AA) 3-1, 0.96
Hitter- Lynn Watson (HA) .357-8-26, 1.165 OPS

Interesting Fact- the Low-A O’s have gone 3-3 since losing their first 12 games.

3. San Juan Slugging Diablos (5-13)

The key area of focus in the offseason for the Diablos was upgrading the bullpen. They thought they did that in free agency but the pen has lost 3 games and blown 4 saves already. Tanyon Dunn & Seth Brower are fooling no one with opposing batting averages of .360 and .375 respectively. Ace Rick Douglas has fallen flat on his face with an 0-4 start and a bloated 6.55 ERA. Four out of the five starters have WHIP’s above 1.50 which just isn’t going to get it done.

Offensively, RF Fred Eyre has been scorching hot hitting .394-7-17 and has 5 dingers in just 26 AB’s vs lefties. Versatile rookie Lorenzo Perez has not disappointed at .333-2-10. Davey Vazquez has been a terror on the base paths swiping 9 bags in 9 attempts. A glaring hole though has been 1st-scaker Vic Coronado. Coronado has averaged 37 dingers and 110 RBI’s the past 4 seasons in San Juan but has stumbled out of the gate to .175-0-5 and only 1 run scored in 57 at bats.

Minor League Watch

Pitcher- Kelvin James (AAA) 2-1, 2.25. 0.44 WHIP
Hitter- Bob Stokes (HA) .414-10-33, 1.482 OPS

Interesting Fact- combined, the farm system of the Diablos has a 54-18 record.

4. Florida Beach Bums (4-15)

The pitching staff has lived up to the team name as they carry a team ERA of 7.34 after 19 games. Starters Vin Sanchez, Don Lambert & Tom Hauser are a combined 0-9. Sanchez also carries a fat 2.56 WHIP allowing 23 hits and walking 18 in just 16 innings. In fact, control has been an issue for the entire staff as they wildly have issued 90 walks in 163 innings which ranks last in all of baseball too.

On the flip side, the Bums do not work the opposing pitchers either as they are last in the league in taking walks. Their .311 OBP ranks 30th while their 70 runs scored is also 30th. C Pablo Solano has been a bright spot with a .371 average while Rob Towers leads the team with 13 RBI’s. There probably hasn’t been a better player off the bench so far then Denny O’Connor who in 19 at bats is hitting .526.

Minor League Watch

Pitcher- Ted Valentin (HA) 1-0, 0.64. 0.71 WHIP
Hitter- Tanyon Hendrickson (LA) .339-6-17, 1.086 OPS

Interesting Fact- Obviously stolen bases is being emphasized as AAA, AA & HA have combined to steal 62 bags so far.