Welp, we are at the halfway point of the summer ball season. 4th of July weekend is what it's all about for these summer leagues. All the players have arrived, the teams are now solid going forward, especially in the Cape. The temps have had their chance, they either made teams, have been traded or they've gone home. Players are now settled in with their host families, new teammates, coaches and the wooden bats. The fans and scouts will be out in full force from here on out. It's this time of the summer ball season where you see guys turn it up a notch or fall due to the grind.
Keep It Rolling
These are the guys I think are having good seasons up to this point and just need to keep going at the current pace.
I don't see how Stewart can keep this up, but he is clearly the guy who has been outstanding so far. Tonight, Team USA begins a series with the Chinese Taipei squad, 7:05, can't wait!
Andrew Lee has pitched 16 innings and only allowed four walks. I have watched every pitch this summer and his ERA doesn't really reflect how well he has actually done. When he's been called upon to play in the field he's had good at bats. I like his confidence and his temperament on the mound, he's pounding the zone and has been ahead of the batters most of the time. Just keep it going!
Jordan Rodgers has really improved at third base over the last ten days, two weeks. He's had some timely hits, he's got a decent average at this point. I'd like to see a little more power over the rest of the summer, but for a guy who didn't get a lot of playing time, he's making noticeable progress, he just needs to keep doing it everyday and he'll end up with good numbers.
Last year about this time, Derek Lance's #'s for Cincinnati looked like this:
Lance - BA .215, 65 AB, 14 H, 7 R, 3 2B, 11 RBI, 11 BB, 11 SO, 3 SB
This year:
Lance - BA .256, 43 AB, 7 R, 11 H, 1 2B, 2 RBI, 7 BB, 1 HBP, 6 SO, 6 SB, 2 E
That's improvement, unfortunately he may be done with an injured wrist or he may be back in the line-up tonight. Either way, he's matched his production from last year in 22 less at bats, I'd like to see more power, extra bases but...hope he's okay.
Brodie Leftridge, yeah, I'm gonna cut him some slack. He's a high school kid playing with college guys and he's holding his own. His ERA is under 3.00, like to see his BA up, it will come, just keep it going.
Bret Marks is doing well this summer, I haven't gotten to see him as much as some of the others, but his numbers are good.
AJ Simcox got off to a slow start, but he's starting to come around, you can just kind of see it. I'd like to see him step it up a bit, I think it's coming, not worried yet.
Eric Martin has an ERA of 0.00. He isn't getting to pitch much and I'm starting to think that is by design, though I can't prove it. Just keep it going.
Vanderford has decent enough numbers and I can't really say he needs to step it up because Owenby and the California League pulled one over on me last year, that's not fair to Vanderford. I'd like to see him doing even better. But it's hard to complain when the ERA is under 2.00. Keep it going.
Step It Up A Notch
The catchers. Forrest Bramlett is out hitting Schultz and Houser. I new Houser was going to struggle at the plate in the Cape, Schultz should be doing better out in the CCL. Bramlett probably doesn't need to be lumped in here based on his numbers, but all of them are here for one reason and one reason only. Benito Santiago. We aren't going to keep four or five catchers. Better step it up.
Jeff Moberg has fair numbers, but I think they should be better. I'm really docking him for the 4 E's I guess. He's an upper classmen and I believe he really has a shot to earn a spot in the infield at 2B, but he's got to be able to hit. He needs to be closer to .300 than he is now, if he can't do it out there, I'm not sure he can do it in the SEC. Step it up Moby, I BELIEVE!
Nick Senzel doesn't owe us a great summer, his regular season was outstanding. I'm not worried about him in the least. However, out of fairness to everyone else, he can do better than he has performed so far. He's battled some home sickness and being banged up...I think he'll kick it up a notch, not worried at all about Senzy.
Kyle Serrano's last two outings have been fairly solid. He leads the ABL in K's but also in walks. He's working on his command. The talent is there, and he's at the right place to learn and he's going to get every opportunity. He's on pace, if he kicks it up a notch he'll be in good shape. We really need him.
VJax is always like this. Streaky. Last year in the first few weeks in the Northwoods he couldn't buy a hit. Then out of nowhere, boom! I don't know if that will happen for him in the Cape because the pitching is so good. He has it in him, we'll see.
Really Need To Turn It On
Plunkett, Freeman, Charpie, Peterson, Grotz, Owenby, Lenstrohm, Youngblood.
Plunkett and Freeman got ZERO playing time, so it may be a bit unfair to place them here. Plunkett is a big kid and I haven't gotten to actually see Freeman.
The rest of those guy...LEGOOOOOOOOOOO!
GBO!!!
