[mikev]

Crusaders Drop To Second Place

A bit of a slow sim, and the Crusaders have dropped behind the Las Vegas Hustlers in the MBBA Pacific. After going 5-4 while Vegas managed an 8-1 sim (hey, they played Long Beach, Buffalo, and Vancouver on top of taking 2 of 3 from us), the Crusaders are looking up at another team in the standings for the first time in quite awhile. Quite frankly, it's not a huge surprise. After Vegas mortgaged the farm to get Parkinson and Ware, you had to figure they would be a much better squad. Factor in the slow start that the Crusader pitching staff has gotten off to (hello, 3.75 staff ERA) and there you have it. Strangely enough this year, the offense has carried the team when it was expected to be the weak point.

Anyway, things are looking up. Staff Ace Jorge Enriquez is eligilble to return from the disabled list in 3 days, so things should take a turn for the better having him instead of Diaz on the pitching staff.

In Enriquez' absence, Ken McKain has certainly stepped up his game. In his 9 starts this year, the southpaw has complied a 5-1, 2.39 mark, tossing 71 innings with 57 strikeouts and 17 walks allowed. His sub-1.00 WHIP to go along with 7 Ks/9 will look real nice once Enriquez is up there at the top of the rotation with him.

On the offensive side of things, Forest continues to kill the ball, with a 1.048 OPS and the same number of walks as strikeouts (25), oh and he's leading the league in OBP again (.453). Behind him in the order, Vincente Gonzalez is still on fire, with a .328/.408/.511 start to the year.

The Next Crusade

5/11 - @ Baltimore
5/12 - @ Baltimore
5/13 - @ Baltimore

5/14 - v. New York
5/15 - v. New York
5/16 - v. New York

5/17 - v. Valencia
5/18 - v. Valencia
5/19 - v. Valencia
5/20 - v. Valencia