-There were a few major injuries during Spring Training this year, including two career enders. First,
36 year old P Dave Johnstone of the Nashua Titans suffered a torn elbow ligament and isn't expected to recover. He hit .271 with 4 HR and 30 RBI a year ago in 269 AB's. Next
Durham Bobcats P Jaime Serna's career also came to an abrupt end as he suffered major damage to his shoulder and elbow and while he could be back in approximately 24 months, noone is expecting it. Last year, Serna was 5-4 with a 4.73 ERA in 11 starts for the Bobcats.
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Dan Zimmerman of the Newmarket Mules will be out until July at the earliest as it was discovered he had bone chips in his pitching elbow. Zimmerman was 8-10 with a 4.00 ERA, but improved drastically in the 2nd half of the year, winning the Pitcher of the Month award in July.
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P Andy Olson of the Dover Green Wave will miss the season after tearing his triceps muscle clear off the bone in a game this week. Last year, Olson was 6-2 with a 3.78 ERA for the World Champions. He threw 52 1/3 innings, striking out 59.
Complete Team Spring Training Batting Stats-
Complete Team Spring Training Pitching Stats-
Surprises:
C Brad Ford .286 3 HR 9 RBI- Ford was brought in to replace the departed Todd Lewis, and responded nicely. A year ago, Ford was playing in AAA, where he received only 91 AB's. We hope he can provide some pop off the bench, butis mostly here for his glovework.
SS Kent Rogers .250 2 HR 11 RBI- Another under the radar free agent signing. Rogers was brought in to replace Al Allen, and he ended up 2nd on the team in RBI during the Spring. He needs some work with the glove however, as he committed 7 total errors this spring, five at 2B and two at short.
Jesus Flores 2-0 1.35 ERA- Flores was everything we hoped he be. In five starts, he pitched 20 innings, and gave up 20 hits and just four walks with 21 strikeouts.
Wallace Harrison 1-0 1.69 4 starts- Considering we picked up him for a 34 year old minor league OF, we are thrilled with his performance. The lack of strikeouts, (only 5 in 16 innings) is a tad concerning though.
Jose Barron 2-2 2.10 12 appearances- Barron's transition to the bullpen was fantastic. He struck out 35 in 30 innings and gives us a long man to bridge the gap between the starters and Fernando Garcia and John Coury.
Disappointments:
Allan Fox .167 1 HR 3 RBI- Not good production for our highest paid player ($6.3 million)
Alberto Flores .216 1 HR 7 RBI- After finishing 4th in the NL in batting last year, this isn't what we were hoping for.
Jesus Guardado 0-3 6.75- Not a good spring at all for our Ace. Allowed opponents to hit .311 against him, although he did just allow 2 homeruns.
Pablo Contreras 0-0 8.27 12 appearances- Not what we were looking for in his attempt to return from season ending surgery a year ago. 29 baserunners in 16 innings isn't going to cut it, even as the last man in the pen.
Leading off the 2009 campaign for the Mules is four games at home against the Augusta Moose followed by a four game set in Portland against the Bulldogs!