[EMSoccerCoach]

Pastime Baseball League – Baseball Bi-Weekly
Vol. 3, Monday, May 4, 2009 (cont.)

Southern League Profiles

Alabama Airmen

Record: Last 2 Weeks (8-4), Overall 12-15

2-Week Synopsis: Won 3 of 4 at Orlando, Split 2 at Memphis, Won 3 of 4 at New Orleans, Split 2 at Chicago

Leaders:
Avg - Joe Mauer .375
HRs - Joe Mauer, George Van Haltren 7
RBIs - George Van Haltren 26

Wins - Vic Willis 4
ERA - Vic Willis 2.51
Ks – Joe Corbett 62

Top Performance: George Van Haltren went 4-for-6 with a homer, 3 runs and 4 RBI in a 15-10 slugfest win over Orlando on April 20.

Injuries: Bobby Lowe was injured March 27, tearing a ligament in his thumb. He's expected to be out until mid-June.

Round Trip (Four miscellaneous points about the team):
1) Bill Bradley was named Southern League Player of the Week today after having hit .444 with 3 homers and 6 RBI.

2) One of the Top 10 prospects in the game, 20-year-old Ed Delahanty is forcing his way into the lineup. He’s picked up 6 starts at first base and four in left field as he’s hit .435 (20-for-46) with a 1.132 OPS. With the current 1B duo of Mike Jacobs and Henry Larkin batting a combined .172 with one homer, look for Delahanty to get a chance to take the job outright.

3) No coincidence that in winning 8 of 12 the past two weeks, the Airmen have also climbed from last to 5^th in the Southern League in walks.

4) Another factor in the turnaround has been the bullpen, which in two weeks shaved nearly a run off its collective ERA (5.53 to 4.66).

Arizona Sandmen

Record: Last 2 Weeks (8-4), Overall 16-11

2-Week Synopsis: Split 4 at San Antonio, Split 2 vs Las Vegas, Won 3 of 4 vs Los Angeles, Won both vs Charlotte

Leaders:
Avg – Nap Lajoie .362
HRs – Nap Lajoie 5
RBIs – Nap Lajoie 19

Wins – Ben Sanders 5
ERA – Dan Casey 1.94
Ks – Ben Sanders 31

Top Performance: Dan Casey threw 10 shutout innings, allowing 5 hits and striking out 4 in what would become a 1-0 win over Las Vegas in 15 innings on April 26.

Injuries: Alex Cintron, who was having a torrid spring, hitting .400, went down March 23 with a strained MCL. He is not expected back until at least early June. Mike Koplove came off the DL yesterday after a mild hamstring strain. Webster McDonald strained a back muscle and was put on the 15-day DL retroactive to April 25. Ben Sanders strained an oblique muscle May 2 and has been put on the 15-day DL.

Round Trip (Four miscellaneous points about the team):
1) Announced moments from press time, Arizona dealt pitcher Nick Altrock and young outfielder Xavier Nady to New Orleans for shortstop Kid Elberfeld. Altrock was 2-4 with a 4.12 ERA for the Sandmen, who apparently believe Bronson Arroyo and Anibal Sanchez can contribute. Nady was on Arizona’s reserve squad. Elberfeld, meanwhile, hit .283 with a homer and 9 RBI for New Orleans. While considered a natural shortstop, Elberfeld had played third base almost exclusively for New Orleans. Arizona manager Pasty Tebeau confirmed that Elberfeld will play short for the Sandmen, which leaves the roles of Jose Reyes (.231, 0 HR, 6 RBI) and Pee Wee Butts (.294, 0 HR, 3 RBI) up in the air.

2) The league’s worst offense (98 runs, 3.6 a game) has been compensated for by the league’s best staff (3.12 ERA).

3) Buoying the staff is a back end of the bullpen that has been simply outstanding. Setup men Mike Koplove (6 scoreless innings) and Randy Choate (1 run allowed in 7 innings) have led the way to closer Jose Valverde (1-0, 8 saves, 1.64 ERA).

4) Key to their division-leading record: The Sandmen are 7-3 in 1-run games, best mark in the SouthernLeague.