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Pastime Baseball League – Baseball Bi-Weekly
Vol. 3, Monday, May 18, 2009 (cont.)

Southern League Profiles

Alabama Airmen

Record: Last 2 Weeks (6-4), Overall 18-19

2-Week Synopsis: Lost both vs Indianapolis, Won 2 of 3 vs Los Angeles, Split 2 vs Arizona, Swept 3 vs New Orleans

Leaders:
Avg - Joe Mauer .353
HRs - Mike Tiernan, George Van Haltren 8
RBIs - George Van Haltren 29

Wins - Joe Corbett 5
ERA - Joe Corbett 2.73
Ks – Joe Corbett 90

Top Performance: Mike Tiernan went 3-for-4 with 2 homers and 5 RBI in a 7-6 win over New Orleans May 15th.

Injuries: Bobby Lowe was injured March 27, tearing a ligament in his thumb. He's expected to be out until mid-June. George Van Haltren was put on the DL May 16th with back stiffness. He's expected to miss 2 weeks.

Round Trip (Four miscellaneous points about the team):
1) The discomfort finally got to be too much for George Van Haltren, who is headed to the DL. Van Haltren was hitting .176 over a 2-week stretch with a homer and 3 RBI, looking awkward at the plate. It was revealed that Van Haltren had been fighting a stiff back, and the team decided to shelve him for a couple of weeks, hoping therapy can remedy the situation.

2) Ed Delahanty has kept it up, even without playing every day. He has played more regularly though, benefitting from the Van Haltren injury. And all he's done in the past two weeks is hit .429 (9-for-21). Delahanty should get regular time during the Van Haltren's DL stint. If he produces, expect him to get the first base job.

3) After starting 4-11, the Airmen have gone 14-8 since.

4) Ed Morris was finally pulled from the rotation after going 0-5 with a 7.93 ERA. The control-challenged Ted Breitenstein will replace him. Why Charlie Ferguson or C.C. Sabathia are not getting that spot is anyone's guess.

Arizona Sandmen

Record: Last 2 Weeks (4-6), Overall 20-17

2-Week Synopsis: Split 2 vs Louisville, Lost 2 of 3 at New Orleans, Split 2 at Alabama, Lost 2 of 3 at Los Angeles

Leaders:
Avg – Nap Lajoie .323
HRs – Pete Hill 7
RBIs – Nap Lajoie, Pete Hill 23

Wins – Ben Sanders 5
ERA – Dan Casey 2.32
Ks – Clark Griffith 40

Top Performance: Billy Nash went 3-for-3 with 2 homers and 6 RBI in a 9-4 win at New Orleans.

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 May 3, threw a third of an inning on May 4 and was shelved with what has been diagnosed as bicep tendinitis. The injury is expected to keep Koplove out until August.

Round Trip (Four miscellaneous points about the team):
1) Kid Elberfeld has played a flawless shortstop since he was acquired from New Orleans. Unfortunately for Arizona, he hasn't hit a lick, batting .167 since coming over.

2) Anibal Sanchez got the rotation spot freed by dealing Nick Altrock in the Elberfeld trade. He's gone 1-2 with a 5.40 ERA this month. Altrock has gone 0-3 with a 5.50 ERA since going to New Orleans.

3) Randy Choate (2 saves, 1.26 ERA) and closer Jose Valverde (1-0, 10 saves, 1.84 ERA) have anchored the bullpen following one of the league's best rotation (3.65 ERA).

4) Arizona heads for a 4-game set hosting the San Antonio Sheriffs. Pay attention to game 2: Ben Sanders vs Joe McGinnity should be a great pitchers duel.