[EMSoccerCoach]

Pastime Baseball League – Baseball Bi-Weekly
Vol. 6, Monday, June 15, 2009 (cont.)

Northern League Profiles
New York Heroes

Record: Last 2 Weeks (5-6), Overall 29-29

2-Week Synopsis: Split 2 vs Charlotte, Swept 3 at Philadelphia, Lost 3 of 4 vs Louisville, Lost 2 at Memphis

Leaders:
Avg – Ed McKean .323
HRs - Roger Connor/Jesse Burkett 10
RBIs – Jesse Burkett 45

Wins - Jim McCormick 7
ERA - Jim McCormick 2.59
Ks - Harry Howell 78

Top Performance: Harry Howell salvaged the final game of a 4-game set against Louisville with a 3-hit shutout, striking out 10 while walking only 1 and throwing 143 pitches in a 1-0 duel with Nig Cuppy.

Round Trip (Four miscallaneous points about the team):
1) C Dick Higham has hit .415 so far this month, lifting his average over .300 and continuing what has been a largely unheralded season. There were bigger names catching, but Higham has been steady throughout the year, and now is batting .319 with 6 homers and 35 RBI. He's also thrown out half of the runners trying to steal against him, making him the total package behind the dish.

2) The up and down story of 3B David Wright is up again, as the young third sacker is hitting .341 with a .400 OBP. His power is still lagging, but as long as Wright is getting on base the Heroes will be satisfied and confident his power will come. Wright is hitting .243 with 4 HRs and 24 RBI.

3) Following the same path as Wright is CF Grady Sizemore, though Sizemore's climb has been more consistent. Sizemore's average and slugging have risen each month, and after striking out 45 times over the first two months of the season, Sizemore has thus far struck out only 6 times midway through June. Sizemore is now hitting .241 with 5 HRs and 21 RBI.

4) Ace Jim McCormick was shellacked his last time out, allowing 6 earned runs on 7 hits over 1 2/3 innings in an 11-2 drubbing at the hands of Louisville on June 10.

Philadelphia Ringers
Record: Last 2 Weeks (4-7), Overall 26-30

2-Week Synopsis: Split 2 vs Louisville, Lost 3 vs New York, Split 4 vs Charlotte, Split 2 at Alabama

Leaders:
Avg - Pete Gillespie .329
HRs - John O'Rourke 15
RBIs - Charley Jones 39

Wins - Old Hoss Radbourn 7
ERA - Old Hoss Radbourn 2.99
Ks - Satchel Paige 117

Top Performance: Charley Jones went 2-for-3 with 2 homers and 6 RBI in a 12-3 win over Charlotte on June 9.

Injuries: Reserve squad player Cody Ross dislocated his shoulder falling down a flight of stairs. He's expected to miss 2 months.

Round Trip (Four miscellaneous points about the team):
1) Charley Jones' 2-homer game against Charlotte was his third 2-homer game of the year. He now has 13 total.

2) If you are looking for a sign of the struggles of Philadelphia's offense, see Charley Radbourn's 7-7 record, despite his 2.99 ERA that has him fourth in the Northern League.

3) "Somebody has to respect what this guy is doing. I know Brouthers has been great, but this guy has been a hell of a hitter and plays a much tougher position. It sure would be nice if someone noticed." That quote from manager John Ward is about his centerfielder John O'Rourke, whose .314/.430/.649 nine breeds a 1.079 OPS (third in the Northern League), with 15 homers (also third) and 34 RBI (7th).

4) Catcher Jocko Milligan, perhaps pushed by the call for Victor Martinez to take his job, is hitting .310 this month after batting .196 through the first two months of the year.