[EMSoccerCoach]

Pastime Baseball League – Baseball Bi-Weekly
Vol. 7, Monday, June 29, 2009 (cont.)

Northern League Profiles
New York Heroes

Record: Last 2 Weeks (9-2), Overall 38-31

2-Week Synopsis: Split 2 vs Alabama, Swept 3 vs Indianapolis, Swept 3 vs Sacramento, Won 2 of 3 at Philadelphia

Leaders:
Avg – Ed McKean .323
HRs - Roger Connor 13
RBIs – Jesse Burkett 55

Wins - Jim McCormick 10
ERA - Jim McCormick 2.77
Ks - Harry Howell 105

Top Performance: Jesse Burkett went 3-for-4 with 3 runs scored and 6 RBI in a 14-5 win over Sacramento on June 22.

Injuries: SS Ed McKean has a torn rotator cuff and is out for the season.

Round Trip (Four miscallaneous points about the team):
1) The injury to SS Ed McKean put a damper on a stellar 2-week stretch for New York that put them within a game of first place. McKean leads the Heroes in batting at .323 and has been a steady performer all year. He will be replaced at shortstop by Martin Dihigo, who has played all over the place so far this season, though predominantly at second base. He will slide over and Aaron Miles will take over at second base.

2) 3B David Wright wrapped up his best month of the year, batting .304 with a .371 OBP, leading the Heroes to hope he's finally over the hump. Wright is joined by CF Grady Sizemore, who hit .300 with a .380 OBP for the month.

3) A great month rose the Heroes season batting average to .287, as 7 of their 8 regulars hit .295 or better for the month: C Dick Higham (.375), 1B Roger Connor (.368), 2B Martin Dihigo (.359), LF Jesse Burkett (.318), 3B David Wright (.304), CF Grady Sizemore (.300) and SS Ed McKean (.295).

4) It wasn't just the offense, as New York starters pitched to a 2.78 ERA for the month. That's how a team goes 14-8. And those 8 losses included a 2-0, two 3-1 and a 4-2 defeat.

Philadelphia Ringers
Record: Last 2 Weeks (4-7), Overall 30-37

2-Week Synopsis: Split 2 vs Memphis, Lost 2 of 3 vs Chicago, Lost 2 of 3 vs Wichita, Lost 2 of 3 vs New York

Leaders:
Avg - Pete Gillespie .316
HRs - John O'Rourke 20
RBIs - John O'Rourke 45

Wins - Old Hoss Radbourn 9
ERA - Old Hoss Radbourn 3.06
Ks - Satchel Paige 133

Top Performance: Jim O'Rourke hit two homers against Chicago on June 21, then hit 2 more against Wichita on June 24.

Injuries: Reserve squad player Cody Ross dislocated his shoulder falling down a flight of stairs. He's expected to miss another 7 weeks.

Round Trip (Four miscellaneous points about the team):
1) The Ringers' biggest problem is baseball's worst bullpen, which has posted an almost unfathomable 7.72 ERA so far this year.

2) CF John O'Rourke now has 20 homers, but only 45 RBI, a figure symbolic of the overall offensive struggle for this team. While the Ringers are second in the Northern League in slugging percentage, as well as home runs, they are next to last in OBP. The result? Lots of solo homers.

3) RF Heavy Johnson has been stuck in a platoon situation, but that could change as RF John Anderson continues to struggle. Anderson is hitting only .216, and despite his 10 homers that may not be enough to save his job. Johnson is batting .333 and slugging .505, perhaps enough to take the job fulltime.

4) 2B Bid McPhee has been brilliant defensively all season, but finally hit at least a bit, batting .247 in June after hovering around .200 all season.