[EMSoccerCoach]

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

Southern League Profiles

Alabama Airmen

Record: Last 2 Weeks (4-7), Overall 29-41

2-Week Synopsis: Split 2 at New York, Lost 2 of 3 at San Antonio, Lost 2 of 3 at Arizona, Lost 2 of 3 at Memphis

Leaders:
Avg - George Van Haltren .307
HRs - Mike Tiernan 13
RBIs - Mike Tiernan 45

Wins - Vic Willis 7
ERA - Joe Corbett 3.12
Ks – Joe Corbett 145

Top Performance: George Van Haltren went 4-for-6 with 2 runs and 2 RBI in a 9-7 win at Memphis on June 26.

Round Trip (Four miscellaneous points about the team):
1) The Airmen hit only 9 homers on the month.

2) Other than CF George Van Haltren and RF Mike Tiernan, no member of the Airmen hit above .270 in June.

3) The 6-week hot streak of 1B Mike Jacobs came to a crashing halt as he is now 2 for his last 23.

4) Scott Olsen made a start in place of Ted Breitenstein and gave up 5 runs over 7 ininngs in an 11-7 win at San Antonio. But manager Earl Weaver decided to go back to former starter Ed Morris for the next time that turn came around, and he threw an impressive 8 innings of 1-run ball in a tough 1-0 loss at Memphis. Expect Morris' return to the rotation to be semi-permanent.
Arizona Sandmen

Record: Last 2 Weeks (7-4), Overall 38-32

2-Week Synopsis: Split 2 at Sacramento, Won 2 of 3 vs Orlando, Won 2 of 3 vs Alabama, Won 2 of 3 vs Las Vegas.

Leaders:
Avg – Nap Lajoie .340
HRs – Nap Lajoie 13
RBIs – Nap Lajoie 55

Wins – Ben Sanders 11
ERA – Ben Sanders 2.15
Ks – Clark Griffith 75

Top Performance: SP Clark Griffith threw a complete-game 6-hitter, striking out 8 in a 2-0 win over Las Vegas on June 28.

Injuries: 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. Willie Keeler has been diagnosed with a torn elbow ligament, and will miss the remainder of the season and possibly the first half of next year as well. LF Pete Hill left the game against San Antonio June 11 with a hamstring strain. He's expected to return this week.

Round Trip (Four miscellaneous points about the team):
1) He hit .400 on the spring before an MCL tear put him out for 3 months. But Alex Cintron returned and singled in his first at bat, scoring on 2B Nap Lajoie's game-winning homer in a 9-7 win over Sacramento on June 19. Cintron, however, will remain on the bench for the foreseeable future.

2) C Russell Martin has had a strong month, batting .338 with 2 homers, 9 RBI and a .434 OBP, raising his season numbers so .267-3-19.

3) The 4-man shuffle at shortstop and third base appears to be shifting against Kid Elberfeld, who hit .150 this month. SS Pee Wee Butts hit .324, Jose Reyes hit .293 and Billy Nash hit .091 before being moved to the bench. While Reyes and Butts are platooning now, it's not hard to envision Butts moving to third base and Elberfeld following Nash to the bench shortly.

4) Webster McDonald made his first start on June 25, allowing 3 runs over 8 innings in a 3-2 loss against Alabama. It is yet to be decided whether McDonald will permanently take Cherokee Fisher's spot in the rotation. Fisher is now 3-6 with a 6.28 ERA.