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EMSoccerCoach · 09-05-2009, 10:33 PM

Pastime Baseball League
May Review (cont.)

Southern League Report

With a little more than a quarter of the season complete, the New Orleans Knights hope to turn 2010 into a reversal of 2009, forcing the Memphis Strummers to chase them instead.

The Knights carry a slim two game lead as we start June, and will host a three-game set against Memphis starting tonight.

Sam Thompson (.281-8-27) has been solid but unspectacular after his runner-up finish in last year's Outstanding Hitter voting. But the Knights offense has been buoyed by doubles machine SS George Wright (.308-9-29), who has 23 already this season, LF Topsy Hartsel (.308-4-35) and CF Curtis Granderson (.333-4-34). And, despite batting only .229, DH Prince Fielder leads the Southern League with 47 RBI.

Ace Doc McJames (6-5, 4.14) continues to struggle, but the slack has been picked up by Mark Prior (8-1, 2.58), whose late-season growth of 2009 has evolved into staff-leading stuff in 2010.

As for Memphis, it starts with Oscar Charleston, who leads the PBL in hitting at .425 - 50 points above the next closest batter. Charleston (.425-8-34) and RF Ichiro Suzuki (.351-1-16) have set the table and then some for 3B Ryan Braun (.255-10-44), who stands third in the PBL in RBIs. Still lagging is Cap Anson (.236-2-20), who the Strummers hope will get going soon as a hamstring injury has Suzuki shelved for the next three weeks or so.

C Deacon White, who hit .321-20-110 a year ago, is stuck at .251 this season with five homers and 29 RBI. Pitching has been solid, as the Strummers boast the league's top bullpen - which has a 2.51 collective ERA thus far.

Watch the Orlando Orcas in the next month to see if they fade or hang around. Their pitching is poor, a sign of a likely fade, but the offense is second in runs behind RBI leader 3B Ezra Sutton (.373-8-48), powerhouse 1B Ryan Howard (.265-10-30) and RF Sam Crawford (.330-8-21).

Out west, it's all San Antonio, as the Sheriffs lead Arizona by 10 games and seem poised to make it a runaway. Brandon Webb (6-2, 2.35) leads the staff, which is still waiting for Noodles Hahn (6-4, 5.80) to rediscover his form of last year's Outstanding Pitcher campaign. He seems on his way, though: after a putrid April (2-2, 9.47), he went 4-2 with a 3.47 ERA in May, though his strikeout rate remains a fraction of last year's blistering pace.

AWARDS

Player of the Week
5/3 2B Jose Reyes - Arizona Sandmen
5/10 LF Harry Stovey - Los Angeles Idols
5/17 1B Ryan Howard - Orlando Orcas
5/24 C Deacon White - Memphis Strummers
5/31 LF Mike Donlin - Los Angeles Idols

Batter of the Month
LF Topsy Hartsel - New Orleans Knights

Pitcher of the Month
Dick Rudolph - San Antonio Sheriffs

Rookie of the Month
SS George Wright - New Orleans Knights

09-05-2009, 10:33 PM	#297 (permalink)
EMSoccerCoach Hall Of Famer Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 2,444 Thanks: 34 Thanked 104x in 88 posts	*Pastime Baseball League* May Review (cont.) Southern League Report With a little more than a quarter of the season complete, the New Orleans Knights hope to turn 2010 into a reversal of 2009, forcing the Memphis Strummers to chase them instead. The Knights carry a slim two game lead as we start June, and will host a three-game set against Memphis starting tonight. Sam Thompson (.281-8-27) has been solid but unspectacular after his runner-up finish in last year's Outstanding Hitter voting. But the Knights offense has been buoyed by doubles machine SS George Wright (.308-9-29), who has 23 already this season, LF Topsy Hartsel (.308-4-35) and CF Curtis Granderson (.333-4-34). And, despite batting only .229, DH Prince Fielder leads the Southern League with 47 RBI. Ace Doc McJames (6-5, 4.14) continues to struggle, but the slack has been picked up by Mark Prior (8-1, 2.58), whose late-season growth of 2009 has evolved into staff-leading stuff in 2010. As for Memphis, it starts with Oscar Charleston, who leads the PBL in hitting at .425 - 50 points above the next closest batter. Charleston (.425-8-34) and RF Ichiro Suzuki (.351-1-16) have set the table and then some for 3B Ryan Braun (.255-10-44), who stands third in the PBL in RBIs. Still lagging is Cap Anson (.236-2-20), who the Strummers hope will get going soon as a hamstring injury has Suzuki shelved for the next three weeks or so. C Deacon White, who hit .321-20-110 a year ago, is stuck at .251 this season with five homers and 29 RBI. Pitching has been solid, as the Strummers boast the league's top bullpen - which has a 2.51 collective ERA thus far. Watch the Orlando Orcas in the next month to see if they fade or hang around. Their pitching is poor, a sign of a likely fade, but the offense is second in runs behind RBI leader 3B Ezra Sutton (.373-8-48), powerhouse 1B Ryan Howard (.265-10-30) and RF Sam Crawford (.330-8-21). Out west, it's all San Antonio, as the Sheriffs lead Arizona by 10 games and seem poised to make it a runaway. Brandon Webb (6-2, 2.35) leads the staff, which is still waiting for Noodles Hahn (6-4, 5.80) to rediscover his form of last year's Outstanding Pitcher campaign. He seems on his way, though: after a putrid April (2-2, 9.47), he went 4-2 with a 3.47 ERA in May, though his strikeout rate remains a fraction of last year's blistering pace. AWARDS Player of the Week 5/3 2B Jose Reyes - Arizona Sandmen 5/10 LF Harry Stovey - Los Angeles Idols 5/17 1B Ryan Howard - Orlando Orcas 5/24 C Deacon White - Memphis Strummers 5/31 LF Mike Donlin - Los Angeles Idols Batter of the Month LF Topsy Hartsel - New Orleans Knights Pitcher of the Month Dick Rudolph - San Antonio Sheriffs Rookie of the Month SS George Wright - New Orleans Knights __________________ The Pastime Baseball League The Pastime Baseball League - 10-Year Recap The Pastime Boxing Association