[EMSoccerCoach]

Pastime Baseball League

July Review (cont.)

Southern League Review

If at the start of the season, anybody would have said that on August 1, the last two Southern League East Division champions would be in third and last in the division, you would have said they were crazy. And yet, that's how it stands, as the Orlando Orcas lead the way, with the surging Alabama Airmen close behind.

Sam Crawford and Pete Browning hit .370 and .320, respectively, in July, while four starters put up an ERA of 3.15 or less en route to an 18-8 month. At 4-11 after a 1-4 June with a 7.01 ERA, Tim Keefe (8-11, 4.05) went 4-0 with a 2.83 ERA during the month. Upcoming the Orcas host the west leading Los Angeles Idols and the third-place defending champion New Orleans Hurricanes for three games each in a tough, short homestand.

Since May 1, the Airmen are 49-33, a .598 clip. No exceptional seasons to blow anyone away - though Jimmy Rollins (.312-7-36-19 SB) is on fire - but steady production from each spot and a top three in the rotation that looks ready to go toe-to-toe with anyone. Dan Haren (12-4, 3.23), Virgil Trucks (13-7, 3.25) and Barry Zito (11-4, 3.77) are throwing very well. John Lackey will take the place of the injured Vic Willis (8-8, 3.31), perhaps for the remainder of the regular season.

The Knights are 9 games below. 500 since May 1, and - while it's unlikely he would have kept it up at that level - the June injury to Eric Hinske (.353-5-26), lost for the year with a broken kneecap, has hurt. The current DH tandem is Brad Hawpe (.139-0-1) and Lave Cross (.216-1-8). Sam Thompson (.303-24-73) is strong despite little help, though Prince Fielder has 20 homers and Ross Barnes is batting .317.

In Memphis, an 8-17 month has put the Strummers in the cellar. There are a host of reasons, but everyone wants to know what's happened to Cap Anson (.274-3-25). In 2009, Anson hit .338 with 26 homers and 118 RBI. Last year: .282, 5 homers and 51 RBI. There are no injuries of which anyone is aware, but Anson's decline is alarming. Patience, once a virtue, is nonexistent. He walked 88 times, striking out 93 in '09. Last year he walked 18 and struck out 23. This year he's walked 10 times and struck out 15. He's abandoned an approach that worked brilliantly, and nobody seems able to get him back on track.

It's a two-horse race out west, but it's a good one. The Los Angeles Idols are doing all they can to prove pitching doesn't win championships. Ranking 7th of 8 in ERA in the Southern League, baseball's best offense just keeps piling up the wins. Mike Donlin (.365-26-74) cooled down to merely good (.330-3-14) in July after a 2-month stretch that saw him post a 1.275 OPS, banging 20 homers and driving in 49. No matter. Cal McVey (.349-8-48) hit .390 in July, and rookie Vern Stephens (.309-6-42) hit .366. Add Justin Morneau's .325 and the lineup kept doing what it does...beating people up. Of the 15 position players on the active roster, 11 of them are hitting better than .300.

That doesn't scare the San Antonio Sheriffs, who watched Brandon Webb (8-8, 4.03) go 4-0 with a 1.56 ERA in July to join their already stellar top 3: Ted Trent (10-4, 2.62), Dick Rudolph (12-8, 3.05) and Joe McGinnity (12-7, 3.36). San Antonio hosts Los Angeles, who leads by 2 games, for a 3-game set August 5-7. The Idols have taken 8 of 14 so far this year.
AWARDS

Player of the Week
7/4 CF Joey Gathright - Arizona Sandmen
7/11 CF Mike Donlin - Los Angeles Idols
7/18 LF Harry Stovey - Los Angeles Idols
7/25 RF George Van Haltren - Alabama Airmen

Batter of the Month
CF Oscar Charleston - Memphis Strummers

Pitcher of the Month
Ted Trent - San Antonio Sheriffs

Rookie of the Month
SS Vern Stephens - Los Angeles Idols