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firstbigweekend · 05-10-2004, 05:47 PM

Cleveland Blues Update — May 1901
By Chauncey St. John, Associated Press

CLEVELAND — Things got a little better for the Blues in May as they won 10 games and improved to 19-36 overall. Of course, Cleveland's still in last place and 15 games out of first in the American League.

"We're starting to improve," general manager Levi Chronister said, "but each and every game we're still struggling far too much to win. I'm sure this team just needs some more time to get into rhythm."

Chronister may be on to something, as the Blues finished May on a three-game winning streak, defeating the Washington Senators in the final game of a three-game series and then took two straighth from the Chicago White Sox.

Cleveland's strong finish mirrored that of starting pitcher Jerry Nops, who fell to 0-10 before winning two of his final three starts of the month. Nops and Doc Newton are tied for the league lead with 11 losses each.

Harry McNeal continued his impressive relief work, picking up two wins out of the bullpen. He currently leads the team with a 1.35 ERA in 13.1 innings.

Rightfielder Sam Crawford rebounded well in May, hitting .333 with a .352 on-base percentage and a .510 slugging percentage (highlighted by five doubles and three homers). Third baseman Bill Bradley is still tearing the cover off the ball, hitting .351 through two months, good enough for third best in the American League.

In the minors — AAA left fielder Jeffrey Schank is moving up the organizational ladder quickly. After hitting .359 with a 1.478 OPS in 29 games in AA, Schank hit .289 with a 1.040 OPS in a month at AAA. He could soon push his way into the big-league lineup at designated hitter, moving Bradley to third base and George Roche back to the bench.

AA catcher Brian Talley also is showing rapid improvement. Talley is hitting .300 with a .870 OPS through 53 games, and could be backing up Roger Bresnahan in Cleveland by next year.

Third baseman Donald Azar, picked up from Washington before the season, is hitting just .221 in A ball, but has 29 home runs in 55 games. Cleveland's scout, Edward Gremillion, doesn't think he's ready to move up yet, but Chronister said he pull the trigger on his own if Azar keeps hitting the ball out of the park at that rate.

Around the league — Brookyln, sixth in the National League at 23-32 and 14 games behind Philadelphia, made a blockbuster trade with the Boston Americans on May 18. Brooklyn sent right fielder Tom McCreery to Boston for shortstop and No. 2-overall prospect Neil Romans. One of the few four-star prospects in the game, Romans could play second for Brooklyn and team with shortstop John Gochnauer in the middle of the diamond for many years. The move makes less sense for Boston so far, as McCreery is currently platooning with Edward St. Laurent.

Baltimore and Philadelphia (N) swept the player of the month awards for May. Baltimore's Ed Scott (5-1, 1.87 ERA) and Mike Donlin (.359, .389 OBP, 30 RBI) were named pitcher and batter of the month for the American League. Philadelphia's Al Orth (6-1, 0.73, 3 CG) and Ed Delahanty (.423, 2 HR, 15 RBI) earned the honors in the NL.

05-10-2004, 05:47 PM	#6 (permalink)
firstbigweekend Minors (Rookie Ball) Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Lawrence, KS Posts: 42 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0x in 0 posts	Cleveland Blues Update — May 1901 By Chauncey St. John, Associated Press CLEVELAND — Things got a little better for the Blues in May as they won 10 games and improved to 19-36 overall. Of course, Cleveland's still in last place and 15 games out of first in the American League. "We're starting to improve," general manager Levi Chronister said, "but each and every game we're still struggling far too much to win. I'm sure this team just needs some more time to get into rhythm." Chronister may be on to something, as the Blues finished May on a three-game winning streak, defeating the Washington Senators in the final game of a three-game series and then took two straighth from the Chicago White Sox. Cleveland's strong finish mirrored that of starting pitcher Jerry Nops, who fell to 0-10 before winning two of his final three starts of the month. Nops and Doc Newton are tied for the league lead with 11 losses each. Harry McNeal continued his impressive relief work, picking up two wins out of the bullpen. He currently leads the team with a 1.35 ERA in 13.1 innings. Rightfielder Sam Crawford rebounded well in May, hitting .333 with a .352 on-base percentage and a .510 slugging percentage (highlighted by five doubles and three homers). Third baseman Bill Bradley is still tearing the cover off the ball, hitting .351 through two months, good enough for third best in the American League. In the minors — AAA left fielder Jeffrey Schank is moving up the organizational ladder quickly. After hitting .359 with a 1.478 OPS in 29 games in AA, Schank hit .289 with a 1.040 OPS in a month at AAA. He could soon push his way into the big-league lineup at designated hitter, moving Bradley to third base and George Roche back to the bench. AA catcher Brian Talley also is showing rapid improvement. Talley is hitting .300 with a .870 OPS through 53 games, and could be backing up Roger Bresnahan in Cleveland by next year. Third baseman Donald Azar, picked up from Washington before the season, is hitting just .221 in A ball, but has 29 home runs in 55 games. Cleveland's scout, Edward Gremillion, doesn't think he's ready to move up yet, but Chronister said he pull the trigger on his own if Azar keeps hitting the ball out of the park at that rate. Around the league — Brookyln, sixth in the National League at 23-32 and 14 games behind Philadelphia, made a blockbuster trade with the Boston Americans on May 18. Brooklyn sent right fielder Tom McCreery to Boston for shortstop and No. 2-overall prospect Neil Romans. One of the few four-star prospects in the game, Romans could play second for Brooklyn and team with shortstop John Gochnauer in the middle of the diamond for many years. The move makes less sense for Boston so far, as McCreery is currently platooning with Edward St. Laurent. Baltimore and Philadelphia (N) swept the player of the month awards for May. Baltimore's Ed Scott (5-1, 1.87 ERA) and Mike Donlin (.359, .389 OBP, 30 RBI) were named pitcher and batter of the month for the American League. Philadelphia's Al Orth (6-1, 0.73, 3 CG) and Ed Delahanty (.423, 2 HR, 15 RBI) earned the honors in the NL. __________________ -- Life, its beauty, is all bound up in the fact it can surprise you.