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Hank Greenberg · 06-13-2004, 07:06 PM

Ann Arbor Crusaders Report

A small directors note, but I screwed up the first week of the schedule (changed the start date by two days) so I ended up playing a double header...well actually two. Nothing overly bad happened though

.

We came out crushing the ball. Hayden Warden hit 5 HRs vs Albany in the opening series of the season. We ended up taking 5 out of the 6 vs them. Liu and Poovey picked up wins in double header starts, though neither pitched overly well. Gregory Johnson was the only pitcher to lose.

Next up we played Athens in a less than dramatic series. After three less than thrilling victories, Bill Hollins hits a walkoff shot in the bottom of the 10th. After another convincing victory, Hollins hits a shot too tie it in the bottom of the 9th again vs Athens, Windle hit a single to win it in the 10th. Pilon picked up two wins during this series, striking out 12 and 13. We swept the entire 6 game series.

Next stop was Madison, which actually put up a fight. After a thrilling 16 inning contest in which Rolden-Stjean-Liu and Frazen blank the Miracle, Windle comes through again, hitting a solo shot in the top of the 16th to win the game 1-0 in 16. The offence went into a funk for the next three games though, only managin 5 runs in the three loss's (but the pitching was good). We came back and won the final two games of the series to earn a split in the series.

Daniel Jackson has been awesome, hitting .390 with 3HR with Virgil a ways back a .333. Warden has 9 bombs already while hitting .260 (.365 OBP) and 21 RBI, pacing the EL in HR and RBI. Hollins has struggled hitting singles, but has a nice OBP (.345) along with 3HR and 5doubles (vs only 5 singles).

Frazen hasn't given up a run in 11 innings earning 6 saves. The staff has been so-so, they had some rough starts early (mainly Byrns and Johnson) but Pilon is 3-1 with a 3.75 ERA and Roldan is 3-0 with a 2.45. Pilon has given up 8HR in 34IP....I knew he was going to give up some HRs, but I thats ridiculous, I was thinking 5 tops at this piont.

Down on the Farm...

AAA...no specs
AA:
Justin Downing- 23 years old with a lot of potential. He gets ground balls and has a good fastball (93-96) and good stuff. He should be up in 2 or 3 years, if not earlier. Hes struggling in AA ball though, 1-2 wiht a 4.40 ERA with 10 walks in 30 innings. He does have 36Ks atleast.

Alexander "The Thinker" Hardy- 22 year old with a world of potential. The first sacker has had a mixed start, 2 HRs and a .356 OBP, but only hitting in the .240s and is slugging just .364. Hes a big time prospect though.

A:
Bill Arden- A Catcher (and 1B), he's 20 years old so he has time to develop still. Like Hardy, having .364 OBP, but hitting below the Mendozza line. Has 2 HR and just 1 double... not big power yet. He s got a decent arm and can steal base's with the best of em.

Robert Carpa- A pretty good pitching prospect, doesn't look like an ace when I drafted him, but has put up good #s so far. Hes 0-2 despite an amazing 2.10 ERA. In 34 innings hes walked way too many (15), but has struck out 34. Hes got a good fastball (91-94) gets a lot of ground balls and has great stamina.

William Neuhaus- 19 year old, is 1-0 with a 2.02 ERA. Good control (9 walks in 34.1IP) but isn't a big K guy (only 23). Doesn't have the great fastball, but does get groundballs and has decent stamina. Not a ton of upside, but he could stick around.

Jason Blakes- 18 years old, decent fastball. Average stamina and not really a ground ball pitcher. He hasn't pitched much this year (I had him as my 5th starter in a 4 man rotation...). He'll most likely come out of the pen if he ever makes it.

Nobody else of note really....

Overall I have a decent farm, but its very thin. I have some good top tier talent, but not many average prospects that will just fill a roster spot for me. I dont expect too see anyone up all that soon either.

06-13-2004, 07:06 PM	#9 (permalink)
Hank Greenberg Major Leagues Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 460 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1x in 1 post	Ann Arbor Crusaders Report A small directors note, but I screwed up the first week of the schedule (changed the start date by two days) so I ended up playing a double header...well actually two. Nothing overly bad happened though . We came out crushing the ball. Hayden Warden hit 5 HRs vs Albany in the opening series of the season. We ended up taking 5 out of the 6 vs them. Liu and Poovey picked up wins in double header starts, though neither pitched overly well. Gregory Johnson was the only pitcher to lose. Next up we played Athens in a less than dramatic series. After three less than thrilling victories, Bill Hollins hits a walkoff shot in the bottom of the 10th. After another convincing victory, Hollins hits a shot too tie it in the bottom of the 9th again vs Athens, Windle hit a single to win it in the 10th. Pilon picked up two wins during this series, striking out 12 and 13. We swept the entire 6 game series. Next stop was Madison, which actually put up a fight. After a thrilling 16 inning contest in which Rolden-Stjean-Liu and Frazen blank the Miracle, Windle comes through again, hitting a solo shot in the top of the 16th to win the game 1-0 in 16. The offence went into a funk for the next three games though, only managin 5 runs in the three loss's (but the pitching was good). We came back and won the final two games of the series to earn a split in the series. Daniel Jackson has been awesome, hitting .390 with 3HR with Virgil a ways back a .333. Warden has 9 bombs already while hitting .260 (.365 OBP) and 21 RBI, pacing the EL in HR and RBI. Hollins has struggled hitting singles, but has a nice OBP (.345) along with 3HR and 5doubles (vs only 5 singles). Frazen hasn't given up a run in 11 innings earning 6 saves. The staff has been so-so, they had some rough starts early (mainly Byrns and Johnson) but Pilon is 3-1 with a 3.75 ERA and Roldan is 3-0 with a 2.45. Pilon has given up 8HR in 34IP....I knew he was going to give up some HRs, but I thats ridiculous, I was thinking 5 tops at this piont. Down on the Farm... AAA...no specs AA: Justin Downing- 23 years old with a lot of potential. He gets ground balls and has a good fastball (93-96) and good stuff. He should be up in 2 or 3 years, if not earlier. Hes struggling in AA ball though, 1-2 wiht a 4.40 ERA with 10 walks in 30 innings. He does have 36Ks atleast. Alexander "The Thinker" Hardy- 22 year old with a world of potential. The first sacker has had a mixed start, 2 HRs and a .356 OBP, but only hitting in the .240s and is slugging just .364. Hes a big time prospect though. A: Bill Arden- A Catcher (and 1B), he's 20 years old so he has time to develop still. Like Hardy, having .364 OBP, but hitting below the Mendozza line. Has 2 HR and just 1 double... not big power yet. He s got a decent arm and can steal base's with the best of em. Robert Carpa- A pretty good pitching prospect, doesn't look like an ace when I drafted him, but has put up good #s so far. Hes 0-2 despite an amazing 2.10 ERA. In 34 innings hes walked way too many (15), but has struck out 34. Hes got a good fastball (91-94) gets a lot of ground balls and has great stamina. William Neuhaus- 19 year old, is 1-0 with a 2.02 ERA. Good control (9 walks in 34.1IP) but isn't a big K guy (only 23). Doesn't have the great fastball, but does get groundballs and has decent stamina. Not a ton of upside, but he could stick around. Jason Blakes- 18 years old, decent fastball. Average stamina and not really a ground ball pitcher. He hasn't pitched much this year (I had him as my 5th starter in a 4 man rotation...). He'll most likely come out of the pen if he ever makes it. Nobody else of note really.... Overall I have a decent farm, but its very thin. I have some good top tier talent, but not many average prospects that will just fill a roster spot for me. I dont expect too see anyone up all that soon either.