Five things we’ve learned …
May 12, 2008 by Jason Guarente
… since the last off day
1
Mike Woods is for real. When the Barnstormers signed Woods prior to the start of last season, they were gambling on potential. He was a former first-rounder who hadn’t played in about 18 months. Woods had one rough month last May because of a hip flexor injury before emerging as an elite Atlantic League player. His career stats at this level (in 114 games) …
| .304 | 12 HR | 51 RBI | .388 OBP | .480 SLG |
The Barnstormers were concerned about Woods’ defense at 2B during spring training. After he made a stellar catch on a pop up during one of the exhibition games, the team decided to give him a start in the OF. He looked good there and it became a permanent transition. That’s fortunate for the Barnstormers. Woods has been one of their MVPs so far. ALB.com has a story on Woods.
2
Von Hayes needs to be more patient with proven players. Dominick Ambrosini’s release four days before the start of the season was seen as a message. Hayes was going to be demanding and if he didn’t believe players fit his roster, they were gone. If that’s where it ended, it wouldn’t be a bad message. Two weeks later we can draw another conclusion about the new skipper. Hayes is prone to snap judgments. The manager’s decision to release Ross Peeples confirmed it.
As a reminder, here are Peeples’ stats from 2007 …
| 4-3 | 4.27 ERA | 71.2 IP | 73 H | 14 BB |
One of the biggest problems for the Barnstormers’ staff has been walks. That has been Hayes’ most consistent lament. If that’s the case, why would you release a pitcher who issued just 14 walks in over 70 innings the previous season? By comparison, Pat Cassa and Nate Hoelscher – the two lefties who remained after Peeples was cut – have walked 12 and hit four batters in 12 1/3 innings. This move didn’t make sense from a performance or public relations standpoint. It seems that Hayes decided immediately that he didn’t want Peeples, who deserved more of a chance.
3
The Barnstormers need a cleanup hitter. Again. Matt LeCroy was supposed to be the solution, but he went 4-for-31 to start the season before landing on the DL with a sore shoulder. Even if LeCroy comes back healthy, and that’s no sure thing, you have to wonder if he’s going to produce at the level everyone expected. He’s coming off an injury-plagued 2007 and shoulder problems are bad news for hitters. The Barnstormers, who once seemed overloaded with offense, might need to add another big bat.
4
Mike Nannini and Tim McClaskey have struggled. The Barnstormers built their rotation around Zack Parker and those two pitchers. It wasn’t a bad idea as we opined in this entry. Both are veterans and both have a history of throwing strikes. But through the first two weeks, neither has provided much consistency.
Here is their combined production (in seven starts) …
| 1-3 | 7.02 ERA | 33.1 IP | 37 H | 18 BB |
The Barnstormers’ rotation was thin to begin with. If McClaskey and Nannini don’t improve significantly, this team simply doesn’t have the starting pitching to contend.
5
Danny Gonzalez and Jutt Hileman are off to slow starts. Neither is hitting over .200 and the two have combined to hit one home run in 108 at-bats. This is part of the reason for the 5-11 start. Both are proven Atlantic League players who posted an OPS above .800 last season. They should bounce back and the offense should get a jolt as a result. So while the outlook is bleak in other areas, this is one place where the Barnstormers can expect things to get better – if they show some patience.
Except for different names, thought you were writing about my favorite affiliated team. At least the Barnstormers ace is performing like an ACE. Not 1-6 with an ERA in the stratosphere. One similarity you didn’t bring up is they both have too many RH bats.
Am glad they are still playing hockey in Detroit.
Lance Odom watch: He has been released.
m&b,
Thanks to your under-performing favorite affiliated team it’s given my under-performing favorite affiliated team a better chance to jump in the ALC standings.
And the similarities are striking between all three of these teams. The mediocrity of the divisions is one of the only things working in their favor at this point.
But just a couple players turning their production around would be the difference in these close games.
Hopefully that will start happening soon (but not for the Tigers)
i was told that thursdays game is now a double-header. did tuesdays game get cancelled due to the rain?
At least we know one players thoughts …..
“Von’s a great guy,” Woods said. “He’s not too demanding, but on the other hand, you know what’s expected of you and you go out and do it.”
Mike Woods ALB.com 5/12/08
DJ, I’ll look for you at the game Thursday. I assume you will be wearing a headdress and beating a tom- tom.
Reading over the transactions from the link about Lance Odom….who is this rhp Nick Renault that we supposedly got from Joliet? I thought we got Muessig from Joliet.
I could NEVER show up at a game beating a tom-tom. That’s the job for the one and only John Adams.
Headdress…hmmm…hadn’t thought of that. I’d hate to block anyone’s view.
I will be sitting in the lawn w/ a bunch of school kids though. Maybe I’ll print out my avatar and tape it to the back of my hat or something.
Oh, and I’ll probably have red socks on. I figures that’s as close to I’ll ever get to having a real uniform.
They acquired Renault today. That’s not the whole story. I’m typing it up here.
djs …. go for the headdress. You can dance on the dugout to YMCA during the 7th inning stretch!
This Renault.. does he prnounce his name the French way or has he Americanized it.
That way my first car I bought… a Renault
ren-WA
ren-OH
ren-ALT
REE-na-ult??
I’ll just listen for Dave’s pronunciation, with rolled r’s and the whole schmeer.
Just Google’s and see he comes from the Joliet team. Interesting roster with Wally Backman manageing (remember he was my first choice) but Wally Jr is playing for them as well as Dickie Thon’s nephew. Do you think Wally took the job because their mascot looks like a blue Cylo? I think their mascot was Joliet Jake!
Maybe Renault can play defense for the Flyers tomorrow night.
That was a nice gesture the Indians did last year in letting Adams throw the fist pitch in last years playoff.
Meant first pitch, but against the yankees maybe you do want to throw a fist.
We definately don’t want Odom. I see enough of him on You Tube.
There is time for things to start clicking, and it could be against Somerset. If we take the series from them this week and then York, we are right back in it. No one is running away with the Freedom Division.
We can do it guys.
yeah, I thought that was cool about the first pitch also.
I don’t get to watch much Tribe out here, but I listen to them when I can…and when Dave isn’t on.
Wow, released Ross? Released Ambrosini? Tough guy has shown me all he needs to show me. Usually you make your point by getting rid of players that don’t hurt your record, but releasing really good players and really good people (Ross is both, Ambrosini is good for sure but never met him) doesn’t get you far as a manager.
Beautiful night for a game!
I’m torn between watching the Pen Flyer game or sit in the great outdoors and watch the Stormer’s.
If I watch the P/F game at least I’d be watching one of 2 teams that are playing to win. And either team could win and I wouldn’t regret it. Although I would like to see the Pens sweep the series. If the Flyers come back and win it would be ok.
If the Stormers win tonight and with the fans upset I would hate to miss that too.
I guess I’ll open the front door and the windows, watch the hockey game and listen to Dave on Sports Juice!
I really hope the Stormers play good tonight and I wish them Good Luck!
Yeah Joe.. we just don’t get it….
How ya been ????
Untrue Rad….some of us DO get it.
Nice to see Joe back here as well. (speaking of good guys!)