Jutt Hileman
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Ricardo Gomez 3-2, 4.50 ERA |
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Alay Soler 3-2, 5.33 ERA |
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The Barnstormers’ disabled list grew a little longer today. The team has deactived P Yamel Guevara. It’s the latest injury to deplete a pitching staff that is in disarray. At the moment, the Barnstormers have 18 pitchers under contract and six of them are on the DL.
The team is now turning to Ricardo Gomez to hold down a starting spot. It’s an interesting move because manager Von Hayes had been adamant that Gomez was better suited for the bullpen. But this is not a situation where everyone can be put in optimum positions.
Gomez has fared well as a starter: 2-1 with a 4.31 ERA in six games. His peripheral stats hold up well in this role. Opponents are only hitting .207 against him and he has 28 strikeouts in 31 1/3 innings. That’s dominance. No other pitcher on the staff makes hitters swing and miss as often as Gomez does.
So why haven’t the Barnstormers used Gomez as a starter all the time? There’s concern that since he relies heavily on two pitches, a fastball and slider, teams will be able to adjust during the second or third time through the order. There’s also concern he might wear down if he throws too many innings.
In the short-term, Gomez is the Barnstormers’ best bet as a fifth starter. He’s prone to giving up home runs — 13 in 70 innings — but he also racks up strikeouts and can be downright overpowering at times. The Barnstormers hope he can continue that success against Long Island tonight.
100 GAME MILESTONE:
The Barnstormers are 44-55 heading into Game No. 100. They have the worst record in the Atlantic League, one game behind York. Last year’s team was 47-53 through 100 games, so this club remains behind the 2007 pace.
Scoring summary:
FINAL: Ducks 6, Barnstormers 5
Stormers 1st: Gonzalez’s double scores Woods.
Lancaster leads 1-0.
Ducks 1st: Rose Jr.’s double scores Alfonzo and Logan.
Long Island leads 2-1.
Stormers 2nd: Gonzalez’s double scores Woods.
Game tied at 2.
Stormers 4th: Coffie hits solo home run.
Lancaster leads 3-2.
Ducks 4th: Sandora’s double scores Hidalgo. Haverbusch scores on wild pitch.
Long Island leads 4-3.
Stormers 5th: LeCroy hits solo home run.
Game tied at 4.
Ducks 5th: Alfonzo hits solo home run.
Long Island leads 5-4.
Stormers 8th: Munhall’s double scores Woods.
Game tied at 5.
Ducks 10th: Rolls’ single scores Everett
Long Island wins 6-5.
A lack of timely hitting doomed the Barnstormers again. They left 13 men on base and squandered a bases-loaded, no-out opportunity in the fifth inning. York has quietly won four in a row and has taken over first place in the Freedom Division. Lancaster is two games back.
Wow
What is this “Possibly related topic” crap.. Zack is Back?? I got al excited then looked at the date.. glad to see he isn’t back…. which means he is still in Frisco!!
Somehow the games are not as bad, at least it does not seem so. The games we are losing are not desperate as they were last year. Not many 19 to 3 games more 6-5. I know it is all the same in the lose column but it is much easier to sit in the stands and watch a close game.
One of the reasons I dislike blaming the manager for all of the team problems, it does not solve anything on the blog and it does not address the real problems. The problems are the lack of quality players. As much as we have grown attached to some of the players, if they are not playing well they are hurting the team.
Agree with you there Maureen…every last word of it!
You are right, Maureen.
I couldn’t have said it better myself.
Hoo Rah!
Too many people to blame for this Season…you can’t pin it all on one guy.
Ditto – I agree with all of the above. Here’s to hoping we don’t finish worse than last year’s club!
BTW. #7 is not me.
Hey, Charlie is in
Come on Stormers!!!
Thanks for the articles in today’s New Era. They make Monday a good day.
Whats going on??? Who won???
oh geez, I turned on the radio.. not thinking the game was STILL going on but it IS !!!
Hey Dave.. you get over time pay??
I think the biggest thing to blame anything on is INJURIES!!!
First it was the offense now it is the pitchers. Where does it end? And do forget losing players to the major leagues organizations.
Tough loss. How about Trevor Marcotte’s debut on the mound? Didn’t see or hear the game, but looks like a solid outing on the mound on paper. If the team can score some runs, he could be an important part of the staff.
Here’s to losing another close one. Right on to #13.
Those who visited the pen in SoMD got to chatt with Trever.. very nice guy. Glad he did great last night.
In my own none professional opinion… The fact that the game are going in to extra innings means that the Stormers are fighting and giving it all they have. Like you said lil fil… The injury list grows every day.
I am not a fair weather fan… I cheer for the EAGLES every year.. LOL
See you at the Clipp!!!
News Flash – The US Men’s Gymnastics Team that was decimated with INJURIES won a Bronze medal last night. They were not expected to be a factor. Sometimes you just have to learn to work through adversity.
The recent injuries have impacted the pitching staff, which has performed well this month. The Barnstormers’ ERA is 4.47 over the last 11 games. Their record is 3-8 during that time because they don’t score enough runs. Injuries haven’t been a huge factor in this slide.
It’s pretty simple. The only way to significantly improve the team is to improve the offense. That has been the story for two months.
It does seem like they have been concentrating on replacing pitchers at a rapid pace (because of injuries) and have been ignoring the need for a high power hitting outfielder we (like Jason said) need to improve the team.
Maybe Reggy the Purple Party Dude that is coming this Friday night is really Reggie Taylor.
Reggie Taylor? Last year here on the blog everyone was all pumped for his return and then when he decided to go to Long Island (for whatever reason) everyone jumped all over him for doing so. Why the change in attitude?
I don’t think I personally jumped all over with him for changing teams since I never heard his side of the story.
If I recall, there were several stories floating around out there. And you know how stories go, like Travis Hake signing with the team this year and he never did actually sign the contract, just tried out.
243, I think that was a joke, about reggie. We do need outfielders and we do need players to play well most of the time.
We have been waiting for Ian to get better, he is, but not real fast. Ivan has some great hits, but he strikes out in clutch situations. I think he struck out twice last night with bases loaded.
Michael is seeing the ball well right now and so is Danny. Danny has been fielding better lately, Juan and Ivan have not.
I think Lloyd and Michael are the unsung heroes on the team this season. Without much fanfare they have been the two have had a great run.
Not saying you Stormin….
Nah Maureen…Taylor has been rumored to be coming back for the last few weeks.
Not a problem 243. I have heard the same things and thought it would be cool to mention because of Reggy coming to town.
Would’nt it be neat if Reggy the Purple Party Dude ran out to the outfield and Reggie Taylor popped out wearing a Barnstormer uniform. I think number 19 is still availible.
Seems to me, I remember a name being thrown around these parts.. Reggie Trader. He said he was coming back then decided L.I. would suit his needs.. over us.
I have nothnig against Reggie, he was always very nice to the fans and heck.. he can hit the ball