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With 82 games down, and 82 games to go Batavia is currently sitting dead last in the Porter, 12 games back, with a record of 38-44. A strong July of 17-9 following two months of lackluster performance somewhat righted the ship a little.
<table style="margin-bottom: 8px;" width="256" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="0"> <tbody> <tr style="font-weight: bold;"><td class="hsc2_l">Porter Division</td><td class="hsnr">W</td><td class="hsnr">L</td><td class="hsnr">PCT</td><td class="hsnr">GB</td></tr> <tr><td class="data">Philadelphia Freedom</td><td class="datar">50</td><td class="datar">32</td><td class="datar">.610</td><td class="datar">-</td></tr> <tr><td class="data">Baltimore Bulldogs</td><td class="datar">47</td><td class="datar">35</td><td class="datar">.573</td><td class="datar">3.0</td></tr> <tr><td class="data">California Kodiaks</td><td class="datar">44</td><td class="datar">38</td><td class="datar">.537</td><td class="datar">6.0</td></tr> <tr><td class="data">Batavia Muckdogs</td><td class="datar">38</td><td class="datar">44</td><td class="datar">.463</td><td class="datar">12.0</td></tr></tbody> </table>
Offense
The offense, once again, has been pathetic. Currently the Muckdogs are ranked 12th in the IL in OBP, SLG, OBS, runs, XBH, walks, and strikeouts. Leading the charge are such notables as 3B Robby Crockett (.184/.210/.333), SS Daryl Pollard (.229/.265/.323), and 2B Shane Embrey (.264/.285/.300). With an infield like that what more can you ask for.
<table class="panel1" style="padding: 0px; margin-bottom: 12px;" width="658" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"> <tbody><tr><td style="padding: 12px 0px 0px 12px;"><table class="lposhadow" width="632" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr class="title"><td colspan="15">Catchers</td></tr><tr class="headline"><td class="hscc" width="31">#</td><td class="hscc" width="31">B</td><td class="hscl" width="120">Player</td><td class="hscr" width="32">Pos</td><td class="hsnr" width="38">G</td><td class="hsnr" width="38">AB</td><td class="hsnr" width="38">H</td><td class="hsnr" width="38">HR</td><td class="hsnr" width="38">RBI</td><td class="hsnr" width="38">R</td><td class="hsnr" width="38">BB</td><td class="hsnr" width="38">K</td><td class="hsnr" width="38">.AVG</td><td class="hsnr" width="38">OBP</td><td class="hsnr" width="38">SLG</td></tr> <tr class="r1"><td class="cc">40</td><td class="cc">R</td><td class="cl">Tauro Hidrogo</td><td class="cc">C</td><td class="cr">63</td><td class="cr">183</td><td class="cr">37</td><td class="cr">2</td><td class="cr">23</td><td class="cr">16</td><td class="cr">22</td><td class="cr">23</td><td class="cr">.202</td><td class="cr">.283</td><td class="cr">.279</td></tr> <tr class="r2"><td class="cc">30</td><td class="cc">R</td><td class="cl">Pat May</td><td class="cc">C</td><td class="cr">28</td><td class="cr">104</td><td class="cr">28</td><td class="cr">1</td><td class="cr">13</td><td class="cr">14</td><td class="cr">9</td><td class="cr">21</td><td class="cr">.269</td><td class="cr">.316</td><td class="cr">.385</td></tr> </tbody></table> </td></tr><tr><td style="padding: 12px 0px 0px 12px;"><table class="lposhadow" width="632" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr class="title"><td colspan="15">Infielders</td></tr><tr class="headline"><td class="hscc" width="31">#</td><td class="hscc" width="31">B</td><td class="hscl" width="120">Player</td><td class="hscr" width="32">Pos</td><td class="hsnr" width="38">G</td><td class="hsnr" width="38">AB</td><td class="hsnr" width="38">H</td><td class="hsnr" width="38">HR</td><td class="hsnr" width="38">RBI</td><td class="hsnr" width="38">R</td><td class="hsnr" width="38">BB</td><td class="hsnr" width="38">K</td><td class="hsnr" width="38">.AVG</td><td class="hsnr" width="38">OBP</td><td class="hsnr" width="38">SLG</td></tr> <tr class="r1"><td class="cc">14</td><td class="cc">R</td><td class="cl">Shane Embrey</td><td class="cc">2B</td><td class="cr">80</td><td class="cr">280</td><td class="cr">74</td><td class="cr">0</td><td class="cr">21</td><td class="cr">17</td><td class="cr">9</td><td class="cr">49</td><td class="cr">.264</td><td class="cr">.285</td><td class="cr">.300</td></tr> <tr class="r2"><td class="cc">28</td><td class="cc">R</td><td class="cl">Si Phan</td><td class="cc">1B</td><td class="cr">70</td><td class="cr">254</td><td class="cr">59</td><td class="cr">14</td><td class="cr">28</td><td class="cr">31</td><td class="cr">23</td><td class="cr">50</td><td class="cr">.232</td><td class="cr">.299</td><td class="cr">.449</td></tr> <tr class="r1"><td class="cc">52</td><td class="cc">L</td><td class="cl">Raúl De Jesús</td><td class="cc">1B</td><td class="cr">12</td><td class="cr">45</td><td class="cr">16</td><td class="cr">2</td><td class="cr">11</td><td class="cr">6</td><td class="cr">4</td><td class="cr">6</td><td class="cr">.356</td><td class="cr">.412</td><td class="cr">.600</td></tr> <tr class="r2"><td class="cc">50</td><td class="cc">R</td><td class="cl">Romeo Huitron</td><td class="cc">SS</td><td class="cr">20</td><td class="cr">30</td><td class="cr">6</td><td class="cr">0</td><td class="cr">0</td><td class="cr">4</td><td class="cr">0</td><td class="cr">6</td><td class="cr">.200</td><td class="cr">.200</td><td class="cr">.267</td></tr> <tr class="r1"><td class="cc">32</td><td class="cc">R</td><td class="cl">Robby Crockett</td><td class="cc">3B</td><td class="cr">30</td><td class="cr">114</td><td class="cr">21</td><td class="cr">4</td><td class="cr">19</td><td class="cr">9</td><td class="cr">4</td><td class="cr">25</td><td class="cr">.184</td><td class="cr">.210</td><td class="cr">.333</td></tr> <tr class="r2"><td class="cc">27</td><td class="cc">R</td><td class="cl">Daryl Pollard</td><td class="cc">SS</td><td class="cr">80</td><td class="cr">319</td><td class="cr">73</td><td class="cr">2</td><td class="cr">22</td><td class="cr">27</td><td class="cr">14</td><td class="cr">46</td><td class="cr">.229</td><td class="cr">.265</td><td class="cr">.323</td></tr> </tbody></table> </td></tr><tr><td style="padding: 12px 0px 0px 12px;"><table class="lposhadow" width="632" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr class="title"><td colspan="15">Outfielders</td></tr><tr class="headline"><td class="hscc" width="31">#</td><td class="hscc" width="31">B</td><td class="hscl" width="120">Player</td><td class="hscr" width="32">Pos</td><td class="hsnr" width="38">G</td><td class="hsnr" width="38">AB</td><td class="hsnr" width="38">H</td><td class="hsnr" width="38">HR</td><td class="hsnr" width="38">RBI</td><td class="hsnr" width="38">R</td><td class="hsnr" width="38">BB</td><td class="hsnr" width="38">K</td><td class="hsnr" width="38">.AVG</td><td class="hsnr" width="38">OBP</td><td class="hsnr" width="38">SLG</td></tr> <tr class="r1"><td class="cc">46</td><td class="cc">R</td><td class="cl">John Fehilly</td><td class="cc">LF</td><td class="cr">63</td><td class="cr">179</td><td class="cr">43</td><td class="cr">3</td><td class="cr">15</td><td class="cr">19</td><td class="cr">11</td><td class="cr">44</td><td class="cr">.240</td><td class="cr">.290</td><td class="cr">.358</td></tr> <tr class="r2"><td class="cc">47</td><td class="cc">L</td><td class="cl">Virgil LaVergne</td><td class="cc">RF</td><td class="cr">66</td><td class="cr">229</td><td class="cr">59</td><td class="cr">0</td><td class="cr">13</td><td class="cr">26</td><td class="cr">19</td><td class="cr">51</td><td class="cr">.258</td><td class="cr">.312</td><td class="cr">.328</td></tr> <tr class="r1"><td class="cc">35</td><td class="cc">L</td><td class="cl">Roy Gilbert</td><td class="cc">CF</td><td class="cr">76</td><td class="cr">266</td><td class="cr">74</td><td class="cr">9</td><td class="cr">26</td><td class="cr">32</td><td class="cr">10</td><td class="cr">51</td><td class="cr">.278</td><td class="cr">.309</td><td class="cr">.429</td></tr> <tr class="r2"><td class="cc">17</td><td class="cc">R</td><td class="cl">Chris Montgomery</td><td class="cc">RF</td><td class="cr">80</td><td class="cr">298</td><td class="cr">79</td><td class="cr">3</td><td class="cr">23</td><td class="cr">31</td><td class="cr">21</td><td class="cr">59</td><td class="cr">.265</td><td class="cr">.317</td><td class="cr">.326</td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody> </table>
Pitching
The heart and soul of this team since the organization kicked off continues to play well. The starters are #3 in the IL with a 3.11 ERA while the relievers are #1 in IL with a 2.70 ERA. The surprise of the year has been SP Chet Stephens who's off field binges all but destroyed a promising young career in '87. A trip back down to AAA though cleared his head and in '88 he was selected to the IL All-Star team after being 8-7 with a 2.77 ERA and 0.93 WHIP at the break.
Middle reliever Don Jones, a Rule 5 pickup, has also been a bright spot. In 32 innings he has an ERA of 2.53, WHIP of 0.97, and a 28-3 K to walk stat line. Closer Ken Bayer keeps getting better as well, and even though his numbers are down nobody is complaining about his 18 saves, 1.22 ERA and 1.05 WHIP.
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</td></tr><tr class="headline"><td class="hscl" width="100">Role</td><td class="hscc" width="35">T</td><td class="hscl" width="110">Pitcher</td><td class="hsnr" width="35">G</td><td class="hsnr" width="35">GS</td><td class="hsnr" width="35">W</td><td class="hsnr" width="35">L</td><td class="hsnr" width="35">SV</td><td class="hsnr" width="46">ERA</td><td class="hsnr" width="46">WHIP</td></tr> <tr><td valign="top">
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</td></tr><tr><td class="slg">Starter</td><td class="scg">L</td><td class="slg">Orlan Coronda</td><td class="srg">17</td><td class="srg">17</td><td class="srg">4</td><td class="srg">8</td><td class="srg">0</td><td class="srg">2.69</td><td class="srg">1.25</td></tr> <tr><td class="sl">Starter</td><td class="sc">R</td><td class="sl">Chet Stephens</td><td class="sr">17</td><td class="sr">17</td><td class="sr">8</td><td class="sr">7</td><td class="sr">0</td><td class="sr">2.77</td><td class="sr">0.93</td></tr> <tr><td class="slg">Starter</td><td class="scg">L</td><td class="slg">Nakazo Sasaki</td><td class="srg">16</td><td class="srg">16</td><td class="srg">3</td><td class="srg">8</td><td class="srg">0</td><td class="srg">4.09</td><td class="srg">1.41</td></tr> <tr><td class="sl">Starter</td><td class="sc">R</td><td class="sl">Cam Mills</td><td class="sr">15</td><td class="sr">15</td><td class="sr">4</td><td class="sr">5</td><td class="sr">0</td><td class="sr">3.93</td><td class="sr">1.53</td></tr> <tr><td class="slg">Starter</td><td class="scg">R</td><td class="slg">Mark Melon</td><td class="srg">2</td><td class="srg">2</td><td class="srg">1</td><td class="srg">0</td><td class="srg">0</td><td class="srg">2.19</td><td class="srg">1.05</td></tr> <tr><td class="sl">Mopup</td><td class="sc">R</td><td class="sl">Blake Venero</td><td class="sr">27</td><td class="sr">0</td><td class="sr">0</td><td class="sr">1</td><td class="sr">0</td><td class="sr">4.19</td><td class="sr">1.78</td></tr> <tr><td class="slg">Middle Reliever</td><td class="scg">R</td><td class="slg">Jernimo DeLacy</td><td class="srg">41</td><td class="srg">0</td><td class="srg">3</td><td class="srg">1</td><td class="srg">3</td><td class="srg">3.66</td><td class="srg">1.37</td></tr> <tr><td class="sl">Middle Reliever</td><td class="sc">R</td><td class="sl">Don Jones</td><td class="sr">33</td><td class="sr">0</td><td class="sr">1</td><td class="sr">0</td><td class="sr">0</td><td class="sr">2.53</td><td class="sr">0.97</td></tr> <tr><td class="slg">Middle Reliever</td><td class="scg">R</td><td class="slg">Nataniel Rosalio</td><td class="srg">18</td><td class="srg">0</td><td class="srg">0</td><td class="srg">2</td><td class="srg">2</td><td class="srg">3.63</td><td class="srg">1.27</td></tr> <tr><td class="sl">Setup Reliever</td><td class="sc">L</td><td class="sl">Ken Ketcham</td><td class="sr">32</td><td class="sr">0</td><td class="sr">3</td><td class="sr">1</td><td class="sr">1</td><td class="sr">1.98</td><td class="sr">0.80</td></tr> <tr><td class="slg">Setup Reliever</td><td class="scg">R</td><td class="slg">Adam Goings</td><td class="srg">47</td><td class="srg">0</td><td class="srg">6</td><td class="srg">2</td><td class="srg">0</td><td class="srg">2.21</td><td class="srg">0.96</td></tr> <tr><td class="sl">Closer</td><td class="sc">L</td><td class="sl">Ken Bayer</td><td class="sr">32</td><td class="sr">0</td><td class="sr">3</td><td class="sr">2</td><td class="sr">18</td><td class="sr">1.22</td><td class="sr">1.05</td></tr></tbody></table>
Future
All though the Muckdogs are out of the playoff hunt another 75+ win season is not out of the question. The recent call-up of 1B Raul De Jesus sparked a 6-game winning streak and has brought hope to a downtrodden franchise. With the addition of some great new minor league coaches and a draft where Batavia selected 17 players, their farm system is now #3 in the BLB, their highest ranking ever.