It seems like the season just got underway and POOF we have a full month under our belts. Technically we are 17% of the way through 2015 just like that. This season started again with high expectations for your Jersey Shore D-Bags. After winning a franchise high 94 games last season, they bring back a nearly identical team with added pitching ace Art Ellis. The season started in true D-Bag fashion, with the Bags dropping 3 in a row for a quick 0-3 start. They would rebound at one time winners of 7 straight and even a 2-3 final week of the month the Bags finish with a 18-10 record, good for a share of the CL East lead with the Greenville 84's and a comfy 3 game Wild Card lead at this point in the season. The April mark bests last year's 15-13 record by 3 games, but the Bags open May up with a tough stretch. They will finish out their 4 game set with the 84's with 2 more games, travel to defending BSA Champions Hendersonville for a 3 game set before coming home to greet the current NL West leaders Los Cabos for a 3 game tilt. Also during month includes a trip to Toronto who holds a BSA record of 23-5 and also a visit by NL West leading St. Charles. May will really determine how serious this team is about contending this year.
Players of the Month
SP Rob Goodship 2-0, 2.09 ERA, 25K. After 1 month of play surprise, surprise Goodship leads the CL league in ERA. In 6 starts he has given up 2 or more runs only twice and if he had any run support at all he would be sitting at 4+ wins. It's great to see him finally turn a corner after a down Sophmore year.
SP Art Ellis 1-0, 2.49 ERA, 38K, 5QS. Speaking of run support, where is it for Ellis?? Jersey is averaging 2.83 runs per game for his starts which shows with Ellis only having 1 win on record despite being superb thus far. Any of the critics who said they gave up too much for Ellis is eating crow right now
MR Jose Ruiz 2-1, 1.38 ERA, 1.00 WHIP, 10/3 K/BB. While the likes of Saenz and Morris in the pen have been struggling, rookie Ruiz has stepped in nicely to add to an already formidable bullpen. At only 22 years old look for Ruiz to be around for awhile throwing that high 90's heater.
3B Adam Morrow .355/.454/.445, 19R, 39H, 7 2B. When Parker Morrow was traded giving way for rookie Adam Morrow to start I don't think anyone saw this hot start coming. Hitting primarily out of the 2 hole Morrow has been an OBP machine on pace to best 100 runs scored and 100 base-on-balls. Bryant then Doyle now Morrow, third year in a row a rookie could be an added impact bat in this Jersey lineup. It's been almost 2 years since we broke down Morrow, read about what we thought about him then, right here.
RF Al Ryan .439/.500/.805. 3HE, 10RBI, 6 2B. We saw what Ryan could do last year as he blasted 20 HR as a rookie for this team and he just continues to add to that this year. He started out as a 4th OF but has slowly been taking playing time away from veterans Leon Foster and Scott Powers as he rakes with the hot stick. He only played in 18 games, but is hitting .500/.570/.867 against RHP. Hard to keep that out of the lineup.
Roster Questions, Changes and Answers
Even though we did have some nice breakout performers there were also those players who still have us scratching our heads. First that comes to mind is CL Daniel Morris. The usual steady rock has blown 5 saves already and attributed for 4 losses. To put that in perspective that's as many saves as he has blown in the past 2 years combined. He has already walked as many batters as he did all of last season as well in 43 less innings. There have been talks of taking him out of the closers role to regain composure, we will see if it happens.
Matt Doyle, Luis Antonio Duran, Peter Larson and Antonio Ruiz are all hitting below the .225 mark. These of course are all plenty below career marks and could be a concern. On the bright side Doyle leads the team in HR and RBI while Duran and Larson both have matching OBP's of .379, not hitting could cause a decrease in playing time.
While there may not be any roster changes for now, look for a mix up in the backup catching situation this month as Albert Lopez has struggled mightily having only 3 hits in 34 AB's. Also former Rule V pick Jose Ortiz will have to be called up in the next 2 weeks as he rehab assignment will end and look for him to replace Taro Kino or possibly 1B Derrick Wright. There are also a slew of players hitting the snot out of the ball in AAA, including CF Tim Duncan, 3B Alberto Perez, LF Sergio Rodriguez and 2B Aaron Bailey. Depth is never a problem and you never know when an extra bat might come in handy.
May should be a tough month, let's hope the D-Bags can win enough to keep up with Greenville!
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