April 2017 in review; Jersey Shore

After a devastating injury left Jersey starting the season without their ace and Opening Day starter Art Ellis, Jersey went into the season with high hopes, just not as high as before the injury.  If there was any hesitation, it didn't show in April.  Jersey finished the month with a BSA best 20-6 record and only their 3rd 20 win month in team history.  Both pitching and hitting led to their great start and exception play by the their captain Mikey Bryant.

Players of the Month

Rob Goodship: 4-0, 36IP, 3.00 ERA, 30 K, 1.03WHIP.  Goodship is the master of deception.  Not only in his delivery but you just never know when he will string together some great starts.  Jersey fans are hoping he finally turned the corner and went from a Good 3-4 to a Good #2 on this staff.  He dominated in his first 4 starts before getting roughed up by Austin his last start of the month for a no decision.

Greg Schaefer: 3-0, 28.1IP, 2.86 ERA, 21K, 1.06 WHIP.  Much like Goodship now is the time for Schaefer to transform himself into a MLB pitcher.  He has trended upwards every season in his career and a career wouldn't surprise Owner Josh Swain, "We have been waiting for it."  Needless to say, going 7-0 out of your 3 and 4 starters is a great way to start the season.

Jaime "Mungo" Saenz: 0-0, 8 saves, 15K, 13.1 IP.  Mungo was almost perfect in April outside of 2 solo homeruns.  He did not blow a save and looks comfortable in his 2nd year starting for the D-Bags.  The back end of the Bags bullpen has always been a specialty and he is the anchor.

Mike Bryant: .400/.455/.691  7 HR 27 RBI  44 hits.  Bryant continued to add on to his Triple Crown season by coming out of the gate hot and another 40 hit month.  Not only did he win the CL Player of the Week Award for the 8th time in career in early April he was also presented with CL Batter of the Month Award for the 5th time in what is his 5th year in the BSA.  

Matt Doyle: .315/.390/.602  7 2B 8 HR  24 RBI.  Doyle worked hard in the off-season to avoid the slow start that plagued him last year and it paid off.  He combined with Bryant to lead an offensive charge that averaged a tick under 7 runs per game in the month of April.  If this duo can continue to click together into this season it could be very scary for the opposition.

Questions. Concerns and Answers
What kind of questions can you have for a team that starts 20-6?  We did see Alberto Perez return from injury and struggle in the 4 games he did play in.  He will be one to watch to see if can elevate his game to last season's performance.  Rookie Francisco Torres is off to a great start for the D-Bags hitting .333/.410/.580 which landed him a permanent starting place in the lineup.  Dan Macias has started slow and Jersey management is hoping this isn't it for the big veteran righty.  His K/9 rate has continued to drop and his velocity seems lower than it has been before in his career.  If Macias continues to struggle and Ellis still being out, Jersey might have to make a move for a Starter.  Other than that we don't see any immediate moves unless an injury pops up.

Minor Leaguers of the Month
We have decided to keep the MLTM going into it's 2nd season here.  This is where we choose who had the best month out of the minor league system for the month of April.


Pitcher
MR Luis "Bugs" Cortez (AAA):  15.0 IP, 16K, 1.15 ERA, 0.93 WHIP.  Cortez came to the Bags in a trade
with Vista back during the 2014 season for the Italian left hander Ciro Roghi. Cortez has always been a highly rated thrower and will find his way into the Jersey bullpen.  At 22 years old he is already starting to mature in his 2nd year year in AAA.

Hitter 
2B William Martel (AAA):  .375/.400/.521.  36 hits, 11 2B, 17 RBI, 5 SB.  Martel signed with the Bags during the 2013 as a free agent from Canada.  He is your prototypical utility man who plays everywhere on the field but Catcher and CF. He has mainly seen time at 2B and 3B this year.  The 22 year old was a great table setter for the dangerous Tuscaloosa lineup using his above average contact and speed to score 25 runs in just 22 games.  At 22 years old he is probably getting close to joining Jersey.


GO D-BAGS