April Breezes By; Jersey Leads CL East

The Jersey Shore D-Bags have loaded up once again and take aim at their try for a first World Series title ever after failing in 3 previous attempts.  First off though, they must get make their way through a grueling season, but with a 16-8 April they are off on the right foot, but it didn't begin that way.  The month got off to a rough start losing the first 4 games of the season, including a 3 game sweep at the hands of division rival, the St. Louis Browns.  That was followed up by a 8-6 loss in Seattle and not a start they had envisioned.  Things changed from there as they would only lose one other series all month and that was to John Bosma's Greenville 84's.

Led by ace Jose Ramos, who would win the CL Award for Pitcher of the Month, going 4-1 in 5 starts with a 0.88 ERA, 0.68 WHIP and a 27/4 K/BB ratio.  It is Ramos's 6th POTM award.  The rest of the staff overall was brilliant outside from the struggles of SP Sergio Martinez who did only finish the month at 0-1, but a 6.33 ERA averaging just over 5 innings per start didn't help.  

After a great 2020 season which earned 1B Tadahisa Kisuki the CL Rookie of the Year honors, a 2021 season which Kiuski had a WAR of 6.6 and looked he was a for sure superstar to be was derailed in 2022 when his numbers fell sharply in all categories.  He looks out to regain that momentum he had in 2021 with a monster April.  Kisuki hit .391/.436/.736 with 8 HR, 13 RBI, 6 2B and scoring 17 runs primarily hitting out of the 2 hole in the lineup.

Not to be outdone was your 2 time MVP Dave Dodd who was right behind Kisuki with 6 HR, 19 RBI, a CL leading 4 intentional walks to go along with 10 stolen bases.  Dodd has started the 2023 campaign on pace for 11.6 WAR which would be his 2nd highest total behind his Triple Crown season.

Down on the Farm

Leading the AAA Tuscaloosa charge are two bats you very might well see in Jersey this season.  Those two players would be RF Albert Morgan and 2B Ricardo Gonzalez.  They combined for 79 hits, 16 doubles, 36 RBI and 36 walks in 26 games for the month.  Morgan, who profiles as a DH and possibly a RF in a pinch saw a little use in spring training and as of right now he sits off of the 40 man roster.  Gonzalez was seen a lot in Spring Training, starting at both middle infield positions but struggled mightily with the stick.  His improving bat and eye to go along with his elite defense are good reasons why he has seen as Jersey's long term solution at 2B to replace the eventual face of the franchise, Mike Bryant.

Even with Jersey's hot start, the Greenville 84's finished the month 15-10, while the St. Louis Browns sit at 13-13.  This year should be another tight race as we trudge through the last year of the league containing 28 teams.  There is a lot to watch for in Jersey and around the league as a lot of young and upcoming stars are replacing the stars of yesteryear.  2023 is a transition for the BSA and hopefully that means Jersey Shore transitioning into finally getting over the hump and winning that title.

Titans Use Long Ball to Tie Series at 2; D-Bags Lose Brodeur

The Titans made up for their inefficiencies at the plate in Game 1 by showing off their powerful offense in Game 2.  Toronto pounded out 14 hits, including 5 for extra bases and 4 of them being home runs as they scored in 6 of the first 7 innings to jump out to a 7-0 lead before eventually winning Game 2, 7-3.  2nd year pitcher and 17 game winner Sergio Martinez struggled as the Titans tagged him for 8 hits, 3 of which were home runs, 5 earned runs in only 3.2 IP.  It marked his 2nd shortest start of the year and only game of the year where he gave up 3 home runs.

Not only was the pitching sluggish for the D-Bags the bats weren't much better.  Though they did manage 8 hits and 4 of them for extra bases, 4 of those hits came in the last two innings, including Goyer's 2 run HR in the 9th.  Jersey scored all 3 of their runs in the last two frames.  Not only did Jersey struggle on both sides of the ball, they also lost their 2B/SS/3B Fabrice Brodeur for the foreseeable future.  Brodeur led off the 5th inning with a double down the right field line and came up limping as he got to 2nd.  Adam Morrow would pinch run for him as he was helped off the field with a limp.  He is diagnosed with a strained hamstring and is likely gone for the season.  A blow to Jersey defensively, but also was productive with the bat for the past 2 months.

Tim Harmon, starter for Toronto, had his best month of the season in September, kept it going in Game 2 allowing 4 hits and 3 walks while striking out 6 batters through 6 scoreless innings.  Not bad for his first post season start after spending the the previous 5 years of his career as a member of the New York Knights.

Stars Luis Gonzalez and Kevin Beasley did most of the damage for the Titans, going a combined 6-8 with 3 runs scored, 3 RBI and a walk.  Two of those hits were home runs by Gonzalez.  The other homers for Toronto came from catcher Manuel Gonzalez and SS Eugenio Lucero.

Game 3 will be in Toronto after an off day.  SP Jose Lara will go for Jersey, while 23 year old Jose Gonzales will take the bump for Toronto.

GO D-BAGS