Mistakes and Poor Offense Plague Jersey; Fall Behind in Series 2-1

On a day that featured 4 errors, 11 pitchers and 11 innings of baseball the Titans of Toronto ended up on top to take a 3-2 win and a 2-1 advantage in this best of 7 Divisional Series.  Though Titans starter Gonzales only pitched 4.2 innings, the Titans bullpen combined throwing 6 arms, giving up only 1 run on 3 hits in 6.1 innings, limiting the powerful Jersey offense to just 2 runs on 5 hits.

Jose Lara, making only his 2nd start since coming off his rehab assignment was sharp pitching 6.2 innings giving up 6 hits, 2 walks and 2 strikeouts.  The last batter he faced reached on an error when 1B John Warner bobbled a throw, a play that should have ended the inning.  Instead reliever Angel Lara would come in and promptly give up a double to German Rivas followed by a single from Luis Gonzalez which would score two runs and give Toronto a late 2-1 lead.

Jersey would come back in top of the 8th and tie the game on back to back doubles by Alberto Perez and Matthieu Vancini, but Bryant would end up stranding Vancini on 3rd with a lazy fly ball to center field two batters later.  Toronto would strand a runner on 2nd in the bottom half and John Warner nor Warren Goyer could knock in Fransisco Ibarra from 2nd base in the Top of the 9th.

Jersey would get a real chance to pull ahead in the 11th when Ignacio Rios would hit Jersey shortstop Lawrence Schroeder with a pitch on a 2-2 count and walk Mike Bryant to put two runners on with none out.  Toronto would get the force out at 2nd on Ibarra' fielder choice putting runners at the corners for David Dodd.  The mistake came when Ibarra lazily was caught leaning off of 1st base on a pick off throw which wasn't even close.  Dodd would eventually strike out which would be Jersey's last chance to take the lead in the game.  

Toronto would start the 11th with a bloop since from Zaragoza followed by a walk from Overbeek to give the Titans life.  Reliever Gerald Johnson would get Ayala to hit a slow chopper where 3B Perez's only play was 1st base giving the Titans 2 runners in scoring position with only 1 out.  Catcher Gonzalez would be intentionally walked to set up the double play for 9th hitter Lucero.  Johnson wouldn't even give him a chance to win the game with a hit by walking him on 4 pitches and forcing in Zaragoza from 3rd for the winning run to end a frustrating and error filled game for the D-Bags and putting them in a 2-1 series hole.

This is not a position the D-Bags wanted to get into, especially with 2 more games in Toronto.  Game 4 both teams will bring back their Game 1 starters on short rest as Jose Ramos looks to even the series with another dominate performance.  Meanwhile Lebel tries to avoid losing to the D-Bags for the 5th time this season while putting team on the brink of their 3rd trip to the League Championship Series for the 3rd time in 4 season.

GO D-BAGS

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

2016 Offseason: Jersey Shore

After taking a tough loss in Game 7 of the World Series against the mighty Hendersonville Hitmen, there was a lot of uncertainty when it came to Jersey players.  A lot of star players with contracts set to be up, a player's option and a few holes opening up.  Here's what has happened since that fateful day in Hendersonville.

 The day after the season Leon Foster decided to accept his 13.87 Million dollar option he was given in 2013 as part of his 4 year extension.  After starting out decent last season Foster strained his hip and missed 3 months.  Jersey brass thought it was inevitable he would take the option but I think deep down everyone hoped he would turn it down.  Foster should start in CF, at least against lefties, this up coming season.  Foster sits 8th on the All-time HR list with 205.

The first two weeks of November had to feel like Christmas for many Jersey Shore fans.  On November 4th Jersey announced they bought out 2, possibly 3 years of arbitration and signed superstar 1B Matt Doyle to a 6 year deal worth 39.35 million dollars.  The deal will keep Doyle in Jersey through the age of 32.  Doyle led the CL in HR last year with 44 and only 2 seasons into his Jersey career he sits only behind Mikey Bryant on the Jersey Shore all time HR list with 77.

Three days later on November 7th, Jersey announced they avoided losing their FA deadline pickup Jerry Burgess by agreeing to a 5 year contract worth 45.29 million dollars.  Burgess won 7 starts after coming over from El Paso and was vital in their playoff run winning 3 of his 6 starts and keeping Jersey within striking distance in Game 7.

Five days after the Burgess signing, Jersey announced they had come to an agreement with FA to be and arguable ace of the staff 30 year old Art Ellis to a 6 year contract which will keep him in Jersey for the remainder of his career.  Ellis posted one of the best seasons put up by a Jersey hurler, posting a 2.94 ERA and striking out 210.

On November 21st, the league announced that MR Brian White recieved a new contract worth 600K through arbitration, which was no surprise, and Catcher Luis Antonio Duran won his arbitration hearing and will receive $8.75 million this upcoming season.  With Duran's number being that high, there is probably a slim chance he will be back for 2017.  Regardless he will be starting the season as the team's starting catcher.

Free agency started November 24th and Jersey said good-bye to two players.  The first being one of the longest tenured player closer Daniel Morris.  With the money going to the starters, there was just not enough to go around.  Morris leaves Jersey leading the team in all-time ERA (2.59), Saves (170), appearances (387), BB/9 (2.0), K/BB (4.18), WHIP (1.17), OOPS (.626) and VORP (139.4). 

Also departing through free agency is the speedy OF Scott Powers, who spent 3 years in Jersey after a trade from Niagara Falls. Powers a multi-use speedy OF, never lived up to the potential Jersey thought they would get when they made the trade in 2013.  His spot on the roster will go to one of the money OF Jersey has stashed away in AAA.

The Rule V draft took place on December 1st and with the 22nd pick Jersey selected MR David Rice with the 22nd pick.  Rice of the former Pittsburgh (now Chicago) franchise.  Rice will become the 2nd lefty in the pen after new closer Jaime Saenz.  Last season Rice pitched in AA and a 3.61 ERA and 140 K's in 124.2 IP.

Jersey also lost a player in the Rule V draft as well.  St. Charles selected speedy utility infielder Dave Henson whom Jersey signed to a MLC in 2014 after being released from Vista.  Henson hit .270 with 14 SB in 63 AB with Tuscaloosa last season.

Towards the end of Spring Training Jersey made a couple of waiver moves.  The first being claiming MR Chris Woodruff from the Jacksonville Jackhammers.  Woodruff struggled in Jacksonville last year posting a 6.44 ERA in 50.1 IP, but the Jersey brass must have seen some potential.

On the same day Jersey claimed Woodruff, Boston claimed 1B Edgardo Gonzales.  Gomzales who has been with Jersey since the inaugural draft always has played well in AAA but has had trouble cracking the 25-man roster.  Gonzales got only 29 AB in the last 3 seasons.

On April 2nd, the day before the season was set to begin Jersey announced another contract extension.  One of the best hitters in last year's playoffs 3B Alberto Perez agreed to a 4 year deal buying out his arbitration years worth nearly $8M dollars.  Perez is slated to start at 3B this season with Adam Morrow sliding over to SS.

Losses: CL Daniel Morris, CF Scott Powers, SS Dave Henson, 1B Edgardo Gonzales
Additions: MR Dave Rice, MR Chris Woodruff
Extensions: SP Jerry Burgess, SP Art Ellis, 1B Matt Doyle, 3B Alberto Perez

2016 is here! Look for the roster breakdown, coming soon!

GO D-BAGS

Great August Puts 1st Playoff Appearance in Reachable Sight

The Jersey Shore D-Bags picked a great time to string together their best two months of the season in July and August, but should it come as a surprise to anyone considering the way this team has played over the years?  Widely known as a 2nd half team, the Bags record of 81-55 put them on pace to finish the season with 96 which would set a new team record and in this case probably would secure a playoff spot.  The 19-11 record in August put them 6 games up on the Austin River Sharks for the Wild Card spot in the CL and marks the first time they entered the last month of the season in the lead for a playoff spot.

Players of the Month

SP Art Ellis.  1-2. 2.77 ERA, 1.44 WHIP, 38K/39 IP.  Though his W/L record doesn't show it Ellis was far and away the best starter in the month of August. In 4 of his 6 starts he gave up 2 ER or less and twice gave up 0 ER, once earning him a loss (4 unearned runs) and the other a no decision.  Ellis's great August kept him in the lead in the CL in the ERA race and makes it likely he will set the team record in this category which was set by Dan Macias last season.

MR Jaime "Mungo" Saenz.  4-0, 2 saves. 0.00 ERA, 0.65 WHIP, 31K/21.2IP.  Mungo was as we call it flat out nasty in August.  In fact this probably is the best month from a Jersey reliever ever, and that's saying something.  Appearing in 17 of the teams 30 games he didn't give up a run and only allowed 6 hits in 21.2 innings.  Mungo is showing that if the Bags can't work out an extension with closer Daniel Morris that he is more than able to do the job going forward

1B Matt Doyle. 10 HR, 22 RBI, .364/.456/.710.  1.166 OPS.  Another POTM for Doyle, even if it wasn't as big as his July.  He continued to lead the CL in HR and his average crept higher towards that .326 he hit last year, finishing the month at .298. His 10 HR was tied for 3rd in the BSA only behind Caro's 11 of NFF and "Superman" Phillips's 16 also of NFF.

3B Alberto Perez. 4 HR, 15 RBI, 10 2B, .390/.420/.701 1.121 OPS.  Antonio Ruiz who?  Perez has been a highly coveted asset with no place to play in Jersey until the trade that sent Ruiz to Vista before the deadline.  Now that he is getting AB's he is showing the fans of Jersey what he can do.  Despite a handful of AB's over the past two season this was by far his best month in the big leagues, adding 30 hits and 15 of those for extra bases.

2B Mike "Coffin" Bryant.  10 HR, 23 RBI, .316/.374/.598.  Bryant's stellar 2nd month in a row puts him in the MVP chase again and ended the month ranked 3rd in AVG, 3rd in HR, 2nd in RBI while leading the leading the league in runs scored.  The past 2 September's have been huge for Bryant earning him POTM from the Bag Report for each of them, don't be surprised to see him here again next month.

LF Sergio Rodriguez. 4 HR, 17 RBI, .351/.424/.689, 1.114 OPS.  Sergio is another player like Perez who is an AAA standout but just lacked a place to get AB's on the Jersey big league club.  He continued his above average July with a stellar September month, much of the time playing CF.  The drawback was he had an elbow injury towards the end of the month which will sideline him for 3 weeks.  With Scott Powers and Foster coming off the DL, Jersey will have replacements for him, but it always is a downer losing a hot bat.

Roster Changes, Questions and Answers:

Ah, September always brings a time to see the young kids called up and get their "cup of coffee."  This year should be no different as we expect to see a a group of new faces joining the club.  With Leon Foster coming off the DL, he should join the Bags the first week of August after his rehab stint gets over with.  Sergio Rodriguez is the only member of the club on the DL at the moment, should miss the first 2 weeks on the DL and might get a small rehab stint before joining the club the last week of the season.

We talk about him almost every month in this section, but OF Tim Duncan has been called up to the big club.  In fact in August he played in 2 games and hit his 1st career HR and stole his 1st career base in the same game, so congrats to him.  We aren't sure yet if he will start on a regular basis, but expect him to at least get pinch run and some late inning defense in.  The Bags are also expected to recall MR Takafumi Ogusuku to give the bullpen some rest before their late season playoff push.  He was so-so with the Bags in July posting an ERA north of 5.00.  

We also expect at least at some point in the month that 1B Edgardo Gonzales, 2B Aaron Bailey, SP Jose Reyes, C Albert Lopez, and LF Ken Taylor to be recalled for some AB's.  With Tuscaloosa being 14 games up in the AAA standings, their magic number is 9 and would get their players back before the playoffs started.  

Until next time, go out and root on your Bags as their quest for their first playoff spot could come to and end this month!!

GO D-BAGS

Jersey Shore July 2015 In Review

July was a successful month for Jersey who compiled a 15-8 record in the game shortened month causes by the All Star break.  The stars showed up to shine and the Bags will start August with a 4.5 game lead in the Wild Card race over the Austin River Sharks.  It's an odd place for Jersey who usually finds itself chasing other teams at this point and not holding any sort of lead.

Players of the Month

2B Mike "The MACHINE" Bryant: .385/.431/.703 8 HR 30 RBI 22 R.  Why not start off with the CL Player of the Month?  Bryant won the award for the 2nd time in his career for the month of July, he also won it July of 2014 as well.  Bryant had 12 multi hit games, 9 multi RBI games, including having 4 RBI on 3 separate occasions.  He started at 2B for the CL All Star team earlier in the month and has put himself back into the midst of MVP talks for the 2nd year in a row.

1B Matt "Down Home" Doyle: .357/.421/.667 8 HR 30 RBI.  Doyle joined Bryant to create quite the 2 some for the month.  He was also selected as a reserve for the All Star game and matched Bryant's HR and RBI totals.  The combined 16 HR and 60 RBI in 23 games is an incredible amount.  It was Doyle's 2nd 8 HR and 30 RBI month of the season, the other coming in May.  He currently sits 2nd in the league in HR and leads the league in RBI, also he was the first BSA player to reach 100 RBI on the season.

3B Adam Morrow: .323/.405 31 H 13BB 16R.  Super rookie continues to impress as he had his 3rd 30 hit month of the season.  Leading off most games he ranks in the Top 10 in the CL in hits and runs.  He has put himself right in the thick of things in a crowded CL ROY conversation as well.

SP Jerry Burgess: 4-0  2.70 ERA  28K/4BB  0.90 WHIP.  The new acquisition dazzled winning all 4 starts after coming over from El Paso.  His 4 wins were more than he had in 3 months with El Paso and his first month with less than double digit walks.  Apparently the bats like when he is on the month as well, in his 4 starts they scored:  11, 14, 13 and 15 runs in his starts. 

SP Art Ellis: 3-0  2.01 ERA  1.12 WHIP  26K/6BB.  Ellis continued his torrid first season with the Bags and is making a run at Dan Macias's team record for ERA which he set last year at 2.82.  After his last July start he sits at 2.44.  Ellis was selected to the All Star for the 2nd time this month and his first time since the 2011 season.

MR Jaime "Mungo" Saenz: 2-0  1.35 ERA   0.75 WHIP 16K.  After a rough start to the season in April for Mungo, he finished July as the 3rd month in a row with an ERA sub 2.00.  The hard throwing lefty is having a bounce back season after a "down" 2014.  This marks the 2nd year in a row he has registered 9 wins, he currently sits at 9-0.

CL Daniel Morris:  1-0  6 Saves  1.08 ERA  0.96 WHIP.  Morris had been having the exact opposite of what a contract season should be, but July he finally looked like the Morris of old.  2015 marked the 2nd year in a row Morris was left off the CL All Star team after a streak of making the team 3 years in a row.

Roster Questions, Changes and Answers

Leon Foster still has 3 weeks left on the DL and we won't see him probably until late August or September.  Scott Powers suffered a Knee contusion on 7/23 and will miss 3 weeks with the injury.  With him being out of the lineup it gave more AB's to Sergio Rodriguez and Taro Kino in the OF. Sergio had 60 AB in July and hit .300 with 2 HR.  

Jose Gomes was also injured on 7/30 with some shoulder tendonitis and is set to miss 3 weeks.  In his absence the Bags added Takafumi Ogusuku, the Japanese native to the 40 man roster and the active roster.  In one game in July he gave up 3 ER in 2.1 IP vs San Fransisco.  At only 19 years old he rose quickly through the Bags system to make it to the big club.

Edgardo Gonzales, Aaron Bailey and Tim Duncan continue to impress in AAA Tuscaloosa for the Bags but right now there just isn't any room for any bats.  Look for one or all 3 of them to get September callups to see what they can do for the big club, especially if the Bags start to pull away in the WC race. 

GO D-BAGS 

Jersey Shore's 2014 Amateur Draft

The 2014 was an exciting one for Jersey Shore having compensation picks for free agents they totaled 9 picks in the first 4 rounds and 14 picks total.  As the draft wound down bats filled the draft board, taking 12 of 14 position players.

Their first pick came with the 28th overall pick.  The Bags selected 22 year old SS Lawrence Schroeder out of the U of Virginia.  Schroeder is a rangy SS who hits with good contact and for average power with a decent eye.  He hit .340, had an OBP of .453 and hit 45 HR's in his college career.  He will be sent to AA Gainesville where he should play right away and should have one of the quicker paths to the big leagues of any player in the draft.

With their 2nd pick in the draft, and 34th overall (former pick of the Toronto Titans and compensation for SP Jose Brito) the D-Bags selected 22 year old OF Armando Gonzales out of the University of Florida.  Gonzales played mainly CF in college but projects as a corner OF with good contact and great eye potential, scouts see him as an ideal #2 hitter.  He finished his college career witha .323 BA, and a .481 OBP and will also report to AA Gainesville.

For their 3rd pick and 48th overall in the supplemental round (compensation for Brito) the Bags took Gonzales teammate at Florida, 22 year old OF Matthieu Vancini.  Vancini follows in a similiar to mold to Gonzales, good contact and low power.  Vancini though has a knack for limiting strikeouts and has more speed.  He will join the first 2 picks in AA.

3 picks later, at 51st overall (compensation for SP Hector Hernandez) Jersey selected their first HS player of the draft in 19 year old 3B Cesar Reyes.  Coming out of Sante Fe HS in New Mexico, Reyes played 2 years of HS ball hitting with a 185 OPS+ both years.  Reyes isn't the most athletic player but projects with plus gap and power potential.

In Round 2, at pick 77, (formally belonging to Jacksonville, compensation for Hernandez) the Bags went back to college and selected 2B Armando Martinez.  Martinez is a Domincan born player who played his college ball at Texas Tech.  He plays every IF positions, but mainly stays on the right side at 1B and 2B.  He is a high contact hitter, but doesn't add too much else.  Hit .355 with a .455 OBP in 518 college AB's.

With their own 2nd round pick, the Bags took an interesting player in college 1B Clay Hawkins out of Arizona.  Hawkins was selected last year by Seattle, but didn't sign.  Hawkins was at UA for 4 years, but only had 4 AB in his first 2 seasons and then bust out.  Back to back 20 HR seasons led Arizona both years.  Sources say he is asking for a large signing bonus, so it could get interesting.

The rest of the draft is as follows:

3rd: 3B Jesse King - 19 year old high contact player out of Washington

4th: C Pedro Ramos - 22 year old college player from Rutgers

5th: P Wayne Barksdale - 19 year old projected MR from Pennsylvania

6th: SS Henry Paul - 19 year old speedy IF from New York

7th: P Tony Gurerrero - 22 year old P from Penn State

8th: RF Ben McKay - 22 year old util player from Pittsburgh

9th: P Sean Shaffner - 22 year old MR from USC

10th: RF Dan Pierce - 19 year old speedy OF from Arizona

This is the most drafted players the Bags have ever brought in one year.  How many of these players are future D-Bags?  Hopefully we will see a lot of them in the future.

GO D-BAGS