2062.58 Bandit Banged Up

[Krathan]

Charlotte Flyers starting pitcher, third baseman, and captain Jacquot Natta, also known as Bandit, had to leave Tuesday's game in Brooklyn early and was later diagnosed with an elbow strain. Bandit was initially given a timeline to return of approximately 2-3 weeks. The earliest he could return would be the finale of the all important series in Montreal on September 22, meaning that he will miss a minimum of 14 games.

Bandit has already missed 4 of those games, with the team finishing 3-1 during that time. He will miss two complete series, four games at home against Jacksonville, and four at home against Atlantic City. He should be able to play in the final 5 games of the season if he can avoid any setbacks.

Last year, Bandit was injured from early July through early September and the club struggled mightily during that stretch. While it is unfortunate that this year's injury came in the middle of a tight pennant race, there are some reasons for the organization and fans to feel like they might be able to stay in the race despite this injury.

The team has more depth in the pitching staff this year, allowing them to better handle the loss of Natta in the rotation. With the acquisitions of Brody Picot, Arturo Trevino, and Bob Anderson, the Flyers have several experienced pitchers who can fill the void. They also have the option of starting Felipe Cummings if they like the matchup.

On the other side of things, the Flyers have a much better option at third base than they did a year ago. Last season they tried Jose Vargas at the hot corner, but he struggled defensively. They also gave Jorge Garcia a chance to start, but he struggled at the plate. This year, they will be able to plug Wani Matos into the lineup. Matos has played in 68 games this year, slashing .323/.369/.480, with 22 doubles and 1.2 WAR. He has also posted +0.8 ZR and a 1.021 Def Eff at 3B in 41 games played at the position this season.

Bandit has 29 home runs on the season, so they will miss his power, but several other players in the lineup have over 20 home runs on the year already and a few others have the potential to hit a couple of bombs in his absence as well, with Jorge Trujillo knocking 3 out of the park just this last week, since Bandit hit the shelf.

[lordtoffee]

Bandit gives you another reason to win the division and get the bye.