The words could be heard yelled from way up top the visiting team's luxury suite this week as Portland was taking on and defeating the Valencia Stars. It didn't seem to matter that the club had won back to back games against the Stars in a pair of wins that followed a 5-game losing streak. The message was clear: Whatever strategy the team or manager Pedro Medina was trying to use with the team's pitching staff was not going to work. It was time to abandon it!
"Our guys arms are going to fall off at this pace" added Kate Fiscus after the 2-1 win in Valencia. "They can't keep this type of pace up for much longer. I'm no pitching expert, but I know a thing or two about pace, and this isn't good."
It appears in the early going the club was trying to implement an opener/closer approach to the pitching staff this season. The goal was to allow some of these young arms coming up from the farm a chance to come in during the early innings and pitch 4-6 innings in relief as a follower. However, the approach has led to wacky usage of guys by Medina and so the front office has demanded the team go back to a traditional approach of starters and relievers.
"We've used guys 4 to 5 days in a row" added Fiscus. "They're throwing 25 or more pitches every day. This can't happen. And we have Medina using guys in relief for 50 pitches and then two days later, starting them in the game. I'm not sure he's understood completely what we are trying to do here but it isn't working."
It is reported the club will use a traditional rotation this week. This coming after news that every pitcher on the Lumberjacks' 12-man staff is fatigued. The club did announced that Roberto Valdez, fresh off the IL, will start the next game against Valencia this week in hopes he can eat up some innings and rest the staff. A much needed off-day, the team's first of the season, will follow on Sunday.
Pitcher of the Sim
Steve Warren
The rookie left hander made two starts, despite short rest, and posted a 1.29 ERA in 7 innings pitched. He struck out 7 and walked 2 over that span. The rookie has made 4 appearances this season and is still looking for his first big league decision.
Hitter of the Sim
Werner McConnell, Jr
McConnell had a solid week, hitting a pair of homeruns and driving in 3 RBI. He posted a team high 1.086 OPS thanks to the pair of homeruns and adding a double. He's still off to a poor start to the season but hopefully a solid week this week will help boost his numbers a little.
Kate's Kookies Highlight of the Week
With the Lumberjacks' final game of the sim tied 1-1 against Valencia in the 8th inning, Andrew Gallagher hit a solo homerun 425 feet to deep centerfield to give Portland a 2-1 lead. The homerun proved the difference. The bullpen overcame a runner in both the 8th and 9th innings to secure the victory.
