Red Robins Bobbing 2024-14 (Another 14 wins)

[Fat Nige]

July opened with two trades involving the Robins. Firstly the 19 million dollar man, Luis Mendez, who had been rotting in San Francisco was shipped along with international prospect Miguel Ardon to Vancouver to clear the salary cap room for the trade that might alter Brooklyn's season. Top shortstop prospect Pablo Soto and young pitcher Mauro Flores were sent to Valencia in exchange for 29-yr-old experienced closer Skip Glendenning. Jose Castro had had his time as the Robins closer, he hadn't put a lot of feet wrong but anyone with an ERA north of six couldn't be relied on in a team that wanted, was expected to, go deep into the playoffs.

The team dropped a series 2-1 in Vancouver to open the month before leveling up with a 2-1 series win in Valencia before the All Star break. Brooklyn sent three representatives to the ASG in pitcher Mario Mendez who would start the game for the Johnson League, shortstop Orlando Medrano and the newly acquired Glendenning.

Robins dropped the opening two games after the break, both one-run games to pennant rivals Halifax but then went on an eight game winning streak which led to Robins finishing the month 14-10. In their post ASG romp Brooklyn shutout their opponents three times and handed out five double figure beatings. Five losses out of six games against rivals Halifax left them still trailing the Hawks by seven games with just two months of the season left. Even with Glendenning the Robins were 3-5 in one-run games in July, they would have to improve that if they were to clinch a wildcard berth or topple the Hawks.

Three of the rotation managed three wins in July, both Mario Mendez & Jose Garcia went 3-1 from five starts while the rapidly improving Joey Budding won three of his four starts. Mark Totten & Jose Aicon pitched 14 innings of relief and only gave up two walks and one run while new closer Glendenning made eight outings giving up just one run and collecting five saves.

Davis Locke was on fire in his 24 starts in July rapping out 38 hits including 7 doubles, 3 triples and a pair of homers as he posted a triple slash line of .400/.406/.600 for the month. Victor Talboom continued his good form with a .342/.409/.582 average with 22 runs scored. Catcher Benjamin O'Rorke went down with a torn abdominal muscle halfway through the month and Sam Adams took over behind the plate as the #1. He rose to the occasion hitting .345/.387/.517 in his eight starts. Rob Childers was finally back to his slugging best as he hit a team leading nine homers & 20 RBI in July. Both Brian Whitten and Talboom stole four bases each without being caught as Robins swiped 26 bags for the month but Locke was less reliable being picked off six out of 11 attempts