And...that the Louisville Sluggers will have a sub .500 record in June.
The Slugs did not disapoint, riding out a month of drastic roster upheavel, consisting of trades and DFA's and major league debuts, to post a 9-17 record...good for 37-45 overall on the 2009 season.
Sluggo Starter for June
The world keeps turning, John Taffer saves yet another bar, and yesterday's reliever becomes today's starter of the month. Oft-misused and abused in the past, twenty-eight year old Chris Allen finally came of age in June 2009, starting 5 games, averaging over 7 innings a start, and mowing down 32 opposition batters, while giving only 11 a free pass to first. He went 2-3, but what the hell, thats 25% of the Slugs wins this month. He capped off his month, by being named the lone Louisville Slugger all-star representative at the mid season 'classic'. Fittingly, he threw a single pitch at the classic, that was lined into short right-center field by Las Vegas outfielder Ben Hargrove for an RBI double as part of the Johnson League's ninth inning collapse. Go Slugs!
Sluggo Reliever for June
Jeff Hartle didn't screw around in June, like so many of his Louisville colleagues did. Hartle appeared in 9 games for 10.1 innings, and earned an impressive 1.74 ERA. He ain't flashy, (as evidenced by his 11 K's v 5 BB's and OAVG .235), but he got shit done.
Slugger for June
Youngster backstop, twenty-five year-old Dominican, Jorge Diaz, just won't stop hitting. Belying his ratings, and hitting at his potential, the kid went out and hit at a .933 OPS with 4 taters in June. Not fantastic, but the best on the Slugs, and a hell of a lot better than what was expected going into the season.
Baby Slug for June
Twenty-two year-old, rookie left-fielder, Guillermo Rodriguez, was quietly minding his own business, toiling away in the darkest bowels of the New Orleans organisation, in communist paradise AAA Havana, Cuba, when Genuius Hopkins spied him while vacationing, and acquired him in exchange for fellow youngster Bob LaTrobe. Hopkins immediatley installed him in the hetherto unsatisfactory Louisville left-field, and the kid went crazy. Guillermo, (or Steve Nebraska as the Louisville media has dubbed him, in reference to the award LaTrobe will likely win in his future), smacked three triples and 5 doubles, while stealing 11 bases en route to a .356/.404/.478/.882 June slash-line. The kid also proved invaluable on defence. Lets hope the youngster doesn't go the way of last season's left-fielding super-nova, Chris Thomas, currently recovering from substance addiction in AAA Missouri.
