Although, its only been one month since his two blockbuster trades - I think we can declare Phoenix the clear winner in both deals.
Calvin Schiraldi is without a doubt, the best closer in the MBBA since his deal, while the player he was dealt for, McSucksaLot Washington has crumbled since he left the warm confines of Phoenix for the icy chill of Greenville. Phil Hughes has been a dominating force out of the Talon bullpen, while JP Morgan has been a suspect Kernal at best in his new home of Des Moines. And to think that Phoenix got additional stars like Gumdrop, Douglass, and Simonsen out of these same deals, too.
"It is hard to be humble,"admitted GM Hopkins,"I am quite clearly, better, than most."
GM Hopkins was less forthcoming on the matter of the Talon's won-loss record, a disappointing 58-78, this from a team who just missed out on the playoffs in the final week, a season ago. Hopkins was also mum on the number of MBBA 'stars' he allowed to escape the Talon via waivers (for nothing!)during this season. He also had little to say about the barren state of the Talon farm system.
But he was quite effusive about his plans to commission a bronze statue to be placed outside the main gates of the Chavez Memorial Park next season.
"There are two design finalists,"Hopkins admitted,"The first one shows me benevolently patting a grateful kneeling Schiraldi on the head,as he presents up to me his glove and ball; and the other design depicts me, shoving a dildo, shaped like McKinley Washington's head, far up a squealing lchronister's, (Grenville GM), ass. You can't really go wrong with either design."
Pitcher of the Month (August)
Calvin Schiraldi has gone 1-0, with 10 saves, a 1.32 ERA, and 18 k's over 13 and 2/3 innings in August.
Tim Hughes, (0-0, 0.96 ERA, 4 K's over 9.3 innings), and Andy Nebraska (1-0, 1.62 ERA, 20 K's over 16.7 innings), and Steve Olin (2-0, 1.46 ERA, 12 K's over 12 and a 1/3 innings) all warrant mention, too.
The starters had let Phoenix down in August, with David Cone(0-5, 7.26 ERA) and Gumdrop (2-1, but with a 9.00 ERA over three starts) being the worst offenders.
Batter of the Month
Junior Felix, the center-fielder by default, had a fantastic August with an OPS of .958 with 4 homers and 17 RBI's. The 29 year old is enjoying his finest season, ever, already eclipsing all of his personal bests.
George Peralta, (.876 OPS, 8 home-runs, and 14 RBi's) and Joe Belinda, (.903 OPS, 8 HR, 17 RBI) also had a fantastic August. Bit players Will Clark (44 at-bats, .934 OPS), Isaac Douglass (43 at-bats, 1.006 OPS), and Jimmy Waite, (65 AB, .795 OPS) also had a good August.
Prospects of the Month
Andrew Bogan enjoyed a great August in Flagstaff, going 1-1 with a 1.35 ERA and 15 K's over 24 innings over three starts. Bogan has been a victim of his minor league eligibility more than anything else, as he had pitched very well in 13 MBBA appearances earlier in 1997. The twenty-seven year-old looks to have done enough to warrant a spot in the 1998 Talon rotation.
First baseman Kaneyasu Akahito, enjoyed an electric August for Flagstaff. The third round pick from the 1995 draft averaged .393 with a .941 OPS. The only things keeping the young star from the MBBA is the presence of MBBA stars, Will Clark and Larry Wilkes. Akahito also suffers from a lack of power and a total lack of defence.
