Stephen Taub has slipped a little, but he is still a very good pitcher. His last start vs San Fernando, he went 6.2 innings and had 8k's. Not a run crossed the plate while he was on the mound. He didn't factor in the decision, the game ended in the 13th inning when the Tropics piled on 11 runs. No biggie. On the season Taub is 2-2 with a 2.34 ERA over 42.1 innings.
Ettienne LaFitte is your FL Player of the Month. Considered washed up and on the decline, Gung-Ho is having a heck of a season. Another solid week has him sitting at .316/.385/.549 with 9 HR and 29 RBI. His 16 SB's are near the top of the pack as well. Keepin mind he is doing all of this from the lead off spot in the order. Will he keep this up for the remainder of the season? Or better yet, will he keep it up over the length of his contract? Who knows? Who cares? It sure is fun right now.
Hector Gomez started the year on the IL and then had a rehab stint in Death Valley. Once he was ready, the club almost decided to part ways with the up and down veteran. Out to prove himself, Gomez was given a chance, and boy did he shine. In the aforementioned extra inning thriller vs San Fernando, Gomez went 5-7 with 2 runs and an RBI. On the season he is 5-9, mostly as a late inning defensive replacement. His versatility makes him a prime candidate for a fourth outfielder. As long as the team keeps winning, it's a role he'll cherish.
Pitching woes still burden this team. Scoring 6.5 runs per game should have them in first place with a sizable lead. Expect more moving around of the bottom starting slots and the bullpen until some security can be found. Don't expect outside help coming in. It's more likely to come form the minor league system. Many are still stung by the improvement Chandler Hall showed after being dealt to Edmonton. Don't expect them to let that happen again. Go Tropics!!