Week In Review: Welp, at least this team is consistent. They have went 2-4 each of the first 3 weeks of the season, however their consistent loses have now pushed the team to the bottom of the Heartland Division.
Hitter of the week: No question that the best hitter on the team this week was outfielder Martin Marin. Marin had 9 hits in 21 at bats, 3 of which were home runs. He drove in 10 RBI during the 6 game stretch and had a remarkable 1.526 OPS this week.
Pitcher of the week: I guess let’s give it to Stephen Clulow. He went 6 strong innings allowing 1 earned run in the 4-3 win over Hawaii on April 17th. Clulow was one of the very few bright spots on a pitching staff that has struggled from top to bottom through the first three weeks of the season.
Game of the week: On April 20th, the Hawks took the 2nd game in the 3 game series with Twin Cities courtesy of a bases loaded walk from John Hale in the bottom of the eighth to put the club ahead. This game was a hitters game with 21 combined runs and 27 combined hits.
Division Standings:
| Team | Win | Losses | GB | Run Diff |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Twin Cities | 13 | 6 | - | +29 |
| Des Moines | 9 | 9 | 3.5 | -24 |
| Madison | 7 | 11 | 5.5 | -15 |
| Yellow Springs | 7 | 11 | 5.5 | +3 |
| Omaha | 6 | 12 | 6.5 | -30 |
1.) Jimmy Starks shifted over to right field this week while Gustavo Herrera took over in center field in hopes of helping the defense. It went okay. Herrera is not as effective in center as in right, and Starks posted a little better numbers in right than previously in center field.
2.) Despite scoring the 5th most runs and being ranked 1st in WOBA, the team finds itself 6 games under .500 mostly due to giving up 130 runs through 18 games(an average of 7.2 runs per game). This pace for the entire season would be well over 1,100 runs and be a horrible number for the club. Something has to give right?
3.) Going back to Martin Marin, who is on pace for a breakout season, he currently is on pact for 72 home runs and 180 runs batted in to go with 126 runs scored. His batting line of .343/.382/.786 is unlikely to hold up however and neither is projected 10.0 WAR.
4.) Emilio Morales is quietly chugging along. Despite a poor defensive effort early on, Morales has still done well at the plate and is on pace for another 50+ home run and 130+ RBI season. He is 3 home runs short of number 350 for his career. If he reaches 56 home runs this season, it will be his 5 in a row with at least 56+ home runs. His low RBI number over the past 5 years is 147.
The week ahead:
Omaha hits the road for an important road series against rival Yellow Springs Nine before traveling to San Fernando for the second time this season. Omaha is 1-2 against San Fernando as they opened the 2039 season losing 2 out of 3 to the Bears.
Checking on the Eyas:
For those unaware, an Eya is a baby hawk. In this segment each week, we will take a peek at the minor league squads in the organization and point out any big performances, especially by any top prospects with the organization.
Lincoln went 5-2 this week and are 1.5 games back of division leader Indianapolis. Former #1 pick for Omaha, Emilio Parades has been dominant early on. In 4 games started he has a 1.35 ERA and 25 strikeouts over 26 innings. He is currently 3-1. While still only 22, Parades probably won't reach the big leagues again due to command issues.
In Sioux City, the club is 9-7 after a 3-3 week. The starters ERA continues to sparkle as the best in the league, thanks in part to the best defensive efficiency rating in the league as well.
Mankato is sitting at 11-9 after a 3-3 week as well. Much like the BBA team in Omaha, this team is scoring runs(99 runs, 1st), while the pitching is giving them up just as fast(101 runs against, 14th).
Short A & Rookie league have not yet began.
