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Sweeping changes hit Omaha(39.19)

Posted: Wed Jul 03, 2019 10:49 am
by niles08
The Hawks have had a rough start to the season, with pitching and defense to blame. However, it doesn’t appear that the club is willing to idly sit by and watch the season get away from them without at least making some adjustments.

Nobody figured the adjustments would be this large and quick however.

In a press release today, the club announced broad changes to both it’s rotation, bullpen, and starting lineups.

First, it’s important to point out that Bernardo Boullosa, Maximo Trevino, and Ken Spencer are no longer on the Hawks active roster. Spencer & Trevino have both actually been placed on waivers and designated for assignment so their future with the organization is a question mark.

Boullosa won the second base job out of spring training on a non-roster invitation however has struggled out of the gate enough that the club apparently didn’t want to wait as he will report to Triple A. Boullosa had a .213/.272/.347 triple slash line over 75 at bats. It’s likely he will be brought back up at some point this season. It’s expected that Jake Williams will take over at 2nd Base until the club figures out what to do with second base.

Maximo Trevino was actually just called up days ago, and will find himself now DFA without throwing a pitch this season at the BBA Level.

Ken Spencer is a surprising demotion, and an even more surprising player to end up designated for assignment after his 2038 season. Spencer has been with the Hawks in the bullpen the past 6 seasons, and posted a 3.12 ERA over 43 appearances in 2038. His ERA has actually been better than league average 4 out of the 5 full seasons he has been in the BBA. As a left handed specialist, I wouldn’t be surprised for a team to kick the tires on Spencer.

Okay, so 3 people have been sent down, so who is coming up?

Well, the wait is over. Orlando Ordonez will be starting in center field everyday moving forward. The 19 year old, Ordonez, was the Hawks #1 prospect, and the #8 prospect in the BBA this season. What that means for the rest of the outfield and Alonso Olvere in the DH spot is yet to be answered. One would assume Starks will move to left, Ordonez in center, and Herrera in right while Marin will likely shift to the DH role leaving Olvere as the first off the bench.

How about Jose Lima? Yes, the #77 prospect in the BBA has also been called up and is expected to enter the rotation as the 5th man. Lima was acquired along with Conner Hamilton in the trade with New Orleans back in March of this year.

Luis Gonzalez has also been called up and will take a spot in the rotation. Gonzalez had started 4 games in Lincoln this year and had a 3.56 ERA over 30 innings pitched. He has control issues, but should be given some chanes in the rotation.

Does this mean the club is going with a 7 man rotation?

Of course not.

In even somewhat more surprising news, the club has announced that Carson Stoller & Augusto Cardenas would be shifting to the bullpen.

Stoller may be the bigger surprise of the two. He was the clubs first round pick and first overall pick in the draft back in 2032 but injuries have derailed his career. The shift to the bullpen comes with a current 9.37 ERA over his 4 games started. During those 4 games, he is giving up an average of 3.3 HR/9 innings and 4.4 walks per 9 innings.

In maybe less of a shocker, Augusto Cardenas will join Stoller back in the bullpen. Cardenas was one of the best relievers in the BBA over the past 2 seasons posting a 6.1 WAR between the two. He hasn’t been “bad” as a starter this year, but the club is probably making the right move in putting him back where he belongs as a lights out reliever in the bullpen.

There you have it. A 6-12 start will do this to some people. Quite a bit of movement in the Omaha organization today.

Re: Sweeping changes hit Omaha(39.19)

Posted: Wed Jul 03, 2019 6:20 pm
by RonCo
Stoller to the pen might give him a season to get through the injury bug.

Re: Sweeping changes hit Omaha(39.19)

Posted: Wed Jul 03, 2019 6:28 pm
by niles08
I'm hoping sending him to the pen strengthens our pen. We've lost 12 games and I think atleast 7 of those were blown leads by the pen.