Bandit Post, Vol 3.2, 1998

[aaronweiner]

Billy Ashley Makes a Splash

Billy Ashley came into Birmingham to try and help jumpstart the offense. We're pretty sure he's done that: his first nine games as a Bandit were pure poetry, a .448 average, .500 OBP and .862 SLG gave him a higher VORP for last week than his entire previous fifty games.

"Words can't describe how nice it is to be playing for a winning ballclub," said Ashley. "I just feel so at home here."

Ashley, a New Orleans native with a drawl, is also happy to be back in the South.

"It's like home here. Already some of my friends have come up to Alabama to see me play; they didn't do that so much when I was out in Long Beach," Ashley said. "It's like being at home again."


Birmingham Claims Padillo

The Birmingham Bandits claimed Hernando Padillo off the waiver wire yesterday. Padillo had lost his job in Las Vegas to Monty Lynch and had played extremely poorly this season despite having not lost any bat speed or other skills, which is why he was made available.

"We couldn't figure out why Padillo would be so poor this year, and so we grabbed him as soon as we saw him on the wire," said GM Aaron Weiner.

Padillo, who will be installed as the starting left fielder, was thrilled about the development.

"Oh, yes, I'm very happy to have a starting job again," said Padillo. "I know I can't play worse than I did in Vegas. I wish they gave me more time to get it together, but I'm happy to be on a really good team here."

Would Birmingham have still made an effort to deal for Billy Ashley if they knew they were picking up Padillo, a similar-type player?

"Absolutely we'd have wanted Billy Ashley," said GM Aaron Weiner. "Not sure if you've noticed what he's done since getting here (we have) but he's also the best center fielder we have on the team not named Doogie."


Nicoletti, Wright Looking For Trades

Roy Nicoletti and
John Wright have put up their usual solid numbers, but they've lost their starting jobs to newcomers.

"Obviously, we understand why both of these guys are dissatisfied," said Weiner. "We want to do our best to accomodate John and Roy in whatever they want to do."

Wright and Nicoletti haven't been public about their demands for a trade, but there's reportedly been some discussion internally, as the Bandits' outfield, once a weakness, is now totally stacked.