WHIV 2043.5- Player Stocks Rising/Falling

[recte44]

WHIV 2043.5- Player Stocks Rising/Falling
September 27, 2043

The Las Vegas Hustlers are now eliminated from playoff contention officially, though they have been using September with that assumption all along. The Hustlers have given some fringe players an opportunity for their stock to either rise or fall with the organization.

Zach Reid, C- RISING
Reid has been given the bulk of the playing time behind the plate as the Hustlers remain intrigued with his left-handed bat even after most of his BBA campaign has been a disappointment. September has been strikingly different. With 62 at-bats and a few games to go, Reid will have gotten the most run he's had since April (63 at-bats) and has responded with production (.258/.313/.532, 5 HR, 10 RBI). He'll have to be a run producer to make up for slightly sub-par defense behind the dish, but Reid seems to have positioned himself as a piece of the 2044 puzzle and beyond.

Pepe Rocha, RF- RISING
Rocha hasn't played nearly as much as Reid (18 at-bats), but when he's played he's played well (.278/.350/.500). Rocha now would appear to have an inside track at an outfield roster spot for 2044.

Rodrigo Rios, SS- FALLING
Rios got just a single at-bat this September, and now has been waived and designated for assignment.

Reynante Alvero, SS- FALLING
It's kind of sad that his .186/.286/.279 slash line in September marks an enormous improvement over his season totals prior to roster expansion. Man, if he could just hit a LITTLE.

Stewart Turton, SS- RISING
The numbers don't exactly jump out at you (.208/.269/.375, 2 homers) but bear in mind Turton jumped up from Double-A ball and was initially thrown into learning second base at the BBA level. The Hustlers are quite high on the young middle infielder.

Domenic Lewis, 2B- FALLING
Lewis has underwhelmed with the bat, slashing .200/.265/.289 and striking out 17 times in 45 at-bats. Defensively he's been solid at second base, but will need to show more at the plate to be a factor in the teams plans moving forward.

Javier Salazar, DH/COF- RISING[/b]
He's slugging .500 with 2 long balls. Plate discipline has been an issue, and Salazar also hasn't played an inning in the field, but he's going to get a longer look.

Sixto "Ball 'o Fat" Cisneros, DH- RISING[/b]
Only 14 at-bats, we know, but two homers, 2 walks, only 4 strikeouts, 11 total bases, .357/.438/.786. Maybe there's something here.

Sean Gardner, SP- RISING[/b]
His last two starts weren't great, but the two before that were eye-opening. Two complete game shutouts, allowing a total of 9 hits and just 1 walk. Gardner may have improved his stock more than any other player on the roster.

Jorge Fuentes, SP/RP- FALLING
Seven appearances (three starts) and he's got a 8.24 ERA with 24 hits allowed in 19.2 innings pitched. The month started with such promise, two outstanding relief outings against Montreal and then a decent start against Phoenix, followed by an ok start against Wichita. Since then he was completely bombed in a start at Boise where he didn't make it out of the second inning, and then ineffective in two relief outings at San Antonio (though he did somehow get the win in his last game against the Outlaws). Of note: Fuentes has not had a single appearance at home in the month of September.

[HoosierVic]

He's "Ball 'O Fat" Cisneros - of course there's something there!

I like this format, by the way.