Long Beach Press-Telegram - 8-1-2001

[jcrmoon42]

A month into the season, the Long Beach Surfers actually found themselves leading the Wild Card chase, but nobody in management actually believed that was the level of the team at this point. Now, on the first of August, they find themselves in their traditional position...last place in the entire league. It has really become a bit of a badge of honor to get the first draft pick, and the young talent the organization is developing as a result is quite impressive.

Let's see what has been going well in Long Beach:
Former MLBer, Derrick Gibson has emerged as a legitimate bat after spending one year in AAA showing what he can do. Given the full-time right field job in Long Beach, he has 27 homers through 106 games and was the Rookie of the Month in May, although the club would love to see him take a walk once in a while. He's got his eyes on the club records of 50 homers and 142 RBI set by Mike Fuentes in 1987.

Jesus Losada has been out of his mind with the bat all year, hitting .337 on the season and showing power to boot. A former waiver claim who had worn out his welcome in Montreal, Losada may not be able to keep his full-time job long as some of the youngsters develop, but he is enjoying the spotlight for now and even represented the Beach in the All Star Game.

24 year old Marcos "Duck" Latta was found by scouts in the minor leagues six years ago and has become one of the better hitting prospects in the game. The only other hitter besides Gibson and Losada to hit for a league average or better OPS, Latta has campaigned for playing time and has responded well, although he still has a LOT of room to grow. He's already very good against lefties, putting up a .859 OPS and could be absolutely nasty when he is full-grown.

Management eschewed their typical closer-less philosophy and put 23 year old flamethrower Chris Malone in the role this year. The #2 overall pick in 1998 has responded well by saving 17 of the team's 40 wins and an All Star appearance.

What hasn't gone well:
Pretty much everything else on the major league level. The club is twelfth in runs scored and runs allowed, a delicious combination of ineptitude. The formerly reliable Ted Sale responded to a nice contract extension by putting up the worst season of his career. Three starters could get to 20 losses on the season. It is just ugly.

So, what is there to be happy about in Long Beach?
The future, that's what. The team has the second best minor league system in the game. Jim "Roo" Schmidt is the best pitching prospect in the game, although he is developing slower than the team would like. Dave Santry will be a control specialist who has succeeded at three minor league levels this year after coming over two years ago in what is proving to be a great Ramon Ayala trade with Seattle that also netted gloveman James Dicus whose bat is now developing in the major leagues. Outfield duo Al Jones and Juan Heredia will make a fearsome pair in a few years. The big league squad is young and growing, and the payroll is ridiculously low.

Fans have been patient, but they won't be patient forever. If they can hold out another two or three seasons, the Surfers should be a team to be reckoned with...especially with a couple more #1 picks.

[recte44]

Scary core group on their way here!

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[scottsdale_joe]

Gotta love that system.
The future looks bright indeed.