What to make of this team? - As evidenced by the lack of deals, this has been a year where the Jackrabbits have stood pat as they try and figure out what they actually have. The team sits a game below .500, mainly due to a powerful offense, above par defense and little else. The team is solid offensively near the top in batting average, stolen bases, on base percentage, etc. That is balanced by a pitching staff that is second worst in the league with a dismal 5.12 ERA. The two major signings that GM Chuck Valenches pulled off have been a mixed bag. The three year, 18.7 million dollar deal handed to Lance Harrison has been a disaster. Harrison has been banished to the back of the bullpen. Out of his 24 appearances, 18 out of the pen, he has only managed to escape unscathed twice. It appears the Jackrabbits are hoping that at 39 years of age, Harrison will hang them up rather than be released with all his money guaranteed. The other major signing has been Socrates Kazantziakis. Socrates has not only played stellar at SS and 3B, he has put together a career year at the plate, batting .321 before a foot injury sidelined him. He will miss about a month before returning to action. Socrates has been all that Edmonton could have hoped for outside of the injuries and that could play a huge role, seeing as he signed a five-year, 48 million dollar contract before the season. I guess the Jackrabbits will just keep their fingers crossed.
Meet Manuel Ortega! - A 2nd round pick in 2057 (45th overall) Ortega has made his BBA debut and made the most of it. Over 173 plate appearances Ortega has hit .352, earning the 21 year old the starting role in the Jackrabbits infield at 2B and causing the "Great Shift" for Edmonton that saw Socrates move from short to third, Billy McKay move from second to short, Ray Hoskins from third to first and Brent Gilbert from first to the DH role. The outfield may occasionally jump and down on their own block and tackle, but the infield has been a delight north of the border and Ortega looks like a mainstay for the Jackrabbits.
Where are the fans! Manuel Ortega may be a mainstay in the Edmonton infield but is Edmonton even committed to staying in Edmonton? Interest in the team has sunk to historic lows. the team is 25th in attendance, averaging just under 32,000 fans a game, and 29th in revenue. Owner Jim Leonard has been openly hinting that a new stadium deal will be required to keep the team in Edmonton. "AGLS Field is thirty years old and is showing it's age. If we are to keep up with the rest of the league we need to make improvements. A den of foxes was living in the groundskeeper's shed for crying out loud! So far the city of Edmonton has been very non committal on funding for a new stadium, much less funding to even make the necessary repairs and improvements to keep the stadium up to BBA code. Stay tuned to this blog to stay up to date on any progress.
