4th in the Frick Frontier
5.5 GB of the Seattle Storm LYNCH FIRED UP, SUSPENDED SIX GAMES
If there's one positive takeaway from this headline, it's that premier starter Bobby Lynch (3 - 1, 2.00 ERA, 0.96 WHIP, 23 K) seems to be invested in his team this year.
After two seasons in which Lynch was the leading lady, and largely the lone draw for fans to trek down to John Ducey Park, the young southpaw has watched a core of young talent gradually assemble around him. Now, with Edmonton having staved off an immediate crash-and-burn at the beginning of the season, Lynch has a bit more to play for -- which, in this case, resulted in tempers flaring in the series finale against the Valencia Stars.
Lynch had a frustrating second inning of work. With one out in the inning, he gave up a single to Mick Pengilly, who advanced to second base when rookie outfielder Luis Costello (.297/.342/.500, 3 HR, 9 RBI) let the ball roll right under his glove. On the next pitch, Pengilly stole third, and a batter later, Derek Lee put one into the seats to give the Stars a two-run lead.
Visibly frustrated on the mound, Lynch was working on a 1-2 count to left-handed outfielder Wilton Rivera. On the next pitch, a running fastball found its way up near Rivera's neck and caught him at the top of his right shoulder. Lynch had been working inside the whole at-bat, inducing a swinging strike and a jam foul, and was running the heater up near 100 miles per hour. Rivera took exception to the hit-by-pitch, and jawed with Lynch on his way up the baseline. An annoyed Lynch shouted back, which prompted backstop Eric Fabre (.356/.381/.508, 2 HR, 8 RBI) to hand-deliver a new baseball and calm him down.
Whether prompted by a Rivera comment or not -- shouting on both sides had escalated -- Lynch suddenly took the new baseball and fired it at Rivera at first base. Rivera ducked, then charged -- and we were off! By the time the dust settled, Lynch had earned himself a six-game suspension for the stunt, and Rivera in turn was slapped with a five-game bid.
"Well, look, I can't say one way or another who said what, or who's the instigator, or what," mused sophomore manager Ernie Lara after the ballgame. "If I had to say anything, it would be that nobody's gonna try to bean the guy while he's walking to first base unless something was said. I think both sides were provoked in some way."
Whether or not the incident has created bad blood between Edmonton and Valencia remains to be seen. The teams will meet again in Valencia in roughly two weeks' time. Perhaps the biggest implication of the suspension is that Lynch will be unavailable during an important early road series against the Seattle Storm later this week.
SPROULE EARNS SPOT START
In the wake of Lynch's suspension, Edmonton finds a need for a spot starter this Monday against the Seattle Storm. While the first-place Storm are scheduled to serve up lefty Alfredo Contreras, a veteran of the team, the Jackrabbits will be starting 24-year-old left-hander Justin Sproule), who will be making his first start of the season after 12 starts in 2034.
Sproule has appeared solely out of the bullpen this season, among other relievers who lost out on the starting jobs to fellow youngsters Chet Parrish (1 - 0, 4.34 ERA, 1.66 WHIP, 11 K) and Maxime Manceau (0 - 1, 6.35 ERA, 1.88 WHIP, 13 K). In four outings, Sproule has allowed just a single run in a little over six innings of work. Last season, Sproule had a 3.50 ERA in 17 combined outings, totaling just over 80 innings pitched on the year.
"We had some options with this bullpen, obviously," said Ernie Lara on Saturday morning. "Just with the way it's constructed, sort of combining some converted starters with some guys who are early in their careers and hope to be starting later. And we have some depth on the farm, too, but the way it worked out with usage and workloads right now, this seemed like the move."
Sproule expressed excitement about the opportunity to start a ballgame.
"That's where I want to be," Sproule was quoted.
INFIELDER CLAIMED OFF WAIVERS
The Edmonton Jackrabbits have claimed 27-year-old Garth Hill) off waivers from the defending champion San Fernando Bears.
Hill has very little major-league experience, having started 12 games for the Havana Sugar Kings in 2031, then entering as a primarily-defensive substitute in five total games over the next two years. It's been at Triple-A where Hill has really shined, with a career .820 OPS and 10.0 WAR over four seasons, hitting for both contact and power.
Will it translate to the major-league level? Well, there's probably a reason why Havana never gave him a shot and then waived him once he was out of options. But for a team like Edmonton, there isn't a ton of harm in running a sort of roulette on the 26th and 27th men on the roster, looking to build a bench that works for a little while. Hill is a solid second baseman and can serve as a backup for most infield positions (though the Jackrabbits will probably be avoiding playing him at shortstop.) This, in turn, would allow Manuel Perez) to serve as outfield depth, rather than a total super-utility man, and give Ernie Lara some flexibility in making substitutions.
A corresponding move has not yet been announced.