Sugar cane diaries - 2029.5 - Sim 15

[Dan]

After a semi decent week, I had to watch the team struggle through another handful of series. These last few games, the batting as a group wasn’t as bad, and there were a few surprises. Octavio Vicente hit .360/.407/.520, and Alfredo hit three home runs. The struggle was pitching. Throughout the four series, I found very little to be pleased with. Over the remainder of the year, we will try out some of our younger arms, and see what might happen.

Series against the Brooklyn Robins 1-1 (game 4 of 4)
Pitching: Jesus Casas ended up with the win, pitching 6 innings. He allowed two home runs, only struck out three and allowed 4 hits. All in all, not really worthy of note. Reliever Luis Mendez was just as unmemorable with no Ks in over two innings, and allowing 2 runs. By default, closer Miguel Macias ends up being the most notable. He came in for the last two outs in the ninth, still allowed a run, but at least posted 2 strikeouts. Spectacularly unspectacular.
Batting: RF Paul Holden helped to make up for the Sugar Kings pitching. In addition to hitting his 19th home run, Holden hit 3 out of four, and had four RBIs. Without his success that day, the Sugar Kings would not have been able to get the win.

Series against the Jacksonville Hurricanes 2-2
Pitching: Havana’s pitching woes continue, and it continues to be a difficult task choosing the strongest pitcher for these matchups. Relatively, Ignacio Rodriguez is always most likely to provide a superior performance, and in the 6-9 loss to Jacksonville, he was able to strike out 5 batters in five innings, but at the same time, he gave up 3 home runs...
Batting: This upcoming offseason, we are going to have to solve our CF problem. While we hope for Miguel Gil to develop into a useable fielder, we have to shuffle players in and out of that position. In the first two games against Jacksonville, Octavio Vicente hit four for eight. This being remarkable given that Vicente is currently sporting a -1.7 WAR and a -13.9 ZR as CF in 51 games this year. This series was remarkable in that it highlights that Vicente does not belong in that position.

Series against the Montreal Blazers 0-4
Pitching: Again, Ignacio Rodriguez is the best of the bunch. In the 6-0 loss to the Montreal Blazers, he did his best over 7 innings. He struck out eight, but also had five earned runs against.
Batting: Havana struggled with offensive numbers against Montreal. 1B Julio Morin had 2 home runs, but not much else to write home about.

Series against the Las Vegas Hustlers 0-1 (game 1 of 4)
Pitching: 2 errors by veteran Fernando Alaniz. 13 hits and 7 runs in six innings. Geesh.
Batting: Jesus Saucedo continues to impress a bit with his recent call up. While not necessarily lighting it up, he is performing at a much better level than he did previously for the Sugar Kings. In his game against the Hustlers, Saucedo was 2 for 5, and had a home run.

[recte44]

I have to say, a guy like Octavio Vicente is kind of the poster child for what kind of team Havana is throwing out there this year. Utterly and completely out of place.

Good things are to come, though.

P.S.- I love seeing my former farmhand Saucedo get a true chance at the bigs. Not real impressive overall, but he's trying!

[udlb58]

Yeah, Vicente is garbage. Cooper is probably close to as ready as he'll ever be, but I can understand not starting the clock on a 21 year old. Kinda surprised not to see someone like Juan Diaz get a shot though.

[Dan]

True dat.

Vicente won't make it to the end of this season I suspect

the Sugar Kings are jittery with the anticipation of exceeding expectations - all in due time

[recte44]

Diaz is kind of interesting.

[Dan]

I threw Roderice up instead. Didn't want to put Diaz on my 40 man yet, and Roderice seemed to be close to the same for now.