The Nutmeggers struggled mightily in their first three seasons. Back-to-back 78-win campaigns the past two seasons had hopes high for the future. Alas, the team appears to have taken a step backwards in 2012. Now it falls upon the shoulders of new management to take up the mantle any lift Connecticut over the top.
What you have with the Nutmeggers is some solid parts that aren't coming together to form a winning whole. There's no denying
Brooks Erickson is a stud and
Juan Otero has just been named Imperial League Player of the Week, but those two haven't been enough to carry a disappointing offense. Undoubtedly, the situation will improve when youngsters
George John and
Ronald Lowry return shortly from injuries that have slowed them this year.
On the pitching side, the team has three reasonable under-30 starters in
Hamilton Cole,
Chandler Davis and
António Cruz. What they lack is an ace.
Adrián Reséndez was to fill that role, but he has frustrated Nutmeggers fans with flashes of brilliance surrounding two very serious injuries that shelved him for a great deal of time. Reséndez is struggling to start 2012. Is he washed up at age 26? Have the injuries done him in? That will be just one of the tough calls a new Connecticut owner will have to make.
The prospect pipeline is not dry, but most of Connecticut's top young players are honing their skills for the
Cary Grants of the
North American Farm Team Association (Hi-A). Some, like potential ace-in-the-making
Carlos Rivera, are young for the league... and still succeeding. Others, like power-hitting
Jorge Morín, may be ready for a greater challenge. Again, how you want to develop these assets is up to you.
To begin making the choices that need making to begin Connecticut's drive to the top, fill out the
"Join the PEBA" application on our website. We'll fill you in on further details about the Nutmeggers, as well as what you can expect as a member of the PEBA. Don't delay! The PEBA's 2012 June Amateur Draft is being held live next weekend. The sooner you contact us, the sooner you can begin preparing!