SJL:
The Houston Cavaliers are a good case study in how to turn an expansion club into a competitive team in just a few seasons. Now granted there is still a lot of season left and Houston could finish at the bottom of the SJL when all is said and done, but after having lost 103 games in their inaugural season of 1975 and improving to 76-86 last year, the Cavaliers find themselves in 6th place and just 5 games out of first place as we approach July of the 1977 season. While this week's SJL Game of the Week wasn't exactly a typical Houston win, it is indicative of several of the factors that have made them competitive this year. First, as a team that plays their home games in a very good pitching park, they have put together a fine defense, particularly up the middle, which has helped their young pitching staff to good success, led by a pair of left-handed starters, 26-year old Sandy Morales (10-4, 2.82) and 25-year old Ryan Lamb (9-3, 2.67.) Former Brewer Sam Pruiett (15 saves, 1.83) anchors the 2nd best bullpen in the league. The team is 5th in the SJL in runs allowed and 2nd in zone rating. Of the 5 members of the starting rotation, 2 were signed as minor league free agents and 1 was picked up in the rule 5 draft. The bullpen includes their 2nd round draft pick from the 1975 draft, Morgan Esker, who looks like a future dominant closer.
In contrast to their mostly young pitching staff, the Cavaliers have brought together a veteran crew of position players, including taking a chance on some former stars whose careers were stalled (Rigby Muckenfuss and Shawn Hanl), a few 30-year-olds with extensive big league histories with little glory (left fielder Chris Shipton and catcher Orlando Sandoval), a great field, poor hitting shortstop (Dylan DeWitt), an underrated former 1st round draft pick chosen in the expansion draft (Doug Helmick), and finally, having picked up all of these budget players, one high-priced superstar free agent in Lazaro Lowndes.
Now this doesn't all add up to a great team, but it certainly does add up to a team you can't take lightly or look past. And while their minor league system ranks in the middle of the pack, they have three prospects in the top 40, including two good-looking position players at 14 and 16. Attendance is up nearly 20% and revenue per game is up over 50%. It is not a bad start for a third year club and the future potentially looks bright.
MGL:
The Los Angeles Spinners had climbed their way back into contention in the past few weeks but find themselves once again behind Oklahoma City in third place and slipping a bit. Getting shutout by 28-year old Baltimore right-handed starter Jose Pena didn't help. Pena, who last pitched in the big leagues in 1974 for Philadelphia (2 games in relief, 1 1/3rd IP), Pena got his first big league start after 12 relief appearances this season. And he made the best of it, hurling the complete game 1-hit shutout, striking out 7 and walking 4.
