[BirdWatcher]

May 2nd was a big day in the WPK as we saw not only our first no-hitter of the season- a Perfect Game by Seattle's Chris Karstens, but also the first batter hitting for the cycle this season, as San Antonio's great middle infielder John Mussaw accomplished this against Columbus, the first of his glorious career.


For the 28-year old Karstens, a native of Commerce City, Colorado, it is the first career no-no and it is only the second in Seattle Alligators' history (Eduardo Carillo hurled the first back in 1977). Karstens hasn't had what you would call an illustrious career but he is off to a very fine start in 1986 and he has great movement on his pitches with a good forkball and an elite fastball/changeup combo. A lack of stamina is probably his greatest weakness but he had plenty to get this perfecto yesterday.



As for Mussaw, well, he is just another future Hall of Fame San Antonio Keys middle infielder, in the mold of Bud Lindsay. When you think about it, the convergence of middle infield talent in San Antonio in the past decade plus is incredible. Before Lindsay and Mussaw there was 8-time All-Star and 3-time Silver Slugger Jared Hancock, who likely would have been a Hall of Famer had not the younger Lindsay and Mussaw come along to push him out of a starting position. (Hancock may still make it, but because he has mostly played in a back-up role throughout his 30's- he is now 39 and an unsigned free agent- and not because of diminishing skills- he is now a borderline candidate at best.) And that's not even mentioning current Brewer Ryan Campbell, who came up in the San Antonio system as primarily a second baseman and in a Keys uniform had a 5.6 WAR 1982 season and a 7.8 WAR 1984 season. Granted, the Keys have developed great hitters at every position, but their middle infield picture has been a particular embarrassment of riches.




The day before, and now mostly forgotten with the heroics of the next day, on May 1st former top pitching prospect Casey Van Fossen of Jacksonville also pitched a gem, throwing a 3-hit shutout with 12 K's and no walks in a win over that same Seattle club.



And for the Brewers, young Eric Fehrenbacher got another to win to improve to 4-0, getting some serious help from shortstop Willie Romero (.337/.378/.500) who has been a great addition to the club both for his glove (3.7 ZR) and his bat thus far in 1986.