[ayaghmour2]

CF Frank Reece (#57 Overall)
Acquired: Via Draft: 2nd Round, 20th Overall (1946)
AA: .285/.346/.460 (113 OPS+), 615 PA, 33 2B, 11 3B, 14 HR, 65 RBI, 25 SB
CWL: .222/.462/.667 (161 OPS+), 13 PA, 2B, HR, 2 RBI, SB

Don't let that low batting average fool you. Frank Reece has been one of our most productive hitters in the Opening Week. Part of that is due to the Crocs lack of overall success, just 1-2, but Reece found himself on base early and often during the week. He homered in the 8-6 loss where Bob Allen was tagged for 6 hits, 5 runs, and 3 walks in 4.2 innings, and reached base four times in the Crocs 11-7 win over the Manzanillo Palms. Reece was 1-for-3 with a double and run scored, and he drew three walks and swiped a base for good measure. In his 13 trips to the plate he has four walks and two extra base hits, and he's struck out just once as Cienfuegos' every day left fielder. Of the three great outfielders we sent to Cuba, he's the closest to making his debut, and if he continues to hit well here and in the spring, it may be worth slotting him in the Blues outfield to allow Charlie Harvey to join Henry Norman and Jerry Smith in Little Rock.

RHP Ernie Tisdale (#84 Overall)
Acquired: Via Draft: 2nd Round, 20th Overall (1950)
B: 6-2, 76 IP, 3.32 ERA (133 ERA+), 1.36 WHIP, 40 BB, 55 K
CWL: Missing (typed wrong numbers and can't go back)

Hey, would you look at that? Ernie Tisdale and Frank Reece were taken with the same pick in the draft! I promise I didn't plan that!

I'll admit, I was a little sad when I saw Big E listed in the Crocs pen instead of the rotation, but if they keep using him like they did this week I'm completely okay with it. Tisdale threw two innings in each of his two outings, though he was much better in the loss then the win. There he threw two shutout innings, while in the win he allowed 4 hits, 2 runs, and a walk, though he did strike out two. With only three or four games a week, 4 innings a week isn't too bad, and he's already well past Ben Clough's "stint" in Cuba where he did a lot of clapping and cheering and not a lot of ball throwing. Tisdale is young and straight out of the draft, so he might not even be ready for long outings against quality hitters. Don't get me wrong, I think Tisdale's stuff is good and he's not your average college pitcher, but if the choice is between him and Jim Williams getting the fourth spot in the rotation, I much rather see what our lower upside shutout machine can do, opposed to our hopefully future middle-of-the-rotation 6'4' righty.