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ayaghmour2 · 05-31-2024, 07:47 PM

Weekly Record: 4-3
Overall Record: 4-3 (2 GB)

Slow Start for Aces: Donnie Jones didn't allow a single earned runs last spring. This year he's already allowed seven.

The Cannons chased him out after just 2 innings, allowing 5 hits, 5 runs, and 3 walks without a single strikeout. That might be the worst Donnie Jones outing since 1942, as he was still in offseason mode here. He was better in his second start, but he still allowed 4 hits and 2 runs with 2 strikeouts in his 4 innings. This has led to a surprisingly high 10.50 ERA, an unexpected sight even if the sample is quite small. Pete Papenfus didn't have much luck either, allowing 3 runs off 2 hits and 2 walks with 4 strikeouts in his 3 innings. That's not too bad, and the strikeout numbers are good, but it's shocking to see such high ERAs from guys who are not only extremely talented, but generally dominant spring starters.

Veteran Bats Start Hot: With a veteran team, there's always the risk of age catching up, but some of our older vets have quickly put those thoughts to rest. Leo Mitchell (5-13, 2B, 2 R, BB), Sal Pestilli (6-14, HR, 5 RBI, R, SB), Billy Hunter (5-12, 2 2B, 4 RBI, 2 R), Skipper Schneider (3-11, 2B, HR, 2 RBI, R, BB, SB), Chubby Hall (5-10, HR, 3 RBI, R, BB), and Red Bond (3-7, 2B, 2 RBI, BB) all had weekly WRC+ above 150 on the week. Same goes for a few of last year's waiver claims, as Frank Davis (3-10, 2B, 3 RBI, 2 R, 3 BB, SB) and Billy Brown (4-7, 2B, 2 HR, 2 RBI, 2 R) have gotten off to excellent starts. Both are on the fringes of the roster, and since there are only so many at bats in the spring, a hot week like this could make even five mediocre weeks end up looking good. There's a lot of competition on the bench, but these starts could protect them from some of the out of options options.

Allen Turning Eyes: The game generated a nice article about our young pitcher Bob Allen. The "Friends and Foe Alike Rave About Allen" one:

Name: Allen.png
Views: 155
Size: 109.9 KB

Name: Allen.png
Views: 155
Size: 109.9 KB

It's encouraging to see a Whitney winner like Sal speak so highly of Allen, who will make a spring start this week in place of Joe Quade (3.2 IP, 3 H, 3 ER, BB, K), who got the first turn in the six spot. Allen made two pen appearances, one good (2 IP, BB) and one not-so-good (2 IP, 3 H, 3 ER, BB, K), and he'll like to rebound a bit after a tough winter. After a solid start, he ended 5-7 with a 5.57 ERA (89 ERA+), 1.60 WHIP, 47 walks, and 53 strikeouts in 72.2 innings. Ticketed for Little Rock, he had a chance to force himself up a level, but that seems unlikely barring an elite spring. This next start may be his only one of the spring, we have plenty of guys I'd like to see start, but even with the praise from his teammate, Cougar fans will have to temper their expectations on seeing the future ace. No need to rush it!

05-31-2024, 07:47 PM	#1434
ayaghmour2 Hall Of Famer Join Date: Mar 2018 Posts: 3,011	Spring Training: Week 1 Weekly Record: 4-3 Overall Record: 4-3 (2 GB) Slow Start for Aces: Donnie Jones didn't allow a single earned runs last spring. This year he's already allowed seven. The Cannons chased him out after just 2 innings, allowing 5 hits, 5 runs, and 3 walks without a single strikeout. That might be the worst Donnie Jones outing since 1942, as he was still in offseason mode here. He was better in his second start, but he still allowed 4 hits and 2 runs with 2 strikeouts in his 4 innings. This has led to a surprisingly high 10.50 ERA, an unexpected sight even if the sample is quite small. Pete Papenfus didn't have much luck either, allowing 3 runs off 2 hits and 2 walks with 4 strikeouts in his 3 innings. That's not too bad, and the strikeout numbers are good, but it's shocking to see such high ERAs from guys who are not only extremely talented, but generally dominant spring starters. Veteran Bats Start Hot: With a veteran team, there's always the risk of age catching up, but some of our older vets have quickly put those thoughts to rest. Leo Mitchell (5-13, 2B, 2 R, BB), Sal Pestilli (6-14, HR, 5 RBI, R, SB), Billy Hunter (5-12, 2 2B, 4 RBI, 2 R), Skipper Schneider (3-11, 2B, HR, 2 RBI, R, BB, SB), Chubby Hall (5-10, HR, 3 RBI, R, BB), and Red Bond (3-7, 2B, 2 RBI, BB) all had weekly WRC+ above 150 on the week. Same goes for a few of last year's waiver claims, as Frank Davis (3-10, 2B, 3 RBI, 2 R, 3 BB, SB) and Billy Brown (4-7, 2B, 2 HR, 2 RBI, 2 R) have gotten off to excellent starts. Both are on the fringes of the roster, and since there are only so many at bats in the spring, a hot week like this could make even five mediocre weeks end up looking good. There's a lot of competition on the bench, but these starts could protect them from some of the out of options options. Allen Turning Eyes: The game generated a nice article about our young pitcher Bob Allen. The "Friends and Foe Alike Rave About Allen" one: It's encouraging to see a Whitney winner like Sal speak so highly of Allen, who will make a spring start this week in place of Joe Quade (3.2 IP, 3 H, 3 ER, BB, K), who got the first turn in the six spot. Allen made two pen appearances, one good (2 IP, BB) and one not-so-good (2 IP, 3 H, 3 ER, BB, K), and he'll like to rebound a bit after a tough winter. After a solid start, he ended 5-7 with a 5.57 ERA (89 ERA+), 1.60 WHIP, 47 walks, and 53 strikeouts in 72.2 innings. Ticketed for Little Rock, he had a chance to force himself up a level, but that seems unlikely barring an elite spring. This next start may be his only one of the spring, we have plenty of guys I'd like to see start, but even with the praise from his teammate, Cougar fans will have to temper their expectations on seeing the future ace. No need to rush it!