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ayaghmour2 · 06-03-2024, 08:31 PM

Weekly Record: 2-4
Overall Record: 6-7 (4 GB)

Donnie Bounces Back: After two rough Donnie Jones starts our co-ace quicky looked reinvigorated in what ended up being an all-around poor week. He at least finished the week off with a start resembling his 1950 spring, throwing 4 hitless innings with 2 walks and 5 strikeouts. This more then doubles his two strikeouts in his first six innings, where he allowed 9 hits, 7 runs, and 3 walks. We're now basically at a full start in the spring, as his three abbreviated outings have led to 10 innings with 9 hits, 7 runs, 5 walks, and 7 strikeouts. He's kept the ball in the park, so his 3.30 FIP (83 FIP-) is fat better then his 6.30 ERA (63 ERA+), but stats like that don't mean too much now. All I want from Donnie is health and innings, as whether he allowed six runs or none next time out, I have full faith that every game he pitches we have a legitimate chance of winning.

Super Sal Returns?: In 117 games last season Sal Pestilli hit just 6 home runs. In his 11th spring game he reached a third of that. Yes, spring games don't matter one bit, but it's nice seeing the 35-year-old hitting homers again, even if the results don't matter. An added bonus has been the .385/.407/.769 batting line and 226 WRC+, which looks like a stretch the 1938 Whitney Winner should be capable of doing a few times in the season. One of the biggest reasons we were so poor last season, Pestilli dealt with injury and made just 506 trips to the plate, coming after 661 and 683 in in his first two full seasons as a Cougar. Between the absences, the lack of power, and general inconsistency, he never quite got going, but what makes him so good is all the ways he impacts the game.

He's not necessarily a smart guy, but he's a smart player, and has one of the highest baseball IQs on the team. This shows up in the field, where he quickly adapted to right field (15.8, 1.076), and he effortlessly covered center (0.6, 1.020) when John Moss got hurt. Then there's the work he does on the bases, as he swiped 28 bases in just 37 attempts, which is very impressive in this day. Only former Cougar Joe Austin had more steals (29), but he was caught (16) almost twice as often, and among members of the top five in steals Sal had the best percentage. If we want any chance of competing, we'll need our star to be at his best, and another 20 home run season would help further our cause. That might be a lot to expect from the average leadoff hitter, but Sal is far from average. The power is legit and our stadium is one where you can hit a bunch out. Between him, Red Bond, and Leo Mitchell, we could have a trio of twenty home run hitters, which would do wonders for our declining run production.

06-03-2024, 08:31 PM	#1435
ayaghmour2 Hall Of Famer Join Date: Mar 2018 Posts: 3,010	Spring Training: Week 2 Weekly Record: 2-4 Overall Record: 6-7 (4 GB) Donnie Bounces Back: After two rough Donnie Jones starts our co-ace quicky looked reinvigorated in what ended up being an all-around poor week. He at least finished the week off with a start resembling his 1950 spring, throwing 4 hitless innings with 2 walks and 5 strikeouts. This more then doubles his two strikeouts in his first six innings, where he allowed 9 hits, 7 runs, and 3 walks. We're now basically at a full start in the spring, as his three abbreviated outings have led to 10 innings with 9 hits, 7 runs, 5 walks, and 7 strikeouts. He's kept the ball in the park, so his 3.30 FIP (83 FIP-) is fat better then his 6.30 ERA (63 ERA+), but stats like that don't mean too much now. All I want from Donnie is health and innings, as whether he allowed six runs or none next time out, I have full faith that every game he pitches we have a legitimate chance of winning. Super Sal Returns?: In 117 games last season Sal Pestilli hit just 6 home runs. In his 11th spring game he reached a third of that. Yes, spring games don't matter one bit, but it's nice seeing the 35-year-old hitting homers again, even if the results don't matter. An added bonus has been the .385/.407/.769 batting line and 226 WRC+, which looks like a stretch the 1938 Whitney Winner should be capable of doing a few times in the season. One of the biggest reasons we were so poor last season, Pestilli dealt with injury and made just 506 trips to the plate, coming after 661 and 683 in in his first two full seasons as a Cougar. Between the absences, the lack of power, and general inconsistency, he never quite got going, but what makes him so good is all the ways he impacts the game. He's not necessarily a smart guy, but he's a smart player, and has one of the highest baseball IQs on the team. This shows up in the field, where he quickly adapted to right field (15.8, 1.076), and he effortlessly covered center (0.6, 1.020) when John Moss got hurt. Then there's the work he does on the bases, as he swiped 28 bases in just 37 attempts, which is very impressive in this day. Only former Cougar Joe Austin had more steals (29), but he was caught (16) almost twice as often, and among members of the top five in steals Sal had the best percentage. If we want any chance of competing, we'll need our star to be at his best, and another 20 home run season would help further our cause. That might be a lot to expect from the average leadoff hitter, but Sal is far from average. The power is legit and our stadium is one where you can hit a bunch out. Between him, Red Bond, and Leo Mitchell, we could have a trio of twenty home run hitters, which would do wonders for our declining run production.