Waahoo Warrior Report

It is a good time to let the fans know what is on the minds of the their favorite team from management. It hasn't been a fun ride so far early in the season to say the least. So this is a report on happenings and things that has happened.

Early Season Trades

We traded with Houston for Matt Pierce. We were originally going to target Everett Hill but we think Matt is a better fit for us in CF. In a way we gave a lot to get him, big contract and Dean Boone with Lance Barnes and Johnny Brown. We had actually slotted Boone as a starter once the first bump occurred at AAA. The trade was simple in our minds, as Matt is a more mature player and will be around for quite a while in an Injun uniform. Boone was a lefty, which we are not very high on in Cleveland, he could be great and then again maybe not. We were not very impressed with either Brown or Barnes.

Mendy Hughes for Albert Valenzuela was a blessing in disguise for both franchises. It was hoped Mendy could play the role of closer which may or may not happen, it is the lefty thing, but is very solid in the pen. We know Albert is taking advantage of being a starting catcher in Vancouver as we tried to make him a backup which was wrong.

B.C. Bennett and Antonio Tanaka for Jesus Rivera and Clyde Buck. We had no room on the ML roster for Bennett and we liked what Rivera had to offer. Tanaka was the real prize for Washington maybe, and getting rid of Buck. Rivera got in our "Outback Teepee" early with his bumbling play at SS causing 3 errors in one inning losing us a game. It gave Washington more power and defense at the 1B position than they had before. Finding the right niche for Rivera has been interesting but we came up with the solution. Buck, well he will ride in AAA with his meager contract, never know he just might come in handy at some point in time.

The season so far.

We opened in New York with the Mets. We haven't a clue why we can't win there, but it has been a thorn in our side every year. The pitching was good, the offense was asleep. Starting the season 1-3 was not in our plans.

On to Philly where we thought about moving to ourselves but decided against it, shhhh don't let the fans know that. Winning two of three was a great come back after the disastrous 1st series.

Home at last and facing Arizona. A good way to open the season at home. Losing the first two games by 1-run wasn't our idea of fun. First the Rivera fiasco, then a pitchers duel. Where is the offense we hoped for? We won the third game rather handily.

A tweak here and a tweak there and we are ready for the Braves. The first game of the series looked like the tweaks had an adverse effect losing 9-1, but Atlanta doesn't want to come back anytime soon after the next two games were over.

Off to Florida, oh no, they are hot. Winning two of three there probably didn't sit well with them at all.

Off to Salem from there and another somewhat hot team. Winning two of three there put our minds at ease a little as we shut down their offense.

Home again, about time. Oh shit!, the Pirates!. Things are never easy, luckily it is their only trip to the Lake Front this season as we would rather play them in their confines. We won the first of the four game set, then two rather close loses had our hopes up for a split but that didn't happen.

We welcomed the Brewers in for a three game set. Winning the first two but dropping the last one was a heart breaker. Where was the offense?

Now the Rangers are in our visitors club house. What will happen with this three game series is anyones guess.

Defense

The defense is great, take out the pitchers mistakes and the Rivera bumbling antics and the 12 errors dissolve into 8. We lead the league in Plus Plays with 27 and have not committed a minus play.

Offense

The offense is not in sync what so ever. Bart Ross is in a huge slump. Giovanni Jackson is showing signs of coming out of his. Matt Pierce has been lackluster at the plate also and shows no signs of beating the slump. Pascual Berroa has been utterly awesome in the lead off spot. He is also tied with the team lead in HRs with 5 surprisingly. Trace Wallace also has 5 HRs and was actually penciled in as a backup when the season started. With Deivi Silva not being able to hit an exercise ball with a bat, we moved him to the bench and inserted Wallace at 1B. We know what the problem with Silva is, but playing time may become an issue til next season.

Pitching

Pitching has actually been more bad luck than bad. Jose Crespo went on the DL in his first outing from the pen but has settled down after returning. Anthony Riley was better last year as a starter than in the pen. His starts this year haven't been great so it is back to the pen for further evaluation. Mendy Hughes was brought in to be the closer and although he did an admirable job in the slot, the pitching staff thinks he would be better used elsewhere and so far they are right. With that move, Boomer Thomson becomes the closer. Pablo Castro was brought in to shore up the pen but didn't like that notion and replaced Pedro Roque in the starting rotation. Pedro has gone on to replace Riley in the rotation for now.

Things to do better.

0-6 in 1-run games is our problem, once that is solved look out.

Minors Watch

While Crespo was on the DL, Manny Wagner was called up from AAA. He did a splendid job and could be an option later in the season.

Felix Higashioka has been hitting and fielding well at AA.

Low A has taken some heavy damage from the DL as two starters are lost and has taken a toll on the pen.