Saltdogs notebook, 5/16
Who are these guys?
The Saltdogs retained just three position players from last year and just five pitchers from the end of last season.
The new roster includes veterans Felix Jose, a former National League All-Star with St. Louis, Eduardo Rios, a long-time star in the Mexican League and Lincoln Pius X graduate Corey Harrington, who played much of last season in Lincoln.
Starting slow
A couple of problems surfaced early when Harrington, a second baseman, was sidelined by a kidney stone. Treatment is undetermined at this point. Ross McCoy, the third returning player from last year’s team, started the season in right field. But he has been slowed by a hamstring problem. Finally, problem No. 1 has been the team’s earned run average near seven a game.
Who’s on first? Second? Third? Anywhere else?
The “everything must go,” firesale of the Saltdogs, who churned out more wins, more runs and the best pitching in the regular season of the first two seasons of the American Association, cleaned out the roster.
Dustin Yount has taken over at first base and is hitting .310. Harrington was at second, but Eduardo Rios, who was slated as a designated hitter, is in his place and brings a .345 batting average to the lineup.
Anthony Contreras is hitting better than .400 and making the spectacular seem routine at shortstop. Ben Tinius is just finding his hitting stroke and has been nearly flawless in the field at third.
Catcher Joe Dempsey played in 17 games at the end of the season in Lincoln last year.
Lincoln’s three starting outfielders — Jonny Kaplan in center, Ross McCoy in right and Luis Perez in left — have more speed than the Saltdogs have had in recent years.
McCoy has been hurt and Shawn McGill is filling in right now. Kaplan has been to Lincoln before, when he played with Sioux Falls in 2005 and ’06, and has already stolen three bases. Perez has some power and is solid in the field.
Pitching has been a problem early in the season. The Saltdogs have given up almost five walks and nine hits per game.
But there are signs of hope. Brian Campbell showed much improvement in his second start in a victory over Fort Worth. Jarrett Gardner was shelled in his opener but was solid in the past. R.D. Spiehs, a former Husker, has been very strong, Ryan Trytten is a championship pitcher and Zac Cline has plenty of potential.
Relief pitchers Jason Jarvis, Vince Davis, Michael Storey, Daryl Arreola, Johnny Thompson, Josh Kauten and Amad Stephens should provide plenty of strength from the bullpen. So far, Stephens, Jarvis and Storey have been strong.
Tim Johnson is the manager for the sixth season and has a record of 265-210 with two first-half division titles and one second-half title in the last two years. Jim Haller, was a part-time pitching coach and is now full time in that position and former Cub and Royal Pete Lacock is the hitting coach this year. Mike Workman is in his sixth season as first base coach.
Quick hits
* The American Association is divided into two divisions. Lincoln is in the Northern Division with St. Paul (Saints), Minn.; Sioux City (Explorers), Iowa; Wichita (Wingnuts), Kan., (a new team replacing St. Joseph, Mo.); and Sioux Falls (Canaries), S.D. The Southern Division includes: Fort Worth (Cats), Texas, Pensacola (Pelicans), Fla.; Shreveport (Sports), La.; El Paso (Diablos), Texas; and Grand Prairie (Airhogs), Texas.
* The season is divided into two 48-game halves. The division winner of each half a season advances to the postseason.
* Teams are limited to 22 players. There is a salary cap of $100,000 per team per season, so the average player earns between $1,200 and $1,300 a month. The highest paid players, veterans (a player with five or more years of play) can earn as more than $5,000 a month, and a rookie usually earns about $880 a month. Teams are limited to four veterans, and must have five rookies.
The Saltdogs retained just three position players from last year and just five pitchers from the end of last season.
The new roster includes veterans Felix Jose, a former National League All-Star with St. Louis, Eduardo Rios, a long-time star in the Mexican League and Lincoln Pius X graduate Corey Harrington, who played much of last season in Lincoln.
Starting slow
A couple of problems surfaced early when Harrington, a second baseman, was sidelined by a kidney stone. Treatment is undetermined at this point. Ross McCoy, the third returning player from last year’s team, started the season in right field. But he has been slowed by a hamstring problem. Finally, problem No. 1 has been the team’s earned run average near seven a game.
Who’s on first? Second? Third? Anywhere else?
The “everything must go,” firesale of the Saltdogs, who churned out more wins, more runs and the best pitching in the regular season of the first two seasons of the American Association, cleaned out the roster.
Dustin Yount has taken over at first base and is hitting .310. Harrington was at second, but Eduardo Rios, who was slated as a designated hitter, is in his place and brings a .345 batting average to the lineup.
Anthony Contreras is hitting better than .400 and making the spectacular seem routine at shortstop. Ben Tinius is just finding his hitting stroke and has been nearly flawless in the field at third.
Catcher Joe Dempsey played in 17 games at the end of the season in Lincoln last year.
Lincoln’s three starting outfielders — Jonny Kaplan in center, Ross McCoy in right and Luis Perez in left — have more speed than the Saltdogs have had in recent years.
McCoy has been hurt and Shawn McGill is filling in right now. Kaplan has been to Lincoln before, when he played with Sioux Falls in 2005 and ’06, and has already stolen three bases. Perez has some power and is solid in the field.
Pitching has been a problem early in the season. The Saltdogs have given up almost five walks and nine hits per game.
But there are signs of hope. Brian Campbell showed much improvement in his second start in a victory over Fort Worth. Jarrett Gardner was shelled in his opener but was solid in the past. R.D. Spiehs, a former Husker, has been very strong, Ryan Trytten is a championship pitcher and Zac Cline has plenty of potential.
Relief pitchers Jason Jarvis, Vince Davis, Michael Storey, Daryl Arreola, Johnny Thompson, Josh Kauten and Amad Stephens should provide plenty of strength from the bullpen. So far, Stephens, Jarvis and Storey have been strong.
Tim Johnson is the manager for the sixth season and has a record of 265-210 with two first-half division titles and one second-half title in the last two years. Jim Haller, was a part-time pitching coach and is now full time in that position and former Cub and Royal Pete Lacock is the hitting coach this year. Mike Workman is in his sixth season as first base coach.
Quick hits
* The American Association is divided into two divisions. Lincoln is in the Northern Division with St. Paul (Saints), Minn.; Sioux City (Explorers), Iowa; Wichita (Wingnuts), Kan., (a new team replacing St. Joseph, Mo.); and Sioux Falls (Canaries), S.D. The Southern Division includes: Fort Worth (Cats), Texas, Pensacola (Pelicans), Fla.; Shreveport (Sports), La.; El Paso (Diablos), Texas; and Grand Prairie (Airhogs), Texas.
* The season is divided into two 48-game halves. The division winner of each half a season advances to the postseason.
* Teams are limited to 22 players. There is a salary cap of $100,000 per team per season, so the average player earns between $1,200 and $1,300 a month. The highest paid players, veterans (a player with five or more years of play) can earn as more than $5,000 a month, and a rookie usually earns about $880 a month. Teams are limited to four veterans, and must have five rookies.
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