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Joined: Mon Jul 11, 2011 11:14 am
Posts: 1242
Favorite Team: Rays
Console '07: Don't Own
Console '08: Nintendo Wii
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July, 2011 in reviewThe 'Cats had an amazing July, offensively and defensively, distancing themselves from the rest of the league while showing that they are a complete team with virtually no weaknesses RecordThe 'Cats went an amazing 21 and 4 in July, which is two wins better than the second best July record in baseball, held by the Chicago White Sox. In doing so, the 'Cats drove in 121 runs while surrendering only 67. Their 67 runs allowed was the best in baseball by far, as the second fewest runs allowed by a team in July was 90 by the Astros. During this impressive stretch, the 'Cats averaged 4.84 runs per game while only allowing 2.68 runs per game.
This leaves the 'Cats with an 83 and 24 season record – that's 83 wins with 55 games left to play! They have a seemingly insurmountable stranglehold on the AL West, in which they built up a 25 game lead over the second-place Athletics. They are 24 games ahead of the next best AL team – the Chicago White Sox, and their record is 19 games better than the national league leading Padres AwardsFor the All-Star game, no Bobcat position player will start. Suárez (322, 24 HR, 80 RBI) received the third most votes for third baseman, behind David Wright (350, 13 HR, 64 RBI) and Alex Rodriguez (301, 22 HR, 68 RBI), and Eric Byrnes (318, 18 HR, 71 RBI) was just beaten out of a starting outfield spot by Vernon Wells (297, 12 HR, 48 RBI), who received less than 200,000 more votes.
For the week ending July 10, Suárez was named AL MVP. He batted 462 with three homeruns and seven RBIs this week
For the month of July, the Bobcats swept the monthly awards. Suárez was named player of the month (344, 8 HR, 20 RBI), Franklin Morales was pitcher of the month (3W, 1.45 ERA, 26K), and Ruggiano was rookie of the month (346, 6 RBI) Highlights7/4/11: The 'Cats traveled to Yankee Stadium to visit the only team that has won a series against them. Franklin Morales started the game and pitched a four hit shutout. The 'Cats needed that effort from the mound because they only scored one run in the first inning although they loaded the bases with no out, and then added a second run a few innings later. Grindel and Suárez singled home a third and fourth run in the ninth. Final score: 4–0, Bobcats
7/10-11/11: The 'Cats overcame a rare shaky performance from Josh Beckett (surrendering three runs in the first inning and a fourth run in the sixth, when he was removed), using good clutch hitting and homeruns from Suárez and Grindel with runners on base, to defeat their division foe, Athletics, 9–5. In the very next game, Franklin Morales out-duels Bronson Arroyo, allowing just one run on six hits, as he throws a complete game and the Bobcats edge out the A's in a pitching duel, 3 – 1
7/16/11: on the first day of the All-Star break, the Bobcats added some depth at second base, where they currently only have two players with experience – their starting second baseman and their utility infielder who can play every infield spot. Newly-acquired Owen Burke (FEDDDD – two) is a career minor league player who figures to stay in the minors unless called up due to injury. The 27-year-old signed a one-year contract paying $1.5 million. Said the Bobcats "the price tag definitely seemed hefty, but Burke he gives us some depth at the only spot that was not at least 3-players-deep, and he can also play third and left field for us." An official who asked to remain anonymous noted that the team anticipates Burke re-signing with the team this off-season at a lower rate. All-Star game notesIn addition to some criticisms due to the two-time defending champions failing to have a player start on the AL team, and only having one representative (3B Suárez), particular criticism over the lack of Bobcats pitchers was issued anonymously by the team. "We will have the fewest runs scored and our pitchers have the lowest ERA's, but having no pitchers at all on the All-Star team? Not last year's Cy Young award winner, Jake Peavy? Not last year's saves leader Kevin Hart?" The Bobcats certainly do have a point, as all star closer Francisco Rodriguez made the team in spite of his 4.15 ERA and only having 16 saves, along with 8 losses, compared to Kevin Hart's league leading 38 saves and only two losses, with a 3.7 ERA
CC Sabathia took the mound for the AL against Felix Hernandez, representing the NL Although the AL put runners in scoring position in the first two innings, they failed to score, while the NL took a one run lead on a homerun by Andruw Jones. The AL broke through in the third when Vladimir Guerrero singled home Beltran, who doubled. Manny Ramirez followed with a two run homerun. Chipper Jones drove in an NL run in the sixth, but Francisco Liriano shut the NL down, giving way to Francisco Rodriguez in the ninth. Rodriguez gave the crowd a scare when he delivered a pitch to Albert Pujols that Pujols hit just inches foul before striking out. Final score: 3–2, AL
7/21/11: Despite averaging six runs per game in the six games preceding the All-Star break, the Bobcats offense got off to a horrible start after the All-Star break, allowing Tigers starter Ruggiano (93 EC CB – two) to throw a three-hit shutout through 8–1/3 innings of work. Bobcat starter Jake Peavy was equally effective, finally allowing Beltran to score in the 10th inning The Bobcats tied the game when Grendel hit a two out RBI triple (his second triple of the game) against Tigers closer Duaner Sanchez. The Bobcats reliever gave up a solo homerun to the MLB homerun leader Carlos Pena The Bobcats tied the game, again in similar fashion – Grindell tripled in the tying run This time, however, Obradovitch, brought in as a pinch runner earlier, came through with the game-winning RBI single. Final score: 3–2 (12), Bobcats Who's hotErdos's (DCCCEC) batting average rose up to almost 300, before tailing off to its current 286, but his 16 homeruns is impressive and he has a knack for coming up with a big hit at the right time.
In addition, Dawley (CDABBD), who leads the AL in hits, Suárez (CBBCCC), who is forth in the majors with 28 homeruns and tied for sixth in the majors with 92 RBIs, and Eric Byrnes (BBCCBC), who is tied for fifth in the majors with 31 doubles, have been extremely solid at the plate, while SS Grindell (DCCAAB), has been above average at the plate and excellent in the field.
The Bobcats have six players listed in the top 10 base-stealers this season, With rookie player Ruggiano leading the league with 39 stolen bases, followed by Dawley's 37. Suárez is tied for fourth with 29 stolen bases, while Grindel, Obradovich and Byrns are seventh (28), ninth (26), and tied for 10th (25), respectively.
The starting pitching staff has been excellent at keeping runs off the board, even though Jake Peavy and Josh Beckett are not as dominant as last season. Franklin Morales seems like a potential future Cy Young candidate if he can rack up enough innings, and Borkowski (95 EB 2SF – three, SL – three, CB – three,FO – two) is pitching like a potential number one starter.
Borkowski has the second lowest ERA in the majors (2.39), 0.01 percentage points behind the Pirates Felix Hernandez, while Jake Peavy is an impressive fifth (3.19) None of the Bobcats starters are on the leaderboard's for "wins," but Peavy is tied with three other pitchers for fourth place in the number of "quality starts" with 14. Borkowski is tied with two other pitchers for ninth place with 12 quality starts.
Kevin Hart (96 DE SL – four, CB – four, CH – three) leads the league with 40 saves – 15 more than the second-place Aaron Heilman, although he still does not seem to be quite as dominating as his last few seasons, as his five blown saves will attest
Kyle Kendrick, who signed a big contract this past off-season, has not pitched as well as his prior two years, but is second in the league with three complete games
Backup catcher Cunane (EDCDED) does not have the strong arm of the 'Cats starting catcher Onradovitch (DDCCCD), but he has hit his way into the starting lineup with a 407 average Picking up the "good catcher" ability didn't hurt! Who's notThe 'Cats continue to struggle with middle relief, although two of their middle relievers, Rosado (93 FC SL – two, SP – five, CCH – one, SK – three) and Chiasson (93 CU – four, CB – three, FO – five) pitched much better the second half of the month, leaving only Sears (94 FC SL – three, CB – four, SP – four) struggling with virtually every outing
None of the Bobcats hitters are on the leaderboard's for batting average
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