BOW Breaks Even in Block 4

Bowling Green finally posted it's first non-losing block, managing a 13 - 13 record. That keeps the team at 12 games under .500.

What seems to be the problem here? Well, when four of your regulars are hitting under .220 (Jeter = .218 / Ludwick = .206 / K. Suzuki = .203 and Maybin + Burrell = .176) and your two main starting rotation pieces sport ERA over 5 (Arroyo = 5.11 / Sabathia = 6+), it is going to be tough to win!

On the bight side, Thome is clubbing HRs like nobody's business (25 in 170 AB) in limited action, but he also gets a lot of IBBs with little line-up protction after him.....and a lot of his HRs are solo shots. K. Johnson (.305 / 18 / 66 / 11 SB) has done his best to rebound from his miserable 2010 campaign, but his "4" glove at 2B is very, very trying at times. Jeter is playing flawless SS (no errors!), but his "3" glove is putting a LOT of runners on base. J. Lowrie (.280 / 11 / 32 in 143 AB) has been a weclomed bat, but B. Inge had been playing well enough at 3B (.270 ./ 10 / 30) to push Lowrie to the DH role vs. Lefties. With Ka'Aihue contining to stumble, M. Moreland made his TBA debut this past block and managed a .22 / 3 / 11 in limited action. Bright spots for next year would be Moreland and rebounds from Maybin and McLouth. First & Second-round draft picks D. Brown and K. Blanks are playing at the MLB level, but not performing very well.

Hunter / Hughes / Floyd have combined for a 20 - 17 record...not bad for a team under .500. With the exception of Feliz (5 - 1 / 1.81 / 20 SV), the bullpen is not good. Wakefield has done his best in long relief / mop-up role (3.68 / 2 - 3) and will probably be rewarded with a few starts in September. Duensing's MLB sucess in 2010 did not translate well to his Strat card, as he is 2 - 6 with a 4.94 ERA. E. Frieri is a bright spot for next season, as is D. Gee. The J. Carroll-for-R. Perry trade didn't turn-out so well for us. Perry is 2 - 5 with a 4.33 ERA, but is useful, as he leads the team in apparances (51). Maybe P. Hughes & T. Hunter can both stay healthy and right their seasons?

Prognosis: More losing than winning in the next 2 blocks.

Todd / BOW