The most telling trend of the Mavs' series loss against Modesto was how the last few innings played out. In the first game, the Mavs came back from a 4-1 deficit in the seventh to take a 5-4 lead on a grand slam by Mike Saunders. However, the Mavs gave the lead back in the eighth, as the Nuts went back on top 7-5. Then seemingly out of nowhere, the Mavs rallied for three in the bottom of the ninth to walk off with a 8-7 victory.
Things were much different over innings 7-9 in the latter two games of the series. The Nuts scored eight times over that span in each game, making once close games look like blowouts. Two-thirds of the way through, there was 4-4 game and 4-2 game that turned into 12-4 and 11-2 scores, respectively.
Most of the late inning struggles can be attributed to the bullpen. Over the last 15 games, the bullpen has an ERA above nine. The Mavs gave up a total of 21 runs in the last three innings in the Modesto series, and in the last 12 games the Mavs have played, they have been outscored 58-20 over the final third of the game.
I have no idea why this has started to happen. At the beginning of the half, the starting pitching was struggling. Now it's the bullpen. With such a young team, the Mavs have never really been able to play a complete game consistently. It's a problem I imagine frustrates the coaches and players alike. Maybe that's something this team can shoot to work on over the final part of the season.
After losing five of six at home, the Mavs will now head on the road for six. This weekend they'll take their final trip to Lake Elsinore, where they have not lost their last seven series. We'll see if that holds up because it sure will be a difficult task. Then it's on to Lancaster where things have not been pretty to say the least. These are two of the older teams in the league, and I'm interested to see how the Mavs play them consecutively.
I'm interested to see Nathan Adcock pitch tonight in his Maverick debut. Adcock got the nod up to high A over Kyle Parker, despite Parker having slightly better numbers and being a college draftee. But at this point of the season, why not challenge another 19-year-old? This team really has nothing to lose at this point.
That's all I got for now, I'll check back in a bit...
Friday, July 20, 2007
Saturday, July 14, 2007
Thoughts From Last Night
Even though I was not physically at last night's game in Bakersfield, I wanted to share some musings after the Mavs' 13-12 win over the Blaze.
No, it was not pretty. No, it should not have been as close as it was. But the Mavs were riding a five-game losing streak and had dropped four straight to the Blaze. They needed a win badly, and although that might not have been the way they drew it up, they got it.
The thing I liked most about the game was how the Mavs' bats woke up. The offense was lost for the previous five games, and that's a big part as to why the Mavs had their losing streak. There are three players I would like to give special notice to:
1) Andy Hargrove. Andy was mired in a 1-28 slump coming into last night, and had not recorded an RBI in 15 games as a Maverick (granted he didn't have too many chances). He picked a good night to knock in three, including his first homer with High Desert.
2) Eddy Hernandez. Eddy went 2-5 last night night with his second home run of the year. But more importantly, he didn't strike out in his five plate appearances. That's very encouraging for someone who had struck out in nearly half of his plate appearances prior to yesterday evening.
3) Travis Scott. The man just gets it done with people one base, and last night further evidenced that fact. Even though he only had one hit, it was a big bases clearing triple to regain the lead in the 7th. What's more impressive, is that was his second bases-clearing triple within one week. How many catchers can say they've done that?
Two of the players not included in my list were Mike Saunders and Johan Limonta. Why? Because neither were in the lineup (although both were inserted late in the ballgame...neither had a plate appearance). I feel since neither were in the lineup, it adds importance to the Mavs' 13-run outburst.
The final thing I like from last night was how the Mavs took advantage of Bakersfield's (read: Chris Davis') mistakes. I guess everything comes in fours for Davis. He had four hits, four RBI, and four errors. The errors directly led to two unearned runs in the second, and the Mavs scored a couple more times in innings Davis committed other errors.
That's the good...now on to the bad. Once again, we saw some more pitching troubles on the mound. For whatever reason, the Mavs just can't seem to take a lead and make it stick. They squandered an early 7-2 lead, and almost coughed up their three-run lead in the bottom of the ninth.
The bullpen tends to make things interesting, and we've seen the Mavs walk the tightrope too many times. But then again, a win is a win, and like I mentioned before, the Mavs really needed one. I don't think the coaching staff minds cracking open those bottles of Maalox as long as there's a W at the end.
After six on the road, the Mavs will come home for six. Three against a team they know very well, and three against a team they barely know at all. First up is Lake Elsinore, a team the Mavs have not lost a series to all year (one win, three splits). I have a feeling the Mavs take the series, but not without the accustomed late-inning theatrics. As for Modesto, it's hard to tell. These two teams haven't seen each other since the beginning of May, and that series was at John Thurman Field--the antithesis of Mavericks Stadium. Of course, there's also a lot of turnover on both sides since they last met, so the rosters look different. I guess you'll just have to check back here to see I feel going in against the Nuts.
No, it was not pretty. No, it should not have been as close as it was. But the Mavs were riding a five-game losing streak and had dropped four straight to the Blaze. They needed a win badly, and although that might not have been the way they drew it up, they got it.
The thing I liked most about the game was how the Mavs' bats woke up. The offense was lost for the previous five games, and that's a big part as to why the Mavs had their losing streak. There are three players I would like to give special notice to:
1) Andy Hargrove. Andy was mired in a 1-28 slump coming into last night, and had not recorded an RBI in 15 games as a Maverick (granted he didn't have too many chances). He picked a good night to knock in three, including his first homer with High Desert.
2) Eddy Hernandez. Eddy went 2-5 last night night with his second home run of the year. But more importantly, he didn't strike out in his five plate appearances. That's very encouraging for someone who had struck out in nearly half of his plate appearances prior to yesterday evening.
3) Travis Scott. The man just gets it done with people one base, and last night further evidenced that fact. Even though he only had one hit, it was a big bases clearing triple to regain the lead in the 7th. What's more impressive, is that was his second bases-clearing triple within one week. How many catchers can say they've done that?
Two of the players not included in my list were Mike Saunders and Johan Limonta. Why? Because neither were in the lineup (although both were inserted late in the ballgame...neither had a plate appearance). I feel since neither were in the lineup, it adds importance to the Mavs' 13-run outburst.
The final thing I like from last night was how the Mavs took advantage of Bakersfield's (read: Chris Davis') mistakes. I guess everything comes in fours for Davis. He had four hits, four RBI, and four errors. The errors directly led to two unearned runs in the second, and the Mavs scored a couple more times in innings Davis committed other errors.
That's the good...now on to the bad. Once again, we saw some more pitching troubles on the mound. For whatever reason, the Mavs just can't seem to take a lead and make it stick. They squandered an early 7-2 lead, and almost coughed up their three-run lead in the bottom of the ninth.
The bullpen tends to make things interesting, and we've seen the Mavs walk the tightrope too many times. But then again, a win is a win, and like I mentioned before, the Mavs really needed one. I don't think the coaching staff minds cracking open those bottles of Maalox as long as there's a W at the end.
After six on the road, the Mavs will come home for six. Three against a team they know very well, and three against a team they barely know at all. First up is Lake Elsinore, a team the Mavs have not lost a series to all year (one win, three splits). I have a feeling the Mavs take the series, but not without the accustomed late-inning theatrics. As for Modesto, it's hard to tell. These two teams haven't seen each other since the beginning of May, and that series was at John Thurman Field--the antithesis of Mavericks Stadium. Of course, there's also a lot of turnover on both sides since they last met, so the rosters look different. I guess you'll just have to check back here to see I feel going in against the Nuts.
Wednesday, July 11, 2007
The Blog Is Back!
Yes, yes, I know it's been a few months since a new post, but it's time to finish strong and get this puppy going again. The Mavs are coming off a sweep at the hands of the 66ers, but after a day off, they now head to Bakersfield for three games.
Around the last time we posted, we thought the Mavs had the potential to really turn it on in the second half. Even though they surged near the end of the first half, things have not gotten off to a great start after the break. Losing Casey Craig, Chris Colton, and Josh Womack reshaped the outfield as well as the lineup. Without Craig, Mike Saunders became the defacto leadoff hitter, and although Saunders has a great demeanor at the plate, he is still adjusting to hitting at the top of the order. Kevin Reynolds has filled in very nicely for Josh Womack, and Jeff Fraizer is a doubles machine.
Moving to the infield...if you haven't seen Carlos Triunfel play yet, make plans to come out to Adelanto as soon as possible to see this kid. And yes, we can use the term "kid" because he is only 17 years old. But when you seem him play, you can't help but be amazed. It's hard to believe how comfortable he looks up at the plate and in the field. He's got a cannon attached to his right shoulder, although there are some times he needs to learn how to harness it. I suppose it's hard to believe how any team would pay an 16-year-old $1.3 million, but he appears that he will be worth it.
But with Triunfel at short, it obviously bring up the question of where do you put everyone else. I think the logical move is to have Dominguez at second, but then where does Guzman go? Maybe he can be part of a three-way platoon with Jeff Flaig and Omar Pena, and use him a the DH when not in the field.
As for the pitching...I don't have much to say. You would think that things would be rough at first, with everyone eventually adjusting to the Cal League. But it seems to be inconsistent, and you never know what you're gonna get. We've seen pitchers throw seven shutout one night, only to not even make it out of the third inning next time. I only hope to see some more consistency before the season ends.
Well that's gonna do it for this post. I promise to write more fequently before the season concludes.
Around the last time we posted, we thought the Mavs had the potential to really turn it on in the second half. Even though they surged near the end of the first half, things have not gotten off to a great start after the break. Losing Casey Craig, Chris Colton, and Josh Womack reshaped the outfield as well as the lineup. Without Craig, Mike Saunders became the defacto leadoff hitter, and although Saunders has a great demeanor at the plate, he is still adjusting to hitting at the top of the order. Kevin Reynolds has filled in very nicely for Josh Womack, and Jeff Fraizer is a doubles machine.
Moving to the infield...if you haven't seen Carlos Triunfel play yet, make plans to come out to Adelanto as soon as possible to see this kid. And yes, we can use the term "kid" because he is only 17 years old. But when you seem him play, you can't help but be amazed. It's hard to believe how comfortable he looks up at the plate and in the field. He's got a cannon attached to his right shoulder, although there are some times he needs to learn how to harness it. I suppose it's hard to believe how any team would pay an 16-year-old $1.3 million, but he appears that he will be worth it.
But with Triunfel at short, it obviously bring up the question of where do you put everyone else. I think the logical move is to have Dominguez at second, but then where does Guzman go? Maybe he can be part of a three-way platoon with Jeff Flaig and Omar Pena, and use him a the DH when not in the field.
As for the pitching...I don't have much to say. You would think that things would be rough at first, with everyone eventually adjusting to the Cal League. But it seems to be inconsistent, and you never know what you're gonna get. We've seen pitchers throw seven shutout one night, only to not even make it out of the third inning next time. I only hope to see some more consistency before the season ends.
Well that's gonna do it for this post. I promise to write more fequently before the season concludes.
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