The Scrapperbook: 6/29/2012-7/5/2012

Where We Stand in Week Three:

Overall Record: 10-8 (6-1 this week), Third place, 2.5 games behind Auburn.

Week Three Games:

29 vs. State College, W 3-2 (WP: J. Lee; LP: J. Cooper)
30 vs. State College, W 3-1 (WP: L. DeJesus; LP: J. Burnette; SV: E. Tejada)
1 @ Williamsport, W 9-1 (WP: R. Merritt; LP: J. Musser)
2 @ Williamsport, W 12-6 (WP: J. Martin; LP: D. Perez; SV: L. Head)
3 @ Williamsport, W 3-1 (WP: J. Lee; LP: S. Inch; SV: E. Tejada)
4 vs. Aberdeen, L 1-3 (WP: K. Wise; LP: J. Wagoner; SV: J. Nivar)
5 vs. Aberdeen, W 11-4 (WP: L. DeJesus; LP: C. Coffey)

The Transactions:

06/29/2012: Louis Head assigned to Mahoning Valley Scrappers from Lake County Captains.
07/01/2012: Felix Sterling assigned to Lake County Captains from Mahoning Valley Scrappers.

The Good:

2B Joseph Wendle is off to a fantastic start, hitting .370, with four doubles, a triple, nine runs batted in, and a stolen base. He also has an impressive line of .444 OBP/.500 SLG/.944 OPS. The Indians have a ton of depth in the middle infield, especially at the lower levels in Lake County and Carolina, so there's a high probabilty Wendle will spend most of the season at Mahoning Valley, but he's already shown he'll be an offensive force all season long.

LHP Ryan Merritt is also off to a good start (no pun intended). In his first start of the year, he was roughed up a bit, but in his two starts since then, he's 2-0, pitching 11 innings total, collecting a 0.82 ERA. In those 11 innings, he allowed 12 hits and 1 earned run, while walking 2 and striking out 7. 

RHP Luis DeJesus has also been pitching well since being demoted from Lake County. He made two starts this week, going 2-0, pitching 11 innings total. Since being demoted from Lake County, he has a 0.82 ERA and opposing hitters have a .195 average against him.

The Bad:

Despite the offensive explosion the Scrappers experienced this week, they're still hitting a collective .245 as a team. Wendle, Naquin, and Valerio have been solid, but aside from that, they need more production elsewhere in the lineup. 

RHP Robbie Aviles has been a bit of a disappointment to start the year. In three starts, he's 0-1 with a 5.93 ERA. He's only walked three batters in that stretch, but he's only struck out five as well. Opposing hitters have a .302 average against him and he's been very hittable. 

Looking Ahead:

6 vs. Aberdeen, 7:05 PM
7 vs. Connecticut, 7:05 PM
8 vs. Connecticut, 5:05 PM
9 vs. Connecticut, 7:05 PM
11 @ Lowell, 7:05 PM
12 @ Lowell, 7:05 PM