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A slight glitch in the lineups, no doubt due to the volume of e-mail commissioner Matthew Peck has received this past week, saw LHP Chris Haney starting today. LHP Jack Broskie, acquired in one of two trades made last weekend, was scheduled to start but was mistakenly placed in the bullpen in a setup role, not exactly the ideal place for a left-handed pitcher with a 60+ EN rating. Haney was to be banished to a long-relief role after failing to perform as expected in his first six starts this year.
Someone is smiling on Chris Haney today. He came out and showed GM John Dybala why Dybala kept him off the trading block that not even pitching sensation Andy Benes was safe from. He pitched 8 shutout innings and gave up just five hits while striking out 3, and earned just his second win this season as the new-look Larimer Knights coasted to a 10-0 win. New free-agent signing Miguel Friantague went 1-4 with 2 RBIs in his debut and was solid defensively. Manager Don Baylor commented, "I don't know where this kid came from, but I like what I've seen so far." Word is that even as the game was in progress, Dybala was receiving inquiries from other teams about the young shortstop.
The two other new arrivals who played today were Brian Giles, who went 1-2 and drew two walks, and Todd Benzinger, who went 1-5 with a run scored. He wasn't supposed to be in this lineup either, but came through, the 11 men left on base with Benzinger batting cleanup notwithstanding.
Friantague demonstrated his sense of humor to the press corps, quoting Chico Escuela of Saturday Night Live fame in his post-game interview: "Bay-se-ball been veddy veddy good to me. No, seriously, I am very happy to be here and I look forward to being here for a while. This team is destined to go places this season, and I want to be part of it."
Less willing to offer commentary on today's game was Bill Mueller. If Miguel Friantague continues to perform, Mueller's tenure in Laporte could be over when Jeff Branson returns from the DL.
In other news today, both pitcher Jose Lima and shortstop Pokey Reese were deemed healthy and ready to return from the DL today. Lima is expected to be activated immediately, while Reese will take an extended rehab assignment with the AAA Morgan Kings while Friantague sees some playing time. There was no immediate word on who would be returned to the AAA roster to make room for Lima.
After the game, there was a moment of silence in the locker room for pitcher Doug Million. The 1994 first-round draft choice of the MLB Colorado Rockies died early this morning at the age of 21 following an asthma attack.
Written by John Dybala