Well, things didn't start out the way Tucson had hoped this season.
After winning only 1 of their first six games, Tucson Owner/GM Scott
Watterson had become quite angry with his players. He benched Todd
Hollandsworth in favor of Garret Anderson after Hollandsworth hit only
.118 after the first 4 games. Anderson hasn't fared much better,
hitting only .154. The team has responded to the move, however, and
swept both ends of a double header today against defending pennant
winner Motor City.
Andy Benes pitched another gem today, 7.2 innings of scoreless
baseball, before leaving the game in the hands of newly annointed
closer Frank Allison. Allison closed the door for his first save,
despite allowing a hit and a walk. Benes has a 0.66 ERA after this
performance. He pitched well enough to win in his first game,
allowing only 1 run in 6 innings.
Andy Pettite and Jeff D'Amico have had disappointing starts to their
seasons. Pettite gave up 4 runs in each of his first 2 outings, and
Tucson lost both games. Neither loss was charged to Pettite, as the
Border Patrol bullpen allowed late runs in both games. Some have
questioned the decision to go with Ray Ovitz in a one run game with 2
closers warming in the pen. "That kind of thing can't keep happening.
We've got to make better use of our guys" said Watterson.
D'Amico has also pitched poorly in both of his outings. Jeff sports a
hefty 7.20 ERA, after giving up 4 runs in 5 innings both times on the
hill. In a potential bright spot, middle reliever Tom Magner has
pitched brilliantly thus far. He slammed the door in both his relief
appearances, and has a 1.29 ERA.
Most of Tucson's young hitters are struggling as well. The team as a
whole is hitting a paltry .230. "We know we're not playing the way we
should be" said right fielder Alex Ochoa. "We need to do better.
It's hard not to get down on yourself when you're hitting this way.
We look at Higginson, White, and Johnson, and see how they go about
things, though, and that helps a lot. Those guys, especially Rondell,
bring a lot of leadership to the clubhouse. Rondell played on a
division winner last year, and that kind of experience really helps a
team with as many young players as we have."
Another bright spot for the Border Patrol was the debut of Jaret
Wright. He pitched extremely well, showing poise beyond his years.
Despite a bad inning in the 4th, he pitched a great game, allowing
only 3 runs in 8.1 innings. Tucson management seems very high on the
young man, and with performances like this, it's easy to see why.
All in all, Tucson isn't expected to win this year. They don't really
have the kind of lineup that inspires fear in the opposition. None of
the hitters, with the exception of Higginson are the type that will
take you deep with great frequency. As their young players mature,
though, this could be the team to beat.
