Time is running very short for the Punxatawney Groundhogs. They have played
138 games and have only 24 left to play. For the first time ever, their
chances of making the playoffs look slim. While they have gained a few
games recently, they still trail Phoenix by 4.5 games in the wildcard race
and Houston by 5.5 in the division.
However, the team is currentlly in its most crucial series of the year to
date, facing off against Houston for three games. The series opened
yesterday, as the two teams met at sundown in The Inferno. Sean Bergman,
the ace of the Hogs' staff this year, faced off against Mariano Rivera.
Punxatawney came out firing in this game, scoring 5 runs through the top of
the 4th before Houston scored even once. But the Hellraisers came right
back, closing the gap to 5-4 by the end of the 5th.
"At first I thought we had a blowout, but I was biting my nails after the
5th," said Hogs manager Dan Shapiro. "Before we went up in the seventh, I
called the team together to remind them how crucial it was that we won every
game."
The Groundhogs responded, satisfying their coach by scoring 5 times in the
6th off reliever John Ericks. This lead was never challenged, as Punxtawney
notched 3 more in the 8th before Jim Burright allowed 2 runs in the bottom
of the inning. Your final score? 13-6, Punxatawney.
"It was amazing," said Bergman. "I didn't even throw that well, but these
guys played amazingly well. They couldn't get a pitch past us."
Surprisingly, the least offensive production came from the supposed RBI
positions in the order. 4th hitter Ryan Klesko was 1-6 and 5th hitter Scott
Rolen was 1-5. Neither had an RBI or run. Just about everyone else did.
The middle infield led the offense once again, as Batista and Valentin
combined to go 8-11 with 4 runs and 6 RBI. Valentin also hit 2 homeruns and
stole a base. RF Alex Ochoa had a great day out of the 9th spot, homering
twice while going 3-4 with 2 runs and 5 RBI. Dan Wilson continued his
strong season, hitting a homer in a 2-5 effort.
Bergman took the win, his 13th, while Rivera got only his 5th loss. Tim
Worrell recorded a hold with 2 scoreless innings of relief and Dustin
Hermanson threw the final 1 2/3 innings, allowing just 1 hit.
In the next two games of this crucial series, the Hogs will turn to recent
acquisition Masato Yoshii and the hottest pitcher on the team, Bobby Thomas.
Houston has ex-Hog Cal Eldred and Tom Glavine scheduled.
A comparison of the pitchers:
Yoshii (7-13, 3.50, .255 opposing average) vs.
Eldred (11-10, 3.67, .267 opposing average)
On paper, it looks like the first game should be close and the Hogs should
take the second, but Glavine is known to surprise. He has not pitched will
this season, but could return to his dominant past form at any time.
STATS 'N STUFF
As the season winds down, Punxatawney has a very solid offense to show off
for the fans. While there is no real standout like Ryan Klesko's 50 HR, 150
RBI season in 1997, this team is truly a balanced and hardworking club.
Here is a position by position summary:
C Dan Wilson--After struggling for his first two seasons in the league,
Wilson turned his game around this year and began ripping up the offensive
charts after an early season slump. Unfortunately, just as he was starting
to pound the ball, an injury hobbled him and he missed a month and a half.
Upon his return, he picked up where he left off. For the season, Wilson is
hitting .288 with 17 homers in 101 games. This has raised his career
average from a pitiful score in the .220's to .245.
1B Jason Giambi--Giambi has never returned to the form he displayed in '97,
and while he is the weak link in the offense, he has been a solid producer
this season. After DH'ing the last few years, Giambi has played solid
defense first base, not making an error. His average is .264 and he has
only 12 homeruns in 111 games. He is right on his career average however,
as that is now .265. Giambi has 63 homeruns and 221 RBI for his career.
2B Tony Batista--Still a youngster, everyone in Punxatawney had been waiting
for Batista's breakout year. This was certainly it. While Batista had a
very solid '98, in '99 he combined power, average, and speed. Batista leads
the team with a .316 average and 100 runs. He needs only 10 more hits for
200. Batista also leads with 48 doubles, but his 5 triples are 1 behind
Dave Martinez. Tony also hit 21 longballs and drove in 70 runs. He stole
22 bases, leading the team with 109 runs created. Not only that, but he has
yet to make an error. His career numbers are equally impressive--.295
average, 130 doubles, 6 triples, 54 homers, 73 steals, and 263 runs created.
SS Jose Valentin--Just another year for the '97 MVP. Valentin is hitting an
impressive .296 with 90 runs, 47 doubles, 2 triples, and a team-leading 27
homeruns. He also leads with 99 RBI and a .529 slugging percentage.
Valentin has truly killed lefty pitching, hitting .395 against southpaws.
His defense, while not worthy of a gold glove, has been very solid.
Valentin has made 16 errors for a .977 fielding percentage. Valentin has
some of the best career numbers on the team. A .302 average, 121 doubles, 4
triples, 83 homeruns, 260 RBI, 313 runs created, and 57 stolen bases.
3B--Scott Rolen. Rolen had an amazing rookie year in '97 but went into a
sophomore slump in '98. He has returned full force in '99. Rolen has moved
into the 5th spot in the order, hitting .282 with 38 doubles, 21 homers, and
64 RBI. He has stolen 6 bases--not bad for a 3B--and has made only 9 errors
at the hot corner. Rolen, for his career, is batting .273 with 74 homers
and 263 runs created.
LF Ryan Klesko--He's never been quite the player he was in 1997, but has
shown signs of returning there this year. He missed 31 games due to injury,
but still is hitting .283 with 30 doubles, 22 homeruns, and 63 RBI. He has
also played fine as a defensive leftfielder, not having made an error to
date. His .357 OBP leads the team. Klesko is, of course, one of the top
players in franchise history. He has missed almost 50 games due to injury,
but is hitting .300 with 100 doubles, 108 homeruns, 315 RBI, 334 runs
created, and even 23 stolen bases over the last three seasons.
CF Dave Martinez--Acquired to replace Rondell White after the '97 season,
Martinez has not been a disappoitment. He his having another strong
campaign, hitting .286 with 41 doubles, 6 triples, 25 homers, and 30 steals
even while he missed 23 games due to injury. He has the best slugging
percentage on the team at .543. Martinez has always been a great hitter
wherever he has played. A .291 career average combined with 114 doubles, 17
triples, 56 homeruns, and 88 steals make him an ideal hitter at the top of
any order.
RF Alex Ochoa--The most recent offensive acquisition of the Hogs, this young
outfielder has proved his worth. Ochoa has played in 131 games this year,
batting .267 with 27 doubles, a triple, 21 homeruns, 61 RBI, and 29 steals.
He has struggled against lefties, hitting only .243. Ochoa's career numbers
are constantly improving. He's batting .265 with 74 doubles, a triple, and
39 homers over his first three seasons. He has also stolen 59 bases.
DH Geronimo Berroa--Acquired to provide another big bat in the middle of the
order, Berroa has shown his abilities all year. He is hitting .269 with 20
doubles and 23 homers while driving in 73 runs. These numbers are way down
from his career stats, however. Berroa is a career .306 hitting with 63
doubles, 102 homeruns, and 290 RBI.
Utility Roberto Kelly--An unfortunate man without a job. Kelly has been a
vital part of the team, replacing Klesko and Martinez when injured, but has
lost his starting job to upstart Ochoa. Kelly has played in 100 games,
battign .281 with 32 doubles, 12 homers, and 8 steals. He has been a vital
part of the Hogs' family for 3 years now, sporting a .288 career average
with 93 doubles, 50 homers, 171 RBI, and 22 steals.
Utility John Cangelosi--The ultimate late inning replacement has been little
used this year. Cangelosi is batting an astounding .396 with 9 doubles and
a homerun, but has only played in 18 games. He stolen 11 bases in that
short time.
