(AP) WASHINGTON--In what was the second big trade between the Washington
Sea Dogs and Medina Mustangs this season, Washington has acquired starting
pitcher Alex Fernandez from the Mustangs for starting pitcher Chad Ogea
and closer Ben Hamlin.
GM Aaron Weiner spoke candidly on Fernandez's arrival.
"Well, Alex hasn't had such a hot year so far," Weiner said, "but he's
always been an excellent starter in the past. We feel like we picked up
another staff ace with this move."
The deal is between a group of struggling stars. Ogea has been only
mildly effective, with a 4.41 ERA, while Ben Hamlin, despite leading the
DL in saves, has been very erratic. Fernandez also has struggled badly,
going 0-6 with a 5.30 ERA.
Weiner said that it wasn't the stats he was looking at.
"Alex Fernandez has always been one of the hard-luck pitchers of the
PVBL," Weiner said. "With the same Medina team, Fernandez went 8-18 last
year with a 3.69 ERA while Rick Helling went 14-13 with a 4.56 ERA."
Ogea has also been far from immaculate, with a 4.41 ERA so far. But
Weiner says that the original Sea Dog was just suffering through some hard
times.
"Chad Ogea is an excellent starter and a very classy guy," Weiner said,
"and we will miss him immensely. But sometimes, you just have to move
on."
Fernandez, one of the PVBL's best competitors and the all-time
leader in complete games, with 12, had reportedly been disgruntled
with Medina's rebuilding effort.
"It was hard to pitch not knowing whether support was coming," Fernandez
said. "But I tried to give my best effort every time out."
But by joining the Sea Dogs, Fernandez steps up from the 13th-best offense
in the Enterprise League to the fifth-best in the Defiant. He also goes
from the fourth-worst team in the PVBL to the fourth-best.
"It's a real thrill to play for a pennant-winner," Fernandez said. "GM
Weiner said that I would be very important in getting them back into the
playoffs again, and I like that kind of confidence."
Weiner said that at least until new manger Daniel Boyce was set to step
into his new job on Monday, Washington would remain in a four-man
rotation.
"We're thinking that Fernandez will pitch either the last game against
Calgary or the first game against Phoenix," Weiner said. "We're not that
concerned about throwing him up against the Gila Monsters, as we have a
lot of confidence in the man."
Washington defeated Phoenix in Phoenix two games to one in a three-game
set, and will face them for another four game set - three at home, and one
in Phoenix.
"We're looking forward to playing Phoenix again," Weiner said. "We don't
want them to get ahead of us, and we don't feel they will."
Washington entered Friday's games at 18-10, one game back of Phoenix, two
in the loss column.
