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Around the Bases: Week 4
Rockets and Doggs collide, both hot
By Listen DePleyohs / Baseball Tri-Weekly
A couple of weeks into the season, and two years after they entered the league, Winston-Salem team officials made a starling discovery. Early in the construction of JRM Stadium, blueprints called for the right field line to be 345 feet from home plate.
“Well, things didn’t go as planned,” said Lawrence Mariqio, a foreman with the construction firm that worked on the stadium. “The wall is actually 348 feet. When my boss found out how bad we had botched the project, he ordered an immediate cover-up.”
In his new book, Field of Lies, Mariqio recalls several scandals that have long been hidden from the team and fans of the Green Monsters.
“The wall is just one of many,” said Mariqio. While he won’t get into the details until his book is released later in the month, the first revelation was enough to hurt the team.
“The news really devastated the team,” said GM Michael Rotch. “To play in a stadium for two years thinking you knew were the wall was, only to find out it was three feet deeper. It hurt them. It hurt all of use.”
When news got out on Monday, Rotch personally measured the line and found the big 345 painted on the wall was horribly, horribly wrong. Word reached the Monsters who were playing in Bridgewater, and it devastated them. It led to the worst loss in team history, as Winston-Salem fell to the Weasels 9-1.
“Maybe this will explain why they were so bad at home last year,” offered Ichiro Suzuki. The Green Monsters were 5-6 on the road last year. “I knew after the first game there that something was off.”
Rotch assured Baseball Tri-Weekly that that signage would be changed for their matchup against Tijuana this week, but the 348 would be painted blood red.
“The investigation will continue,” said Rotch. “Whatever else appears in this book, we will address it as soon as possible. Someone will pay for this.”
Two excellent division matchups last week setup up for another week of big games.
LV at RAK
After a big win and a bowl of Reece’s, the Doggs are flying high atop the EHCC standings. Now, with the remains of their pitching staff coming off their best performances of the year, they should head into Rakeville with the mental edge.
Unfortunately for the Doggs, the Rockets are coming off a record breaking week and if the Las Vegas offense struggles like it did against Weymouth, it could lead to a blowout.
Look for Jason Bay and David Wright to step up after a poor week, and Las Vegas and Rakeville going toe to toe through the week.
TIJ at WS
Tijuana bounced back last week, beating division rival Golden in a surprisingly tight game. The Hispanics offense was relentless, posting 16 homeruns and 47 RBIs in a 6-4 victory.
As mentioned previously, the Green Monsters are coming off a terrible loss. They were lucky that it came at the hands of Bridgewater, a team outside of their division, but the grace period is over. While they didn’t bomb any categories on either side of the ball, they must pick it up for the hot Hispanics…
…unless the scandal is too much of a burden.
Transaction Wire
Perhaps because of Brian Bannister’s big week for the Doggs, the Shaddupu dropped Aaron Heilman, the fifth overall pick in the 2006 draft. Weymouth grabbed John Koronka, a hot hand in Texas to replace him. Heilman comes off waivers Thursday, and is expected to field offers from a few teams.
After placing All-star Derrick Lee on the disabled list, Bridgewater picked up Nick Johnson to fill in.
Quebec City picked up Chad Orvella and Ryan Church, only to drop both for Mike Maroth and David Weathers.
The Piglets also dropped Jay Gibbons for Phil Nevin, a week after they dropped Hayden Penn. Both were involved in a vetoed trade that would have yielded Bartolo Colon, CC Sabathia and Chris Young.
Weymouth picked up Adam Kennedy after Jose Castillo was unable to fill the hole at second for Shaddupu since Chone Figgins was moved to third to cover for an injured Chipper Jones. Despite two players on their bench, neither Edgar Renteria nor Connor Jackson is eligible at more than one position.
Golden signed Nick Swisher to replace injured Ken Griffey Jr.
| 2. | Las Vegas | (+1) |
| 1. | Weymouth | (-1) |
| 3. | Bridgewater | ( - ) |
| 4. | Rakeville | ( - ) |
| 5. | Winston-Salem | ( - ) |
| 6. | Quebec City | (+1) |
| 7. | Tijuana | (+2) |
| 8. | Golden | (-2) |
| 9. | Bizton | (-1) |
| 10. | Peoria | ( - ) |
| 11. | Tokyo | ( - ) |
League Notes
-- After driving in his 11th run in the Golden/Tijuana game, Morgan Ensberg make a gesture to the stands. FSN San Diego investigated and found out the signal was directed to Scott Sapp, former Creed singer. When asked what it meant, Ensberg remained silent.
-- Rakeville’s A.J. Burnett will head to the disabled list again, after scar tissue in his elbow caused swelling. When asked about the injury, Burnett began singing, “I got money, lots and lots of money…”
-- Justin Upton, a minor league prospect looking to become the first overall pick in the 2006 minor league draft, bought a new suit for the draft. Upton indicated he got the money for his suit from his brother B.J. “I only hope Bizton doesn’t draft me,” he said.
Listen DePleyohs writes a column for Baseball Tri-Weekly. At his last trip to the barber, he decided to get his hair cut like Tijuana closer Jon Papelbon, but the man refused.
