OSG One Tank Trips: South Atlantic League

Or "Can anyone here hit in this league...?"

The HQ will cede the following point before writing this column: The two teams included in the story, the Rome Braves and the Kannapolis Intimidators, played a 20-inning game the night before a 1:00 first pitch- that's thirteen hours after the night game ended.

The Intimidators set thirteen team records for the 2010 season in the game the night before: everything from strikeouts by pitchers to batters struck out by opposing pitchers. The 3-2 final was a win for the visitors and the Kannapolis bullpen threw 13 scoreless innings.

Notice any trends here...???

But the biggest trend in the Sally League is that no one team, short of 3-10 Greensboro is really good or really bad. No one is more than five games over or three games under .500. Eight of the 14 teams in the league are hitting under .245. The two combatants on the Georgia-1 Loop are hitting .231 ((Rome)) and .221 ((Kannapolis)). Five of the teams have ERA's over 4, but three teams have ERA's under 3.

And one of those reasons for Rome isn't Arodys Vizcaino... yet.
((State Mutual Stadium is pictured without a lot of offense, thanks to me))

He got the start for Randy Ingle "The Day After." Part of the Melky Cabrera/Javier Vazquez trade, Vizcaino has a live fastball in the mid-90's, and was rated the third-highest prospect in the Yankees system at the time of the trade.

Here's a little of what he looked like in Staten Island in 2009...
((HT: BabyBombers))


Everyone seems to rave more about his curve at the moment. But he came into the contest with an ERA over 6... but afternoon quick-turns will do wonders for that. His strong seven innings lowered that ERA more than two full points.

Sitting starters will cure ERA issues, too. The Intimidators' Cameron Bayne nursed his way through a line-up that sat its top three hitters- and only two hitters in the Braves line-up STARTED with a batting average over .250.

So, what does this say about the SAL...??? Pitcher's league or weak hitters...???

How 'bout we just say "flashes of both" for now...? That and some really groggy defense... five Kannapolis errors led to a 3-1 loss in front of another announced crowd of 2,000-plus. This time the game was a crisp 2:18...

Think these guys wanted to get out of here for a nap and a meal...???

Ernie Young is back managing the Intimidators ((and, yes, they were named as an homage to Dale Earnhardt, Senior)), and they're 4-2 on the road- 2-6 at home. That does send your head scratching a little bit...

But Single-A ball is where your depth is tested in every minor league system, and that's the true barometer for the major league squads these days. You really do get to see who will get promoted soon, and who will struggle to stay.

For the Braves- look for a half-dozen on each side to get moved up before it's over.
For Kannapolis- more pitchers than hitters, but more relievers than starters...

Enjoy the minors, it's a better value for your dollar these days...