Daily Archives: June 28, 2010

Game 42: Wingnuts 5, Explorers 2

June 28, 201010:38 p.m.

Box score — Wingnuts 5, Sioux City 2

Tonight felt a little bit different. I don’t know if Adam Godwin and Jake Bradshaw, are going to be the reason(s) why the Wingnuts will turn things around in the second half of the season, but at least they’re new. They provide, at least for one day, energy. And hope. Hope is important in baseball.

Gabe Medina. What can you say? He’s been great this season. Something seems different with him, or maybe he just blended in too much last season because the Wingnuts’ starting pitching was so good and he faded down the stretch. This year, he’s pitching more like an ace. He’s technically the No. 2 starter, but if there’s a big game that I have to win, I’d probably give the ball to Medina over Nick Singleton, the No. 1 guy.

That’s a big statement to make, and one that I just thought of. So maybe if I thought about it I’d change my mind, but Medina is a warrior. He’s emotional, but he keeps his emotions in check and focuses long enough to where he hasn’t really had any meltdowns on the mound this season.

Bradshaw got his first professional hit tonight and was rewarded with the baseball in a clubhouse “ceremony” that I did not witness. I know it happened, though, because the coaching staff was on the way to present the ball to Bradshaw as I was leaving the clubhouse. Good moment for the kid, who hasn’t played baseball since college. Congrats, Jake.

Up next: Sioux City at Wingnuts, 7:05 p.m. Tuesday at Lawrence-Dumont Stadium. Starting pitchers: Sioux City, RH Mike Phelps (0-1, 3.38 ERA); Wingnuts, RH Luke Massetti (2-3, 4.21)

By Jeff Lutz | Filed under Uncategorized | Comments Off

Wingnuts Add Two

June 28, 20105:42 p.m.

The roster moves have begun, but they won’t likely end with the signings today of infielder Jake Bradshaw and outfielder Adam Godwin.

You can view the career stats of Bradshaw at Godwin at the following links:
Jake Bradshaw
Adam Godwin

OK, I lied. I can’t find stats for Bradshaw. He was with the Kansas City T-Bones of the Northern League this season, but either he hasn’t batted or he was removed from the statistics because he’s no longer part of the team. The Wingnuts’ stats, organized by the same company, list everyone who has played for the team this season, though. So I don’t know what’s up with that.

Bradshaw is the Wingnuts 14th second baseman this season. That’s an exaggeration, obviously, but there has definitely been a revolving door at that position. Since the league website doesn’t list such things, I’ll try to think of everyone who has played second for the Wingnuts this year. Ready?

Mike Thompson
Patrick Brooks
Tony Mansolino
Jonathan Dziomba
Angel Nicolas
Jose Duran.

I think that’s it. Tonight we’ll be able to add Bradshaw to the list, because he’s in the starting lineup. I have a hunch that he won’t be there long, though, and that maybe a long-term answer will be figured out within the next few days. Just a guess. An educated guess.

Godwin spent time in Double-A with the Los Angeles Dodgers organization in 2009, but was released after repeating that level last season. It’s always difficult to guess how minor-league numbers will translate to a lower level, but Godwin doesn’t look like a significant game-changer. Maybe he will be, though. Who knows?

In 228 Double-A games, Godwin has batted .260. In 2008, he drew 51 walks for a nearly semi-respectable .347 on-base percentage, but in 2009 his OBP was down to .310. If he shows patience with the Wingnuts, he’ll be valuable because he appears to have some speed.

Godwin’s presence moves Eric Williams to the bench. Williams hasn’t done too much well this season except get on base. His .415 on-base percentage has played nicely at the top of the lineup. Hey, that’s his job. I feel like he should be stealing more bases, but it’s not his fault that he hasn’t scored a lot of runs. Nobody seems to want to drive him in very often.

Godwin will lead off and play center field tonight. The same hunch that told me about the possibility of another second baseman arriving also tells me that another outfielder could be added to the mix at some point in the near future. I guess we’ll have to see about that one. For now, the Wingnuts have started their roster overhaul, which might not be complete until the end of the week.

Obviously, the team is always looking to upgrade, but the bulk of the moves made in preparation for the second half will be executed on this homestand.

By Jeff Lutz | Filed under Uncategorized | Comments