[Ben E Lou]

MAY 2005

THIS MONTH’S RECORD: 13-16
OVERALL RECORD AT MONTH-END: 27-26
CURRENT STANDING: Third place, 3.5 games behind division-leading Mets..

MAJOR INJURIES:
SP4 Marcos Fernandez tears his triceps muscle on 5/21, and is Out For The Season! Gregorio Cruz at that point was 3-1 with a 1.50 ERA in 7 AAA starts. I call him up.

TEAM NEWS FROM THIS MONTH

Monday 5/2/2005:
Matthew Erwin hits a 454-foot homerun!!

Friday 5/13/2005:
Matthew Erwin hits 2 homers against Philadelphia.
Matthew Erwin has 6 RBI against Philadelphia.

Saturday 5/14/2005:
Freddy Castonguay strikes out 12 against Philadelphia.

Tuesday 5/17/2005:
James Wuest slams 2 homers against Colorado.
James Wuest has 5 RBI against Colorado.

Wednesday 5/18/2005:
Freddy Castonguay pitches a 3-hit shutout against Colorado!!

Thursday 5/19/2005:
Jose Camacho hits 2 homers against Colorado.

Monday 5/23/2005:
Russ Mangan crushes 2 homers against Colorado.

Wednesday 5/25/2005:
Russ Mangan hits 2 homers against Colorado.
Russ Mangan has 5 RBI against Colorado.

Sunday 5/29/2005:
Jose Camacho has 4 hits against Pittsburgh.

Monday 5/30/2005:
James Wuest has 4 hits against Philadelphia.

MAJOR LEAGUE PERFORMANCES OF NOTE/LINEUP CHANGES/ROTATION CHANGES:
The pitching staff had a nice month overall, lowering the team ERA to 3.98 (15th). We’re have the lowest opponent’s average in the league at .230. Castonguay led the way, putting up a 1.44 ERA, 4CG’s and 1 shutout in 6 starts. Despite these great numbers, he only had a 2-2 record.

We looked even worse at the plate. We’re now batting a league-low .227. Leadoff hitter Sweeny had a good month, batting .305 and scoring 16 runs.

SEASON-TO-DATE TEAM STATISTICAL LEADERS
AVG: CF Wuest--.306
HR: CF Wuest--12
RBI: CF Wuest--36
SB: LF Mangan and 2B Sweeney--13
SP ERA: Castonguay—1.86
RP ERA: Marmolejo—1.77
SAVES: Marmolejo--9
SP K’s: Castonguay--70

PLAYER DEVELOPMENT:

Monday 5/2/2005:
Frank Chester seems to have lost some bat speed, resulting in less contact...
Steve Adams's control seems to have taken a bump...

Monday 5/9/2005:
Freddy Castonguay has worked out more, his duration raises to A ...
Antonio Latta has lost some lower body strength, his duration drops to D ...
Russ Mangan positions himself better now, his range at LF increases to B !
Nodin Motoki plate discipline seems to have faded...
Harvey Baker has lost some lower body strength, his duration drops to D ...

Monday 5/16/2005:
Abel Pardo plate discipline seems to have faded...

Monday 5/23/2005:
Francis Pharris has lost some movement on his pitches...
Francis Pharris has lost some lower body strength, his duration drops to D ...
Daniel Houtz seems to have improved his pure stuff!
Daniel Houtz's pitches have more bite now, the movement has improved!
Daniel Houtz is hitting his spots better, his command improved!

Monday 5/30/2005:
Steven Smidt has learned reading pitchers better, his stealing ability raises to A ...

Mangan might be turning into something special out there in LF after all….Adams still looks very good despite the drop in control…Castonguay, the emerging new ace of the staff, can now go longer. Nice!…Houtz is already in the bigs. The improvements make him clearly the primary lefty..

AAA NOTES
SP Hikoshirou Haruhiko—7-2,2.53,(7/7/6), 5 stars—He’s looking like he’s ready for the Bigs. I’ll give him another month or so in AAA, then call him up if someone is struggling in the rotation.
CL James Barta—2-3,6.85,14SV,(5/5/6),4 stars—Bad stats, but he continues to develop, so I’ll leave him there.

AA NOTES:
SP Gregory Alkire—5-1,2.34, (2/5/4), 3.5 stars
MR Antonio Latta—0-0,0.75,(4/4/7), 4 stars---I call him up to AAA.

A NOTES:
SP Max Conde—7-1,4.00,(1/3/4),3.5 stars
SS Arthur Owens--.827OPS,(2/2/6),3.5 stars

MR Robert Springs—2-0,1.08,(1/3/5),2.5 stars---I promote him to AA.
C David Tejada—1.030OPS,(2/4/2),1.5 stars—I promote him to AA, despite the AI’s protests.
2B Timothy Cadiz—1.020OPS,(2/5/5),3 stars—Another one promoted in spite of the AI.

PERSONAL DIARY ENTRIES:
None..

TRADES
None.

MONTHLY AWARDS
American League-Pitcher of the Month:
Josias Silva (MIN)!
He had a record of 2-0 in 5 games started, with an ERA of 1.09.
American League-Batter of the Month:
Kenny Funk (DET)!
He batted .427 in 96 AB, with 6 homers and 24 RBI.
National League-Pitcher of the Month:
Urso Ramos (LA)!
He had a record of 3-0 in 5 games started, with an ERA of 0.61.
National League-Batter of the Month:
Hugo Reyes (NYM)!
He batted .382 in 89 AB, with 10 homers and 31 RBI.

OTHER IMPORTANT LEAGUE NEWS
None.