A 20-26 start to the 2015 season is not what the new ownership envisioned when they took control of the Illinois club. The outfield has been hit hard with injuries to Mits Kurota (Broken Leg) and now to super slugger Clarence Thomas (fractured rib). Throw in 37 year old second baseman Artie White, out 5 days with a dead arm and 3 of the mainstays on offense are out of the lineup. Starter Mike Pratt is out 8 weeks with a Hamstring injury.
The loss of Thomas is going to hurt badly as he had started this year with the following numbers: .335/14/32. His OPS is 1.104.
1B Jeff Krause has struggled out of the gate in 2015. Following a year where he batted .295 with 18 HR and 69 RBI he is currently at .161 1 HR and 12 RBI. He has been put into a platoon situation with 24 year old Joey Mullins.
With a top farm system, can other moves be far away? Stay tuned, this may end up being a retooling season for Illinois...
