With Spring Training out of the way it's been a great run for New Jersey. While the pundits have the Athletics tipped to challenge for the league title the lack of offense could prove costly, especially if the rotation gets struck down with injury.
However an 18-6 record in ST has confidence high in the club, but hopefully not too high. We all know the pennant isn't won in March, not even June, it's going to be a long season ahead.
Promising signs for the Athletics during ST were:
- Conceding the least runs of all 16 AFBL teams (74, Texas next best at 83)
- Scoring the second highest amount of runs in the AFBL (153 to Indiana's 162, with North Carolina third with 120)
- Four shutouts
- Veteran starter
Bob Thompson going 5-0 from 5 starts
- Star SP
Jorge Sepulveda pitching 20 innings without giving up a single earned run (2-0 record, OAVG .106)
- Starting rotation going 13-3, with Thompson, Sepulveda and Soto not losing any games
- Team ERA of 2.93, giving up an average of just .214 and 17 HRs
- Team batting average of .291, OBP .351
-
Dan Swain with a league leading 29 hits and 18 RBIs with a .362 average
While we know that the Athletics' GM, Mike Trigwell, is focusing on pitching and the defence, he will have been excited by how well his hitters performed. Especially with Swain and Joe Hunter leading the RBI table (18 and 17 respectively).
The rumours coming out of New Jersey are that there won't be many surprises when the GM names his 25 man active roster, with the only contentious decisions around the pitcher versus position player split and the mix of outfielders versus infielders.
One player in particular who will be vying for one of the bench spots in the outfield is
Joe Ross and with the ability to play first base the veteran has to be a good chance, this is what he had to say "I've done everything I can to put my hand up to get a spot on the team, it's all in the GMs hands now. Hopefully he appreciates the effort I've put in and can see how I can contribute to the team".
It's not long now until the roster is revealed for the long away trip taking in Ontario, New York, Ohio and Massachusetts.