New Hampshire Fisher Cats Monthly Report: July 2014

Like the Buffalo Bisons, who we covered yesterday, the New Hampshire Fisher Cats went 15-14 during the month of July. However, unlike the Bisons, the ‘Cats won’t be fighting for a playoff spot during the final month of the regular season.

There was plenty of movement this month including the promotion to and demotion from Double-A for right-handed pitcher Matt Boyd. Austin Bibens-Dirkx, Jack Murphy, Mike McDade and Randy Boone all made trips to Triple-A and back. Sean Ochinko, Radhames Liz and Kevin Nolan were also all promoted to Triple-A and as of now are still there while Kendall Graveman followed suit in August after a one game cameo. Cory Aldridge and Mickey Storey were both demoted to Double-A.

Rotation

Daniel Norris – Norris didn’t have a good month with a 7.82 ERA and 2.211 WHIP. He did strike out 16 batters in just 12.2 innings but walked another 11 for a 1.45 K/BB ratio. He’s already gotten back on track with a terrific start in August so hopefully July was just a blip on the radar for Norris.

John Anderson – Anderson was very good in seven appearances (six starts) and held opponents to a 3.64 ERA and 1.112 WHIP. He struck out 28 and walked just eight for a very good 3.5 K/BB ratio and allowed less than a hit per inning as well.

Casey Lawrence – Lawrence continues to put up impressive numbers and allowed just eight earned runs in 37.2 innings, good for a 1.91 ERA. He walked just six batters for the month and showed impressive command. He’s not overpowering but good pitchability helps his stuff play up.

Taylor Cole – Cole didn’t technically get called up until August but I felt like including him. His first Double-A start didn’t go well as he struggled with fastball command but he did show a plus change.

Scott Copeland – Copeland followed up a good June with a decent July. He had 23 strikeouts and just nine walks in 27 innings but when opponents did connect often it was hard, as evidenced by his .421 slugging percentage against.

Austin Bibens-Dirkx – Bibens-Dirkx spent most of the month at Triple-A but returned to New Hampshire at the end of the month. He’s a bit of a tweener and will also pitch out of the bullpen when needed.

The Pen

Dustin Antolin – Antolin allowed just two earned runs in 12.2 innings in July. He struck out 10 and walked only three while holding hitters to a .598 OPS.

Richard Bleier – Like Bibens-Dirkx, Bleier is a tweener who will pitch in the rotation or out of the pen. In July opponents had an OPS of 1.110 against him, which led to a 7.07 ERA. He struck out eleven and walked only two in 14 innings and is currently on the 7-day DL.

Randy Boone – Boone had a two game stint with the Bisons and was solid for the month with 17 strikeouts and three walks over 15 innings and gave up six earned runs (and three homers).

Scott Gracey – Gracey struck out 17 and walked only two in 14.1 innings but gave up seven earned runs and 19 hits.

Greg Infante – Infante gave up just four earned runs in 12.1 innings and struck out 12 while walking eight. He also racked up six saves for the month.

Blake McFarland – After he was briefly moved down to High-A, McFarland returned to allow just one earned run in 11.1 innings with 12 strikeouts. However his six walks indicates it hasn’t all been roses and his 0.47 GO/AO ratio means he needs to do a better job of putting the ball on the ground. He was also moved to the disabled list at the end of the month.

Mickey Storey – Storey began the month on a rehab assignment in the GCL and has been lights out since returning to the ‘Cats. It’s only been seven innings but he’s already racked up ten strikeouts and allowed just one earned run to go along with two saves.

Tyler Ybarra – Ybarra had an inconsistent month and gave up eight earned runs in just 13 innings. He struck out nine and walked seven while opposing hitters posted a .779 OPS against him.

Outfield

Dalton Pompey – The Blue Jays best positional prospect feasted with a .928 OPS before a late month leg cramp shut him down for a few days. He since returned for one game but was held out of Sunday’s affair. The Fisher Cats had an off-day on Monday so hopefully he’ll be back in the lineup tonight.

Mike Crouse – Crouse has handled center field duties during Pompey’s absense and despite a .226 batting average was productive at the plate with a .732 OPS and four home runs.

Matt Newman – Newman also had a decent month with a .739 OPS including eight doubles.

Cory Aldridge – Alridge, who is 35, started the month with the Triple-A Buffalo Bisons but was moved to New Hampshire towards the end of the month. He’s hit four home runs in his first 55 plate appearances at Double-A (including August) and has and OPS of .837 after struggling in Buffalo with a .665 OPS.

Infield

Andy Burns – Burns raked in July with a .312/.333/.550 line but also didn’t show great plate discipline with only five walks and 24 strikeouts. What he did do was hit the ball with authority with eight doubles, three triples and four home runs.

Jon Berti – Berti, who was an All-Star, had his best month to date with a .291/.351/.408 slash line and eight stolen bases.

K.C. Hobson – Hobson followed up an .844 OPS in June with a .809 mark in July and showed good plate discipline with ten walks and 17 K’s. He also hit three jacks, which wasn’t quite as impressive as the six he hit in June but he also posted an OPS that was 40 points higher last month.

Jorge Flores – Flores struggled at the plate with a .575 OPS and just two extra base hits. However he started to turn it on a bit the end of the month and is having a good start to August.

Mike McDade – McDade was moved down from Buffalo and had a .629 OPS in 16 games with New Hampshire in July.

Andy Fermin – Fermin started the season with Dunedin but was moved back up to Double-A midway through the month. He had only six hits in 27 ABs but two were doubles and two were home runs.

Catchers

Derrick Chung – Chung struggled at the plate with a .239/.295/.268 triple slash with just two extra base hits. His OPS is just .546 since being advanced to Double-A.

Jack Murphy – Murphy ran into three home runs in just 28 plate appearances in July and put up an impressive 1.124 OPS in backup duty.

Yusuf Carter – Dealing with injuries, Carter has played sparingly this year and didn’t have a hit or a walk in 12 plate appearances but he did reach base once after being hit by a pitch.