New Hampshire Fisher Cats Monthly Report: August 2014

New Hampshire Fisher Cats: Double-A

The Fisher Cats went 13-17 in August and one September game. The Fisher Cats offences hit .236/.286/.360 with on 20 home runs and 114 RBI. As a team they struck out 20% of the time and only walked 5.84% of the time. They hit 53 doubles, 5 triples and were 18 for 24 in stolen base attempts.

New Hampshire’s pitchers continued to post a solid WHIP in August with a 1.273. The staff struck out 7.87/9IP and walked 2.53/9IP while allowing 8.93 hits per 9 innings. NH pitchers struck out 230 batters in August and finished the month with a team ERA of 4.07.

Longest Win Streak: The Fisher Cats had a 4-gamer in the middle of the month (16th-20th). They didn’t sweep any series this month.

Long Losing Streak: Also a 4-gamer, which include them being swept by Portland on the 22nd to the 24th.

Starting Pitchers

RHP Casey Lawrence (26)- As good as he was in July, he was equally as bad in August. He won his first start of the month and then went on a 5 game winless streak, which included a 4 game losing streak. He allowed 7 runs twice and didn’t make it to the 7th inning in 4 consecutive starts. Opponents hit .380 off him and he allowed 4 long balls in 28.1IP.

Scott Copeland (26)- Copeland was only with the Fisher Cats for 3 starts, but they were good ones. Copeland held opponents to a .273 average and had a great GO/AO ratio of 3.78, plus he throw a complete game.

Stats include Triple-A and Double-A

RHP Austin Bibens-Dirkx (29)- Austin did what a veteran minor leaguer is supposed to do…..eat innings. Austin averaged 5+ innings in 6 starts.

RHP P.J. Walters (29)- P.J. made 4 starts and averaged 6IP per start…..just like a vet is supposed to do. P.J. was a bit unlucky this month as he had good K and BB numbers, he went 7IP in his last 3 starts but lost 2 of them.

RHP Ben White (25)- White made two Double-A appearances and did okay. He went 6.1 innings in his first start and 4.2 in his second.  He did strike out 7 batters per start, good for 11.45 K/9. No one expects this to continue next season, since he averages about 5-6 K/9 in his three previous years. White’s 4.54 FIP leaves a lot to be desired.

RHP Michael Lee (27)- Another veteran righthander that did a good job after being acquired off the Reno Aces roster. He made 5 starts for the Fisher Cats and lasted over 6 innings in those starts, good for a 2-1, 2.25ERA and 30K.

 Bullpen

LHP Richard Bleier (27)- Bleier held opponents to a .190 batting average and had a 4.20 GO/AO ratio. Bleier did a great job of limiting baserunners.

RHP Randy Boone (30)- This vet did a great job in August limiting opponents to .146 and a GO/AO ratio of 1.88.

RHP Dustin Antolin (25)- Antolin one really bad outing and a couple so-so outings. Dustin gave up 4 runs on the 24th, which really drove up his ERA. Dustin did manage to strike out his fair share and limited walks.

RHP Gregory Infante (27)- Infante should not be playing double-A ball, this guy could be on a major league roster. August was by far Infnate’s best month of 2014. He held opponents to a .167 average and didn’t allow an earned run.

RHP Scott Gracey (27)- Gracey had his worst month in August. Stat line below says it all.

RHP Blake McFarland (26)- Blake has been a reliable RP in 2014 and August was no different. He held opponents to a .182/.308/.182 slash and didn’t allow any extra base hits. He also started one game in August.

Catchers

Derrick Chung (26)- I am a huge Chung fan, so it pained me to see him struggle in August. He has a great arm and should be back in Double-A to start next season.

(26)- He only got into 9 double-A games and didn’t show much. Sean has more talent than these stats suggest…I am not saying he is a major leaguer. Sean struggled with health in 2014.

Infielders
Kevin Nolan (26)- Nolan spent 7 games with the Herd in August before finishing the season with the Fisher Cats. Nolan appeared in 18 games and hit .246/.313/.279 and zero power….zero homeruns and only 2 extra base hits. He did finish the season on a 6 game hit streak.

Jorge Flores (22)- It always frustrated me when I heard fans complain about no infield depth. This 22 year old Mexican has quietly moved up the system and had a great August. Flores showed more patience in August and it resulted in him collected more walks than May, June, and July combined (4). Flores puts the bat on the ball…plain and simple.

Gustavo Pierre (22)- I was so happy to see this guy finally make an appearance above single-A ball only to see him get shipped to Philadelphia in exchange for John Mayberry Jr. In 9 games Gustavo hit .214/.233/.357 in Double-A and .260/.302/.500 in 14 games with Dunedin Blue Jays. He did manage to hit a home run and double, but he strikes out way too much (11) and doesn’t walk near enough (1).

Andy Fermin (25)- Fermin is another guy that is an other guy that doesn’t get a lot of focus, but in 8 Double-A games he hit a homerun and drove in 5 RBI.

(24)- After a really good July I was singing the praises of Andy Burns, and even thought he should be playing everyday in Buffalo. August saw Burns come back down to earth a little bit. His biggest issue continues to be plate discipline. Burns did carry a 9-game hits streak into August, but than only managed 4 hits in his next 10 games.

Jon Berti (24)- Berti is shaping up to be a super utility guy that every winning team needs. In August Berti played 2B ten times, LF seven times, 3B six times, SS once, and CF once. On top of having a decent batting average and drawing his share of walks, Berti was also 7 for 7 in stolen base attempts.

Mike McDade (25)- Mike appeared in 15 August games for the Fisher Cats and hit terrible. He didn’t demonstrate much power, but did manage to show more patience than any other month. He drew 7 walks in August and a combined 14BB in the previous 66 games.

K.C. Hobson (24)- August wasn’t kind to Hobson….it was almost Rasmus like. After drawing 10 walks in 22 games in July. Hobson only drew 3 in the next 21 games.

Outfield
Brad Glenn (27)- Glenn got sent down to New Hampshire mid month. He played 12 games with the Herd and 11 with the Fisher Cats. Glenn hit .227/.244/.568 with 4HR, 9RBI, and 3 doubles for the Fisher Cats.

Mike Crouse (23)- Crouse had his most unproductive month in August. Was hoping for a strong finish from him, but it just didn’t happen.

(25)- After a promising June and July, I was hoping Newman could keep things going in the right direction. Like Crouse, Newman had his most unproductive month of the season in August.

Melky Mesa (27)- Mesa started the month with the Herd but after two games he was sent down to NH to finish out the season. He appeared in 22 games and continued the theme of August being the most unproductive month. Mesa’s June was cut short due to injury and he hit 3 home runs in that span, compared to only one in 23 August games.

Cory Aldridge (35)- Aldridge appeared in 11 games as the Fisher Cats 4th OF in August. He showed decent power, but why give at-bats to a 35 double-A OF on a none playoff team. Not sure why management didn’t just call up Dwight Smith Jr.

The Fisher Cats had a tough season and August was no different.