Stock Watch: Week 3 (April Review)

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Lansing Lugnuts

The Lugnuts finished April atop the Eastern division of the Midwest League with a 14-7 record. They are .500 over their last 5 games and hold a 1 game lead over Bowling Green. As luck would have it, the Lugnuts open their May with 3-game home stand against the Hot Rods.

The Lugnuts are 8-4 away from Cooley Law School Stadium.

As a Team

At the Plate the Lugnuts are hitting .253 (6th), 8 home runs (6th), 83 RBI (3rd), and 190 hits (2nd) with 42 extra base hits. On the bases they have 33 steals (2nd), but were caught 16 times. Lansing hitters are hoovering in the middle of the league with walks and strike outs, 68BB and 180K.

On the Mound Lansing pitchers have one shutout and 5-4 in one run games. As a team they own a 2.77ERA, 174 hits allowed (8th), 68 runs allowed (13th), 11 home runs allowed (12th), 72 walks allowed (10th), and 1.24 WHIP (8th).

Leaders

BA- Dickie Joe Thon (.315)

HR- Rowdy Tellez (3)

RBI- Rowdy Tellez and Ryan McBroom (13)

2B- Chris Carlson, Rowdy Tellez and Ryan McBroom (5)

SB- Tim Locastro (8)

W- Chase Dejong (2)

ERA(*)- Justin Shafer (0.92)

SV- Phil Kish (3)

K- Chase Dejong (24)

Top Lugnuts

Batters

Dickie Joe Thon, recently promoted Dickie Joe Thon, is swinging a hot bat to start the year. He has 2 home runs, a solid .922 OPS and has even show good speed with 4 stolen bases. He still strikes out too much with 18 in 15 games, but when he is hitting it makes it easier to swallow.

Pitchers

Chase Dejong has put his disappointing 2014 in the past. It must be a huge relief for him to already have 2 wins after not getting his first win of 2014 until August. He leads the team with 24 strike outs and with Shane Dawson, he has anchored the Lugnuts staff in the early goings. We can expect his ERA to come up a bit with a 3.98 FIP. If he continues to strike guys out at a 8.53/9 clip he should get the call to Dunedin before too long.

Player Movement 

Welcome Jonathan Davis and Boomer Collins

Keep an eye on Anthony Alford and D.J. Davis. These very talented outfielders are showing signs of being able to put together a big year, but they will need to lay off the slow stuff if they hope to cut down the strike outs.