RED WINGS HAVE SOME COLD BATS BUT PITCHING STAFF IS HOT
The Rochester Red Wings bats collectively have gone from booming to snoozing. A few power hitters are struggling mightily. The return of ByungHo Park could park a power surge.
The Red Wings on Monday night enter a four-game home series against International League East-leading Lehigh Valley coming off three straight wins in Pawtucket by scores of 3-2, 3-2 and 3-1.
Rochester enters this week in an uncustomary spot – leading the 14-team IL with a stingy 3.02 earned-run average. The Red Wings have allowed 242 hits in 262 1/3 innings, with 71 walks allowed, 232 strikeouts and a stingy 1.19 WHIP (walks + hits allowed per inning).
The Red Wings last led the IL in earned-run average for a season in 1976. Since hooking up with Baltimore in 1961, the only other time Rochester led the IL in ERA was 1974 (3.06).
IS BERRIOS A FUTURE RED WINGS HALL OF FAMER?
The main reason the Red Wings probably won’t finish this season with the IL’s lowest ERA is the promotion of ace pitcher Jose Berrios to Minnesota – this time could be for good. He started Saturday for the Twins in Cleveland and earned the victory in a 4-1 win. He turns 23 on May 27.
Berrios has been excellent in assorted stints with the Red Wings: 19-8 (.704) in 36 starts; 2.51 ERA; 229 2/3 innings; allowed 164 hits and 61 walks, with 250 strikeouts and a 0.98 WHIP.
A total of 22 pitchers have been elected to the Red Wings Hall of Fame. Most of them spent considerably more time with Rochester than Berrios, but two did not:
Roric Harrison (1971) – 15-5 record (.750) and 2.51 ERA in 25 games (24 starts); in 170 innings, he allowed only 119 hits, with 74 walks, 182 strikeouts and a 1.135 WHIP. He also was a very good hitter for a pitcher and was ace for arguably the all-time best Red Wings team. It was his only season with Rochester.
Dennis Martinez (1976) – He won the IL pitching Triple Crown, leading the league in wins, ERA and strikeouts. His pitching line for 25 games (23 starts): 14-8 record (.636), 2.50 ERA, 180 innings, 148 hits allowed, 50 walks, 140 strikeouts and a 1.100 WHIP.
Harrison and Martinez were easy picks for the Red Wings Hall of Fame. Francisco Liriano will be, too. In his two seasons with Rochester (the second half of 2005 and 2008 after arm surgery, he was 19-4 in 28 starts, with ERAs of 1.78 and 3.28. In 209 innings, he allowed 158 hits, with 55 walks and 235 strikeouts.
Assuming Berrios will never again pitch for Rochester, I make him 50-50 to be a future Red Wings Hall of Famer.
NO SURPRISE IN STANLEY CUP PLAY: MORE CLOSE, LOW-SCORING GAMES
The two opening games of the NHL Stanley Cup conference finals both were won by the visiting team in overtime. That figured. Then Anaheim scored a late open-net goal to crush Nashville 5-3 Sunday night.
Through 71 games in this tournament, home teams have a 35-36 record and 44 games were decided by one goal (including 25 in overtime).
The 71 games produced 363 goals (5.11 goals per game).
MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL: BEST AND (WORST)
Entering Monday, here are the best and (worst) teams in MLB in assorted categories:
Record – Houston 26-12; .684...(San Diego 14-25; .359)
Run differential – Dodgers +55...(San Diego -65)
Best home record – Baltimore 13-3...(Miami 6-11)
Best road record – Colorado/Minnesota 11-5...(Oakland 5-13)
Record in 1-run games – Colorado 9-0...(Atlanta 2-6)
Runs – Washington 221...(Kansas City 119)
Home runs – Milwaukee 63...(San Francisco 30)
Total bases – Washington 623...(White Sox 437)
Batting average – Washington .282...(San Diego .220)
On-base percentage – Washington .358...(San Diego .286)
Slugging percentage – Washington .487...(San Francisco .351)
Fewest times struck out – Boston 238...(Tampa Bay 411)
Most walks – Tampa Bay 158...(White Sox 95)
Stolen bases – Arizona/Cincinnati 40...(Colorado 9)
Stolen base percentage – Cincinnati 86.96; 40-for-46)...(Pittsburgh 50.00; 17-for-34)
Sacrifice hits – Colorado 15...(Minnesota 1)
Most hit-by-pitch – Angels/Seattle 19...(Oakland/Washington 6)
Pinch-hitting – Detroit .5471; 8-for-17...(Texas .000; 0-for-8)
Earned-run average – Dodgers 3.30...(Mets 5.07)
Most strikeouts by – Houston 381...(Atlanta/Minnesota 227)
Fewest walks issued – Boston 103...(Miami 159)
Batting average against – Houston .229 (Milwaukee .274)
Fewest hits allowed – White Sox 268...(Milwaukee 360)
Fewest HRs allowed –- Cleveland 33...(Angels 57)
Fewest errors – Kansas City/Minnesota 10...(Oakland 34)
Fielding percentage – Kansas City .993...(Oakland .975).
LACROSSE RATTLERS IN GOOD SHAPE AFTER 2-2 START
The Major League Lacrosse Rochester Rattlers rallied from an early 6-0 deficit to beat the Boston Cannons 13-10 Saturday night at Harvard Stadium. They were coming off a disappointing loss to the Charlotte Hounds in their home opener last Thursday night.
The Rattlers are 2-2 in the 14-game season, including 2-1 on the road. They’ve played the last two games without scoring superstar Jordan Wolf and several players who’ve had commitments in the National Lacrosse League playoffs.
The Florida Launch will play the Rattlers Saturday, 7:30 p.m., at Capelli Sport Stadium. There is a chance that Wolf (broken hand) and/or Buffalo Bandits indoor star Dhane Smith could be ready to play for Rochester. If not, coach/GM Tim Soudan has another deep roster (including Knighthawks Dan Lomas and Brad Gilles) to pick up the slack.
The Rattlers will play at the league-best Denver Outlaws Saturday, May 27. The defending champion Outlaws have won 13 straight games and 4-0 this season by a combined 52-34. Rochester at full strength would be a tough test.
RECALLING THE 2007 KNIGHTHAWKS
Friday was the 10th anniversary of the National Lacrosse League championship season by the Rochester Knighthawks. They started 2-2 and then won 12 straight to finish the regular season with a 14-2 record, including 8-0 at home. They outscored opponents 249-194 (+55). The average home attendance as 10,458.
In the playoffs, Rochester beat Toronto (10-6) and Buffalo (14-13 in overtime) to set up a home game against the Arizona Sting for the championship. But a scheduling conflict at Blue Cross Arena forced a switch of the title game to Arizona. The Knighthawks won 13-11.
It arguably (not by me) was the strongest team in Knighthawks history. The roster included John Grant Jr., Shawn Williams, Shawn Evans, Scott Evans, Mike Accursi, Ken Millin, Steve Toll, Chris Schiller, Stephen Hoar, Sandy Chapman and Pat O’Toole.
SHORT SHOTS
John Vogl of The Buffalo News reports that season ticket prices for the 2017-18 Buffalo Sabres will increase by about 4 percent across the board. Season-ticket packages will range from $1,245 to $4,992 per seat. The Rochester Americans AHL game at KeyBank Center will be free to season-ticket holders (I don’t believe that will be the deal-maker). The Sabres have missed the playoffs for six straight years and season-ticket prices went up every year.
The National Women’s Soccer League defending champion North Carolina Courage, the transplanted Western New York Flash, lost their first game of this season Sunday, 3-1 to the host Orlando Pride, featuring Marta. It was the first loss for the North Carolina (4-1 record) and the first victory for Orlando (1-2-2 record). The crowd was 5,260 at Orlando City Stadium.
ESPN’s Aaron Schatz’s post-draft projected2017 records for the AFC East: New England 13-3, Buffalo 7-9, Miami 7-9 and New York Jets 6-10. He notes that he expects out-of-division opponents Atlanta, Denver and Tampa Bay to ddecline this season.
On this date 76 years ago May 15, 1941), Joe DiMaggio of the New York Yankees started his record 56-game hitting streak.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO...
Monday, May 15 – Brian Dozier (30)...Andy Murray (30)...Michael Brantley (30)...Adam Levitre (31)...Marcus Thigpen (31)...Justin Morneau (36)...Josh Beckett (37)...Ryan Leaf (41)...Ray Lewis (42)...A. J. Hinch (43)....Desmond Howard (47)...Rod Smith (47)...Emmitt Smith (48)...Leroy Hoard (49)...John Smoltz (50)...Paul Ysebaert (51)...Joey Browner (57)...Dan Patrick (61)...George Brett (64)...Don Nelson (77).
Tuesday, May 16 – Corey Perry (32)...Jean-Sebastien Giguere (40)...Gabriela Sabatini (47)...Thurman Thomas (51)...John Salley (53)...Olga Korbut (62)...Jack Morris (62)...Rick Rhoden (64)... Rick Reuschel (68), Megan Fox (31), Janet Jackson (51), Pierce Brosnan (64) and Danny Trejo (73) are invited to the birthday party.