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This article was published in......



......on Sunday 14th May 2006

NOTE #01 - this online web site is associated with the Harrisburg Senators

NOTE #02 - the standings and statistics are up to and including Friday 12th May 2006

Eastern League Notebook

A little more than a month into the season, here's what we know about the Harrisburg Senators

The team loves playing at Commerce Bank Park, where it has posted a league-high 15 wins (15-5)
However, manager John Stearns' club has yet to find its mojo on the road, going a league-worst 3-10

Pitching remains a strength, with the staff posting a 3.15 ERA and ranking second in the league with a 1.14 WHIP (walks and hits allowed per inning)

Three prospects - third baseman Kory Casto, center fielder Frank Diaz and catcher Salomon Manriquez - have started extremely well, and a couple of others - first baseman Josh Whitesell, starting pitcher Shawn Hill and reliever Devin Perrin - have shown flashes of brilliance in a search for consistency
Plus outfielder Alex Escobar, who leads the league in on-base percentage (.484) and slugging percentage (.597) and his team in batting average (.333), appears to be on the fast track back to the majors
The onetime New York Mets and Cleveland Indians prospect has shown tremendous patience and power, definite tools of an everyday major league player

But what about the rest of the Eastern League?
Let's take a look - records and statistics are through Friday

AKRON AEROS (22-12, 1st, South)

A pretty good start for the defending EL champions
After a so-so opening, the Aeros are 18-6 over their last 24 and feature the league's leading hitter, 3B Kevin Kouzmanoff (.422)
To put Kouzmanoff's average in perspective, Escobar ranks second in the league at .333
The Cleveland Indians' top prospect, RHP Adam Miller, is 4-1 with a 3.35 ERA and 37 strikeouts in 37-2/3 innings
Some other top prospects have been doing well, including 1B/OF Ryan Mulhern (.297) and starting pitcher Tony Sipp (2-0, 2.14)

ALTOONA CURVE (22-13, 2nd, South)

One of the more veteran teams in the league, the Pittsburgh Pirates' affiliate has led the South for most of the season
A former Senator is a big reason, as 1B/OF Brett Roneberg is batting .361 and hit safely in his first 13 games after a recall from extended spring training

OF Adam Boeve (.315) won April Player of the Month honors, and pitchers Jason Roach (4-2, 1.79), Matt Peterson (3-2, 3.86) and Josh Shortslef (4-0, 4.14) headline a talented staff

BOWIE BAYSOX (19-16, 4th, South)

The Baltimore Orioles' affiliate has started decently because of its pitching
Thanks in large part to a trio of starting pitching prospects - Adam Loewen (3-2, 3.03), James Johnson (4-1, 3.63) and Brian Finch (2-3, 2.50) - the Baysox have notched a 3.10 ERA and have whiffed a league-high 326 batters
Only two everyday players, OF Cory Keylor and OF Tony Alvarez, are hitting above .275
Former Senators OF Noah Hall has just six RBIs and a .231 average

READING PHILLIES (13-19, 5th, South)

It has to be considered a disappointing start for the R-Phils, affiliate of the Philadelphia Phillies
Six of the organization's top 11 prospects, as noted by Baseball America, currently call Reading home
Expectations were higher
But the bullpen has been disastrous, blowing a ton of games for talented starters such as Gio Gonzalez (1-2, 2.62), Scott Mathieson (2-2, 3.97) and Daniel Haigwood (1-1, 2.63)
Among the struggling relievers is former Senator Luke Lockwood (1-2, 7.07)
A bright spot has been CF Michael Bourn (.268), who's stolen 15 bases

ERIE SEAWOLVES (13-21, 6th, South)

Here's an anomaly - Erie leads the league in home runs but ranks last in batting average
Part of the reason is the team's all-or-nothing approach, as the SeaWolves have whiffed 325 times, second-most in the league
Among everyday players, DH Kurt Airoso leads with a .245 batting average
RHP Humberto Sanchez shines on, though, posting a 2.51 ERA with a league-high 54 strikeouts
(By the way, Erie has won six of 10 vs. Harrisburg)

CONNECTICUT DEFENDERS (20-12, 1st, North)

Sort of like looking in a fun house mirror, the San Francisco Giants' affiliate on the outside looks like an offensive juggernaut but its reflection reveals pitching prowess
With three top prospects in the field - OF Eddy Martinez-Esteve, 1B Travis Ishikawa and OF Nate Schierholtz - Connecticut expected better production at the plate, but the team ranks last in runs scored with 105
And, with zero top pitching prospects of note, the staff boasts a league-best 2.82 ERA and 1.07 WHIP

PORTLAND SEA DOGS (19-14, 2nd, North)

The Boston Red Sox's affiliate has cooled of late, losing three straight
But a strong bullpen is a big reason for the hot start
Sure, can't-miss prospect Craig Hansen (1-0, 0.82) already has been promoted, but there are plenty of other relievers helping the Sea Dogs to the second-best ERA in the league (2.94)
Take converted catcher Edgar Martinez, who's 1-0 with a 1.59 ERA in 12 games
First baseman Luis Jimenez, a David Ortiz-sized left-handed swatter, leads with a .287 average and five homers

BINGHAMTON METS (16-19, 3rd, North)

Seven players who've participated in at least 24 games are hitting below .240
That's the bad news
The good news is first basemen Michel Abreu and Brett Harper, along with outfielders Jorge Padilla and Bobby Malek, are helping make up the slack
And the hodgepodge pitching staff has issued a league-low 68 walks
That last number alone might be keeping the New York Mets' affiliate afloat

NEW HAMPSHIRE FISHER CATS (14-20, 4th, North)

Just when it appeared the Fisher Cats, affiliate of the Toronto Blue Jays, were digging themselves deeper into a North Division hole, the team rattled off five straight wins
What sparked the turnaround?
Try pitching, as the Cats have allowed just seven runs in the five wins
Two top prospects, Davis Romero (4-2, 1.93) and Ismael Ramirez (2-3, 1.66), have ERAs under 2.00
The offense is led by OF Adam Lind and 1B Chip Cannon, who are both hitting .274 with six homers and 15 RBIs

NEW BRITAIN ROCK CATS (12-18, 5th, North)

Two numbers stand out for the Minnesota Twins' affiliate - a league-worst 3.93 ERA and a league-high 116 walks issued
One of the team's top pitching prospects, Adam Harben (1.86), has factored into just one decision (a loss) in seven starts
On offense New Britain has been more than fine, thanks to players such as OF Denard Span (.311) and 3B Matt Moses (.304)

TRENTON THUNDER (12-21, 6th, North)

The Thunder welcomed former Reading Phillies 1B Randy Ruiz back to the Eastern League two weeks ago, and the two-time violator of baseball's substance-abuse policy has emerged as one of the team's best hitters
In 15 games, he's batting .276 with three homers and nine RBIs
A combined 45 suspended games last year cost him a chance at the triple crown, but the Thunder didn't mind taking a chance
After all, the New York Yankees' affiliate lost 10 straight to start the season and 13 of its first 14