Skitz over BayBears, Wood Out, Ascher to Start

BISCUITS BEAT BAYBEARS IN GAME ONE
Tonight I went to the park and learned much, as well as watching an excellent Biscuits win. Jake Bauers hit a three run circuit clout and threw out a foolish baserunner who dared challenge the arm of the young right fielder.

Jake Bauers showing off the gun in RF on Wednesday

The runner tagging up from third knew he had to bust it down the line, but Jake still made sure the ball was there waiting for him at the end of the line.

catcher Mike Marjama with time to read a book before applying the tag

Guerrieri

Starting pitcher Taylor Guerrieri tossed an excellent seven frames.

Reliever Kyle Bird threw one good inning and one bad third of another, before being lifted for Kyle Winkler who nailed down his fourth save.

THE BAD NEWS
 
WOOD OUT FOR SEASON

SP Hunter Wood

I learned why the pitching rotation is full of TBD's - starter Hunter Wood left his no-hit bid after being struck by a comebacker.

Now Wood has been diagnosed with a broken hand, he is out for the season and already has gone back to Florida for Rays staff to evaluate.

Bummer.


ROTATION IN NEED

Kyle Bird

So what pitcher will be starting in place of the injured Hunter Wood?

 I asked Brady Williams, he refused to name his secret weapon starter, however he did offer a clue by signifying a lefthander would be the choice to start.

After seeing the lefty Kyle Bird in game one, there are just two other port-siders on the roster: Harrison and Ascher. Considering the recent long relief work Steve Ascher has been doing, he seems the likely candidate.


BULLPEN BACKUP
Of course, this leaves Jared Mortensen available to follow up, as well as Ryne Stanek, both right handed pitchers were idle in the first game.

Skitz skipper Williams would love to get about three innings from each, but should be happy with getting to the late innings on just three arms.

ASCHER

Steve Ascher lhp

Reliever Steve is a great guy and has been getting stretched out lately, picking up more work.

He last pitched on the 24th, getting four and a third IP in his twenty-second appearance. Ascher has been throwing strikes and missing bats pretty often, making him a great candidate to make the spot start for the injured Wood.

In his spare time, Steve is rumored to be starting a rescue mission for wild horses.

SEND HELP!
Using all the bullets in the bullpen is a short term answer to what could become a long term problem.

A pitcher will have to come from somewhere to round out the rotation or to take the place of a bullpen arm forced into the rotation.

SPECULATIN'
Perhaps a Brent Honeywell promotion is coming soon, the screwballing StoneCrab recently came off the DL and tossed a good five innings.

Other Stone Crab alternatives could include starter Greg Harris, with 14 starts he has garnered a nice 3.25 era.
Or reliever Mike Franco, who has been doing a nice job eating quality innings in Port Charlotte.

WHAT TO LOOK FOR

 Look for a large band on Sunday for the pre-Independence Day game, about 100 strong!

Look for Brady Williams to rely on his starters to go deep into games after tossing the bullpen into the fire on Thursday.

Look for managers on both teams to pressure umpires and argue bad calls, a few questionable plays had both teams rolling their eyes and fans wondering "what just happened?"

Look for the BayBears pitchers socks, the striped hose are cool but probably not team issues.

Be sure to look for me in the Owners Box on Saturday, but not at all on Sunday. I do sometimes miss a game!

#BULLPENLIFE

Gotta love it.