Clearwater Threshers Weekly Recap

Well last week’s report contained 8 games due to a 10:30 am game on Wednesday last week, so this week’s report includes only 5 games because of a day off for the league on Tuesday this week. Of course the big story for the week was Antonio Bastardo’s line in his game this past week. Overall the team went 2-3 on the week winning it’s last two games making it the first time this season the team has won two games in a row.

The offense has come to life a bit as of late coming up from last in the league in team batting average after week one, and next to last in batting average after week two to fourth (of twelve teams) in batting average currently. The offense has drawn the second most walks in the league, and has struck out fewer than all but one team in the league. Unfortunately the team is hitting without any power at all. The offense is last in slugging percentage, and in all XBH categories, last is RBIs, and next to last in runs scored as a result. (The odd thing is the team with the fewest runs in the league, the Tampa Yankees, are only one game out of first in the division.)

For the most part pitching remains the team’s strength and they lead the league with four shut outs so far this year, and have allowed the second fewest runs. The team has the third most strikeouts in the league with 197, but has also allowed the second most walks with 99.

Bastardo & the Sharks Blank Yanks

Despite having given up just four runs in four games while striking out a league high 34 batters the Clearwater Threshers starter Antonio Bastardo had earned just one win in his first four tries this year. On Sunday afternoon he would be given his fifth chance to earn a win, and he certainly made the most of his outing. Antonio had his best outing of the year going 8.0 innings and striking out 13 Yankees in the process both season highs for him.

Clearwater Threshers Weekly Recap

This week’s Clearwater Threshers report includes a bonus 8 games for the week thanks to a 10:30 am game on Wednesday that I was able to include here. Fortunately it was able to add another win to put them at a still disappointing 3-5 since my last report. As I mentioned last week it continues to be the pitching that is helping Clearwater out while their hitting as a team remains a disappointment to this point in the year.

Despite the poor team record there are some prospects on the team putting up terrific numbers. As I mentioned the pitching is carrying them to this point so I’ll touch on that first.

Former Clearwater Thresher Brad Harman Called Up

Brad Harman was called up to the big league club today from AA Reading with Jimmy Rollins being place on the DL. Congratulations to Brad and best of luck. It’s always exciting to see one of our boys from Clearwater to be rewarded for their hard work.

Two Threshers Players Promoted to AA Reading

This isn’t exactly breaking news since it happened a few days ago, but you’ll hear it here before you get it from the Clearwater Threshers official webpage…Jake Blalock (on 4/13) and Nate Johnson (on 4/16) were both promoted to AA Reading.

There have not been any replacements yet for them on the Clearwater roster. Most likely some one will come over from extended Spring Training at the Carpenter Complex to take their roster spots. That is the norm for this early in the season.