Perhaps the owners were more focused on promotion than players, but it has been a tough time of late with the barleys and malts. With a record of 26-25, the Hops are playing decent ball on paper, but a current five game losing skein speaks otherwise. With only one close game in the streak, the forbidding fourteen inning 6-5 loss, SD is getting waxed by both the best and worst teams in its division. With the Sasquatch looming on the horizon sporting the best record in the league, it behooves the Hops to get back on track.
Hopping Mounds of Mad: Ted Mills, the brilliant young pitcher of '13 has been downright Pabstian pedestrian in '14 with his 2-7 record and 7.84 ERA. Dave Lee has been the stalwart of the mound this season, and Sharp just came off the DL, just in time to face the Seattle monstrosities. The bullpen has been quite solid, so if the Hops can get back on track in the rotation, perhaps the month can be salvaged.
Bitter Bats: As usual, Angel Ortiz leads the way with Vasquez, when not hurt, and the corner OF combo of Caldwell and Johnson all hitting .300 or higher. The trick may be in the defense, as Madison's shortcomings in CF are leading to more hits than outs. Scouts are looking at a trio of Coronado outfielders for a huge defensive upgrade.
