Autumn in San Francisco and Hops territory

San Diego off to a sub .500 start with a number of factors at play over the first third of the season. This is a team attempting to build up to contention, but has had historical flaws. Who are the players performing, who is mundane, and who is miserable?

Performers:
Mike Johnson, LF-see the previous post for his record, but once again, he is hitting a solid mid- .300, getting extra bases, scoring, and playing solid if not spectacular defense.
Miguel Ortiz, 1b-Not his best start, but still a bona-fide middle of the order hitter, showing why this season with a team leading 10 HR, and second in RBI
Elvis Sharp, SP-5-3 record leads the staff
Kaneko and Higashi, SS/2b-The keystone combo has solved one of the key Hops issues who have tried to nurture a SS and 2b since s1. Both are getting on base in the .350 range while hitting around .270
Charlie Jackson, IF-Team leading RBIs says it all
Mata, Chase and Downing, RP-From key setup men to the closer, this trio of late inning arms has helped secure SD its near .500 pace. All three have sub 2.00 ERA while registering a 7-3 record and 14 saves.
Mario Vasquez, 3b-In part-time and pinch-hitting duties, his .423 BA and , 

Mundane:
Kessler, Knight and Rojas, C-Just enough offense and so-so defense
Bryan Caldwell, RF-.286 hitter with some pop, solid RF
Bill Turner/Ryu Nakamura CF- hitting ok, but OBP a just above .300 disappointment

Miserable:
Starting rotation outside Sharp (Bolyard, Lee, Mills and Kanno) combined 10-17 with a 5 + ERA.
Middle Relief (Duenas, Bernard, Bowers, Knight) ERA in the stratosphere

Where can Hops management make moves to improve?
Continue to look for help from the minors?
Not much there, though names like Pueblo and Barrett will appear in the rotation and bullpen soon

Trade bait?
Dwayne Sparks and Juan Quintana are the two heirs to Ortiz, but only one can play the position at a time. Pitching is a mid-level strength, so folks like Bolyard or Bowers might interest some GMS.

Though management wishes for a .500 season, it might be quite a stretch this season.

Johnson

So, it has been a real tumultuous time, dealing with my father dying, when this just came to me today. Thought I would share the process from sketchbook draft to illustration first pass and next draft of poem about Mike Johnson, the under-recognized Hops leftfielder.

Hitter

Thousands of times
stationed rear box
better to see breaks
split
second
extra response

bat at rest between
gentle
left shoulder taps
hands quiet

unlike
catcher fidgeting
process decisions
fingers flashing
location
pitch selection
shifting feet
spikes scraping red dirt

young man on mound
winds up
exaggerated hesitation
all the rage

heat high
no flinch
ball one
repeat sign
on this tune
heat again
strays inside tight
two-oh

slight lip curl
ready

get it in
breaking pitch
mistake

connect
crack back through box
nearly denudes hurler
careening into center
another
base
rap