#Birmingham Black Barons
The Black Barons just keep rolling. This time, it was 5 RBIs from Herman Long and a strong 7 innings from Vic Willis in a victory over Kansas City.
#Brooklyn Royal Giants
4 hits from John Briggs were wasted as the Royal Giants lost 7-2 to Ottawa. That brought Briggs’ average up to over .350, and while it’s still early (his WBL career is only 23 games in), it certainly helps to silence the critics who were protesting that the 20 year old would be overmatched, despite his spectacular showing at AA.
Briggs was injured in the final game of the series, and will miss 2-3 weeks; Ty Cline was recalled from AAA.
#Miami Cuban Giants
Braden Looper has been named Miami’s closer for the time being.
#Portland Sea Dogs
Cliff Lee did well in his brief WBL debut (273/333/409), but with Joe Mauer‘s return from a rehab assignment, Lee heads back to AAA and the Sea Dogs once again find themselves with the conundrum of what to do with Mauer (313/389/504) and Pudge Rodríguez (331/350/512). There is a similar issue in CF with Bobby Murcer (316/400/555) and Gary Pettis (405/489/557 with great speed and defense). These are good problems to have.
For now, Mauer and Rodríguez return to their platoon arrangement, and Pettis continues to be the first man off the bench.
With Walter Johnson sidelined for another week or so, Atlee Hammaker has moved into the rotation.