Injuries continue to plague R'Dogs
There will come a time when the Charleston RiverDogs have no new injuries to report, and that will be big news. This is not that time.
The RiverDogs' team bus may as well be a mobile MASH unit as new ailments continue to chip away at a once formidable lineup.
The team went on its road trip without the services of third baseman Bradley Suttle, catcher-designated hitter Austin Romine and starting pitcher Jairo Heredia. Also, first baseman Wady Rufino was waiting on a bruised hand to heal.
On Wednesday, infielder Brandon Laird and pitchers Ryan Zink and Adam Olbrychowski were added to the disabled list. Rufino returned and promptly landed on the DL on Friday along with center fielder Abraham Almonte.
"We'll have to do what we can while they're out," manager Torre Tyson said. "We're only a player away to getting back to overpowering teams."
Through no fault of his own, trainer Scott DiFrancisco is losing popularity points with Tyson because he rarely has any good news to share.
"I don't even want to see him," said Tyson, who's never seen a rash of injuries like this. "The last six days, I've walked up to him with the lineup and had him OK it."
The New York Yankees, the RiverDogs' parent organization, have returned to their policy of being non-specific when they report injuries. Everything falls into the class of lower or upper body injuries, which means the ailments could be as mild as a muscle pull or as serious as leprosy. (Yes, leprosy is a stretch, but with the way the RiverDogs' luck has been going this season, can anyone really rule it out?)
The Yankees have shipped several new players to the RiverDogs to make up for the lack of manpower, but it's creating a few new problems. The visiting clubhouse is getting crowded as is the team bus.
The team also has had to increase its budget by $25 for the pre-game meal to compensate for extra people.
Amazing Almonte
You know you have a strong lineup (or at least did) when your leadoff hitter is among the league leaders in runs batted in.
Batters at the top of the order rarely rack up big RBI numbers because the No. 8 and 9 hitters-— usually the team's weakest — have to be able to get on base on a regular basis.
With that under consideration, Almonte has been impressive in the first six weeks. As of Friday's games, he ranked fourth in the South Atlantic League with 25 RBIs. He is also in or near the top 10 in runs (21), hits (40) and total bases (62). So, Almonte's absence will be a major blow to the RiverDogs' run production.
For most of the season, Carmen Angelini and Austin Krum have been the catalysts for Almonte. Angelini is only hitting .230, but he's scored 21 runs. Krum leads the team in walks (16) and is hitting .283 and has scored 17 runs. Krum and Angelini have been moved into the first and second spots in the order.
Bobblehead winner
Ken Carrington, the RiverDogs public address announcer, has won the fan vote to have his image turned into a bobblehead figurine to be given away at the Aug. 23 game.
Over 10,000 votes were cast online and at the ballpark. Carrington won in a close vote with Pat Reddick, local baseball historian who is recognizable at the park with his walking stick fashioned from a baseball and a golf club shaft. Reddick was leading during much of the voting, but Carrington surpassed him during the latest homestand.
Ty's Take takes off
RiverDogs fans might want to check out Tyson's new blog — "Ty's Take" — being offered on the Charleston RiverDogs' home Web site. He agreed to provide one this season when the team is on the road.
"They wanted me to do something daily, but I told them I'd do it on the road because at home I'm busy with the kids.
"So far it's been fun. It's given me an opportunity to vent. The scary thing is I've got to be careful. I get emotional sometimes and look back and think maybe I shouldn't have said that."
Tyson's filed his first two blog entries during the current road trip, and he offered some insight into the challenges of playing in the high altitude of Asheville and his opinion of his accomodations in Hickory, N.C.
Reach Bill Henley at 937-5595 or bhenley@postandcourier.com.
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