Through the season’s first 18 games, the Storm Chasers are
9-9 and are in a three-way tie for second place in the PCL American Northern
Division, trailing Oklahoma City (HOU).
The Chasers have played an astonishing 15 of 18 games at
home to start the season, but will leave for an eight game road trip to New
Orleans (MIA) and Iowa (CHC) following Tuesday’s morning game against Nashville
(MIL).
Through eighteen games, Omaha ranks third with a .299 team batting
average, but are middle of the road in the 16-team league with a .356 on-base
percentage and .411 slugging percentage, including just 11 home runs (fourth
worst in the PCL). The team does not rank any individuals among the league’s
leaders in any major offensive categories.
The club is one of three teams with a sub-4.00 ERA, sitting
third at 3.96. However, the Chasers rank third from the bottom with 119
strikeouts.
Who’s Hot:
Outfielder Brett Eibner took a big step forward April 9 when
he went 5-for-5, including two home runs and nine RBI. The 25-year old scored
three times in the game as Omaha beat Memphis (STL) 20-3. Eibner added a four
hit game and a three hit contest over the next week and now sits at .333/.395/.500
with 12 RBI and 12 runs scored on the season. He has excelled against
right-handed pitching to the tune of .340/.435/.566 with all three of his
homers, which is tied with Francisco Pena for the team lead in round-trippers.
Matt Fields has held the everyday first base duties for
Omaha and has responded offensively. Fields hit safely in his first 14 games,
and was hitting a white-hot .459/. 524/.622 on April 11. Despite being held
hitless through his last three ballgames, the 28-year old is hitting
.361/.437/.475 with one homer and 10 RBI in 67 plate appearances.
Paulo Orlando hit safely in 10 of his first 12 ballgames and
sits at .328/.371/.345 in 17 games. The Brazilian outfielder has four multi-hit
games in early April.
Infielder Johnny Giavotella spent nine days in the big
leagues, but returned to Omaha on a hot streak. In his first four games back,
Giavotella had seven hits and has compiled a line of .368/.429/.526 in ten
Triple-A games.
Who’s Not:
Prospect Christian Colon has five multi-hit games
this season, but sits at just .230/.275/.338 in 18 games. He has one home run,
nine RBI and has scored 13 runs, but only four walks, in 78 plate appearances.
Individual Pitching
Who’s Hot:
Spencer Patton is 1-0 with three saves and a 1.04
ERA in five appearances this season. In 8.2 innings, the 26-year old
right-hander has nine strikeouts and allowed four hits and four walks.
Fellow reliever Buddy Baumann has yet to allow a run in ten
innings across five appearances. The lefty has surrendered nine hits, four
walks and has hit one batter.
Columbian starter Sugar Ray Marimon is 1-0 with a 1.00 ERA
in two starts this season. He collected a win in his first appearance, five
scoreless innings against Nashville on April 11.
Who’s Not:
John Lamb has allowed five home runs, which is the third
most in the Pacific Coast League. The lefty is 0-4with a 5.31 ERA, has
surrendered at least two runs in every start this season, and has allowed a
.333 batting average across 20.1 innings. With runners on, Lamb hitters have
posted a line of .368/.429/.632.
Lefty reliever Donnie Joseph has had two rough outings, in
which he allowed a combined eight runs (five earned) across two innings. In 22
plate appearances, left-handed hitters are posting a staggering .357/.609/.357,
which includes eight free passes. Not very good for someone that hopes to get
lefties out in Kansas City this season.
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