The Palm Beach Cardinals are just about half way through their 2007 season and so far they are the definition of average. Currently the Cards’ are 34-34 and tied with Vero Beach for second place in the Florida State League’s Eastern Division. The season has had its high points and low points and we’ve seen players come and go. I thought I’d take this opportunity to introduce the new players and give some much needed credit to some of the Cards’ players.
MVP- Allen Craig has been far and away the best player in the first half of the 2007 season. The third baseman from UC Berkeley is hitting .306 with fourteen homeruns, twelve doubles and forty-five runs batted in. Craig has come through in big situations all season and even though he lost his protection in the line-up, Mark Hamilton, Craig has proven all year that he can hit no matter who is around him.
Pitcher of the Year- Tyler Norrick has been a dominate front of the rotation for the Palm Beach Cardinals all season, the lefty has a team leading six wins and a solid 3.20 earned run average. Norrick has stopped trying to overpower every batter he faces, he now is mixing a biting slider that has helped Norrick accumulate sixty-two strikeouts.
Player to Watch- At the start of the season the player I received the most emails about was A.J. Van Slyke. Although he struggled to find his stroke early in the season, A.J. has finally come around and started to live up to the early season interest. Van Slyke is hitting .273 with eleven doubles and nine stolen bases this season and his numbers should increase with steady playing time. Springfield has called up big hitting first baseman Mark Hamilton and Van Slyke is the early favorite to get some playing time at first.
New FacesP.J. Walters was called up from Quad Cities on Wednesday to fill the spot left by starter Adam Daniels. Walters played his college ball at South Alabama and was 6-2 with a 2.62 in ten starts at Quad Cities.
James Rapoport is a left handed centerfielder that was called up from Quad Cities a few weeks ago. Rapoport is hitting .235 with two doubles and a triple in sixty-eight at bats.
Palm Beach All StarsTyler Norrick added another highlight to his impressive 2007 season Saturday, the Palm Beach starter earned the victory in the East v West All Star Game. Teammate Allen Craig hit a home run in the fifth and drove in two runs to earn MVP of the All-Star game. Mark Hamilton walked in his only at bat and Luke Gregerson struck out the only two batter he faced.
News and Notes6-18-07: Springfield - Called up P Adam Daniels from Palm Beach.
6-18-07: Palm Beach - Called up P P J Walters from Quad Cities and placed OF Shane
Robinson on the DL with a broken foot. He's expected to miss 6 weeks.
6-19-07: Springfield - Called up 1B Mark Hamilton from Palm Beach.
6-20-07: Palm Beach - Called up 1B Brandon Buckman form Quad Cities.
6-21-07: Springfield - Called up P Kyle McClellan from Palm Beach
6-21-07: Springfield - Sent P Michael Cooper to Palm Beach.
6-21-07: Springfield - Placed P Jose Garcia on the DL. Called up 2B/SS Jose Martinez from Palm Beach
