Often you will hear coaches or media describe a team as being “better than their record” or even being “worse than their record.” These phrases are over used to the point they lose their effectiveness. However, despite the risk of using a phrase that may be over used, I must describe the 2011 Salem-Keizer Volcanoes as being better than their record shows.
Now before I go too far let me start by saying this. I believe the team has earned their 8-20 record. They have been plagued with errors (both in the field and on the bases), failed to stop opposing teams rally’s before they got out of control, and at times have seemed lost on the field.
But this team has talent.
The Volcanoes have two players in the top 7 for batting average in the Northwest League. Mike Murray leads the league batting .425 (the only player in the league who has the qualifying number of at bats to be over .400) and Joe Panik who is batting a very respectable .330. Only Spokane has more players in the top 7 with three guys. This list doesn’t even include Kaohi Downing and Brett Krill who are batting .339 and .302 respectively, because both have missed games due to injuries and don’t have the required ratio of at bats to games to qualify for the list.
The Volcanoes have three guys at or above .400 for on base percentage. Murray at .453, Panik at .407, and Shawn Payne at .398.
Payne sits third in stolen bases with 11 only behind Jace Peterson of Eugene with 12 and the overall steals leader Jesus Galindo, another Volcano, with 14 steals.
The Volcanoes also come at opposing pitchers with some pop in there bat.
The Volcanoes have four of the top twelve on the league home run leader list. Murray leads the team with 5, while Krill, Brice Cutspec, and Joe Staley all sit with 4 home runs. Although not in the top 12 Panik sits with 3 home runs to go along with his high average and on base percentage.
Pitching has been a bit of a struggle for the team. Each pitcher has shown moments of brilliance but they have also shown moments that make you want to scratch your head.
The starters have been a bit of a roller coaster. Lorenzo Mendoza started the season of very well but has struggled his last two outings, while Kendry Flores struggled to start the season but has looked very good his last two starts. Like Flores, Brandon Allen struggled to start the season but has had two strong outings recently. One thing to take into account with these three players is that they are only 19 years old and are facing hitters that are often 22 and 23 years old. Flores, Allen and Mendoza will improve over time and will be important to the teams success in the second half of the season.
Cameron Lamb and Reinier Roibal have been the most consistent of the starters. With exception of one bad start each these two have thrown strikes and put up solid numbers. In six starts Lamb has only allowed 5 walks while Roibal has only allowed 4 walks.
Out of the bullpen Phil McCormick has been the most dominating. The lefty submarine pitcher is sporting a 0.69 ERA in 11 innings of work.
I don’t know how many of these players if any will make it to the major league level but what I do know is this team does have talent and a lot of potential. So basically what I’m saying is this team is better then their record shows.