Dragon Tales: Dragon of the Week July 31-August 6

I noticed today as I set down to my computer to right about yesterdays scintillating Dragons double header that I compiled the data and never wrote the article last week naming the Dragon of the Week.  I suppose I got caught up in the Reds mini winning streak or at least that is my story and I am sticking too it.

The Dragons posted an uninspiring 3-4 record, just enough to keep them in first place during this second half playoff race, but not enough to keep the hounds off of the Dragons heels.  These are the toughest weeks to pick a DOW from simply because the stats do not jump out at you.  Four fielders did have admirable weeks so lets start by taking a look at each of them.

Billy Hamilton

Billy was definitely being Billy this week.  As I have reported for the past two months, Hamilton continues to put the ball in play and painstakingly raise his batting average.  From the dismal basement of late May where he had just a .199 batting average, he has scratched his way to respectability finishing the game August 6 at .260.  For the week Mr. Hamilton recorded 10 hits on 36 at bats and added in 2 doubles and a triple.  While he recorded 3 stolen bases to pad his minor league leading total of 78, he continues to be challenged by the added attention his presence on the base paths obviously warrants by getting caught stealing once and picked off twice.  On the week he contributed 6 runs scored and drove in one run.

David Vidal

Along with Billy, David Vidal seems to consistently be listed as worthy of consideration for Dragon of the Week.  This week is no exception.  Vidal went 9-25 for a scorching .360 batting average raising his season average to .299.  He also scored 6 runs and drove in 7.  Add in his 2 doubles and a home run and you have a solid week for consideration.

Ronald Torreyes

Torreyes is another example of a Dayton player who always seems to excel since arriving in the Gem City 2 months ago.  He actually had an off week by the standards he has set for himself by getting 9 hits on 27 at bats for a .333 batting average that lowers his team leading average down to .383.  He had no extra base hits but lead the team by scoring 7 runs and driving in two more.  I mentioned last week that I do not necessarily see him as a major league player given his size but if he can hit the way he is currently hitting I can imagine nothing better than the opportunity to eat my own words.  And to be honest, size can be an overrated commodity in baseball.  It never seemed to be a hindrance to Joe Morgan.

Donald Lutz

Lutz has had an excellent month and this week is no exception.  He went 8-29 with a home run and a triple.  He drove in 6 and led the team with 8 RBI.  He did commit an error.

Pitching

That brings us to the pitching staff.  The starters this week were decent, though as the record indicates, at 3-4 they were not great.  Three quality starts were delivered.  Unfortunately, both of Daniel Corcino‘s starts were quality starts and yet he lost them both.  Josh Smith also had a quality start on the 6th going 6 innings while allowing no runs and earning the win.  It is the Relief corps that caught my attention this week.  Using my Quality Relief Outing concept, 4 Dragon pitchers had 2 quality outings each.  They are Chad Rogers (2.2 IP, 1 H, 2 BB, 2 K, 0 R), Drew Hayes (2.1, 0 H, 2 BB, 3K, 9 R), Daniel Wolford (2 IP, 0 H, 0 BB, 1 K, 0 R), and Blaine Howell (2.2 IP, 4 H, 2 BB, 0 K, 1 r, 1 ER).  Nine outings and over 9 innings between them and only one earned run.  A couple of other members of the Dragons bullpen had tough games on the 2nd and 3rd but these four as a group propel the Dragons bullpen into position as the Dragons of the Week!

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