08/17/06
Manager Brookens says O-Tigers stranding too many runners
Team leaving nearly eight men on base per game this season
By P.J. Harmer
Staff Writer
ONEONTA — That the Oneonta Tigers are second in the New York-Penn League in runs scored this season is impressive when one considers they’ve left an average of nearly eight runners on base.
The O-Tigers have scored 250 runs — second to Staten Island’s 275 — but have stranded 416 through 53 games. That’s an average of 7.8 runners left on base.
In Monday’s 5-2 victory over visiting Auburn, the Tigers stranded seven runners.
"We still left too many men on base and we didn’t get runners in that we should have got in," O-Tigers manager To[an error occurred while processing this directive]m Brookens said. "But at least we got enough in to win the ballgame."
Oneonta has left 10 or more runners on base 14 times this season, including a season-high 22 in a 6-1, 26-inning victory over Brooklyn on July 20.
The most the Tigers have left on in a nine-inning game was 13 in a 9-6 victory over Jamestown on July 8.
"Normally a team goes through spurts where you’ll have trouble getting men in and then all of a sudden you don’t have that problem and then all of a sudden you got it again," Brookens said.
"It’s been my experience through the years that that type of thing runs in spurts and we had been into one of those spurts where we couldn’t get them in," he continued. "So maybe we’ll get back into the swing now and start driving guys in."
The Tigers (29-24) entered the NY-Penn All-Star break 1½ games behind Tri-City (31-23) in the Stedler Division. The ValleyCats, who are fourth in the league in runs scored with 234, have left 383 on base in 54 games.
"It’s a good thing-bad thing," Brookens said. "The good thing is we’re getting guys on, but the bad thing is we can’t get them in. I’m not really concerned about it and it doesn’t really worry me. I know it’s part of the game and we’ll do probably better at it the rest of the season."
MOMENTUM BUILDER — After dropping the first two games of the series with Auburn, the Tigers avoided the sweep with the victory Monday.
That win was big, said outfielder Brennan Boesch, whose two-run double capped a four-run first inning for Oneonta.
"Not one game is bigger than any other, but I think it’s nice having some positive momentum going into the break," Boesch said. "We’re going to make a charge down the stretch and hopefully we’ll win it all, so we’re pretty excited."
It also trimmed a game off Tri-City’s lead as the ValleyCats lost, 6-5, to Mahoning Valley in 11 innings.
The O-Tigers are two games behind Staten Island (31-23) in the wild-card race.
"There’s no question, we’re in the thick of it and that’s where we want to be," said Brookens, whose team faces Tri-City two more times this season, Aug. 28 at Tri-City and Aug. 29 at Damaschke Field. "We just have to focus on ourselves, not worry about what some other club is doing — mainly Tri-City. Focus on our game, go out and win the ballgame and we’ll finish wherever we’re supposed to."
O’BRIEN IN CHARGE — Right-hander Matt O’Brien has evolved into one of Oneonta’s leaders this season, Brookens said. Oneonta’s top pitcher is 8-1 with a 2.79 ERA. He leads the league in victories.
He’s pitched 67 2/3 innings in 11 starts, allowing 22 runs on 66 hits. He’s struck out 42 and walked 16.
"I can’t take all the credit," O’Brien said Monday after earning the win against Auburn. "(Pitching coach Ray Burris) helps out a lot and my team picks me up a lot when I don’t do as great of a job as I should have. But I was in the league last year and thought I had figured it out then, but I had a pretty good idea what I could do in the league this year."
O’Brien went 6-3 with a 3.34 ERA for Oneonta last season. He allowed 42 runs in 89 innings (15 games).
"He’s a bit of a team leader, there’s no question," Brookens said. "I think that’s because of being a repeat player and also because of what he’s done on the field. A lot of leaders on the ballclubs that I ever played on were the guys getting it done out on the field and they didn’t have to talk or be real vocal, they led by example. I think that’s what he does."
ROTATION — Chris Cody (4-1, 2.47) will pitch against host Batavia at 7:05 today when the Tigers return from the two-day All-Star break. He’ll be followed by Brendan Wise (3-3, 3.40) on Friday and Cristhian Martinez (0-2, 4.32) on Saturday.
Oneonta returns home at 6 p.m. Sunday to start a two-game set with Vermont. Zach Piccola (0-5, 3.57) will pitch Sunday and O’Brien on Monday.
