Three Out Of Four Ain't Bad

The Asheville Tourists suffered their first loss of the season last night, losing the final game of a four game series with the Rome Braves 3-2.

The Tourists had their best hitting performance of the four games with ten hits but could only push across two runs. Centerfielder Wes Rogers continued his hot hitting going 3 for 3 with one of those being a solo homerun, his first of the season leading off the 8th inning, and stealing his 7th base. The Tourists stole two more bases putting their four game total at 14 as Manager Warren Schaeffer continues to try to be aggressive on the bases.

The Rome Braves only managed four hits but clutch hitting pushed across three runs and clutch pitching preserved the win.

A New Man In Charge

The Asheville Tourists have a new Manager this season in Warren Schaeffer and he has got the Tourists off to a 3-0 start after a 5-3 win over the Rome Braves last night. This is the first season the 30 year old Schaeffer has managed at any level. He has followed a simple formula to this point. Get an early lead, put pressure on the other team by being aggressive on the bases, and let the bullpen close it out. The Tourist have stolen 12 bases in 17 attempts in the three games and forced the Rome Braves pitchers into committing several balks. The Tourists have yet to be behind in any inning this season and the Tourists relievers have saved all three games. This formula will not work in every game but I like aggressive baseball especially in McCormick Field. McCormick Field is a power hitters dream ball park but you cannot depend on it all of the time.

"Hit 'Em Where They Ain't"

"Hit 'em where they ain't" is a quote attributed to old school Hall of Famer Wee Willie Keeler. The Asheville Tourists used their speed to take to the gaps and the base paths to run their way to a 6-3 record over the Rome Braves last night. Six of the Tourists nine hits went for extra bases and they stole eight bases. Centerfielder Wes Rogers tied a South Atlantic League record by stealing five bases in the game (second base three times and third bases twice) and was on base five times- a triple, single, and three walks- as he batted from the leadoff position for the first time this season. He batted from the #9 slot in the first game. Second Baseman Forrest Wall went 2 for 4 with two doubles. Tourists starter, left hander Helmis Rodriquez, pitched six strong innings, giving up an unearned run, and struck out two and walked two. Close Josh Michalec came in to pitch a scoreless ninth to get his second save in as many games.

Opening Day

The Asheville Tourists scratched together 5 hits and 4 runs in their 2015 season opener last night and it was enough to beat the Rome Braves 4-3. Leftfielder Drew Weeks started the scorning off with a solo homerun in the top of the fourth inning and the Tourists added two in the fifth and one in the sixth to finish out their scoring. Starting pitcher Zach Jemiola went 6 innings, giving up two hits and one earned run, struck out 7 and walked 2 to pick up his first win on the season. Closer Josh Michalec made it interesting in the bottom of the ninth inning by when Rome put a runner on second base with two outs. The Rome base runner overran third on an infield single to First Base but First Baseman Henry Garcia threw behind him to Tourists Third Baseman Kevin Padlo who ran him down going towards Home to end the game.

The 2015 Asheville Tourists Opening Day Roster

The Asheville Tourists announced their 2015 Opening Day Roster yesterday and it looks like the Colorado Rockies are stocking Asheville with some highly thought of talent. The Tourists will have 8 of the Colorado Rockies 30 top ranked players (according to the rankings in Baseball America), on their 25 man Roster. The Rockies organization is stacked with talent in the infield. At the top of the list is Second Baseman Forrest Wall, a 2014 Supplemental First Round Draft Pick and former UNC commitment, and ranked as the #7 Rockies Prospect by Baseball America. He batted .318 at Grand Junction in the Rookie League last season. Shortstop Emerson Jimenez (#13) comes back to Asheville for a second season, 18 year old Third Baseman Kevin Padlo (#14)batted .300 at Grand Junction with 8 Homeruns, and Catcher Dom Nunez (#17), .313 with 8 homeruns at Grand Junction. Centerfielder Wes Rogers at #30 rounds out the position players. Starting Pitchers Ryan Castellani #11, Sam Howard #24, and #28 Helmis Rodriguez will head up the Tourists rotation in 2015.