When In Rome

The Asheville Tourists start the playoffs against the Rome Braves on the road tonight and it should be an interesting matchup. The Tourists are leading the minors in wins with 88 and send Ben Alsup (14-5) to the mound for Game #1. He is a gutsy pitcher who won't overpower anybody but has the ability to pitch out of tight spots. He led the team in innings pitched with 156. The Rome Braves have a rehabbing Shortstop from Atlanta named Andrelton Simmons who was the National League's Rookie of the Month for June. The Tourists have a first round pick of their own at Shortstop, Trevor Story, who is having a great season in his own right with 18 homeruns and a .277 average. The Tourists return home to McCormick Field Friday night for Game #2.

Great Pitching

The Tourists have gone 11-5 since July 1st enabling them to catch Charleston for first place in the Southern Division in the second half. This hot streak has been due in large part to their great pitching. Ben Alsup and Chris Jensen lead the staff with 10 wins, Daniel Winkler has 8, but the most impressive of the bunch has been left-hander Tyler Anderson, the #7 ranked prospect in the Rockies organization. He has posted an 8-2 record with a 2.64 ERA to this point in the season. He doesn't have overpowering stuff (44 K's in 78 IP) but his ability to pitch out of tight spots in his first professional season has been remarkable. Left-handers are worth their weight in gold and I hope to see him progress thru the Colorado Rockies system over the next few years.

On A Roll

I finally got to go to my second Asheville Tourists game of the year on Thirsty Thursday, May 31st. Manager Joe Mikulik has the Tourists playing great baseball. They are getting timely hitting and solid pitching and are trying to run away with the first half title in the Southern Division in the South Atlantic League. The Tourists won this game 11-3. Tourists starter Ben Alsup (7-1) gritted his way thru 7 innings, giving up 3 runs and getting out of a bases loaded jam in the top of the 7th inning. Delta Cleary, Jr., and Sam Mende drove in 3 runs a piece and Catcher Will Swanner hit the games only homerun, a line drive shot over the right centerfield fence.