KNIGHTS BLOCK 1 ROUNDUP

(New York Daily Mirror - May 7, 2009)

NEW YORK - The Knights recently completed Block 1 of the 2009 NASBL campaign, and while there appears to be marked improvement over the season-long nightmare that was the '08 season, there is plenty of room for improvement.

The club finished Block 1 with a record of 17-29, good for a third-place tie in the LF Central with former perennial Central winner Pocono. The team posted a 9-14 record at Empire Field, a .391 winning percentage that surpasses the putrid .291 mark the club posted last season.

A. Pitching

There is no question that the Knights rotation last season ranks as among the worst squads that the NASBL has ever seen, compelling Knights GM Mitch Pak to focus on tearing down the rotation and bringing in new talent. Thus far, however, the vaunted rebuilt starting rotation has been disappointing.

The newcomers have done well. The best starter has been Joe Saunders, whose 1-3 record is misleading given his outstanding ERA (3.52) and WHP (1.06) and two complete games. Jon Lester, the overall #1 pick in this year's draft, lost five of his first seven decisions, but he too has been an apparent victim of a lack of run support. Lester's 4.42 ERA is very good for an NASBL lefthander and he leads the team in strikeouts with 42, against only 16 walks. Lester has also given the Knights innings, logging 53 IP and posting 3 complete games. Also performing well is newcomer Gavin Floyd, who went 4-4 in Block 1 with a 4.70 ERA and 4 complete games.

The problems start with the veterans - Matt Cain, Adam Wainwright and Mike Mussina. Cain, a 15-game winner in 2007 and the only starter to be retained after the '08 season, posted a 6.58 ERA in Block 1, posting a misleading 3-4 record. Cain has already surrendered 11 home runs and his control has been an issue (28 walks against just 37 strikeouts). Mussina has been a major disappointment thus far, to the chagrin of Knights management and fans who wanted the Moose to shine in his final NASBL season. Instead, the 40 year old Mussina has been whacked around to the tune of a 1-4 record and a Zito-like 8.36 ERA. Adam Wainwright has been even worse, going winless in seven Block 1 starts, posting a terrible 8.47 ERA and allowing 52 hits in just 39 innings pitched.

It would appear that the Knights will abandon their six-man rotation, and will most likely delegate Wainwright to the bullpen, or perhaps deactivate him for Block 2.

The Knights bullpen, the lone bright spot for the club in 2008, was excellent in Block 1. Octavio Dotel has been lights out, posting a 1.84 ERA in 14.2 innings along with 16 strikeouts and only five walks. Veteran Darren Oliver has already made 20 appearances and logged 43 innings, posting a great 2.28 ERA and a miniscule 1.04 WHP. Jeremy Affeldt (2.76 ERA) and closer Chad Qualls (2-0, 2.28) have also been effective. Only veteran Scott Linebrink has been disappointing, making just 4 appearances this season with a 6.75 ERA.

B. Hitting

The most pleasant surprise this far this season is the power provided by left fielder Xavier Nady. Nady has played in each of the Knights 46 games thus far and has been remarkable, bashing 14 homers (leading the entire NASBL) and 12 doubles and scoring 31 runs. He is tied for the team lead in hits (54) with Michael Young. The Captain also had a satisfying Block 1, batting .280 with 24 RBI and 13 doubles. Jorge Cantu, who appears to be the regular 3B now, hit .272 with 5 homers and 18 RBI and 49 base hits. Adam Laroche seems to have recovered his home run stroke (10 in 134 at bats).

Again performing poorly was CF Grady Sizemore, who batted just .204 in Block 1, with 6 homers and 15 RBI. If the Knights wish to even sniff .500 this year, Sizemore must do much better.