Tuesday, August 30, 2011

Griz Fans Happy - Could be Happier

Grundy County is heading to the postseason for the second straight year and things couldn't be better, right? The Griz have an 8 1/2 game lead on Vermont and a Magic Number of 16 with 23 games to play.

Not so fast says Griz owner - Jack Howard - Justin Rabidoux's Fighting Souix are not out of it. Howard points out that the Sioux put together a good Block 3; winning 22 of 35 games and pushing their team win total to 73. The Griz on the other hand have been slipping and only won 13 of 36 in Block 3 and ending the Block with 82 wins. If those two teams repeat those block percentages in Block 4 Vermont would pull within 3 games of the division title. If the Griz continue their downhill spiral at the rate they have been falling the momentum going downhill is like a fatman (Jack resembles that remark) walking downhill toward a cliff. The Fiighting Sioux seem to have fresh horse for their drive up the very same hill.

Griz fans looked at the team's Block 1 results and thought a 100 win season was in sight for the first time. With 23 games to play and 82 wins - and most games on the road - it appears GCG will be happy to win 90. Jack points out we went from best league record to mediocre in Block 3. The Troy Haymakers are the team to beat (if you can) sitting with a 95 - 44 record. They could fall over and still pull out 100+ wins. Leigh Valley Iron Pigs are also looking to collect 100 wins, needing only 8 in the last Block to surpass that. Even Lake Champlain and Springfield have accumulated 4 more wins than the Griz.

Griz fans are hoping the downhill spiral ends soons and that Jack Howard can right the ship - even if the league has passd the trade deadline. Griz will have to overcome the losses of Rookie Sensation - RHP Tim Stauffer and Relief Pitcher Extrodinaire - Jason Motte who will sit out Block 4 to rest their arms and avoid overusage. Howard said we will miss them as their records demonstrate. Motte has 0.82 ERA in 44 IP and Stauffer's ERA is 1.98 over 77 innings. They are our 2 best pitchers this year. Griz activated Justin Morneau for Block 4 after resting him in Block 3. He will play regularily the rest of the way out which should help our offense. Howard said he hopes the cold streak is over and that the Griz warm up to defend their division title. We hope to make the playoffs and see what will happen from there.

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