Newark Bears ~ Scarce Wins Make Bears Hungry

From the desk of:  GROWLINGS FROM BROOKLYN


NEWARK BEARS:  Days of Plenty Seem Long Gone.

Eight games remain in the Newark Bears' first half run.  Last night's loss to the Colonials in Pittsfield, Mass., dropped the Bears below .500 again; a 19-20 record, and back into fifth place; one half game behind Brockton. 


The Quebec Capitales are well on their way towards clinching the CanAm League's first half title.  They remain comfortably in first place with a 30-8 record entering tonight's games.  They enjoy a 7.5 game lead over the New Jersey Jackals.  The Bears' opponent tonight; Pittsfield; is currently in third place.


The game scheduled to start at 7pm this evening was delayed by rain and will reportedly start at 7:30pm.


Alex Smith; perhaps the Bears' most consistent starting pitcher this season, takes the hill for Newark tonight.  He has a very respectable 3.76 ERA to go along with a 3-2 record this season.  He is coming off two straight losses.  His last victory came back on June 15th versus Worcester.


The Bears' starting pitching has indeed been a problem for Newark this season.  Alex will pitch against Pittsfield having walked more batters than he has strikeouts.  Like every game it seems this season, Coach Raines is looking for six quality innings from a starter; any starter.  The bullpen can't consistently pitch four and five innings per game.


The Bears' early days of plenty seem long gone when they fattened their record to 18-11 and gained second place.  They have been scratching around unsuccessfully for wins ever since and are now starting grumble with hunger.


Talk to you after the game.