L.I. Ducks ~ No Pitching; No Problem?

From the desk of:  THE "IRENE" FLOODED DUCK POND



LONG ISLAND DUCKS:  Lack of Starting Pitchers Sending Ripples Through The Pond as Hurricane Irene Ruffled Their Feathers.


Webbed feet are supposed to be an advantage in flooded areas such as Hurricane Irene left behind.  But the truth is the Long Island Ducks have been tripping over themselves in the aftermath of losing their ace pitcher; and two more quality starters before him; who've all had their contracts purchased.

If they win their next game, they'll have won exactly twice as many games as they've lost this season.  In the second-half thus far, they are still playing .707% ball even after losing their three best pitchers.  But despite winning their last two games; and the most recent in dramatic fashion; make no mistake; the Ducks have struggled of late.


What Kraig Binick did for the Ducks in Long Island's last game played, was as much of a statement as any the Duck's needed to make so far this season.  Kraig Binick; who recently recaptured the Atlantic League's lead in batting average; (.365); delivered a dramatic tenth inning home run last Friday to beat the York Revolution 8-6.  The Ducks scored three runs in that tenth inning.

Long Island's 2-0 lead was wiped out in the seventh inning when the Revolution tied the game.  Then York went ahead 5-2 in the top half of the eighth.  Long Island got one run back in the bottom half to make it 5-3.


In the ninth, Kraig Binick scored on a wild pitch, and Javier Colina tripled home the tying run making it a 5-5 game.  But in their very next at-bat, York looked like they were going to pull out an extra-inning win with a run in the tenth and turn Long Island into hard-luck losers.  That's when Kraig Binick stepped up and saved the night with only his fourth home run of the year.


And in a season that seems to be moving along swimmingly for the Ducks, they do indeed have real problems which Kraig Binick's homer allowed them to forget for a day.  The Ducks are 5-5 in their last ten games, and the starting staff has struggled to win games since Mike Loree's departure from the team.


Without a doubt, the very capable Long Island bullpen must now defend the high ground the rest of the way as the offense seems well armed and committed to the fight.

Sunday's game starting a series versus the Somerset Patriots at Bethpage Park is postponed.  Long Island will rsume play Monday.



My two related posts:
The Duck's Soft Feathered Under-Belly
Mike Loree Sold to Pirates



Mike.BTB