Long Island Ducks: Monday Swim 8/12/2019

From the desk of:  THE WEBBED SPIKES NINE

A Second Half Slog

The first half Liberty Division champs enter their day off with a 14-15 second-half record through 29 games with 41 games remaining to play.  In the meantime the Ducks are presently caught circling in a holding pattern of inconsistency since the onset of August thus making them 5-6 for the month.  But they might be looking to keep that trend going for at least one more game considering Sunday's loss against Lancaster as they open a three game series against the York Revolution Tuesday evening at Bethpage Ballpark.  For their part York has planted their flag atop the Freedom Division with a 20-10 second half record, and a 1.5 game lead over Sugar Land.

After facing York the Ducks travel to North Carolina where there awaits a three game showdown against the second-half leading High Point Rockers whom in the first half demonstrate just how competitive down the stretch they will ultimately be.  Meanwhile Somerset continues struggling with an 11-19 record, six games out of first place.

Where are the Ducks without starters Joe Iorio and Darin Downs?  Iorio is 5-2 with a 2.87 ERA and 1.14 WHiP through 94 innings pitched over 24 appearances and 14 much needed starts.  Downs meanwhile is 3-3 with a 2.72 ERA and 1.11 WHiP with 98 strikeouts through 15 starts and 79.1 innings pitched.  Recent arrival Brian Matusz has so far posted a 2.70 ERA and 0.90 WHiP through his first two starts and ten innings pitched for Long Island.  Jake Fisher on the other hand is struggling along with a 4-6 record and 4.99 ERA and 1.45 WHiP through 13 starts and 70.1 innings pitched.  Long Island's 4.01 team ERA ranks fifth in the Atlantic League.  Their 1.32 team WHiP is third best.  The High Point Rockers lead the circuit in both team ERA and WHiP.

In the absence of Enrique Burgos, Josh Lueke, and George Kontos, reliever Michael Tonkin owns an 0.36 ERA with six saves through 24.2 innings.

On the other side of the ball the Ducks rate bottom third in many of the league's offensive categories.  David Washington still leads the team with 19 home runs and 49 RBI.  L.J. Mazzilli also remains their top hitter with a .283 average.

• Transactions:  Ducks sign free agent right-hand pitcher Ismael Cabrera.  He fills the void left behind by the retirement of Kevin McAvoy.  It comes a week after the free agent signings of right-hander Brandon Beachy and southpaw Brandon Sherman.