Aeros Advance to Championship Series, but Give Erie its Due
Posted September 8th, 2007 by Stephanie Storm
After practically crawling into the playoffs, the Aeros have come up with one heck of a turnaround the last two weeks in finshing the last week of the regular season strong and now knocking off Southern-Divison winner Erie 3 games to 1 with an 8-6 win Saturday night at Canal Park.
The Aeros overcame a rough start by starter Bobby Brownlie and a pair of early errors, using three home runs - including a pair of two-run shots by Michael Aubrey - to charge back for the win.
The Aeros have two days off before heading to Trenton for the start of the Championship Series Tuesday in New Jersey - a well deserved rest.
As players sprayed bottles of champaign at each other under the clear plastic tent that was the team’s clubhouse Saturday night, Aeros manager Tim Bogar called the media into his office. After a few quick words about his team’s achievements, he spent some more time talking about how impressed he was with Erie.
A lot of managers will throw comments in like that to sound good.
But it was obvious Bogar meant what he was syaing about how the SeaWolves were the best team the Aeros played all year. He also talked about how impressed he was with Erie Manager Matt Wallbeck. Perhaps Bogar was referring to Wallbeck’s class for not making too big of a deal out of the Indians sending Jeremy Sowers to Akron to pitch a pivitol Game Three.
As unfair as the move may have been, neither Bogar nor Wallbeck had anything to do with it, and both handed it professionally. The message they sent to their respective players was clear: You can’t worry about things out of your control.
September 9th, 2007 at 12:59 am
Hey, Stephanie, great stuff as always.
Any idea who the Aeros will start in the championship series? You’d mentioned that Adam Miller was expected to start in today’s game (Sunday) had it been necessary. I imagine either he or Lofgren get the nod for Tuesday — and probably Sowers in game 2 or 3?
I’m thinking about heading up to Trenton for a game.
September 9th, 2007 at 4:07 pm
What a game last night. We were there and it was awesome!!! After a slow beginning they finally came through. I hope to see them win it this coming week! Go Aeros!
September 9th, 2007 at 7:41 pm
What’s with the clear plastic tent for a clubhouse? The designated celabratory location sounds logical to me, but in Defender land we don’t get to the playoffs. The snowball in Hades has a better chance then we do of seeing post-season action.
September 10th, 2007 at 10:46 am
Hey guys - Couple things:
First of all, the clear plasitc tent was a reference to the clubhouse being protected by plastic as the team celebrated.
Second, the rotation as I understand at this point is as follows:
Adam Miller, Chuck Lofgren, Jeremy Sowers, TBA, TBA.
The fourth starter could be right-hander Ryan Edell from Kinston, who was received yesterday when Jake Dittler was -placed on the DL with a left hip strain.
September 10th, 2007 at 7:15 pm
Stephanie,
Something I’ve been meaning to ask you for a while….whats kept Jake Dittler in AA for so long? For the past three years (if my feeble mind is still functioning) he has started a game every time Akron came to Norwich and it was a gem or close to it. I find it hard to believe he’s no more than a career minor leaguer.
Thanks
Skip
September 10th, 2007 at 8:57 pm
I wish I had seen the same performances that you have, Skip. I’d like to hear Stephanie’s thoughts on Dittler, too, but he really hasn’t done anything to be promoted. Between the stats and what I’ve seen, I’d have to say Dittler lives on an inconsistant sinker and his secondary pitches are substandard.
Here are some of his career numbers between AA & AAA:
503.2 ip, 560 h, 182 bb, 295 k. Over 9 innings, that’s 10 hits, 3.3 bb, 5.3 k.
To put it simply, Dittler is extremely hittable, and while he was pretty good control, it’s nothing out of the ordinary. Meanwhile, he can’t make anyone miss the ball. Pitchers who can’t come close to establishing a 2:1 K/BB rate in the minors, are really poor bets to survive the majors… especially when they’re giving up more than a hit per inning.
Now Dittler never was going to be a guy to blow the ball by hitters. He lives or dies on his ability to keep the ball on the ground. However, guys like Aaron Laffey and Jeremy Sowers aren’t going to strike out a lot of major league hitters either, but their rates were considerably better in AA/AAA than Dittler’s.
Laffey: 248.2 ip, 247 h, 65 bb, 166 k.
…8.9 h/9, 2.4 bb/9, 6 k/9
Sowers: 282 ip, 271 h, 63 bb, 189 k.
…8.6 h/9, 2 bb/9, 6 k/9
Dittler has just a 1.6:1 K/BB ratio, while Sowers maintained a 3:1 ratio at the same stops, and even Laffey (who had always been a rather fringe prospect, but kept getting promoted by performance) has had a 2.5:1. Not to mention that both of those guys were walking a batter less per 9 innings and allowing fewer hits.