2003 Scouting Report

Clinton LumberKings

• Alliant Energy Field, Clinton, Iowa.
• Affiliated with the Texas Rangers.
• Manager: Carlos Subero.
• Coaches: Andy Hawkins (pitching), Mike Boulanger, Jim McNaughton (strength), Mark Ryan (trainer).
• History: MWLguide.com

This page profiles the 2003 Clinton LumberKings, a Single-A affiliate of the Montreal Expos and a member of the Midwest League.

Profile

Post-Season Profile

The LumberKings had a surprisingly good offense, considering that none were star players; there was decent power, there was patience at the plate, there was great speed, and there was excellent balance in this lineup. On the other hand, they played bad defense, and the pitching was a couple notches lower than the offense....

First baseman Nate Gold, outfielder Cameron Coughlan, second baseman Chris O'Riordan, and shortstop Craig Ringe are very different players, but all are decent hitters who helped this team daily at the plate. While there was an offensive dropoff after these guys, it was only a slight decline. Gold, third baseman Randall Shelley, outfielder Jason Fransz, and DH Pedro Quero are power threats. Coughlan and outfielder Juan Senreiso are exceptional baserunners, and most of the lineup could fly. Unfortunately, many of these guys hurt the team on defense. The left side of this infield needed lots of work.

Texas farmclubs, including the L-Kings, use virtually everyone as a starter in what amounts to a ten-man rotation. This results in individual statistical lines which look like no other team in the league. That said: No pitcher on this staff had a strong season. Kameron Loe was obviously the best talent. Josh Rupe pitched well, albeit in relatively few innings' work. Luis Marcano posted fine numbers in a role which resembles "Closer," but wasn't an overwhelming presence. Gerald Smiley and Omar Beltre pitched well, but not often.

Except where otherwise specified, all statistics on this page are through the end of the season.

Season Summary

• Second Half: 39-30, .565 (2nd place tie, 4.0 behind--Playoff Qualifier)
• First Half: 30-36, .455 (6th place, 9.0 behind)
• Pitching: 69-66, 3.95, 39 saves, 1 complete game, 769 strikeouts
• Hitting: .247, 584 runs, 65 HR, 187 steals (73% success)
• Defense: 173 errors (1.28 per game); .690 defensive efficiency
• April: 10-15 (.400)
• May: 14-15 (.483)
• June: 13-11 (.542)
• July: 18-12 (.600)
• August/September: 14-14 (.500)
• Playoff Round 1: 2-1 (.667)

• Position Players used: 23
• Pitchers used: 28

Leading Players

• Best Player on the Team: Pitcher Kameron Loe

• Best Starting Pitcher: Kameron Loe (1.95, 4-3, 94 strikeouts)
• Bullpen Stopper: Luis Marcano (1.88, 2-2, 13 saves, 27 strikeouts)
• Strikeout Pitcher: Kameron Loe
• Control Pitcher: Kameron Loe

• Best Hitter: Nate Gold (.268, 12 HR, 71 RBI) or Chris O'Riordan (.326, 1 HR, 26 RBI [48 games])
• Home Run Leader: Nate Gold (12)
• High Batting Average: Hector Lebron (.305), Chris O'Riordan (.326)
• High On Base Percentage: Chris O'Riordan (.429)
• High Slugging Percentage: Nate Gold (.477)
• Notable Baserunners: Cameron Coughlan, Craig Ringe, Randall Shelley, Chris O'Riordan, Pedro Quero, Emmanuel Santana, Juan Senreiso, Rick Asadoorian, Orlando Cruz, Anthony Webster, Orlando Cruz
• Notable Batting Eye: Chris O'Riordan, Gabriel Delgado

The LumberKings at Mid-Season

The L-Kings have scored 295 runs and have permitted 332 runs. Carlos Subero uses 3.1 pitchers per game.

Clinton's team is very weak--probably even weaker than its record shows. The team's sole strengths are bases on balls and stolen bases; these are more than balanced by a terrible stable of starting pitchers, a weak bullpen, and a weak defense.

Considered as a team, the hitters have leadoff skills. Most of them are pretty good at drawing walks, and several LumberKing baserunners are having strong seasons. DH Pedro Quero and catcher Emmanuel Santana are pretty good hitters, and Quero is joined by first baseman Nate Gold and third baseman Randall Shelley as (relatively weak) power sources. When they get on base, Quero, Cameron Coughlan, and especially Juan Senreiso have been extremely successful baserunners.

This staff's best pitcher--Kameron Loe--is pitching in a utility role. Loe may be something special. No one else who's still with the team has proven even adequacy. This staff has the MWL's worst ERA, and registers nearly one hit batsman per game. Strangely, they throw few wild pitches.

Promoted and missed: Utility pitcher Erik Thompson.

Worth watching: Reliever Franco Pezely.

Pre-Season Profile

Manager

In one Gulf Coast season, Carlos Subero let few pitchers complete games but was mostly fairly conventional. His 2001 team was outrageously successful on the basepaths.

First Round Draft Selections

• none

Team Age Information

• Average Team Age: 22.1
• Pitchers: 22.0
• Hitters: 22.1

• Oldest Player on the Team: Pedro Quero (November 17, 1977)
• Youngest Player on the Team: Juan Senreiso (October 31, 1982)

The average player in the Midwest League this season is about 21.7 years old.

Where they played last season

This summary was based on the team's opening day roster and will not be revised to reflect roster changes.

The Rangers have sent Clinton a team composed mostly of players who played at Savannah, Pulaski, or both last season, with bits & pieces from other sources.

Team        League             W/L    Place    Hitters Pitchers
                                     (Teams)
Charlotte   Florida State (A+) 84/56   1(12)      1      1
Savannah    South Atlantic (A) 49/89  16(16)      5      7
Pulaski     Appalchian (R+)    34/32   6(10)      5      8
Rangers     Gulf Coast (R)     28/32  T8(14)      3      3

Many of these players appeared for two teams and are counted twice in this table; one played for all four teams. Three of the new LumberKings played in independent leagues last season.