CUP O' JO: Friday, April 24th

I admit it.  Dusty dispatched PTown's Pro Jonny Gomes to the AAA Louisville Bats and I became cranky.  No wishing to share my foul mood with ya'll and stir up bad karma, I threw myself into fundraising mode and conjured up monetary mojo instead. Now that 25 raffle winners have gone home happy and Casa Grande Baseball's coffers are replenished, I'm in better spirits.  And back in Cup O' Jo mode.  Let's see how the PTown Area Pros are faring three weeks into the season.

JONNY GOMES (OF, Louisville Bats, AAA Cincinnati Reds Organization) 
Gomes pounded the ball the first half of Spring Training.  He seemed a lock to make the team.  The Reds even put him through a 1st base boot camp in an attempt to create some roster flexibility.  A few weeks before Opening Day, Jonny's bat became unproductive as the Reds broke camp in a teamwide slump that may have finally bottomed out this week. At the roster deadline, Cincy decided to make Gomes an Opening Day Outfielder in AAA Louisville.  He started out well enough, but his bat went from unproductive to downright uncooperative.  Longtime fans know that he is prone to awe inspiring streaks of greatness and gut wrenching slumps. Happily, Jonny started hitting this week. With a 3-for-4 day at the plate yesterday, Gomes is now batting .262 with 2 doubles, a triple and a home run and a stolen base.  Yesterday's big win moved Louisville into a tie with Toldeo for the International League West Division lead 1.5 games in front of Indianapolis. They play "pants high" every day in Louisville and it's just not very Gomesian.  Hit your way outta that place Jonny. Remarkably, the 9-6 Reds have won 8 of the last 11 games while hitting at the bottom of the Majors with a .229 average. They were happy to hand the "worst hitting team" distinction to the Diamondbacks yesterday.   The Reds are in second place, 1.5 games back of MLB's best hitting team, the St. Louis Cardinals, batting .303.  Pitching and defense I guess.

Check back in a day or two for a look at Brandon Morrow's season so far.  He's back to a closer role with the Seattle Mariners and doin' fine.

Over the next week, we'll also check up on PTown's other Pros including Joey Gomes (Joliet Jackhammers - Northern League IND), Konrad Schmidt (Visalia Rawhide, High A, Diamondbacks Organization) and Tommy Everidge (Midland Rockhounds, AA, Oakland Athletics Organization).  A few of  PTowns up-and-comers are having terrific seasons including DJ Gentile (Cal Poly San Luis Obispo) and Samantha Banister (University of Arizona Wildcats).  Stay tuned...