There are hot starts to the season and then you have this week’s Shorebird of the Week. In Tuesday night’s win over Lakewood he knocked in the winning run in the bottom of the 12th inning, padding his league-leading average. Going into tonight’s game with the BlueClaws this 12th round pick in 2006 out of Cal State-Fullerton had the following gaudy statistics:
- Leads the league in batting (.437), on-base percentage (.506), slugging percentage (.789), and OPS (a sick 1.295 – .900 is considered excellent).
- He’s also right near the top in runs (20), hits (31), RBI (21), total bases (56), doubles (10), and home runs (5).
And to boot, he’s on a 9 game hitting streak, wearing out opposing pitching at a .474 clip.
In other words, Brandon Tripp is a worthy Shorebird of the Week (as well as reigning SAL Player of the Week for last week.) It’s odd because Tripp wasn’t that successful in Aberdeen last season, hitting just .221 in 43 games. But sometimes a player suddenly “gets it” over the course of a minor league career and Tripp has found something in this 18 game Delmarva span.
As the season wears on, eventually the averages will catch up to Brandon – those seeing-eye singles will find opposition gloves or those liners up the gap will just come into the reach of a speedy outfielder. But there’s no question that the potential is there for a season not unlike Jason Fransz’s 100+ RBI season two years ago. A big bat is something the Shorebirds lacked last year, so hopefully we can take advantage of it while we can.
OK, OK… so you’re a better photographer that Joe.
Please get back to really important stuff — like that referendum petition to kill the tax increase in Salisbury.
make that “than Joe” — sorry.