Fleet sailing into strong headwind

Kudos to a team that opened the season 6-8 when you consider that their first 14 games were away from home.  And when you consider some of the travel woes the Armada has faced, it makes that record even a little more significant (as someone who was one of those literally death-defying bus rides, trust me).

After tonight's 6-4 loss to Yuma in the Armada's third home game of the season, the team now stands at 7-10, last in the South Division of the GBL.

Quick aside about the standings as of right now.  If this team is going to lock down a playoff spot, it's definitely better to do it now rather than wait until the 2nd half.  It will not only give the team a better opportunity to market up the playoff games, but also it takes the pressure off down the stretch.  The GBL 2008 playoff format says the division winners of the North and South divisions of each half of the season will make the playoffs (if the same team wins both halves, then the two teams with the best overall records make the playoffs).  So it's not panic time.  Yet.

Yeager's club is a great group.  Not just off the field, as I've gotten to know some of these guys, but on the field as well.  Everyone has really had a chance to come together thanks to 14 road games to open the season.  Lots of time on the road together = stronger team chemistry, or at least as has been the case so far.

The talent is all around.  Yes, I know losing David Parrish is bittersweet (always great to see a guy move up despite losing him from your line up), but Octavio Martinez is no slouch.  The guy can play.  And there's a good chance even he'll be moving up at some point this season.  And I know D-Ramirez is ready and waiting to get back behind the dish on a regular basis like last season.

The Armada outfield is stacked, and even with Steve Moss still missing games because of his shoulder injury, Julian Williams has filled in fine (hitting .273).  When Moss, the team's leading hitter (.415, 5 HR, 13 RBI) returns, it will add some added punch to the line up for sure.  However, don't expect this group to just sit and wait for Mossy to return to CF until they try to start racking up Ws.

So yes, tonight was another tough loss.  Made tougher by the 9th inning rally that fell short.  Made tougher still by the Armada now dropping to 1-2 at home early in this 2008 campaign.  Monday they have a chance to settle the score with the Scorpions.  Fourth and final game of the series first pitch at 7:05pm.

See yall there!