Lima's ERA also went North

The Armada season did prematurely end this season without a playoff berth. Despite the team's strong showing in sweeping the final four games of the year over Victoria, it just didn't seem the same without the man who was the face of the team this year - Jose Lima - there to enjoy it.

For Lima, he put together a very solid year in returning to baseball in the US after last year's stint in Korea. Lima dominated opposing hitters in his time with the Fleet putting together a 2.93 ERA despite his 5-5 record. The run support Lima had was a big part of why his record looked so mediocre, but his control was still as good as ever -- at least while he was in Long Beach.

Statistically, the trade did not help Lima's cause for a return to the big leagues. Here's a look at his numbers in his time with the Armada and then with the Edmonton Capitals:

Season	Team	W	L	ERA	G	GS	SHO	SV	IP	SO	BB	H
Playoffs 2009	Edmonton Capitals	0	1	4.69	1	1	0	0	7.2	3	0	9
Summer 2009	Long Beach Armada	5	5	2.93	11	11	1	0	83	51	9	84
Summer 2009	Edmonton Capitals	1	2	6.48	5	5	0	0	33.1	16	11	41
TOTAL		6	8	3.99	17	17	1	0	124	70	20	134

His ERA spiked in the cold Canada air, and while he wasn't at the comfy confines of the pitchers park that is Blair Field, his control didn't seem to go with him on the trade. Lima had 51 strike outs pitching for the Armada compared to 9 walks. In Edmonton, 16 Ks to 11 walks. Not as impressive.

His average outing in Long Beach was longer than in Edmonton as well. He averaged 7 1/3 to 7 2/3 innings with the Armada in his 11 starts. In five outings in Edmonton, "Lima Time" was cut short, averaging 6 2/3 innings per outing.

He's a guy who was great in the clubhouse. Great for the fans. Great for singing national anthems. Great for the community and the team, but his numbers were not great for the Capitals. Hopefully Lima Time will get a chance to return to the big leagues some day, a dream does not seem close to giving up on, but the folks in Long Beach wouldn't mind another pit-stop through town first. It'd also be a great way to get the ugly taste of an inflated Canadian ERA out of everyone's mind.