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Re-printed with permission from The Rawken Times.
Leading up to the All Star break, the Rawken Hawks were lead on offence by two big boppers and an improving all around hitter. First baseman Peter Alonso and third baseman Eugenio Suarez were both on the leader board for runs batted in, with Alonso also near the top of the home run list. Right fielder Charlie Blackmon started slow in April as he did last season, but has come on since then and has joined the two power hitters with high results in both RBIs and runs scored.
The rest of the squad couldn't boast the same production although the Hawks did improve at shortstop and catcher in their order against right hand pitchers by picking up Jonathan Villar and Brian McCann from the Bumbles.
GM and manager Ken Harrelson was still not satisfied with his offence. "We were happy to pick up Villar and McCann from the Bumbles, it made us better at shortstop and catcher and we knew Brian from last season, but it wasn't the splash we needed," said Harrelson.
"If we had an obvious need, it was at DH in our line up versus right handers,," said hitting coach Andre Dawson. Harrelson explained the need, "We took Eric Hosmer in the 17th round and we were hoping he could give us the numbers we needed at DH, but Lamber (DH versus lefties Jake Lamb) had more than double the home runs in less than half the at bats. We never expected a superstar in the 17th but by that point in the draft, Hosmer was the best unlimited batter against righties that was still available. We were hoping through a trade to fill that need with someone who could give us more, who could add a fourth batter to our big three."
In the course of a casual conversation Harrelson had with the Bananas about talks and offers with other teams, it seemed there was a willingness for them to offer a bat. "We were looking for an upgrade and the Bananas were still trying to add picks for season 35. We weren't sure who they might make available, we thought they'd been peeled of talent."
The Bananas communicated a list of batters that they might part with.
"I talked with Hawk and we went over what we felt would be a fit for us," said Dawson. The team was hoping for a left handed hitter since Alonso and Suarez were both right handed hitters. Also, the ability to hit for power would be important.
"When we saw the list of players the Bananas might be interested in trading, one name stood out for us," said Harrelson.
"We both looked at each other and hoped we'd found the guy we were going to add," said Dawson.
When the Bananas added pitcher Kevin Gausman from the Ulcers, it meant they had too many keepers and one of them would be made available for a draft pick. The player on the list the Hawks would target? "Rosie!" said Harrelson and Dawson in unison.
OF/DH Eddie Rosario was very familiar to the Hawks as he had played for the team between seasons 27 and 30. "Rosie had hit 88 homers for us between seasons 28 and 30. We knew him and we figured it was the perfect fit, " said Harrelson.
"Rosie was a great guy for us when he was here, he had hit 25 homers so far this season for the Bananas which would have been second on our team behind Al (Peter Alonso). His average wasn't anything to write home about at .220 but we looked into the numbers a little deeper and he had hit .253 versus righties which was the role we wanted him for," said Dawson.
Talks went quickly. "The Bananas were motivated sellers and we had locked in on our guy. We came to an easy agreement," said Harrelson.
Hosmer and the Hawks 6th round pick would go the other way for Rosario and the Bananas 27th round pick.
"We are hoping that Rosie can contribute to our playoff run down the stretch. And if we make it, we hope he can help us win some playoff games too," said Dawson.
"Hos was tough to move, but he understood the situation. This was a chance for us to add an impact bat, a middle of the order guy versus right hand pitching."
Rosario was contacted as he was packing, getting ready for a flight to Rawken. "I loved my time with the Hawks and I'm really looking forward to helping them make the playoffs. After that, anything can happen. I am going to be in the line up for their next game on July 18!"
Leading up to the All Star break, the Rawken Hawks were lead on offence by two big boppers and an improving all around hitter. First baseman Peter Alonso and third baseman Eugenio Suarez were both on the leader board for runs batted in, with Alonso also near the top of the home run list. Right fielder Charlie Blackmon started slow in April as he did last season, but has come on since then and has joined the two power hitters with high results in both RBIs and runs scored.
The rest of the squad couldn't boast the same production although the Hawks did improve at shortstop and catcher in their order against right hand pitchers by picking up Jonathan Villar and Brian McCann from the Bumbles.
GM and manager Ken Harrelson was still not satisfied with his offence. "We were happy to pick up Villar and McCann from the Bumbles, it made us better at shortstop and catcher and we knew Brian from last season, but it wasn't the splash we needed," said Harrelson.
"If we had an obvious need, it was at DH in our line up versus right handers,," said hitting coach Andre Dawson. Harrelson explained the need, "We took Eric Hosmer in the 17th round and we were hoping he could give us the numbers we needed at DH, but Lamber (DH versus lefties Jake Lamb) had more than double the home runs in less than half the at bats. We never expected a superstar in the 17th but by that point in the draft, Hosmer was the best unlimited batter against righties that was still available. We were hoping through a trade to fill that need with someone who could give us more, who could add a fourth batter to our big three."
In the course of a casual conversation Harrelson had with the Bananas about talks and offers with other teams, it seemed there was a willingness for them to offer a bat. "We were looking for an upgrade and the Bananas were still trying to add picks for season 35. We weren't sure who they might make available, we thought they'd been peeled of talent."
The Bananas communicated a list of batters that they might part with.
"I talked with Hawk and we went over what we felt would be a fit for us," said Dawson. The team was hoping for a left handed hitter since Alonso and Suarez were both right handed hitters. Also, the ability to hit for power would be important.
"When we saw the list of players the Bananas might be interested in trading, one name stood out for us," said Harrelson.
"We both looked at each other and hoped we'd found the guy we were going to add," said Dawson.
When the Bananas added pitcher Kevin Gausman from the Ulcers, it meant they had too many keepers and one of them would be made available for a draft pick. The player on the list the Hawks would target? "Rosie!" said Harrelson and Dawson in unison.
OF/DH Eddie Rosario was very familiar to the Hawks as he had played for the team between seasons 27 and 30. "Rosie had hit 88 homers for us between seasons 28 and 30. We knew him and we figured it was the perfect fit, " said Harrelson.
"Rosie was a great guy for us when he was here, he had hit 25 homers so far this season for the Bananas which would have been second on our team behind Al (Peter Alonso). His average wasn't anything to write home about at .220 but we looked into the numbers a little deeper and he had hit .253 versus righties which was the role we wanted him for," said Dawson.
Talks went quickly. "The Bananas were motivated sellers and we had locked in on our guy. We came to an easy agreement," said Harrelson.
Hosmer and the Hawks 6th round pick would go the other way for Rosario and the Bananas 27th round pick.
"We are hoping that Rosie can contribute to our playoff run down the stretch. And if we make it, we hope he can help us win some playoff games too," said Dawson.
"Hos was tough to move, but he understood the situation. This was a chance for us to add an impact bat, a middle of the order guy versus right hand pitching."
Rosario was contacted as he was packing, getting ready for a flight to Rawken. "I loved my time with the Hawks and I'm really looking forward to helping them make the playoffs. After that, anything can happen. I am going to be in the line up for their next game on July 18!"