New Hampshire Fisher Cats May Report

newhampshirelogo

The Fisher Cats finish the first two months of the season with a .500 record at 28-28 and sit in 4th place in the Eastern Division of the Eastern League. They’re a game over their Pythagorean record, as they’ve given up only 6 more runs than they’ve scored (253 scored, 259 against).  The Fisher Cats are third from the bottom in the league in runs scored at 4.52 per game despite being tied for second in home runs, fourth from the top in slugging, OPS, and OBP. They’re currently sixth in batting average. The team ranks 7th in league pitching, giving up 4.61 runs per game, they’ve given up the third most hits but are among the better teams in the league when it comes to walking batters combining for the fourth best team WHIP at 1.372 and the Fisher Cats are in the top half of the league in strikeouts.

 

Kevin Pillar. Photo: MiLB.com
Kevin Pillar. Photo: MiLB.com

Kevin Pillar is making big waves with a May that is very similar to his strong April. He hit .318/.371/.465 with 2 home runs and 5 stolen bases (although he was caught three times) in May but also hit 9 doubles and two triples. He walked 10 times to 15 strikeouts, which is always an excellent ratio.

 

Ryan Schimpf. Photo: MiLB.com

Ryan Schimpf’s batting average and OBP took big hits in May, as did his SLG. He put up exactly the same numbers of doubles, triples, and home runs in April (5 2B, 1 3B, 6 HR) but had more strikeouts and more at bats. He’s still having a very strong season, but could improve his contact skills.

 

Kevin Nolan. Photo: David Lane/New Hampshire Union Leader

Since being drafted in 2009, Nolan has been a pretty consistent hitter throughout the low minors, now in AA, he’s doing the same, putting up a far better May than June. Hitting .297/.345/.505, he’s slugging better than Pillar in the month and doesn’t strike out much (9 walks, 14 Ks in May) and has hit 5 home runs in the month, showing that he’s heating up.  He’s actually just two home runs from a season high (at any level of the minors).

 

The Fisher Cats have seen an influx of pitching talent, despite losing Chad Jenkins to the major league team and Stilson and Carreno to the Bisons. Deck McGuire had a slightly better month in terms of his ERA, but he was getting fewer outs on ground balls and he was giving up more hits. His home run numbers are actually very good (only two so far this season) and he walked fewer batters in May (13) despite pitching more innings (34). His strikeouts per inning have actually remained fairly stable.  So far this season, he has a .339 BABIP which is a little high, contributing to his very good 3.32 FIP.

 

Marcus Stroman. Photo: Jim R. Bounds/AP
Marcus Stroman. Photo: Jim R. Bounds/AP

Marcus Stroman has made three starts for the Fisher Cats, with two good ones and one bad one. It’s hard to tell, but I think that things are going to be good with him. His K/BB ratio of 13/3 is excellent in 10 innings, and as he gets back to game competition, he’ll most likely be improving as the season wears on.

 

Sean Nolin. Photo: Eddie Michels/torontosun.com

Sean Nolin made his season debut with the Fisher Cats at the beginning of May and has only given up four earned runs in 20 1/3 innings.  He has also struck out 20 batters and walked only eight and has given up 18 hits. Very solid numbers for the 23 year old. While he got roughed up in the majors, he still has improvements and refinements to make but seems up to the challenge.