Playoff Pitching Matchups

I've been given the rotation for the first round. Here's how it sets up:

Game One:
RHP Eric Smith (0-0, 2.75 ERA)
vs. RHP Simon Castro (10-6, 3.33 ERA)

Game Two:
LHP Keny Sosa (2-3, 2.19 ERA)
vs. RHP Erik Davis (16-6, 3.64 ERA)

Game Three (If necessary):
RHP Ryan Cook (11-11, 3.66 ERA)
vs. RHP Chris Fetter (2-1, 2.22 ERA)

South Bend Pitching Notes
-Eric Smith has not faced Fort Wayne, and will be making only his fourth start with South Bend.
-Keny Sosa has pitched 4.0 shutout innings against the TinCaps this season.
-Ryan Cook has struggled against Fort Wayne, going 1-4 with a 6.14 ERA in five starts against the TinCaps.

Fort Wayne Pitching Notes
-Simon Castro is the league leader in strikeouts and is 2-1 with a 4.09 ERA against the Hawks.
-Erik Davis is tied for the league lead in wins, but is only 2-2 with a 5.32 ERA vs. South Bend.
-Chris Fetter is new to the TinCaps, has not faced the Hawks, and will be making just his sixth appearance with Fort Wayne.

Pitching Notes

In case you've missed it on the broadcast the last few nights:

-Jordan Meaker is starting tonight in place of Brett Moorhouse. Moorhouse will resume his spot in the rotation the next time it comes around against Cedar Rapids on Monday

-This is a move done to limit the number of innings Moorhouse throws. The Diamondbacks like to keep starting pitchers at this level between 120 and 130 innings on the season, and Moorhouse was going to surpass that at his current rate.

-In addition, Wade Miley will be limited as well for the same reason.

-Both Moorhouse and Miley will probably be held to just 5.0 innings per start for the rest of the season.

-I understand limiting innings, and I realize the Diamondbacks know what is best for their pitchers. Sometimes though as a fan it gets frustrating, because a guy could be pitching a great ballgame and gets pulled after five. This is where the low levels of the minors turns into more about development, than about winning. You hope to do both, but ultimately, the goal is to get these guys to the majors to win at that level, and winning at this level becomes secondary to the ultimate prize.

Pitching Update

Sean Morgan has been bumped in favor of LHP Taylor Sinclair tonight. Morgan was apparently a little tight in a side session the other day, and so the decision was made to go with the lefty instead.

Opening Night Notes

Starting Pitching Matchup:

South Bend: RHP Trevor Harden (1-3, 1.91 ERA for Missoula in '08)

West Michigan: LHP Casey Crosby (0-0, 0.00 ERA in just 4.2 IP with GCL Tigers in '08)

Harden is ranked #13 in the D'Backs system according to Baseball America.

Crosby is #4 in the Tigers system, but is coming off left elbow reconstruction surgery in late '07, limiting him to just 3 appearances at the end of '08.

South Bend Lineup:
Brendan Duffy - DH
Jake Elmore - 2B
Alfredo Marte - LF
Justin Parker - 3B
Alberto Diaz - CF
Ryan Babineau - C
Isaias Asencio - RF
Nelson Gomez - 1B
Reynaldo Navarro - SS