American Association Daily provides insights, features, and recaps of the action from around the American Association of Professional Baseball League, as well as player and coaching profiles and transactions. In today’s edition, Rob Pannier takes a look back at the first half of the 2023 American Association season for the Winnipeg Goldeyes including who is their MVP and top pitcher and discusses the prognosis heading forward.

The Winnipeg Goldeyes Tale of the Tape

(Ranking in American Association listed in parenthesis)

Overall Record: 23-35 (6^th in West, 12^th Overall)

Home Record: 15-15 (9)
Away Record: 8-20 (12)
Last 10: 4-6

Batting:

Average: .249 (12)
Homeruns: 40 (11)
Runs Scored: 283 (10)
Slugging %: .359 (12)
On-Base %: .344 (10)
Stolen Bases: 66 (10)

Pitching:

ERA: 5.52 (11)
Saves: 7 (12)
Walks: 232 (5)
Strikeouts: 419 (10)
Opponent Average: .284 (11)

Fielding:

Fielding %:  .974 (9)
Errors: 54 (T-9)

First Half Recap

There was a lot of excitement when legendary manager Greg Tagert took over the Winnipeg Goldeyes. Tagert has an impressive record of success, ranked among the top five independent managers all time in terms of victories, and a lot was expected of the team. Unfortunately, those expectations have not come to fruition.

Like most teams this season, the Winnipeg Goldeyes have had their streaks where they looked solid, beginning the first month going 8-9. The team posted a solid ERA (4.47) and clubbed 16 home runs in 17 games. However, it has been a struggle for this team since. They went 10-17 in June, watching their ERA balloon by nearly two runs while hitting just .246 with 17 homers. In 14 games this month, they have hit seven home runs with a 5.52 ERA, leaving the team 5-9 entering the All-Star break.

The Goldeyes did have a stretch where it looked like they were going to break out of these doldrums, winning five straight games (June 24-28), including sweeping the surging Lincoln Saltdogs in Nebraska. They entered the All-Star break 4-3 in their last seven, but had taken three the first four against the Cleburne Railroaders at home before dropping the final two games of that series. This is a team struggling to find some form of consistency with the pitching staff and they to get better offensive production, ranked last in batting average and slugging percentage, and in the bottom three in most other major offensive categories. An 8-20 road record has not helped their chances either.

What Went Right?

The honest answer is that not much has gone right for Winnipeg so far. They rank near the bottom in almost all major offensive and pitching categories and the fielding has not been very good either.

However, there are some individual performances that need to be recognized. Dayson Croes has been spectacular, third in the American Association in batting average (.342). He has the longest hitting streak in the league this year, reaching 25 games (May 14-June 13), and has 34 runs scored and 37 RBI at the top of the order for the team. Max Murphy is having another solid season, hitting 16 home runs and 57 games while driving in 53. His home run total is second in the league.

What Went Wrong?

A lot has gone wrong for this club. It starts with the fact that Murphy has 16 home runs and the rest of the team has 24 combined. Winnipeg is last in batting average, 11th in home runs, 10th in runs scored, 12th in slugging percentage, and 10th in on-base percentage. They’re also 10th in stolen bases. The ERA is 11th (5.52) and they are 11th in opponent batting average.

Beyond closer Samuel Adames there is not another dependable pitcher on the staff. Luis Ramirez does have a 4.54 ERA in 12 appearances and Landen Bourassa is at 4.64, but only four of 11 pitchers who have appeared in at least 10 games have ERAs under five. Winnipeg has been terrible on the road this season (8-20).

Top Pitcher: Samuel Adames

Samuel Adames was selected to the All-Star game and with good reason. He is 1-2 with seven saves in 23 appearances. The right-hander has an impressive 2.39 ERA, allowing 26 hits and 10 walks in 26.1 innings pitched. He struck out 23.

Adames was roughed up in his last outing before the All-Star break, giving up two runs in two innings, but he has been scored upon in just seven of his 23 appearances.

Top Hitter: Dayson Croes

Dayson Croes would likely be considered one of the top five players in the American Association had it not been for his team performing so poorly. He is the real deal, however, hitting .342 with 34 runs scored and 37 RBI in 55 games. The overall numbers are impressive, posting a .409 on-base percentage and Croes can play just about anywhere on the infield, giving the Goldeyes a great deal of flexibility.

His 25-game hitting streak is the longest in the American Association this season. For about six weeks, he was the only bright spot in this lineup.

Where Will Winnipeg Goldeyes Be on September 4?

Unfortunately, the Winnipeg Goldeyes are going to be in last place when the season comes to an end. This club simply does not have enough to be able to compete in a very tough West Division, and the fact that the Sioux Falls Canaries are beginning to rally is not a good sign for this team getting out of the seller. Unfortunately, it is going to be a very tough year in his first season in Winnipeg for the legendary Tagert.

By Robert Pannier