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, Robert Pannier looks at the impressive performance of the Winnipeg Goldeyes starting staff through the first third of the season.

Fallen on Hard Times

It may seem like decades ago, but there was a time in recent history that the Winnipeg Goldeyes boasted a starting staff that was one of the best in the American Association. One need only look back to 2019 to find names like Mitch Lambson, Kevin McGovern, and Kevin Hilton, pitchers that have had a lot of success in the league. Lambson and McGovern combined to go 25-11 that season, pitching 277 innings combined and Hilton added five starts, posting a 3.78 ERA.

Then, the Covid year hit. It seemed like Winnipeg lost some of their momentum, and that was not surprising. The team spent two seasons playing exclusively on the road, and that played a large part in the team’s lack of success. While the Goldeyes did make the playoffs in 2022, they have reached the postseason just one time in the last six seasons, a surprising run for a team that made the playoffs a part of their regular schedule every year.

The pitching staff played a big role in the struggles of the team. Last year, Winnipeg finished eighth in the league in ERA (5.19). In 2021, they were 10th overall (5.82). It was a problem that played a significant role in the decline of one of the most storied franchises in Independent/Partner League Baseball history.

Just Like Old Times

However, things are turning around in 2024. Under first-year manager Logan Watkins, the Winnipeg Goldeyes have risen to become the top team in the American Association in pitching. That has come courtesy of a starting staff that has dominated through the first third of the season.

Heading into Saturday’s games only two teams in the league have ERAs under four, with the Goldeyes posting the top mark (3.74). They have the most complete games at this point (3) and have yielded the fewest walks (87). In fact, they are the only team who has issued fewer than 100 walks and have played the second most number of games. The 275 strikeouts are also the best in the league.

Behind Watkins and pitching coach Mark Brewer, this team is doing all the little things to ensure they remain in games. The Goldeyes have hit the fewest batters (7) and have thrown the fewest number of wild pitches (10). They have the lowest WHIP in the league (1.22), and have allowed only 17 unearned runs, also the fewest number in the league. What makes Winnipeg so good is that they do not allow innings to get out of control because of mental mistakes or errors. The results speak for themselves.

No one has dominated more than right-hander Joey Matulovich, who is second in the league in ERA (2.03). The right-hander has been outstanding, tied with teammate Landen Bourassa for second in the league in strikeouts (45). Matulovich has allowed 28 hits and just seven walks in 40.0 innings, helping lead him to a 4-0 record.

Bourassa has been spectacular as well. He is 10th in the American Association in ERA (3.08) and leads the league with two complete games already. Bourassa is also doing all the little things right, allowing just 10 walks and 34 hits in 38.0 innings pitched. In addition, the right-hander has shown a great deal of resiliency this season. After getting beaten up by the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks on May 30, allowing six runs in 3.1 innings, Bourassa responded by tossing back-to-back complete games, allowing a single run in both contests.

Just four places lower in the ERA standings is Travis Seabrooke, who is also dominating early on. The lefty has a 3.24 ERA, allowing only 11 walks and 30 hits in 33.1 innings. Seabrooke was touched up in his last start (6 ER, 3.1 IP), but had allowed two runs or fewer in four of his first starts and the team is 4-2 in his six outings.

Zac Reininger has done a solid job in the No. 4 spot. His numbers may not be as gaudy, but the righty has pitched at the Major League level, so his credentials are impeccable. The righty is trying to work his way back from an arm injury that sidelined him for most of 2022 and all of 2023 so, when his arm gets back to full strength, look for the right-hander to add his name into the conversation about the ace of the Goldeyes staff. Eight walks in 37.2 innings says a lot about what is to come.

Colton Eastman closes out the staff, and his numbers have been the least impressive to this point. The right-hander is 2-5 with a 5.44 ERA in seven starts. However, the fact that he is made the most starts on the staff tells you about the quality of his arm. Plus, Eastman is no stranger to success, pitching at the AAA level in each of the last three seasons.

Swimming Upstream?

What makes the staff an even more interesting story is the guy in the dugout pulling the strings. Watkins spent two full seasons guiding the Cleburne Railroaders where he built an impressive offensive machine. However, the pitching staff struggled in those two seasons, especially in the starting staff.

Don’t say that Logan Watkins doesn’t learn. The Goldeyes skipper recognized that he may not have a lineup producing seven runs a game, so he adapted, building a pitching staff that is literally second to none.

However, that does not mean this team is unable to hit. After finishing ninth in team batting average last season (.257) and 10th in runs scored (489), the Goldeyes find themselves second in hitting this season (.267) and they are third in runs scored (172).

This has been a hitter friendly league over the last four seasons, but those teams that have been able to put together a solid pitching staff have put themselves above the fray. Kansas City had the second-best ERA last season, they won the title. Fargo-Moorhead had the third-best ERA in 2022, they won the championship. The Monarchs had the fourth best ERA in 2021, and they also won the Miles Wolff Cup.

While having a good offense is important, a team separates themselves from the rest of the league by putting together a great pitching staff that can win 1-0 or 2-1 games in the postseason. Watkins has that kind of staff.

It has been seven seasons since the Winnipeg Goldeyes won their last championship. By the way this pitching staff looks, that drought is about to come to an end.

By Robert Pannier