Rock Cats Lose Tough One, Fall Out of Playoff Picture (For the Moment)

This picture will accompany all Rock Cats
posts until the team reclaims the second
playoff spot.

After a tough 6-4 loss to the Reading Phillies last night, the Rock Cats fell 1/2 of a game behind Reading for the second, and final, playoff spot in their division. The good news for New Britain is that the teams play Saturday and Sunday, so if the Rock Cats can win the final two games of the series, they will regain possession of that second playoff spot. The other good news is that, in the coming weeks, the Rock Cats play 10 consecutive games against the Portland Sea Dogs and the New Hampshire Fisher Cats, who have the worst records in the Eastern League Eastern division. That stretch of games -- August 17 through August 26 -- will be a good opportunity, hopefully, to expand a lead for that final playoff spot.

A note about last night's game. Top prospect Oswaldo Arcia was 1-for-2 last night with a double (13 of the season), a walk, and an RBI (43rd of the season). His AA batting average is an impressive .320. If there was one knock on Arcia (which is almost ridiculous, considering his young age and quick ascension through the Twins' system thus far), it was that he walks to little and strikes out too much. His AA numbers -- 17 walks and 42 strikeouts -- do suggest that there's work to be done in that area. In the last 10 games, though, Arcia has drawn 6 walks and struck out 7 times, so there's at least some recent data to suggest that he's beginning to be more selective at the plate.