Dempsey and Murphy Voted Co-MVP by Team

Montgomery Sentinel
07/02/2012

Montgomery AL;  In the past, the Montgomery Mountain Cats have voted for only one team MVP but for the month of June, two players really stood out.  SS Curt Dempsey and SP Marc Murphy both have helped their team in their quest for a division title.  During this month, the Mountain Cats have really stepped up and are now only 1/2 game out of the division lead behind Seattle.  Team GM Doug Craft earlier today made a statement to the Sentinel:

"This team has shown great character in the first half of 2012.  So far this year we have lost SP Jorge Cruz and SP Troy Baker to season ending injuries.  MR Ron Cutter is also in the middle of a 2 month stint on the DL.  They have also fought through injuries to OF's Craig O'Day and Chris Collins who we normally call on to carry this team offensively.  Due to this, the 19-8 record these guys achieved in June was pretty amazing to the management staff.  In the managements opinion, our Co-MVP's both played a pivotal role in our succes."

For the month of June, SS Curt Dempsey had a .364 AVG, .453 OBP, & a 1.107 OPS. Dempsy also contributed 7 HR's, 29 RBI's, and 30 runs scored.  SP Marc Murphy also put up some impressive stats and in 5 games started he put up a 4-0 record.  In his 38.2 innings pitched, Murphy racked up 29 strikeouts with only 5 walks given up.  Marc's ERA was a very respectable 1.63 during this time period.

Montgomery rewards their MVP's with a small monetary reward and we like to ask the players what they plan to do with the extra income.  Marc Murphy went on record to say "Curt and I discussed this and we are planning on paying for a team outing over the all-star break.  We haven't determined what we are going to do yet but with the characters on this team, I can guarantee it will be something you won't want to miss. For example, Craig O'Day has tried to convince us to hire his um, new exotic friends he made in the last month.  I still can't believe he spent his whole bonus at the strip club but that's Craig for you."


    Marc Murphy

    
   Curt Dempsey

Curt Dempsey on Fire for the Month of June

Montgomery Sentinel
07/02/2012

Montgomery AL;  Curt Dempsey was voted the Batter of the Month in the Roberto Clemente League for the month of June.  During this time period, the SS had a .364 AVG, .453 OBP, & a 1.107 OPS.  Dempsy also contributed 7 HR's, 29 RBI's, and 30 runs scored.  

Curt has come a long way since his debut in the ABL a few months ago.  After spending 2 weeks in April on the disabled list with a sprained ankle, Dempsey fought for playing time due to his poor start.  However, once May arrived he's been one of the best hitters in the league as he took his .250 April average and turned it into .388 in 23 game for the month.  June was only slightly less productive which leads to him being one of the names discussed for the SS position at the all star game.

When we caught up with Dempsey after winning the award, Curt was very adament that a lot of his success is due to the teamates around him.  "Pitchers have to pitch to me because if they don't, they have Craig O'Day, Juan Ramirez, and Chris Collins to deal with.  If those three don't get to the pitchers, we have others who will.  The whole team has stepped up in our run to catch Seattle."


Curt Dempsey

LF Craig O'Day Voted MVP of Mountain Cats

Montgomery Sentinel
06/04/2012

Montgomery AL; LF Craig O'Day was voted MVP of the Montgomery Mountain Cats by his teamates for the Month of May.  For the month, the star Left Fielder put up some respectable numbers in the first year of the ABL.  These stats include a .350 average and .441 OBP.  Also included in his 27 games and 100 at bats were 17 RBI's, 4 HR's, 17 BB's, and 15 runs scored. 

As our avid readers know, this is the second MVP vote by the Mountain Cats which was won by RF Chris Collins in the month of April.  O'Day stated that he wasn't doing anything as drastic with his bonus money like Collins but he was going to set it aside for "something special".  Craig would not elaborate on what this special thing was but teamates speculate that the local topless bar may be in for a money making evening sometime soon.

For the season O'Day is leading the team in Average (.332), Hits (75), and Home Runs (11)

Melvin Brown Player of Month in AAA

The Montgomery Sentinel
06/04/2012

Montgomery AL;  Twenty-one year old Melvin Brown of the Birmingham Bobcats was selected "Premier Pitcher of the Month" for May in the Kade Stenson League.  The AAA ace posted a 5-1 win/loss record with an ERA of 2.61.  He also collected 43 Strikeouts in 41.1 innings pitched.

For his efforts, Brown was rewarded with a shot at the big time.  He has been promoted to the Montgomery Mountain Cats and will take a spot in the starting rotation.  When the Sentinel caught up with the young hurler we asked him what his first thoughts were when he received the call from Manager Glenn Rowe?  "Honestly, I thought it was some of my teamates playing a cruel joke on me but once I realized it was really happening I jumped up and ran around my apartment because I was so excited."

Brown is taking the place of Kevin Black who has struggled this year, posting a 1-5 record in 54.2 innings pitched.  His ERA over this period is 6.26.

Starting Pitcher Troy Baker out Twelve Months

The Montgomery Sentinel
05/28/2012

Montgomery AL; The latest casualty of the Mountain Cats is Troy Baker.  Baker was diagnosed with a torn flexor tendon in his elbow that will require reconstructive surgery.  Team trainer Justin Neal, reported to the Sentinel that the Montgomery pitcher will be out a minimum of twelve months.  Asked about chances for a full recovery, Neal stated that he was hopeful but with any injury of this magnitude, it's tough to tell.  At this time, both Baker and Neal remain optimistic that Baker will come back stronger than ever and be back in the starting rotation by next June. 

Middle reliever Ron Cutter was also placed on the 60 day disabled list with a partially torn labrum that is expected to keep the star reliever out for about 8 weeks.  Hector Huertas and Alejandro Herrara have been brought up from AAA affiliate Birmingham to try to help the club to a division title.

Montgomery is currently in 2nd place in the Bobby Cox Division trailing Seattle by 7 1/2 games.  The Mountain Cats took two of three from the Sasquatch last week.  They begin a 3 game series with the 17-34 division rival So Cal Republic then after a day off begin another 3 game set with Cabo San Luca.