After a ten game winning streak, the Birmingham Barons have gone into a slump. Granted, it’s only a three game losing streak. But, considering the success they’ve had so far this year, it’s prolonged for them.

There are a number reasons that may be causing this. One could be the absence of key players like Jordan Danks and Brandon Allen from the lineup. Danks had settled in setting the table for the rest of the order. John Shelby III has done well picking up for Danks in his absence though. Allen was entrenched in the middle of the lineup. But, they took five of six games from Huntsville in dominant fashion without both of them. Although Allen did play in the first game. Lucas Harrell has fell back into his old ways of nibbling and not attacking hitters. Brian Omogrosso is gone too, but he wasn’t as successful in his recent outings before his promotion to Charlotte. Added on to all this is the fact that Birmingham is completely devoid of left handed pitchers, starters and relievers. On the other hand, newcomers Christian Marrero, Daniel Hudson and Lee Cruz have already contributed to the Barons attack. Marrero can hit the ball to all fields and has shown me why he is a .300 hitter, Hudson is a potential ace in the making and Cruz could get hot and not cool off the rest of the year just like in 2008. Or is it just that the Barons have set the bar so high for winning this season that a three game slide can cause mild alarm?

Cheers,
JPN