Saltdogs stay busy revamping roster
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BY TOMMY DAHLK / Lincoln Journal Star
At the start of the season, the Lincoln Saltdogs’ roster looked much different than it did at the end of the 2007 season.
Now, even that opening day roster looks like a distant memory and only eight are currently playing for the Saltdogs.
Every day it seems like the Saltdogs have a new face in the clubhouse, and this year has had a much different feeling since the nucleus of the Saltdogs rarely changed during the past few seasons.
What went right: The Saltdogs rallied in the bottom of the ninth to win the rubber match in their series against the Wichita Wingnuts.
Trailing 4-3, shortstop Albenis Machado led off with a walk. Two failed to advance Machado from second until Dustin Yount hit a two-out single that put Machado in scoring position.
Right frielder Shawn McGill followed with a game-winning triple into the left-center gap.
After falling behind 4-0 early, the Saltdogs pitchers didn't allow a run over the final six innings.
What went wrong: Vince Davis struggled early on before settling down. In the second inning, Davis gave up two runs and the Wingnuts loaded the bases twice. Davis walked and hit a batter in the inning.
In the top of the third, Davis allowed another two runs after walking two batters. In his five and two-thirds innings of work, Davis gave up six hits of four runs. He walked three batters and hit two batters.
Dog bytes: For the first time since taking over as interim manager, Jim Haller was ejected in the bottom of the seventh after arguing on whether or not Shawn McGill checked his swing on the innings' final out.
Newly acquired Saltdog Kit Pellow went 1-for-4 in his debut. Pellow just signed 30 minutes before the game after driving straight from Mexico. This season in Mexico, the former Royal and Rockie won the Triple Crown.
Up next: The Saltdogs travel to Sioux Falls for a 7:05 p.m. game Thursday.
After struggling during the first half of the season, Saltdogs general manager Tim Utrup said he had to do some tinkering with the roster.
“What we started with just wasn’t working, and we finished fourth in the first half,” Utrup said. “We decided at the end of the first half that we couldn’t just stand pat and needed to make some changes.”
The Saltdogs have definitely done that, adding many different types of players to the roster.
In the everyday lineup, only Dustin Yount and Shawn McGill were on the opening-day roster. McGill started the year as a catcher and has started to see lots of playing time in right field.
Starting second baseman Skip Adams and Curt Miaso joined in early July. Catcher Luis Nieblas and shortstop Albenis Machado joined the team last week.
Starting center fielder Deacon Burns just joined the team Monday, and Kit Pellow just drove from Mexico and signed right before Wednesday night’s game against the Wichita Wingnuts. Pellow, who played in the major leagues for the Kansas City Royals and Colorado Rockies, recently won the Mexican League triple crown and is expected to give the Saltdogs some pop in the cleanup spot.
“He just won the triple crown in Mexico,” Utrup said. “You’ve got to make room for a guy like that.”
Interim manager Jim Haller said Burns and these new additions have given the Saltdogs some needed speed.
“It gives us a sense of calm in the outfield because he is a true center fielder and goes out and gets the ball,” Haller said.
The new moves appear to be working. The Saltdogs are currently in second place in the North Division.
Utrup said the Saltdogs are going to keep reworking the roster through the Aug. 13 deadline in order to win the second-half title and earn a spot in the playoffs.
“We had a few holes, and we’re trying to fill them and make the team stronger,” he said.
“We are always trying to get better. We are getting there slowly. We’re going to be adding another guy in the next day or so, and we’re look at pitching. Our eyes and ears are going to be open. The changes we are making now are making us better. That is what we are focused on. If we are going to make a move, let’s try to make it for a better. So far, it’s working.”
Reach Tommy Dahlk at 473-7431 or tdahlk@journalstar.com.
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