Season-ending analysis: Storm mostly made the grades

By: ED WEHDE - Staff Writer | Tuesday, September 20, 2005 11:20 PM PDT ∞

SAN JOSE ---- The Storm's just-concluded season ended one win short of the team's ultimate goal, a California League title, but the players did many things well this year.

The Storm won a first-half title, shook off a team-record, 15-game losing streak and took San Jose, the team with the best overall record in the league, to a decisive fifth game in the championship series before yielding the title to the Giants.

Here is a position-by-position analysis of how the team performed in 2005.

Manager: A-

How can any manager whose team went through a 15-game losing streak get an "A-"? He wins a first-half title prior to the skid, keeps his team together during the streak, and gets it back on track afterward.

With a talented team to start the season, Storm manager Rick Renteria guided his players to a 41-28 record before the break to claim the first-half title in the California League's South Division and the all-important bye for the first round of the playoffs.

Lake Elsinore, however, paid a price for its success as a number of Storm players were promoted to Double-A Mobile (Ala.) and replaced by free agents and players from Low-A Fort Wayne (Ind.).

As promotions and injuries took their toll, the team took a nose dive into the record losing streak. It would have been easy for the players to quit on the season, but Renteria kept the team focused and the Storm went 11-9 after they ended their skid.

In the South Division finals, Renteria's Storm swept a Lancaster team to which it had lost 16 of 20 games during the regular season. In the California League Championship Series, they took a 2-0 lead with wins at The Diamond before dropping the final three in San Jose.

Starting pitching: C

Starting pitching, like Lake Elsinore's season, was a tale of two halves.

The Storm's first-half success was due in large part to their starters ---- as were their second-half struggles. Starters took the loss in 13 of the 15 games during the long losing streak.

Sean Thompson (4-1, 2.16 with Lake Elsinore) quickly pitched himself to Double-A, and Jared Wells (11-4, 3.44) threw well enough and stayed in Lake Elsinore long enough to earn the Cal League Pitcher of the Year award before joining Thompson in Mobile in July.

The Padres' first-round pick in this year's draft, Cesar Carrillo (1-2, 7.01), was with the Storm for five effective starts before he, too, was promoted. The right-hander returned to Lake Elsinore and was hammered in two late-season starts, but then won the opening games of both Storm playoff series.

The rest of the rotation was a crap shoot.

Arturo Lopez (5-11, 5.85) started 5-2 before dropping his last nine decisions, Javier Martinez (4-2, 4.77) was progressing from last season's arm surgery before another arm injury ended his season, and Chris Tierney (4-6, 6.35) pitched himself out of the rotation in nine starts.

With the departures of Thompson, Wells and Carrillo, Luke Steidlmayer (0-3, 4.33), Clark Girardeau (3-9, 7.13) and Clayton Hamilton (2-2, 5.14) were brought in from Fort Wayne, but the trio lacked consistency. Girardeau wasn't even included on the postseason roster.

Two bright spots did emerge in the second half: Eddie Bonine (5-6, 6.47) and Dirk Hayhurst (5-5, 5.38). Bonine, who became a full-time knuckleball pitcher in midseason, and Hayhurst, whose performance improved as he gained confidence, started the season in the bullpen and struggled when initially moved to the rotation but pitched well down the stretch and threw stellar games in the playoffs.

Relief pitching: B+

Closer Leo Rosales (8-7, 3.18 27 saves) shook off some early season struggles to claim his second straight Rolaids Relief Man of the Year award.

Set-up man Paul Abraham (2-1, 1.07) was excellent before his promotion, and Ryan Trytten (6-2, 3.73) effectively took over Abraham's role.

Wilmer Villatoro (2-1, 3.88) threw well enough to twice earn promotions to Mobile, but both times he was soon back in Lake Elsinore, and the right-hander struggled late in the season.

Ryan Klatt (2-0, 7.71), who was called up from Fort Wayne in July, and free-agent signee Brad Blackwell (0-0, 4.22) lacked consistency in middle relief.

Long relief was handled by the pitchers shuffling in and out of the rotation.

Outfield: B+

Drew Macias (.289, 6 HRs, 66 RBIs) played excellent defense as a mainstay in centerfield for the Storm, but the rest of the outfield was a rotating cast of characters.

Right fielder Steve Baker (.344, 4, 37) also demonstrated stellar glove work before his promotion, and left fielder Brian Burgamy (.295, 7, 40) also played his way to Mobile.

Adam Bourassa (.356-2-15), another free-agent signee, took over left field and the leadoff spot in the batting order with great success until he broke his arm on the eve of the team's 15-game skid. Chris Kolkhorst (.327-0-6) was promoted from Fort Wayne after Bourassa's injury and provided a lift on both offense and defense.

Matt Thayer (.293-1-6) finished the season in Fort Wayne and Jordan Pickens (.245-10-46) was plagued by injuries.

Infield: B-

Unlike the outfield, the Storm's infield stayed largely intact during the season. The quartet provided sufficient offense but its defense showed room for improvement.

First baseman Michael Johnson, who hit a team-high 21 home runs, was an RBI machine when healthy, but a hamate injury that required surgery limited him to 73 games. First baseman/designated hitter Fernando Valenzuela Jr. (.296-12-83) led the team in RBIs.

Second baseman Peeter Ramos (.278-2-46), the only opening-day infielder not with the team at the end of the season, showed great range and hands in the field and provided a spark near the top of the lineup before his promotion in August.

Shortstop Juan Ciriaco (.281, 9, 77) was second on the team in RBIs despite hitting first or ninth most of the season. In the field, he demonstrated range and a cannon arm, but his error total (45) was too high. Third baseman Brett Bonvechio (.267-19-73), who led the Storm with 85 runs, showed patience at the plate ---- maybe too much sometimes. He ranked fourth in the league with 86 walks but led the league with 163 strikeouts. Also, he committed 35 errors.

Skip Adams (.269-5-38) made 20 errors in the utility role.

Catcher: A-

George Kottaras (.303-9-50) showed why Padres general manager Kevin Towers said he expects the Canadian to be the Padres next every-day catcher. He hit consistently and skillfully handled the pitching staff before his promotion.

Colt Morton (.323-9-19) came from Fort Wayne to replace Kottaras and showed he can hit Cal League pitching for average and power, but he could improve behind the dish after throwing out just two baserunners while with the Storm.

Contact staff writer Ed Wehde at (951) 676-4315, Ext. 2630 or at ewehde@californian.com.