After an up and down season the Clearwater Threshers head towards the All-Star Break with a record of 29-33 5.5 games out of first place with just six games remaining in the first half of the season.  The team spent on day this year in first place back in late April, but immediately lost six consecutive games falling into fifth place.  Since that time the team has played roughly .500 baseball and stayed in fifth place.

The good news is that five members of the team will make a trip to the Florida State League All-Star Game this coming weekend in Lakeland, Florida.  Players heading to the game include:  Joe Bisenius (RHP), Mike Costanzo (3B), J.A. Happ (LHP), Derek Griffith (LHP) and Peeter Ramos (2B).

News on the Starting Rotation:

Andy Baldwin (RHP – 4.15 ERA) has been showing improvement as the season progresses.  In his most recent outing he threw the teams first-ever nine inning complete game as the Threshers defeated the Sarasota Reds 2-1 (the only other complete games by Threshers pitcher have been seven inning efforts as part of a double header).  Andy is tied for second on the team in strikeouts with 58 in 68.1 innings while walking just 11 batters .

Derek Griffith (LHP – 3.73 ERA) is one of five Threshers who earned a bid to the FSL All-Star game, but has struggled in his two appearances since being named to the team.  His ERA has come up 1.50 points since the last Threshers report, but he leads the team in wins with a record of 4-4.

JA Happ (LHP - 2.80 ERA) will be another Threshers player to visit the All-Star game.  He leads the team in innings with 74.0 so far this year, and leads the team with 73 Ks versus 16 BBs.  His 73 Ks are sixth best in the league, but he leads the league with 9 HR allowed this year.

Prospects In The Bullpen:

Joe Bisenius (RHP – 1.46 ERA) has appeared in more games than any other pitcher (23) primarily as a middle reliever.  He has 36 Ks versus 17 BBs in 37.0 innings pitched, and he will join pitchers Happ and Griffith on the FSP All-Star squad.

Nate Johnson (RHP – 1.19) has the team's lowest ERA  and lowest WHIP (0.96) and has appeared in 19 games as both a middle reliever and a closer.  He has 28 Ks and 2 saves in 30.1 innings of work.

Prospects In the Field:

Mike Costanzo (3B) has seen his batting average improve slowly but surely as the season has progressed.  He is now hitting .250 with 18 of his 59 hits going for extra bases including 5 homers, a triple, and is second on the team with doubles at 12.  He is still struggling with plate discipline striking out 75 times in 232 at-bats, but leads the team in RBIs (36) so he is getting his hits in the clutch situations.  His defense has been good as well as he leads all FSL third basemen in fielding percentage.  Mikes efforts have been good enough to earn him an All-Star berth this weekend.

Brad Harman (SS) the kid from down under has seen his batting average languish in the low .200s most of the year and is currently hitting .233.  He is still hitting just .233 but leads the team in doubles (7) and got his first home run of the year this past Tuesday in a Threshers victory.  Brad also leads the team in errors with 14 of the team's 37 errors on the year.

Other Players of Note:

Peeter Ramos (2B) leads the team in batting average at .292.  Ramos is a minor league free agent having spent the last five years in the Padres organization.  He is second (tied) on the team in runs scored with 29, and has earned a trip to the All-Star game as well.

Brian Burgamy (CF) leads the team in slugging percentage at .451 and is batting .275.   8 of his 53 hits have gone for extra bases including t team high 7 homers, with 2 triples, and 9 doubles.  He leads the tem in steals with 9, and in runs scored with 44.  Burgamy is another seasoned minor leaguer who along with Peeter Ramos comes to the Threshers from the Padres organization.

Branden Florence (DH/OF) leads the team in doubles with 14, and is second on the team with a .284 BA and second with 30 runs scored.