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</font><div style="margin:0in 0in 10pt;text-align:center" class="MsoNormal" align="center"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Calibri"><font size="6" face="georgia,serif">2015 Baltimore Sand
Crab Update</font> </font></div><div style="margin:0in 0in 10pt;text-align:center" class="MsoNormal" align="center"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Calibri">(at the 1/9th mark)</font></div><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">
</font><p style="margin:0in 0in 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><font size="3"><font color="#000000"><font face="Calibri">The season is only three weeks old, but the new look
Baltimore Sand Crabs have provided a bevy of excitement for fans and critics
alike.<span> </span>Riding a streak where they’ve won
11 of the last 12 games, the fans have never been subjected to such success
(and they’re showing their naivety).<span> </span><span> </span>During the last homestand, fans erroneously boo-ed
the Crabs as they put 11 runs on the board against their division rival, the
Motor City Mauraders.<span> </span>The fans obviously
didn’t realize that it was their own Crabs that were running around the bases
(11 runs is typically more than the Crab faithful would see in an entire
homestand, let alone 1 inning).<span> </span></font></font></font></p><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">
</font><p style="margin:0in 0in 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><font size="3"><font color="#000000"><font face="Calibri">The key to the early season success has been their
pitching.<span> </span>The starters are faring much
better than their previous counterparts, and the relief corp is actually
shutting down the competition when called upon.<span>
</span>Rookie Ken Giles (PHI) has been particularly impressive in his new role
as the right handed closer.<span> </span>In his six
appearances, Giles is 6-for-6 in closing opportunities and has struck out 10
while walking none.<span> </span>The biggest obstacle
thus far for the Crabs pitching has been the injuries.<span> </span>Three key members of the staff, Arrieta,
Sanchez and Cole, have been struck down with arm fatigue, requiring an extended
stay on the disabled list.<span> </span>Hopefully
their stay on the list won’t be felt too badly as the likes of SD Ross, OAK
Pomeranz and BAL Gausman will be called upon to pick up the slack.<span> </span></font></font></font></p><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">
</font><p style="margin:0in 0in 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><font face="Calibri"><font color="#000000" size="3">On the offensive side of the ledger, the big acquisition over
the winter was the signing of Jose Altuve (HOU).<span> </span>In signing Altuve, the Crabs gave up a lot in
what would have been Jose Abreu (CHA), but management thought that Altuve
filled a weakness that Abreu wouldn’t have filled, that of a gold glove
infielder with speed and a batting average a notch above the rest.<span> </span>Jose hasn’t disappointed 18 games into the
season.<span> </span>His .410 batting average is good
for 4</font><font size="2"><font color="#000000"><sup>th</sup><font size="3"> in the league and he leads in the league in base hits.<span> </span>He’s also leading the league in stolen bases,
but that shouldn’t surprise anyone who’s watched a Sand Crab game this
year.<span> </span>If there’s one thing<span> </span>they’re doing more than anyone else in the
league, that’s running.<span> </span>Through 18
games, they’re averaging 1.5 SB’s per game.<span>
</span>And it’s not just Jose doing the running!<span> </span>Lagares, Schafer, and Davis all are stealing
bases at a prodigious rate.<span> </span></font><font size="3">Tiring out
both pitchers and catchers alike.</font></font></font><font color="#000000" size="3"><span> </span></font></font></p><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">
</font><div style="margin:0in 0in 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Calibri">Be sure to be at the stadium early this weekend for the
annual “Jack Cust Bobblehead Night”.<span>
</span>Legendary Baltimore Sand Crab Jack Cust will be on hand to personally
hand out bobbleheads that bear both his likeness AND his propensity to shake
his head uncontrollably.<span> </span>The first 50
youngsters at the stadium for this promotion will get to go onto the field and
help the legend that is Jack Cust circle the basepaths, just like he did all
those (four) years ago.<span> </span>Other exciting
promotions at the old stadium includes “Ask a Doctor about that Growth” –Night coming
in May as well as “Oral Contraception/Mothers Day Floppy Hat Day” which, for a
change, will coincide with Mothers Day this year.<span> </span>Bring the whole family out for these
wonderful promotions at the Anglo-Franco War Memorial Stadium…home of YOUR
Baltimore Sand Crabs!</font></div><div style="margin:0in 0in 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Calibri"></font> </div><div style="margin:0in 0in 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Calibri">2015 Baltimore Sand Crabs......<font size="4" face="arial black,sans-serif">LET'S GET CRABBY!!!!!!!!!</font></font></div><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">
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