Broncos hope for the best after roster changes

By DENNIS SILVA II
LAREDO MORNING TIMES

With the second-half of the season underway, the Broncos have been wheeling and dealing the last two days.

In a scurried attempt to get the roster to the league-mandated total of 22, the Broncos (24-24) made two more cuts on Tuesday after releasing three on Monday.
United League Baseball teams must turn in updated rosters today.

“If I had a few more spots open, I’d be in good shape,” Broncos General Manager Jose Melendez said. “But it is what it is and it’s been difficult. Still, I feel we have a team that can compete.”

Broncos Manager Dan Shwam shared Melendez’s sentiments.

“It’s tough but we’ll make do,” Shwam said. “At least the players understand that it’s not my decision, it’s the league’s. They knew this was coming and it’s something we have no control over.”

The Broncos released pitchers John Smith and Justin Staatz on Tuesday.

Smith was 0-2 with an 11.17 ERA in 10 appearances. Staatz was 0-0 with a 7.24 ERA in nine appearances.

“I think they knew it was going to happen,” Shwam said. “We hadn’t played them the last few games and guys generally have a good feel of how things are going.”

On paper, the Broncos are dynamic. On the field is another matter, where three of the team’s top four hitters have combined to miss a total of 36 games.

They have, however, gotten healthier lately with the recent return of veteran infielders Arnoldo Ponce and Ivan Reyes, both of whom produce at the plate and defensively.

Slugger Edgard Clemente is still greatly hindered from a hamstring injury suffered early last week, and if not for the needed help, he would be sitting.

“There’s no way Edgard should even be playing this week,” Shwam said. “But he’s a competitor and he knows we need him out there. He’s a threat in our lineup and even while not at full health, he boosts everybody else around him.”

Still, once Clemente gets healthy and the Broncos add the other power bat they’re seeking, Shwam likes his offense’s prospects.

Even without the fulltime services of Clemente, Ponce and Reyes, the Broncos are third in the league in offense (.302) and first in home runs (53).

“When we get everyone healthy, I like our offense a lot,” Shwam said. “If we can find a power-hitting first baseman, and we are talking to a few guys, I’d really like our team. It would give us the ability to rest a guy like Clemente without really losing too much offensively. We know we can hit, we’ve pretty much out-hit everybody we’ve faced. But we’re not a speed team and we can’t manufacture runs so we need big bats.”

The Broncos have very little team speed despite boasting players who are capable in that regard.

Laredo is last in ULB in stolen bases (31-of-41), 13 behind second-to-last Harlingen.
“I’m very surprised at our lack of speed,” Shwam said. “Last year, Reyes had 15 stolen bags. This year, one. Last year, Ponce had 13 stolen bags. This year, none. Not even an attempt. (Dwayne) White is a good runner but takes bad jumps. (Steven) Wright is fast but runs at bad times, and Matt Lawman, the fastest guy on our team, has only stolen four.

“It is surprising, but that’s why the big bats like Clemente, Ponce and Reyes are important for us. We depend on the power hits.”

A big loss to the Broncos’ speed game was an injury to infielder Mark Lewis early in the season.

Lewis played in eight games before tearing his ACL in late May. In those eight games, however, he stole three bases without being caught.

Unfortunately, the team does not expect him back anytime soon.

“I don’t expect him back at the moment,” Shwam said. “We just don’t have a spot for him. He’s a guy who can definitely add speed, but we don’t know if he’s the same player after the injury. I like the way he used to run, but I won’t know until I see him.

“And right now, there’s just no room for him.”

Laredo’s bullpen and closing situation are also still a concern.

“This is a team that can compete and win when healthy,” Shwam said. “We’re getting back to being healthier, and I know I’m completely content with the lineup now that Ponce and Reyes are back. The bullpen will be addressed, and we’ll go with a closer-by-committee to finish games.

“But I like what we have, I really do. If all things click and we’re able to get our team on the field, we can be a dangerous club.”

BRONCO BITS: The saga of pitcher John Odom is still as mercurial as it has ever been, but there appears to be a dimming light cast upon it. Odom, who was sent home in early June to attend to personal matters, appears to have been overwhelmed emotionally and psychologically from the trade that sent him to Laredo in exchange for 10 maple bats. “I don’t think he’s coming back,” Shwam said. “He told us he’d make a decision in a few days, or by the All-Star break, but I just think the whole trade deal overwhelmed him. All the media attention, all the fans riding him and making fun of it, all the criticism he got when he got here and didn’t pitch well, I don’t think he handled that too well. It was in our best interest and his best interest that he went home. He’s got a great arm, a major-league curveball.” Odom started three games for Laredo, acquiring a 0-1 record with a 6.10 ERA. On the surface, he handled the aftermath of the trade – many interviews and scrutinized attention from the likes of ESPN and the Associated Press – with ease, but it can be assumed all was not so simple. “Absolutely, it probably took a toll on him,” Shwam said. “He got so much attention for something he really had nothing to do with. So he didn’t know if it was a good thing or a bad thing. I think what really bothered him is he had no idea how he’d be perceived in other towns, by other teams and players. He didn’t know where he fit.”