Bulls prepare for final stretch

For the third straight year, students have returned to Duke to find the Durham Bulls (70-61) in playoff contention. With just under two weeks left in the regular season, the two-time defending International League champions trail the Richmond Braves by one and a half games in the South Division and retain a firm hold on the league’s wild card spot. Such success was practically unfathomable back in mid-July, when a combined record of 26-31 in the months of May and June left the Bulls in an unfavorable position to qualify for postseason play.

Beginning July 21, however, Durham went on an 11-game win streak that vaulted them back into the pennant race. The Bulls now have 13 games left in the season, all facing division rivals Norfolk, Charlotte and Richmond. With their record against these opponents just above the .500 mark, these final 13 games will be a difficult test.

Two-time IL Player of the Week Matt Diaz has been the Bulls’ standout star this season. Diaz has established himself among the league’s best in several offensive categories. The right fielder tops the league with 274 total bases. He ranks third in the league with 89 RBI and is the IL’s fourth best hitter with a .331 average. Diaz has also hit 21 home runs, only two behind team leader Midre Cummings, the journeyman outfielder whose power has helped him drive in 79 runs on the season. A 2004 IL All-Star, Cummings has also exhibited a very discernible eye at the plate—his 73 walks this season puts him as second best in the league and have helped him maintain an impressive .402 on-base percentage.

The surprise this season has been the play of infielder Jorge Cantu. After spending five years playing single-A baseball in the Tampa Bay organization, Cantu compiled a .302 average, 22 home runs, 80 RBI and a .576 slugging percentage this season. Cantu was also named an IL All-star, before being promoted to the big leagues. He has since been optioned back to Durham.

The Bulls’ pitchers have been less impressive. The team has yet to find a replacement for Dewon Brazelton, who was called up in June and has posted a 3.31 ERA over 84 .3 innings for the Devil Rays. Durham’s two best starters, Jim Magrane and Jason Standridge, have each earned a mere seven wins season, and both have ERA’s that hover around 4.00.

With the playoffs fast approaching, the Bulls appear to have put their worse baseball behind them. Richmond and Durham will likely be joined in the playoffs by the Buffalo Bisons, the Cleveland Indians’ IL affiliate, and the Columbus Clippers, a satellite of the New York Yankees. The two teams hold nine and a half and seven and a half game leads in the North and West divisions, respectively.