The Bakersfield Blaze began the 2013 season 0-8 and were outscored 50-20 in those eight games. To put it frankly, that team got off to an atrocious start and they never recovered as they finished the season 55-85. While the 2014 squad is only four games into their season, what a difference it is.
The Blaze are sitting at 4-0 and their closest margin of victory is four runs. They have outscored the opposition 37-13 through the first four games. Their offense as a whole is hitting an incredible .377/.437/.522 with 14 walks and 19 strikeouts. They lead the league in average, on-base percentage, slugging percentage, OPS, hits, runs, home runs, steals and have the fewest strikeouts.
Individually the Blaze has three players with an OPS over 1.150. Kyle Waldrop is hitting .667 on the season, which leads the league and has yet to strike out and has walked twice. Marquez Smith has 10 RBI, which leads the league and is hitting .438. Junior Arias is also hitting .438 and after struggling mightily in the 2013 season with his plate discipline, he has two walks and three strikeouts. Arias also leads the league in steals with five.
It isn’t just the offense that has been getting things done though. The Blaze pitching staff has a 2.50 ERA with the fewest walks in the league (just eight walks in four games) and a 1.08 WHIP. They have gotten strong starts out of Drew Cisco, Ben Lively and James Allen. Only an early exit of Mike Dennhardt due to being hit by a line drive has left them without four strong starts. The bullpen has been strong as well, posting a 2.20 ERA in 16.1 innings pitched. They also haven’t allowed a home run yet this season.
We are just a very short way into the season and things could certainly change, but the Blaze are off to a, pardon the pun, blazing start here in 2014 as all aspects of the game are coming together well for the team.