Baseball alumni struggled in April

Wildcat File Photo Arizona Daily Wildcat Ryan Finley

In a disappointing twist, numerous alumni who were slated to have breakthrough seasons are reminiscing about the "good old days" playing for the Asheville Pole Cats or Rancho Cucamonga Quakes - places they might well return to if they don't start stepping up. Here's how the UA alumni break down through the month of April:

1) Kenny Lofton CF, Indians- The former UA basketball star is the exception to the rule so far this spring. Just about the only bright spot in the bunch, Lofton is fourth in the American League in hitting with a .366 average. Statistically the best leadoff man in baseball today, Lofton (class of '90) is tied for third in the AL in stolen bases with eight, and is leading the Indians to a blistering 17-6 start, the best in baseball.

2) A distant second to the veteran Lofton is Oakland pitcher Gil Heredia, who became the Athletics' opening day starter right before the season began due to the questionable status of Kenny Rogers. Heredia, currently 1-1 with a 3.90 ERA, is one of the few bright spots on the young and financially struggling A's. In his first start of the season, Heredia battled the second coming, Roger Clemens. In a game marred by rain, Oakland prevailed, and although the Nogales native got a no-decision, being able to compete with the best pitcher in baseball earned him the No. 2-ranking of UA alumni.

3) Now it gets ugly. Just about everyone aside from Lofton and Heredia are having sub-par seasons. Giants first baseman J.T. Snow, who's hitting .270, is one of the disappointments on an otherwise dominant San Francisco (16-9) squad. Snow's batting average is decent, reaffirming that he is one of the best contact-hitting first baseman in the game. However, Snow does have 19 strikeouts in 83 at bats. Although his team has been the big surprise in baseball, striking out once every 4.2 at bats, roughly once per game, has left Snow in the doghouse.

4) Ed Vosberg, one of three San Diego Padres from UA, has pitched only 1 2/3 innings in three appearances. Vosberg, who missed all of last season due to shoulder reconstruction, has failed to provide the Padres with any sort of left-handed stability in their weak bullpen. If he continues to see this little time under manager Bruce Bochy, look for Vosberg and his big salary to be released at the end of the season.

5) George Arias, the heir apparent to Ken Caminiti at third base for the Padres, has failed to do, well, anything. Breaking his thumb three games into the season put the Wildcat home run king on the disabled list. During his brief stint with the Friars, Arias hit .250 in just eight at-bats. Billed throughout his major league career as talented but underachieving, Arias will need to step up when he gets recalled in about a week or lose his job to grizzled veteran Dave Magadan, who's hit .317 in 20 games since Arias got hurt.

6) Trevor Hoffman, the 1998 Rolaids "Fireman of the Year," has already blown two saves coming out of the bullpen for the Padres. Hoffman, a UA shortstop who was converted to pitcher in the minors, connected on 52 of 53 save opportunities last year. Considered the only bright spot in a depleted Padre bullpen, Hoffman is 0-2 with only three saves in eight appearances. In order for the Padres to avoid becoming the first team to ever go from league champs to league chumps, Hoffman will need to become more consistent out of the pen.

7) Finally, the most disappointing UA alum of the spring: Orioles starter Scott Erickson. Nothing seems to be going right for the Birds, a team which carries the second-highest payroll in the American League. Erickson is no different, leading the league in losses with five and carrying a fat 9.36 ERA. Allowing 26 earned runs in 27 full innings is a sure way to get traded as soon as Baltimore realizes its pennant hopes are crushed. With grumblings about manager Ray Miller getting fired and inconsistent play from a lineup that includes newcomers Charles Johnson, Albert Belle and the now-injured Will Clark, the Orioles are on a downward spiral. Erickson seems to be leading the pack.

With the UA alumni playing like a bunch of minor-leaguers, hopes are high that they'll improve. With a rejuvenated Arias coming off the disabled list and Snow picking up the pace, one can hope for better things in the future.

Ryan Finley is a freshman majoring in journalism and can be reached at Ryan.Finley@wildcat.arizona.edu.