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JOHN WOODS \/ FREE PRESS FILES<\/p>\n
Winnipeg Goldeyes shortstop Ray-Patrick Didder has been leading the offence that has managed to snap out of its early-season cold streak. <\/p>\n
Yes, the 31-year-old is officially \u201cen fuego.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat I\u2019ve been working on in the cages, I\u2019ve been able to just bring it to the games,\u201d Didder told the Free Press following batting practice on Friday.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think it\u2019s just making good decisions at the plate. Doing damage on pitches that you can, and if you can\u2019t do damage, just let it go. Just discipline at the plate.\u201d<\/p>\n
He flashed a huge smile when informed the mercury is expected to climb this weekend into the mid-30s.<\/p>\n
\u201cOh, we like the heat. That\u2019s going to be good,\u201d said Didder, who is now in his 14th season of pro baseball after previously getting as high as Triple-A.<\/p>\n
The Goldeyes started the 100-game season back in May with four straight losses and have essentially been playing catch-up ever since. They have played .500, leading to a 22-26 record prior to first pitch against Gary.<\/p>\n
However, there are signs things could be starting to turn.<\/p>\n
Winnipeg is coming off a three-game series in Milwaukee in which they took two of three games from the league-leading Milkmen \u2014 scoring a whopping 32 runs in the process. As a team, they are now in the top four or five of most offensive categories in the 12-team loop.<\/p>\n
\u201cAt some point this year, the whole team is going to click and it\u2019s going to be scary,\u201d said Didder.<\/p>\n
We\u2019re not quite there yet. As good as the bats have been, the pitching still leaves plenty to be desired. Winnipeg\u2019s projected starting rotation has been decimated by departures, injuries and unexpectedly poor performances, which has put extra pressure on the offence to come through. The Goldeyes currently rank eighth in team earned-run-average.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re generating a lot of runs. It\u2019s hard to ask a pitching staff that\u2019s as patched together as it is right now to come out and throw shutouts and stuff like that. Thankfully the offence has kind of answered the call,\u201d said Goldeyes manager Logan Watkins.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf you have five good starters throwing well right now you\u2019re extremely fortunate.\u201d<\/p>\n
Not surprisingly, he\u2019s leaning heavily on Didder these days and had him batting in the leadoff spot on Friday night. Ride the hot hand, right?<\/p>\n
\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t JOHN WOODS \/ FREE PRESS FILES<\/p>\n Heading into Friday\u2019s game against the Gary SouthShore RailCats, Winnipeg Goldeyes shortstop Ray-Patrick Didder had posted 25 hits in 65 at bats (.385 average) with 18 RBI, 21 runs scored, 16 walks and just 11 strikeouts over 18 games.<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s just so confident now,\u201d Watkins said of Didder, who ranks fifth on the team in average (.281), second in home runs (7) and second in RBI (30).<\/p>\n Having a fellow Aruban on the club in Jiandido Tromp doesn\u2019t hurt matters. The pair have been friends since childhood and have helped each other adjust to playing pro baseball far away from their island paradise.<\/p>\n \u201cIt might have taken him a little bit of time to come out of his shell and get comfortable. But I think everyone feels a little bit better when you\u2019ve got someone from back home here with you,\u201d said Watkins.<\/p>\n Representing his nation in the World Baseball Classic this past March also injected a dose of confidence that has remained with Didder. He nearly earned himself an American Association All-Star nomination, narrowly missing out on being the \u201clast man in\u201d as voted on by fans.<\/p>\n \n\t\tWinnipeg Free Press | Newsletter\n\t<\/p>\n \t\t\tThe Warm-Up<\/p>\n Winnipeg Jets Game Days<\/p>\n On Winnipeg Jets game days, hockey writers Mike McIntyre and Ken Wiebe send news, notes and quotes from the morning skate, as well as injury updates and lineup decisions. Arrives a few hours prior to puck drop.<\/p>\n \t\t\tSign up for The Warm-Up<\/a><\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t Winnipeg will still send a trio of players to Lincoln for the showcase game next Wednesday in relief pitchers Derrick Cherry and Eli Saul along with outfielder Noah Marcelo.<\/p>\n \u201cNot a big deal,\u201d said Didder, who will enjoy the four-day baseball break that begins on Monday. \u201cThe real point is to get to the playoffs and win it all.\u201d<\/p>\n That\u2019s still very much a work-in-progress with the Goldeyes officially hitting the halfway mark on Saturday night. The good news is nobody is running away with things in the league, as evident by the fact Winnipeg was just six games out of first place in the division heading into action Friday.<\/p>\n \u201cAt some point the pitchers are going to pitch (better), and as hitters we\u2019re going to keep hitting,\u201d predicted Didder.<\/p>\n winnipegfreepress.com\/mikemcintyre<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t Mike McIntyre Mike McIntyre is a sports reporter whose primary role is covering the Winnipeg Jets. After graduating from the Creative Communications program at Red River College in 1995, he spent two years gaining experience at the Winnipeg Sun before joining the Free Press in 1997, where he served on the crime and justice beat until 2016. Read more about Mike<\/a>.<\/p>\n Every piece of reporting Mike produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print \u2014 part of the Free Press\u2018s tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press\u2019s history and mandate<\/a>, and learn how our newsroom operates<\/a>.<\/p>\n
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