NewsMiracle snare second '09 title
Fort Myers rallies to collect FSL South crown again
By Paige Schector / MLB.com
09/02/09 11:34 PM ET
Fort Myers' second-year manager Jeff Smith hadn't been feeling well coming down the homestretch of the Minor League regular season.Capturing the second-half title -- after snaring the first-half Florida State League South Division crown in early June -- has raised the spirits of the Miracle's second-year skipper, despite his lingering toothache.
Fort Myers clinched the title by rallying to an 8-4 victory over the St. Lucie Mets at Tradition Field in Wednesday's doubleheader opener.
"It's a very tough accomplishment," Smith said of winning both halves. "We lost several pitchers -- five or six -- to Double-A and we've had a few relievers (Santos Arias and Steve Hirschfeld) become starters, but we're stayed focused all season."
The Miracle put up an eight-spot in the fifth inning Wednesday to all but seal the deal. Ben Revere plated a run with a single and Estarlin De Los Santos followed with a sacrifice fly. Mark Dolenc then cleared the bases with a double and crossed the plate himself on Joe Benson's single. Deibinson Romero added his fifth homer for good measure.
Fort Myers boasts three players on the Florida State League Postseason All-Star Team, including Pitcher of the Year David Bromberg (13-3, 2.61 ERA). Bromberg stands atop the league in strikeouts with 141, shares the wins lead with Brevard County's Amaury Rivas and Jeremy Hall and is fourth in ERA.
"He's got all four pitches and he's gotten us deep into games," Smith said. "He's really one of those special pitchers. When guys get on base, he can turn it up a notch."
Revere (.310, 71 runs, 47 RBIs, 44 stolen bases) and Chris Parmelee (.261, 73 RBIs, 60 runs and league second-best 16 homers), who went to the league's midsummer classic with Bromberg, also received end-of-the-year kudos Monday.
"Ben has been a spark for us all season long whether it be with a stolen base or a clutch hit," Smith said. "He's the guy you most want to see (at bat) at the end of the game ... or at the beginning of the game. Parmelee has been a good RBI man and has played first and right for us. He put up some good power numbers."
The Miracle still have the services of midseason All-Stars Chris Cates and Hirschfeld, but shortstop Steve Singleton and left-handed reliever Spencer Steedley have since moved up to Double-A New Britain.
"It really comes down to your starting pitching," Smith said. "Ours have given us a chance to put some W's on the board."
Games between Fort Myers and the second-place Charlotte Stone Crabs, who joined the league this season, quickly developed a budding rivalry.
"We've played them so many times, I think every game has been a one- or two-run game," Smith said. "They've all come down to the last three innings. They've been real exciting ballgames."
The manager expects the low-scoring, tight-game trend to continue into the playoffs.
"Whenever you have a three-game series, it comes down to starting pitching in all three of those games," he said. "I just think you're going to see some good baseball games."
Smith took Fort Myers to the postseason last year, losing in four games to the Daytona Cubs in the Finals.
Paige Schector is an editor for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
