Highs and lows — Salt Lake Bees have cooled off after red-hot start
In fact, the Bees set a minor-league record for the best start by winning 21 of their first 22 games.
But now it's past the halfway mark of the 144-game season and the Bees, while still owners of a 6 1/2-game lead in the Pacific Coast League's best division from top-to-bottom, know they aren't invincible.
Sunday afternoon at Franklin Covey Field, the Bees gave up three runs in the eighth to lose 5-3 to the Tucson Sidewinders and drop to 53-36 on the season.
You can do the math. Since their 21-1 start, the Bees are just 32-35. Sunday's loss completed a three-game series sweep by Tucson, marking the first time since the 2005 season that Salt Lake had been swept at home.
While losing three straight at home to the team with the second-worst record in the PCL is frustrating, Mitchell is trying to see the bright side.
"If you told me at the beginning of the season that at this point we'd be seven games ahead in the standings, we'd take it right now," the Bees' manager said.
That being said, the Bees know winning their third consecutive division title is not a sure thing. All three teams chasing them in their division are currently .500 or better, and it would only take one of them to get on a hot streak — like the Bees had to start the season — to make things even more interesting down the stretch.
For the Bees, coming down to earth after their incredible start has had many contributing factors. For one, the parent Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim raided the Bees' roster for a number of key players. Most of them have since returned to Salt Lake, but some have not performed as well since being sent back down.
"There have been a lot of changes here, more than normal," said Mitchell. "The big-league club had some injuries there. Some of the guys that were called up played (for the Angels), some didn't play and then when they come back down they were a little rusty."
Injuries have also taken a huge toll on the Bees. Including catcher Bobby Wilson, who was placed on the disabled list with a broken thumb on Sunday, the Bees currently have seven players out.
Terry Evans, a 2007 PCL All-Star outfielder, has played in just 26 games. First baseman Kendry Morales, outfielder Brad Coon and pitchers Alex Serrano and Rich Thompson are also currently on the disabled list.
Salt Lake plays eight more games during its current homestand before getting a few days off for the Triple-A All-Star game. Bees pitcher Shane Loux feels that it's only a matter of time before the winning team from the beginning of the year returns.
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