Midwest League 1997

Quad City River Bandits

This page is a profile of the 1997 Quad City River Bandits, a Single-A affiliate of the Houston Astros and a member of the Midwest League. The profile was first published in early April and was revised periodically; this final revision was completed in early September.

All statistics quoted on this page are through the end of the season.

Davenport and Bettendorf, Iowa, and Moline and Rock Island, Illinois; affiliated with the Houston Astros.
Manager: Manny Acta (#14)
Coaches: Jorge Orta (#6), Charley Taylor (#17) (Pitching)

High Attendance: 12,032 (July 5)
Low Attendance: 387 (April 17)
Average Attendance: 2,146
1996 Season Average: 3,741

Post-Season Wrapup

The Bandits had a miserable year. The Astros sent a bad team, and the River tried to drown the ballpark.

After first baseman Kevin Burns, there's a little power and some potential. Outfielder Wes Pratt and catcher Tucker Barr are good ballplayers, and outfielder Roberto Alleyne looks to have enormous ability.

Starter Bryan Braswell's a real talent, and relievers Sean Duncan and Jim Lynch show hints of ability. Wade Miller showed some stuff before his promotion. Everyone else on the pitching staff either pitched poorly or pitched rarely.

Team Leaders

• Best Player on the Team: First Baseman Kevin Burns

• Pitching: 59-75 (.440), 4.31, 8 CG, 4 Shutouts, 28 saves, 963 Ks
• Hitting: .252, 586 runs, 89 HR, 102 SB
• First Half: 26-38 (.406), 3rd, 10.0 behind
• Second Half: 33-37 (.471), 2nd (Tie), 3.5 behind
• After August 1: 12-18 (.400)

• Best Starting Pitcher: Bryan Braswell (3.79, 6-6, 116 IP, 118 Ks)
• Bullpen Stopper: Esteban Maldonado (3.54, 4-4, 9 saves, 69 IP, 56 Ks)
• Best Strikeout Pitcher: Jim Lynch (68 Ks in 58 innings)
• Best Control Pitcher: Bryan Braswell (118 Ks, 32 BB in 116 innings)
• Best Hitter: Kevin Burns (.270, 72 runs, 28 doubles, 20 homers, 86 RBI)
• Highest BA: Kevin Burns (.270)
• Home Run Leader: Kevin Burns (20)
• Best Baserunner: Brian Dallimore (24 steals)

July Evaluation

The Bandits are pretty much an average team for this league, now. Southpaw pitcher Bryan Braswell's the closest thing to a star on this team; he's a dependable pitcher who throws strikes. Sean Duncan's been pitching well in relief. The regular offensive starters can be easily divided into "power" and "speed" groups, with little overlap. First baseman Kevin Burns is the best of the handful with power, and shortstop Brian Dallimore is the best of the speed group. The hitters are free-swingers; they rarely wait long enough to walk or to strike out.

June Evaluation

While the River Bandits are no longer the league's worst team, they have little to brag about. Shortstop Brian Dallimore is a good, but not really exciting, hitter, while outfielder Wes Pratt brings some power and speed to the game. Lefty starter Bryan Braswell appears to be very good, but is handicapped by the players around him.

May Evaluation

They've returned to their John O'Donnell home, and it seems to have helped. Although the Bandits remain a pretty poor team by league standards, they're no longer going out there and embarrassing themselves. Although the squad has three strong starting pitchers in Bryan Braswell, Gabe Garcia, and Wade Miller, the remaining pitchers are kinda scary. The batting lineup is really quite interesting; there are hitters with speed (Brian Dallimore, for one), hitters with power (Wes Pratt, for instance), and hitters for average (Roberto Alleyne), but not one well-rounded offensive player.

April Evaluation

This is a sad season for the Bandits and their fans; this nine can't hit and the pitching's not much better. Easily the league's worst team, so far. Dallimore and McFerrin are worth seeing, though. And this young pitching staff is quite likely to improve.

And they've hardly been home: John O'Donnell Stadium's a flood victim, again....

Where they played last season

The Astros built this team from all of their low-minors farm teams.

Team             League         W/L   Place(Teams)  Hitters Pitchers
Kissimmee        Florida State  60-75    12(14)       2       3
Quad City        Midwest        70-61     4(14)       4       2
Auburn           New York-Penn  37-39     8(14)       7       5
Astros           Gulf Coast     31-28     7(16)       3       5

Several players are counted on two teams.

• Oldest Player:
  • Jesus Farraez (OF), born 10-18-72 (24)
• Youngest Player:
  • Scott Chapman (C), born 1-30-78 (19)
• Average Team Age:
  This information is based on early-season rosters.
  • Pitchers: 20.9
  • Position Players: 21.9
  • Team Average: 21.4

• First Round Draftee:
  • Tony McKnight (1995)

• Baseball America Top 100 Minor League Prospects
  • Wade Miller (#76)
• Baseball America Astros Prospects (Post-Season)
  • Wade Miller (#3, best fastball)
• Baseball America Mid-Season Highlights
  • none
• All-Star Game, June 17, Lansing
  • Tucker Barr (C)
  • Bryan Braswell (P)
  • Kevin Burns (1B)
  • Gabe Garcia (P)
  • Wade Miller (P)
  • Wes Pratt (OF)

• Tucker Barr
  • April 19: 2 homers
  • July 2: homer, double
  • July 31: double, homer
• Bryan Braswell
  • May 31: 4 hit complete game, 15 strikeouts!
• Kevin Burns
  • April 7: 2 homers, 6 RBI
  • May 23: homer, double
  • June 14: double, homer
  • July 9: double, homer, 4 RBI
  • July 16: homer, double, 4 RBI
  • July 31: double, homer
• Arnie Chavera
  • May 1: 2 homers
• Brian Dallimore
  • 24 game on-base streak through May 13.
  • June 12: homer, double
• Gabe Garcia
  • July 28: 4 hit complete game
• Jason Green
  • July 9: 4 hit complete game
• Matt Hyers
  • August 3: 3 doubles
• Tony McKnight
  • July 30: 6.1 shutout innings
  • August 4: 11 strikeouts
• Aaron Miles
  • May 16: 4 for 5
• Wade Miller
  • May 16: 3 hit complete game
• Wes Pratt
  • May 3: 2 home runs, 4 RBI
  • May 12: double, homer
  • August 3: 3 doubles
• Jim Reeder
  • June 30: double, homer
  • July 1: 2 doubles, home run
• Jeriome Robertson
  • May 27: 6 inning complete game, 3 hits
  • June 8: 10 strikeouts
  • August 6: complete game shutout, 10 strikeouts
• Marlon Roche
  • May 9: 4 RBIs
• Nelson Samboy
  • August 5: 4 for 4