Wingnuts return for final homestand looking to elevate record win total

The Wingnuts nullified most meaning for the remainder of the regular season Wednesday night, when they set the single-season American Association record for wins – 69, one more than the record the 2013 Wingnuts held for less than a year.

There is still some significance attached to the final four games, though. Star outfielder Brent Clevlen is scheduled to return Friday after missing a week with a groin injury, and his health is key to Wichita’s postseason chances.

The Wingnuts have a revamped pitching staff thanks to recent sales of ace Jon Link and closer Matt Nevarez, creating some questions of how the rotation and bullpen will be set up for the playoffs.

And winning 70 games – or more – would be pretty cool.

“I think we’re still hungry,” Wingnuts manager Kevin Hooper said. “I think that ‘70’ number is a big number. That would be pretty special. It’s attainable, it’s definitely attainable. I thought the 68 (wins) would stand for quite some time, and then, go figure, we bounce right back the next year.”

The Wingnuts’ last three weeks have been spent addressing postseason needs created by the departures of Link and Nevarez, and a season-ending injury to Jake Kahaulelio.

The loss of Link, who set the franchise record with a 16-strikeout game this month, may hurt the most. It makes Tim Brown the postseason Game 1 starter, followed by Anthony Capra, and may necessitate important innings from recent acquisitions Frank Del Valle and Celson Polanco.

“(Link) is tough to replace,” Hooper said. “Guaranteed he was going to throw Game 1 for you, then go Game 5. But I am more than confident in Tim Brown doing the same thing. Then Cap needs to be Cap in Game 2, and we’ll make a decision on Game 3 and Game 4.”

Replacing Nevarez has taken a by-committee approach, as the Wingnuts have added power arms from the United League, Chris Peacock and Chase Johnson, along with former St. Paul closer Dan Sattler, and used holdover Mike Zouzalik in high-leverage situations.

In losing Kahaulelio, Wichita replaced the 2012 batting champion with the one from 2013, Abel Nieves, who has 19 hits in 31 at-bats in his second stint with the Wingnuts. Wichita has also added power hitting Victor Diaz after trading for middle-of-the-order hitter David Espinosa last month.

The Wingnuts had one three-game losing streak this season. Every version of the team has played well – including another league record, for stolen bases – but Hooper has consistently searched for, and found, improvements.

“You’ve got to look long-term. It is tough though, sometimes, when you are winning,” Hooper said. “We didn’t make too many moves this year. I think we’ve made the close to the same the last two weeks as what we made all year. I’m an ‘if it isn’t broke, don’t fix it’ kind of guy. But on the other hand, I’ve felt like we could get better in certain spots.”

This story was originally published August 28, 2014 at 3:01 PM with the headline "Wingnuts return for final homestand looking to elevate record win total."