‘pen notes

The Mississippi Braves’ bullpen, so brilliantly effective through the season’s first month (10-3 record, 8 of 10 saves converted, sub-2.00 ERA), suddenly has a very different look. Stephen Marek, the closer, has gone to Triple-A, probably for good. Jacob Thompson has moved into the rotation, and Michael Broadway has gone on the disabled list. Right-hander Jon Huber, a former big leaguer, joined the M-Braves’ pen last Thursday. Jaye Chapman, a young and unproven right-hander, came up from Class A Myrtle Beach on Saturday, and Juan Abreu, a prized righty plucked from Kansas City’s system in the Rule 5 draft last December, moved up on Sunday. The M-Braves start a five-game road trip in Chattanooga tonight, and it’ll be interesting to see how the pen holds up. Will the chemistry be the same? Manager Phillip Wellman said Lee Hyde and Brett Butts would likely share the closer duties in Marek’s absence. Both converted in their first chances after his departure. Huber made his second appearance on Sunday and allowed a run in the 5-4 loss to Birmingham. Chapman and Abreu made their debuts Sunday and worked a scoreless inning each. … On a side note, don’t expect former Terry High and Meridian Community College star Van Pope to be joining the M-Braves’ bullpen anytime soon. The converted third baseman has made six appearances as a reliever at Myrtle Beach and has some ugly numbers: 0-2, 8.31 ERA, 8 hits (3 homers) and 11 walks allowed in 8 2/3 innings, plus 2 hit batsmen and 2 balks.
P.S. Through 15 games (roughly a fifth of the home slate), the M-Braves are drawing an average of 2,690 per game. Last year’s average was 2,997. Attendance at Trustmark Park has dipped every year since the club drew an announced 3,847 in 2005, the inaugural year.