The Chattanooga Lookouts lost five of their first six games in April and were seven games under .500 in late May.
In other words, there wasn't much need for them to keep up with the Southern League's North Division standings.
It's a bit different now, as the Lookouts and Montgomery Biscuits are off to the quickest starts in the second-half race with matching 14-10 records. Both teams lost Sunday, the Lookouts 6-5 to Mobile at AT&T Field and the Biscuits 6-4 to Tennessee.
"It's way too early to pay attention to that," Chattanooga second-year manager Doug Mientkiewicz said. "You have to right your own ship first, and we stay focused on our daily tasks. When you start getting about two weeks from the end, you realize you have a chance, but right now we're trying to get our younger pitchers who just came up acclimated to Double-A quickly and learn from their mistakes."
The Lookouts fell Sunday despite four RBIs from Mitch Garver, who doubled to right field in the third inning to score Levi Michael and Zack Granite and singled to center in the fifth to score Granite and Ryan Walker. Chattanooga took a 5-3 lead into the eighth inning, but Rudy Flores put the BayBears ahead to stay on a double to center that scored Jamie Westbrook, David Peralta and Travis Denker.
Mientkiewicz continually stresses the importance of winning at the Double-A level and how that will help once you reach the majors, and considering he has a clubhouse full of competitors, it's only natural for them to sneak a glance at where they stand.
"Every once in a while, it's good to check to see where we're at," first baseman Dalton Hicks said. "I've noticed that we're off to a good start and that Montgomery is off to a good start, but it is still early. I've definitely noticed Montgomery, though."
Jackson, which won the North's first-half title and is assured of a spot in the playoffs, is 12-11 so far in the second half. The Lookouts are seeking their third straight playoff trip, having lost the 2014 championship series to Jacksonville and won last season's title series over Biloxi.
The Lookouts are not only adjusting to new pitchers Stephen Gonsalves, Tyler Jay and Felix Jorge but the absence of right fielder Daniel Palka, who was leading the league in home runs when he was promoted to Triple-A Rochester (N.Y.) on July 7. Chattanooga is 6-5 since Palka's departure.
"We've played just about the same and may have even scored more runs," Mientkiewicz said. "You miss the homers, but you kind of don't miss the punch-outs in certain situations. That's what we do. We move guys up and give other guys an opportunity.
"Whenever someone is added or removed, you go with what you've got and try to get the best out of what you've got. We don't have a lot of homers right now, but we still find ways to score runs."
Contact David Paschall at dpaschall@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6524.