Some interesting stuff going on....
- London is the hottest team in the league, winning 10 straight to take a 4 game lead in the Euro Division. The Knights were 5 games under .500 when they started the streak, but now stand at 21-16. There are still huge concerns in the rotations, where Matsuzaka, Pursel and Miller have all been hit hard. London has outscored their opponents 88-38 over the streak.
- Other teams on hot streaks are Philly and Savannah, who've both won 8 of their past 10 games. Philly has passed Cleveland for 2nd place in the North, and Savannah is a game up on Atlanta for the South Division lead.
- On the flip side, Paris is in a death spiral. The Pimps have lost 15 straight to fall to 11-27 (10 1/2 games out of first). They've been outscored 125-67. Paris has a league worst 6.29 team ERA and has given up 72 HR. Team GM Michael Taylor is trying to shuffle things up, sending former MVP Ryne Robinson to AAA and replacing 60% of his rotation (Davis, Laro and Pawelek in, Bray, Kuo and Broadway out).
- Also in a major slump is Ireland, who just broke an 11 game losing streak. The Invaders are still in second place (4 games out), but need to right the ship, and fast.
- Cleveland is the first team to take advantage of Chiang-Mai's advertised fire sale, acquiring RF Delmon Young and pitchers Art Taylor and Curt Wilson from the Kwaan for rookie P Ruben Aderholt and young hitters Matthew Hamman and Dante Bichette, Jr. The Dawgs have rebuilt an outfield that lost Tex Austin and Lum Blomberg early in the season.
- SS Jose Reyes (CHNG) broke the 3000 hit plateau recently, and Miguel Cabrera (PAR) is just 5 hits from the mark.
- RF Will Hunting (PHI) hit his 800th double recently.
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Monday, July 27, 2009
News & Notes - April 2021 Wrap-Up
Let's see how April treated the league....
- Halifax has the best record in the league, but is playing WAY over their heads in terms of luck. Their record stands at 18-9, but their run differential is just +7. Kiko Brezovan is showing impressive power (10 HR), but the next highest total is just 4. Scott Kazmir has been the only truly effective starter, but the bullpen is 8-1.
- After a slow start, Ireland has surged to the best record in the WL. The young offense hasn't missed a beat, with five starters batting well above .300. The pitching has been rock solid as well.
- After a "down" year in 2020, Atlanta's Darren Lemming is back to form, posting a .391/.481/.782 line is his first 110 plate appearances. He's complemented in the outfield by Elliot Hayes, who has shown some unexpected power. Homer Bailey is still stuck at 1-0, despite posting quality starts in 4 of his first 5 appearances.
- Also stuck at 1-0 is Baltimore's Zach Putnam, despite his 1.64 ERA at 5/5 QS.
- Cleveland's Jock Johnson continues to wreak havoc, posting a .500 OBP and 1.350 OPS.
- Kyoto is tied with Atlanta for most HR in the league, lead by Mule (10), Daughtery (9) and Ford (8).
- Osaka has had to weather a pile of injuries, including ace CC Sabathia and three different middle infielders. The team has kept it's head above water, however, thanks to their offense and rookie Michael Casper.
- Jeff Niemann (SJ), who is the career leader in walks, has issued just 3 free passes in 29 innings so far this season.
- Rookie watch (hitters): Virgil Johnson (BAL) .242, 1, 5, Jesse O'Byrne (KYO) .248, 2, 15, Chico Corona (OSKA) .309, 1, 7, Robert Jamieson (PHI) .298, 2, 7, Ray Rice (SAV) .380, 2, 13, Mook Jockster (TAI) .298, 6, 18.
- Rookie watch (pitchers): Andy Topps (ATL) 1-2, 3.60, Len Bartson (CLE) 2-3, 4.98, Tomakazu Kaise (KYO) 2-1, 4.67, Michael Casper (OSKA) 3-1, 2.57, Go Matsumota (PHI) 2-2, 5.86, Holden Whitley (SAV) 1-3, 4.11
- Halifax has the best record in the league, but is playing WAY over their heads in terms of luck. Their record stands at 18-9, but their run differential is just +7. Kiko Brezovan is showing impressive power (10 HR), but the next highest total is just 4. Scott Kazmir has been the only truly effective starter, but the bullpen is 8-1.
- After a slow start, Ireland has surged to the best record in the WL. The young offense hasn't missed a beat, with five starters batting well above .300. The pitching has been rock solid as well.
- After a "down" year in 2020, Atlanta's Darren Lemming is back to form, posting a .391/.481/.782 line is his first 110 plate appearances. He's complemented in the outfield by Elliot Hayes, who has shown some unexpected power. Homer Bailey is still stuck at 1-0, despite posting quality starts in 4 of his first 5 appearances.
- Also stuck at 1-0 is Baltimore's Zach Putnam, despite his 1.64 ERA at 5/5 QS.
- Cleveland's Jock Johnson continues to wreak havoc, posting a .500 OBP and 1.350 OPS.
- Kyoto is tied with Atlanta for most HR in the league, lead by Mule (10), Daughtery (9) and Ford (8).
- Osaka has had to weather a pile of injuries, including ace CC Sabathia and three different middle infielders. The team has kept it's head above water, however, thanks to their offense and rookie Michael Casper.
- Jeff Niemann (SJ), who is the career leader in walks, has issued just 3 free passes in 29 innings so far this season.
- Rookie watch (hitters): Virgil Johnson (BAL) .242, 1, 5, Jesse O'Byrne (KYO) .248, 2, 15, Chico Corona (OSKA) .309, 1, 7, Robert Jamieson (PHI) .298, 2, 7, Ray Rice (SAV) .380, 2, 13, Mook Jockster (TAI) .298, 6, 18.
- Rookie watch (pitchers): Andy Topps (ATL) 1-2, 3.60, Len Bartson (CLE) 2-3, 4.98, Tomakazu Kaise (KYO) 2-1, 4.67, Michael Casper (OSKA) 3-1, 2.57, Go Matsumota (PHI) 2-2, 5.86, Holden Whitley (SAV) 1-3, 4.11
Thursday, July 23, 2009
News & Notes - April 15, 2021
Week 2....
- Parity reigns supreme in the early going, as every team has won and lost at least 5 games (the exception being Halifax, who is 9-4).
- Homer Bailey is off to his usual brilliant start (1.35 ERA and 0.85 WHIP in 3 starts), but he's just 1-0 thanks to some shoddy bullpen work. Relief pitching looks to be an issue for just about everyone in the league this season.
- Is Baltimore's Cole DeVries hiding an injury? He has been absolutely destroyed in his first 3 starts, compiling just 14 total innings while giving up 7 HR and 32 total baserunners.
- You can't stop Jock Johnson....you can only hope to contain him. Cleveland's young first baseman isn't exactly having a sophomore slump; how's a .523/.596/.955/1.551 line sound for the first 50ish plate appearances?
- Halifax's Yadel Marti is the latest pitch count victim, throwing 5 innings of perfect ball before being yanked.
- Kyoto (somehow) leads the league both in runs scored and team ERA. Please, please, PLEASE don't remind Charlie Gibson (2-0, 1.00) that he's Charlie Gibson (20-21, 5.46 career).
- Scotland's Neil Walker hit 4 HR in one game (Sunday). He had only hit 1 long ball in his first 13 games.
- Parity reigns supreme in the early going, as every team has won and lost at least 5 games (the exception being Halifax, who is 9-4).
- Homer Bailey is off to his usual brilliant start (1.35 ERA and 0.85 WHIP in 3 starts), but he's just 1-0 thanks to some shoddy bullpen work. Relief pitching looks to be an issue for just about everyone in the league this season.
- Is Baltimore's Cole DeVries hiding an injury? He has been absolutely destroyed in his first 3 starts, compiling just 14 total innings while giving up 7 HR and 32 total baserunners.
- You can't stop Jock Johnson....you can only hope to contain him. Cleveland's young first baseman isn't exactly having a sophomore slump; how's a .523/.596/.955/1.551 line sound for the first 50ish plate appearances?
- Halifax's Yadel Marti is the latest pitch count victim, throwing 5 innings of perfect ball before being yanked.
- Kyoto (somehow) leads the league both in runs scored and team ERA. Please, please, PLEASE don't remind Charlie Gibson (2-0, 1.00) that he's Charlie Gibson (20-21, 5.46 career).
- Scotland's Neil Walker hit 4 HR in one game (Sunday). He had only hit 1 long ball in his first 13 games.
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
News & Notes - April 8, 2021
Opening Week is behind us in the 2021 season. Let's seen what's shaking...
- Osaka has jumped out to a 5-1 record thanks to a team offense that is hitting .323 and has scored 44 runs (that's just under 7.5 runs/game). The pitching staff has a respectable 4.90 ERA early, but the Ronin's plan is to beat other teams senseless.
- Also 5-1 are the Sailors, though their success has come from the mound. The team has a 2.88 ERA early while the offense is more or less middle-of-the-pack.
- Kyoto has already had it's share of bad luck record-wise. The Bushido are #2 in runs scored and #3 in team ERA, but are just 4-3.
- So, is everyone on a pitch count early? First, Halifax's Bill Carroll is pulled after 6 innings of no-hit ball (the team gave up just 1 hit in the 2-0 victory), and then Cleveland's Mark McCormick was pulled after 7 innings of a PERFECT GAME.
- Osaka rookie SS Chico Corona seems to think he's the new Rickey Henderson, as he's swiped 10 bases in his first 6 games.
- Bad news in the first week for Cleveland; first, they learned that All-Star outfielder Tex Austin (who missed most of last season with a herniated disc) has had a set back and won't be ready until after the All Star Break. Then his replacement (Lum Blomberg) injured himself on Opening Day.
- Taipei starter Rudy Ruettiger not only gave up 3 runs and 6 hits in 5 innings this week, but he also wants to show you how to generate wealth.
- Osaka has jumped out to a 5-1 record thanks to a team offense that is hitting .323 and has scored 44 runs (that's just under 7.5 runs/game). The pitching staff has a respectable 4.90 ERA early, but the Ronin's plan is to beat other teams senseless.
- Also 5-1 are the Sailors, though their success has come from the mound. The team has a 2.88 ERA early while the offense is more or less middle-of-the-pack.
- Kyoto has already had it's share of bad luck record-wise. The Bushido are #2 in runs scored and #3 in team ERA, but are just 4-3.
- So, is everyone on a pitch count early? First, Halifax's Bill Carroll is pulled after 6 innings of no-hit ball (the team gave up just 1 hit in the 2-0 victory), and then Cleveland's Mark McCormick was pulled after 7 innings of a PERFECT GAME.
- Osaka rookie SS Chico Corona seems to think he's the new Rickey Henderson, as he's swiped 10 bases in his first 6 games.
- Bad news in the first week for Cleveland; first, they learned that All-Star outfielder Tex Austin (who missed most of last season with a herniated disc) has had a set back and won't be ready until after the All Star Break. Then his replacement (Lum Blomberg) injured himself on Opening Day.
- Taipei starter Rudy Ruettiger not only gave up 3 runs and 6 hits in 5 innings this week, but he also wants to show you how to generate wealth.
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