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
Monday, July 27, 2009
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.
Monday, May 18, 2009
News & Notes - September 28, 2020
Just one week left....
- Four of the six playoff spots have been clinched, with only the South Division champ and AL Wildcard up for grabs. Halifax and Chiang-Mai clinched their division this week, while both Ireland and Scotland clinched playoff spots. Atlanta holds a seemingly safe 4.5 game lead with 6 games to go, while Cleveland is up 2.5 over Savannah for the WC spot.
- Osaka is 17 HR shy of the all time team record with 6 games to go. The Ronin have 5 of the top 7 in HR's this year.
- Of the 5 Osaka batters with 40 or more HR, only 2 have 100+ RBI (though the other 3 should get there by season's end).
- 23 batters have 100 or more RBI right now, 5 of which are rookies.
- RHOY is wide open right now, with literally a dozen good candidates for the award. Probably the best hitting rookie class in SLB history.
- RPOY is another story, with most rookie hurlers having rough years. The decision will likely come between a starter (Taipei's Myers) and a closer (Ireland's Sasaki).
- Cy Young seems like a foregone conclusion, as Atlanta's Homer Bailey is 19-1, 2.21, and most of his stats are off the charts.
- MVP is also wide open. Could be the closest vote in years.
- Four of the six playoff spots have been clinched, with only the South Division champ and AL Wildcard up for grabs. Halifax and Chiang-Mai clinched their division this week, while both Ireland and Scotland clinched playoff spots. Atlanta holds a seemingly safe 4.5 game lead with 6 games to go, while Cleveland is up 2.5 over Savannah for the WC spot.
- Osaka is 17 HR shy of the all time team record with 6 games to go. The Ronin have 5 of the top 7 in HR's this year.
- Of the 5 Osaka batters with 40 or more HR, only 2 have 100+ RBI (though the other 3 should get there by season's end).
- 23 batters have 100 or more RBI right now, 5 of which are rookies.
- RHOY is wide open right now, with literally a dozen good candidates for the award. Probably the best hitting rookie class in SLB history.
- RPOY is another story, with most rookie hurlers having rough years. The decision will likely come between a starter (Taipei's Myers) and a closer (Ireland's Sasaki).
- Cy Young seems like a foregone conclusion, as Atlanta's Homer Bailey is 19-1, 2.21, and most of his stats are off the charts.
- MVP is also wide open. Could be the closest vote in years.
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
News & Notes - September 11, 2020
Getting close to the end here....
- Despite a pile of injuries, Halifax continues to hold a double digit lead in the North (and the best overall record in the league).
- After months in the last place, Atlanta has put on a successful surge and has passed everyone into first place in the south (albeit by a slim, 2.5 game lead on Savannah).
- The battle for the Euro rages on between Scotland and Ireland, with Ireland holding the narrow lead at the moment. Both teams are all but guaranteed playoff spots, but the winner of the division will get the all important first round bye.
- Chiang Mai seems to have seized control of the Far East. They've won 5 in a row and hold a 5.5 game lead over Kyoto. If they can play well in their remaining head-to-head games with the Bushido, they should be locked in for the playoffs.
- The Cleveland Dawgs hold a game and a half lead in the American Wildcard race. The Dawg offense has been explosive this past week; they scored 38 runs in a 3 game series with Philly, then averaged 8 runs per game against Baltimore. Despite the rush of offense, Cleveland is still just 6th in the league in runs.
- Taipei has played well the last 3 weeks to pull ahead of the floundering Ronin. The Tai Fong's young pitching looks solid heading into 2021.
- Out of nowhere, CHNG's Thurman Murman has stormed to the league RBI lead with 129. Second year Scotland OF Sakamoto is 2nd, despite starting the year on the bench.
- 2B Cap Jackson has nearly lapped the field in the stolen base department; he has 107, compared to Warren McFadden, who is second with 56.
- SS Diego Clemente may break the 9 year old walks record set by A-Rod in 2011 (83).
- 3B Chest Rockwell joined the 500 HR club.
- Despite a pile of injuries, Halifax continues to hold a double digit lead in the North (and the best overall record in the league).
- After months in the last place, Atlanta has put on a successful surge and has passed everyone into first place in the south (albeit by a slim, 2.5 game lead on Savannah).
- The battle for the Euro rages on between Scotland and Ireland, with Ireland holding the narrow lead at the moment. Both teams are all but guaranteed playoff spots, but the winner of the division will get the all important first round bye.
- Chiang Mai seems to have seized control of the Far East. They've won 5 in a row and hold a 5.5 game lead over Kyoto. If they can play well in their remaining head-to-head games with the Bushido, they should be locked in for the playoffs.
- The Cleveland Dawgs hold a game and a half lead in the American Wildcard race. The Dawg offense has been explosive this past week; they scored 38 runs in a 3 game series with Philly, then averaged 8 runs per game against Baltimore. Despite the rush of offense, Cleveland is still just 6th in the league in runs.
- Taipei has played well the last 3 weeks to pull ahead of the floundering Ronin. The Tai Fong's young pitching looks solid heading into 2021.
- Out of nowhere, CHNG's Thurman Murman has stormed to the league RBI lead with 129. Second year Scotland OF Sakamoto is 2nd, despite starting the year on the bench.
- 2B Cap Jackson has nearly lapped the field in the stolen base department; he has 107, compared to Warren McFadden, who is second with 56.
- SS Diego Clemente may break the 9 year old walks record set by A-Rod in 2011 (83).
- 3B Chest Rockwell joined the 500 HR club.
Monday, May 4, 2009
News & Notes - August 21, 2020
It's been a few weeks.....let's see what's shaking....
- Trade deadline came and went without much fanfare. Halifax made the only move of any significance, snagging SP Yadel Marti from Bedford.
- Despite losing 6 of their last 10, the Atlanta Flyers sit in first place in the South. Every team has a shot at this division, as last place Savannah is just 2 games out (and getting healthy).
- A resurgent Cleveland is back in the wildcard position, holding a 2 game advantage over San Juan. Should the Dawgs have made a move at the deadline to secure their position?
- Across the pond, Scotland and Ireland continue to fight it out in the Euro, though the Rebels have held first place for several weeks. Several of Ireland's hitters are candidates for ROY this year.
- In the Far East, the Kwaan and Bushido have both won 7 of their last 10, and just 1.5 games separate them for the division lead. Neither is above .500 yet.
- Kyoto rookie 2B Luke Daughetry saw an offensive explosion in July and August, and is now 2nd in the league in HR (39) and fourth in RBI (100). Other rookies of note are Ireland's Chmolak (7th in batting average), Paris' Peltz (second in SLG), Ireland's Pointer (first in doubles), and Ireland's Sasaki (first in saves, OpAvg, OpSLG and H/9).
- Prince Fielder (OSKA) now has 50 HR, 11 more than anyone else in the league. Bedford has 137 HR as a team.
- Chiang-Mai has 274 stolen bases, 92 more than London, who has the 2nd most at 182.
- Offense has been the story this year, as 9 of the 16 teams have ERA's over 5.00. Scouts are hoping the talented crop of collegiate pitchers will tip the balance over the next few years.
- Former (or current) Osaka Ronin hitters are the next three in line for 500 career HR. Chest Rockwell is at 498, Dave Peppers at 494, and Tony Montana at 489.
- Trade deadline came and went without much fanfare. Halifax made the only move of any significance, snagging SP Yadel Marti from Bedford.
- Despite losing 6 of their last 10, the Atlanta Flyers sit in first place in the South. Every team has a shot at this division, as last place Savannah is just 2 games out (and getting healthy).
- A resurgent Cleveland is back in the wildcard position, holding a 2 game advantage over San Juan. Should the Dawgs have made a move at the deadline to secure their position?
- Across the pond, Scotland and Ireland continue to fight it out in the Euro, though the Rebels have held first place for several weeks. Several of Ireland's hitters are candidates for ROY this year.
- In the Far East, the Kwaan and Bushido have both won 7 of their last 10, and just 1.5 games separate them for the division lead. Neither is above .500 yet.
- Kyoto rookie 2B Luke Daughetry saw an offensive explosion in July and August, and is now 2nd in the league in HR (39) and fourth in RBI (100). Other rookies of note are Ireland's Chmolak (7th in batting average), Paris' Peltz (second in SLG), Ireland's Pointer (first in doubles), and Ireland's Sasaki (first in saves, OpAvg, OpSLG and H/9).
- Prince Fielder (OSKA) now has 50 HR, 11 more than anyone else in the league. Bedford has 137 HR as a team.
- Chiang-Mai has 274 stolen bases, 92 more than London, who has the 2nd most at 182.
- Offense has been the story this year, as 9 of the 16 teams have ERA's over 5.00. Scouts are hoping the talented crop of collegiate pitchers will tip the balance over the next few years.
- Former (or current) Osaka Ronin hitters are the next three in line for 500 career HR. Chest Rockwell is at 498, Dave Peppers at 494, and Tony Montana at 489.
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
News & Notes - July 23, 2020
Just over a week before we reach the trade deadline. Who's in it?
- The first wildcard standings went up today, and the difference between the two leagues is night and day. In the AL, every team in the league is within 6 games of the wildcard leading Dawgs, while in the WL, Ireland has a 9 1/2 game lead on 2nd place Kyoto.
- Likewise, the North Division is the only one where the first place team (Halifax) has a substantial lead (13 games). Every other division leader has just a 1/2 game lead on the 2nd place team.
- After being riddled with major injuries earlier in the year, the Savannah Sabers are just a couple of weeks from being full strength again. The Sabers are just 3 games out of first place, and should be getting Boog Johnson, Dontrelle Willis and Miggy Cabrera back over the next two weeks.
- When was the last time Darren Lemming wasn't in the top 10 in SLG in late July? By any other player's standards, Lemming's .328, 21, 72 line would be outstanding, but the future Hall of Famer is usually more dominant.
- Kyoto is 3rd in the league in home runs (167), but just 11th in total runs scored (476).
- Osaka is still in 1st place in the Far East, despite their starting rotation being a combined 3 games under .500.
- 2020's rookie class has hit 366 HR's so far this year.
- Dennis Dennis Jr. has joined the 700 doubles club. He sits at 701, which is 6th all time.
- Brett Myers (SJ) is 2nd among active pitchers in both K's (2814) and BB's (809).
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- The first wildcard standings went up today, and the difference between the two leagues is night and day. In the AL, every team in the league is within 6 games of the wildcard leading Dawgs, while in the WL, Ireland has a 9 1/2 game lead on 2nd place Kyoto.
- Likewise, the North Division is the only one where the first place team (Halifax) has a substantial lead (13 games). Every other division leader has just a 1/2 game lead on the 2nd place team.
- After being riddled with major injuries earlier in the year, the Savannah Sabers are just a couple of weeks from being full strength again. The Sabers are just 3 games out of first place, and should be getting Boog Johnson, Dontrelle Willis and Miggy Cabrera back over the next two weeks.
- When was the last time Darren Lemming wasn't in the top 10 in SLG in late July? By any other player's standards, Lemming's .328, 21, 72 line would be outstanding, but the future Hall of Famer is usually more dominant.
- Kyoto is 3rd in the league in home runs (167), but just 11th in total runs scored (476).
- Osaka is still in 1st place in the Far East, despite their starting rotation being a combined 3 games under .500.
- 2020's rookie class has hit 366 HR's so far this year.
- Dennis Dennis Jr. has joined the 700 doubles club. He sits at 701, which is 6th all time.
- Brett Myers (SJ) is 2nd among active pitchers in both K's (2814) and BB's (809).
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