The Roughriders began last season as the two time defending NABCL champs. A 104 win regular season, 4th straight division title, and first round bye fueled hopes of a three-peat on the prairie; but a red-hot Richmond offense and a suddenly shaky starting rotation proved to be too much for the team to overcome. To that end, Fargo went into the offseason looking to solidify the rotation, hoping to make a run at the AL pennant again. Without further ado, let’s introduce you to your Season 14 Fargo Roughriders:
Offense
For a franchise that has set the gold standard for offense in the NABCL, it comes as no surprise that Fargo can score. That said, Season 13 was a great year, even by the lofty standards Fargo has set in past seasons. Fargo lead the league in runs scored by a whopping 210 runs, and fell narrowly short of besting the Year 1 juggernaut for most runs scored in team and league history. With no major changes to the core of the offense (the top 10 run producers for the team return), an encore performance does not seem out of the question.
1- LF Brett Siddall (35 years old)- A free agent this offseason, Siddall returned to Fargo, signing a 2 year deal, bringing stability back to the leadoff spot for the team. Although he’s no longer a full time player, Siddall still scored 106 runs in 116 games, with 91 walks and a .298/.418/.480 line. Another similar year would be reasonable to expect.
2- 3B Kurt Lewis (31) - Fargo’s first ever 1st round pick, Lewis continues to be a steady force at the top of the lineup. His first year at 3B went off without a hitch, as Lewis hit .295/.365/.506 with 120 runs scored and 95 RBI. Lewis has only missed scoring 100 runs once in his 7 year career, and should easily eclipse that mark again this season.
3- 2B Mac Gray (28) - Gray has always been a huge injury risk, but when he plays, he might be the best offensive player in the NABCL. Last year was no different, Gray went .326/.409/.704, leading the league in OPS, hitting 51 HR’s, driving in 152 runs, and scoring 105. Gray will continue to get his days off as needed, in hopes of keeping the former MVP in the lineup.
4- DH Rudy Simms (32)- Former MVP Simms rolled into the prime of his career in style, hitting .333/.443/.667, finishing just behind teammate Gray in the OPS rankings, while hitting 44 HR’s, with 133 RBI, 100 walks, and 133 runs scored. Simms is a year older, but primed for another standout year.
5- RF Peter Masato (28) - Masato doesn’t have the batting eye everyone is used to seeing from Fargo offensive players, but he more than makes up for it with his light tower power. He led the team in HR’s (54) and RBI (153) last season, while hitting a respectable .274/.322/.581. Hitting behind Gray and Simms should assure Masato another shot at 150 RBI’s this season.
6- 1B Victor Carrasco (29) - Carrasco languished in AAA for several seasons, waiting for a spot to open up in the ML lineup. With the trade of Larry Flores two seasons ago, Carrasco’s number was called, and he’s done little to disappoint. His .332/.425/.491 line was stellar, and he finished only 5 runs and 11 RBI short of 100 in each category. A slight jump in his power numbers could bring Victor his first All Star appearance in Year 14.
7- C Damaso Montana (32) - Long time Fargo C Max Amaro had his usual fine season, but left via free agency, allowing Fargo to sign Montana to a two year deal. His batting eye will fit right in with this offense, and his defense should be a slight upgrade over Amaro.
8- CF Edgardo Sivilla (27)- Another player who waited an extra year or two for a spot to open, Sivilla came up in the middle of Year 13, and showed his trademark power (27 HR’s in 366 AB’s), and solid glove. An improvement on his .243 batting average in his first full ML season is expected.
9- SS Pasqual Guerrero (26) - SS has been a revolving door for Fargo for its entire existence, and this year will be no different. Rookie Guerrero will get first crack at the job, if his glove is as good as advertised, and he can work a few walks, he should hold onto it with no trouble.
The bench will be filled by emerging 2B/LF Sadie Washington (.320 BA last season backing up both Siddall and Gray), slugging RF Benito Johnson (averaging 30 HR’s in a part time roll the past 3 seasons), C Charlie Douglass (.353 BA in 64 games), and jack of all trades Bernard Parker.
Pitching
With the offense seemingly in good hands, all eyes turn to the pitching staff that is home to a 3 time reigning Cy Young winner, but that also let the team down last season during their aborted playoff run.
After 9 seasons of perpetual mediocrity, at best, from the pitching staff, the Roughriders have become a mainstay in the top 10 league ERA’s for the past 4 seasons. This is due in large part to the signing of Felipe Matos after season 8. Matos had a solid first season, but no one expected him to reel off 3 straight Cy Young awards in his age 39/40/41 seasons. Now 42 and coming off a very mediocre postseason, Matos raised some concerns that he was no longer the shut down ace he has been in past 4 seasons. Desperate to solidify the rotation, Fargo doled out $95 million dollars to secure Alex Schmidt, the top FA SP on the market, clearly showing they were committed to keeping the dynasty rolling for as long as possible.
SP1- Felipe Matos (42) - What more is there to say? Matos has won 3 straight Cy Young awards, started last season 17-0, and ended with 23 wins, 175 K’s, and a 3.20 ERA. He’s clearly got to slow down sometime, but Fargo won’t worry about that until it happens.
SP2- Juan Goya (26) - On a staff without Matos or Lenny Singleton, Goya would be the clear ace. He did not win 20 games for the first time in his career, but his gaudy 18-3 record, team leading 2.99 ERA, and career 58-18 record make him an incredibly solid #2 starter for this squad.
SP3- Alex Schmidt (31) - In any other situation, spending $95 million on a guy who isn’t a true ace would be insanity. But on a team that has a 4-5 year window, and no pitching ready in the minors, getting a guy like Schmidt, who will take the ball 35 times a year and have a shot at 20 wins, might just be worth it.
SP4- Luis Melendez (28) - The ultimate innings eater, Melendez is good for 230+ IP, 15 wins, and several days of rest for the bullpen each year. He’s nothing flashy, but definitely a mainstay in the rotation.
SP5- Frank House (25) - A rookie last year, House will slide up a few slots in the rotation before he’s through. In less than ¾’s of a season; he won 11 games, and flashed glimpses of being overpowering (143K’s in 148 IP).
Closer- Willie Lee (32) - Lee continued to provide All-Star caliber work closing games for Fargo last season. 32 saves, a 3.21 ERA, and a 1.02 WHIP say the 9th inning is safe in Willie’s hands.
Setup- Norm Johnson (28), Victor Martin (28), and Weldon Dodd (25)- Johnson and Martin both were solid in setup rolls last year, and are joined by lefty Dodd from AAA to give Fargo a solid bridge from the rotation to Lee.
Long Relief- Harry Witt (27), Carlos Romero (27), and Larry Howard (28) – Nothing special here, but Witt and Howard each pitched almost 100 innings last year, and Romero comes up from AAA to provide more of the same. If the offense scores as expected, the long relievers will be pitching in a lot of blowout wins, giving the SP’s a break. If this group is called on to be a key to this season, Fargo is in trouble.
Minors
The Fargo system is almost devoid of future ML starting pitching, but a few bright spots remain, several of which will play a role in the next 2-3 years:
1- LF Junior Kwon- One of the top hitting prospects in the minors, he is almost ready, but will need to wait a year or 2 for a spot to open in Fargo.
2- C Brian Takada- The future starting C for the team, he’s a decent game caller, but his real strength is just that, his strength. Takada projects to be a 40 HR hitting C, a rare breed that will fit nicely in Fargo’s lineup.
3- LF Morrie Hall- Hall is a masher with a great eye, and is closer to the majors than Kwon, but doesn’t have the upside.
4- RP Ralph Murray- The closer of the future, he combines a top notch fastball, great splits, and the ability to throw almost daily.
5- RP JR Phillips- If it weren’t for Murray, he’d be the future closer. As it is, he’ll be a great long RP, capable of throwing many high-leverage innings.
6- SP Earle Shaw- The best SP prospect in the system Shaw lacks a little command, but otherwise, has all the earmarks of a solid #4 SP.
7- RP Heath Brown- Nothing flashy, but a future staple of the bullpen.
8- RP Garland Stevens- A lefty version of Heath Brown.
9- RP Wilfredo Castilla- Will double as a spot SP/LR, and has the pitches and splits to be very effective in that role.
10- Brad McRae- Future SS for the team, he’s got a good glove, and enough of a bat to hit 20 HR’s and play every day.
Prognosis
After winning back to back World Series, last season’s disappointing exit in the 2nd round prompted Fargo to spend over $100 million dollars to fill the hole is it’s rotation, at catcher, and to bring back Siddall in LF. The calculated (and expensive) risk was substantial, but it is clear that the time to win in Fargo is now, as all but a handful of Fargo’s stars are in the prime of their careers. If Fargo does not compete for several titles in the next 3-5 seasons, this offseason will go down as a dismal failure. If they are able to return to the Series, this will go down with the Season 9 FA class of Matos, Grainger and Ortiz as one of the best off seasons in league history.
Prediction: 105-57, first place in the AL North, losing a tough 7 game series against Anaheim for the AL title.
Thursday, September 24, 2009
Friday, July 10, 2009
The NABCL Hall of Fame
With the famed NABCL now in its 13th season, enough balls have passed through the infield that we can start to consider those rare few who might merit inclusion in the NABCL Hall of Fame. The busy WIS drones will eventually get around to automating an HBD HOF feature, but why wait to start the debate?
To determine our likely HOF candidates and their disposition, we looked at the records of every NABCL MVP, Cy Young winner, ROY, Fireman of the Year, Silver Slugger and All Star. We also scoured every record worth considering, career, team and single season. After compiling a representative sample of data, we started drawing some boundaries. To whit, we established reasonable minimums for ABs (2500) and IPs (1,000 for starters and 300 for relievers) and some pseudo-standards for awards, records and other personal accomplishments. We gave some consideration for the early pioneers who joined the league in their absolute prime but couldn’t stay around long and we developed a logarithm to forecast results for guys still in their prime.
When the dust settled, we looked at 48 HOF candidates and divided them into these categories:
Inaugural Class (5)
The Best of the Best. The NABCL version of Cobb, Johnson, Mathewson, Ruth and Wagner. Some are still playing and may further enhance their legacy but they are all true no-brainer additions to the Hall.
First Ballot (2)
One retired guy and one current who have had great careers but not quite good enough to make it on the NABCL Mt. Rushmore.
Second Ballot or Later (5)
Active or retired players with very strong records, but just not so compelling that they would automatically make it on the first ballot. The active guys are far enough along to know that their career merits the Hall, even if they seriously screw thing up for the rest of their careers.
Tracking for First Ballot (11)
Active players whose body of work so far strongly suggests that they will make it to the Hall on their first try. Of course, they could still mess things up, but the signs are all positive right now.
Tracking for Second Ballot or Later (11)
Active players who seem well on their way to great careers, but not so great that they are guaranteed a short wait for the HOF invite.
Not Long Enough (1)
A retired player who had good numbers but who finished too early and lacks the compelling achievements to make up for the early exit.
Not Good Enough (9)
Active or retired players who are/were very good, but not so much so that they qualify for the ultimate honor that is Hall of Fame induction. Better hold out hope for a sympathetic Veterans’ Committee.
Borderline (6)
Active or retired guys who are riding the line between just good enough and not quite. Herein lie those who will wait actually by their virtual phones, hoping beyond hope that this is their year. The stuff of great debate can be found here.
We’ll post these players category by category over the next few weeks, beginning with those great men who have claimed their place in the pantheon of NABCL heroes.
The Inaugural Five
The initial class of the Baseball Hall of Fame included Ty Cobb, Walter Johnson, Christy Mathewson, Babe Ruth and Honus Wagner. The first group of NABCL players to enter the hallowed Hall must be similarly legendary in their achievements. We think any reasonable assessment would result in these NABCL stalwarts being the first to have their visages cast in bronze and framed for all to gaze upon and admire.
Lenny Singleton, SP, age 37, ML Seasons 1 through now
240 W and 97 losses, 2.50 ERA, 1.06 WHIP, .223 OAV, 3141 Ks, 756 BB
Love him or hate him, there is no denying that Lenny Singleton has been the best pitcher in NABCL history and possibly the best across HBD. A six-time CY Young winner (despite some ugly prejudice against him) and nine time All Star, the Pride of Sandusky Ohio should be an unanimous choice as the first inductee to the NABCL HOF. With a career ERA of 2.50, an OAV of .223 and an insane WHIP of 1.06, it is obvious why he remains a threat to reach 300 wins. Digging deeper into the stats, he already has over 3,000 Ks, averaging just under 1 per IP and his K/BB ratio is an impressive 4.15 to 1. The only hole in the Singleton resume: no World Series ring, but through no fault of his own as his post season numbers in 15 games are better than his regular season stats (1.40 ERA, .196 OAV and .93 WHIP). Simply put, Lenny is the standard by which all others are measured.
Albert Boone, SP, age 41, ML Seasons 1 through now
226 W and 112 losses, 3.37 ERA, 1.25 WHIP, .239 OAV, 2783 Ks, 1151 BB
A longtime stalwart of the Tacoma/Sacramento and now LA franchise, Albert Boone is a nine-time All Star and a fine hitting pitcher to boot. While he has never brought home a Cy Young award – how could he with Singleton around the entire time? -- he does have a NABCL World Championship to his credit and he is a longtime and consistent winner in the league, having never won less than 14 games in a season. Boone has also been incredibly durable; he’s never pitched less than 246 innings in a season and he had a stretch of three seasons in a row of 300+ IPs. Blessed with a hard sinker, Albert has been a strong strikeout pitcher as well, with eight seasons of 200+ Ks, and he might still join Singleton as the only pitchers in NABCL history with 3000 punchouts. Boone is a model of pitching excellence, consistency and longevity.
Felipe Matos, SP, age 41, ML Seasons 1 through now
202 W and 97 losses, 3.50 ERA, 1.25 WHIP, .244 OAV, 2230 Ks, 840 BB
Even at 41, Felipe Matos remains an effective number 1 starter for the two-time defending NABCL Fargo Roughriders. A bit of a slow starter in his early career, Felipe bounced around the league a bit before reaching his first of seven All Star games as a member of the Pawtucket Patriots, but he only recently reached a level of mastery that allowed him to secure back to back Cy Young awards. While his numbers aren’t as spectacular as his contemporary Lenny Singleton, his stats are top notch in all aspects, including an impressive .667 winning percentage. Critics may scoff at an inflationary lift from pitching with the support of the mighty Fargo bats behind him, but Matos spent more seasons pitching for non-contenders than juggernauts. Who knows how long Felipe can keep aging like fine wine, but his numbers to date are enough to put him in the Hall.
Ricardo Johnson, 1B, age 34, ML Seasons 2 through now
.306 BA, .410 OBP, .618 SLG, 1.028 OPS, 625 HRs, 1643 RBIs, 1387 Runs, 2110 hits
The youngest of the initial five members of our Hall, Johnson’s accomplishments to date leave no doubt that he could be hit by a virtual truck tomorrow and still have the credentials to get in the door and then some. A three-time AL MVP and fixture for the former LA Robins and now Arizona Arithmetics franchise, Ricardo made his mark early as season two Rookie of the Year and he’s never slowed down since. A vicious slugger, he has never had less than 48 homers in a season and he has twice hit 67 (along with 150 RBIs both seasons). Moreover, Johnson has never had less than 104 runs and 129 RBIs in a season (with career highs of 143 and 182, respectively). He’s also been a seven time All Star and a six time recipient of the Silver Slugger award. His post season numbers are equally impressive and he twice led the Robins to World Series championships. At only 34 years of age and showing no signs of slowing down, who knows how deeply Ricardo will chisel his name into the NABCL record books before he is done?
Gerald Stull, LF, age 38, ML Seasons 1 through 9
.343 BA, .419 OBP, .602 SLG, 1.021 OPS, 221 HRs, 804 RBIs, 759 Runs, 1,385 hits
Stull’s relatively brief stay in the NABCL and his rapid decline toward the end of his career were almost enough to get him excluded from HOF consideration. But a closer examination of his storied career not only impresses, it all but demands entry into the Hall as part of its inaugural class. He was the AL MVP for the first three seasons of the league, leading the storied Fargo franchise to three league championships and two world series wins. During that span, he was also a three-time All Star and Silver Slugger recipient. Stull still retains the NABCL record for highest career batting average and his second season was perhaps the most dominant in NABCL history (.396 BA, .502 OPB and 1.319 OPS – all records by far). Gerald was an above average fielder as well, spending most of his career in left before his deteriorating skills forced a move to 1B and DH. All in all, he was among the most feared hitters to ever play the virtual game. While no place for true one-hit wonders, the Hall of Fame gladly opens its doors for a true star who shined bright and burned fast.
Not Long Enough
The nature of the NABCL beast – with some fine players in season 1 already closer to the end of their careers than the beginning – means that we never got to see the full impact of these players. In some cases, these initial stars shined so brightly that their achievements make up for their relatively brief tenures. But in some unfortunate cases, very good for not very long simply isn’t good enough nor long enough to merit inclusion to the Hall of Fame.
Christin Cook, LF, age 38, ML Seasons 1 through 9
.324 BA, .425 OBP, .480 SLG, .905 OPS, 89 HRs, 499 RBIs, 917 Runs, 1402 hits
Cook was a very good hitter with a great eye and blazing speed for the original Little Rock franchise (now El Paso) and for Kansas City where he won two championship rings in seasons 3 and 4. He was also a four-time All Star and winner of the Silver Slugger award, splitting his time between second base and center field. Even more impressively, he also has top five career numbers in Batting Average and On-Base Percentage. So why is Cook on the outside looking in when a similarly tenured Gerald Stull makes the grade? First, hardware. Where Stull was a two-time MVP, Cook was never near the best in the league, probably because, as good a hitter as he was, Christin never had the power numbers that propel an All-Star to MVP status. Over nine ML seasons, he averaged less than 10 homers and only about 55 RBIs. Second, potential, or, better stated, failure to reach potential. Cook was a top speedster and an OBP machine, but he never managed more than 48 steals in a season and he was caught stealing 40% of the time. He also had good glove and range ratings, but his actual stats suggest he was more of a defensive liability. Yes, Cook was a very good hitter, but as good as he was, he failed to reach his considerable potential and he lacked either the major impact or extended tenure of excellence that would have gained him a seat in the Hall.
First Ballot
After the inaugural class is seated in the Hall of Fame, attention turns to the next group of NABCL whose exploits and talents were such that they are certain to receive the necessary votes to waltz right in and take their place with their esteemed colleagues. To date, there are two players – one retired, one just past the prime of his career – who have done more than enough to ensure a quick and uncontroversial enshrinement. Doubtless there are more to come who will make the Hall on the first ballot, but most still have a few achievements to add to their resume or perhaps a minor flaw or two to fix. But these two champions have the record and the stature to get into the HOF right away.
Otis Pavlov, 3B, age 33, ML Seasons 1 through now
.293 BA, .359 OBP, .579 SLG, .938 OPS, 498 HRs, 1494 RBIs, 1359 Runs, 2060 hits
At first glance, the skeptic might wonder if the BA and OBP are good enough for the first ballot, and, true, there are several other players with impressive hitting and on-base rates. But this nine-time All Star, two-time MVP and former world champion with the Sacramento franchise (nee Tacoma, now LA) has been a model of consistent excellence throughout his career. In 12 full seasons in the majors, Pavlov has averaged 41 HRs, 113 runs, 135 RBIs and 25 SBs per season and throughout he has maintained better than average fielding skills, with a Gold Glove to his credit. He is also a fine base runner and, for a power hitter, he is well disciplined, exceeding 100 whiffs only once in a season and averaging just 81 Ks per season. While he has slowed a bit of late and was allowed to leave as a free agent by new LA ownership, Pavlov has several more productive years ahead of him and will undoubtedly continue to build on his already sterling credentials.
Paul Yoshii, C, age 38, ML Seasons 1 through 12
.310 BA, .391 OBP, .538 SLG, .929 OPS, 341 HRs, 1112 RBIs, 1005 Runs, 1827 hits
In the MLB, catchers get lots of love when post season awards are handed out and HOF ballots are filled – backstops who can hit, catch their position well and call a good game are few and far between – and things are no different here in the NABCL. There have been a few very good catchers since season 1 (e.g., Brandon Nixon, James Hujimoto, Randy Carpenter, Placido Blanco), but Paul Yoshii is the only catcher in NABCL history to be named as a league MVP and he is fittingly the first to enter the Hall of Fame. In addition to his MVP honor, Yoshii is a world champion (with the Jackals in season 8) and a five-time All Star and a four-time recipient of the Silver Slugger award. He was also a very consistent slugger who could hit for average and power, with 1000+ in Runs and RBIs (the only NABCL catcher to reach that combined milestone). Time will tell if Yoshii goes down as the greatest catcher in NABCL history, but he is certainly the first great catcher, a league pioneer and a Hall of Famer.
Second Ballot or Later
The next group of NABCL players all belong in the Hall of Fame – of that, there is little doubt. The question is how long will it take for them to amass the necessary votes to get through the door. Each of these players excelled and most maintained that excellence for a significant duration (though there are exceptions). But unlike the Inaugural Class and the First Ballot players, these athletes just come up a bit short in one aspect or another that would otherwise have made them first ballot material. Some lacked the personal awards that might have sealed the deal. Other lack the team accomplishments, the championships that allow players to jump to the front of the line. Still others may have been a bit one- or two-dimensional and lacked the overall numbers that put candidates over the top. Whatever these imperfections, these players are all still going to the Hall. They just may need to wait a bit longer and endure a little more aggravation getting there.
Randy Carpenter, C, age 37, ML Seasons 1 through 10
.337 BA, .407 OBP, .529 SLG, .936 OPS, 181 HRs, 804 RBIs, 754 Runs, 1504 hits
If there is a player on this list who may feel a bit screwed over for not getting into the Hall on the first ballot, it’s Randy Carpenter. The resume is truly impressive: six-time All Star, three Gold Gloves, three Silver Slugger awards, and the 4th highest single season and career batting averages for any NABCL player. All in all, not too shabby. So what’s missing? A few things: no MVPs and no championship rings (he had one shot with the Screwballs in season two when he hit for a 1.203 OPS in the post-season but lost nonetheless). Moreover, Randy had a relatively short run of good seasons; he was great in legs one through six, but once the Scranton ownership waived him in season seven, it was a quick drop to the bottom. And despite being a great hitter, Carpenter's relatively short run left him shy of some key milestones that get guys noticed: no 1,000 runs, no 1,000 RBIs. Plus, Randy wasn’t much of a power hitter as he only averaged 18 dingers a season over his career, well short of comparable hitters of similar tenure. Yes, Carpenter was one of the premier catchers in the NABCL, but without the MVPs and rings, he won’t make it to the Hall on the first ballot.
Happy “The Fritter” Henley, RF, age 39, ML Seasons 1 through 9
.298 BA, .367 OBP, .566 SLG, .933 OPS, 301 HRs, 997 RBIs, 745 Runs, 1309 hits
Gentlemen, may we present for your Hall of Fame consideration, The Fritter? Surely in the long and illustrious history of the NABCL, there is no player more loved, more revered, more feted in word and song, than this two-time MVP, world champion and Gold Glover, and four-time All Star and Silver Slugger winner. An athletic marvel at a less than streamlined 5’ 9” and 241 lbs, Henley began his career as a hitting terror, first with Helena and then with Ottawa, where he destroyed pitching to the tune of a 1.138 OPS and picked up a fondness for Tim Horton’s pastries (and a nickname). He joined Kansas City the next season as a free agent and promptly led the Kangaroos not once but twice to the NABCL promised land. But like Gerald Stull, to whom he is oft compared, Happy was not able to maintain his excellence for very long, and by season seven, he was no longer an elite slugger in the league. This short run, combined with very good but not great career BA and OBP numbers, leaves him off the first ballot. Still, there is no doubt that the Fritter is a Hall of Famer, both in the NABCL and with the sugar and flour based confection eaters of the world.
Jim Wells, SP/RP, age 40, ML Seasons 1 through now
141 W and 63 L, 25 S, 3.09 ERA, 1.13 WHIP .242 OAV, 1206 Ks, 379 BB
Assessing Jim Wells as a potential HOFer is fraught with challenges. Wells was never blessed with a starter’s stamina and durability numbers, and for that reason, he’s bounced back and forth from the bullpen to the rotation throughout his career. His first two seasons were largely undistinguished, spending most of his Colorado Springs tenure in non-marquee roles. But once Wells was traded to the storied LA franchise, he quickly established himself as a top of the rotation starter, winning Cy Young Award in seasons 5, 7 and 8 and leading the Disasters to world titles in two of those seasons. It was here that he cemented his reputation as a big game pitcher, amassing a 10-5 record in the post-season and with such impressive stats as a .212 OAV, .97 WHIP and a 2.37 ERA. But his run as a starter only lasted seven season, as LA management returned him to the pen before allowing him to leave as a free agent before the start of season 11. He moved further west to Honolulu where he had a stellar relief season as a part-time closer. In recent years, Wells has languished in Memphis, performing ably while riding out the string and collecting checks while he can. Still, two rings, and three Cy Youngs can’t be ignored. Wells may need to wait awhile as other guys with bigger numbers go ahead of him, but there is no doubt that he will get his call to the Hall.
Craig Hooper, OF, age 36, ML Seasons 1 through 12
.277 BA, .345 OBP, .556 SLG, .901 OPS, 505 HRs, 1390 RBIs, 1224 Runs, 1905 hits
To be clear, Craig Hooper doesn’t make the Hall of Fame simply on the basis of his most notable accomplishment: the NABCL record for most home runs in a season (70 in season 5). Hooper was no one hit wonder: he was a four-time All Star, a Gold Glove outfielder and a two-time recipient of the Silver Slugger award. (And he was flat out robbed of an MVP in season 5 when voters inexplicably rallied to support Albert Piper despite Hoop’s monster season.) His career statistics suggest a generally consistent slugger who was an effective scorer and driver of runs; Craig averaged over 100 runs and about 115 RBIs per season. He also topped 500 home runs – barely – while averaging less than 65 Ks per season. Hoop only made it to the World Series once, performing well for the Screwballs throughout the season two playoffs, but he never got a ring. That hole in the resume, combined with some pedestrian batting average and OBP numbers and the lack of an MVP award, suggests that Craig will likely need to wait out a few annual ballots before finally getting the needed votes. But he is certainly a worthwhile member of the Hall.
Felipe Tarasco, 1B, age 36, ML Seasons 1 through now
.291 BA, .362 OBP, .610 SLG, .972 OPS, 503 HRs, 1276 RBIs, 1183 Runs, 1746 hits
Longtime Crawdad and current Colonial Felipe Tarasco is the next ballplayer who will eventually make his way into the Hall of Fame on the basis of what he has already achieved. The latest member of the 500 HR club, Tarasco has been a consistent slugger over 11 ML seasons, hitting no less than 41 dingers in a season over that tenure. Up to this season, he was tied with HOFer Ricardo Johnson for fourth on the career slugging list and he will likely maintain a .600+ SLG career number as his remaining years wind down. His BA and OBP numbers are respectable and, unlike many of his slugging peers, he had some wheels to go with the lumber, stealing 160+ bases through the years. He’s also been a five-time All Star and a Gold Glove and Silver Slugger winner. The main blight on his record: no post-season experience in the Bigs, a hole that is hard to look past and one that will likely keep him waiting a while for the HOF call.
To determine our likely HOF candidates and their disposition, we looked at the records of every NABCL MVP, Cy Young winner, ROY, Fireman of the Year, Silver Slugger and All Star. We also scoured every record worth considering, career, team and single season. After compiling a representative sample of data, we started drawing some boundaries. To whit, we established reasonable minimums for ABs (2500) and IPs (1,000 for starters and 300 for relievers) and some pseudo-standards for awards, records and other personal accomplishments. We gave some consideration for the early pioneers who joined the league in their absolute prime but couldn’t stay around long and we developed a logarithm to forecast results for guys still in their prime.
When the dust settled, we looked at 48 HOF candidates and divided them into these categories:
Inaugural Class (5)
The Best of the Best. The NABCL version of Cobb, Johnson, Mathewson, Ruth and Wagner. Some are still playing and may further enhance their legacy but they are all true no-brainer additions to the Hall.
First Ballot (2)
One retired guy and one current who have had great careers but not quite good enough to make it on the NABCL Mt. Rushmore.
Second Ballot or Later (5)
Active or retired players with very strong records, but just not so compelling that they would automatically make it on the first ballot. The active guys are far enough along to know that their career merits the Hall, even if they seriously screw thing up for the rest of their careers.
Tracking for First Ballot (11)
Active players whose body of work so far strongly suggests that they will make it to the Hall on their first try. Of course, they could still mess things up, but the signs are all positive right now.
Tracking for Second Ballot or Later (11)
Active players who seem well on their way to great careers, but not so great that they are guaranteed a short wait for the HOF invite.
Not Long Enough (1)
A retired player who had good numbers but who finished too early and lacks the compelling achievements to make up for the early exit.
Not Good Enough (9)
Active or retired players who are/were very good, but not so much so that they qualify for the ultimate honor that is Hall of Fame induction. Better hold out hope for a sympathetic Veterans’ Committee.
Borderline (6)
Active or retired guys who are riding the line between just good enough and not quite. Herein lie those who will wait actually by their virtual phones, hoping beyond hope that this is their year. The stuff of great debate can be found here.
We’ll post these players category by category over the next few weeks, beginning with those great men who have claimed their place in the pantheon of NABCL heroes.
The Inaugural Five
The initial class of the Baseball Hall of Fame included Ty Cobb, Walter Johnson, Christy Mathewson, Babe Ruth and Honus Wagner. The first group of NABCL players to enter the hallowed Hall must be similarly legendary in their achievements. We think any reasonable assessment would result in these NABCL stalwarts being the first to have their visages cast in bronze and framed for all to gaze upon and admire.
Lenny Singleton, SP, age 37, ML Seasons 1 through now
240 W and 97 losses, 2.50 ERA, 1.06 WHIP, .223 OAV, 3141 Ks, 756 BB
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Love him or hate him, there is no denying that Lenny Singleton has been the best pitcher in NABCL history and possibly the best across HBD. A six-time CY Young winner (despite some ugly prejudice against him) and nine time All Star, the Pride of Sandusky Ohio should be an unanimous choice as the first inductee to the NABCL HOF. With a career ERA of 2.50, an OAV of .223 and an insane WHIP of 1.06, it is obvious why he remains a threat to reach 300 wins. Digging deeper into the stats, he already has over 3,000 Ks, averaging just under 1 per IP and his K/BB ratio is an impressive 4.15 to 1. The only hole in the Singleton resume: no World Series ring, but through no fault of his own as his post season numbers in 15 games are better than his regular season stats (1.40 ERA, .196 OAV and .93 WHIP). Simply put, Lenny is the standard by which all others are measured.
Albert Boone, SP, age 41, ML Seasons 1 through now
226 W and 112 losses, 3.37 ERA, 1.25 WHIP, .239 OAV, 2783 Ks, 1151 BB
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A longtime stalwart of the Tacoma/Sacramento and now LA franchise, Albert Boone is a nine-time All Star and a fine hitting pitcher to boot. While he has never brought home a Cy Young award – how could he with Singleton around the entire time? -- he does have a NABCL World Championship to his credit and he is a longtime and consistent winner in the league, having never won less than 14 games in a season. Boone has also been incredibly durable; he’s never pitched less than 246 innings in a season and he had a stretch of three seasons in a row of 300+ IPs. Blessed with a hard sinker, Albert has been a strong strikeout pitcher as well, with eight seasons of 200+ Ks, and he might still join Singleton as the only pitchers in NABCL history with 3000 punchouts. Boone is a model of pitching excellence, consistency and longevity.
Felipe Matos, SP, age 41, ML Seasons 1 through now
202 W and 97 losses, 3.50 ERA, 1.25 WHIP, .244 OAV, 2230 Ks, 840 BB
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Even at 41, Felipe Matos remains an effective number 1 starter for the two-time defending NABCL Fargo Roughriders. A bit of a slow starter in his early career, Felipe bounced around the league a bit before reaching his first of seven All Star games as a member of the Pawtucket Patriots, but he only recently reached a level of mastery that allowed him to secure back to back Cy Young awards. While his numbers aren’t as spectacular as his contemporary Lenny Singleton, his stats are top notch in all aspects, including an impressive .667 winning percentage. Critics may scoff at an inflationary lift from pitching with the support of the mighty Fargo bats behind him, but Matos spent more seasons pitching for non-contenders than juggernauts. Who knows how long Felipe can keep aging like fine wine, but his numbers to date are enough to put him in the Hall.
Ricardo Johnson, 1B, age 34, ML Seasons 2 through now
.306 BA, .410 OBP, .618 SLG, 1.028 OPS, 625 HRs, 1643 RBIs, 1387 Runs, 2110 hits
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The youngest of the initial five members of our Hall, Johnson’s accomplishments to date leave no doubt that he could be hit by a virtual truck tomorrow and still have the credentials to get in the door and then some. A three-time AL MVP and fixture for the former LA Robins and now Arizona Arithmetics franchise, Ricardo made his mark early as season two Rookie of the Year and he’s never slowed down since. A vicious slugger, he has never had less than 48 homers in a season and he has twice hit 67 (along with 150 RBIs both seasons). Moreover, Johnson has never had less than 104 runs and 129 RBIs in a season (with career highs of 143 and 182, respectively). He’s also been a seven time All Star and a six time recipient of the Silver Slugger award. His post season numbers are equally impressive and he twice led the Robins to World Series championships. At only 34 years of age and showing no signs of slowing down, who knows how deeply Ricardo will chisel his name into the NABCL record books before he is done?
Gerald Stull, LF, age 38, ML Seasons 1 through 9
.343 BA, .419 OBP, .602 SLG, 1.021 OPS, 221 HRs, 804 RBIs, 759 Runs, 1,385 hits
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Stull’s relatively brief stay in the NABCL and his rapid decline toward the end of his career were almost enough to get him excluded from HOF consideration. But a closer examination of his storied career not only impresses, it all but demands entry into the Hall as part of its inaugural class. He was the AL MVP for the first three seasons of the league, leading the storied Fargo franchise to three league championships and two world series wins. During that span, he was also a three-time All Star and Silver Slugger recipient. Stull still retains the NABCL record for highest career batting average and his second season was perhaps the most dominant in NABCL history (.396 BA, .502 OPB and 1.319 OPS – all records by far). Gerald was an above average fielder as well, spending most of his career in left before his deteriorating skills forced a move to 1B and DH. All in all, he was among the most feared hitters to ever play the virtual game. While no place for true one-hit wonders, the Hall of Fame gladly opens its doors for a true star who shined bright and burned fast.
Not Long Enough
The nature of the NABCL beast – with some fine players in season 1 already closer to the end of their careers than the beginning – means that we never got to see the full impact of these players. In some cases, these initial stars shined so brightly that their achievements make up for their relatively brief tenures. But in some unfortunate cases, very good for not very long simply isn’t good enough nor long enough to merit inclusion to the Hall of Fame.
Christin Cook, LF, age 38, ML Seasons 1 through 9
.324 BA, .425 OBP, .480 SLG, .905 OPS, 89 HRs, 499 RBIs, 917 Runs, 1402 hits
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Cook was a very good hitter with a great eye and blazing speed for the original Little Rock franchise (now El Paso) and for Kansas City where he won two championship rings in seasons 3 and 4. He was also a four-time All Star and winner of the Silver Slugger award, splitting his time between second base and center field. Even more impressively, he also has top five career numbers in Batting Average and On-Base Percentage. So why is Cook on the outside looking in when a similarly tenured Gerald Stull makes the grade? First, hardware. Where Stull was a two-time MVP, Cook was never near the best in the league, probably because, as good a hitter as he was, Christin never had the power numbers that propel an All-Star to MVP status. Over nine ML seasons, he averaged less than 10 homers and only about 55 RBIs. Second, potential, or, better stated, failure to reach potential. Cook was a top speedster and an OBP machine, but he never managed more than 48 steals in a season and he was caught stealing 40% of the time. He also had good glove and range ratings, but his actual stats suggest he was more of a defensive liability. Yes, Cook was a very good hitter, but as good as he was, he failed to reach his considerable potential and he lacked either the major impact or extended tenure of excellence that would have gained him a seat in the Hall.
First Ballot
After the inaugural class is seated in the Hall of Fame, attention turns to the next group of NABCL whose exploits and talents were such that they are certain to receive the necessary votes to waltz right in and take their place with their esteemed colleagues. To date, there are two players – one retired, one just past the prime of his career – who have done more than enough to ensure a quick and uncontroversial enshrinement. Doubtless there are more to come who will make the Hall on the first ballot, but most still have a few achievements to add to their resume or perhaps a minor flaw or two to fix. But these two champions have the record and the stature to get into the HOF right away.
Otis Pavlov, 3B, age 33, ML Seasons 1 through now
.293 BA, .359 OBP, .579 SLG, .938 OPS, 498 HRs, 1494 RBIs, 1359 Runs, 2060 hits
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At first glance, the skeptic might wonder if the BA and OBP are good enough for the first ballot, and, true, there are several other players with impressive hitting and on-base rates. But this nine-time All Star, two-time MVP and former world champion with the Sacramento franchise (nee Tacoma, now LA) has been a model of consistent excellence throughout his career. In 12 full seasons in the majors, Pavlov has averaged 41 HRs, 113 runs, 135 RBIs and 25 SBs per season and throughout he has maintained better than average fielding skills, with a Gold Glove to his credit. He is also a fine base runner and, for a power hitter, he is well disciplined, exceeding 100 whiffs only once in a season and averaging just 81 Ks per season. While he has slowed a bit of late and was allowed to leave as a free agent by new LA ownership, Pavlov has several more productive years ahead of him and will undoubtedly continue to build on his already sterling credentials.
Paul Yoshii, C, age 38, ML Seasons 1 through 12
.310 BA, .391 OBP, .538 SLG, .929 OPS, 341 HRs, 1112 RBIs, 1005 Runs, 1827 hits
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In the MLB, catchers get lots of love when post season awards are handed out and HOF ballots are filled – backstops who can hit, catch their position well and call a good game are few and far between – and things are no different here in the NABCL. There have been a few very good catchers since season 1 (e.g., Brandon Nixon, James Hujimoto, Randy Carpenter, Placido Blanco), but Paul Yoshii is the only catcher in NABCL history to be named as a league MVP and he is fittingly the first to enter the Hall of Fame. In addition to his MVP honor, Yoshii is a world champion (with the Jackals in season 8) and a five-time All Star and a four-time recipient of the Silver Slugger award. He was also a very consistent slugger who could hit for average and power, with 1000+ in Runs and RBIs (the only NABCL catcher to reach that combined milestone). Time will tell if Yoshii goes down as the greatest catcher in NABCL history, but he is certainly the first great catcher, a league pioneer and a Hall of Famer.
Second Ballot or Later
The next group of NABCL players all belong in the Hall of Fame – of that, there is little doubt. The question is how long will it take for them to amass the necessary votes to get through the door. Each of these players excelled and most maintained that excellence for a significant duration (though there are exceptions). But unlike the Inaugural Class and the First Ballot players, these athletes just come up a bit short in one aspect or another that would otherwise have made them first ballot material. Some lacked the personal awards that might have sealed the deal. Other lack the team accomplishments, the championships that allow players to jump to the front of the line. Still others may have been a bit one- or two-dimensional and lacked the overall numbers that put candidates over the top. Whatever these imperfections, these players are all still going to the Hall. They just may need to wait a bit longer and endure a little more aggravation getting there.
Randy Carpenter, C, age 37, ML Seasons 1 through 10
.337 BA, .407 OBP, .529 SLG, .936 OPS, 181 HRs, 804 RBIs, 754 Runs, 1504 hits
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If there is a player on this list who may feel a bit screwed over for not getting into the Hall on the first ballot, it’s Randy Carpenter. The resume is truly impressive: six-time All Star, three Gold Gloves, three Silver Slugger awards, and the 4th highest single season and career batting averages for any NABCL player. All in all, not too shabby. So what’s missing? A few things: no MVPs and no championship rings (he had one shot with the Screwballs in season two when he hit for a 1.203 OPS in the post-season but lost nonetheless). Moreover, Randy had a relatively short run of good seasons; he was great in legs one through six, but once the Scranton ownership waived him in season seven, it was a quick drop to the bottom. And despite being a great hitter, Carpenter's relatively short run left him shy of some key milestones that get guys noticed: no 1,000 runs, no 1,000 RBIs. Plus, Randy wasn’t much of a power hitter as he only averaged 18 dingers a season over his career, well short of comparable hitters of similar tenure. Yes, Carpenter was one of the premier catchers in the NABCL, but without the MVPs and rings, he won’t make it to the Hall on the first ballot.
Happy “The Fritter” Henley, RF, age 39, ML Seasons 1 through 9
.298 BA, .367 OBP, .566 SLG, .933 OPS, 301 HRs, 997 RBIs, 745 Runs, 1309 hits
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Gentlemen, may we present for your Hall of Fame consideration, The Fritter? Surely in the long and illustrious history of the NABCL, there is no player more loved, more revered, more feted in word and song, than this two-time MVP, world champion and Gold Glover, and four-time All Star and Silver Slugger winner. An athletic marvel at a less than streamlined 5’ 9” and 241 lbs, Henley began his career as a hitting terror, first with Helena and then with Ottawa, where he destroyed pitching to the tune of a 1.138 OPS and picked up a fondness for Tim Horton’s pastries (and a nickname). He joined Kansas City the next season as a free agent and promptly led the Kangaroos not once but twice to the NABCL promised land. But like Gerald Stull, to whom he is oft compared, Happy was not able to maintain his excellence for very long, and by season seven, he was no longer an elite slugger in the league. This short run, combined with very good but not great career BA and OBP numbers, leaves him off the first ballot. Still, there is no doubt that the Fritter is a Hall of Famer, both in the NABCL and with the sugar and flour based confection eaters of the world.
Jim Wells, SP/RP, age 40, ML Seasons 1 through now
141 W and 63 L, 25 S, 3.09 ERA, 1.13 WHIP .242 OAV, 1206 Ks, 379 BB
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Assessing Jim Wells as a potential HOFer is fraught with challenges. Wells was never blessed with a starter’s stamina and durability numbers, and for that reason, he’s bounced back and forth from the bullpen to the rotation throughout his career. His first two seasons were largely undistinguished, spending most of his Colorado Springs tenure in non-marquee roles. But once Wells was traded to the storied LA franchise, he quickly established himself as a top of the rotation starter, winning Cy Young Award in seasons 5, 7 and 8 and leading the Disasters to world titles in two of those seasons. It was here that he cemented his reputation as a big game pitcher, amassing a 10-5 record in the post-season and with such impressive stats as a .212 OAV, .97 WHIP and a 2.37 ERA. But his run as a starter only lasted seven season, as LA management returned him to the pen before allowing him to leave as a free agent before the start of season 11. He moved further west to Honolulu where he had a stellar relief season as a part-time closer. In recent years, Wells has languished in Memphis, performing ably while riding out the string and collecting checks while he can. Still, two rings, and three Cy Youngs can’t be ignored. Wells may need to wait awhile as other guys with bigger numbers go ahead of him, but there is no doubt that he will get his call to the Hall.
Craig Hooper, OF, age 36, ML Seasons 1 through 12
.277 BA, .345 OBP, .556 SLG, .901 OPS, 505 HRs, 1390 RBIs, 1224 Runs, 1905 hits
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To be clear, Craig Hooper doesn’t make the Hall of Fame simply on the basis of his most notable accomplishment: the NABCL record for most home runs in a season (70 in season 5). Hooper was no one hit wonder: he was a four-time All Star, a Gold Glove outfielder and a two-time recipient of the Silver Slugger award. (And he was flat out robbed of an MVP in season 5 when voters inexplicably rallied to support Albert Piper despite Hoop’s monster season.) His career statistics suggest a generally consistent slugger who was an effective scorer and driver of runs; Craig averaged over 100 runs and about 115 RBIs per season. He also topped 500 home runs – barely – while averaging less than 65 Ks per season. Hoop only made it to the World Series once, performing well for the Screwballs throughout the season two playoffs, but he never got a ring. That hole in the resume, combined with some pedestrian batting average and OBP numbers and the lack of an MVP award, suggests that Craig will likely need to wait out a few annual ballots before finally getting the needed votes. But he is certainly a worthwhile member of the Hall.
Felipe Tarasco, 1B, age 36, ML Seasons 1 through now
.291 BA, .362 OBP, .610 SLG, .972 OPS, 503 HRs, 1276 RBIs, 1183 Runs, 1746 hits
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Longtime Crawdad and current Colonial Felipe Tarasco is the next ballplayer who will eventually make his way into the Hall of Fame on the basis of what he has already achieved. The latest member of the 500 HR club, Tarasco has been a consistent slugger over 11 ML seasons, hitting no less than 41 dingers in a season over that tenure. Up to this season, he was tied with HOFer Ricardo Johnson for fourth on the career slugging list and he will likely maintain a .600+ SLG career number as his remaining years wind down. His BA and OBP numbers are respectable and, unlike many of his slugging peers, he had some wheels to go with the lumber, stealing 160+ bases through the years. He’s also been a five-time All Star and a Gold Glove and Silver Slugger winner. The main blight on his record: no post-season experience in the Bigs, a hole that is hard to look past and one that will likely keep him waiting a while for the HOF call.
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Season 13 Preview - The El Paso Ultraviolence
Outlook: Bouyed by last season's momentum The Ultraviolence look to contend for the AL South title once again. Will the grooming of three key rookies be enough to allow The Ultraviolence to contend.
Key additions: El Paso was thwarted from adding a top of the line starting pitcher by the wild bidding on the few available stars. The team had to settle for SP Albert Castilla in the free agent market. The offseason also saw EP acquire RF Pedro Merced who should add some power to the lineup and brings the speed that El Paso covets.
Key losses: El Paso fan favorite Bob Fleming and season 2 draftee was not re-signed. Fleming averaged over 70 SB and 100 runs a season during his time in the red and burnt orange uniform.
Starting lineup
2B Al Mendez, NABCL record 197 SB last season - think Vince
LF Keith Sellers, the rookie will replace the aforementioned Fleming and add power to the speed
DH Andrew Lankford, 16th overall pick from season 8 makes his ML debut this year
1B Bump Boucher, his 131 RBI last year were below his first 3 ML seasons
3B Armando Garrido, has hit exactly .263 in each of his first 3 ML seasons, added 36 SB
RF Pedro Merced, expected to add some pop to the lineup, strong arm
C Mandy Michaels, hit .284 as a September callup last season
CF Carlos Rios, 5 straight Gold Gloves to go with 14 HR and 60 RBI
SS Tony Belliard, 3-time Gold Glover looks to rebound from off year
Pitchers
SP Diego Lee, season 4 IFA has accumlated 96 ML wins and a 3.97 ERA
SP Edgar Matos, season 12 Rookie of the year piled up 19 wins
SP Ricardo Santos, went 15-8 with a 4.33 ERA
SP Larry Browne, after opening his career with 3 winning seasons he fell to 7-14
SP Albert Castilla, went 7-10 with a 4.17 ERA for Las Vegas last season
RP Luis Moya, 3.75 ERA to go with his 120 innings
RP Juan Benitez, 38 saves and a 3.41 ERA
RP Trenidad Perez, the lefty was solid in his rookie campaign with a 2.96 ERA
RP David Guerrero, rookie lefty adds some bullpen depth
Prediction: 99-63, El Paso is a young team ready to push Jose's Jacksonville team for the belt in the AL South. El Paso by submission in September.
Friday, June 12, 2009
1st Annual NABCL Franchise Prestige Rankings
First, let me begin with a little background on this project. I was recently inspired by Dream League who compiles what they call a Franchise Prestige Ranking. I decided to steal the idea (while citing them of course) and create one for this league. I thought this would be a good time in the season to ponder the results.
The process was relatively simple. Basically, I went through and compiled team records, owner history, playoff history, and team names for every single franchise in the league since season 1 and put them in a spread sheet. I crunched the numbers and created a relatively crude formula which quantifies a franchise’s overall prestige based on this data.
The final overall formula is an additive index based on the franchise’s win %, WS Championships, Pennants, LCS appearances, Division Titles, Playoff Appearances, the number of winning seasons, and average place in the division standings. Franchises were penalized for high owner turnover, last place finishes in the division, and the worst record in the league.
Like I said, the formula is crude and I am open to suggestions. Suggestions that raise my franchise ranking will be given the highest preference :)
Please note that the table below only shows some of the data used to generate the overall ranking. I did not include all of the data for space reasons and only included some of the more pertinent categories. I will be happy to share the full data with anyone who requests it. TC if you are interested.
Enjoy!
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**Win % - franchise's all-time winning percentage; Playoffs - # of playoff appearances; Division - # of division titles; Pennants - # of League Championships; WS - # of World Series Titles
The process was relatively simple. Basically, I went through and compiled team records, owner history, playoff history, and team names for every single franchise in the league since season 1 and put them in a spread sheet. I crunched the numbers and created a relatively crude formula which quantifies a franchise’s overall prestige based on this data.
The final overall formula is an additive index based on the franchise’s win %, WS Championships, Pennants, LCS appearances, Division Titles, Playoff Appearances, the number of winning seasons, and average place in the division standings. Franchises were penalized for high owner turnover, last place finishes in the division, and the worst record in the league.
Like I said, the formula is crude and I am open to suggestions. Suggestions that raise my franchise ranking will be given the highest preference :)
Please note that the table below only shows some of the data used to generate the overall ranking. I did not include all of the data for space reasons and only included some of the more pertinent categories. I will be happy to share the full data with anyone who requests it. TC if you are interested.
Enjoy!
********************************************
| Rnk | Team | Win % | Playoffs | Division | Pennant | WS | Overall |
| 1 | Fargo Roughriders | 0.559 | 7 | 7 | 5 | 3 | 145.5 |
| 2 | Jacksonville Jackals | 0.588 | 11 | 9 | 3 | 2 | 144.3 |
| 3 | Arizona Arithmetics | 0.554 | 9 | 7 | 2 | 2 | 123.4 |
| 4 | Los Angeles Studio Kings | 0.611 | 9 | 9 | 1 | 1 | 112.5 |
| 5 | Chicago Beast | 0.569 | 10 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 99.5 |
| 6 | San Antonio Missions (Viva the Puffy Taco) | 0.553 | 9 | 6 | 3 | 0 | 97.8 |
| 7 | Kansas City Glasgow Kisses | 0.493 | 6 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 68.7 |
| 8 | Philadelphia Dead Milkmen | 0.538 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 60.3 |
| 9 | Portland Jacks | 0.546 | 8 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 56.9 |
| 10 | Scranton Scewballs | 0.498 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 53.7 |
| 11 | Memphis Maniax | 0.507 | 6 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 52.8 |
| 12 | Richmond Poor Men | 0.502 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 50.8 |
| 13 | Washington D.C. Federals | 0.517 | 8 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 48.3 |
| 14 | Boston Colonials | 0.504 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 28.9 |
| 15 | El Paso Ultraviolence | 0.526 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 26.4 |
| 16 | Anaheim Natural Disasters | 0.497 | 5 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 23.3 |
| 17 | Trenton Thrashers | 0.504 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 21.9 |
| 18 | Charlotte Queen's Men | 0.488 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 15.6 |
| 19 | Boise Hawks | 0.497 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 8.7 |
| 20 | New Orleans Crawdads | 0.484 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7.8 |
| 21 | Helena Misfits | 0.492 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 3.6 |
| 22 | New Britain Block Heads | 0.497 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -2.3 |
| 23 | Vancouver Loonies | 0.458 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | -4.8 |
| 24 | Seattle Salty Dogs | 0.467 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -5.3 |
| 25 | San Diego Storm | 0.450 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | -5.6 |
| 26 | Charleston Tories | 0.459 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | -6.7 |
| 27 | Pawtucket Patriots | 0.435 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 0 | -7.8 |
| 28 | Scottsdale Army of One | 0.434 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -10.4 |
| 29 | Salem Raptors | 0.469 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | -17.3 |
| 30 | Wichita Pioneers | 0.421 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | -17.4 |
| 31 | Louisville Legionnaires | 0.451 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | -25.3 |
| 32 | Iowa City Shuckers | 0.432 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | -29.5 |
**Win % - franchise's all-time winning percentage; Playoffs - # of playoff appearances; Division - # of division titles; Pennants - # of League Championships; WS - # of World Series Titles
Thursday, April 23, 2009
At the Halfway Mark: The NABCL Season 12 Power Rankings
Using Vegas’ super-secret, pat. pend. statistical formula – so involved and dead on accurate that it would make Bill James wet his pants in envy -- we rank the current NABCL franchises in order from 1 through 32. Actual ranking based on current record is also provided as is the ranking based on Exp Pct.
Top Underachievers: San Antonio, Charlotte, Seattle, Portland, Memphis, Vancouver
These teams are better than their records and should see improvement over the second half of the season.
Top Overachievers: Fargo, San Diego, Iowa, Philadelphia, Cheyenne, Helena
These teams are playing over their heads and should come back to Earth before the season is complete.
1. San Antonio Missions (Viva the Puffy Taco) - frazzman80 (Act. 7, Exp. 6)
A team built on pitching and defense playing in a pitcher's paradise. Hitting is slightly above average, which says alot playing in Nelson Wolff. Frazz is more than due to take the whole thing.
2. Sacramento Terrible Two's - Save_Mr_X (Act. 4, Exp. 3)
Second verse, same as the first. SMX matches up almost exactly with Frazz, only he is slightly less due, having already won once.
3. Anaheim Natural Disasters – zackaryl (Act. 3, Exp. 1)
The best combination of hitting and pitching in the league and they place in less of a vast wasteland than San Antonio and Sacramento. Only the fielding is below average. Another owner well overdue to take it all.
4. Wichita 'weed - oldave (Act. 6, Exp. 5)
Another pitcher's park and another team built on strong pitching. Blessed with stronger hitting in the aggregate than San Antonio and Sacramento, though we think the 'weed is more dependant on a smaller number of key players. Will oldave's quirky approach get lost in translation to new owner tomjones?
5. Chicago Beast - bullet6464 (Act. 1, Exp. 4)
The most overall balanced high performer in either league with a murderer's row of hitters playing in the friendly confines of Wrigley. Only the team speed disappoints. Still, despite how much bullett wants it, it remains to be seen if anyone can win a championship in Wrigley.
6. Fargo Roughriders - carpediem33 (Act. 2, Exp. 2)
The two-time and defending champions have BY FARGO the best hitting in the league, but all that lumber still has them behind last season's record. The fielding is decent, but the pitching is only slightly above average. And what wins championships?
7. Louisville Legionnaires – mlhutch (Act. 8, Exp. 7)
The dream continues! The Legion is hitting the muddy crap out of the ball so far and the starting lineup is running on all cyclinders. Still, the pitching is only average, though Slugger Field doesn't help. The NL version of the Roughriders, but we don't know if the arms can get them through the playoffs.
8. Jacksonville Jackals - jose can u c (Act. 5, Exp. 8)
Clean living and clutch hitting -- nothing else explains how the Jackals are playing this far above their heads. The pitching has been less than average but the bats and gloves keep picking them up. Look for the bottom to drop out soon.
9. Trenton Thrashers - tmf12 (Act. 9, Exp. 10)
Poised to make the biggest second half jump after some key pitching acquisitions, Trenton focused on the right need. The bats have come along nicely and the defense is good as it gets. With some arms on board, they should make a nice run.
10. Charlotte Queen's Men – Erran (Act. 16, Exp. 17)
The Men have been playing well below their potential so far these season, so they better gird their loins. Pitching is the strength here, with a well balanced staff that does well in a neutral park. Good fielding helps too. Now if those bats could only get in gear.
11. Seattle Salty Dogs – donaldkey (Act. 17, Exp. 19)
12. Boise Hawks – mitchrapp (Act. 21, Exp. 12)
13. El Paso Ultraviolence – reaperpgh (Act. 13, Exp. 13)
14. Richmond Poor Men – mdonegan (Act. 12, Exp. 9)
15. San Diego Storm – davesanchez (Act. 11, Exp. 11)
16. Portland Jacks - dtrain34 (Act. 20, Exp. 24)
17. Iowa City Shuckers - sportznut11 (Act. 10, Exp. 14)
18. Kansas City Glasgow Kisses – iain (Act. 19, Exp. 22)
19. New Britain Block Heads – Verd (Act. 22, Exp.18 )
20. Memphis Maniax - gerald007 (Act. 24, Exp. 21)
21. Pawtucket Patriots – fletchkd (Act. 18, Exp. 23)
22. Vancouver Loonies – cosmicblob (Act. 26, Exp. 26)
23. Philadelphia Dead Milkmen – newarkwilder (Act. 15, Exp. 16)
24. Cheyenne Grizzlies - charlie22098 (Act. 14, Exp. 15)
25. Toronto Flare - keith1995 (Act. 28, Exp. 28)
26. Scottsdale Army of One - ck1909 (Act. 25, Exp. 25)
27. New Orleans Crawdads - wonka1 (Act. 30, Exp. 29)
28. Helena Misfits - rugrat (Act. 23, Exp. 20)
29. Boston Colonials – randallball (Act. 27, Exp. 27)
30. Washington D.C. Federals – Shalmelo (Act. 32, Exp. 32)
31. Norfolk Wingapos - yoker70 (Act. 31, Exp. 31)
32. Las Vegas Dust Devils – drutes (Act. 29, Exp. 30)
Top Underachievers: San Antonio, Charlotte, Seattle, Portland, Memphis, Vancouver
These teams are better than their records and should see improvement over the second half of the season.
Top Overachievers: Fargo, San Diego, Iowa, Philadelphia, Cheyenne, Helena
These teams are playing over their heads and should come back to Earth before the season is complete.
1. San Antonio Missions (Viva the Puffy Taco) - frazzman80 (Act. 7, Exp. 6)
A team built on pitching and defense playing in a pitcher's paradise. Hitting is slightly above average, which says alot playing in Nelson Wolff. Frazz is more than due to take the whole thing.
2. Sacramento Terrible Two's - Save_Mr_X (Act. 4, Exp. 3)
Second verse, same as the first. SMX matches up almost exactly with Frazz, only he is slightly less due, having already won once.
3. Anaheim Natural Disasters – zackaryl (Act. 3, Exp. 1)
The best combination of hitting and pitching in the league and they place in less of a vast wasteland than San Antonio and Sacramento. Only the fielding is below average. Another owner well overdue to take it all.
4. Wichita 'weed - oldave (Act. 6, Exp. 5)
Another pitcher's park and another team built on strong pitching. Blessed with stronger hitting in the aggregate than San Antonio and Sacramento, though we think the 'weed is more dependant on a smaller number of key players. Will oldave's quirky approach get lost in translation to new owner tomjones?
5. Chicago Beast - bullet6464 (Act. 1, Exp. 4)
The most overall balanced high performer in either league with a murderer's row of hitters playing in the friendly confines of Wrigley. Only the team speed disappoints. Still, despite how much bullett wants it, it remains to be seen if anyone can win a championship in Wrigley.
6. Fargo Roughriders - carpediem33 (Act. 2, Exp. 2)
The two-time and defending champions have BY FARGO the best hitting in the league, but all that lumber still has them behind last season's record. The fielding is decent, but the pitching is only slightly above average. And what wins championships?
7. Louisville Legionnaires – mlhutch (Act. 8, Exp. 7)
The dream continues! The Legion is hitting the muddy crap out of the ball so far and the starting lineup is running on all cyclinders. Still, the pitching is only average, though Slugger Field doesn't help. The NL version of the Roughriders, but we don't know if the arms can get them through the playoffs.
8. Jacksonville Jackals - jose can u c (Act. 5, Exp. 8)
Clean living and clutch hitting -- nothing else explains how the Jackals are playing this far above their heads. The pitching has been less than average but the bats and gloves keep picking them up. Look for the bottom to drop out soon.
9. Trenton Thrashers - tmf12 (Act. 9, Exp. 10)
Poised to make the biggest second half jump after some key pitching acquisitions, Trenton focused on the right need. The bats have come along nicely and the defense is good as it gets. With some arms on board, they should make a nice run.
10. Charlotte Queen's Men – Erran (Act. 16, Exp. 17)
The Men have been playing well below their potential so far these season, so they better gird their loins. Pitching is the strength here, with a well balanced staff that does well in a neutral park. Good fielding helps too. Now if those bats could only get in gear.
11. Seattle Salty Dogs – donaldkey (Act. 17, Exp. 19)
12. Boise Hawks – mitchrapp (Act. 21, Exp. 12)
13. El Paso Ultraviolence – reaperpgh (Act. 13, Exp. 13)
14. Richmond Poor Men – mdonegan (Act. 12, Exp. 9)
15. San Diego Storm – davesanchez (Act. 11, Exp. 11)
16. Portland Jacks - dtrain34 (Act. 20, Exp. 24)
17. Iowa City Shuckers - sportznut11 (Act. 10, Exp. 14)
18. Kansas City Glasgow Kisses – iain (Act. 19, Exp. 22)
19. New Britain Block Heads – Verd (Act. 22, Exp.18 )
20. Memphis Maniax - gerald007 (Act. 24, Exp. 21)
21. Pawtucket Patriots – fletchkd (Act. 18, Exp. 23)
22. Vancouver Loonies – cosmicblob (Act. 26, Exp. 26)
23. Philadelphia Dead Milkmen – newarkwilder (Act. 15, Exp. 16)
24. Cheyenne Grizzlies - charlie22098 (Act. 14, Exp. 15)
25. Toronto Flare - keith1995 (Act. 28, Exp. 28)
26. Scottsdale Army of One - ck1909 (Act. 25, Exp. 25)
27. New Orleans Crawdads - wonka1 (Act. 30, Exp. 29)
28. Helena Misfits - rugrat (Act. 23, Exp. 20)
29. Boston Colonials – randallball (Act. 27, Exp. 27)
30. Washington D.C. Federals – Shalmelo (Act. 32, Exp. 32)
31. Norfolk Wingapos - yoker70 (Act. 31, Exp. 31)
32. Las Vegas Dust Devils – drutes (Act. 29, Exp. 30)
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
Quarter Pole - The Haves and the Have Nots
With season twelve now past the quarter pole, it is time to take a stab at an analysis of the league's top ten/bottom five list. The new season is full of fresh stories, none more interesting than the emergence of a new breed of elite or "Super" teams, that are dominating the current landscape. Though it is still early, he six "Supers" are all firing at close to a 70 percent winning clip. This is most unusual in one of HBDs most balanced leagues.
Not suprisingly, the early dominance of a few has meant that there are some real dogs at the bottom of the NABCL's barrel. Some deservedly so, others whose performance runs contrary to the talent assembled on their roster. With close to 120games to go there is ample time for these bottom feeders to turn their fortunes around...so without further adieu your Top Ten/Bottom Five
1) Fargo Roughriders (34-12)
The defending World Champs havent missed a stride in the early going. The offense has no peer in the NABCL as it averages a shade more than 7 runs per game. Former AL MVP Rudy Simms is off to a terrific start with 14 bombs, 42 rbi, and a sick .466 obp. The pitching doesnt get the ink that the hitting does but its results are equally impressive - a league low 179 runs allowed. The wily 40 year old Felipe Matos is off to another wonderful start (6-2) and the 'pen has been exceptional when needed. The Roughriders will win the NL East and will have ample opportunity to prepare for the playoffs. A repeat could very well be in order. Super Hero Comparison - SUPERMAN. Odds to win title: EVEN
2) San Antonio Missons (33-15)
Frazzman has quietly (unlike his rivals in Chicago and Sacramento) put together one of the premier organzations in the NABCL. Built to take advantage of a pitchers paradise at Nelson Wolff Municipal, the Missons consistently rank among the leagues best in pitching and fielding. Season 12 is no different as the Missons rank second in WHIP, sixth in ERA, and first in OAV allowed; Byung Hyun Li is the odds on favorite to unseat Lenny Singleton for the NL CY. The offense is steady if unspectacular and fueled by two young stars in Doug Wood and Milt Brock. Despite their torrid start, San Antonio is being pushed by Divisional rival Louisville (huh?). That's probably bad news for the NL as the Missons will be battle ready come the playoffs. Super Hero Comparison - SPIDERMAN. Odds to win title: 2.5 to 1.
3) Sacramento Terrible Twos (30-18)
The petulant owner/manager of the Twos is nothing if not consistent. Once again, the Twos are fast out of the gate leaving divisional rivals Portand and Boise to turn their attention to a Wild Card berth. Sac's pitching is always good; Fausto Bennett just copped the league's Pitcher of the Week Award. The offense has been a bit pedestrian save for Dave Glaus' 17 home runs and 48 rbi. As many may know, Sacramento is working on eight straight divisonal titles and nothing suggests that nine isnt in the offing. However, Chicago's recent three game sweep at Sac-town had to give X pause. That can only mean a blockbuster is in the offing. Super Hero Comparison - WONDER WOMAN (couldnt resist). Odds to win title: 5 to 1.
4) Chicago Beast (34-13)
Owners of the NL's best record to date and currently riding an impressive nine game winning streak, the Beast early rise has nothing to do with its impressive array of offense and everything to do with its pitching. The starters are 19-9 and led by young gun Phillip Fischer (6-1, 2.04 era). Rickey Vance is 15 for 18 in save opps so the backend is good for now. As to the offense, it just hasnt fired like it has in the past. Sure BC Parent has 19 and 45; Julian Pena 15 and 47; but Suzuki-san and Little Steven Wilson havent got untracked yet. Like Fargo the division is all but finished so the Bullet will have time to work out a plan for the playoffs. But he might just be the worst playoff manager in all of HBD. Super Hero Comparison - BATMAN. Odds to win title: 6 to 1.
5) Anahiem Natural Disasters (30-18)
Like San Antonio, Zack has quietly built a powerhouse in Anaheim. The Natural Disasters are stacked everywhere you look - great bats, great gloves, terrific pitching. However, like Chicago, they have been miserable in the playoffs having not advanced past the DCS in four consecutive playoff bids. We like this addition as the array of young talent has to click at some point. D'Angelo Ramirez is a monster; Jude Lindsey has the stuff of an excellent young set-up guy. We dont like Redding at the end (take a look at his career numbers) but Zack will find a way to make it work. Super Hero Comparison - CAPTAIN AMERICA. Odds to win title: 3-1
6) Louisville Legionnaires (30-17)
When your year-end win totals for the last six years are 67, 57, 72, 63, 52, and 75 you have to be a bit lightheaded with THIRTY wins at the quarterpole. And perhaps that is mlhutch's problem as he just complained about ihis team's performance in the league chat. The Legionnaires are the last of the early "Supers" and they are fueled by one thing and one thing only: a terrific offense. Bob Jenkins has finally lived up to some of his promise, Colin and Davenport (stolen from Toronto) have been terrific. We like their pitching better than its current results but it is not dominant by any stretch. They will hang in the race for a Wild Card but we dont see them anywhere close to the Missons at the end. Super Hero Comparison - THE FLASH. Odds to win title: 25 to 1.
7) Wichita Weed (32-16)
We refuse to analyze the 'weed until we hear from oldave and an explanation about his minor league machinations. Super Hero Comparison - NONE; Odds to win title - N/A
8) Iowa City Shuckers (28-19)/Jacksonville Jackals (29-18)
We couldnt find anyway to separate these two so the divisional rivals will be the first dual entry in our countdown. We like the makeup of both of these squads and would suggest that good things are on the horizon for both. The Jackals got off to a slow start for this NABCL powerhouse. Jose has been trying to find a way to infuse some much needed younger talent onto the roster. The offense has been surprisingly quiet for a Jackal squad. As to the Shuckers, there is a lot to like (Gonzales, Valdes, Herges, etc...) but for now we are going to focus on finances as the Shuckers have really mucked up their flexibility by poor budgeting. Early leader for Bernie Madoff award is Sportznut...Super Hero Comparison - Iowa INCREDIBLE HULK; Odds to win title 25 to 1; Super Hero Comparison Jacksonville: GREEN LANTERN. Odds to win title 16 to 1.
10) Richmond Poor Men (26-22)
Could have gone to Charlotte or Trenton to fill this slot but there is more to like in Richmond. Richmond hails from the same divison as Iowa and Jacksonville so the AL South is easily our pick for the league's most competitive divison (El Paso isnt shabby either). Richmond's offense has been very good led by the reliable John Barkley. But the pitching hasnt been up to snuff and it looks like the Poor Men miss longtime ace and team poet Hamlet Mercedes, who posted 135 wins in a Richmond uniform. Pitching will need to improve to battle Iowa and Jax. Super Hero Comparison - AQUAMAN. Odds to win title 50-1.
Bottom Five:
28 - Pawtucket Patriots (21-27)
Though the record isnt deserving of a bottom five placement, we add Pawtucket to this list as our most disappointing team to date (Charlotte was a close second). Fletchkid has assembled a terrific, if precious, roster of talent and for whatever reason they arent playing loose and easy in the early going. This team can and should win its division by ten games.
29 - New Orleans Crawdads (19-29)
Not a lot to love in the Big Easy. This team has the look and smell of Hurricane Katrina four years later. There are some attractive parts on the ML roster that we would expect to be moved to improve the organzation.
30 - Las Vegas Devils (15-32)
Drutes has a rebuild on his hands from top to bottom. He has some talent in the minors but needs more. His big problem is that his best players carry huge contracts that will take a lot for other teams to absorb (see Anton Burks at 13MM)
31 - Toronto Flare (13-35)
This team really should garner the 32nd ranking because it does have talent. We cant figure out keith,here, as we regard him as a very good owner. But the Flare havent been very good in the NABCL for a long time. I am sure there is a plan just cant see it right now.
32 - Washington Federals (10-37)
Ouch! We never thought this team was a world beater but it is just two years removed from a LCS berth so we certainly expect more. AI setting has to hurt Shal alot at the ML level and we strongly advise him to take control. Oddly Washington is only 11.5 out in the horrid AL East, so some improvements could get this club to the postseason (did I just say that?)
Not suprisingly, the early dominance of a few has meant that there are some real dogs at the bottom of the NABCL's barrel. Some deservedly so, others whose performance runs contrary to the talent assembled on their roster. With close to 120games to go there is ample time for these bottom feeders to turn their fortunes around...so without further adieu your Top Ten/Bottom Five
1) Fargo Roughriders (34-12)
The defending World Champs havent missed a stride in the early going. The offense has no peer in the NABCL as it averages a shade more than 7 runs per game. Former AL MVP Rudy Simms is off to a terrific start with 14 bombs, 42 rbi, and a sick .466 obp. The pitching doesnt get the ink that the hitting does but its results are equally impressive - a league low 179 runs allowed. The wily 40 year old Felipe Matos is off to another wonderful start (6-2) and the 'pen has been exceptional when needed. The Roughriders will win the NL East and will have ample opportunity to prepare for the playoffs. A repeat could very well be in order. Super Hero Comparison - SUPERMAN. Odds to win title: EVEN
2) San Antonio Missons (33-15)
Frazzman has quietly (unlike his rivals in Chicago and Sacramento) put together one of the premier organzations in the NABCL. Built to take advantage of a pitchers paradise at Nelson Wolff Municipal, the Missons consistently rank among the leagues best in pitching and fielding. Season 12 is no different as the Missons rank second in WHIP, sixth in ERA, and first in OAV allowed; Byung Hyun Li is the odds on favorite to unseat Lenny Singleton for the NL CY. The offense is steady if unspectacular and fueled by two young stars in Doug Wood and Milt Brock. Despite their torrid start, San Antonio is being pushed by Divisional rival Louisville (huh?). That's probably bad news for the NL as the Missons will be battle ready come the playoffs. Super Hero Comparison - SPIDERMAN. Odds to win title: 2.5 to 1.
3) Sacramento Terrible Twos (30-18)
The petulant owner/manager of the Twos is nothing if not consistent. Once again, the Twos are fast out of the gate leaving divisional rivals Portand and Boise to turn their attention to a Wild Card berth. Sac's pitching is always good; Fausto Bennett just copped the league's Pitcher of the Week Award. The offense has been a bit pedestrian save for Dave Glaus' 17 home runs and 48 rbi. As many may know, Sacramento is working on eight straight divisonal titles and nothing suggests that nine isnt in the offing. However, Chicago's recent three game sweep at Sac-town had to give X pause. That can only mean a blockbuster is in the offing. Super Hero Comparison - WONDER WOMAN (couldnt resist). Odds to win title: 5 to 1.
4) Chicago Beast (34-13)
Owners of the NL's best record to date and currently riding an impressive nine game winning streak, the Beast early rise has nothing to do with its impressive array of offense and everything to do with its pitching. The starters are 19-9 and led by young gun Phillip Fischer (6-1, 2.04 era). Rickey Vance is 15 for 18 in save opps so the backend is good for now. As to the offense, it just hasnt fired like it has in the past. Sure BC Parent has 19 and 45; Julian Pena 15 and 47; but Suzuki-san and Little Steven Wilson havent got untracked yet. Like Fargo the division is all but finished so the Bullet will have time to work out a plan for the playoffs. But he might just be the worst playoff manager in all of HBD. Super Hero Comparison - BATMAN. Odds to win title: 6 to 1.
5) Anahiem Natural Disasters (30-18)
Like San Antonio, Zack has quietly built a powerhouse in Anaheim. The Natural Disasters are stacked everywhere you look - great bats, great gloves, terrific pitching. However, like Chicago, they have been miserable in the playoffs having not advanced past the DCS in four consecutive playoff bids. We like this addition as the array of young talent has to click at some point. D'Angelo Ramirez is a monster; Jude Lindsey has the stuff of an excellent young set-up guy. We dont like Redding at the end (take a look at his career numbers) but Zack will find a way to make it work. Super Hero Comparison - CAPTAIN AMERICA. Odds to win title: 3-1
6) Louisville Legionnaires (30-17)
When your year-end win totals for the last six years are 67, 57, 72, 63, 52, and 75 you have to be a bit lightheaded with THIRTY wins at the quarterpole. And perhaps that is mlhutch's problem as he just complained about ihis team's performance in the league chat. The Legionnaires are the last of the early "Supers" and they are fueled by one thing and one thing only: a terrific offense. Bob Jenkins has finally lived up to some of his promise, Colin and Davenport (stolen from Toronto) have been terrific. We like their pitching better than its current results but it is not dominant by any stretch. They will hang in the race for a Wild Card but we dont see them anywhere close to the Missons at the end. Super Hero Comparison - THE FLASH. Odds to win title: 25 to 1.
7) Wichita Weed (32-16)
We refuse to analyze the 'weed until we hear from oldave and an explanation about his minor league machinations. Super Hero Comparison - NONE; Odds to win title - N/A
8) Iowa City Shuckers (28-19)/Jacksonville Jackals (29-18)
We couldnt find anyway to separate these two so the divisional rivals will be the first dual entry in our countdown. We like the makeup of both of these squads and would suggest that good things are on the horizon for both. The Jackals got off to a slow start for this NABCL powerhouse. Jose has been trying to find a way to infuse some much needed younger talent onto the roster. The offense has been surprisingly quiet for a Jackal squad. As to the Shuckers, there is a lot to like (Gonzales, Valdes, Herges, etc...) but for now we are going to focus on finances as the Shuckers have really mucked up their flexibility by poor budgeting. Early leader for Bernie Madoff award is Sportznut...Super Hero Comparison - Iowa INCREDIBLE HULK; Odds to win title 25 to 1; Super Hero Comparison Jacksonville: GREEN LANTERN. Odds to win title 16 to 1.
10) Richmond Poor Men (26-22)
Could have gone to Charlotte or Trenton to fill this slot but there is more to like in Richmond. Richmond hails from the same divison as Iowa and Jacksonville so the AL South is easily our pick for the league's most competitive divison (El Paso isnt shabby either). Richmond's offense has been very good led by the reliable John Barkley. But the pitching hasnt been up to snuff and it looks like the Poor Men miss longtime ace and team poet Hamlet Mercedes, who posted 135 wins in a Richmond uniform. Pitching will need to improve to battle Iowa and Jax. Super Hero Comparison - AQUAMAN. Odds to win title 50-1.
Bottom Five:
28 - Pawtucket Patriots (21-27)
Though the record isnt deserving of a bottom five placement, we add Pawtucket to this list as our most disappointing team to date (Charlotte was a close second). Fletchkid has assembled a terrific, if precious, roster of talent and for whatever reason they arent playing loose and easy in the early going. This team can and should win its division by ten games.
29 - New Orleans Crawdads (19-29)
Not a lot to love in the Big Easy. This team has the look and smell of Hurricane Katrina four years later. There are some attractive parts on the ML roster that we would expect to be moved to improve the organzation.
30 - Las Vegas Devils (15-32)
Drutes has a rebuild on his hands from top to bottom. He has some talent in the minors but needs more. His big problem is that his best players carry huge contracts that will take a lot for other teams to absorb (see Anton Burks at 13MM)
31 - Toronto Flare (13-35)
This team really should garner the 32nd ranking because it does have talent. We cant figure out keith,here, as we regard him as a very good owner. But the Flare havent been very good in the NABCL for a long time. I am sure there is a plan just cant see it right now.
32 - Washington Federals (10-37)
Ouch! We never thought this team was a world beater but it is just two years removed from a LCS berth so we certainly expect more. AI setting has to hurt Shal alot at the ML level and we strongly advise him to take control. Oddly Washington is only 11.5 out in the horrid AL East, so some improvements could get this club to the postseason (did I just say that?)
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