Happy Palindrome Week! This week every date can be read the same forwards and backwards. Apparently this is a rare occurrence, though the next one will come in December of 2021 (which doesn’t make it too rare, I suppose). I like palindromes so I figured today would be a good day to invert our standings and speculate on who each EFL team might target in next year’s Rookie Draft. While I don’t know exactly how the draft order will play out, nor who will actually be available (those darn MLB teams tend to mess up the best laid plans), it will be a fun exercise going backwards (yes, I know going backwards through the standings is not technically a palindrome).
But before we do that, let’s take a look at the top Rookie performances this season (and in doing so, we might learn who will be less likely to be available after the first 10 picks or so):
Batters
Yordan Alvarez – 1.082 OPS
Aristides Aquino – .999 OPS
Will Smith – .978 OPS
Pete Alonso – .968 OPS and leading the NL in HRs with 47
Keston Hiura – .941 OPS
Bo Bichette – .937 OPS
Brian Reynolds – .921 OPS
Mike Yastrzemski – .856 OPS
Vlad Guerrero Jr. – I think he will be a computer choice that will make everyone groan
Pitchers
Daniel Hudson – 15 wins and 3.40 ERA
John Means – 10 wins and a 3.50 ERA
Chris Paddack – 3.57 ERA in 127 IP
Yusei Kikuchi – Young Mariner with great upside (and a rough beginning to the 2019 season though the past few starts have been strong)
These are just a few of the options available to us next year – who will you choose? Someone from this list or someone else? Let’s see…
EFL Standings for 2019
| EFL | ||||||
| TEAM | WINS | LOSSES | PCT. | GB | RS | RA |
| Portland Rosebuds | 94 | 51 | .649 | — | 917.1 | 674.4 |
| Flint Hill Tornadoes | 92 | 53 | .632 | 2.4 | 906.5 | 681.1 |
| Old Detroit Wolverines | 86 | 59 | .591 | 8.4 | 847.6 | 701.4 |
| Pittsburgh Alleghenys | 79 | 64 | .553 | 14 | 767.6 | 679.6 |
| Peshastin Pears | 78 | 67 | .536 | 16.3 | 759.2 | 708.2 |
| Haviland Dragons | 75 | 70 | .514 | 19.4 | 807.1 | 778.6 |
| Canberra Kangaroos | 74 | 71 | .514 | 19.6 | 813.6 | 795.6 |
| Kaline Drive | 70 | 75 | .480 | 24.5 | 684.2 | 712.8 |
| Cottage Cheese | 64 | 79 | .449 | 28.9 | 797.6 | 876.5 |
| Bellingham Cascades | 62 | 81 | .435 | 30.8 | 659.8 | 759.8 |
| Brookland Outs | 61 | 82 | .428 | 31.8 | 699.5 | 807.9 |
| D.C. Balk | 57 | 88 | .393 | 37.1 | 634.7 | 793.1 |
DC: L, 2-6 (13 PA, .000, .154, .000; 5.7 ip, 4 er, 6.35 era) The Outs have enviable first pick – at least in the EFL – this next year. I am guessing it will be around pick 3 or so, once Ron filters out 12 teams. Who should he take? In my opinion, it should be the best player available, without consideration to his particular need. In this case, I would say it is a toss-up between Yordan Alvarez and Pete Alonso. Alonso has had more ABs and performed at a high level, along with playing a position for which there are not a lot of good options. However, if it is a toss-up between these two, the Balk do need an OFer next year, so I think he will take Alvarez.
Brookland: DNP, 1-11 (3 PA, .667, .667, .667; 11.3 ip, 2 er, 1.59 era) Based on their record I am guessing the Outs will pick somewhere between 5-8. With his first choice last year Brooks took Shane Bieber, and that turned out to be an excellent pick. Even last night Shane showed his boss knows what he is doing, spinning 7 ip with 1 er. This year, I predict Brooks will go with a batter, and because Bellinger can play a decent OF, I predict he will pick Alonso to add to his firepower.
Bellingham: W (-1) L (1), 0-10 (12 PA, .111, .333, .444; 1 ip, 9 er, 81.00 era) The Cascades have needed pitching all year, and last night’s performance by Mike Fiers made that very apparent. Though their hitters are a tad old, good hitters are easier to find than good hitters. I think the Cascades will pick the best pitcher with their first pick, somewhere in the 7-10 range, and there are some good picks to be had. But I think the best one, thus far, is Daniel Hudson, and that is who he will pick.
Cottage: DNP, 3-0 (21 PA, .222, .333, .500; no pitching) The Cheese are often difficult to pin down in terms of what direction they will go when drafting. Looking at his roster, and listening to his wonderful laments, we know that he needs pitching. And there are some good pitchers to be had. But I think the Dodger at heart will not be able to overlook the Dodgers starting catcher next year, I presume, who is also very good with the bat. The Cheese will pick Will Smith.
Kaline: “W,” 5-5 (13 PA, .333, .385, .667; no pitching) Kaline’s number one pick last year was the Tampa Bay shortstop Willy Adames, who has had a decent year. It seems like Tom alternates between batter and pitcher every year in terms of his first round pick. Thus, I think the Drive will choose Chris Paddack with their pick somewhere in the high teens (maybe 15-17?).
Canberra: L, 5-6 (27 PA, .240, .296, .360; .3 ip, o er) Canberra always seems to choose someone that is surprising to me, yet surprisingly good. Last year he chose Joey Lucchesi (which surprised me) and then he threw 150 innings this year with a 3.58 era (so far). Looking at his roster, last year was an excellent year for the Roos in terms of drafting pitchers. Thus, I think he will go with a hitter this year. While he owned Keston Hiura this year, I don’t think he needs a 2B next year. I believe he will see Aristides Aquino’s numbers and his OF rating and jump at the chance to draft him.
Haviland: W, 6-5 (10 PA, .375, .500, .375; 1 ip, 0 er) Last year the Dragons chose Ramon Laureano with their number one pick, and he was having an excellent year until his injury which has sidelined him until this week. The Dragons had a hard time finding decent pitching this year, but I think the Dragon chief will have a difficult time overlooking the many good bats in this draft class. I would normally peg him to draft Bo Bichette, a young SS with a lot of upside (who is also having a great rookie season in his short stint). I think the Dragons are going to choose someone who didn’t get a lot of ABs this season but who is highly touted. And I don’t think they will care about positional need, so I predict they pick Gavin Lux.
Peshastin: DNP, 3-1 (15 PA, .400, .400, .667; 1.7 ip, 2 er, 10.80 era) In my humble opinion this next year could be a very good one for the young Pears. They have quite a few players under control for a few years who are just coming into their prime. So the Pears will be looking for someone who can contribute right away. And we know how much he loves the Mariners, so I am picking Yusei Kikuchi as his first round pick.
Pittsburgh: DNP, 4-5 (25 PA, .286, .400, .762; 6.3 ip, 8 er, 11.37 era) The Alleghanys didn’t make a first round draft pick last year, much to our surprise. Will they do the same this year? I don’t think so. Though they have enjoyed Alonso’s stats this year, they certainly won’t get to enjoy them next year. But how about Bichette, whose stats he was able to also enjoy this summer and might be available if no EFL owner takes him first.
Old Detroit: W, 5-3 (34 PA, .219, .265, .344; 7 ip, 2 er, 2.57 era) This is another team, that like the Pears, has too many good players under cheap control to do him any good. Will he pass on a first round pick? Unlikely since he often tells people his strategy is to have players who are able to help in 3-4 years while also having players who are able to help right now. I also think he will feel some urgency after spending some time this year thinking he was going to finish near the top and now slowly drifting away from the top. Like the Alleghanys, I think he has become smitten with a debut on his team who he will choose to help bolster his OF – Bryan Reynolds.
Flint Hill: W, 7-3 (18 PA, .125, .222, .313; 11.7 ip, 3 er, 2.31 era) Sadly, we don’t have a first round pick this year – we traded it away to DC. Who will they pick with their extra pick? I think they will take a pitcher, John Means. Oh yeah, we are now only 2.4 games back – we’ve made up 2.6 games in 10 days! Let’s keep it up, boys,.
Portland: DNP, 5-3 (34 PA, .176, .176, .353; 6 ip, 3 er, 4.50 era) The Rosebuds also traded their first round pick to the Outs, and I think the Outs will use this pick to choose a man with a great last name and who has had a strong season – Mike Yastrzemski.
Combined MLB + EFL Standings for 2014
| AL East | ||||
| TEAM | WINS | LOSSES | PCT. | GB |
| New York Yankees | 95 | 50 | .655 | — |
| Flint Hill Tornadoes | 92 | 53 | .632 | 3.4 |
| Tampa Bay Rays | 86 | 59 | .593 | 9 |
| Old Detroit Wolverines | 86 | 59 | .591 | 9.4 |
| Boston Red Sox | 76 | 68 | .528 | 18.5 |
| Toronto Blue Jays | 55 | 89 | .382 | 39.5 |
| Baltimore Orioles | 46 | 97 | .322 | 48 |
| NL East | ||||
| TEAM | WINS | LOSSES | PCT. | GB |
| Atlanta Braves | 90 | 55 | .621 | — |
| Washington Nationals | 79 | 63 | .556 | 9.5 |
| Philadelphia Phillies | 74 | 69 | .517 | 15 |
| Canberra Kangaroos | 74 | 71 | .514 | 15.5 |
| New York Mets | 73 | 70 | .510 | 16 |
| D.C. Balk | 57 | 88 | .393 | 33.1 |
| Miami Marlins | 51 | 92 | .357 | 38 |
| AL Central | ||||
| TEAM | WINS | LOSSES | PCT. | GB |
| Minnesota Twins | 88 | 55 | .615 | — |
| Cleveland Indians | 84 | 61 | .579 | 5 |
| Pittsburgh Alleghenys | 79 | 64 | .553 | 9 |
| Chicago White Sox | 63 | 80 | .441 | 25 |
| Bellingham Cascades | 62 | 81 | .435 | 25.7 |
| Kansas City Royals | 53 | 91 | .368 | 35.5 |
| Detroit Tigers | 42 | 100 | .296 | 45.5 |
| NL Central | ||||
| TEAM | WINS | LOSSES | PCT. | GB |
| St. Louis Cardinals | 81 | 62 | .566 | — |
| Chicago Cubs | 77 | 66 | .538 | 4 |
| Milwaukee Brewers | 75 | 68 | .524 | 6 |
| Cincinnati Reds | 67 | 77 | .465 | 14.5 |
| Cottage Cheese | 64 | 79 | .449 | 16.9 |
| Pittsburgh Pirates | 63 | 81 | .438 | 18.5 |
| Brookland Outs | 61 | 82 | .428 | 19.8 |
| AL West | ||||
| TEAM | WINS | LOSSES | PCT. | GB |
| Houston Astros | 95 | 50 | .655 | — |
| Oakland A’s | 84 | 60 | .583 | 10.5 |
| Haviland Dragons | 75 | 70 | .514 | 20.4 |
| Texas Rangers | 72 | 73 | .497 | 23 |
| Kaline Drive | 70 | 75 | .480 | 25.4 |
| Los Angeles Angels | 67 | 78 | .462 | 28 |
| Seattle Mariners | 58 | 86 | .403 | 36.5 |
| NL West | ||||
| TEAM | WINS | LOSSES | PCT. | GB |
| Portland Rosebuds | 94 | 51 | .649 | — |
| Los Angeles Dodgers | 93 | 52 | .641 | 1 |
| Peshastin Pears | 78 | 67 | .536 | 16.3 |
| Arizona Diamondbacks | 75 | 69 | .521 | 18.5 |
| San Francisco Giants | 69 | 75 | .479 | 24.5 |
| San Diego Padres | 66 | 77 | .462 | 27 |
| Colorado Rockies | 60 | 84 | .417 | 33.5 |
Nice writeup and very clever not having to divulge any info about the Tornado.
But I don’t think there is a Deb with the name Daniel Hudson, in fact no Deb with the last name Hudson. The list goes from Huang to Hultzen. Maybe you meant DAKOTA Hudson but he debuted last year and was snagged by an astute EFL manager in our Rookie Draft, Bellingham if memory serves.
Well, I guess I made a mistake! And I don’t have a first round pick there is nothing to hide…want to trade me yours? I’ll send you Jake Faria.