This morning, MLB.com released an article in which they surveyed several writers about the most valuable rookie on each MLB team this season. If you were paying attention, you perhaps noticed there were some significant seasons for rookies this year. The game has become increasingly younger, with players approaching 30 now often deemed past their prime. In some ways that seems silly, and in other ways it seems accurate when you look at the great seasons had by young guys. How did the EFL do in terms of owning these notable rookies?
Bellingham: Dakota Hudson (2023)
Brookland: Griffin Canning (D)
Canberra: Nick Senzel (D), Garrett Hampson (2023)
Cottage: Mike Ford (D), Alex Verdugo (2022)
DC: Austin Nola (D), Mike Yastrzemski (D)
Flint Hill: Luis Arraez (D), Keston Hiura (D)
Haviland: Brandon Lowe (2023)
Kaline: Oscar Mercado (D), Spencer Turnbull (2021)
Peshastin: Mike Soroka (2023), Victor Robles (2022)
Pittsburgh: Bo Bichette (D), Michael Chavis (D), Seth Brown (D), Pete Alonso (D)
Portland: John Means (D), Yordan Alvarez (D), Fernando Tatis, Jr. (D)
Old Detroit: ELoy Jimenez (2023), Bryan Reynolds (D)
We owned 24 of the 32 listed – pretty good! As you can see, every EFL team owned at least one of these notable rookies, which also speaks to our abilities as GMs. And most of them were Deb contracts, which means we all now have a good list of who to target in the draft next year. How great is that? No need to do any research.
EFL Standings for 2019
| EFL | ||||||
| TEAM | WINS | LOSSES | PCT. | GB | RS | RA |
| Portland Rosebuds | 100 | 54 | .650 | — | 973.1 | 712.8 |
| Flint Hill Tornadoes | 99 | 56 | .636 | 2.1 | 958.4 | 721.8 |
| Old Detroit Wolverines | 90 | 65 | .581 | 10.5 | 899.3 | 759.4 |
| Peshastin Pears | 85 | 69 | .549 | 15.6 | 806.8 | 735.0 |
| Pittsburgh Alleghenys | 83 | 71 | .537 | 17.5 | 811.1 | 741.8 |
| Haviland Dragons | 80 | 74 | .520 | 20.1 | 868.1 | 828.3 |
| Canberra Kangaroos | 77 | 78 | .498 | 23.4 | 860.9 | 867.8 |
| Kaline Drive | 77 | 77 | .498 | 23.5 | 751.3 | 756.2 |
| Cottage Cheese | 71 | 83 | .461 | 29.2 | 860.2 | 925.3 |
| Bellingham Cascades | 65 | 89 | .425 | 34.7 | 701.1 | 822.8 |
| Brookland Outs | 63 | 91 | .409 | 37.1 | 726.6 | 868.7 |
| D.C. Balk | 61 | 94 | .394 | 39.6 | 673.2 | 837.9 |
Portland: L, (-1)-1 (52 PA, .146, .212, .250; 18.3 IP, 5 er, 2.45 era) The Rosebuds flipped their usual outcome, with anemic offense and incredible pitching. It was so out of character for them that they ended up scoring -1 run and losing the game. Aquino remembered how to hit a HR but no one else really contributed much. The pitchers, however, had a day! Morton and Kelly were masterful, and Waguespack was ok. But the most important thing is that their bad day allowed the Tornadoes to have a little hope once again.
Flint Hill: W, 4-3 (35 PA, .300, .400, .400; 2.3 IP, 0 er) This was a rare September day where there were enough PAs to make something happen. And the pitching was fine, but not because of these pitchers who are benched all month – it was because of stored up IPs being released. All in all, it was a good day – though the two best hitters on the day (Maybin and Hernandez) were also benched. Oh well. Nothing we can do now but let the season play out.
Old Detroit: W, 8-4 (62 PA, .321, .387, .661; 7 IP, 2 er, 2.57 era) The Wolverine batters have racked up over 1,000 PAs this month! Yesterday those PAs were good, led by Eloy Jimenez (whom we’ve already read about above) and Trea Turner who seems to be riding one of hit hot streaks.
Peshastin: “W,” 0-3 (37 PA, .118, .189, .147; 2.7 ip, 0 er) What a crummy line, and yet, still a win. Only 3 Pears got a hit, and all of those but on (a 2B) were singles.
Pittsburgh: L, 3-7 (33 PA, .258, .303, .484; 1.3 ip, 0 er) Mike Yastrzemski and Pete Alonso proved the MLB.com article correct, at least for a day, leading the Alleghanys in hitting totaling 8 bases together (1 HR and 1 2B). And the pitchers who showed up at the end of the game did a good job, but apparently no one was told to start, and it made it easy for the other team to score runs while apparently hitting off of a T.
Haviland: L, 10-11 (34 PA, .290, .353, .742; .7 ip, 5 er, 67.50 era) If you take a look at out monthly standings, particularly the RC/G table, you’ll see that the top three teams this month are all related, and the fifth place team is another Johnson being kept out of 4th place by a pesky Mock (we all know which one I am referring to). All of that is good news, except for Wingenter, who gave up 5 er despite only allowing 2 hits (neither a HR) a HBP and 1 walk. Actually, how does that happen?
Canberra: “L,” 5-5 (50 PA, .262, .380, .476; 2.7 IP, 0 er) These Mocks are sending copious amounts of batters to the plate, and if only they were allowed to choose with PAs they want to use, it would be a surefire way of winning almost every game! The Roos, however, also decided to not start a pitcher, spotting the other team a few runs too many. I am becoming more and more convinced Alex Bregman will win the MVP this year. We’ll see!
Kaline: W, 9-5 (43 PA, .341, .372, .585; no pitching) The lawyer and the artist (Aaron Judge and AJ Pollock) teamed up to lead their team to victory. They each hit a HR in addition to another hit apiece, and the Drive pitchers took off for the day because they weren’t needed.
Cottage: W, 12-5 (28 PA, .417, .500, .875; 14 ip, 5 er, 3.21 era) The Cheese are having a good month and yesterday was no exception. Yoan Moncada and Jeff McNeil added 5 hits, each with a HR. And look at the volume of that pitching along with the quality of that pitching! The Cheese pitchers are third in ERA this month, which has to be a sight for the head Cheese’s sore eyes.
Bellingham: W, 8-2 (18 PA, .357, .500, .857; 9 ip, 0 er) Another excellent day here in the lower half of the league. Just enough PAs, led by Acuna and Alberto, and excellent pitching from the beardless Mike Fiers.
Brookland: L, 1-1 (27 PA, .192, .222,. 231; 11.3 ip, 2 er, 1.59 era) The Outs are coasting to the end, doing just enough to make things bearable while beginning to scout for their top draft pick next spring.
DC: L, 2-5 (30 PA, .074, .167, .111; 2.3 ip, 0 er) Well, the Balk must have gotten a bit scared about losing their #1 pick, because their batting line was not good. 1 single, 1 double and 3 BBs in 30 PAs will not get you very far, unless you want to get far in the other direction!
Combined MLB + EFL Standings for 2014
| AL East | ||||
| TEAM | WINS | LOSSES | PCT. | GB |
| New York Yankees | 100 | 55 | .645 | — |
| Flint Hill Tornadoes | 99 | 56 | .636 | 1.4 |
| Tampa Bay Rays | 91 | 63 | .591 | 8.5 |
| Old Detroit Wolverines | 90 | 65 | .581 | 9.9 |
| Boston Red Sox | 80 | 73 | .523 | 19 |
| Toronto Blue Jays | 63 | 91 | .409 | 36.5 |
| Baltimore Orioles | 50 | 104 | .325 | 49.5 |
| NL East | ||||
| TEAM | WINS | LOSSES | PCT. | GB |
| Atlanta Braves | 95 | 60 | .613 | — |
| Washington Nationals | 84 | 68 | .553 | 9.5 |
| New York Mets | 80 | 73 | .523 | 14 |
| Philadelphia Phillies | 78 | 74 | .513 | 15.5 |
| Canberra Kangaroos | 77 | 78 | .498 | 17.7 |
| D.C. Balk | 61 | 94 | .394 | 33.9 |
| Miami Marlins | 53 | 100 | .346 | 41 |
| AL Central | ||||
| TEAM | WINS | LOSSES | PCT. | GB |
| Minnesota Twins | 95 | 59 | .617 | — |
| Cleveland Indians | 91 | 63 | .591 | 4 |
| Pittsburgh Alleghenys | 83 | 71 | .537 | 12.3 |
| Chicago White Sox | 67 | 86 | .438 | 27.5 |
| Bellingham Cascades | 65 | 89 | .425 | 29.6 |
| Kansas City Royals | 56 | 99 | .361 | 39.5 |
| Detroit Tigers | 45 | 108 | .294 | 49.5 |
| NL Central | ||||
| TEAM | WINS | LOSSES | PCT. | GB |
| St. Louis Cardinals | 87 | 67 | .565 | — |
| Milwaukee Brewers | 84 | 70 | .545 | 3 |
| Chicago Cubs | 82 | 72 | .532 | 5 |
| Cincinnati Reds | 72 | 82 | .468 | 15 |
| Cottage Cheese | 71 | 83 | .461 | 16.1 |
| Pittsburgh Pirates | 65 | 89 | .422 | 22 |
| Brookland Outs | 63 | 91 | .409 | 24 |
| AL West | ||||
| TEAM | WINS | LOSSES | PCT. | GB |
| Houston Astros | 101 | 53 | .656 | — |
| Oakland A’s | 93 | 61 | .604 | 8 |
| Haviland Dragons | 80 | 74 | .520 | 21 |
| Kaline Drive | 77 | 77 | .498 | 24.4 |
| Texas Rangers | 74 | 80 | .481 | 27 |
| Los Angeles Angels | 69 | 85 | .448 | 32 |
| Seattle Mariners | 65 | 89 | .422 | 36 |
| NL West | ||||
| TEAM | WINS | LOSSES | PCT. | GB |
| Portland Rosebuds | 100 | 54 | .650 | — |
| Los Angeles Dodgers | 99 | 55 | .643 | 1.2 |
| Peshastin Pears | 85 | 69 | .549 | 15.6 |
| Arizona Diamondbacks | 79 | 75 | .513 | 21.2 |
| San Francisco Giants | 74 | 80 | .481 | 26.2 |
| San Diego Padres | 69 | 85 | .448 | 31.2 |
| Colorado Rockies | 66 | 88 | .429 | 34.2 |
How could MLB.com leave Shohei Ohtani and Jeff McNeil off of a list of valuable rookies? Oh, wait, those two rookies are “old” – so they wouldn’t support the author’s point. When you’re writing a journalism article, make sure that you cite only the facts that support your thesis. Ignore the others.