League Updates

Unlikely…But

I don’t know about you, but I am drawn to stories in which there is something improbable or unlikely that happens. My favorite movies and books are the ones where something unlikely happens, whether it is the underdog ending up victorious or the seemingly insignificant moment becoming the lynchpin for the entire plot.

That is why this morning I was drawn into the story of Johnny Davis, a recent call-up for the playoff-bound Tampa Bay Rays. So much of Davis’ story is unlikely, which is why I find it so interesting. Some of the unlikely highlights:

  • Besides a short stint one summer where he played a few Little League games, Davis didn’t play organized baseball until Junior College
  • Drafted in 2013 in the 22nd round by the Brewers, he asked for his release in 2018, played 11 games for the Independent League Kansas City T-Bones, then joined the Mexican League
  • During his second season in the Mexican League, he was noticed by a Rays scout, signed by the Rays, joining their Double A team for 6 games before being called up to the MLB on August 26th
  • His first game in the MLB was in LA, where he grew up, and it was the first baseball game his parents ever watched him play

And now that the Rays have clinched a playoff spot, there is a good chance Davis will be going to the MLB playoffs as a 29 year old rookie when just 8 weeks ago he wasn’t even playing baseball in the US. How unlikely, and how inspiring! You can read an article about him here, though fair warning, it is not very well-written.

Speaking of unlikely things, MLB just announced their top-selling jersey this season. Do you know to whom it belongs? The Drive’s very own Aaron Judge. That strikes me as unlikely, except for the fact that it is the third season in a row that his jersey has been the #1 jersey sold.

Also unlikely? The Tornadoes passing the Rosebuds this year. But why not? So many unlikely things are happening, it could be something that pundits will write about for years to come, if it can just happen in the next two days. That would be some way to end the 2019 season. Unlikely, perhaps. But unlikely things happen all the time.

PS: I believe this will be my last EFL update this season, unless something unlikely happens and Ron needs me to write one of the final two updates. I have had a lot of fun writing them, and it has certainly helped that my team has been in the race up until the very last days. But your kind words and time spent reading the posts has made me realize what a great community this little EFL hobby has created, and for that I am grateful. It might be unlikely that a fantasy league could occupy such a warm place in mine or anyone’s heart, but you do and for that I am grateful.

EFL Standings for 2019
EFL
TEAM WINS LOSSES PCT. GB RS RA
Portland Rosebuds 104 56 .650 1008.5 739.7
Flint Hill Tornadoes 103 57 .644 0.8 994.4 734.1
Old Detroit Wolverines 93 67 .583 10.6 929.8 781.7
Peshastin Pears 89 71 .554 15.4 842.6 759.8
Pittsburgh Alleghenys 86 74 .537 18.1 831.5 756.6
Haviland Dragons 82 78 .515 21.6 898.5 866.2
Canberra Kangaroos 80 80 .501 23.7 893.4 895.3
Kaline Drive 79 81 .494 25 770.0 782.0
Cottage Cheese 76 84 .476 27.9 897.4 941.8
Bellingham Cascades 66 94 .414 37.7 717.7 862.4
Brookland Outs 65 95 .405 39.2 749.8 905.5
D.C. Balk 64 96 .402 39.6 694.5 851.9
Portland: W, 6-4 
Flint Hill: W, 9-5
Old Detroit: “L,” 4-3
Peshastin: “W,” 5-5
Pittsburgh: L, 4-8
Haviland: “L,” 6-6
Canberra: “L,” 5-5
Kaline: “W,” 4-6
Cottage: W, 8-5
Bellingham: L, 3-4
Brookland: “W,” 7-7
DC: W(-1), L(2), 4-12
Combined MLB + EFL Standings for 2014
AL East
TEAM WINS LOSSES PCT. GB
Flint Hill Tornadoes 103 57 .644
New York Yankees 103 57 .644 0.1
Tampa Bay Rays 96 64 .600 7.1
Old Detroit Wolverines 93 67 .583 9.8
Boston Red Sox 83 77 .519 20.1
Toronto Blue Jays 65 95 .406 38.1
Baltimore Orioles 53 107 .331 50.1
NL East
TEAM WINS LOSSES PCT. GB
Atlanta Braves 97 63 .606
Washington Nationals 91 69 .569 6
New York Mets 84 76 .525 13
Canberra Kangaroos 80 80 .501 16.8
Philadelphia Phillies 80 80 .500 17
D.C. Balk 64 96 .402 32.7
Miami Marlins 56 104 .350 41
AL Central
TEAM WINS LOSSES PCT. GB
Minnesota Twins 100 60 .625
Cleveland Indians 93 67 .581 7
Pittsburgh Alleghenys 86 74 .537 14.1
Chicago White Sox 70 88 .443 29
Bellingham Cascades 66 94 .414 33.7
Kansas City Royals 58 102 .363 42
Detroit Tigers 46 112 .291 53
NL Central
TEAM WINS LOSSES PCT. GB
St. Louis Cardinals 90 70 .563
Milwaukee Brewers 89 71 .556 1
Chicago Cubs 83 77 .519 7
Cottage Cheese 76 84 .476 13.9
Cincinnati Reds 73 87 .456 17
Pittsburgh Pirates 69 91 .431 21
Brookland Outs 65 95 .405 25.2
AL West
TEAM WINS LOSSES PCT. GB
Houston Astros 105 55 .656
Oakland A’s 96 64 .600 9
Haviland Dragons 82 78 .515 22.7
Kaline Drive 79 81 .494 26
Texas Rangers 76 84 .475 29
Los Angeles Angels 72 88 .450 33
Seattle Mariners 67 93 .419 38
NL West
TEAM WINS LOSSES PCT. GB
Los Angeles Dodgers 104 56 .650
Portland Rosebuds 104 56 .650
Peshastin Pears 89 71 .554 15.4
Arizona Diamondbacks 83 77 .519 21
San Francisco Giants 77 83 .481 27
San Diego Padres 70 90 .438 34
Colorado Rockies 69 91 .431 35

2 Comments

  • Jamie,
    You’ve had international exposure for your EFL updates. I’ve been reading them in Paris, Arles, Segur de Calafell (Catalonia), and Barcelona, where Messi jerseys are frequently seen. Nice writing and interesting coverage. Thanks. Hope you do more next season. The Drive needs two wins with two games to go, to finish @ 81-81. Not likely.

  • Johnny Davis’ story is about as unlikely as the Wolverines coming from 10.6 games back with two days to go. Which either means the W’s are a lock, or Johnny Davis used up the miracle. I’m pretty sure it’s the latter: he won the one lottery ticket and there are no more left for the Wolverines.

    Either way, I am now a Johnny Davis fan.