Yesterday MLB.com published an article detailing each team’s top MVP candidate. The author, WIll Leitch, admits that some of the choices are a stretch, but that a case can be made for the player chosen if they can continue to produce at the level they have been producing the first quarter of the season. So how did EFL teams fair on this list? We already know the Dragons won the Prospect Championship, but what about the MVP Championship?
Bellingham (2): Hanser Alberto, Ronald Acuna, Jr.
Canberra (1): Starling Marte
Cottage (2): Corey Seager, Luis Robert
Flint Hill (3): Teoscar Hernandez, Xander Bogaerts, Mike Trout
Haviland (4): Brandon Lowe, Carlos Correa, JT Realmuto, Yu Darvish
Kaline (2): Aaron Judge, Kyle Lewis
Peshastin (3): Jesus Aguilar, JaCoby Jones, Jack Flaherty
Pittsburgh (2): Frankie Montas, Jorge Soler
Old Detroit, DC, Portland: Zero
With 4 on the list, the Haviland Dragons are once again the champions, which defies my earlier edict that team’s can only win one championship this season. But, MLB.com can sometimes produce content that is not exactly insightful, pandering to the masses and neglecting the stories that are perhaps better stories.
So what are the better stories on each EFL team? Let’s take a look below.
| EFL | ||||||
| TEAM | WINS | LOSSES | PCT. | GB | RS | RA |
| Kaline Drive | 11 | 6 | .643 | — | 77.0 | 57.9 |
| Flint Hill Tornadoes | 10 | 6 | .611 | 0.7 | 98.6 | 80.5 |
| Cottage Cheese | 7 | 6 | .502 | 2.4 | 68.2 | 69.2 |
| Peshastin Pears | 7 | 9 | .447 | 3.3 | 70.3 | 78.3 |
| Haviland Dragons | 7 | 10 | .440 | 3.5 | 78.9 | 89.8 |
| Pittsburgh Alleghenys | 7 | 10 | .419 | 3.8 | 74.7 | 82.3 |
| Canberra Kangaroos | 7 | 11 | .413 | 4 | 68.3 | 88.5 |
| D.C. Balk | 7 | 11 | .384 | 4.5 | 75.8 | 97.5 |
| Portland Rosebuds | 5 | 11 | .325 | 5.2 | 71.9 | 102.7 |
| Bellingham Cascades | 6 | 11 | .326 | 5.4 | 67.1 | 110.3 |
| Old Detroit Wolverines | 3 | 13 | .165 | 7.8 | 47.0 | 107.9 |
Kaline: W, 7-2 (34PA, 4IP)
| AVG: 0.290 | OBP: 0.353 | SLG: 0.484 | OPS: 0.837 |
| ERA: 0.00 | WHIP: 1.250 |
The Drive continued their dominance atop the EFL, despite their public confession yesterday that they would achieve mediocrity once again. Perhaps the lack of belief in his players motivated the players to prove management wrong, in which case the public proclamation was a wonderful display of leadership, though one that doesn’t always work (see: Old Detroit)! The Drive were led by Kyle Lewis, the Mariner MVP according to MLB, who had 3 hits including a HR. But how about the best story on the Drive thus far? In my opinion, it is Dinelson Lamet, Padres pitcher. Lamet has returned from Tommy John Surgery to dominate hitters this season. He has thrown 22.4 innings with an ERA of 1.61 and K/9 of 11.25. That is good, in case anyone was wondering.
Flint Hill: W1, L(-1), 11-4
| AVG: 0.378 | OBP: 0.410 | SLG: 0.757 | OPS: 1.167 |
| ERA: 9.35 | WHIP: 1.688 |
Tornado batters had a wonderful day at the plate, hitting 4 HRs (2 from Trout), for a SLG% of .757. The pitching was horrible, as you can see. The best storyline thus far for the Tornadoes? German Marquez, who is doing what no other Tornado pitcher is currently doing – pitching well. He has an ERA of 2.08 over 26IP.
Cottage: W1, L(-1), 2-1 (35PA; 4.4IP)
| AVG: 0.321 | OBP: 0.457 | SLG: 0.500 | OPS: 0.957 |
| ERA: 8.18 | WHIP: 2.727 |
An excellent day for Cheese sluggers, led by Jeff McNeil and Shohei Ohtani (5 for 8 with a 2B and a HR). Their pitching was also not very good, but it didn’t matter today because a new division leader with one fewer game played emerged in the NL West and that certainly helped the Cheese. Thir best storyline thus far? JD Davis, who is leading the Cheese with an OPS .910.
Peshastin: W, 7-1 (34PA; 10IP)
| AVG: 0.300 | OBP: 0.353 | SLG: 0.700 | OPS: 1.053 |
| ERA: 1.80 | WHIP: 0.900 |
Another excellent offensive day for an EFL team – but this time, it was coupled with an excellent pitching day which led to a jump in the standings for the Pears, from 7th to 4th. The Pears have been perhaps the most volatile team in the EFL this season, and I imagine that creates a bit of excitement for their manager. Yesterday’s team leaders were Juan Soto (finally, right?) who had 3 hits including a monster HR off of a Tornado pitcher (no hard feelings, Phil), and Dustin May who dominated the Padres for 6 innings but left the game down 2-0. The best storyline thus far for the Pears? I think it has to be JaCoby Jones, who is leading his Detroit Tigers team to a hot start while enjoying a .333/.391/.619 slash line.
Haviland: W(-1), L2, 4-15
| AVG: 0.179 | OBP: 0.258 | SLG: 0.429 | OPS: 0.687 |
| ERA: 45.00 | WHIP: 6.250 |
No Dragon player, especially Sean Newcomb, got the memo sent out yesterday congratulating Dragon owner and GM, John Johnson, for celebrating his 44th wedding anniversary. I mean, if they had, wouldn’t they have had a much better day than a 3 game swing in the wrong direction? For the sake of not ruining what I was told was a very nice anniversary celebration, including a bike ride around Hagg Lake, I won’t give any more details. Dragon management can console itself with another championship won this season, though, so that must be a silver lining. The best storyline for the Dragons this season? Young flamethrower Jesus Luzardo, who has just recently stepped into a SP role, and has a season ERA of 1.55 over 17IP.
Pittsburgh: W(-1), L2, 1-14 (25PA; 8.8IP)
| AVG: 0.160 | OBP: 0.192 | SLG: 0.160 | OPS: 0.352 |
| ERA: 12.56 | WHIP: 2.093 |
Yikes! The Alleghenys followed in the Dragon footsteps, having a nearly identical day to them. They were done in by no hitting (4 singles in 25 PAs) and horrible pitching, especially from Jon Gray (8ER in 3.3IP). The best storyline for the Alleghenys so far is Frankie Montas, who has thrown 23 innings, has a 1.57 ERA and hasn’t given up a single HR!
Canberra: L, 5-6 (48PA, 2IP)
| AVG: 0.267 | OBP: 0.313 | SLG: 0.333 | OPS: 0.646 |
| ERA: 0.00 | WHIP: 1.000 |
The Roos lost a close one yesterday, though Manuel Margot did his best to produce a win (4 for 4 with 2 2Bs). In the end there wasn’t enough pitching to eke out the victory. The best Roo storyline this season is former Beaver Michael Conforto, who is slashing .311/.408/.459.
DC: W, 11-2 (29PA; 2IP)
| AVG: 0.458 | OBP: 0.552 | SLG: 1.208 | OPS: 1.760 |
| ERA: 0.00 | WHIP: 1.500 |
Another excellent hitting day, this one the best on the day in the EFL. Asdrubal Cabrera and Matt Chapman led they way, combining to go 7-10 with 4 HR (2 apiece). That’s how to win a game! The best Balk storyline this season is Dylan Bundy, whose resurgence has led to a 2.07 ERA in 21 IP!
Portland: L, 5-6 (41PA; 2.7IP)
| AVG: 0.257 | OBP: 0.341 | SLG: 0.429 | OPS: 0.770 |
| ERA: 3.33 | WHIP: 1.481 |
Another close game with nor quite enough pitching to get a win. The hitting was decent, led by former MLB teammates Bryce Harper and Anthony Rendon (combined 4 for 9 with 2 HRs). The best storyline for the Rosebuds so far is Bryce Harper, who is having a great beginning to the season slashing .303/.465/.576.
Bellingham: “W,” 2-3 (7PA;7IP)
| AVG: 0.143 | OBP: 0.143 | SLG: 0.143 | OPS: 0.286 |
| ERA: 2.57 | WHIP: 1.429 |
The good news? The bad hitting was only spread across 7PA. The bad news? It was bad hitting. But the pitchers came through with a good day, led by Justin Dunn’s 6IP and 2ER. The best storyline for the Cascades so far this season is Hanser Alberto who in my mind is actually an MVP candidate so far. His offensive output is leading the Orioles to a .500 start, only two games behind the Yankees.
Old Detroit: DNP, 3-5 (36PA; 11.7IP)
| AVG: 0.303 | OBP: 0.343 | SLG: 0.606 | OPS: 0.949 |
| ERA: 10.00 | WHIP: 1.880 |
Well, the batters had a great day! Trea Turner and Austin Riley combined to go 5 for 9, each with a HR. That has to warm the Wolverine heart, right? But the pitching…did not go so well. The two pitchers who have alliterative initials (is that even what it is called?) – Robbie Ray and Josh James – game up a combined 10 runs in 4.7IP. The best storyline so far is Dallas Keuchel, who has thrown 23.6 innings and has a 3.05 ERA,