Drive Dominance

The Drive have an August winning percentage of .763. That would be a 123 win season over the course of 162 games. Yes, you read that correctly – a record of 123-39. The MLB record for games won in a season is 116. The EFL record, as far back as the archives go, is 115 wins by the Alleghenys in 2016. The Drive’s pace would shatter both records! It’s no wonder we feel like the opportunity to win this season is slowly slipping away…

EFL
TEAM	WINS	LOSSES	PCT.	GB	RS	RA
Kaline Drive	15	7	.671	—	116.6	79.9
Flint Hill Tornadoes	11	10	.524	3.3	107.4	104.8
Haviland Dragons	10	12	.472	4.4	116.0	122.7
Peshastin Pears	11	12	.469	4.5	117.1	124.1
Canberra Kangaroos	10	13	.432	5.3	105.6	123.7
Cottage Cheese	8	11	.404	5.6	84.0	103.5
Bellingham Cascades	9	13	.395	6.1	101.7	138.5
Pittsburgh Alleghenys	9	13	.388	6.2	100.6	125.9
D.C. Balk	9	14	.391	6.3	98.7	124.2
Portland Rosebuds	8	15	.362	6.9	119.7	158.9
Old Detroit Wolverines	4	17	.208	9.9	69.8	135.5

Kaline: W, 9-8 (40PA; 3.4IP)

AVG: 0.333

OBP: 0.400

SLG: 0.694

OPS: 1.094

ERA: 15.88

WHIP: 3.529

A very good hitting day was able to cover for a poor pitching day for the Drive. Orlando Arcia went 3 for 4 with a 3B and a HR, and Willy Adames hit the go ahead HR for the Drive in the bottom of the 9th inning. Their team was excited to welcome John Means back to the mound after some time on the IL and also the bereavement list, but his first outing back only last 2/3 of an inning in which he gave up 3 runs. His first start after his father’s unexpected death, the Drive made sure he knew that they loved him and didn’t care about his outing, because that’s what the Drive do. After the game Means said, “It wasn’t easy, but it’s one of those things you have to do. It’s my job so I have to go out there every five days. I am looking forward to going out there again.” 

Flint Hill: W, 7-6 (39PA; 1IP)

AVG: 0.316

OBP: 0.308

SLG: 0.553

OPS: 0.860

ERA: 0.00

WHIP: 0.000

Tornado hitting seemed to get back on track after a few days of abysmal hitting. Pedro Severino went 3 for 4 with a HR, and both Max Kepler and Keston Hiura when 2 for 4 with a HR. This might be the first game all season that Tornado hitters did not earn a single walk, creating the oddity of a higher BA than OBP. The pitching was almost non-existent, meaning replacements were called upon, and did exactly what they always do – give up runs. But after yesterday, the Tornadoes gained .2 games on the Drive, sitting now 3.3 behind the leader. At this rate, Flint Hill will overtake the drive by September 3rd, which feels too long. We might have to see what can be done to expedite the process. 

Haviland: “L,” 4-4 (40PA; 1.7IP)

AVG: 0.257

OBP: 0.350

SLG: 0.343

OPS: 0.693

ERA: 0.00

WHIP: 1.176

The Dragons were also able to gain .2 games on the Drive, even after a L (wait, that doesn’t seem fair). Raimel Tapia (recently fully activated – good foresight, Dad!) and JT Realmuto (recently acquired – good foresight, Dad!) created almost all of the offense on the day, each going 3 for 4 with an extra base hit. The Dragons also followed the trend of sending barely any pitching to the mound, except this time they allowed one too many runs to pull our the win and move even closer to the Drive. 

Peshastin: W, 7-2 (49PA; 10.3IP)

AVG: 0.262

OBP: 0.367

SLG: 0.452

OPS: 0.820

ERA: 2.62

WHIP: 1.359

Finally, an EFL team with a convincing win! The Pears provided a complete effort, with good-enough hitting (I guess scoring 7 runs is better than good-enough) led by Juan Soto who was 2 for 3 with 2 BBs, and Martin Maldonado who was 2 for 3 with (get this!) a SB. It was just the 3rd stolen base of his 10 year career! The Pear pitching was very good, led by two youngsters, Dustin May and Justus Sheffield, who provided all the pitching they needed to win convincingly. The Pears gained .5 games on the Drive, a pace that will get them into first a few days before the Tornadoes and Dragons, which is problematic.  

Canberra: L, 8-11 (45PA; 5.7IP)

AVG: 0.350

OBP: 0.400

SLG: 0.675

OPS: 1.075

ERA: 9.47

WHIP: 1.754

The Roos provided the second best offensive line on the day, behind only the Drive. They smashed what might be a single-day Roo record of 4 HRs as a team – one each from Kyle Tucker, Vladito, Yoshi Tsutsugo and Eduardo Escobar. Sadly, their pitching was not able to keep pace, with Kolby Allard allowing 6 ER in 3 IP. The Roos lost .3 games off the leading Drive, a direction I don’t think they intend to go for long. 

Cottage: “W,” 5-6 (37PA; 10.4IP)

AVG: 0.257

OBP: 0.278

SLG: 0.486

OPS: 0.763

ERA: 5.19

WHIP: 1.538

The Cheese earned a win on the day, and managed to not lose or gain any ground on the Drive. Their hitters tried to mimic the Tornado way of not getting a single BB all day, but Yandy Diaz managed to earn exactly one to foil their plans. Debutante Brady Singer threw a decent game, going almost 6 IP and giving up 3 runs, but Yonny Chirinos ruined it all, by giving up 2 runs in 2.7IP.

Bellingham: W, 2-0 (24PA; 11.7IP)

AVG: 0.045

OBP: 0.087

SLG: 0.045

OPS: 0.132

ERA: 2.31

WHIP: 0.940

The Cascades had a truly horrible day at the plate, getting exactly one hit (a single) and one BB in 24PA. They must have faced a very good pitcher to be able to shut down their very hot August offense. But the Cascades are really clicking as a team, because on a day when their hitters were stumped, their pitching staff came through, giving up only 3 ER in 11.7 IP. That’s what we call teamwork! Unfortunately, they lost .1 games off the Drive.

Pittsburgh: “W,” 6-6 (47PA; 11.3IP)

AVG: 0.311

OBP: 0.340

SLG: 0.600

OPS: 0.940

ERA: 4.78

WHIP: 1.150

The Alleghenys have been matching the Wolverines game for game this month, though we haven’t heard a peep from the Pittsburgh management about their trials. This “win” moved their August record into a tie with the Wolverines at 3-12, however, the Alleghenys have a winning percentage that is .004 better than the Wolverines this month. Yesterday every player got a hit except for Byron Buxton (that’s 10 batters getting hits – very good!), led by California bros Stephen Piscotty (2 for 4 with a 2B and a HR) and Brian Goodwin (2 for 4 with a HR). Jon Gray did his part by tossing 7IP and allowing 3 ER, and Logan Webb decided to match Gray, albeit in fewer IPs. Pittsburgh lost .2 games off the Drive, and are locked in a tight battle with Bellingham, Portland and DC to stay away from the Wolverines in the cellar.

DC: “L,” 5-5 (38PA; 2IP)

AVG: 0.286

OBP: 0.342

SLG: 0.429

OPS: 0.771

ERA: 0.00

WHIP: 2.000

The Balk investment in the Mookie Betts continues to be a wise one. Yesterday during the Red Sox/Yankees game, Alex Rodriguez noted that Betts’ batting average is higher than the Red Sox winning percentage, which when you consider that, is very depressing. Betts had himself another fine day, going 2 for 5 with a SB. But it wasn’t enough to eke out a win for the Balk, who did manage to stay exactly 6.3 games behind the leader.

Portland: L, 8-15 (49PA; 1.7IP)

AVG: 0.256

OBP: 0.333

SLG: 0.442

OPS: 0.775

ERA: 0.00

WHIP: 0.588

Different team, same EFL story – just not enough pitching to earn a win. The hitting was decent on the day, scoring 8 runs, led by Bryce Harper (2 for 3) and Anthony Rendon (1 for 3 with a HR). But they also grounded into 3 double plays and struck out 13 times. Despite their lackluster day, they did not fall any further behind the Drive, and managed to stay far away from the Wolverines.

Old Detroit: “L,” 6-(-2) (46PA; 12.4IP)

AVG: 0.200

OBP: 0.391

SLG: 0.343

OPS: 0.734

ERA: 2.18

WHIP: 0.968

It feels like the proverbial salt in the wound for the Wolverines, to outscore their opponents by 8 runs and still lose. Their pitching led the way, getting gems from Jake Arrieta and Robbie Ray (both of whom Ron will trade to anyone – just give him a call). Luis Urias and Eloy Jimenez tried to will their offense to a win, combining for 5 hits in 8 ABs with a 3B and a HR. And even though they lost, the Wolverines made the second biggest jump in the standings – .4 games closer to the Drive and now only 3 games behind the Rosebuds.