Yesterday’s EFL excite-o-meter didn’t get much action with yesterday’s games. Today? It might be different. Today will feature 20 games in the MLB, the most since there were 21 games played on September 7th, 1970. What might tomorrow’s update bring? While we await today’s action, take a look at the relative inaction in today’s EFL standings.
EFL Standings for 2020
| EFL | ||||||
| TEAM | WINS | LOSSES | PCT. | GB | RS | RA |
| Kaline Drive | 20 | 14 | .598 | — | 166.6 | 137.3 |
| Haviland Dragons | 20 | 14 | .575 | 0.8 | 181.7 | 158.1 |
| Bellingham Cascades | 18 | 19 | .498 | 3.4 | 197.6 | 208.4 |
| Flint Hill Tornadoes | 18 | 20 | .477 | 4.2 | 197.6 | 214.3 |
| Cottage Cheese | 17 | 20 | .466 | 4.6 | 183.5 | 198.8 |
| Canberra Kangaroos | 17 | 19 | .465 | 4.6 | 181.8 | 196.4 |
| D.C. Balk | 17 | 19 | .459 | 4.8 | 164.5 | 178.4 |
| Peshastin Pears | 18 | 21 | .449 | 5.3 | 184.8 | 204.1 |
| Pittsburgh Alleghenys | 14 | 23 | .370 | 8.1 | 170.6 | 224.8 |
| Old Detroit Wolverines | 14 | 24 | .360 | 8.7 | 172.3 | 229.1 |
| Portland Rosebuds | 13 | 26 | .329 | 10 | 190.8 | 272.8 |
Kaline: DNP, 0-0 (25PA; no pitching)
| AVG: 0.240 | OBP: 0.269 | SLG: 0.280 | OPS: 0.549 |
Today is the last day of the mid-season break for the Drive. Starting tomorrow, games will resume for them and I know they are eager to get a little more room between them and the rest of the league. Just to stay warm, Jason Kipnis and Yuli Gurriel both nabbed a couple of hits yesterday, but most of the team laid pretty low, including all of the pitchers. The good news for the Drive is that little else happened below them that should cause any kind of fear…for the moment.
Haviland: DNP, 0-0 (18PA, 1IP)
| AVG: 0.375 | OBP: 0.444 | SLG: 0.625 | OPS: 1.069 |
| ERA: 0.00 | WHIP: 0.000 |
The Dragons have also been taking a mid-season break, however there hitters decided it was not a good idea to get out of practice. And so, last night, Amed Rosario went 3 for 4, and new albeit temporary Dragon Luis Robert hit a 458 HR. These numbers will be helpful when the Dragons begin to play some extra games this month due to their break these first 3 days of September.
Bellingham: DNP, 1-(-1) (4PA; 1.3IP)
| AVG: 0.000 | OBP: 0.750 | SLG: 0.000 | OPS: 0.750 |
| ERA: 0.00 | WHIP: 1.538 |
The Cascade hitters were adamant that yesterday was an off-day for them, and so when their coach told them to hit they just stood there with the bat on their shoulders and watched every pitch that went by. The good news is they psyched out the pitcher, who couldn’t throw a strike. So Jo Adell and Rowdy Tellez combined for 2 BBs and 1 HBP, the totality of their offensive stats on the day. Two pitchers did their part to do nothing, as well, giving up only one hit, walking only one batter, and allowing only 0 runs.
Flint Hill: DNP, 1-0 (25PA: no pitching)
| AVG: 0.227 | OBP: 0.320 | SLG: 0.364 | OPS: 0.684 |
The top 4 teams in the standings and six out of 11 teams didn’t have a game yesterday. It is probably best the Tornadoes didn’t play, since no one wanted to pitch. And very few wanted to hit, it seems. Newly acquired Does (that’s the term of endearment used by Flint Hill fans across the land) Yasmani Grandal and Anthony Rendon led they way, combing to go 4 for 7 with a 2B and a 3B chipped in by Rendon.
Cottage: “L,” 7-6 (36PA; 11.7IP)
| AVG: 0.267 | OBP: 0.361 | SLG: 0.367 | OPS: 0.728 |
| ERA: 6.15 | WHIP: 1.624 |
Well, the Cheese DID play a game, and look how cruel the computers were to them! The Cheese did add a few players at the beginning of this month, but management is making sure they are acclimated before throwing them into game action. So the tried and true Cheese led the way, with Corey Seager going 3 for 4 and two Mets, Jeff McNeil and JD Davis chipping in to go 3 for 8 with a HR and 2 BBs. But the pitching by Danny Duffy was not up to Cheese standards. Duffy gave up 6 runs in 6 innings, and issued almost as many walks (5) as hits (7). Taijuan Walker is thriving in his new home in Buffalonto, and the Cheese are thankful for that.
Canberra: DNP, 0-0 (30AB; no pitching)
| AVG: 0.148 | OBP: 0.233 | SLG: 0.370 | OPS: 0.604 |
If anyone would know the legality of a text message being shared without consent, which is what I assumed happened in our Daily Update yesterday, it would be the Canberra (and also Old Detroit) owners. So perhaps sharing it was perfectly legal, but it was also a little too much limelight for what are typically shy animals, and so the Roos decided to lay low for a day. Unfortunately, it means being passed in the standings by a team who lost, which makes no sense except for in the EFL. The Roos had only 4 hits in 30ABs, but two of those were HRs (Aledmys Diaz and Rhys Hoskins, who appears to be heating up after a slow start).
DC: W1, L(-1) 3-(-3) (29PA; 15IP)
| AVG: 0.192 | OBP: 0.250 | SLG: 0.423 | OPS: 0.673 |
| ERA: 4.20 | WHIP: 1.333 |
The Balk were able to add a win and erase a loss, and climb .2 games closer to the Drive. Mike Clevenger (6IP, 2ER) proved that he can pitch as well in San Diego as he can in Cleveland, and Tim Anderson proved that he is trying to once again with the batting title (3 for 4 with a HR). Add in Pete Alonso’s walk off HR (the first of his career – can you believe that? After hitting 53 last year, none of them were walk offs!) and you get a good day in DC.
Peshastin: W, 12-9 (28PA; 9IP)
| AVG: 0.429 | OBP: 0.571 | SLG: 0.810 | OPS: 1.381 |
| ERA: 8.00 | WHIP: 1.889 |
Now here is some hitting! 4 out of the 6 Pear batters got multiple hits yesterday, led by Martin Maldonado’s 2 for 3 with a 2B and a HR. Pear hitters also combined for 8 BBs, making a bad pitching day moot. The worst of the pitching came from Robert Gsellman, who gave up 4 runs on exactly 4 hits and 4 BBs in less than 2 IP. The Pears were able to gain .3 games on the Drive, though, so they are feeling peachy.
Pittsburgh: DNP, 1-(-2) (20PA; 5.3IP)
| AVG: 0.267 | OBP: 0.450 | SLG: 0.267 | OPS: 0.717 |
| ERA: 3.40 | WHIP: 0.755 |
The good news? Allegheny batters were masterful at working the walk yesterday. I mean, look at that OBP! The combined to earn a walk in 25% of the PAs yesterday. The bad news? Altuve left mid-game to get an MRI on an ailing knee. Hopefully he is ok, and the Allegheny batters will believe in their bats enough to also get on base via hits tomorrow. Luke Weaver as the only pitcher yesterday, and he put up a serviceable line to help the Alleghenys tread enough water to stay ahead of the resurgent Wolverines.
Old Detroit: W1, L(-1) 0-(-2) (30PA; 7IP)
| AVG: 0.296 | OBP: 0.367 | SLG: 0.407 | OPS: 0.774 |
| ERA: 0.00 | WHIP: 0.714 |
Mike Clevenger’s aforementioned Padre debut was overshadowed by Andrew Heaney’s gem of 7IP and 0 runs allowed. That line against a stacked Padres lineup is something for which Wolverine management should be proud. His players are perhaps drawn into his ploy to win the month. For Ron’s enjoyment, here are the monthly standings as of today:
FH 2-0
OD 2-0
BC 2-0
So far, so good on his (not so) private competition. Trea Turner, publicly shamed yesterday for having ONE bad day, returned with 3 hits, including an inside-the-park HR.
Portland: L, 3-7 (20PA; 1IP)
| AVG: 0.250 | OBP: 0.250 | SLG: 0.350 | OPS: 0.600 |
| ERA: 0.00 | WHIP: 3.000 |
The Rosebuds achieved what they set out to do, putting up just enough numbers to show they care while also making sure to not win. The Luis Robert sweepstakes may not have much gusto as the season plays out if today is any indication. Nick Solak was the hero of the day, going 3 for 4 with a 2B, and new member Nick Kay pitched his first of many (I assume) scoreless innings in a Rosebud uniform.
Combined MLB + EFL Standings for 2020
| AL East | ||||
| TEAM | WINS | LOSSES | PCT. | GB |
| Tampa Bay Rays | 26 | 12 | .684 | — |
| Toronto Blue Jays | 20 | 16 | .556 | 5 |
| New York Yankees | 20 | 16 | .556 | 5 |
| Flint Hill Tornadoes | 18 | 20 | .477 | 7.9 |
| Baltimore Orioles | 16 | 20 | .444 | 9 |
| Old Detroit Wolverines | 14 | 24 | .360 | 12.3 |
| Boston Red Sox | 12 | 26 | .316 | 14 |
| NL East | ||||
| TEAM | WINS | LOSSES | PCT. | GB |
| Atlanta Braves | 22 | 14 | .611 | — |
| Philadelphia Phillies | 18 | 15 | .545 | 2.5 |
| Miami Marlins | 16 | 16 | .500 | 4 |
| Canberra Kangaroos | 17 | 19 | .465 | 5.3 |
| D.C. Balk | 17 | 19 | .459 | 5.5 |
| New York Mets | 17 | 21 | .447 | 6 |
| Washington Nationals | 12 | 23 | .343 | 9.5 |
| AL Central | ||||
| TEAM | WINS | LOSSES | PCT. | GB |
| Cleveland Indians | 23 | 14 | .622 | — |
| Chicago White Sox | 23 | 15 | .605 | 0.5 |
| Minnesota Twins | 22 | 16 | .579 | 1.5 |
| Detroit Tigers | 17 | 17 | .500 | 4.5 |
| Bellingham Cascades | 18 | 19 | .498 | 4.6 |
| Pittsburgh Alleghenys | 14 | 23 | .370 | 9.3 |
| Kansas City Royals | 14 | 24 | .368 | 9.5 |
| NL Central | ||||
| TEAM | WINS | LOSSES | PCT. | GB |
| Chicago Cubs | 22 | 15 | .595 | — |
| St. Louis Cardinals | 14 | 14 | .500 | 3.5 |
| Milwaukee Brewers | 17 | 19 | .472 | 4.5 |
| Cottage Cheese | 17 | 20 | .466 | 4.7 |
| Cincinnati Reds | 16 | 21 | .432 | 6 |
| Pittsburgh Pirates | 11 | 24 | .314 | 10 |
| AL West | ||||
| TEAM | WINS | LOSSES | PCT. | GB |
| Oakland A’s | 22 | 12 | .647 | — |
| Kaline Drive | 20 | 14 | .598 | 1.7 |
| Houston Astros | 21 | 15 | .583 | 2 |
| Haviland Dragons | 20 | 14 | .575 | 2.5 |
| Seattle Mariners | 15 | 22 | .405 | 8.5 |
| Texas Rangers | 13 | 23 | .361 | 10 |
| Los Angeles Angels | 13 | 25 | .342 | 11 |
| NL West | ||||
| TEAM | WINS | LOSSES | PCT. | GB |
| Los Angeles Dodgers | 29 | 10 | .744 | — |
| San Diego Padres | 23 | 16 | .590 | 6 |
| Colorado Rockies | 18 | 19 | .486 | 10 |
| San Francisco Giants | 18 | 20 | .474 | 10.5 |
| Peshastin Pears | 18 | 21 | .449 | 11.5 |
| Arizona Diamondbacks | 14 | 24 | .368 | 14.5 |
| Portland Rosebuds | 13 | 26 | .329 | 16.2 |