It’s always fun to see how many EFL players crowd the leader boards for various MLB stats. Take this one, for example, courtesy of MLB’s Richard Justice:
(Bryce) Harper has joined Royals starter Yordano Ventura as the only two Major League players with two ejections this season…
Yep. We have the American League leader in ejections AND, after last night’s game, the National League leader, too. In fact, we have the April leader and the May leader. We have the leader among pitchers, and the leader among hitters. We have the most volatile hispanic player and the most volcanic anglo-saxon. We have the fieriest player from the two coasts, and the fiestiest player in fly-over territory. Such is the rich diversity of the EFL!
| EFL | ||||||
| TEAM | WINS | LOSSES | PCT. | GB | RS | RA |
| Haviland Dragons | 25 | 16 | .613 | — | 189.6 | 150.8 |
| Pittsburgh Alleghenys | 25 | 15 | .614 | 0.1 | 197.6 | 157.2 |
| Old Detroit Wolverines | 25 | 16 | .603 | 0.4 | 214.3 | 174.3 |
| Cottage Cheese | 20 | 20 | .510 | 4.2 | 178.0 | 174.3 |
| Canberra Kangaroos | 20 | 21 | .498 | 4.7 | 231.6 | 228.5 |
| Peshastin Pears | 19 | 20 | .492 | 5 | 160.6 | 162.3 |
| Kaline Drive | 20 | 21 | .488 | 5.1 | 176.2 | 181.4 |
| Flint Hill Tornadoes | 18 | 23 | .433 | 7.4 | 171.0 | 195.1 |
| Portland Rosebuds | 16 | 23 | .402 | 8.5 | 166.1 | 204.4 |
Haviland: L, (-2) – 4. .122, .200, .122; 8 ip, 0 er. While the Wolverines were disappearing into the sinkhole and being swallowed by the Alleghenys, the Dragons clung to their position atop the EFL thanks to stellar pitching, led by Carlos Martinez’ 6.3 scoreless innings.
Pittsburgh: W, 4 – 3. .239, .314, .457; 1 ip, 0 er. There was a time when this line would not have been all that impressive in the EFL. But we have fallen on bad times. This was almost good enough to vault the Alleghenys from third to first, over two once-formidable EFL franchises in a single day. Such are the drab days awaiting us once the Alleghenys complete their coup. But, thankfully, Trout struck out once in his four trips and Michael Brantley hit into a double play, so we have one more day to enjoy the beautiful spring weather here in Oregon with our liberties intact.
Old Detroit: L, 2 – 6. .182, .229, .273; 0 ip, 0 er. MLB is trying to stir up controversy as to whether Bryce Harper or Giancarlo Stanton is the leading outfielder in the National League, most worthy of selection to the All-Star team.
Sure.
Harper’s season line: .333, .472, .732, including .393, .513, .967 in May.
Stanton’s season line: .237, .316, .526, including 0 – 12 since his last home run. Stanton has been more anchor than engine, dead weight pulling our paddleboat under.
MLB keeps using that word (leadership). I don’t think it means what MLB thinks it means.
Cottage: L, 3 – 4. .214, .258, .357; 10.7 ip, 6 er. The Cheese have reason to complain. Their hitters share the anemia besetting most of the league, but their pitchers seem to be facing fierce offenses. Are the two halves of the Cheese even playing in the same league? Shouldn’t Cheese pitchers get to face puny hitters some of the time? We ask the same questions in Old Detroit.
Canberra: L, 3 – 5. .241, .267, .241; 7.7 ip, 4 er. Richard Justice’s article was mostly an argument that a player as important to his team as Bryce Harper cannot afford to let an ump irk him. He needs to discipline himself to avoid the temptations of ump bait just like he has to discipline himself to avoid the temptations of sliders sweeping low and outside. The Nats weren’t harmed, this time, as they still won and wins are all that matters in the NL. But the ‘Roos were clearly hurt. Their resurgence this month is mostly built on Harper’s break out. He’s the leader, with whatever warts. Lose Harper, and the ‘Roos lose the game.
Peshastin: L, 5 – 5. .361, .395, .417; 7 ip, 2 er. I look at the Pear offense and don’t see any obvious leader. Devon Travis has cooled off, bringing his OPS down to .833 for the season. He is one of five Pears with OPSes over .800. There are zero Pears OPSing over .867. Jay Bruce is at .680, Logan Morrison is up to .707, and last year’s offensive leader (Anthony Rendon) has been on the DL all season. So the Pears putter perpetually around the parity point.
Kaline: W, 8 – 5. .360, .429, .600; 0.3 ip, 0 er. The Drive are the most dynamic team in the league of late. They had driven into a deep hole, but they are now headed north at a steady speed. Somehow they are doing this with a crew led by Mariners. Three nondescript M’s batters (Miller, Ruggiano and Zunino) combined yesterday to go 4 for 9 with two doubles, a homer, and a walk (.444, .500, 1.000). Toss in Carson Smith’s one scoreless out and somehow the Drive are extracting excellence out of Mariner dross. Lloyd needs to know what Tom knows.
Flint Hill: W, 8 – 3. .308, .372, .615; 19 ip, 7 er. The Wolverines used to have days like this. Those were the glory days! Jesse Hahn, Carlod Rodon, Tyson Ross all pitched solidly or better, and five Tornados OPSed over 1.0000.
Portland: L, 2 – 6. .196, .260, .283; 7 ip, 2 er. The Rosebuds tried to trade me Joe Kelly for… I forget who for. But I turned them down, politely (I hope), not really that interested in the fifth starter in a suspect rotation.
But for his past two starts, Kelly has 13.3 ip and 3 er. The W’s could use that!
I guess I forgot the Christian teaching that true leadership does not require being out in front. Whoever would be first among us must humble himself and become as a servant to all. So maybe the Alleghenys have it all wrong. Maybe their pitiless pursuit of the pinnacle is a fatal error, as if domination was the same thing as leadership.
Pittsburgh! Save yourself before it is too late! Study the ways of the Rosebuds, lest ye gain the whole league but lose your souls!