I didn’t want you to think I was dead, so I’ve penned another inexplicable update. Inexplicable because I don’t really have time for this, and nothing has happened, is happening, or is about to happen in the EFL.
This doesn’t explain it, but it does point to the proximate cause: Sam Miller just posted an article, “Two sentences about each of the 50 players in the World Series.” He is really good at writing sentences, so it works. Here is the list, in order of Miller’s value, with a glimpse of his comments (of which I always only give you a fraction, so you should read the entire article).
Portland
- Mookie Betts. 10.9 WAR. Best at “literally every thing”, according to Miller.
3. Chris Sale. Ha ha. He didn’t even qualify for the ERA (2.11) title in 2018.
11. Xander Bogaerts. As a debutant Wolverine, he didn’t have 100 RBI.
15. Jackie Bradley, Jr. Also a former Wolverine. Didn’t evoke Immanual Kant quotes then.
Old Detroit
8. Walker Buehler. Velocity now at the highest all year. Too late!
13. Rick Porcello. Miller calls him a “league-average innings-eater.”
14. Max Muncy. “Fifth-best hitter in baseball”. OPSed 1.056 as a PH.
25. Rafael Devers. A “wunderkind.” Supposedly. “(W)ill someday (carry) the Red Sox.”
26. Rich Hill. “One of the best curves in the game.”
32. Alex Wood. “Dodgers’ leader in games started (but) didn’t makes the postseason rotation.”
Canberra
Brookland
6. Manny Machado. “Baltimore Manny would allow 40 more runs than (LA) Manny.”
10. Cody Bellinger. “First player in history to play 162 games … in a platoon.”
Pittsburgh
5. JD Martinez. “(h)it .364/.462/.568 against pitches of 95 mph or more…”
19. David Price. Gives up homers in the postseason at twice the regular season rate.
23. Nathan Eovaldi. Throws his fastball 39% of the time, lowest by far among fireballers.
49. Blake Swihart. “didn’t appear in the ALDS or the ALCS, despite being on both rosters.”
Flint Hill
27. Matt Barnes. “He’s 90% of Kimbrel in 100% of the body”
36. Julio Urias. “(A)ppeared out of nowhere to give the Dodgers’ bullpen some…buzz.”
40. Austin Barnes. Has “one offensive skill… he draws walks” even with a .290 SLG.
Cottage
28. Joc Pederson. “(Y)ou actually can forget that Joc Pederson, near star, is even on this team.”
38. Yasmani Grandal. “(L)ost his starting job…because (of) a catcher’s equivalent of the yips.”
Haviland
22. Yasiel Puig. “He’ll do at least 4 things… that will… saturat(e)… your social media…”
48. Caleb Ferguson. “(C)harged with making Moreland, Devers and Bradley miserable “.
Kaline
35. Steve Pearce. Has been Brandon Inge in odd-numbered years, Carlos Beltran in evens.
DC
7. Andrew Benintendi. A 60th percentile hitter in everything, so a 75th percentile overall.
29. Brock Holt. Became a different hitter on Aug. 9: .333, .422, .595 since then.
41. Eduardo Nunez: Had “the worst season of any player on either roster.”
Peshastin
43. Christian Vazquez. Like Sandy Leon – good catcher, doesn’t hit.
Now here are some notes of my own:
- Of the 50 players Miller discusses, 28 were on an EFL roster at the end of the season. Our share as 11 out of 30 teams would only be 18.33. We are that much better than the average MLB general manager.
- All of us have at least one player in the World Series, except Canberra. Ryan should be Manager of the Year, considering how far he took a team whose GM couldn’t sign even one World Series quality player.
- Our champions, the Rosebuds, have 4 players in the World Series, all from the top 15. Pittsburgh has 4, as well, spread more democratically throughout the list. The Wolverines have 6, all in the top 2/3 of the list .
- The Rosebuds keep half of their Series stars next year: Sale and Bogaerts (#3, #11). The Wolverines also keep half (Buehler, Muncy, Devers: #8, #14, # 25). The Alleghenys also keep three: Martinez, Eovaldi, Swihart (#5, #23, #49) although perhaps Swihart isn’t quite the gem the others are.
- All three of the Balk World Series players (#7, #29, #41) would still be Balks next year, if the Balk somehow survive.
- I will be keeping this list handy so I can remember whom to root for, and whom against, while I follow the World Series.