League Updates

Distance is Good…

September 21, 2020
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Today is the first day of school for Newberg youth, and though it is beginning online, there will still be a lot of things to learn for the kids and also the parents. We are grateful for some routine even if we are a little wary of online education. But distance is a very good, even necessary thing right now, and so we are all adapting as best we can.

Speaking of distance, a little bit more distance was achieved between the Tornadoes and those challenging, the Drive and the Dragons (and the Pears?). And, as for education, distance is a good thing in the EFL, if you ask me…

EFL Standings for 2020
EFL
TEAM WINS LOSSES PCT. GB RS RA
Flint Hill Tornadoes 30 24 .561 — 275.2 258.2
Kaline Drive 28 25 .536 1.3 229.5 209.2
Haviland Dragons 28 25 .524 2 250.0 235.5
Peshastin Pears 27 27 .506 3 283.2 275.0
Cottage Cheese 25 28 .466 5.1 270.4 290.9
Bellingham Cascades 25 28 .464 5.2 266.2 298.4
D.C. Balk 23 30 .439 6.5 238.8 269.9
Old Detroit Wolverines 22 32 .410 8.1 247.3 299.9
Canberra Kangaroos 22 31 .409 8.1 251.4 301.0
Pittsburgh Alleghenys 18 35 .339 11.8 231.3 322.9
Portland Rosebuds 15 39 .287 14.8 244.3 387.6
 
Flint Hill: W, 5-2 (43PA; 21.3IP)
AVG: 0.225 OBP: 0.279 SLG: 0.425 OPS: 0.704
ERA: 3.80 WHIP: 1.174
 
The Tornadoes are the first EFL team to 30 wins and it was due to another excellent pitching day, with two starters (Carrasco and Berrios) combining for 13IP, 0 ER, and 15 Ks. Only one other allocated pitcher appeared (McFarland) and was bad, giving up 3 runs in 1IP. Thankfully one Tornado hitter was inspired by Carrasco and Berrios, and did his his part to lead to a win – namely, Max Kepler, the only player to collect more than one hit, went 3 for 5 with a HR (his career 100th!) and a 2B. The Tornado lead grew by .3 over the Drive, .9 over the Dragons, while nothing changed between them and the Pears. The Tornadoes are 3rd this month in RC/G, and lead the league this month with a 14-4 record. 
 
Kaline: “L,” 5-3 (58PA; 18.7IP)
AVG: 0.216 OBP: 0.310 SLG: 0.451 OPS: 0.761
ERA: 2.89 WHIP: 0.963
 
Kaline’s raw stats were very similar to the Tornado stats, which allowed them to keep pace with the twisters better than the Dragons did. They had three SPs who turned in quality starts, with John Means, Jose Urquidy and Dinelson Lamet combining to throw 17.7IP, giving up 4 runs and striking out 24 batters! Mitch Moreland went 2 for 5 with 2 2Bs, and Michael Chavis went 2 for 4 with 2 HRs. Drive is dead last this month in RC/G at 3.31 and a monthly record of 8-11, which explains how other teams have been allowed to sneak into a battle with them for the championship. 
 
Haviland: L, 1-7 (44PA; 6IP)
AVG: 0.108 OBP: 0.227 SLG: 0.216 OPS: 0.443
ERA: 6.00 WHIP: 1.667
 
The Dragons stumbled yesterday, and Haviland management is hoping it was not too much of a stumble this late into the season. Cy Young favorite Yu Darvish pitch 6 really good innings, but then Max Kepler came up in the 7th inning and a hit a 2 run HR to send Darvish to the showers with 4ER on the day. The hitting was once again abysmal, with only 4 hits collected in 44PAs. Haviland is second to last this month in RC/G at 3.60 with a monthly record of 8-11. 
 
Peshastin: W, 6-1 (53PA; 9.7IP)
AVG: 0.292 OBP: 0.358 SLG: 0.458 OPS: 0.817
ERA: 1.86 WHIP: 0.928
 
Another great day for the Pears, who managed to tread water and remain only 3 games back of the Tornadoes. With 6 games left to play, every PA and IP will be important in erasing that deficit. What will be perhaps even easier, though, is moving into 3rd or 2nd, with the September swoon still impacting the Drive and Dragon. Jack Flaherty turned in a quality start, going 6IP and giving up just 1 run. Juan Soto collected 4 hits and two BBs on the day, while Ozzie Albies, Teoscar Hernandez and Willie Calhoun each contributed two more hits. The Pears lead the league this month in RC/G at 6.60 and are second with a record of 11-7. 
 
Cottage: W, 1-0 (47PA; 11IP)
AVG: 0.150 OBP: 0.255 SLG: 0.225 OPS: 0.480
ERA: 2.45 WHIP: 0.909
 
While scrolling through MLB news yesterday, I saw this headline: “Taijuan Walker does what No Jays Pitcher has Done This Year!” I was intrigued, and so I clicked. His feat? He threw over 100 pitches. I hate clickbait headlines! What they should have said is that Walker rebounded from his horrible start last time to post 6IP giving up just 1ER, because he did! Tony Gonsolin joined the fun, pitching 5 innings and giving up 2 ER to lead the Cheese to a nice looking 1-0 win. Chadwick Tromp added 3 hits, including a HR. The Cheese are second this month in RC/G at 5.48 and 4th in record at 8-11. 
 
Bellingham: W, 10-3 (38PA; 8.7IP)
AVG: 0.387 OBP: 0.500 SLG: 0.774 OPS: 1.274
ERA: 5.17 WHIP: 1.149
 
The Cascades hit the ball really well yesterday, led by 5 different hitters collecting multiple hits. The best were youngsters Ronald Acuna, Jr. and Bo Bichette, who combined to go 4 for 7 with a 2B, 3B, a HR. Justin Dunn was having a great game, tossing a no-hitter into the 5th inning, until Wil Meyers ruined it with a 3 run HR. The Cascades are 5th in RC/G with 4.77, and 8-10 on the month.
 
DC: W(-1), L2 0-10 (37PA; 11.3IP)
AVG: 0.139 OBP: 0.162 SLG: 0.278 OPS: 0.440
ERA: 7.96 WHIP: 1.681
 
The Balk had a day to forget, getting 5 hits on the day but from only 2 players. Asdrubal Cabrera collected 4 of those 5 hits (2 2Bs and a HR), and Ryan McMahon collected a single, and that was it for offense. On the pitching side it was not any better except for Joe Musgrove, who threw 6IP without giving up an ER. But 4 other pitchers all gave up at least one run each, and the Balk endured a 3 game swing in the wrong direction. The Balk are 6th this month in RC/G at 4.23 and join the bevy of teams with an 8-11 record this month.
 
Old Detroit: L, 1-8 (60PA; 7IP)
AVG: 0.145 OBP: 0.217 SLG: 0.218 OPS: 0.435
ERA: 7.71 WHIP: 1.143
 
Just one day after attempting to recruit the Roos to join the BCCCDC trophy race, the Wolverines decided it wasn’t really worth pursuing. Trea Turner and Rafael Devers led the way for the offense, combining to go 5 for 12 with a 2B and a HR between them, but no one else did much at the plate. And the itchers did a lot on mound, but a lot of things you don’t really want to see if you are vying for a crown, no matter what the crown is named. The main culprit was Mike Minor, who one start after his gem gave up a stinky pickle (6 runs in 5IP). The Wolverines are 4th in RC/G this month at 4.80, and third in terms of record at 10-8. And now they are tied with the Roos, though percentage points ahead, for now. 
 
Canberra: L, (-1)-6 (48PA; 2IP)
AVG: 0.140 OBP: 0.229 SLG: 0.140 OPS: 0.369
ERA: 0.00 WHIP: 0.500
 
The Roos had an awful offensive day themselves. They collected 6 singles on the day, two from Mauricio Dubon, but had three different batters who each collected 3 Ks and 2 players with a GIDP. This is surely an ultimate sign of respect for his father, who would have been relegated to a spot below the Roos if they would have done almost anything more. Instead, they find themselves in a virtual tie, biding their time until it is safe to pass the old man…er, wise father. The Roos are 7th in RC/G at 3.95 with a record of 6-13.
 
Pittsburgh: L, (-1)-8 (35PA; 4.3IP)
AVG: 0.067 OBP: 0.200 SLG: 0.100 OPS: 0.300
ERA: 8.37 WHIP: 1.860
 
The Alleghenys are surely looking forward to the offseason, even more so after yesterday’s game. They collected 2 hits on the day while only striking out 7 times, which means they at least hit the ball – just at people, it seems. And the pitching did not help, with two relievers (Derek Holland and Lou Trivino) each giving up 2 ER in 1 IP. The Alleghenys are 8th in RC/G this month with 3.73 and a monthly record of 5-13.
 
Portland: W(-1), L2 (-1)-9 (24PA; no pitching)
AVG: 0.083 OBP: 0.083 SLG: 0.125 OPS: 0.208
 
Not to be outdone by the Alleghenys in awful baseball, the Rosebuds also collected only two hits, both singles, while striking out 9 times and not earning a single BB. Add in no pitchers, and you get the worst record in the combined EFL/MLB, which will no doubt send them to the #1 pick next season. Portland is second to last in RC/G this month at 3.60 (tied with his dad), and has a monthly record of 3-15.
 
 
 
Combined MLB + EFL Standings for 2020
AL East
TEAM WINS LOSSES PCT. GB
Tampa Bay Rays 35 19 .648 —
New York Yankees 31 22 .585 3.5
Flint Hill Tornadoes 30 24 .561 4.7
Toronto Blue Jays 27 26 .509 7.5
Baltimore Orioles 23 31 .426 12
Old Detroit Wolverines 22 32 .410 12.8
Boston Red Sox 20 34 .370 15
NL East
TEAM WINS LOSSES PCT. GB
Atlanta Braves 31 22 .585 —
Miami Marlins 28 25 .528 3
Philadelphia Phillies 27 26 .509 4
New York Mets 24 29 .453 7
D.C. Balk 23 30 .439 7.7
Canberra Kangaroos 22 31 .409 9.3
Washington Nationals 20 32 .385 10.5
 
AL Central
TEAM WINS LOSSES PCT. GB
Chicago White Sox 34 19 .642 —
Minnesota Twins 33 22 .600 2
Cleveland Indians 29 24 .547 5
Bellingham Cascades 25 28 .464 9.4
Detroit Tigers 22 30 .423 11.5
Kansas City Royals 21 32 .396 13
Pittsburgh Alleghenys 18 35 .339 16
NL Central
TEAM WINS LOSSES PCT. GB
Chicago Cubs 31 22 .585 —
St. Louis Cardinals 26 24 .520 3.5
Milwaukee Brewers 26 26 .500 4.5
Cincinnati Reds 27 27 .500 4.5
Cottage Cheese 25 28 .466 6.3
Pittsburgh Pirates 15 38 .283 16
 
AL West
TEAM WINS LOSSES PCT. GB
Oakland A’s 33 20 .623 —
Kaline Drive 28 25 .536 4.6
Haviland Dragons 28 25 .524 5.2
Houston Astros 27 26 .509 6
Seattle Mariners 23 30 .434 10
Los Angeles Angels 23 31 .426 10.5
Texas Rangers 19 34 .358 14
NL West
TEAM WINS LOSSES PCT. GB
Los Angeles Dodgers 38 16 .704 —
San Diego Padres 34 20 .630 4
Peshastin Pears 27 27 .506 10.7
San Francisco Giants 26 26 .500 11
Colorado Rockies 23 29 .442 14
Arizona Diamondbacks 20 34 .370 18
Portland Rosebuds 15 39 .287 22.5
 
 

4 Comments

  • I would like to say, that though we started the month hoping for the #1 pick, we did not intentionally mean to be *this* bad. My best pitcher, Hudson, is most likely out for the season, and other pitchers that were supposed to be SP turned into RP’s, or got relegated to alternate sites. Our hitters have been more present, but presently awful. Players we had pegged at better offensive numbers have not produced. And those that have produced have not been used at the ML level as full-time players.

    In all honesty, I did wake up the morning after our end-of-august draft with remorse that I did not do enough to feel like I put my best team forward. I was focused on two-year deals, instead of getting guys for just this year and the opportunity to reduce replacement innings. And as for catcher, the reports were suggesting Cervelli would be back. But Greiner is just awful, and it was a matter of time before he was sent packing.

    Anyway, I hope that this is a 2020 thing, and we will be back to the top next year. Good luck fellow (familial?) Johnsons at the top!

    • I don’t think anyone believes a two-time champion would actually attempt to be this bad, so no need to apologize. Most of our teams are performing in ways that are vastly different than what we had projected/hoped. And as someone looking to future years, 2 year deals are the smartest thing to do. So rest easy…and enjoy not having to stress about whether you have enough in the tank to win this year, because that can be exhausting (so I am finding out) and you had to do it two years in a row for a much longer time!

      Let’s focus on the larger picture here, something vastly more important. Our dear father, whom we have never heard utter a bad word in our lives, sent an email to the entire league saying his hitters were playing like hell! Can you believe it? OUR Dad?!?! THAT is what should be making headlines and filling comment boxes…

  • I noticed John’s uncharacteristic language, too. I’ve never known him to find words in the gutter, put them in his mouth, and call it “eloquence.” That sudden drop to 2 games out must have been traumatic.

    But I’m also worried about you, Jamie. Here’s the passage, addressed to your brother, that set off the alarms:

    “…enjoy not having to stress about whether you have enough in the tank to win this year, because that can be exhausting (so I am finding out) and you had to do it two years in a row for a much longer time!”

    What on Earth?! Mark spent the last two years beating all the rest of us. He won, seemingly inevitably. I never detected a hint of regret, or even compassion, while he was leaving the W’s and everyone else in the dust. He was NOT suffering.

    Do you regularly console students for getting straight A’s? Or when a young couple tells you they’re convinced God has brought them together to marry and share a life of service to the Kingdom, do you say “I’m sorry, better luck next time” ?

    • The path to greatness is fraught with terror, no matter what hindsight might have erased from memory…