Division 1
Brooklyn has held on to the top spot this week, and is clearly a legitimate contender at 22-17. The Dodgers, who finished in second place last season and won the D1 Championship the year before, are still struggling to replace Matt O’Brien’s rotation spot and have now lost both Josh Sanders and Andy Ponce - two fill-ins - to injury. But the offense, behind MVP candidates Carson Prince and emerging star Adam Slagle, have kept the club competitive. Prince hit another two home runs this week and is now at 17, on pace to break Pedro Quiroz’s all-time mark, though it remains quite early in the season. The 20-19 Giants continue to threaten, though their rotation is still a weak spot after co-aces Willie Rodriguez and Jon Sayre. Bob Paul has rebounded from injury and has 7 saves with a 59 FIP-, while Alex Parga has led the offense with 12 homers. Chicago, Tampa, and Toronto are all four games back with an 18-21 record; Tampa is watching star CF T.J. Carcone, who is now five triples away from breaking the all-time NABF mark. Philadelphia, meanwhile, is now in last place after starting the week 0-4 before winning two in Chicago over the weekend.
In the West, the Angels have taken over the Conference after a 5-1 week. LA to this point has been the best in the Division with the highest overall runs scored and fewest runs allowed, as 3B Ryan Haymes continues to set the table from the two-spot with a D1-best .391 BA to go along with a .427 OBP and .626 SLG. Jon Segura is the D1 RBI leader with 45, and has hit 12 homers. Monterrey broke even in Week 6, with a 3-3 record, but remains a genuine contender with John Witherspoon earning every cent of that offseason contract. At 22-17, El Paso would be tied for the D1 East lead, but is three games back and in third here; Joe Rison is having a superstar-quality year from the leadoff spot, hitting .329/.394/.638 with four homers, while Brian Castrovinci leads the team with nine homers and 28 RBI. Denver and Tijuana are seven and eight games back respectively, but the real surprise here is Seattle: the Steelheads have now lost 11 straight, with last year’s stellar offense evaporating. Only Roger Alvarado and Mike Hood have been solid offensive performers, as the club has sunk to last place.
Player of the Week: Benni Phillips, CF, TOR: .375/.423/1.000, 4 HR, 8 RBI
Top Hitters:
John Witherspoon, 1B, MRY: .389/.593/.833, 2 HR, 5 R
Joe Rison, LF, ELP: .458/.552/.792, 6 R
Adam Slagle, CF, BRO: .407/.433/.778, 2 HR, 7 RBI
Top Pitchers:
Jack Johnson, SP, TMP: 9 IP, 0.00 ERA, 1.45 FIP, 10 K, 1 W
Willie Rodriguez, SP, NYG: 8 IP, 0.00 ERA, 2.09 FIP, 11 K, 1 W
Andres Arenas, SP, TOR: 13.1 IP, 2.02 ERA, 2.36 FIP, 16 K, 1 W
League News- Brooklyn’s Brett Reed is putting himself on everyone’s radar this year, in his first Brooklyn season after coming over from Philadelphia in a trade just after the Division Championship series. But Wednesday’s game against Chicago was his biggest yet - a 5-5 explosion with two homers and a double to drive in three in an 11-3 win.
Division 2
The Boston Bees were 3-3 this week, but due to a rough showing by Baltimore they end Sunday in sole possession of first place at 22-17. Boston’s offense has improved in recent weeks and now ranks third overall in runs scored, as Jonathan Wyand sets the table and Rogelio Ventura and Adam Andersen clean it off. The rotation has been shaky in places, but the Bees have a lockdown bullpen and a FIP that suggests some of those rotation struggles will correct themselves. The Terrapins simply haven’t looked as good, certainly when compared with last year; for a team that added a lot, very little is clicking. Big free agent signing Dave Judge has been terrible at the plate, as has reigning MVP Omar Juarez, whose struggles may need to be chalked up to more than a season-opening slump soon. The rotation has stabilized as Eric Cool has shown himself a capable #3 behind Cory Spry and Randy Putnam, and Pedro Acosta shows some promise as a starter as well. The big story out of the East this week, though, is Detroit, who ripped off a 5-1 week to move into third, two games back of Boston. Detroit pitching has been incredible recently, as Zack Root and Chris Morris lead a top 3 rotation and new closer Pat Pipkin the best bullpen in the Division. Montreal continues to slide down the standings, three games back at 19-20, with Ottawa and New Orleans tied in the final spot at 18-21, four games back.
It’s still early, but the excitement in the air is real in Houston as the Buffaloes have built a six game lead on the rest of the conference. They have D2’s best run differential, and the best in the West by far at +31. Doug Frey continues to have a career year, while 26 year old catcher Justice Slaton is breaking out, with 8 homers and a .811 OPS. The rotation is the biggest weakness for this club, so look for them to start trying to address this on the trade market, especially as Vancouver seems to be heating up. The Mounties are now in second, after a 5-1 week in which they swept the Bees. Vancouver has not looked back at Rich Buxkemper, their 2038 Pitcher of the Year, once: the Mounties now have the best pitching staff in D2 with a deep, if possibly overperforming, rotation. The bullpen has been an issue though: Matt Greene has not looked like his old self yet, and only Steven Smith and Carlos Castillo have had any real success so far. After Vancouver, the West drops off fast: San Diego and Sacramento are both 18-21, and behind them are Kansas City and a very disappointing Ft. Worth team. Hector Razo has been excellent, but Ian Weaver has struggled mightily, and Jesse Moeller’s immense skill still haven’t translated into solid 2039 results.
Player of the Week: Doug Frey, 1B, HOU: .519/.536/.1.313, 2 HR, 4 RBI
Top Hitters:
David Davis, LF, DET: .364/.464/.955, 4 HR, 8 R, 6 RBI
Tony Adams, RF, HOU: .522/.577/.870, 1 HR, 5 R, 6 RBI
Shane Oftedal, C, SDP: .400/.478/.850, 2 HR, 4 R, 6 RBI
Top Pitchers:
Franklin Romero, SP, VAN: 9 IP, 0.00 ERA, 1.24 FIP, 10 K, 1 W
John Budgell, SP, DET: 9 IP, 0.00 ERA, 1.80 FIP, 9 K, 1 W
Danny Schwindt, SP, SAC: 14 IP, 1.93 ERA, 2.42 FIP, 14 K, 1 W
League News- The Buffaloes’ Edgardo Sanchez and the Padres Adam Mobley were both suspended for six games today following an on-field altercation. Following a pair of two-run homers off Sanchez in the first inning of Monday’s game, the Houston hurler came inside on Mobley, hitting him on the rear, which led Mobley to rush the mound as the benches cleared. Both players will be benched for the remainder of the week.
- 37 year old Former D2 MVP Ramon Marquez, who signed a minor league deal with Ft. Worth this offseason and has seen limited time with the club, has been floated as a possible trade candidate, according to unnamed team sources.
Division 3
Nashville’s 4-2 week kept them three games up in the East as they look to repeat as Conference champs. They’re playing a bit above their heads with a +16 run differential and expected record two wins worse than their actual, but they’re still clearly one of the top two teams in the conference. SP Andres Orozco continues to impress, and though he’s benefitted from a .243 BABIP his FIP- remains 87, so even if there’s reversion he’ll still be an above average arm. Columbus remains a threat in the East, though, and actually has a better Pythagorean than Nashville, though in reality they’re three games back. Caleb Weatherspoon was stellar this week, winning Player of the Week with two wins on two straight shutouts. Cleveland is just behind Columbus, with Atlanta and Miami five games back overall; there’s a lot of buzz around Atlanta’s young starter Eli Willim, who was great in his last two starts, but concern over Paul Herrin, who hasn’t been bad but has seen a sharp drop in his strikeout rate, from 27.3% last season to just 22.9% this year. Memphis is in free-fall, having won just two of their last ten, nine games back.
The Saints are two games up to enter Week 7, and are right now clearly the team to beat in D3. They’ve allowed a paltry 116 runs - 3/game, easily the best in the Division, thanks to Pitcher of the Year candidates John McNayr and Felipe Esparza; add to that a brilliant return to action by young ace-in-waiting Jerry Dudek, and St. Paul is building a reputation as one of the game’s stingiest teams. In Austin, another week went by with no sign of a cool-down from Jonathan Becker, who has been startlingly good in May: .419/.500/.839 with seven homers. They’ve also got a stable of outstanding starters, but have been consistently betrayed by a bullpen that is badly in need of stabilization, not to mention a new closer. Salt Lake went 5-1 this week to pull up into 3rd, four games back, mostly due to last year’s MVP Ralph Keough and offseason trade acquisition Edgar Troche, who has a mere 1.43 ERA to this point in the year. Calgary treaded water this week at 3-3, while Portland and San Francisco traded places again, with Portland going 4-2 to end at 17-22, while the Seals went 2-4 and are now 16-23 on the year.
Player of the Week: Caleb Weatherspoon, SP, CMB: 17.2 IP, 0.00 ERA, 1.95 FIP, 14 K, 2 W
Top Hitters:
Joe Wrobel, LF, CLG: .444/.500/.667, 1 HR, 4 R, 3 RBI
Ralph Keough, 1B, SLC: .278/.381/.778, 3 HR, 4 R, 6 RBI
Jonathan Cosner, 1B, NSH: .385/.407/.731, 2 HR, 6 R, 4 RBI
Top Pitchers:
Eli Willim, SP, ATL: 7.2 IP, 2.35 ERA, 0.41 FIP, 10 K
Masahiro Nakanishi, SP, AUS: 15.2 IP, 2.87 ERA, 2.38 FIP, 16 K
Dylan Powers, SP, MIA: 14 IP, 0.64 ERA, 2.81 FIP, 18 K
League News- In a huge loss for St. Paul, promising young starter Eric Thomas has been diagnosed with a torn rotator cuff and will miss the remainder of the 2039 season. Thomas injured the shoulder last week, in the sixth inning of a loss against Portland. On the season, Thomas is 2-3 with a 3.33 ERA and 3.54 FIP.
Division 4
The Pittsburgh Crawfords are in business. The club ripped off a nine game win streak that ended Sunday, and they displayed unparalleled pitching dominance in doing it, allowing just 7 runs over those nine games while scoring 59. Joel Ortiz, at 23, is authoring an all-time season so far, and was 2-0 with a 0.50 ERA over his two shutouts during the streak, over which he struck out 26. But he’s not the only one contributing to D4’s best rotation: Karunamaya Nema has been locked in in recent starts, as has Chri Scott, while Matt Hahn has rebounded as well. This pitching staff is scary. They’re certainly not running away with it, though - another great pitching staff in Indianapolis is hanging three back. While Nate Mefford is having a difficult year, Aaron Cottrell has bounced back, and Greg Smith’s amazing knuckleball continues to make D4 batters look foolish. As always, though, the Clowns need bats, ranking ninth in the Division in runs. Charlotte continues to slide, and is now tied with Cincinnati at four games back, with a 19-20 record. Washington and Havana follow, each at 18-21, five games behind.
The Las Vegas 51s no longer have sole possession of first place after a tough 2-4 week that saw San Antonio catch up with them. C Josh Killion continues to hit, and that Vegas bullpen can cook, but a team that ranks 10th in offense and 6th in runs allowed isn’t destined for greatness. That gives San Antonio an opening, led by Player of the Week and leadoff hitter Justin Gulden, who is hitting .354 so far on the season. San Antonio pitching has also been outstanding, second only to Pittsburgh in runs allowed as Bill Lorentz, Eduardo Fernandez, and Mario Caudillo have been pitching deep enough to limit the exposure of a bullpen that has been weak at times. San Antonio and Las Vegas are now tied atop the Conference, but are headed in different directions, as Albuquerque lurks three games back. Current batting leader DJ Moskowitz is having a career year at .383/.433/.586, but an awful bullpen will need to be addressed if the club hopes to see October. Milwaukee, at 17-22, is seven games back, followed by Phoenix at 8 and St. Louis at 9. Phoenix had a good week, winning four games and taking two one-run losses; they may be heating up after a slow start.
Player of the Week: Justin Gulden, 1B, SAM: .519/.536/.741, 4 2B, 5 R, 2 RBI
Top Hitters:
Joe Shelton, RF, CIN: .412/.500/.824, 2 HR, 4 R, 4 RBI
Francisco Garcia, 2B, MIL: .333/.455/.556, 3 HR, 3 R, 4 RBI
Josh Killion, C, LVG: .300/.364/.800, 3 HR, 4 R, 5 RBI
Top Pitchers:
Joel Ortiz, SP, PIT: 9 IP, 1.00 ERA, 0.42 FIP, 15 K, 1 W
Aaron Cottrell, SP, IND: 8.2 IP, 0.00 ERA, 0.54 FIP, 14 K, 1 W
Jon Pelayo, SP, CIN: 14 IP, 0.64 ERA, 2.28 FIP, 16 K, 1 W
League News- Nine games will have to be enough for Pittsburgh, as the Crawfords go down 4-2 to Charlotte on Sunday, snapping a nine game win streak in which Pittsburgh hurlers absolutely smothered the opposition. Over the streak, the Crawfords outscored opponents 59-7, with an impressive five shutout wins along the way.