Russell Crowe Baseball Association

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We might not be feeling a lot of excitement from the Crowes in terms of baseball skill, but we're loving the name game. What twisted parent elected to name their child Robert Robertson? I also have a particular fondness for Braxton Blank and Jerry Bent.

Back to the actual baseball -- leadoff man CF Randall Pierre-Louis is an exciting young talent for Adelaide. Expect a lot of hits from him, and a lot of runs as 1B Doug Barr and RF Stephen Williams provide the power to drive him in.

The rotation is led by southpaw Jerry Bent. He has a devastating changeup and splitter, but a lack of secondary options might hold him back.



Let's clear up any confusion here. The Fitzroy Bohemians have a MVP candidate in switch-hitting LF Guy Pearce. He is not the same Australian Guy Pearce that appeared in films such as L.A. Confidential (with Russell Crowe!) and Memento. Don't be silly.

They are brothers. Their parents just really liked the name Guy.

Pearce (the baseball player) has appeared in Australian soap opera Neighbours playing the character of Mike Old -- the older brother of Mike Young who was played by Pearce (the actor) from 1986 to 1989. Was this needlessly confusing and terrible television? No. It was amazing.

When he's not showing off his five-tool acting skills, Pearce brings all five tools to the baseball field. He won’t be alone -- expect significant contributions from CF Charlie Patterson and SS Chad Kordus.

The pitching isn't as exciting but it should be solid enough. The Bohemians are definitely a strong favourite for the division title.



1B Wyatt Nicol isn’t your typical first baseman. Don’t expect too many home runs, but expect a lot of pesky singles from the New Zealander. CF Kapo None and RF Willy McCullough will also make plenty of contact, with 3B Carson McCloud bringing the power.

Frank Martin might lack raw stuff on his pitches, but his pinpoint control is among the best in the business.



Seth Fitzpatrick is shaping up to be one of the best pitchers out there. He comes to the party with three elite pitches: a fastball, changeup, and cutter. Plus, he’s got a sinker he can mix in to keep hitters off-balance. The New Zealander was signed by the Phoenix until 2007 and will be a strong favourite for Pitcher of the Year.

There are questions about whether the Phoenix have put enough talent around Fitzpatrick to compete for the division title, but expect big things from power-hitting 1B Mason Isnard and 18-year-old 2B Karl Parkes.



Do you like dingers? You should get plenty of those from the Bears. Do you hate stolen bases? These guys respect property ownership.

Oddly, we’re going to highlight leadoff CF Kelly Seay -- who actually won’t hit many homers and probably will look to steal some bases. I’m going to be honest: this writer wrote the first line without checking what Seay brings to the table and is now quite fond of it. That’s on him.

RF Darrel Walker is the kind of Bear that fits our opening stanza: 6'4", 230 lbs, and aching to inflict long-lasting damage on baseballs. SS Nathan Eigenbrode is another one to watch.

Moving to the pitching -- our favourite guy here is Bobby Bloodworth. Not just for the name, but for the five pitches he commands and his precision on the mound. There’s not a lot of velocity to speak of, though. Unfortunately, the bullpen has taken a hit with closer Jax McCallum sidelined for 15–16 months due to a torn flexor tendon in his elbow.

21-year-old lefty Bailey Mulligan should be on track to crack the main squad this season. The #12 prospect in all of baseball projects out to a handy four-pitch mix and control that'll make him welcome in any rotation.



Let it be known that the St Kilda Seagulls will never turn down a left-handed pitcher. The top four in their rotation -- and most of their bullpen, including closer Alex Jarvis -- are southpaws. This rotation is led by Tucker Tutpuaki, a 22-year-old who is still a bit off his final form. All three of his pitches (sinker, changeup, curveball) are elite, and should only improve.

SS Graham Till is nicknamed “The Artist,” and his paintbrush of choice is the single. The 33-year-old has an uncanny ability to hit them where they ain't—but he’s not up there swinging at anything. He waits for his pitch. Keep an eye on LF Maxwell Harper as well, who should prove himself a singles merchant too.

A potential prospect promotion to watch for: St Kilda's #3 prospect, 3B Eruera Haenga. The 21-year-old is well on his way to bumping current 3B Lachlan Witte to the bench.

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Let's go across the ditch and see how the New Zealand teams are set up for the inaugural season. Starting with the 6 teams of the North Division.



Dan Penn, the 22-year-old third baseman, is the full package -- elite power and plate discipline, paired with above-average contact, fielding, and baserunning. Recognising they had something special, the Sharks moved quickly to lock him in through 2008. He already looks like a perennial MVP candidate.

But can the Sharks build a winning team around him?

LF Kane Dean still has some pop in his bat, but at 37, he’s nearing the end. CF Israel Smith, 1B Wil Karauna, and SS Andrew Conroy are solid role players in their twenties, but they’ll need to step up if this squad is going to contend.

Moving to the pitchers, Theo Burford -- at 40 -- is the oldest player in the league but still serves gas the #2 in the rotation.



The Magic have one of the most balanced rosters in the division and come into the season with serious title aspirations. Their offence runs through 2B Dean Goodwin -- an MVP frontrunner with elite contact and gap power. He's the kind of hitter pitchers dread seeing with runners on.

And speaking of dread: catcher Pete Coward brings an elite arm, a great eye at the plate… and a name that raises questions. Is it irony? Is it prophecy? Either way, he's no coward behind the dish.

The rotation is anchored by the steady duo of Garry Sampson and Chance White—two veterans who know how to pitch deep into games. But it’s closer Carson Clifford who could end up being the star of the staff. He’s got the kind of shutdown stuff that can take the pressure off everyone else.

If the Magic stay healthy and the bullpen holds, this team could be trouble for the rest of the division.



Welcome to the Magnum Gayle experience. The Stallions' closer throws a slider and cutter that moves like they're possessed. They’re near impossible to hit -- just as it’s near impossible for Gayle to find the strike zone when he really needs to. For now, he’s effectively wild... until the opposing manager sends out a lefty to counter him.

Over to the batting: this lineup should deliver some serious damage from 1 through 6. RF Josh Williams and SS Leon Irving will launch balls into orbit, but the most fun might come from LF Erik Ferguson. He has some of the best bat-to-ball skills in the league and flat-out refuses to strike out. He’s got enough pop to turn those hits into a pile of doubles.



Something’s brewing up north. The Dolphins might not be title favourites just yet, but the pieces are falling into place.

3B Quinn Marshall is already a star -- steady with the glove and dangerous with the bat. The rotation is solid from top to bottom, and every time closer William Mika trots in from the bullpen, the crowd leans forward. He doesn’t just pitch -- he performs.

And then there’s the future: 2B Patrik Devlin is the #1 prospect in all of baseball. The kid’s got elite instincts and range, and while we might not see him in a Dolphins uniform until next season, the hype is very real.

They may be a year away from serious contention -- but don’t be surprised if Northland plays spoiler all season long.



Not many are excited about the Morepork as a team, but at least the fans have LF Brian Smith to enjoy. The club has signed the 26-year-old through to 2008, and we have to imagine he’ll be an MVP candidate every season. Great contact, decent power, an incredible eye, a wide spray chart, and solid defence in left field (he could even fill in at centre in a pinch).

Here’s hoping the Morepork can build a team around him. Their farm system is bleak -- their top-ranked prospect is reliever Clinton Dixon, who sits at #203 on Prospect Pipeline -- so it's a tough hill to climb.



Tim Borton hates movies. Don't bring them up with him. He has never heard of Tim Burton. He's hear to talk ball or the heat death of the universe. Edward Scissorhands? More like Edward won't-survive-the-heat-death-of-the-universe-hands.

So let's talk ball. Borton is one of the best in the league -- he'll be in the running for the batting title while generating a ton of walks. He’s got some decent wheels, too. He’s backed up by a supporting cast of batters best described as “pesky.” They won’t hit many homers, but they’ll rattle plenty of opposing pitchers.

Pitching won’t be this team’s strength. They’re led by 36-year-old southpaw Noah Baker, and we’re hopeful he can do just enough to give the bats a chance. Closer Brodie Rolleston is solid, despite the rumours swirling about his ability to get along with teammates.

Some experts think the Spiders can grab themselves the division. We'll see.

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Ahhh. That’s the beautiful sound of our final division preview. Soon, the crack of the bat will replace the clicky-clack of my keyboard. Baseball is nearly here, folks!



Is Mitch Lambert the best catcher in all of baseball? Newtown’s Russ Wakeford is definitely in that conversation, but I think Lambert is the best by far among the New Zealand teams. And being seven years younger, he’s got plenty of time to close the gap. Lambert is a switch-hitter with great power, and he won’t swing at anything an inch off the plate. He’s particularly strong from the left side -- right-handed pitchers, be warned.

Around him we’ve got 1B Solomon Walker. I was going to make a joke about his name, but he’s pretty much just average at drawing walks. He needs to be one extreme or the other for that to work. 2B Kaleb Walker and SS Albert Millican will be on base a bunch ahead of Lambert, and LF Cameron Green has plenty of pop in the bat.

Oleg Stuart heads up the rotation with an elite fastball, sinker, and cutter to work with. Closer Torrin Hanna is going to be a force to be reckoned with if the game’s on the line.

Also in the rotation: a guy named Rugby Butler. No comments on that.

And in the bullpen, you’ll find Sid Crowe. Extensive work is underway to determine if he has any relation to Russell.



OK, in the above preview I noted that Solomon Walker was deadly average at drawing a walk. Well, the Moonshots have a first baseman named Adam DINGER who’s awesome at hitting dingers (_quietly_: only if you put him up against some left-handed pitchers).

I’ll be honest -- for a team that named itself after not just a normal, boring home run but the biggest motherflipping home runs you’ve ever seen -- there is not a lot of power here. Especially if you start a right-handed pitcher against them. THAT’S THE MOST COMMON TYPE.

I want to glee over names like Archibald Huriwai and Iggy Ryder, but instead I’m just left with complete and utter disappointment.

Do better, Moonshots.



Fletcher Espley is the consensus best pitcher in New Zealand -- and it’s not close. The 24-year-old has a deep arsenal of pitches that’s going to leave opposing hitters looking silly. Every expert we asked picked Espley for Pitcher of the Year. His main weakness? Left-handed hitters -- he drops from “best in the country” to merely “top five.”

The other Viking pitchers? Best not to talk about them too much.

On the hitting side, this is a team built for speed, so expect them to rack up some decent stolen base numbers by year’s end. But will they get on base enough to take advantage? If they make the playoffs, how far can they ride Fletcher Espley?

Interestingly, quite a few experts expect the Vikings to go all the way.



LF Tane Reke is one of the few bright spots for the Penguins -- he’s got real pop in his bat and can fly around the bases. The problem? He’s only signed for one year. Can Otago convince him to stick around?

Most observers have the Penguins pegged near the bottom of the table. Their rotation is led by Alexander Naysmith, a control-focused arm who keeps the ball in the park but relies heavily on the defence behind him. The prospect pipeline doesn’t offer much hope either.

It’s going to be a long season down south -- unless Reke decides to carry the whole thing on his back.



This lineup is sneaky good. CF Dylan Fleming is the centrepiece -- a 22-year-old with the rare blend of power and patience. He’s a tough out, and the hitters around him aren’t far behind. 1B Everett Easton is a three-true-outcomes specialist who somehow finds himself in the leadoff spot. He won’t steal any bases, but he’ll get on base plenty.

The rotation is anchored by 23-year-old Aussie Mitchell Giuliani. The Suns believe he’s on track to become a legitimate ace -- and if he takes that next step this season, Tasman could surprise a few people.



The Bees have quietly built one of the most well-rounded rosters in the division. They play clean, efficient baseball -- good defence, solid pitching, and just enough pop to get it done.

CF Steve Chamberlain is the crown jewel of the outfield -- an elite defender with game-breaking speed. On the power side, RF Stu Avon might be the most dangerous pure slugger in the league.

The rotation is led by 26-year-old ace Sammy Gadfly, whose fastball/sinker/cutter mix keeps hitters guessing all day. Closer Liam Baldock racks up strikeouts in bunches, but don’t expect clean innings -- he’ll walk a few and make things interesting in the ninth.

They’re not flashy, but the Bees are built to win.

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And finally, our panel makes their picks -- who’ll take home the major awards, who’ll win each division, and who’ll ultimately earn the favour of Russell Crowe himself.

[luckymann]

C'mon the Jets - my local team!

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March 30, 2001
Welcome to Opening Day. There was a parade down Marine Parade in Napier, a midday concert in Aotea Square, Auckland, school was cancelled in Sydney, and a ceremonial first pitch was thrown off the end of the St Kilda Pier by a man dressed as a giant seagull.

Russell Crowe broke time and space (just a little bit though) to perform the national anthems of both Australia and New Zealand—before each and every game. Some of the highlights of the day include:

Fitzpatrick vs Fitzroy
Hawthorn's Seth Fitzpatrick pitched a complete-game shutout against the Fitzroy Bohemians. He allowed just two hits and one walk, striking out seven. On the other side of the ledger, the Hawthorn hitters tallied 12 hits, but it was two singles from RF Daniel Doyle that drove in the only runs.
Hawthorn 2, Fitzroy 0.

Vikings win in 12
We needed 12 frames to decide the winner of Wellington Bees @ Manawatu Vikings. Manawatu catcher Cole Arrowsmith hit two home runs, but it was the second -- a three-run shot in the bottom of the 8th -- that tied the game. No one made a full trip around the bases again until Manawatu 3B Edward Puck hit a double to score LF Jase Berriman. That’s the first walk-off hit in Russell Crowe Baseball Association history!
Manawatu 6, Wellington 5.

Oh? Maybe don’t load the bases when you’re up by one
Newtown closer Isaac Wahl took the mound with a 3–2 lead in the top of the 9th against the Newcastle Steelers. He gave up two quick singles, struck out the next hitter, walked the following one to load the bases… and then gave up a bases-clearing triple to 2B Bartie Elder in his first at-bat of the game. The Steelers sent out their closer in the bottom of the 9th, who dismissed the side without issue.
Newcastle 5, Newtown 3.

Dolphins survive after sleepy Spiders wake up
Dolphins CF Antonio Lockhart hit the first home run in Russell Crowe Baseball Association history in the 7th, extending the lead to 7–1 over the Waitakere Spiders. But the bottom of the 8th went a bit pear-shaped for Northland as they cycled through three pitchers and gave up five runs to bring it within one. The Dolphins held on to win.
Northland 7, Waitakere 6.

Jerry Bent delivers 8 shutout innings for the Crowes
It may not have been a pristine night for Jerry Bent—he gave up six hits and three walks—but not a single Seagull managed to capitalise. The Crowes cruised to a tidy win.
Adelaide 4, St Kilda 0.

Two home runs from CF Dylan Fleming get the Suns the win
A pair of two-out bombs from CF Dylan Fleming helped seal a 5–4 victory for the Tasman Suns over the Hawkes Bay Moonshots. PH Jonathan Bowers brought the Moonshots within one with a two-run shot in the bottom of the 9th, but it proved too little, too late.
Tasman 5, Hawkes Bay 4.

Magner impressive against Breakers
Rebels starter Greg Magner pitched 8 2/3 shutout innings before giving up a solo homer to Manly pinch hitter Tyrone Crosby. Rattled, he allowed a single and a double before being pulled for closer Bengie Nakagawa, who promptly recorded the final out to secure the win.
Parramatta 4, Manly 1.

Meanwhile...
Counties Manukau 5, Auckland 3
Canterbury 6, Otago 2
Waikato 4, Bay of Plenty 3
Geelong 4, Preston 3
Canberra 6, Penrith 2

[kq76]

I love that you went with concentrating the Australian teams in mostly two cities. When I found out that Aussie Rules Football had so many teams in the city of Melbourne (less now I'm sure) I thought it was so interesting. And when I lived there I thought it was so cool how great the rivalries were from neighbourhood to neighbourhood. It's also why I concentrated half my Japan league in the greater Tokyo area. I was going to ask if you were going to do this in my first post, but I decided not to thinking that wasn't your plan. It's very cool to see that you indeed did go with that.

I really like the graphics you've gone with, especially the logos, but the maps too. Not loving AI I'm afraid to find out if the logos are AI generated or not, but even if they are I have to admit they're really good. I love that aged/weathered style. If you told me some of them were album covers, I'd believe it.

Go Fitzroy Bohemians! My AFL team was the Western Bulldogs and Fitzroy is close. Plus I've always liked Guy Pearce. I never thought I'd like a pink/salmon logo so much.

EDIT: Have you considered making a quickstart? I'd play a version of it.

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Originally Posted by kq76

I love that you went with concentrating the Australian teams in mostly two cities. When I found out that Aussie Rules Football had so many teams in the city of Melbourne (less now I'm sure) I thought it was so interesting. And when I lived there I thought it was so cool how great the rivalries were from neighbourhood to neighbourhood. It's also why I concentrated half my Japan league in the greater Tokyo area. I was going to ask if you were going to do this in my first post, but I decided not to thinking that wasn't your plan. It's very cool to see that you indeed did go with that.

I really like the graphics you've gone with, especially the logos, but the maps too. Not loving AI I'm afraid to find out if the logos are AI generated or not, but even if they are I have to admit they're really good. I love that aged/weathered style. If you told me some of them were album covers, I'd believe it.

Go Fitzroy Bohemians! My AFL team was the Western Bulldogs and Fitzroy is close. Plus I've always liked Guy Pearce. I never thought I'd like a pink/salmon logo so much.

EDIT: Have you considered making a quickstart? I'd play a version of it.

I've always liked that element of Australian sports. From my count 9/18 of AFL teams are from Melbourne, with Sydney/Brisbane having an origin involving Melbourne clubs as well. Same with the NRL, 9/17 teams are from Sydney. That asymmetrical distribution gives a bit of character to the league in my view so I wanted to emulate that to a degree.

For the New Zealand teams, we typically name our sport teams after regions rather than cities. i.e. Otago vs Dunedin or Canterbury vs Christchurch, so I went with that direction for my side of the ditch.

And sorry to disappoint, the logos (and the pictures of the panel journalists) are AI generated. I have to admit I'm not loving the direction that AI is taking us -- at the same time -- it was a lot of fun generating these. Everything else you see is from a human.

Re: Quickstart, I did make a backup of the opening state so guess I could restore that and then turn that into a Quickstart. I'll need to find a spot to host the files -- assuming it'll be reasonably large.

[Eugene Church]

WOW!

What a beginning!

Well-written with wry wit and gorgeous graphics.

This dynasty is a rock-solid good one, yeah buddy.

It's my kind of dynasty!

Keep it coming!

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Originally Posted by Eugene Church

WOW!

What a beginning!

Well-written with wry wit and gorgeous graphics.

This dynasty is a rock-solid good one, yeah buddy.

It's my kind of dynasty!

Keep it coming!

Thank you!

[mrbucket]

One of our early season favourites -- the Fitzroy Bohemians -- drew a lot of chatter over their first five games, going 0-5. Three of those losses were walk-offs. Their starters had a collective ERA of 1.67, while the Bullpen sported a brtual 14.29.

Finally, the skid ended with a 4–2 win over the St Kilda Seagulls, making the Bohemians the last team to register something other than zero in the win column. It's early days, so there’s no need to panic -- they went 12–9 for the rest of the month, staying well within reach of their playoff aspirations.

The Bay of Plenty Magic dropped their first game but rattled off 10 straight wins before being brought back down to earth by the Auckland Sharks, who pinned eight runs on their starter in the first inning en route to a 9–5 victory.

The Adelaide Crowes began hot with a 9–1 record over their first 10, but couldn’t maintain momentum through the rest of April. Hawthorn Phoenix surged late and finished with the best record in Australia.




Here are our picks for the most interesting games of the month.

1 April: Waikato Morepork @ Bay of Plenty Magic
Things started poorly for the Magic as starter Garry Sampson was injured after retiring the first two batters. Enter reliever Danny Hunter.

Before we get too far, let’s take a look at his scouting report:



Misdirection! Hunter pitched five innings, didn’t walk a single batter, and gave up only two hits. His lone earned run came after being pulled with a runner on second in the 6th. The Morepork tied the game at that point, but the Magic pulled ahead again in the bottom half.

Then came the 8th. LF Brian Smith crushed a 3-run homer, and PH Curtis Small added a sac fly to give Waikato a 5–3 lead. The Magic, though, tied it in the bottom of the 9th to force extras.

The Morepork failed to score in the 10th. In the bottom half, a walk and two singles loaded the bases with no outs. Hassa Pomana stepped up. He’d pinch-run in the 9th, and this was his first plate appearance in the competition.

They walked him.



7 April: Counties Manukau Stallions @ Otago Penguins
It’s a cold night in Dunedin, and Stallions CF John Uku is the first man to the plate. He watches four pitches -- two balls, two strikes -- before turning on the fifth and roping a double into the gap. But just as quickly, the next batter lines one straight to the shortstop, who doubles Uku off second. Just like that, the moment fizzles.

Uku comes up again in the 3rd and, perhaps trying to be too aggressive, swings at the first pitch and flies out to center.

In the 5th, the 38 year old shows off his wheels, legging out an infield single on a slow roller to short. Still, the Stallions can’t capitalise.

Otago finally breaks the deadlock in the 6th, scratching across a run to take a 1–0 lead.

In the 7th, with two outs and two on, Uku steps in again. The Penguins try to sneak a first-pitch curveball past him -- but he’s waiting for it. He launches a towering shot over the left field fence. The first lead of the night for Counties Manukau.

Otago gets one back in the 8th, making it 3–2, but time is running out.

Now the 9th. The Stallions are looking for insurance. Uku, leading off again, works the count to 2–2. The pitcher hangs a breaking ball and Uku smashes it off the top of the right-field wall. It caroms oddly into foul territory, catching the outfielders off guard. He tears around second and doesn’t slow down. The relay comes in late -- Uku slides in safe at third.

The first cycle in RCBA history.

2B Harris Kennedy follows with a two-run homer to seal the deal.



21 April: Newtown Jets @ Penrith Blues
Newtown LF Damien Bartlett had a monster 5-for-6 day with two doubles—but it wasn’t enough.

This was a classic back-and-forth. Every time the Jets scored, the Blues answered immediately. Tied 8–8 going into the 8th, Penrith finally pulled away.

A single, a walk, and an infield hit loaded the bases. CF D.J. Hepples ripped a double to score two. LF John-Michael Kirsch singled in another. Then RF Mark Phillips hit a 3-run bomb.

Newtown scraped a run back in the 9th, but that wasn’t nearly enough.



22 April: Adelaide Crowes @ Preston Bears
Adelaide 1B Doug Barr opened with a 2-out solo homer in the 1st. After that? Runs were scarce. Both Jerry Bent and Clifford Horn allowed traffic, but only two runs were scored through 9 innings: one apiece.

Bent threw a jaw-dropping 150 pitches over 7.2 innings.

Extras came and went with both sides threatening—Preston loaded the bases in the 10th, but couldn’t capitalise.

In the 12th, CF Randall Pierre-Louis led off with a single, stole second, and advanced to third on a LF Robert Robertson sac bunt. After 1B Ian Deans struck out, LF Michael Waller stepped up.

Let’s recap Waller’s night:

• - 1st: Single
• - 3rd: First-pitch flyout
• - 5th: Double; thrown out at home on a sac fly
• - 8th: Single, erased by a double play
• - 10th: Single, stranded

So: 4-for-5. No RBI. No runs. Until now.

He took strike one, ball one, fouled off pitch three, ball two... then pounced on a hung slider for a line-drive single to right.

5-hit night. Crowes take the lead—and the win.



24 April: Tasman Suns @ Wellington Bees
This Tuesday night turned into a marathon -- 16 innings of deadlock.

Tasman SS Andrew Gower tied the game in the 7th with a 2-run homer. Then... nothing. For hours.

The Bees loaded the bases with two outs in the 10th—PH Riley Tassell struck out. Same story in the 14th: runners on the corners, but 2B Stuart Ellis whiffed at a changeup.

Finally, in the bottom of the 16th, SS Travis Paterson walked and stole second. With two outs, CF Johnny Cooper smashed a grounder straight up the middle. Paterson ran through the stop sign and barely beat the throw to end it just as the clock struck midnight.



Injury News

• Tasman have lost 1B Everett Easton (out for May) and LF Dylan Fleming (should return within a week). The Suns are already at 11–16, May could break them.
• Adelaide loses 2B Ari Eauberl for the season (torn ACL).
• Canterbury lose SS Albert Millican for the season (broken kneecap).
• Counties Manukau lose LF Erik Ferguson (bone bruise, 4 weeks). He was hitting .425/.494/.534 with a 182 wRC+.

Contract News

• 27-year-old switch-hitting 1B Adam Dinger signed a 5-year, $3.3m extension with the Hawkes Bay Moonshots (the synergy!). He’s currently hitting .287/.327/.475 with a 103 wRC+. That ties him up until 2006.

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Darrel Walker has started his 2001 campaign with a level of consistency that turns heads. He failed to register a hit in only three games all month -- and one of those was a pinch-hitting cameo on his designated rest day. If not for that plate appearance counting against him, he would have reached base in every single game in April.

His standout performance? A 4-for-4 night with two doubles and six RBIs against the Hawthorn Phoenix. While the final score ended in an 11–5 blowout, it was Walker’s go-ahead hit in the 7th that flipped the momentum. The game might’ve gone very differently without him.



Shoutout also to Manly CF Liam O'Dwyer, who posted a monstrous .424/.500/.750 line with 8 home runs and 28 RBIs. He was instrumental in keeping the Breakers tied for the lead in Australia North.




Just like in Australia, New Zealand’s Hitter of the Month is a left-handed right fielder. Tim Borton has a knack for showing up in big moments -- including a five-game stretch mid-month where he delivered four game-winning RBIs.

Aside from one off-day against Waikato, Borton reached base in every other game. While his home run numbers are modest, he's currently leading the NZ League in doubles and extra-base hits.




Greg Magner has been a bright spot in an otherwise underwhelming 12–15 start for the Parramatta Rebels. Remarkably, he’s responsible for 42% of the team’s wins, despite only making 22% of the starts.

His only loss came at the hands of Hawthorn, where he carried a 1–0 lead into the 9th before the Phoenix rallied to win 2–1.

Magner is still talking about his game against Canberra — where he went 2-for-3 at the plate with 3 RBIs, perfectly matching the number of runs he allowed on the mound.




As the Waitakere Spiders chase the Bay of Plenty Magic, they can count on Noah Baker to give them a real shot every time he takes the mound.

His outings follow a reliable pattern: 5–9 baserunners, 1–3 earned runs, and usually a player of the game nod as his team cruises to victory. When you’re keeping opponents under three runs and your team averages 5.4 per game, that’s a winning formula.

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“Hey now, you're an all star
Get your game on, go play”

Synergy is a beautiful thing. Dudes in suits fall to their knees in tears whenever they witness true synergy. For one brief moment, they can forget about vertical integration -- or even their children -- and just live in the moment. That’s what it’s all about.

As voting kicked off for the All-Star game, you couldn’t escape the song _All-Star_ by Smash Mouth. You also couldn’t escape the marketing for the cinematic masterpiece _Shrek_. Every team was issued Shrek-coloured versions of their uniforms, complete with Shrek-coloured bats. When the home team won, the dulcet tones of Mike Myers echoed through the stadium: “GET OUT OF MY SWAMP.” (To clarify, this phrase is never actually said in the movie -- it was recorded specifically for the league.)

This marked the first time Australian and New Zealand teams played each other, with all the New Zealand teams flying over to tour Australia. (The Australian teams will tour New Zealand in August.)

Unfortunately for the Kiwi sides, they heard “GET OUT OF MY SWAMP” a bit too often — the Australian teams collectively went 120–96 over the three-week stretch.



The Newtown Jets caught fire during this stretch, going 16–2 to tighten their grip on the top spot in the Australian North Division. The Bay of Plenty Magic had a horrible time in Australia (more on that later), but so did everyone else in their division, so they remained on top of New Zealand North.

The Preston Bears surged into first in Australia South, aided by a strong 7–2 run against fellow Australian teams. And the Wellington Bees, who ended April on a seven-game win streak, carried that momentum into May -- adding eight more to cap their Australia tour and overtake both the Vikings and Suns.




Some of our picks for most interesting games.

12 May: Northland Dolphins @ Newtown Jets
Northland 3B Wilson Hemi gave everything in this one.

In the 7th -- with the Dolphins down 5–1 -- he ripped a two-run double, then came around to score the tying run later in the inning.

In the 8th -- now tied 6–6 -- Hemi did it again, this time hitting an RBI double to give Northland the lead. He later scored to make it a two-run advantage.

But in the bottom of the 8th, Newtown 1B Jeremy Mason responded with a two-run double of his own to tie the game. He then stole third and scored the go-ahead run on a sac fly from 2B Brodie Hacker.

Closer Isaac Wahl came on for Newtown, and eight pitches later, it was over.



13 May: Wellington Bees @ Fitzroy Boehemians
Early on, singles from 2B Filander Robinson and LF Guy Pearce put Fitzroy up 3–0.

But the Bees responded in the 8th with back-to-back home runs from 1B Aidan Whyte and PH Judah Hobbs to take a 4–3 lead. LF Reggie Harrington added an insurance run in the 9th to make it 5–3.

Fitzroy’s bottom of the 9th was cinematic: PH Deacon Herron singled, PH Joel Webb launched a homer to tie it, and then LF Guy Pearce walked it off with a solo blast.



23 May: Bay of Plenty Magic @ Canberra Griffins
A game of stark contrasts -- Canberra smashed Bay of Plenty for 19 runs, including **three home runs** from 1B **Jaxon Bratlie**.

On the other side, **Austin Dunnam** threw a perfect game for Canberra.



27 May: Waikato Morepork @ Manly Breakers
This Sunday afternoon game was loaded with drama.

Tied 3–3 in the 8th, Waikato PH Carl Abbruzzese doubled, followed by a walk to 3B Kal Cummins and a single from PH Curtis Small to load the bases. C Carter Scholes then hit a sac fly to give the Morepork a 4–3 lead.

In the bottom of the 8th, Manly PH Rion Mesa reached on a single. CF Pete Thomson sac bunted him to second, setting up LF Marshall Guildford, who had already hit a two-run homer earlier in the game. He repeated the feat: first pitch, gone. Manly led 5–4.

Top of the 9th: a pop-out from 1B Benjamin Hollingsworth was a good start for Manly, but LF Brian Smith singled, PH Kai Hughes walked, and PH Murray Low blooped a single to center. Thomson’s throw to the plate sailed high, allowing Smith to tie it.

In extras, Low doubled home Smith in the 11th, but a wild pitch in the bottom of the inning allowed 1B Lewis Sykes to reach third, and SS Kyle Field brought him home with a sac fly.

The 12th went quietly. In the top of the 13th, Kai Hughes singled, and Low doubled him in again -- Low’s third clutch hit since entering in the 9th. Waikato up 7–6.

Bottom of the 13th: a walk, strikeout, another walk, and a pop-out set the stage for C Warley Bolen, who drilled a liner down the right-field line. It cleared the bases and gave Manly the win.


29 May: Manawatu Vikings @ Hawkes Bay Moonshots

A 2-out dinger by 1B Adam Dinger in the bottom of the 9th kept the Moonshots alive.

The game dragged on to the 19th inning, past 1 a.m., when Leo Galloway finally walked it off with a two-run homer.



Injury News

• Parramatta Rebels 3B Lou Deegan hasn’t played since April 24 due to an oblique strain. Initially expected to miss four weeks, the timeline has been pushed back an additional six. He was hitting .386/.439/.545 (164 wRC+).
• Parramatta also lost #4 SP Zach Southard for the season with shoulder inflammation. He posted a 4.06 ERA / 1.61 WHIP across 51.0 innings (105 ERA+).
• The Waikato Morepork are sweating on injury reports for 1B Benjamin Hollingsworth and LF Brian Smith. Hollingsworth is hitting .355/.431/.541 (163 wRC+), and Smith sits at .316/.494/.508 (176 wRC+). Losing both would be a massive blow.

[mrbucket]

Wow -- what a month for Jeremy Mason. The Newtown Jets have the best record in baseball, and it's been fuelled by this man. He’s got the best eye in the game -- drawing more walks than hits (and he gets plenty of hits). He hasn’t hit a single home run, yet he leads all of baseball in extra-base hits, with more doubles than singles.

But the real headline? He stole 38 bases in May. That’s 1.4 per game! He’s had almost as many games with three steals (4) as games with none (5). His 56 total steals are more than twice as many as anyone else, and he’s on pace for 168 by season’s end.

If he gets on base, he eventually scores 52% of the time -- the best mark in baseball among qualified hitters. And that’s despite playing on a team that ranks squarely in the middle in terms of OPS. He gives himself every chance to score runs, and he’s racking up a lot of them.




Do you love dingers? Does the mere existence of Jeremy Mason bring a tear to your eye? How does someone win Hitter of the Month without blasting the ball into orbit? You’re not here for this small-ball malarkey. Bring on the big ball.

Stu Avon is your guy. 12 home runs in May -- no one else even has 12 on the season. The 21-year-old slugger might be a bit leaner than your prototypical power hitter (6'1", 180 lbs), but he absolutely packs a punch.




Chance Peterson was genuinely confused to find out he’d won Pitcher of the Month. If anything, he thought his April was better than his May. Couldn’t they find anyone else?

Still, the Preston Bears just seem to win when Peterson takes the mound — even when he doesn’t have his best stuff. When the Tasman Suns tagged him for 11 hits and 6 runs over 6 innings, the hitters responded with a casual “no worries bro” and smashed 9 runs in the same span (plus another 4 in the 8th for good measure).




Wait -- didn’t this guy have a 8.80 ERA?

Yes, at the end of April, Calvin Wilson was carrying an 8.80 ERA after a dreadful start. He couldn’t make it past the second inning in his first two games and racked up 12 earned runs over those 4 innings in the process.

But now? He’s trimmed that down to 4.76, thanks to a 1.60 ERA over five May starts. He’s cut his walk rate in half, bumped up his strikeouts by 50%, and allowed just one home run all month.

His standout performance came against the Penrith Blues. The Dolphins scored a solitary run in the first inning -- and that was it. Wilson allowed just one hit (in the 7th) and completed a one-hit CGSO, holding onto a narrow 1–0 lead.

[mrbucket]

Halfway through the season (well, one game off at the end of June): 960 games, 18,234 hits, 1,411 home runs, 1,373 stolen bases, 10,739 strikeouts, and 1,762 double plays. Who’s ready for another round of that?

The first All-Star Game kicks off in Palmerston North (home of the Manawatu Vikings) on 4 July, and the trade deadline is set for 31 July. There’s a lot to look forward to after the break -- but for now, let’s take a look at what happened in June.

In Australia North, the Newtown Jets hold onto their division lead despite a fairly mid month. Newtown 1B Jeremy Mason kept racking up the steals (still on pace for 168), though his batting production dipped slightly. The Parramatta Rebels are one to watch — they went 18–8 in June and got a no-hitter from their #2 starter, Boyd Dean.

In Australia South, the Preston Bears went 14–12 and were completely outpaced by the Fitzroy Bohemians, who finally looked like the championship contenders everyone expected, posting a 20–6 month and taking the division lead.

In New Zealand North, the Bay of Plenty Magic cling to the division despite a middling month. The Waikato Morepork actually took the lead mid-June, then had a brutal second half and dropped back to third place.

In New Zealand South, the Wellington Bees slumped to a 10–16 record after losing May’s Hitter of the Month Stu Avon to injury. Meanwhile, the Vikings went 18–8 off the back of some stellar pitching to surge into first.




Statistical Feats (Half Way Projection)

• We’ve said it before: Jeremy Mason (Newtown) already has 83 stolen bases. He’s projected to finish with 168. He’s also scored 101 runs -- the next best is 66. That puts him on pace for 205 runs, a full 71 ahead of the next closest.
• A Batting Triple Crown looks unlikely. Guy Pearce (Fitzroy) leads all of baseball with 20 home runs, well clear of anyone else in Australia. He’s close in RBIs, but far off the pace in batting average. In New Zealand, there's no clear front-runner, though Dean Goodwin (Bay of Plenty) is best placed: 2nd in RBI (5 behind), 4th in HRs (4 behind), and 7th in AVG (.040 behind the leader).
• Counties Manukau 3B Greg Taylor leads all of baseball in RBIs... despite the Stallions having the worst record in the league.
• Fitzroy LF Guy Pearce is currently on pace for a 41 HR / 57 SB season.
  {*]]Pitching Triple Crowns are also unlikely. Seth Fitzpatrick (Hawthorn) and Fletcher Espley (Manawatu) are both top 3 in ERA and strikeouts, but have been unlucky in the win column.

Injury News

• Waikato Morepork LF Brian Smith is expected back in early July after a torn quad. He had been batting .316/.494/.508 for a 179 wRC+ with 4 home runs, 31 RBIs, and 15 stolen bases.
• Also due back in early July: Preston Bears CF Kelly Seay, returning from shoulder bursitis. He was hitting .365/.430/.571 for a 171 wRC+ with 8 home runs, 37 RBIs, and 27 stolen bases.

Contract News

• Speaking of Kelly Seay, he spent some of his injury downtime negotiating a new deal -- an 8-year, $11.6 million extension with the Preston Bears, featuring an opt-out after Year 3. If he opts out, he’ll hit free agency at age 30. If not, he’s locked in until 34.
• Waikato Morepork 1B Carl Abbruzzese signed a 4-year, $2.4 million extension. He’ll hit free agency again at age 31. He’s been hitting .392/.455/.600 for a 190 wRC+, though he’s only just broken into the starting lineup after Dwight Pennock’s injury. It'll be interesting to see how Waikato juggles the roster once Pennock returns.
• Lastly, the Bay of Plenty Magic extended SP Chance White to a 4-year, $2.76 million deal (final year is a team option with a $130k buyout). White is currently 6–2 with a 3.10 ERA (134 ERA+), 4.0 BB/9, and 5.2 K/9.

[mrbucket]

Guy Pearce has been great all season, but in June he kicked it up a notch as the Fitzroy Bohemians surged to the top of the Australia South Division. It was a month filled with iconic moments for the left fielder.

Against the Preston Bears, bottom of the 9th, two outs, one runner on, down by two. Naturally, Pearce ties it up with a home run. The Bohemians go on to win it in the 12th. Oh -- and he also stole three bases that game.



Pearce leads the league in games with both a home run and a stolen base -- seven of them. Five came in June. He’s just ahead of teammate Chad Kordus on that list. (I'm calling them Rickeys, which wouldn't make much sense to the inhabitants of this universe)



There were more late-inning heroics against the St Kilda Seagulls, when Pearce smashed a walk-off 2-run homer to win it 5–3.



And against the Penrith Blues, he saved the magic for the 13th inning -- another 2-run bomb to seal the win.






After a quiet May, Dean Goodwin has caught fire again. The switch-hitting second baseman has been terrorising New Zealand pitching and keeping the Bay of Plenty Magic on top of the NZ North.

His standout performance came against the Tasman Suns. Down 5–2 heading into the 9th, the Magic rallied:

– C Pete Coward walked
– PH Billy Joe Ferguson doubled
– CF Hank Alexander hit a sac fly
– RF Lucas Kitson ripped a double to tie it
– Then Goodwin stepped in and launched a 400-foot home run to take the lead.

Closer Carson Clifford shut it down in the 9th, and the Magic walked away with the win.





It’s been a memorable month for Tucker Tutepuaki, even as the Seagulls struggle to stay above .500.

He threw a complete game shutout against the Canberra Griffins, but all eyes were on his matchup with Newtown's Jack Buckhalter.

Both are young strikeout artists -- and as June ended, they ranked #2 and #3 in the Australia League in Ks. But neither had their sharpest stuff this day. Tutepuaki allowed 12 baserunners but limited the damage to just two runs.

In the 7th inning, game tied, two outs, one on -- Tutepuaki singled to keep the inning alive. That gave leadoff man Nicky Verdun a shot to take the lead... and the Seagulls wouldn’t give it back.






At the start of the season, Hone Paranihi was in the minors -- ranked the #90 prospect in baseball. On 25 May, he made his last minor league start (a rough loss with 9 hits and 4 walks), then debuted in the majors on 31 May against the Hawkes Bay Moonshots, allowing two runs in a loss.

But June? Magical.

– 8 shutout innings vs the Tasman Suns
– Complete game shutout vs the Bay of Plenty Magic
– No more than 2 earned runs allowed in any start
– No home runs allowed... until 29 June, when Otago 3B Drew Hargett tagged him for a solo shot.

At the top of the Vikings rotation sits Fletcher Espley, a favorite for NZ Pitcher of the Year -- but this ultra-rookie may have just outshined him.

[mrbucket]

Our panel made some predictions at the start of the season. Do they care to revise?



We start in the Australia North Division, where our panellists were unanimous in their pre-season pick. So far, that’s aged well. The Newtown Jets currently hold the best record in baseball, and no one expects that to change anytime soon.



There was near-consensus around the Fitzroy Bohemians in the pre-season, but the Preston Bears have forced people to pay attention. They’ve led the division for most of the season, only relinquishing the top spot to the Bohemians on June 23rd. Are we really supposed to take seven days seriously?

We’ve talked about Fitzroy a lot. With LF Guy Pearce and 1B Chad Kordus, they have two of the most exciting players in the league. Both have been sensational, and Pearce was just named Player of the Month for June.

But the Bears have the best offense in the league -- the only team to have scored over 400 runs. Every hitter on the roster is above 100 wRC+, and sluggers like RF Darrel Walker (172 wRC+) and CF Kelly Seay (171 wRC+) are lethal.

There are obvious question marks, though. Outside of Chance Peterson’s magical 14–1 season (2.03 ERA), the pitching has been shaky. Seay is also currently on the IL, but is expected back in early July. Will he still be the same when he returns?



Bay of Plenty have controlled the NZ North Division for nearly the entire season so far -- but honestly, they’re not that impressive. Their top three of CF Hank Alexander, RF Lucas Kitson, and 2B Dean Goodwin is elite, as is closer Carson Clifford -- but everything outside of that core is shaky.

The Waitakere Spiders are the main alternative -- and the experts will point to their positive run differential (the only one in the division) as a stronger predictor of future performance than actual wins. RF Tim Borton has been putting up great numbers, but who else can step up to support him?

Don’t count out the Waikato Morepork either. They’ve had the best offense in New Zealand so far, but they’re banking on the return of LF Brian Smith from injury. On the pitching side, only one of their starters has an ERA under 4.00 -- and even that sits at 3.89.

Auckland has an MVP candidate in 3B Dan Penn, but not much else around him.

This division may still go to Bay of Plenty by default -- unless someone else figures out how to make a move. There are a lot of teams here that should be taking the trade deadline very seriously.



Consensus has formed around the Manawatu Vikings, and that’s no surprise -- they’ve taken a 5-game lead in the division and boast the best pitching staff in New Zealand.

LF Jeremiah Todd, at age 37, has quietly been putting together a stellar season: .356/.441/.578, with a 173 wRC+, and almost as many triples (7) as home runs (8).

Wellington are still hanging around thanks to their pitching and defense. RF Stu Avon has just returned from injury and should add some much-needed power. Despite missing most of June, he still leads the New Zealand League in home runs -- and trails only Fitzroy’s Guy Pearce by two for the most in all of baseball.

[mrbucket]

AUSTRALIA LEAGUE ALL-STARS



Team distribution: Fitzroy (6), Newcastle (3), Newtown (3), Preston (3), Geelong (2), Manly (2), Parramatta (2), Adelaide (1), Canberra (1), Hawthorn (1), Penrith (1), St Kilda (1)

NEW ZEALAND LEAGUE ALL-STARS



Team distribution: Manawatu (6), Auckland (3), Bay of Plenty (3), Wellington (3), Canterbury (2), Counties Manukau (2), Hawkes Bay (2), Northland (1), Otago (1), Tasman (1), Waikato (1), Waitakere (1)

The first All-Star Game of the Russell Crowe Baseball Association had everything: stars, drama, and a Radiohead performance that derailed the whole evening. Supporting Amnesiac, the band played sprawling 20-minute renditions of every track.

The game started three hours late.

Things kicked off with fireworks -- literally and figuratively. Auckland 3B Dan Penn took Parramatta SP Greg Magner deep in the top of the 1st. Newtown’s Jeremy Mason responded with a leadoff blast of his own off Northland’s Matthew McCullough in the bottom half. The twist? Mason hadn’t hit a single home run all year… until now.

In the 3rd, Wellington RF Stu Avon added to his MVP case with a solo shot off Newtown SP Ben Clark. Then Bay of Plenty’s Hank Alexander singled, stole second, and scored on Dean Goodwin’s RBI knock. NZ took a 3–1 lead.

Fitzroy closer Geoff Mullaney became the first pitcher to throw a clean 1-2-3 inning in the top of the 4th.

The Aussies chipped away in the 4th. Manly’s Liam O’Dwyer singled, advanced on a wild pitch, and scored on a Penrith SS Elkin Holt double. 3–2, and closing.

Jump to the 7th. Stu Avon singled with two outs and Manawatu’s Jeremiah Todd doubled him home to give New Zealand a 4–2 cushion.

And then the wheels came off.

Waikato closer Patrick Eton stumbled immediately: double, single, infield RBI, and a four-pitch walk to load the bases. Newtown C Russ Wakeford came through with a 2-RBI single. Just like that, Australia had the lead.

Adelaide’s Nathaniel Miller and Newcastle’s Shae Smith combined for the final six outs, shutting down New Zealand and sealing a 5–4 win.

One small problem: they’d already decided Stu Avon was MVP midway through the 7th. The engravers were working, the trophy was waiting, and Radiohead had already pushed the schedule to the brink -- so awkward or not, he got the honours.

In the Home Run Derby, Counties Manukau 2B Leon Irving outslugged teammate Greg Taylor in the final to claim the crown.

[mrbucket]

We’re past the All-Star Game and into trading season. July always has a way of showing who’s going for it and who isn’t. There have been no changes to our division leaders since June. Newtown (despite a six-game losing streak heading into August) and Fitzroy (helped by a six-game winning streak) both have strong holds on their divisions.

Over in New Zealand, things are tighter: Bay of Plenty and Manawatu are clinging to slim leads. Worth noting is the Tasman Suns, who have jumped into second place in the NZ South thanks to a 16–8 record in July. New Zealand’s shaping up for an interesting finish.




In other news...

• Newtown 1B Jeremy Mason stole his 100th base on the 26th of July against the Parramatta Rebels. In the top of the 6th, he worked a two-out walk and promptly stole second. The Jets would go on to lose that game 4–3.
• Hawkes Bay RF Ernest Garraghan, who’s had a pretty unremarkable season so far, quietly pulled off something impressive: from June 6th to July 17th, he got a hit in every single game -- a 30-game hitting streak. In that time, he boosted his OPS from .675 to .756.
• St Kilda 1B Graham Till has been ruled out for the rest of the season with a torn calf muscle. He was hitting .305/.448/.379 (132 wRC+).
• Preston 3B Hayden Sams will also miss the rest of the year with a broken kneecap. He’d been hitting .282/.393/.385 (117 wRC+).
• And finally, Manly C Warley Bolen has caught his last game of the season. He’s been diagnosed with a ruptured Achilles tendon — so sincere apologies to the Warley Warriors out there. He was hitting .292/.392/.423 (127 wRC+).

Notable trades…

• The day after the All-Star Game, the first deal dropped: the Otago Penguins sent All-Star SP Alexander Naysmith to the Newtown Jets for 17-year-old relief pitcher Rob Daly (#57 prospect). Naysmith had gone 5–10 with a 4.30 ERA (96 ERA+) for the Penguins and will slot in as Newtown’s #3 starter. He’ll be a free agent next season.
• The Counties Manukau Stallions shipped Home Run Derby winner 2B Leon Irving to the Newcastle Steelers for promising OF Harri Holmes and a couple of pitching prospects. Irving is hitting .285/.433/.504 (156 wRC+) with 14 homers and 53 RBIs -- and he walks as much as he strikes out. The 30-year-old will hit free agency at season’s end. He slots straight into cleanup for a Steelers team pushing for a wildcard.
• The Auckland Sharks sent RP Mark Leaf to the Manawatu Vikings for two prospects, including 17-year-old pitcher Lou Kay (#95 prospect). Leaf will step in as the Vikings’ closer. He’s also a free agent after this season.
• The Waitakere Spiders firmed up their rotation, trading SS Callan Russell (#40 prospect) to Penrith for SP Scott Sweeney. Sweeney has gone 6–8 with a 3.56 ERA (115 ERA+) and has two CGSOs to his name. The 27-year-old hits free agency after this season.
• The Hawthorn Phoenix traded 26-year-old CF Jeff McLean for… not much. McLean is hitting .257/.364/.469 (126 wRC+) with 16 home runs and 49 RBIs -- and just five days before the trade, he hit a 2-run walk-off homer in the 14th inning against Manly. He’ll slot into the cleanup spot for the Waikato Morepork.
• Fitzroy shored up their bullpen by acquiring Hawkes Bay All-Star closer Louis Crowley for a pair of prospects outside the top 100. Crowley has 15 saves and a 1.59 ERA (258 ERA+), thanks to one of the nastiest sliders around.
• Auckland dealt closer Mitchell Bartlett to the Canterbury Knights for 21-year-old Elroy Hibbert. Bartlett has 17 saves with a 2.98 ERA (138 ERA+) and will take over as Canterbury’s closer. All-Star Torrin Hanna slides down to a setup role after giving up walk-off hits in back-to-back outings.

And on the final day of trading...

• Auckland sent All-Star SS Andrew Conroy across town to the Waitakere Spiders for two low-level prospects. Conroy’s hitting .321/.381/.483 (135 wRC+) with 11 homers and 54 RBIs.
• The Otago Penguins secured the biggest prospect moved at the deadline: 3B Alexander Fernandez (#24 on the Prospect Pipeline). They sent 1B Austin Poll to the Manawatu Vikings to get him. Poll’s hitting .253/.343/.367 (95 wRC+) with 6 homers and 43 RBIs and will slot second in Manawatu’s lineup.
• In the final trade of the night, the Bay of Plenty Magic picked up LF Remington Gallagher from the Northland Dolphins for 18-year-old catcher Will Bell (#63 prospect). Gallagher’s hitting .293/.353/.415 (107 wRC+) with 8 homers and 46 RBIs. He’ll come off the bench.

A few All-Stars and a handful of top-100 prospects changed hands -- but nothing truly earth-shattering. The Waitakere Spiders look like the biggest winners, adding Andrew Conroy and Scott Sweeney for their push. Their final series is against division leader Bay of Plenty -- maybe we’re in for a dramatic finish.

Meanwhile, the Otago Penguins grabbed two top-100 prospects by moving expiring deals. Interestingly, they kept hold of LF Tane Reke -- who’s hitting .345/.411/.528 (154 wRC+) with 10 homers, 55 RBIs, and 19 stolen bases. His contract is up at the end of the year. Maybe Penguin management just didn’t see an offer worth pulling the trigger on -- but will this be a missed opportunity?

[jksander]

I bow to your dynasty prowess! Well done, sir