League website updated!
A day after the All-Star break (it was simming so fast that my spacebar taps took two days to take effect), things have changed substantially in the conference races, and both conference races are tight. Five teams are within two games of first in the West, and five teams are within 3.5 games of first in the East. The East seems to be a slightly better conference according to statistics (especially pitching), and this was reflected in the All-Star Game results, an 11-1 thrashing of the WC by the EC. Wantagh led all teams with six All-Stars.
Code:
Eastern Conf. Standings
East
Team W L PCT GB Pyt.Rec Home Away XInn 1Run
Wantagh 49 39 .557 - 52-36 26-14 23-25 3-5 11-11
Atlantic City 49 41 .544 1.0 49-41 28-19 21-22 2-3 14-17
Pittsfield 49 42 .538 1.5 47-44 27-17 22-25 6-1 17-12
Worcester 48 43 .527 2.5 47-44 24-23 24-20 6-5 19-12
Valois 46 43 .517 3.5 46-43 25-19 21-24 3-2 11-14
Utica 41 48 .461 8.5 39-50 22-24 19-24 2-7 17-21
Cooperstown 31 56 .356 17.5 35-52 18-25 13-31 4-9 12-21
Western Conf. Standings
West
Team W L PCT GB Pyt.Rec Home Away XInn 1Run
Bethel Park 48 41 .539 - 48-41 29-16 19-25 4-2 19-9
Racine 48 41 .539 - 45-44 19-18 29-23 6-2 10-10
Corvallis 47 41 .534 .5 47-41 26-24 21-17 5-5 13-12
Bellaire 48 44 .522 1.5 50-42 28-22 20-22 4-3 12-13
Nicholasville 46 43 .517 2.0 43-46 21-21 25-22 4-2 18-13
Treasure Valley 38 51 .427 10.0 38-51 20-21 18-30 2-3 11-15
Fontana 37 52 .416 11.0 43-46 22-27 15-25 4-6 9-13
MAJOR INJURY NEWS
June 2 - Pittsfield is shocked by the news that one of their best pitchers,
Steve Trczinski, has suffered a torn back muscle and will be out for the season.
June 13 - Treasure Valley starter
"Double Wide" Sabalowick has ruptured his bicep tendon and will be out for at least five weeks.
June 23 - One of the Jokers' best starters,
Mark Zukerman, tears a ligament in his elbow, ending his season.
TOP PERFORMANCES
There have only been six shutouts in the whole league so far this year. Here are the pitchers who threw them:
John Ollendahk of Cooperstown,
Joe Fish, Worcester's 20-year-old wunderkind,
"Cheatin' Eddie" Cicotte of Valois, a long reliever who's started only three games this year,
Chip Anthony of Bellaire, who threw a nine-strikeout no-hitter against Corvallis,
Michael Livengood of Nicholasville, who is having a down year overall, and
Gary "Bullet" Molinero of Treasure Valley.
On the hitting side of things, there have been fewer outstanding individual performances. There have been no three-homer games. LF
Tyler Leet of Nicholasville, who has been quietly building a very impressive resume, had a 7-RBI game against Valois. C
Neil Sorens of Bellaire is the only player to have gotten on base six times in a game so far this year.
As far as league leaders go,
"O" Borges of Pittsfield and
Pete Kahle of Atlantic City continue to tear up the East, with
"Biggus Dickus" of Wantagh also crushing the ball lately. In the West, fully seven players seem capable of competing for Batter of the Year honors: 1B
Michael Thom of Nicholasville, the odds-on favorite, 1B
Mark Earles of Racine, who is coming on strong, C
Neil Sorens of Bellaire, 3B
Remington Poe of Fontana, who has had a tremendous turnaround from last year, 2B
Ryan Meadow of Treasure Valley, C
Mike Hrisko of Bethel Park, and 3B
Steven Delarosa of Bellaire, who relies on the single and double rather than the longball.
On the mound,
Chip Anthony of Bellaire is having a surprisingly excellent year, while
Patrick Simpson of Nicholasville has also elevated his game.
Clayton Conkling of Racine leads the WC in quality starts. The EC's best pitchers are probably
Mike O'Donnell, Pittsfield's ace,
Gregg Henglein, Wantagh's ace, and the seemingly inconsistent
"Slash" Horowitz of the Jokers - arguably in that order.
Will the 'Bangers from Long Island hold onto their newfound lead in the East, or will the resurgent Hillies or the consistently solid Jokers or Stars overtake them? Can the Vipers regain the magic, and the Legends pull themselves out of the cellar? Will Bethel Park repeat in the West, or will the Rivermen, Gladiators, Longhorns, or Brewers find the spark? Stay tuned.