The reigning division champions are hungry, and they've openly discussed the lingering scars from being upset by Denver in the 2019 WLCS.
Despite their terrific first half and their lead in the division, it's not coming as easily during this year's regular season. For one thing, the offense - in 2019 the best in the ABL's young history - has scuffled at times despite
Willie Mays making a run at the Triple Crown.
While the names you know: Mays,
Vlad Guerrero and
Hack Wilson - are all performing well, the bottom of the order has struggled.
Joe Adcock has stepped in admirably for
Mark Teixeira, who has fallen off from last year's strong season and is now out with an injury, though he is due back within the week.
The move of Guerrero to the leadoff spot has been met with some criticism, but manager Earl Weaver is standing by it.
The rotation is the ABL's deepest, with
A.J. Burnett, Ron Guidry, CC Sabathia, Jose Rosado and
Greg Harris each capable of shutting a team out on any given day.
Add a bullpen that has pitched to a 2.65 ERA, and you have baseball deeping pitching staff from top to bottom, as rookie
Koji Uehara has fit right in as the new closer.
