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Dukie98 · 08-28-2018, 02:25 AM

A quick overview on the major storylines across the league at the 2019 All-Star Break:

Exceeding expectations: Despite losing star leftfielder Carl Yastrzemski with a torn knee ligament during the final week of the 2018 season, the Cincinnati Spiders had a terrific first half, flirting with .600 led by a dominant pitching staff led by Don Drysdale and Jim Palmer. The Omaha Falcons rebounded from a disastrous 52-win season to enter the All-Star break with a solid 39-35 record, firmly in the mix for the Wild Card, thanks to slugging centerfielder Bobby Thomson and rookie righthander Ed Walsh. In the Continental League, the Virginia Beach Admirals entered the break with a strong 44-31 record, and they were on pace to make their first postseason appearance, as third baseman Bill Melton ripped 16 homers and drove in 57 runs, and rookie southpaw Joe Gibbon jumped out to a 10-2 start with a 2.97 ERA. Although the Albuquerque Conquistadors were not going to topple the dominant Los Angeles Kangaroos, they were firmly in the running for a wild card spot with a 42-33 first-half record, led by a deep pitching staff anchored by Bob Feller, Jered Weaver, and Mark Gubicza.

Disappointments: After winning the Great Lakes Division with 92 wins the year before, the Toronto Predators entered the All-Star break in the basement with a 34-41 record, as their pitching staff was ravaged by injuries. The 35-40 Kansas City Mad Hatters were in danger of missing the playoffs for the first time since 2012, as their traditionally strong pitching staff struggled, ending the half 18th in the league in runs allowed, with Brad Radke and Rube Foster struggling the most. In the Continental League, the New York Emperors, a surprise playoff team in 2018, crashed back to earth with a 34-41 record as their pitching staff devolved into one of the worst in the league, as none of their starters maintained an ERA below 4.00 and closer Bud Daley blew out his elbow. The Houston Pythons, who also finished the half with a 34-41 record, were in danger of suffering their first-ever sub-.500 finish, as their top-heavy lineup received virtually no help from spots 5-9 in the order, and other than Gerrit Cole, the starting pitching struggled.

Buffalo thunders ahead: The Buffalo Fighting Elk overcame the loss of Bill Bevens to free agency and closer Mark Wohlers to an elbow injury, ending the first half with a league-best 50-25 record. After losing the first four games of the season, the Fighting Elk ripped off a 19-game winning streak to seize control of the Northeast Division by the end of April. Buffalo's hot streak was all the more surprising in light of the struggles of perennial all-star catcher Dave Nilsson. Led by free agent signee Ray Collins, who went 9-4 with a 2.01 ERA, Buffalo's pitching staff led the Frontier League in nearly every significant pitching category other than strikeouts, allowing just 211 runs in 75 games.

Major injuries: Shortly before the All-Star break, the defending champion Minneapolis Penguins lost ace Madison Bumgarner for the season with shoulder inflammation. Although the hard-luck Bumgarner was just 5-6 when he was injured in mid-June, he sported a stellar 1.94 ERA and microscopic 0.82 WHIP. The Seattle Whales were decimated by a series of substantial injuries, knocking second baseman Rod Carew and pitchers Carlos Zambrano and Pat Combs out of commission, likely for the entire season.

08-28-2018, 02:25 AM	#70
Dukie98 All Star Reserve Join Date: Apr 2016 Posts: 902	2019 Mid-Year Update A quick overview on the major storylines across the league at the 2019 All-Star Break: Exceeding expectations: Despite losing star leftfielder Carl Yastrzemski with a torn knee ligament during the final week of the 2018 season, the Cincinnati Spiders had a terrific first half, flirting with .600 led by a dominant pitching staff led by Don Drysdale and Jim Palmer. The Omaha Falcons rebounded from a disastrous 52-win season to enter the All-Star break with a solid 39-35 record, firmly in the mix for the Wild Card, thanks to slugging centerfielder Bobby Thomson and rookie righthander Ed Walsh. In the Continental League, the Virginia Beach Admirals entered the break with a strong 44-31 record, and they were on pace to make their first postseason appearance, as third baseman Bill Melton ripped 16 homers and drove in 57 runs, and rookie southpaw Joe Gibbon jumped out to a 10-2 start with a 2.97 ERA. Although the Albuquerque Conquistadors were not going to topple the dominant Los Angeles Kangaroos, they were firmly in the running for a wild card spot with a 42-33 first-half record, led by a deep pitching staff anchored by Bob Feller, Jered Weaver, and Mark Gubicza. Disappointments: After winning the Great Lakes Division with 92 wins the year before, the Toronto Predators entered the All-Star break in the basement with a 34-41 record, as their pitching staff was ravaged by injuries. The 35-40 Kansas City Mad Hatters were in danger of missing the playoffs for the first time since 2012, as their traditionally strong pitching staff struggled, ending the half 18th in the league in runs allowed, with Brad Radke and Rube Foster struggling the most. In the Continental League, the New York Emperors, a surprise playoff team in 2018, crashed back to earth with a 34-41 record as their pitching staff devolved into one of the worst in the league, as none of their starters maintained an ERA below 4.00 and closer Bud Daley blew out his elbow. The Houston Pythons, who also finished the half with a 34-41 record, were in danger of suffering their first-ever sub-.500 finish, as their top-heavy lineup received virtually no help from spots 5-9 in the order, and other than Gerrit Cole, the starting pitching struggled. Buffalo thunders ahead: The Buffalo Fighting Elk overcame the loss of Bill Bevens to free agency and closer Mark Wohlers to an elbow injury, ending the first half with a league-best 50-25 record. After losing the first four games of the season, the Fighting Elk ripped off a 19-game winning streak to seize control of the Northeast Division by the end of April. Buffalo's hot streak was all the more surprising in light of the struggles of perennial all-star catcher Dave Nilsson. Led by free agent signee Ray Collins, who went 9-4 with a 2.01 ERA, Buffalo's pitching staff led the Frontier League in nearly every significant pitching category other than strikeouts, allowing just 211 runs in 75 games. Major injuries: Shortly before the All-Star break, the defending champion Minneapolis Penguins lost ace Madison Bumgarner for the season with shoulder inflammation. Although the hard-luck Bumgarner was just 5-6 when he was injured in mid-June, he sported a stellar 1.94 ERA and microscopic 0.82 WHIP. The Seattle Whales were decimated by a series of substantial injuries, knocking second baseman Rod Carew and pitchers Carlos Zambrano and Pat Combs out of commission, likely for the entire season.