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gehrig38 · 05-17-2020, 09:33 AM

Everyone in the game agreed that GM Curt Schilling had both a busy and fruitful winter. No one, not even Schilling himself, expected the Rustlers to win 34 of their first 47 games.
“We set a bar, both on and off the field, and we stuck to it. Everything else is on the manager, coaches, and players. They are going out and consistently executing. I also think starting the season with that 15-day road trip and kicking it off by sweeping the division favorites gave this group some confidence and they're just building on it.”

Led by young sluggers Aaron Chisholm (.298-18-46) and Luis Orozco (.322-12-37) the club is currently leading the Colonial in Runs, Avg, OBP, OPS, WAR, wOBA.

Infielders Wally Bull (.391-0-9) and Chris Johnston (.326-1-12) who authored a team record and season-high 33 game hitting streak.
The lineup top to bottom is lethal. CF Jesse Kucher who was off to a slow start took home this week's POTW award going 15-25 and RF Dave Nolasco is hitting a 'quiet' .322-4-21 out of the 6th hole.
Opening day SS Joel Hicks has missed the last 10 days and is out for 2 more weeks but the depth of the organization has allowed them to not miss a beat. RF Jeff Reardon is out another 2-3 weeks but future star Jeff Anderson and Joel Moss have picked up the slack.
Even veteran Efrain Colon, who had requested a trade this winter, has stepped into a leadership role as the team's senior member and is hitting .250/.388/.450 as the club's 4th outfielder.

Manager Andy Brown doesn't see anything unusual about the clubs 18-3 May nor the teams recent 12 game winning streak;
“They're a bunch of good players playing good baseball, it's not that complicated. No one looks to anyone else, they do their jobs and do them right. They bust their asses and I think they know there is nothing fluky about any of this. These guys are real, real good.”

On the mound young Phenom, Matt Behrens (7-2 3.22) is fulfilling those “Ace” expectations. He has allowed 6 earned runs in his last 5 starts, 3 of those scoreless starts, and been voted POTG in 4 of those. He's punched out 81 and walked just 16 in his 64.1 innings of work. At 22 he is poised to take off on what many think can be a hall of fame career.

23-year-old Trevor Pope is not far behind. The lefty, with a family full of “carnies” as he calls them,. Is 5-1 4.01 and after a tough April has strung together 6 quality starts and lowered his ERA 2 full runs.
The rotations “Senior Citizens” are Eric Allen (6-2 3.44) at 25, David Anderson (5-3 3.99) at 25 and the elder statesmen Travis Brooks (4-3 3.83) is all of 26 years old.

The pitching staff is 1st in Runs Against, 3rd in SP ERA, 1st in Bullpen ERA, and 1st in both WAR and FIP at 3.61. The rotation has authored a league-best 30 “Quality Starts”.
Their “secret weapon” has been a young bullpen of power arms led by an ABL “veteran” in Danny Villa. Acquired last December the 30-year-old is 0-0 2 SV 1.40 with 19.1 IP just 7 hits 36 strikeouts to 6 walks for an insane WHIP of 0.67. His ceding of the role of the full-time closer has been a huge part of the club's success.

Villa is joined by 25-year-old Tom Barrett and 26-year-old closer Ranan Lasky in what many across the ABL call Austins “Three-headed Monster”.
They are a combined 6-2 20 Holds and 19 of 22 in save opportunities. In 97.1 IP they have allowed 60 Hits, 5 HR while striking out 124 batters to just 27 walks. Chris Millers OppAvg is the bullpens highest at .257 with no other reliever yielding higher than .195. Villa leads the league with an OppAvg of .113.

With the rash of recent injuries on the staff, their “experiment” in 3B/RP Nick Tomlin has allowed them to go with just 6 relievers and 14 position players with him taking on multiple inning outings as well as serving as a backup at 3B and a switch-hitting bat off the bench. The club has recently added catcher Brian Keegan, a switch-hitting catcher with outstanding defensive and game-calling skills to the roster and recalled him as they opt to go, once again, with 3 catchers on their roster. Waiver claim and top C prospect Greg Cowan is still biding his time and getting AB's and PT where he can.

"The hardest part isn't getting here, it's staying here" Schilling said as he walked away.

Can the Rustlers "Stay" on top?

05-17-2020, 09:33 AM	#106
gehrig38 Hall Of Famer Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Medfield, Mass Posts: 5,992	Austin rustlers making waves in the colonial league Everyone in the game agreed that GM Curt Schilling had both a busy and fruitful winter. No one, not even Schilling himself, expected the Rustlers to win 34 of their first 47 games. “We set a bar, both on and off the field, and we stuck to it. Everything else is on the manager, coaches, and players. They are going out and consistently executing. I also think starting the season with that 15-day road trip and kicking it off by sweeping the division favorites gave this group some confidence and they're just building on it.” Led by young sluggers Aaron Chisholm (.298-18-46) and Luis Orozco (.322-12-37) the club is currently leading the Colonial in Runs, Avg, OBP, OPS, WAR, wOBA. Infielders Wally Bull (.391-0-9) and Chris Johnston (.326-1-12) who authored a team record and season-high 33 game hitting streak. The lineup top to bottom is lethal. CF Jesse Kucher who was off to a slow start took home this week's POTW award going 15-25 and RF Dave Nolasco is hitting a 'quiet' .322-4-21 out of the 6th hole. Opening day SS Joel Hicks has missed the last 10 days and is out for 2 more weeks but the depth of the organization has allowed them to not miss a beat. RF Jeff Reardon is out another 2-3 weeks but future star Jeff Anderson and Joel Moss have picked up the slack. Even veteran Efrain Colon, who had requested a trade this winter, has stepped into a leadership role as the team's senior member and is hitting .250/.388/.450 as the club's 4th outfielder. Manager Andy Brown doesn't see anything unusual about the clubs 18-3 May nor the teams recent 12 game winning streak; “They're a bunch of good players playing good baseball, it's not that complicated. No one looks to anyone else, they do their jobs and do them right. They bust their asses and I think they know there is nothing fluky about any of this. These guys are real, real good.” On the mound young Phenom, Matt Behrens (7-2 3.22) is fulfilling those “Ace” expectations. He has allowed 6 earned runs in his last 5 starts, 3 of those scoreless starts, and been voted POTG in 4 of those. He's punched out 81 and walked just 16 in his 64.1 innings of work. At 22 he is poised to take off on what many think can be a hall of fame career. 23-year-old Trevor Pope is not far behind. The lefty, with a family full of “carnies” as he calls them,. Is 5-1 4.01 and after a tough April has strung together 6 quality starts and lowered his ERA 2 full runs. The rotations “Senior Citizens” are Eric Allen (6-2 3.44) at 25, David Anderson (5-3 3.99) at 25 and the elder statesmen Travis Brooks (4-3 3.83) is all of 26 years old. The pitching staff is 1st in Runs Against, 3rd in SP ERA, 1st in Bullpen ERA, and 1st in both WAR and FIP at 3.61. The rotation has authored a league-best 30 “Quality Starts”. Their “secret weapon” has been a young bullpen of power arms led by an ABL “veteran” in Danny Villa. Acquired last December the 30-year-old is 0-0 2 SV 1.40 with 19.1 IP just 7 hits 36 strikeouts to 6 walks for an insane WHIP of 0.67. His ceding of the role of the full-time closer has been a huge part of the club's success. Villa is joined by 25-year-old Tom Barrett and 26-year-old closer Ranan Lasky in what many across the ABL call Austins “Three-headed Monster”. They are a combined 6-2 20 Holds and 19 of 22 in save opportunities. In 97.1 IP they have allowed 60 Hits, 5 HR while striking out 124 batters to just 27 walks. Chris Millers OppAvg is the bullpens highest at .257 with no other reliever yielding higher than .195. Villa leads the league with an OppAvg of .113. With the rash of recent injuries on the staff, their “experiment” in 3B/RP Nick Tomlin has allowed them to go with just 6 relievers and 14 position players with him taking on multiple inning outings as well as serving as a backup at 3B and a switch-hitting bat off the bench. The club has recently added catcher Brian Keegan, a switch-hitting catcher with outstanding defensive and game-calling skills to the roster and recalled him as they opt to go, once again, with 3 catchers on their roster. Waiver claim and top C prospect Greg Cowan is still biding his time and getting AB's and PT where he can. "The hardest part isn't getting here, it's staying here" Schilling said as he walked away. Can the Rustlers "Stay" on top? __________________ The Chicago Iron Pigs 2012-2024 The IBL's first 13 years The Alaska Avalanche 2024-2030 Moving on to my birthplace The San Antonio Silver Stars 2030-2034 From one big state, Alaska, to another, Texas!