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The Expedition
It's time to look at the Ottawa Expedition. They are on a 9 game win streak and have won 14 of the last 15. Their overall record of 51-20, .718 actually gives them a chance at 100 wins.
They feature a starting rotation that relies on, and receives, a one two punch. Pete Brophy (11-2) and Corentin Chauvin (11-1) are enjoying career years as they are virtual W's for the team whenever they take the mound.
OF, Xavier Holland, is the Beast of the team. Just 24 years old he is ripping the baseball to the tune of .376/.410/.579. The guy can field, too, with a +4.0 ZR, 2 OF assists, and 0 errors.
First baseman Renard is hitting .49 points above his average last season as he weighs in at .319. Luca Simon hit .232 last year, and he's hitting .288 out of the #2 hole. Third baseman Noel had an OPS of .604 last year and is current .881.
This team is clicking on all cylinders and it just may carry them all the way through. Curiously, they are way short on team chemistry and their skipper, Takuya Ishii, has bad relationships with a list of players. It seems only P Roland LeRoy understands the skipper. Yet, Ishii, a veteran of 24 years, knows how to win. He has managed to hold onto the manager position since the birth of the league in 1960.
Whatever the formula here, it is working.
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