Not surprisingly, the early AC division leaders are the Evergreen Forest Raccoons (AC East), Old Hoss Radbourns (AC Central), and La Crosse Fighting Frogs (AC West). Oddly, all 3 teams are at least 3 games below their Pythag records...
...as are the NC East-leading Huntley Red Raiders, who are currently the second-hottest NC team (active 8-game winning streak) and enjoy a 3.5-game lead over the third-hottest NC team, the Motown Stars -OL (active 7-game winning streak).
But, of course, the hottest NC team is the NC Central-leading Minnesota Bold North, owners of an active 9-game winning streak and the best record in the league (40-9), and the only division-leading squad outperforming their Pythag record (+1).
Huntley did manage to slow the Bold North down a bit in early May, splitting a 4-game series in Huntley (5-12, 4-1, 2-1, 4-6). Overall, the Red Raiders have been nearly unstoppable at home (24-4!) and eminently stoppable on the road (11-11
), which does not bold well for the team's immediate future (a 10-game road trip).
On the pitching side, Red Raiders' stats that stand out to this point in the season would be Mariano Rivera's 2.04 FIP and 4.30 ERA, which is...something, and starter Rube Marquard's April ERA (9.26
) and May ERA (2.49
).
As for the hitters, 3 batters are off to ridiculous starts of at least a 160 OPS+: RF TOTY Christian Yelich (.318/.412/.592/1.004, 168 OPS+), C Yogi Berra (.328/.410/.578/.988, 164 OPS+), and CF Ken Griffey Jr (.270/.379/.601/.981, 160 OPS+). Of course, all 3 only start against righties, and that clearly has something to do with it, as Huntley's full-time starters are all struggling, either completely or relatively: LF Mickey Mantle (.245/.374/.423/.797, 115 OPS+), SS Ozzie Smith (.274/.358/.427/.784, 111 OPS+), DH Barry Bonds (.222/.307/.444/.751, 100 OPS+), and 2B/3B Luke Appling (.239/.335/.362/.697, 89 OPS+).
Current standings follow...