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Dukie98 · 07-29-2018, 01:20 AM

A quick overview on the major stories across the league at the 2017 All-Star Break:

Exceeding expectations: The London Werewolves dominated the Frontier League, going 52-23 behind a league-best pitching staff, surrendering just 200 runs at the All-Star Break. The Cincinnati Spiders, who were coming off of a 74-win season after three straight 100-loss seasons, were a breakout success with a 44-31 record, and survived a monthlong injury to Carl Yastrzemski. In the Continental League, the Houston Pythons took a step forward from their surprise playoff run last season, jumping out to a 47-28 start behind the top offense in the league. The New Orleans Crawfish survived the offseason departure of Rickey Henderson via free agency to open up a 7-game lead in the Southeast Division with a 46-29 record.

Disappointments: The Philadelphia Hawks' streak of five straight winning seasons appeared likely to end, as they sputtered to a 33-42 start, as their pitching collapsed to 21st in the Frontier League. Despite winning 204 games over the prior two seasons, the Chicago Mules got off to a 32-43 start, as their offense took a major step backward, and their bullpen was the worst in the league. The Jacksonville Gulls, who unexpectedly stole a wild card slot and then won their first round series last season, stumbled to a 34-40 start as perennial MVP candidate Bryce Harper hit just .279 with 10 homers and 36 RBIs. The El Paso Armadillos were coming off a 90-win season and sported the highest payroll in baseball, yet they could only muster a 34-41 record, as free agent signee Shawn Green got off to an awful start, and the Armadillos brought a league-worst .238 team batting average into the break.

Kangaroos leap ahead: The defending champion Los Angeles Kangaroos continued to dominate -- and they were nearly perfect in May, winning their first 25 games of the month before dropping their final game, 2-1 to San Diego. In a change from past seasons, their offense has been above average but unspectacular, but their pitching has been lights-out. Remarkably, during their 25-game win streak, the Kangaroos never scored more than eight runs in a game, and they allowed just 56 runs in the 25-game streak. Oddly, although roughly 15% of the team's payroll is tied up in Dick Allen, the third-highest paid player in baseball, he contributed virtually nothing to their streak, as he has been buried at the back of the bench, with only 10 at bats on the season.

Major injuries: Hartford ace Sandy Koufax's brilliant career was in jeopardy after suffering his second straight season-ending injury. Last year, after jumping out to a 4-1 start, Koufax's season was derailed due to an arthritic left elbow. This year, after a brilliant 5-1 start with a 0.97 ERA in nine starts, Koufax tore his rotator cuff. Elsewhere around the league, Cleveland rightfielder Aaron Judge was knocked out of commission for two months with a sprained knee.

07-29-2018, 01:20 AM	#62
Dukie98 All Star Reserve Join Date: Apr 2016 Posts: 902	2017 Mid-Year Update A quick overview on the major stories across the league at the 2017 All-Star Break: Exceeding expectations: The London Werewolves dominated the Frontier League, going 52-23 behind a league-best pitching staff, surrendering just 200 runs at the All-Star Break. The Cincinnati Spiders, who were coming off of a 74-win season after three straight 100-loss seasons, were a breakout success with a 44-31 record, and survived a monthlong injury to Carl Yastrzemski. In the Continental League, the Houston Pythons took a step forward from their surprise playoff run last season, jumping out to a 47-28 start behind the top offense in the league. The New Orleans Crawfish survived the offseason departure of Rickey Henderson via free agency to open up a 7-game lead in the Southeast Division with a 46-29 record. Disappointments: The Philadelphia Hawks' streak of five straight winning seasons appeared likely to end, as they sputtered to a 33-42 start, as their pitching collapsed to 21st in the Frontier League. Despite winning 204 games over the prior two seasons, the Chicago Mules got off to a 32-43 start, as their offense took a major step backward, and their bullpen was the worst in the league. The Jacksonville Gulls, who unexpectedly stole a wild card slot and then won their first round series last season, stumbled to a 34-40 start as perennial MVP candidate Bryce Harper hit just .279 with 10 homers and 36 RBIs. The El Paso Armadillos were coming off a 90-win season and sported the highest payroll in baseball, yet they could only muster a 34-41 record, as free agent signee Shawn Green got off to an awful start, and the Armadillos brought a league-worst .238 team batting average into the break. Kangaroos leap ahead: The defending champion Los Angeles Kangaroos continued to dominate -- and they were nearly perfect in May, winning their first 25 games of the month before dropping their final game, 2-1 to San Diego. In a change from past seasons, their offense has been above average but unspectacular, but their pitching has been lights-out. Remarkably, during their 25-game win streak, the Kangaroos never scored more than eight runs in a game, and they allowed just 56 runs in the 25-game streak. Oddly, although roughly 15% of the team's payroll is tied up in Dick Allen, the third-highest paid player in baseball, he contributed virtually nothing to their streak, as he has been buried at the back of the bench, with only 10 at bats on the season. Major injuries: Hartford ace Sandy Koufax's brilliant career was in jeopardy after suffering his second straight season-ending injury. Last year, after jumping out to a 4-1 start, Koufax's season was derailed due to an arthritic left elbow. This year, after a brilliant 5-1 start with a 0.97 ERA in nine starts, Koufax tore his rotator cuff. Elsewhere around the league, Cleveland rightfielder Aaron Judge was knocked out of commission for two months with a sprained knee.