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Old 05-13-2019, 04:00 AM   #6
PrinceofKirkland
Minors (Rookie Ball)
 
Join Date: Nov 2018
Posts: 21
5th Place- Los Angeles Saints (38-44)

Despite the Saints having twice as much money as the Badgers they only have one more win, sitting at a disappointing 38-44. The biggest market in the league was had the highest expectations preseason, so what happened to the boys in white?

Their offence has been decent, currently tied for 5th in the league with Portland, but it was projected to be the best in the league behind Denver. Los Angles newspapers have been lampooning team captain Lou Evans (.197/.314/.325, 8 HR, 24) who has been incredibly disappointing. The fifth overall pick in the inaugural draft was expected to carry the team to greatness but instead hasn’t yet climbed over the Mendoza line! Some of the slack has been picked up by Jon “Dracula” Cobb (.325/.409/.598, 18 HR, 49 RBI) who has incredible stats but at 38-years-old and an upcoming free agent, Cobb doesn’t have much barring on future Saints endeavours. Other standout, shortstop Brian Fleming (.329/.378/.500, 8 HR, 25 RBI) has been solid but at 34 he isn’t a spring chicken. The rest of the offence also falls into one of these two categories- old or disappointing. Some both.

Their run prevention is also fifth. Pepe Martinez (7-3, 4.05 ERA, 91 K, 44 BB) wins most of the games he pitches and his BABIP is pretty high suggesting his ERA should be better. 36-year-old Ricardo Arias (6-8, 3.44 ERA, 91 K, 44 BB) is also a respectable starter but, like so many other Saints, is really old. The rest of the rotation is blasé. Not terrible, not good. Very fifth place-ish.

They do have a phenomenal bullpen, however. It ranks first in ERA, as not a single major contributor has an ERA over 2.88. And its their Closer Richard Veeck (2.88 ERA, 20 SV). All of the names are relatively impressive but setup man Robby Simpson (2-2, 2.33 ERA, 33 K) has been particularly good in his 20 innings of work.

Other than the bullpen this team of veterans that many predicted would take the championship is incredibly mediocre. I would personally be surprised if they finished with a .500 record.
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