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Old 03-27-2019, 09:14 PM   #2
rhaums
Minors (Single A)
 
Join Date: Mar 2018
Location: Australia
Posts: 87
1st April, 1973

We are one month into the schedule, and while there are only 5 and a half games between 1st and 7th, we do have teams and players beginning to emerge:

Chatswood Centurions (1st, 12-8)
The Centurions have had a excellent start to the season, going 12 and 8. Alejandro Pena, a veteran mexican starting pitcher, has shown to be a standout performer on this team, going 2-1 with a 1.64 ERA with 38.1 IP. At the plate, Left Fielder Alan Excell has been the best offensive provider, hitting .338/.489/.515, giving him an impressive 176 OPS+.

East Sydney Eagles (4th, 11-9 1GB)
Despite a barely over .500 record, the Eagles offense has been on fire. Eastern Sydney leads the league in Runs Scored, Average, OBP, Batting WAR AND Home Runs.

This has been helped by LF Joe Bodkin (Hitting .365/.440/.649 with a 1.3 WAR, leading the league in Doubles) and SS Thomas Nunn who has been dominating the league with a 155 OPS+ and leads the league in HRs. What has let the Eagles down is their extremely average pitching staff, and defense, which needs to be a focus for the team if they wish to contend.

Gosford Cobras (6th, 8-12, 4GB)
The Cobras have had a difficult start to the season.They have the worst Offense in the league, and are near the bottom with pitching. SS Warren Grieve, the first overall pick in the league creation draft, has struggled to perform at the plate, with only a .205/.319/.652. While this may be above average numbers, this is not what Gosford wanted for the teams highest payed star.

The only other player worth talking about in Gosford is Todd Li, a Brisbane born CF, currently hitting .297/.441/.833.

Unless this team turns itself around very quickly, I can't see them making the playoffs.

Maitland Stars (3rd, 11-8, .5 GB)
Maitland is a team in contention, Their pitching staff are the best in the league, and that is lead by their ace, Rafael Dean, who is 4-1 with a 2.54 ERA, and 39 IP. The Stars have also had help from another pitcher, Bernie Ferguson, who is their second starter, who is also 4-1 and pitching an impressive 1.91 ERA from 37.2 IP

While not dominating the league, the Stars offense has been playing their part, coming right in the middle of the league in runs scored, wOBA and Batting WAR, and coming 2nd in HRs.

Newcastle Raiders (5th, 8-9, 2.5 GB)
Newcastle were predicted to be a .500 team, and that is how they are looking one month in. Quintin Diprose is their best hitter, and has so far put together a 1.2 WAR season.

While their defense is decent with the second best starters ERA in the league, their bullpen is costing them games, and is a must fix issue if they want to remain in contention.

West Sydney Force (7th, 6-13, 5.5)
The West Sydney Force have become the league's punching bag. Their best pitcher (Cody Kennedy) has a 4.17 ERA, and only 4 hitters have an OPS+ of 95 or better. This team's best bet is to look at getting young players, and beginning to build for the future.

Wollongong Wolves (2nd, 10-7, .5GB)
Alongside Maitland, the Wolves are right on the heels of Chatswood. Their defense, has been keeping runs to a minimum, which makes up for a less than spectacular offense, with SP Dermott Upchurch going 3-0, with 37.2 IP and a 1.91 ERA.

With two and a half months left in the season, I will be back to update you in mid June, as we head to our first pennant chase!
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