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P408: Halfway Home
Following up a 21-5 May with a 23-5 June, the Singapore Sluggers have vaulted past the Collingwood Magpies and into first place by 3 games in the NC Central. Collingwood has the better run differential (+272 vs +266) but is 6 games below its Pythagorean record. All 3 NC divisions are in play at the halfway point, with the largest lead 5.5 games, and the second Wild Card spot is currently shared by the San Antonio Riptide and Sunset Town Kings, with the Phoenix Firebirds 2.5 games back of them.
In the AC, the Excelsior Dodgers have the best record and the best run differential (+174). Huntley did manage to take 2 out of 3 from the Dodgers at the end of May/beginning of June to even the season series between the two at 3-3. It's shaping up to be a season-long battle for the #1 AC seed.
As for the Red Raiders, the offense did improve a bit versus right-handers; now two-thirds of the lineup has OPS+'s above 100 vs righties, but the 3 who don't are surprising: last year's home run champ Lou Gehrig (.222/.307/.411, 94 OPS+); Ken Griffey Jr (.227/.295/.384, 84 OPS+); and Yogi Berra (.208/.292/.326, 69 OPS+). Here's hoping good ol' regression to the mean, or at least some seeing-eye singles, start to work in Huntley's favor soon...
Standings:
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