The Around the Horn League (AtHoL)

[luckymann]

Mad Dog looking good, moves to 2-0 / 2.57.

And, yes, with 94 pitches, he did indeed throw a "Maddux".

[luckymann]

Good to see the "odd-year syndrome" seems to have followed Bret over into the AtHoL timeline.

[luckymann]

It's not the size of the dog in the fight that matters...

[luckymann]

... but this one, I believe, takes the cake.

[luckymann]

Cesar on the move...

I am as guilty as the rest of them, but how did this guy not get selected until Round 3?

[luckymann]

[luckymann]

While we may lack any names that jump off the page as out-and-out superstars, the '47 Chicago American Giants certainly look to be a bunch of real gamers.

Perhaps the most notable aspect of our play so far has been the excellent clutch hitting we have enjoyed, with a good percentage of our runs coming with two outs.

This has meant we've enjoyed a strong 28-16 start to the season and now sit atop in the LA Posey Band, albeit by the barest half-game margin from Keokuk. Our Band is the tightest of all to this point, with just 4 games separating first from fifth, so we'll need to keep on keeping on if we wish to maintain our position.



Despite some control issues, our pitching has been among the league's best, with our 149 runs conceded, 2.93 ERA, 3.43 FIP and 8.2 PWAR all currently leading the Lincoln Association. Ed Karger and Greg "Nibbler" Hibbard lead the staff with 7 wins, while Livan Hernandez's 2.3 WAR is the best of the group.

#1 reliever Juan Pena picked up a bit of a niggle that has kept him out of action the past week, but thankfully that was more a precautionary measure and he should be back on the mound in a few days.



On offence, our 247 team BA ranks 6th, and we've enjoyed solid contributions from almost all our starters, with SS Joe Sewell (234 / 3 HR / 13 RBI, 90 OPS+) perhaps the only real underperformer so far, along with young Freddie Lindstrom, whose slow start has led to him being moved to the bench for the foreseeable future. Benny Ayala heads the group with 8 HR, while Ben Chapman's 33 RBI is the most.

Brian Asselstine has emerged as a bit of a Bench Boomer these past few games, coming up with a number of big hits and accumulating 0.5 WAR and 0.41 WPA in just 47 PA, while easing my immediate concerns about our dearth of LHB. Let's hope he can keep that up.



We've also been very strong defensively (1st in efficiency and ZR, 2nd in errors committed), which is key given the profile - lots of batted balls / few strikeouts - of our staff.

All in all, a most encouraging start.

[luckymann]

... and a much-needed win for the struggling Millers.

[luckymann]

Ties the equal-longest AtHoL hit streak so far with Rochester's Cameron Maybin, whose was snapped at the same number on the same day.

[luckymann]

... as Livan goes the nine for his 3rd shutout win of the season.

Full disclosure it wasn't quite as easy as he made it out to be. After carrying a no-no into the 6th, the second half was a bit ragged with 3 walks and a HBP. Still, an excellent performance all the same.

Ben Chapman has a 4-hit night with a trip, his 5th dinger of the season, and 4 ribbies to power a strong offensive performance by the group.

[luckymann]

Another one bites the dust.

[luckymann]

... and ride.

[luckymann]

A bad case of regression sets in at a most inopportune time as Keokuk and Buffalo both put the foot down.





Clay Buchholz gets the shove over to the RR for a spell that may never end after almost completely losing the little stuff he had to begin with and starting to allow more walks than a weak-willed dog owner.

Meet Mule Watson. AKA "The Infielder's Nightmare" on account of his... how do I put this nicely? Don't want to discourage the lad before he's even started... pitch-to-contact tendencies. Problematic when, like most other aspects of our game, our defence seems to be paying a prolonged visit to the little boy's room. Not much on offer by way of alternatives I'm afraid, so let's see how he goes and react accordingly. He does profile out as a pretty handy hitter as well, perhaps a future two-way?

[luckymann]

While Rafa went appropriately early in Round 2, Sexson - 167th overall - is another one whose late Draft selection is somewhat of a mystery.

Both are currently hitting 330+, and Sexson's 145 OPS+ sits just outside the top 20.

[luckymann]

And the Taunton-Washington deal reported in the top left hand corner is the first trade in the league since we acquired Alan Storke from Atlanta in January. I wonder if the floodgates will open now?

[luckymann]

Ival steals the spotlight with the walkoff winner as the Tigers lose their 7th straight. Being on a stunning 3-7 flop ourselves at the moment, I feel their pain.




Dre gets the last laugh, though, with the weekly KA prize.

[luckymann]

A new hit streak high-water mark for the AtHoL.

[luckymann]

To say we've been doing it tough lately is the understatement of a lifetime. Our funk had stretched to a 3-10 run that has seen us drop to 5th in the Posey Band, 10+ games from the lead. All the pop and spunk had disappeared from our bats. Our pitching has been barely holding on. Our closer is gone for 12 months with a torn rotator cuff, another key reliever out for a month with a hammy strain.

It has been a nightmare.

So this performance - which coincided with our first win in five, behind Watson in his first start - was a much-needed tonic for the group.

[luckymann]

Harry on the march...

[luckymann]

A 7-inning no-no comes to an unfortunate end when Dennis is injured running the bases - oh, the irony!