OOTP Developments Forums - View Single Post

scuffleball · 07-28-2006, 09:19 AM

(NOTE: I will only be reporting on the Mountaineer League from now on, since I am really starting to follow it myself. I will expand the coverage of the ML and provide all the leagues through the web reports. I will write up some stories about WVIL from time to time, though, as well, and still plan to build a good rivalry.)

Mountaineer League Report 2
Through 6/17/2006
The Mountaineer League's inaugural All-Star break is here, with all ten ML teams taking a much deserved respite from the intense on-field competition. Things have been remarkably consistent through the first 58 games. Morgantown, quickly becoming known as the Monsters of the North, continue to lead the Gold Division and, barring injury, show no signs of faltering. They are being pursued by the resurgent Wheeling Owls, lead by All-Star catcher JW Casto.

In the Blue Division, the Parkersburg Patriots is the only team playing above 500 baseball (more on the poor performance of the Blue Division below). Huntington and Kanawha Valley trail by four and five games respectively.

Blue Division Playing the Blues
Earlier in the season, it was considered an anomaly, simply a fluke. 'It would work itself out' were the buzz words of the day. Now, as the five teams of the Blue Division find themselves at the all-star break, pundits and casual fans are starting to reassess their attitudes. Everyone seems to be asking, "What's wrong with the Blue Division"?

What, indeed.

Only one team, the streaking Parkersburg Patriots, is over 500, but only just, sporting a record of 32-26. Several teams that many considered to be potential league frontrunners - Bluefield, Kanawha Valley, Huntington - are languishing with losing records and in very real danger of not making the playoffs. Bluefield, with much touted 1st round draft choice Steven Hutton (LF), is surprising, currently entrenched in last place in the division.

"It's not pretty, that's for sure," Kanawha Valley Vipers Manager Chris Schultz remarked, sounding both optimistic about the second half and embarrassed about the first. "I wish I could tell you what the exact problem is. All the teams in our division are talented. Every team has played very well at times, but nobody seems to be putting it together over an eight or ten game stretch."

"It's horsecrap," Bluefield closer Nick Boone notes with disdain. "Embarrassing. I'm embarrassed, I know my teammates are embarrassed. We're making the entire central and southern parts of West Virginia look stupid. But we'll turn it around. By season's end, Parkersburg won't be the only team with a winning record, I promise you."

In Their Own Words
"Until today, I really didn't know what I was batting. I really had no idea. It's not something I personally track. I knew I was doing well, sure, but I had no idea I was doing that well. If I'm getting on base, regardless of how it happens, then I'm doing my job and helping the team. But thanks for pointing that out . . . I really appreciate all the added pressure that will bring with it."
-- Fairmont Engineers All-Star Shortstop Dave Lowry in answer to a question about what his thoughts were about leading the league with a batting average of .432

“No. Absolutely not.”
-- Mountaineer League Commissioner James L. Holcomb when asked about rumors of a possible merger between ML and WVIL.

”Does hell come before no?”
-- off-the-cuff remark made by Martinsburg Spirit 1B Daniel Kerley when asked if he was pleased with his play, and the play of his teammates, over the first half of the season

League Standings
Below are the ML current season standings for all games played up to the All-Star Break.

Code:

					
Blue Division		W	L	PCT	GB	Streak
Parkersburg Patriots	32	26	0.552	-	L2
Huntington Hawks	28	30	0.483	4	W2
Kanawha Valley Vipers	27	31	0.466	5	W1
Beckley Bears		26	32	0.448	6	W1
Bluefield Bullfrogs	26	32	0.448	6	L1
					
Gold Division		W	L	PCT	GB	Streak
Morgantown Monsters	38	20	0.655	-	W2
Wheeling Owls		34	24	0.586	4	W6
Fairmont Engineers	32	26	0.552	6	L4
Clarksburg Cardinals	25	33	0.431	13	L2
Martinsburg Spirit	22	36	0.379	16	L1

League Leaders
Below are the current Mountaineer League statistical leaders in selected categories:

Code:

Batting Average:		
0.432	D. Lowry, FMT
0.410	T. Moore, CLK
0.397	S. Hutton, PBG
0.372	J. Griesck, WHL
0.358	J. Casto, WHL
		
Home Runs:		
21	E. Fernández, MOR
19	A. Butler, KV
18	J. Casto, WHL
15	S. Hutton, PBG
14	2 tied with	
		
Runs Batted In:		
55	R. Thwaites, KV
54	V. Ortíz, PBG
52	E. Fernández, MOR
46	M. Weaver, FMT
45	J. Casto, WHL
		
Wins:		
10	J. O'Breen, MBG
10	D. Slater, MOR
7	M. Armstrong, BCK
7	7 more tied with	
		
ERA:		
1.71	D. Slater, MOR
2.73	B. Walters, PBG
3.08	T. Roblez, KV
3.13	T. Santos, HTG
3.29	J. O'Breen, MBG
		
Strikeouts:		
124	D. Slater, MOR
118	S. Squire, HTG
95	J. O'Breen, MBG
93	T. Santos, HTG
90	A. Searle, CLK

The full, online leagues report can be found here:
WV Baseball Leagues Online Report
Updated on 7/28/06

07-28-2006, 09:19 AM	#22 (permalink)
scuffleball Minors (Triple A) Join Date: May 2003 Location: USA Posts: 237 Thanks: 44 Thanked 7x in 6 posts	All Star Break Upon Us! (NOTE: I will only be reporting on the Mountaineer League from now on, since I am really starting to follow it myself. I will expand the coverage of the ML and provide all the leagues through the web reports. I will write up some stories about WVIL from time to time, though, as well, and still plan to build a good rivalry.) Mountaineer League Report 2 Through 6/17/2006 The Mountaineer League's inaugural All-Star break is here, with all ten ML teams taking a much deserved respite from the intense on-field competition. Things have been remarkably consistent through the first 58 games. Morgantown, quickly becoming known as the Monsters of the North, continue to lead the Gold Division and, barring injury, show no signs of faltering. They are being pursued by the resurgent Wheeling Owls, lead by All-Star catcher JW Casto. In the Blue Division, the Parkersburg Patriots is the only team playing above 500 baseball (more on the poor performance of the Blue Division below). Huntington and Kanawha Valley trail by four and five games respectively. Blue Division Playing the Blues Earlier in the season, it was considered an anomaly, simply a fluke. 'It would work itself out' were the buzz words of the day. Now, as the five teams of the Blue Division find themselves at the all-star break, pundits and casual fans are starting to reassess their attitudes. Everyone seems to be asking, "What's wrong with the Blue Division"? What, indeed. Only one team, the streaking Parkersburg Patriots, is over 500, but only just, sporting a record of 32-26. Several teams that many considered to be potential league frontrunners - Bluefield, Kanawha Valley, Huntington - are languishing with losing records and in very real danger of not making the playoffs. Bluefield, with much touted 1st round draft choice Steven Hutton (LF), is surprising, currently entrenched in last place in the division. "It's not pretty, that's for sure," Kanawha Valley Vipers Manager Chris Schultz remarked, sounding both optimistic about the second half and embarrassed about the first. "I wish I could tell you what the exact problem is. All the teams in our division are talented. Every team has played very well at times, but nobody seems to be putting it together over an eight or ten game stretch." "It's horsecrap," Bluefield closer Nick Boone notes with disdain. "Embarrassing. I'm embarrassed, I know my teammates are embarrassed. We're making the entire central and southern parts of West Virginia look stupid. But we'll turn it around. By season's end, Parkersburg won't be the only team with a winning record, I promise you." In Their Own Words "Until today, I really didn't know what I was batting. I really had no idea. It's not something I personally track. I knew I was doing well, sure, but I had no idea I was doing that well. If I'm getting on base, regardless of how it happens, then I'm doing my job and helping the team. But thanks for pointing that out . . . I really appreciate all the added pressure that will bring with it." -- Fairmont Engineers All-Star Shortstop Dave Lowry in answer to a question about what his thoughts were about leading the league with a batting average of .432 “No. Absolutely not.” -- Mountaineer League Commissioner James L. Holcomb when asked about rumors of a possible merger between ML and WVIL. ”Does hell come before no?” -- off-the-cuff remark made by Martinsburg Spirit 1B Daniel Kerley when asked if he was pleased with his play, and the play of his teammates, over the first half of the season League Standings Below are the ML current season standings for all games played up to the All-Star Break. Code: Blue Division W L PCT GB Streak Parkersburg Patriots 32 26 0.552 - L2 Huntington Hawks 28 30 0.483 4 W2 Kanawha Valley Vipers 27 31 0.466 5 W1 Beckley Bears 26 32 0.448 6 W1 Bluefield Bullfrogs 26 32 0.448 6 L1 Gold Division W L PCT GB Streak Morgantown Monsters 38 20 0.655 - W2 Wheeling Owls 34 24 0.586 4 W6 Fairmont Engineers 32 26 0.552 6 L4 Clarksburg Cardinals 25 33 0.431 13 L2 Martinsburg Spirit 22 36 0.379 16 L1 League Leaders Below are the current Mountaineer League statistical leaders in selected categories: Code: Batting Average: 0.432 D. Lowry, FMT 0.410 T. Moore, CLK 0.397 S. Hutton, PBG 0.372 J. Griesck, WHL 0.358 J. Casto, WHL Home Runs: 21 E. Fernández, MOR 19 A. Butler, KV 18 J. Casto, WHL 15 S. Hutton, PBG 14 2 tied with Runs Batted In: 55 R. Thwaites, KV 54 V. Ortíz, PBG 52 E. Fernández, MOR 46 M. Weaver, FMT 45 J. Casto, WHL Wins: 10 J. O'Breen, MBG 10 D. Slater, MOR 7 M. Armstrong, BCK 7 7 more tied with ERA: 1.71 D. Slater, MOR 2.73 B. Walters, PBG 3.08 T. Roblez, KV 3.13 T. Santos, HTG 3.29 J. O'Breen, MBG Strikeouts: 124 D. Slater, MOR 118 S. Squire, HTG 95 J. O'Breen, MBG 93 T. Santos, HTG 90 A. Searle, CLK The full, online leagues report can be found here: WV Baseball Leagues Online Report Updated on 7/28/06 __________________ I came. I saw. I played OOTP. The Storm Tigers - my book, check it out!