The Pastime Baseball League

[EMSoccerCoach]

Originally Posted by kenyan_cheena

It's surprising to me that there aren't many people giving it a look because it's a high-quality dynasty. Whatever you decide to do, I'll keep on following.

Thanks, KC. I'm certainly not offended, just more disappointed. Was excited about this one as I thought it would spark a lot of interest given cross-era model. But either I'm doing a style that doesn't click with people or the unfamiliarity of 19th Century guys who I started the league with is making it hard to get interested.

I'm certainly not abandoning it. I'm enjoying it. I just love talking about it, too, which is why the lack of interaction is disappointing.

Appreciate your continued interest!

[hihot]

i like it alot its just its to slow for my taste it takes about a month to a month in game it seems like

[EMSoccerCoach]

Originally Posted by hihot

i like it alot its just its to slow for my taste it takes about a month to a month in game it seems like

I can understand that. Which is another reason I hope the shift to monthly will help. Speed things up and make a history of sorts happen a bit more quickly.

The next report, starting tonight, will be the last PBL Bi-Weekly. It will then become PBL Monthly, with the next "Issue Date" of August 1.

[EMSoccerCoach]

Pastime Baseball League – Baseball Bi-Weekly
Vol. 7, Monday, June 29, 2009 (cont.)

[EMSoccerCoach]

Pastime Baseball League – Baseball Bi-Weekly
Vol. 7, Monday, June 29, 2009 (cont.)

The Chase Is On
Despite margin, Memphis/New Orleans is race to watch

As we hit summer, the inaugural season of the Pastime Baseball League sees three divisional races within six games. Yet, it's the 11-game margin in the Southern League's Eastern Division that is shaping up as the one watch.

The Memphis Strummers are the best team in baseball right now, playing percentage points shy of .700 baseball. But all eyes are on the resurgent New Orleans Knights, who have gone 23-7 since Walter Alston took over.

The odds are, of course, slim that the Knights can make up such a deficit, as even if the Strummers were to play merely .500 ball the rest of the way, the Knights would need to play .620 baseball just to catch them. Consider how unlikely it is that the Strummers are going to fall off the cliff the rest of the way, and the Knights' task seems insurmountable. For example, in the past two weeks the Knights have gone 9-2. How much ground did they gain? Zero, as the Strummers matched them win for win.

"They're a great, balanced team," Alston said last week. "We're not fooling ourselves into thinking it will be easy. But we also have too much faith in ourselves to think it's impossible."

The Knights are armed - pun fully intended - with the league's top two pitchers in ERA: Jack Chesbro (2.06) and Doc McJames (2.07). New Orleans got a scare when McJames left a start on June 21, but the diagnosis is minor tendonitis, and McJames says he'll only miss a couple of starts.

The teams lock up in Memphis for a 3-game set in Memphis mid-month, before a series the last day of July into August in New Orleans. In all, they play 14 more times this season.

Memphis, however, is riding the best offense in baseball and an underrated pitching staff. Right now, young Oscar Charleston seems to be making his case as best all-around player in the Southern League, playing a sparkling centerfield while raising his season stats to .339-9-56 on the heels of a June that has seen him hit .409 with 6 homers and a whopping 30 RBI.

"What they [New Orleans] have done is impressive," Strummers manager Harry Wright says. "But we're the best team in baseball. And they are the ones who have to catch us."

Not likely...but not imposible.

[EMSoccerCoach]

Northern League Statistics

[EMSoccerCoach]

Pastime Baseball League – Baseball Bi-Weekly
Vol. 7, Monday, June 29, 2009 (cont.)

Southern League Statistics

[EMSoccerCoach]

Pastime Baseball League – Baseball Bi-Weekly
Vol. 7, Monday, June 29, 2009 (cont.)

Northern League Profiles

Charlotte Cougars

Record: Last 2 Weeks (5-6), Overall 39-30

2-Week Synopsis: Swept 2 vs Los Angeles, Lost 3 vs Wichita, Won 2 of 3 vs Chicago, Lost 2 of 3 vs Louisville

Leaders:
Avg - John McGraw .323
HRs - Paul Hines 9
RBIs - Paul Hines 41

Wins - Kid Nichols 10
ERA - Tim Keefe 2.80
Ks - Kid Nichols 110

Top Performance: SP Tim Keefe returned from the disabled list by throwing scattering 8 hits in a 5-0 shutout win over Chicago on June 24.

Injuries: 2B Fred Dunlap suffered a sports hernia on May 9, and is expected to return by the end of the week.

Round Trip (Four miscellaneous points about the team):
1) The Cougars continue to struggle since their torrid April, now 20-25 since May 1.

2) LF Elmer Smith has returned from the disabled list and is hitting .292 with a .452 OBP since returning to action.

3) After struggling for the first two months of the season, SP Jake Peavy had a strong month, going 2-1 with a 2.78 ERA, striking out more than a batter an inning. After striking out 45 batters in his first 60 innings, Peavy whiffed 33 batters in 32 1/3 this month, a sign his stuff has dramatically improved.

4) He was under control the first two months of the year, but RP Wild Bill Donovan earned his moniker in June, walking 14 batters in 9 2/3 innings.

Chicago Hitmen

Record: Last 2 Weeks (4-7), Overall 21-48

2-Week Synopsis: Lost 2 vs New Orleans, Won 2 of 3 at Philadelphia, Lost 2 of 3 at Charlotte, Lost 2 of 3 at Indianapolis

Leaders:
Avg - King Kelly .314
HRs - Albert Pujols/Adam Dunn 9
RBIs - Albert Pujols 38

Wins - George Bradley 6
ERA - Amos Rusie 3.46
Ks - George Bradley 105

Top Performance: George Bradley outdueled Charlotte's Kid Nichols, allowed one run on three hits over 7 innings in a 2-1 win on June 23.

Injuries: Troy Tulowitzski suffered a hip injury that is expected to shelve him for the remainder of the season. CF Chick Stahl separated his shoulder diving for a ball, and is expected to return in a few days

Round Trip (Four miscallaneous points about the team):

1) The rumors were more than rumors, as the Hitmen fired general manager Thomas Caldwell days after letting Caldwell fire manager Joe McCarthy and hire Tony LaRussa to replace him. Javier Martinez has been brought in to replace Caldwell, though what that means going ahead is anyone's guess. Chaos reigns in Chicago, and despite the best group of prospects in the game, the ship seems somewhat rudderless.

2) One situation the Hitmen are going have to deal with is Albert Pujols, who is angry. He's hitting .417 the past two weeks, so his mini-slump seems done, but he's being kept in the platoon role McCarthy put him in before his termination. Pujols has said little, but his body language is saying more, and the feeling he's being "scapegoated" - as he said to the Sun-Times last week - is not sitting well.

3) Adam Dunn, who has taken a bulk of Pujols AB's as the lefty part of the platoon, is riding a 9-game hitting streak during which he's hit .303 with 4 homers and 10 RBI.

4) Dustin Pedroia has taken the second base job on the strength of a .313 average this month. Marcus Giles has been relegated to bench duty.

[EMSoccerCoach]

Pastime Baseball League – Baseball Bi-Weekly
Vol. 7, Monday, June 29, 2009 (cont.)

Northern League Profiles
Indianapolis Engines

Record: Last 2 Weeks (4-7), Overall 37-32

2-Week Synopsis: Lost 1 vs Orlando, Lost 3 at New York, Won 2 of 3 at Louisville, Won 2 of 3 at Chicago

Leaders:
Avg - Jake Beckley .357
HRs – Elmer Flick/Billy Hamilton 5
RBIs - Elmer Flick 47

Wins - Terry Larkin/Jack Taylor 8
ERA - Pud Galvin 2.78
Ks - Charlie Buffinton 98

Top Performance: SP Jack Taylor threw a 3-hit shutout, leading Indianapolis to a 6-0 win at Louisville on June 22.

Injuries: P Candy Cummings is out for the season with a torn forearm muscle.

Round Trip (Four miscellaneous points about the team):
1) The only difference is Sam Wise vs righties and Joe Crede vs lefties...yet the Engines are 34-21 against righthanded starters, but 3-11 against lefties.

2) Indianapolis starters in the first two weeks of June posted a 2.47 ERA. In the past two weeks? 4.42.

3) The Engines continue to carry an 8-man staff with only 3 relievers. How do you pull that off? The starters have been strong, except for #5 starter Doug Waechter, who was shelled twice. And the pen? A 1.69 ERA for June combined from Joakim Soria, Victor Zambrano, and Oscar Villareal.

4) 3B Harry Steinfeldt was unstoppable in June, hitting .351 with a 1.018 OPS.

Louisville Racers

Record: Last 2 Weeks (5-6), Overall 35-34

2-Week Synopsis: Split 2 vs San Antonio, Lost 2 of 3 vs Sacramento, Lost 2 of 3 vs Indianapolis, Won 2 of 3 at Charlotte

Leaders:
Avg – Dan Brouthers .350
HRs - Dan Brouthers 27
RBIs - Dan Brouthers 65

Wins - Roy Oswalt 10
ERA - Roy Oswalt 4.00
Ks - Roy Oswalt 108

Top Performance: Lefty Marr went 4-for-4 in a 13-9 loss at Charlotte.

Round Trip (Four miscellaneous points about the team):
1) He's human. Compared with the .380-22-50 line he put up over the first two months of the season, the .295-5-15 posted by 1B Dan Brouthers in June seems pedestrian.

2) RF Lefty Marr followed up a strong May (.288, 2 HR, 24 RBI, 22 R and hit .317 with .400 OBP) with a great June, hitting .391 with 3 homers, 20 RBI and 18 runs, compensating for the falloff in Brouthers' production somewhat.

3) SPs Will White and Nig Cuppy: 9 starts combined for a 2.69 ERA. Their record? 2-2. That's a sign of lack of run production...and bad luck. The Racers, after all, lead the Northern League in runs scored. See Roy Oswalt, who went 3-1 despite a 5.80 ERA on the month.

4) The Racers are fifth in average but first in on base percentage.

[EMSoccerCoach]

Pastime Baseball League – Baseball Bi-Weekly
Vol. 7, Monday, June 29, 2009 (cont.)

Northern League Profiles
New York Heroes

Record: Last 2 Weeks (9-2), Overall 38-31

2-Week Synopsis: Split 2 vs Alabama, Swept 3 vs Indianapolis, Swept 3 vs Sacramento, Won 2 of 3 at Philadelphia

Leaders:
Avg – Ed McKean .323
HRs - Roger Connor 13
RBIs – Jesse Burkett 55

Wins - Jim McCormick 10
ERA - Jim McCormick 2.77
Ks - Harry Howell 105

Top Performance: Jesse Burkett went 3-for-4 with 3 runs scored and 6 RBI in a 14-5 win over Sacramento on June 22.

Injuries: SS Ed McKean has a torn rotator cuff and is out for the season.

Round Trip (Four miscallaneous points about the team):
1) The injury to SS Ed McKean put a damper on a stellar 2-week stretch for New York that put them within a game of first place. McKean leads the Heroes in batting at .323 and has been a steady performer all year. He will be replaced at shortstop by Martin Dihigo, who has played all over the place so far this season, though predominantly at second base. He will slide over and Aaron Miles will take over at second base.

2) 3B David Wright wrapped up his best month of the year, batting .304 with a .371 OBP, leading the Heroes to hope he's finally over the hump. Wright is joined by CF Grady Sizemore, who hit .300 with a .380 OBP for the month.

3) A great month rose the Heroes season batting average to .287, as 7 of their 8 regulars hit .295 or better for the month: C Dick Higham (.375), 1B Roger Connor (.368), 2B Martin Dihigo (.359), LF Jesse Burkett (.318), 3B David Wright (.304), CF Grady Sizemore (.300) and SS Ed McKean (.295).

4) It wasn't just the offense, as New York starters pitched to a 2.78 ERA for the month. That's how a team goes 14-8. And those 8 losses included a 2-0, two 3-1 and a 4-2 defeat.

Philadelphia Ringers
Record: Last 2 Weeks (4-7), Overall 30-37

2-Week Synopsis: Split 2 vs Memphis, Lost 2 of 3 vs Chicago, Lost 2 of 3 vs Wichita, Lost 2 of 3 vs New York

Leaders:
Avg - Pete Gillespie .316
HRs - John O'Rourke 20
RBIs - John O'Rourke 45

Wins - Old Hoss Radbourn 9
ERA - Old Hoss Radbourn 3.06
Ks - Satchel Paige 133

Top Performance: Jim O'Rourke hit two homers against Chicago on June 21, then hit 2 more against Wichita on June 24.

Injuries: Reserve squad player Cody Ross dislocated his shoulder falling down a flight of stairs. He's expected to miss another 7 weeks.

Round Trip (Four miscellaneous points about the team):
1) The Ringers' biggest problem is baseball's worst bullpen, which has posted an almost unfathomable 7.72 ERA so far this year.

2) CF John O'Rourke now has 20 homers, but only 45 RBI, a figure symbolic of the overall offensive struggle for this team. While the Ringers are second in the Northern League in slugging percentage, as well as home runs, they are next to last in OBP. The result? Lots of solo homers.

3) RF Heavy Johnson has been stuck in a platoon situation, but that could change as RF John Anderson continues to struggle. Anderson is hitting only .216, and despite his 10 homers that may not be enough to save his job. Johnson is batting .333 and slugging .505, perhaps enough to take the job fulltime.

4) 2B Bid McPhee has been brilliant defensively all season, but finally hit at least a bit, batting .247 in June after hovering around .200 all season.

[EMSoccerCoach]

Pastime Baseball League – Baseball Bi-Weekly
Vol. 7, Monday, June 29, 2009 (cont.)

Northern League Profiles

Sacramento Stingers

Record: Last 2 Weeks (4-7), Overall 31-36

2-Week Synopsis: Split 2 vs Arizona, Won 2 of 3 at Louisville, Lost 3 at New York, Lost 2 of 3 vs Wichita

Leaders:
Avg – George Hall .348
HRs – George Hall 22
RBIs – George Hall 52

Wins - Jim Devlin 9
ERA - Jim Devlin 3.60
Ks - Jim Devlin 124

Top Performance: 1B Adam LaRoche went 4-for-4 in a 9-7 loss against Arizona on June 17.

Injuries: Outfielder Cory Sullivan tore a ligament in his thumb and is expected to return this week. 2B Kid Gleason fractured his foot on June 13 and is expected to miss another week. SP Adam Eaton is out with a sore shoulder and expected to miss two weeks.

Round Trip (Four miscellaneous points about the team):
1) 1B Adam LaRoche was having a great month off the bench, and got a rare start to boot in which he went 4-for-4. Don't expect more playing time, though, as Travis Hafner was on fire this month, posting .333-4-17 with a .948 OPS.

2) Sacramento hopes 3B Arlie Latham's pattern continues, at least for July. After batting .186 in April, Latham hit .351 in May only to collapse again and bat .172 in June.

3) CF Ginger Beaumont is wondering what he did wrong. Beaumont hit .322 before suffering a bicep strain in early May. He missed 3 weeks and has yet to get his job back, mustering only 17 at bats in June. Jason Bay, who replaced him, has hit .247 this month.

4) It keeps getting worse for SP Guy Hecker: April ERA - 2.43; May ERA - 4.61; June ERA - 10.87.

Wichita Brigade

Record: Last 2 Weeks (8-3), Overall 43-26

2-Week Synopsis: Split 2 vs Las Vegas, Swept 3 at Charlotte, won 2 of 3 at Philadelphia, Won 2 of 3 at Sacramento

Leaders:
Avg - Robinson Cano .315
HRs - Robinson Cano 11
RBIs - Robinson Cano 46

W - Rube Waddell 13
ERA - Rube Waddell 2.33
Ks - Rube Waddell 151

Top Performance: Rube Waddell struck out a season-high 15, scattering 7 hits in a complete game 5-3 win over Sacramento on June 26.

Injuries: CF Cherokee Davis has a partially torn labrum and is expected to be out until the end of July.

Round Trip (Four miscellaneous points about the team):
1) Rube Waddell has been simply outstanding, and right now may be the best pitcher in baseball. Waddell has won his last 6 starts, has struck out double digits in his last 3, has gone at least 8 innings in his last 8 starts and is 10-1 with a 2.12 ERA in his last 12 starts.

2) 2B Robinson Cano was named Northern League Player of the Week today after a week in which he hit .480 with 3 homers and 11 RBI.

3) As Wichita has opened up a 6-game lead on Indianapolis, consensus seems to be Wichita and the Memphis Strummers are the two best teams in baseball. But manager Whitey Herzog doesn't want to hear it. "When the season is over, that's when questions like that get answered. We have lots of business to take care of first, and so do they."

4) SP Al Orth hasn't lost since April 29 and is now 7-1 with a 3.18 ERA.

[EMSoccerCoach]

Pastime Baseball League – Baseball Bi-Weekly
Vol. 7, Monday, June 29, 2009 (cont.)

Southern League Profiles

Alabama Airmen

Record: Last 2 Weeks (4-7), Overall 29-41

2-Week Synopsis: Split 2 at New York, Lost 2 of 3 at San Antonio, Lost 2 of 3 at Arizona, Lost 2 of 3 at Memphis

Leaders:
Avg - George Van Haltren .307
HRs - Mike Tiernan 13
RBIs - Mike Tiernan 45

Wins - Vic Willis 7
ERA - Joe Corbett 3.12
Ks – Joe Corbett 145

Top Performance: George Van Haltren went 4-for-6 with 2 runs and 2 RBI in a 9-7 win at Memphis on June 26.

Round Trip (Four miscellaneous points about the team):
1) The Airmen hit only 9 homers on the month.

2) Other than CF George Van Haltren and RF Mike Tiernan, no member of the Airmen hit above .270 in June.

3) The 6-week hot streak of 1B Mike Jacobs came to a crashing halt as he is now 2 for his last 23.

4) Scott Olsen made a start in place of Ted Breitenstein and gave up 5 runs over 7 ininngs in an 11-7 win at San Antonio. But manager Earl Weaver decided to go back to former starter Ed Morris for the next time that turn came around, and he threw an impressive 8 innings of 1-run ball in a tough 1-0 loss at Memphis. Expect Morris' return to the rotation to be semi-permanent.
Arizona Sandmen

Record: Last 2 Weeks (7-4), Overall 38-32

2-Week Synopsis: Split 2 at Sacramento, Won 2 of 3 vs Orlando, Won 2 of 3 vs Alabama, Won 2 of 3 vs Las Vegas.

Leaders:
Avg – Nap Lajoie .340
HRs – Nap Lajoie 13
RBIs – Nap Lajoie 55

Wins – Ben Sanders 11
ERA – Ben Sanders 2.15
Ks – Clark Griffith 75

Top Performance: SP Clark Griffith threw a complete-game 6-hitter, striking out 8 in a 2-0 win over Las Vegas on June 28.

Injuries: Mike Koplove came off the DL May 3, threw a third of an inning on May 4 and was shelved with what has been diagnosed as bicep tendinitis. The injury is expected to keep Koplove out until August. Willie Keeler has been diagnosed with a torn elbow ligament, and will miss the remainder of the season and possibly the first half of next year as well. LF Pete Hill left the game against San Antonio June 11 with a hamstring strain. He's expected to return this week.

Round Trip (Four miscellaneous points about the team):
1) He hit .400 on the spring before an MCL tear put him out for 3 months. But Alex Cintron returned and singled in his first at bat, scoring on 2B Nap Lajoie's game-winning homer in a 9-7 win over Sacramento on June 19. Cintron, however, will remain on the bench for the foreseeable future.

2) C Russell Martin has had a strong month, batting .338 with 2 homers, 9 RBI and a .434 OBP, raising his season numbers so .267-3-19.

3) The 4-man shuffle at shortstop and third base appears to be shifting against Kid Elberfeld, who hit .150 this month. SS Pee Wee Butts hit .324, Jose Reyes hit .293 and Billy Nash hit .091 before being moved to the bench. While Reyes and Butts are platooning now, it's not hard to envision Butts moving to third base and Elberfeld following Nash to the bench shortly.

4) Webster McDonald made his first start on June 25, allowing 3 runs over 8 innings in a 3-2 loss against Alabama. It is yet to be decided whether McDonald will permanently take Cherokee Fisher's spot in the rotation. Fisher is now 3-6 with a 6.28 ERA.

[EMSoccerCoach]

Pastime Baseball League – Baseball Bi-Weekly
Vol. 7, Monday, June 29, 2009 (cont.)

Southern League Profiles


Record: Last 2 Weeks (3-8), Overall 32-37

2-Week Synopsis: Split 2 at Wichita, Lost 2 of 3 vs New Orleans, Lost 3 vs Memphis, Lost 2 of 3 at Arizona

Leaders:
Avg – Alejandro Oms .304
HRs – Lip Pike 13
RBIs – Jimmy Ryan 40

Wins – Charlie Sweeney 11
ERA – Charlie Sweeney 2.81
Ks – Tommy Bond 143

Top Performance: After hitting .197 since May 1, 1B Dave Foutz broke out with a 4-for-5 effort June 27 in a 10-6 loss at Arizona.

Round Trip (Four miscellaneous points about the team):
1) After closing within 1 1/2 games of division leading Arizona, Vegas dropped 8 of 11 to slip 5 1/2 back and into third place.

2) SS Juan Uribe continues to surprise, wrapping up the month hitting .321. The problem, though, is the complete lack of walks. Despite hitting .321, he wound up the month with only a .337 OBP, walking 3 times in 87 plate appearances.

3) Lip Pike stayed hot, hitting .328 with 5 homers on the month, undoing concerns his great April was a fluke after a May in which he hit only .224. Remarkably, Pike has also played a solid if unspectacular second base.

4) After allowing 3 runs or fewer in 7 of 8 starts, SP Josh Beckett has given up 6 runs in each of his last two outings.

Los Angeles Idols

Record: Last 2 Weeks (3-8), Overall 25-44

2-Week Synopsis: Lost both at Charlotte, Lost 3 vs Memphis, Lost 2 of 3 vs New Orleans, Won 2 of 3 at San Antonio

Leaders:
Avg –Stephen Drew .332
HRs – Harry Stovey 15
RBIs – Harry Stovey 57

Wins – Brian Lawrence, Billy Rhines 5
ERA – Scott Kazmir 4.23
Ks – Billy Rhines 81

Top Performance: 2B George Scales went 3-for-5 with 2 homers and 8 RBI in a 13-2 win over New Orleans on June 24 that snapped a homerless month for Scales as well as an 8-game losing streak for the Idols.

Round Trip (Four miscellaneous points about the team):

1) The Southern League's worst ERA finally cost pitching coach Marvin Turner his job. The replacement? Joe McCarthy, cut loose as manager of the Chicago Hitmen last month.

2) Nobody predicted the hitting of SS Stephen Drew, who has now hit .347 over the last 2 months and taken over the team lead at .332, good for 7th in the Southern League.

3) RF Benjamin Boyd is hitting .356 with a .492 OBP with runners in scoring position this year.

4) An unnamed source with the Idols said the team continues to shop disgruntled outfielder Jumbo Kimbro but without success. "There is zero interest," the source said.

[EMSoccerCoach]

Pastime Baseball League – Baseball Bi-Weekly
Vol. 7, Monday, June 29, 2009 (cont.)

Southern League Profiles

Memphis Strummers
Record: Last 2 Weeks (9-2), Overall 48-21

2-Week Synopsis: Split 2 at Philadelphia, Swept 3 at Los Angeles, Swept 3 at Las Vegas, Won 2 of 3 vs Alabama

Leaders:
Avg - Deacon White .365
HRs - Ryan Braun 11
RBIs - Oscar Charleston 56

Wins – Lady Baldwin 11
ERA – Lady Baldwin 2.74
Ks - Tim Lincecum 128

Top Performance:1B Cap Anson went 5-for-7, with a double, a homer, 3 runs and 3 RBI in a 15-5 win over Las Vegas on June 22.

Round Trip (Four miscellaneous points about the team):
1) The Strummers are now 34-11 in their last 45 games, a .756 clip.

2) The big difference between Memphis and New Orleans? One-run games. Memphis is 15-3, while New Orleans in 7-8. That disparity makes up more than half the 11-game margin separating the two.

3) Fourteen starters have taken the hill against Memphis this year. Memphis has gone 14-0 in those games.

4) "No disrespect toward [Dan] Brouthers and [George] Hall, but when all is said and done, Oscar will be the best in the league." Those are the words of Memphis manager Harry Wright, and it's hard to argue. CF Oscar Charleston earned Southern League Player of the Week honors June 22, and likely will win Player of the Month honors as well when those are announced next week. For June, Charleston hit .409 with 6 homers and 30 RBI with an 1.196 OPS. Since May 1, he has hit .356 with 8 homers, 44 RBI and 36 runs scored. Add a near flawless centerfield - he's made only 1 error - and you may have the most complete player in the game.

New Orleans Knights

Record: Last 2 Weeks (9-2), Overall 36-31

2-Week Synopsis: Swept 2 at Chicago, Won 2 of 3 at Las Vegas, Won 2 of 3 at Los Angeles, Swept 3 vs Orlando

Leaders:
Avg – Ross Barnes .359
HRs – Sam Thompson 15
RBIs – Sam Thompson 53

Wins - Doc McJames 10
ERA - Jack Chesbro 2.06
Ks – Doc McJames 118

Top Performance: C Jack Rowe went 4-for-6 with 2 homers - including the game winner - in a 3-2, 12-inning win at Las Vegas on June 21.

Injuries: SP Doc McJames has forearm tendonitis and was DL'd effective June 21. He's expected to be ready in about a week. Topsy Hartsel has seen his season go into a nosedive since earning Player of the Week honors April 20. After a vicious cold spell, Hartsel has now been shelved with a torn ligament in his thumb suffered diving for a ball against Los Angeles May 11. He’s expected to miss another 4 weeks.

Round Trip (Four miscellaneous points about the team):
1) The team is now 25-8 since Walter Alston took over and, though still 11 games back, as the Strummers have kept up their torrid pace.

2) C Jack Rowe has emphatically taken over catching duties from Fred Carroll. A week after his aforementioned Top Performance, Rowe had another 2-homer game, wrapping up a month in which he hit .371 with 6 homers and 21 RBI to bring his season numbers to .328-6-27.

3) Jack Chesbro (2.06)and Doc McJames (2.07)are now 1-2 in the Southern League in ERA.

4) Recognize the tall young guy who's back on the mound? It's Mark Prior, who after a great first start fell apart en route to a near-8 ERA. He was pulled from the staff in early May and finally started again on June 9. He went 3-0 on the month with a 2.74 ERA, capped by 7 shutout innings of 8-strikeout ball in a 5-3 win over Orlando Sunday. Prior could be a major factor the rest of the way.

[kenyan_cheena]

I thought I asked this earlier in the thread but can't seem to find it. Just wondering how many games are in the season and what's the allocation as far as divisional and inter-divisional games.

Thanks.

[EMSoccerCoach]

Originally Posted by kenyan_cheena

I thought I asked this earlier in the thread but can't seem to find it. Just wondering how many games are in the season and what's the allocation as far as divisional and inter-divisional games.

Thanks.

Hey KC. Schedule is 162 games. 26 games against the other 3 in your division, 13 against the 4 teams in the other division in your league, 4 games against the 8 teams in the other league.

[EMSoccerCoach]

Pastime Baseball League – Baseball Bi-Weekly
Vol. 7, Monday, June 29, 2009 (cont.)

Southern League Profiles

Orlando Orcas
Record: Last 2 Weeks (4-7), Overall 35-35

2-Week Synopsis: Swept 2 at Indianapolis, Lost 2 of 3 at Arizona, Lost 2 of 3 at San Antonio, Lost 3 at New Orleans

Leaders:
Avg – Ryan Howard .282
HRs – Ryan Howard 12
RBIs – Ryan Howard 52

Wins - Chuck Smith 10
ERA – Chuck Smith 3.25
Ks – Francisco Liriano 99

Top Performance: P Mark Baldwin threw a complete game 4-hit shutout in a 4-0 win over San Antonio.

Round Trip (Four miscellaneous points about the team):

1) SS Honus Wagner hit .200 on the month to see his season average fall to .223.

2) The Orcas' offense has been nonexistent this month, scoring 61 runs in 22 games so far, a far cry from the 5.5 runs they were averaging over the first two months of the season. During their current 5-game losing streak, they have scored 7 runs.

3) A big reason for the tailout is the combined failure of the two men who carried them in the early going: 1B Ryan Howard hit .215 with a homer and 6 RBI for June, while 3B Ezra Sutton hit an abyssmal .147 with 2 homers and 9 RBI.

4) Despite getting shelled for 7 runs in his last outing, one June bright spot for the Orcas was SP Francisco Liriano. The Orcas questionable first round pick, Liriano was 2-1 with a 3.47 ERA in five starts for the month.

San Antonio Sheriffs

Record: Last 2 Weeks (6-5), Overall 33-35

2-Week Synopsis: Split 2 at Louisville, Won 2 of 3 vs Alabama, Won 2 of 3 vs Orlando, Lost 2 of 3 vs Los Angeles

Leaders:
Avg – Scott Podsednik .291
HRs – Jimmy Williams 10
RBIs – Jimmy Williams 42

Wins – Noodles Hahn 9
ERA – Noodles Hahn 2.53
Ks – Noodles Hahn 173

Top Performance: SP Noodles Hahn threw a 4-hit shutout against Alabama, striking out 10 in a 2-0 win on June 19.

Injuries:

Round Trip (Four miscallaneous points about the team):
1) CF Hugh Duffy continues to be horrible, batting .176 in June and keeping his season average at .191.

2) San Antonio, now 4 games out, aims to be within striking distance when they host Arizona for a 3-game set in the middle of July. They are 21-18 at home, but 12-17 on the road.

3) 1B Buck O'Neil has improved each month, wrapping up June with a .321 average and a .407 OBP. O'Neil is now hitting .285 with 4 homers and 39 RBI.

4) Pitching leads the way for San Antonio, which now has a Southern League best 3.29 ERA among its starters. The lack of offense has caused certain anomalies, such as Ted Trent's 4-10 record despite a respectable 3.42 ERA.

[EMSoccerCoach]

Next issue we move to PBL Monthly...format will be largely the same, just a bigger chunk of time.

[EMSoccerCoach]

Before I get going on the monthly updates, is there anything you want to see in the updates that I'm not including? I'm certainly open to suggestions.

[EMSoccerCoach]

Pastime Baseball League Monthly
Vol. 1, Monday, August 1, 2009