How the Stars Shine: Revisiting the First Round
With the season drawing towards a close, let's take a quick look at how the HBA's first-round draft picks stacked up to predictions….
1st overall: SP Marcos Toro, Akron: (ALL-STAR) Affectionately called "Wonder Boy", the shy 21-year-old starter for Akron has been every bit the standout for the Akron rotation, with a 2.91 ERA and 2.57 FIP to match a 16-7 record. Toro was profiled as a sharp fastball artist who could go deep into games; with 185 innings pitched and 20 quality starts in 27 games started, Toro has been the bright star of the Akron rotation.
Stats: 16-7, 2.91 ERA, 43 BB, 163 K, 144 ERA+, 7.0 WAR in 27 games
Leaderboards: HR/9 (2nd), FIP (3rd), WAR (4th)
2nd: SP Chuck Smith, Lincoln: (ALL-STAR) Offspeed artist "Dr. Jekyll" has also been the standout star of an impressive Lincoln team. While his 13-14 record would suggest a lack of run support, his spectacular 2.69 ERA and 231 strikeouts show he's been more than capable as a starter -- particularly a 23-year-old knuckleballer. The Legends drafted Smith expecting a pitcher who was extremely difficult to hit, and with 227.1 innings in 31 games, Smith has shown considerable durability and stamina - including three league-leading shutouts! The argument could be made that even given their relative win totals, Smith has been a better pitcher than Toro this year.
Stats: 13-14, 2.69 ERA, 40 BB, 321 K, 156 ERA+, 7.3 WAR in 31 games
Leaderboards: ERA (6th), IP (1st), Shutouts (1st), H/9 (2nd), Ks (2nd), K/9 (2nd), K/BB (2nd), OAVG (2nd), WHIP (2nd), FIP (4th), WAR (3rd)
3rd: 3B Bill Riley, Detroit: (ALL-STAR) Riley has proven to be a well-rounded batter, matching a .328 average and .418 OBP with 40 home runs and 106 RBIs in 512 at bats. Riley has been the offensive explosive force for the Sabres, with plenty of chances to knock in leadoff man Ronald Bryant and protection from first baseman Miguel Marrero. "Jailhouse" also has 16 stolen bases to his name with a 50% steal rate -- definitively one of the game's brightest batting stars and easily the superstar for a young Detroit team.
Stats: .328/.418/.650, 33 2B, 6 3B, 40 HR, 106 RBI, 78 BB, 125 K, 182 OPS+, 16 SB, 9.0 WAR
Leaderboards: SLG (2nd), OPS (3rd), wOBA (4th), WAR (2nd), HR (2nd), Runs (5th), ISO (1st), XBH (3rd), TB (2nd)
4th: SP Clint Ventura, Fargo: (ALL-STAR) The hard-throwing anchor of an uncommon 4-man Fargo rotation, Ventura has been every bit the power pitcher Fargo envisioned, with 243 Ks in 208.2 innings. With only a 1.11 WHIP, Ventura has been stingy allowing runners on, meaning his weakness for the running game has rarely come into play - and with an 18-4 record on a 2nd-place Fargo team, it's clearly given his team a huge boost. While Art Hale has done well as a starter and Jorge Angel has been a more than serviceable closer, it's Ventura's pitching that has been the brightest spot for Fargo - one that seems to be quickly leading them in the direction of the playoffs.
Stats: 18-4, 2.42 ERA, 45 BB, 243 K, 174+ ERA, 9.6 WAR in 33 games
Leaderboards: ERA (2nd), Wins (4th), GS (3rd), IP (4th), HR/9 (5th), Ks (1st), K/9 (1st), K/BB (4th), OAVG (5th), WHIP (5th), FIP (1st), WAR (1st)
5th: RF Jim Johnson, Chicago: Originally profiled as going before Riley by many writers, Johnson has still collected a gaudy .319 average and .436 OBP. With his bat and speed he's fit naturally into Chicago's 2nd spot in the lineup, protecting leadoff man David Griffin and collecting 93 walks and 15 home runs in the process -- not to mention swiping 28 bags! While Johnson has been overshadowed at times by Chicago left-fielder Adrian Aspinall's success, Johnson is still a major part of why the Clippers are only 3 1/2 games back from Cleveland for the Lakeside League Wild Card position.
Stats: .319/.436/.502, 32 2B, 3 3B, 15 HR, 66 RBI, 93 BB, 60 K, 151 OPS+, 28 SB, 4.6 WAR
Leaderboards: OBP (5th), SB (6th), BBs (5th)
6th: SP Drake Cosmos, Omaha: With a shutout and 132 strikeouts to his lofty name, Cosmos has amassed a 3.79 ERA in 31 games. Cosmos profiled as a hard-worker that might not be ace material, but has responded with a 13-9 record and 1.17 WHIP; Cosmos is definitely one of the most prolific of Omaha's effective staff, and hopes are high that he will be at the forefront when his team attempts another playoff run next season.
Stats: 13-9, 3.79 ERA, 34 BB, 132 K, 111 ERA+, 3.6 WAR in 31 games
Leaderboards: Shutouts (2nd), BB/9 (6th)
7th: SP Roberto Castillo, St. Paul: The man awkwardly known as "Bleeder" has led the St. Paul rotation with a 3.29 ERA and 14-10 record, amassing 170 Ks in 188.2 innings. The movement-heavy 28-year-old has kept opponents swinging and exhibited the control that attracted scouts to him early on, with only 40 BB and a fairly stingy 1.17 WHIP. Though not making too many waves worldwide, Castillo has championed the Rock Cats to a 72-21 record -- likely not enough for the postseason, but enough to have many speculating that we'll be seeing "Bleeder" again.
Stats: 14-10, 3.29 ERA, 40 BB, 170 K, 128 ERA+, 6.4 WAR in 30 games
Leaderboards: Ks (5th), FIP (6th), WAR (6th)
8th: CF Robin Thomas, Cleveland: Originally profiled as a speed-and-power threat with some strikeout issues, Thomas has proven to be very few of those things. With 13 stolen bases, 5 triples, and 88 strikeouts in 434 at-bats, Thomas has avoided the peril of the strikeout but not shown a ton of speed, either. His 23 home runs are respectable and have served as an important part of an explosive Cleveland lineup alongside Mike Pierce, Nick Gilbert, and Bruce Taylor, but as a first-round draft pick, most writers agree that Thomas has underachieved.
Stats: .267/.344/.477, 12 2B, 5 3B, 23 HR, 54 RBI, 50 BB, 88 K, 118 OPS+, 13 SB, 2.5 WAR
9th: SS John Gibbs, Minneapolis: (ALL-STAR) With a .376 average, Gibbs has been all over the diamond for Minneapolis, bringing a .434 OBP, 22 stolen bases, and 6 home runs to the table as well. With only 21 strikeouts in the entire season, Gibbs has been a spark plug for the Lakers offense, but has been one of few, being the only Lakers batter with an average over .300 or an OBP over .400. Gibbs continues to star for the Lakers, however, and it's only a matter of time before he shines on a national stage.
Stats: .376/.434/.506, 46 2B, 4 3B, 6 HR, 65 RBI, 46 BB, 21 K, 152 OPS+, 22 SB, 8.1 WAR
Leaderboards: WAR (6th), H (1st), 2B (3rd)
10th: SP Antonio Farias, Dayton: (ALL-STAR) As the better of two 13-win pitchers in the Dayton staff, Farias is a huge part of Dayton's 4-game lead in the Country Division, bringing a 3.23 ERA to lead the rotation. He also sports a 1.10 WHIP paired with 142 strikeouts in 192 innings and a 3.33 FIP, showing a strong ability to keep runners off the bases; Farias is a name we'll definitely be seeing in this postseason and it's impossible to imagine Dayton won't put him on the mound for that all-important Game 1.
Stats: 13-9, 3.23 ERA, 26 BB, 142 K, 130 ERA+, 5.2 WAR in 29 games
11th: SP William Glenn, Springfield: (ALL-STAR) At 31, Glenn is a poster boy for the experienced veteran, showing not only that he was worthy of being picked in the first round despite his relatively higher age, but that he might have done well to be picked first overall. With a startling record of 18-4 and an incredible 1.82 ERA and 0.95 WHIP, Glenn has devastated opposing lineups all season. If you're wondering how Springfield has catapulted itself into the Great Plains division lead despite carrying a 4-10 starter in Louie Chandler, look no further than the remainder of the rotation -- especially the power-pitching arm of "The Ape".
Stats: 18-4, 1.82 ERA, 37 BB, 189 K, 231 ERA+, 8.0 WAR in 30 games
Leaderboards: ERA (1st), Wins (3rd), H/9 (1st), HR/9 (3rd), Ks (3rd), K/9 (4th), K/BB (5th), OAVG (1st), WHIP (1st), FIP (2nd), WAR (2nd)
12th: C Sidney Battle, Kansas City: (ALL-STAR) The youngest player taken in the draft (taken immediately after the 31-year-old Glenn), Battle has turned heads all across America's Heartland. With a gaudy .351 average, .436 OBP, and astounding 40 HR at the age of 22, Battle has thrown himself squarely into the running for Rookie of the Year. Battle has led his team as a rare 3-hole-hitting catcher, destroying opposing pitching and knocking in 103 RBIs in 481 at bats. Kansas City is in an excellent, Prairie Division-leading position, and much of that success is owed to the offensive nucleus of Christian Walton, Jerry Wilkerson, Battle, Mac Burns, and Brendon Anderson. It's not just exciting to see what Battle has accomplished this year -- it's exciting to see Battle representing the next generation of stars of this new league.
Stats: .351/.436/.651, 22 2B, 1 3B, 40 HR, 103 RBI, 73 BB, 78 K, 187 OPS+, 0 SB, 8.7 WAR
Leaderboards: AVG (5th), OBP (4th), SLG (1st), OPS (2nd), wOBA (3rd), WAR (3rd), HR (2nd), ISO (3rd), TB (6th)
13th: C Jacob Parkinson, Bay City: (ALL-STAR) At 27, the elder catcher was considered one of the top catchers in the draft alongside Battle, and has proven it in no short order with Bay City. With a .344 average and .614 slugging percentage, Parkinson has contributed 30 HRs and 96 RBIs to the center of the lineup. Parkinson is one of four players with averages above .300 on the Bay City squad, and while Bay City is out of contention for the playoffs, Parkinson continues in the running for team MVP with no doubt.
Stats: .344/.416/.614, 31 2B, 4 3B, 30 HR, 96 RBI, 59 BB, 23 K, 172 OPS+, 6.5 WAR
Leaderboards: SLG (6th), OPS (5th), wOBA (5th), ISO (6th)
14th: SP Carlos Luna, Wichita: The 34-year-old starting veteran began the season with Wichita, where he compiled a 10-11 record with a sterling 2.95 ERA before being traded as the centerpiece in a deadline blockbuster deal with the Detroit Sabres. Luna has compiled an 0-2 record with a 3.24 ERA in four games with Detroit, giving him a total 10-13 record, a 2.98 ERA, and 121 strikeouts in 202.2 innings. Luna was the standout of the Wichita rotation, but hasn't quite pitched up to his ace reputation, leaving several to wonder how Detroit could justify trading for such a rental - at least until he signed a contract to stay in the black and red for another four years.
Stats: 10-13, 2.98 ERA, 69 BB, 121 K, 141 ERA+, 4.7 WAR in 32 games
15th: SP Javier De La Garza, Toledo: (ALL-STAR) With a 2.66 ERA and a 16-8 record, De La Garza has shown himself to have little role in Toledo's 67-78 record. The Ohio native has flashed a 1.28 WHIP and 140 strikeouts in 192.2 innings pitched, showing himself to be the elite arm of the Toledo rotation. Opponents have hit .267 off of him, and he's allowed only 10 home runs -- when Toledo builds up for another push next year, it will be De La Garza leading the charge.
Stats: 16-8, 2.66 ERA, 46 BB, 140 K, 158 ERA+, 5.0 WAR in 32 games
Leaderboards: ERA (4th)
16th: CF Brian Cates, West Lafayette: (ALL-STAR) Scouts predicted Cates wouldn't show a lot of power as a center fielder, and they've been right: Cates has NO home runs this season. That hardly means he hasn't had an impact, however, as the 26-year-old All-Star has hit a staggering 40 doubles and 10 triples in the lead-off spot for the Bluebirds. With a .341 average and .421 on-base percentage, Cates is likely to occupy a spot in the postseason-bound Bluebirds lineup for years to come.
Stats: .341/.421/.448, 40 2B, 10 3B, 0 HR, 48 RBI, 71 BB, 36 K, 134 OPS+, 47 SB, 5.8 WAR
Leaderboards: H (6th), 3B (5th), Runs (3rd), SB (2nd)
17th: 1B Keith James, Milwaukee: (ALL-STAR) The Braves created their own fireworks on July 4th when they traded James in a massive deal to the St. Paul Rock Cats. James hit .330 with Milwaukee but has hit only .258 since being traded, sporting an unimpressive .309 with the Rock Cats and hovering close to league average as a hitter. His strongest point this year has undoubtedly been the 36 home runs he's split between Milwaukee (24) and St. Paul (12), but the San Jose native's drop in production since being traded has raised questions about his make-up.
Stats: .298/.365/.561, 33 2B, 2 3B, 36 HR, 109 RBI, 61 BB, 109 K, 179 OPS+ (MIL), 102 OPS+ (STP), 0 SB, 4.3 WAR
Leaderboards: HR (5th), RBI (5th)
18th: MR Jorge Angel, Des Moines: The first of the HBA's big-name first-round trades, Angel was drafted as a closer (coining the nickname "Fireman") and traded from the Huskies to Fargo in June. Angel has been solid for Fargo with a 3.88 ERA, but hasn't managed anything approaching his impressive 1.69, 10-save stint for Des Moines since being traded. He's racked up 13 saves as an Ice Pilot, recording 80 Ks but issuing 21 walks as well; Angel has been a solid closer but it seems clear -- and a little unfortunate for Fargo -- that the change of scenery didn't do him as much good as they had hoped.
Stats: 6-8, 3.35 ERA, 28 BB, 107 K, 249 ERA+ (DEM), 108 ERA+ (FAR), 1.9 WAR in 56 games
19th: SP Elmer Stillingfleet, Huntington: While Stillingfleet offered some promise, being a 31-year-old pitching with some history of effectiveness, he has brought little of that reputation to Huntington - including a 10-17 record, a 4.44 ERA, and a 1.38 WHIP in 184.1 innings. Stillingfleet is symptomatic of a difficult inaugural season for Huntington, which has collected a 66-77 record and are eight games back in the hunt for the wild card. Stillingfleet, at last word, may have been waived by the Fighting Sioux, and it's unknown as to what fate lies ahead for the man called "Jocko".
Stats: 10-17, 4.44 ERA, 63 BB, 114 K, 95 ERA+, 2.8 WAR in 31 games
20th: SP Victor Clark, St. Louis: Clark has flown low in the rotation for the Toros, being third in the rotation behind George Poole and Joe Hill in both wins and ERA (going 12-9, 3.75). At 26, Clark is still projected to have some upside, but he's making his niche as a Toro quite effectively -- many scouts see him as the future #2-#3 for St. Louis, which is a great success for the club but possibly a disappointment for Clark as a first-round pick.
Stats: 12-9, 3.75 ERA, 59 BB, 89 K, 112 ERA+, 3.2 WAR in 31 games
Top Prospect Barnes Gets The Call
After a long awaited promotion, the HBA's #1 pitching prospect, Terrance "Drummer' Barnes, has at last received a call to the big leagues. Barnes, despite his small size, was selected in the 2nd Round of the 2011 Inaugural Draft by the West Lafayette Bluebirds, and was immediately assigned to begin his professional career at Triple-A Huntington Beach. Needles to say, the young hurler wasn't happy with this decision, and was often cited complaining about his current role with the organization. His teammates have surmised him as arrogant, condescending, and too-smart for his own good - but boy can he pitch!
"You know, there were a few times when I had honestly considered trading Barnes for a major-league ready arm, but I knew I'd regret the decision in the future." West Lafayette GM Gavin Giles said in a recent interview "Sometimes the urge to 'win now' gets the best of me and I make irrational decisions. I'm glad I held onto him. He's played incredibly well with the Hurricanes and he looks to have a bright future with the Bluebirds."
Barnes was called-up following an injury to star left-fielder Daniel Harris, who could be out for the remainder of the regular season. It's all on Barnes now to earn his spot on the 25-man roster, and potentially, get the opportunity to join the Bluebirds in their postseason run.
This season with Huntington Beach, Terrance was 10-5 with a 3.78 ERA. Assuming he measures up to his potential, he looks to be the next Clint Ventura and a future ace for many years to come.
Lake Monsters' Report: June 2011
Player of the Month: June 2011
Bay City management expected big returns from C Jacob Parkingson when they selected him inthe first round of the HBA dispersal draft and so far they have not been disappointed. Through the first three months of the season he leads the Lake Monsters in most offensive categories including batting average, homers, RBI, and runs scored while striking out just 15 times. His six homers, 16 RBI, and 17 runs scored in the month of June was enough to edge Willard Raymond and Alfred Hicks for the Lake Monsters Player of the Month award. Parkinson added a .358 batting average and three doubles for Bay City.
Bad Start, Decent Finish
The Lake Monsters started the month of June with a wimper losing seven of their first eight games to drop to 26-34 and falling to last place in the Lakeside League Coastal Division. The team then went on to win 12 of their next 19 games to finish the June 38-41 climbing back to third place in division just two and a half games behind second place Cleveland.
What a Game!!
June 26, 2011 is a day that Alfred Hicks will not soon forget. The 31 year old Bay City pitcher recorded the highest game score so far in the 2011 season pitching at division rival Detroit. Hicks pitched eight shutout innings allowing just one hit and no walks while setting the HBA single game record with 14 strikeouts. The only hit the Sabres could muster against Hicks was a bloop single byJose Gutierrez just out of reach of Bay City second sacker Santiago Sosa in the top of the sixth inning. The controversy came in the bottom of the ninth when Bay City manager Bob Ueker sent closer Howard Tyler to the mound to start the inning preventing Hicks from completing the shutout. "Bob could see that I was tired but I would have liked the chance to finish," Hicks said after the game. Protecting a 2-0 lead Tyler gave up a leadoff single to Gutierrez before inducing three consecutive groundouts to end the game and preserve the shutout.
Springfield Warriors; Pre-Season Dud to Mid-Season Stud
Succeeding the downfall of the Lincoln Legends, the Springfield Warriors have managed to earn the title of the best team in baseball in recent weeks. The what? I thought Springfield was just some fictional city portrayed in the Simpsons? On the contrary, not only is Springfield authentic, but they've managed to establish themselves as the supreme dominance in the HBA.
What makes them so good? Could it be the bullpen, whom has collectively posted a 1.70 ERA this season? Maybe it's their ace pitcher, William Glenn, who seems to be the front runner for the Hal Newhouser Award this season. None of the above? Perhaps it's Will Brown, the 36 year-old RF who just set a league record, 27-game hitting streak earlier this month. If this was a test, circling 'All of the Above' would be the correct answer.
With a roster seemingly poised for success, it's astonishing the so called 'experts' deemed this club a dud in the pre-season predictions. Infact, the baseball gurus' even went as far as surmising the Warriors as a last place team. Thankfully, GM Mike Meagher knew where his team stood, regardless of what the reports said.
Meagher received a considerable amount of criticism during the Inaugural Draft, after selecting four-consecutive relievers in the first five rounds. Headed into Round 6, Springfield still lacked a bat of any kind in the lineup. At this point, the only true superstar hitters remaining were nearing the end of their careers. Meagher threw the age factor out the window, and went with slugger William Brown.
Brown has since supplied just enough offensive production to keep the franchise afloat in the first-half. While he's not the only contributor, it's safe to say the Warriors would be in a serious hole without him.
This season Brown is hitting at a .339 pace while matching the Pioneer League high in home runs with 22.
As we approach the end of the first half, Springfield holds the best record in the HBA at 51-32, and currently possess a 3.5 game lead over St. Paul in the Great Plains Division.
Lake Monsters' Report: May 2011
Bay City Back to Reality After Hot Start
After a surprising 12-11 April the Bay City Lake Monsters have come crashing back to reality with a 13-16 May finding themselves a full seven games behind Detroit after two months of baseball. Sitting at 32-20 the Sabres are clearly the class of the Lakeside League's Coastal Division holding a 5.5 game lead over second place Toledo. Bay City has struggled against Coastal Division foes posting a 12-18 record while playing .500 ball(11-11) against the rest of the Heartland Baseball Association.
May Player of the MonthIn a month that saw the Lake Monsters struggle, 31 year old starting pitcher Alfred Hicks stood out. In his seven starts he posted six quality starts and finished the month with a winning record(4-3) with each of his three losses coming by one run. In 46 innnings he struck out 50 while walking just 11 and posting a 2.54 ERA and giving up a .200 opponent batting average. On the year Hicks is 5-5 with 70 strikeouts in 72 innnings.
Come On Man!!!
Lake Monsters manager Bob Ueker nearly lost his job after a May 17th loss against division rival Toledo in which 35 year old starting pitcher Sancho Rodriguez started the game at Shortstop and eventually left the game with a broken ankle following a freak accident suffered in the field during the third inning. 2B Santiago Sosa and Rodriguez ran into each other at second base while turning a double play. During the play Sosa stepped on Rodriguez's ankle putting Rodruguez on the disabled list for at least four months. "Sancho has been bugging me about letting him play the field all season," said a dejected Ueker after the game. "I filled out two lineup cards, one was a joke with Sancho at short. Somehow that lineup card made it to the umpires so we were kinda stuck when the game started. Then he got a hit and turned a double play and I started to feel like the smartest manager in baseball. When I saw his ankle get crushed, in that moment of clarity, I realized I am still as stupid as ever." Bay City's owner, Michael Wagner, had this to say about Ueker's flub, "If we finish the season one game out of the playoffs then I'll fire him but I have a feeling that this injury isn't going to make or break our season."
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