KENESAW MOUNTAIN LANDIS
Season 28 Q1 Power Rankings
45 Games Down — The First Quarter Takes Shape
Forty-five games are in the books, putting us just over a quarter of the way through the Season 28 schedule.
At this point, the standings are beginning to tell us something—but the team statistics are telling us even more.
There are teams whose records are backed up by dominant run differentials. There are others winning despite statistical warning signs. There are offenses carrying teams that desperately need better pitching, and there are pitching staffs keeping otherwise mediocre offenses firmly in the race.
The defending champion Augusta Admirals are once again near the top. Huntington has emerged with the league's best run differential. Baltimore owns the league's best pitching staff. Las Vegas has improved into a tie for the best record. Salem has the hottest streak.
And then there are several teams sitting around .500 whose underlying numbers suggest they could become very dangerous over the next few months.
So, with 117 games still to play, here are the Season 28 Q1 Power Rankings.
TIER 1 — THE TEAMS TO BEAT
1. Huntington Apex — 27-18
AL East | +89 Run Differential | .600
If there is one team that jumps off the statistical page after 45 games, it is Huntington.
The Apex have scored 279 runs, the most in KML, while allowing just 190. That gives them a league-best +89 run differential.
And this isn't simply a case of one hot hitter carrying the offense.
Huntington is batting .287/.362/.489 with an .852 OPS, also the best mark in the league.
Skeeter Spiezio is hitting .344 with a .461 OBP. Fernando Hechavarria has already hit 19 home runs and driven in 43. Andrew Donovan is at .945 OPS.
The one thing keeping Huntington from looking completely dominant is the pitching staff.
The Apex have a 4.00 ERA—good, but not elite.
Still, when a team is leading the league in runs and run differential while sitting at 27-18, it's difficult to argue with the results.
The Apex have been the most statistically dominant team in KML through the first quarter.
2. Augusta Admirals — 28-17
AL East | +64 Run Differential | .622
The defending World Series champions are back near the top of the rankings, and this time the numbers are even more convincing than their record alone suggests.
Augusta has scored 236 runs, seventh in KML, while allowing only 172, the third-lowest total in the league.
That produces a +64 run differential, second-best in KML.
The pitching staff is the real story.
Augusta's 3.67 ERA ranks third in the league, behind only Baltimore and Jackson. The staff has also posted a 1.23 WHIP and .243 OAV.
And the top of the rotation has been spectacular.
B.J. Valaika is 6-2 with a 1.86 ERA, .157 OAV and 0.75 WHIP.
Ordomar Gutierrez is 4-2 with a 2.04 ERA and 0.91 WHIP.
Those two alone give Augusta an imposing one-two punch.
The offense hasn't been among the league's elite, but it doesn't need to be when the pitching is preventing runs at this rate.
After 45 games, the defending champions look very much like a team capable of defending their title.
3. Buffalo Fudds — 27-18
NL North | +55 Run Differential | .600
Buffalo has quietly established itself as one of the most complete teams in KML.
The Fudds have scored 239 runs and allowed only 184, producing a +55 run differential.
Their 3.76 ERA ranks sixth in the league, while the offense has produced a .764 OPS.
And there is plenty of individual production.
Turk Glauber is hitting .348/.418/.587 with a 1.005 OPS.
Victor Richardson has 15 home runs and a .995 OPS.
Louis Foster and Steven Bordick have given Sioux Falls some of the league's better offensive production, while Buffalo's pitching has consistently kept opponents under control.
The Fudds aren't dominating one statistical category.
They're simply good at almost everything.
That's generally a pretty good recipe for winning baseball.
4. Baltimore Crab Cakes — 27-18
NL East | +58 Run Differential | .600
Baltimore owns the best pitching staff in KML.
There isn't much ambiguity about that.
The Crab Cakes have allowed just 133 runs, easily the fewest in the league.
Their 2.85 ERA, 1.11 WHIP and .216 OAV are all spectacular.
Luis Rodriguez has a 1.76 ERA.
Yasmani Ordonez is at 2.59.
Cozy Kennedy has a 2.62 ERA and 1.01 WHIP.
And Baltimore has received strong work from the bullpen as well.
The strange part is the offense.
The Crab Cakes have scored only 191 runs, 30th in KML.
But with a pitching staff this good, Baltimore doesn't need to score six runs a night.
They just need to score enough.
At 27-18 with a +58 run differential, the Crab Cakes have put themselves firmly into the contender conversation.
5. Colorado Springs Bighorn — 27-18
AL West | +40 Run Differential | .600
Colorado Springs may have the best combination of offense and pitching among the AL West contenders.
The Bighorn have scored 237 runs with a .814 OPS, fourth-best in KML.
The pitching staff has posted a 3.81 ERA, ninth-best in the league.
Yovani Torres is hitting .323/.417/.561.
Kent Gregerson has 13 home runs and a .942 OPS.
Joaquin Iglesias has driven in 43 runs.
And then there is Napoleon Gaynor, who has been outstanding out of the bullpen.
Gaynor has thrown 50.2 innings in 24 appearances, posting a 1.78 ERA and .177 OAV.
Colorado Springs has enough offense to win games and enough pitching to protect leads.
At 27-18, that's translating into wins.
TIER 2 — LEGITIMATE CONTENDERS
6. Sioux Falls Blackfoot Nation — 26-19
AL North | +41 Run Differential | .578
Sioux Falls is another team whose record is supported by its underlying numbers.
The Blackfoot Nation have scored 220 runs while allowing only 179.
Their 3.68 ERA ranks fourth in KML, and their 1.23 WHIP is tied for second.
Yonder Oviedo has a 2.01 ERA.
Gaby Grudzielanek is 7-1 with a 2.05 ERA.
And the offense has provided enough power to complement the pitching.
Louis Foster is hitting .331 with 14 home runs and a 1.000 OPS.
Steven Bordick is hitting .335 with a .981 OPS.
Sioux Falls may not have the biggest offensive numbers in the league, but the team has very few obvious weaknesses.
7. Las Vegas High Rollers — 28-17
NL West | +18 Run Differential | .622
Las Vegas owns the best record in KML.
That fact alone makes it impossible to overlook the High Rollers.
But their statistical profile is considerably more modest than their record.
Las Vegas has scored 215 runs and allowed 197 for a +18 run differential.
That's good—but nowhere near the +89 posted by Huntington or the +64 posted by Augusta.
So what is driving the High Rollers?
Pitching.
Stevie LeBlanc has been phenomenal.
6-0, 1.29 ERA, 0.97 WHIP, .187 OAV.
Maicer Ortiz has added a 2.48 ERA and 0.86 WHIP.
And Las Vegas has gone 7-3 over its last ten games.
The High Rollers are winning.
The question is whether they can maintain this pace when the underlying numbers aren't nearly as dominant as their record.
For now, though, they're sitting at 28-17 and leading the NL West.
8. Florida Manatees — 25-20
AL South | +33 Run Differential | .556
Florida is quietly putting together a very solid season.
The Manatees have scored 206 runs and allowed 173.
Their 3.69 ERA ranks fifth in KML, and the offense has produced a respectable .784 OPS.
Turner MacDougal has been one of the league's best hitters, batting .361 with 24 stolen bases.
Rich Strickland has a 2.88 ERA, while Al Mesa has posted a 2.26 ERA.
Florida isn't dominating opponents, but the Manatees have been consistently good.
And with a division lead, that's all that matters at the moment.
9. Salem Witchland — 25-20
NL West | +13 Run Differential | .556
Salem is the hottest team in KML.
The Witchland are 9-1 over their last ten games and have won eight straight.
That deserves attention.
The offense has produced 226 runs and a .779 OPS.
Domingo Martinez is hitting .331/.415/.633 with a 1.048 OPS.
Benny Melo is hitting .316.
Jose Aybar is 7-1 with a 2.91 ERA.
The concern is that Salem's +13 run differential doesn't quite match the 25-20 record.
But teams aren't awarded bonus wins for having good run differentials.
They are awarded wins for actually winning games.
And Salem is doing plenty of that right now.
TIER 3 — DANGEROUS, BUT WITH QUESTIONS
10. Hartford Whalers — 26-19
AL North | +3 Run Differential | .578
Hartford is one of the most interesting teams in the league.
The Whalers are seven games over .500 despite scoring 242 runs and allowing 239.
That's essentially a break-even team.
The offense is good.
Hartford has a .795 OPS and 73 home runs.
Roger Atchison has 17 home runs and 41 runs scored.
Andrew Donovan is hitting .313/.388/.557.
But the pitching staff has a 5.00 ERA.
Hartford's record is excellent.
The underlying numbers are much less impressive.
That makes the Whalers one of the biggest teams to watch over the next 40 games.
11. Jackson Grim Reapers — 23-22
NL South | +39 Run Differential | .511
Jackson might be the biggest discrepancy between record and underlying performance in the league.
The Grim Reapers are just one game over .500.
But they have outscored opponents by 39 runs.
Their pitching staff has been particularly strong, posting a 3.60 ERA and 1.23 WHIP.
The offense, meanwhile, has struggled.
Jackson is hitting just .244/.314/.404.
Phillip Post has been an exception, with a .952 OPS and 12 home runs.
If the offense improves, the Grim Reapers could quickly become much more dangerous than their current record suggests.
12. New York Wise Guys — 23-22
NL East | +20 Run Differential | .511
New York is another team with plenty of offensive firepower.
The Wise Guys have scored 242 runs, tied for third-most in KML.
Alcides Aquino is hitting .368/.417/.534 and has stolen 14 bases.
Rick Downs has a .906 OPS.
The problem is on the mound.
New York has a 4.47 ERA and 1.43 WHIP.
That pitching has prevented the Wise Guys from turning a productive offense into a better record.
The talent is there.
The question is whether the pitching improves enough to take advantage of it.
13. Toronto Savage — 24-21
AL North | -21 Run Differential | .533
Toronto is another team whose record doesn't quite match its statistical profile.
The Savage have scored 225 runs but allowed 246.
The offense is actually quite good.
Toronto is hitting .281 with a .793 OPS.
Frankie Capps is hitting .325 with 11 home runs.
Joe Shreve is hitting .335.
But the pitching staff has allowed 82 home runs, the most in KML, and owns a 5.22 ERA.
Toronto is winning anyway.
The question is how long that can continue.
14. St. Louis Arch of Beers — 24-21
NL North | +3 Run Differential | .533
St. Louis has been remarkably balanced—perhaps too balanced.
The Arch of Beers have scored 230 runs and allowed 227.
Their offense owns a .733 OPS, while the pitching staff has a 4.56 ERA.
Neither number jumps off the page.
But St. Louis has gone 7-3 over its last ten games, which suggests the team may be heading in the right direction.
They're only three games behind Buffalo.
The NL North is still very much in play.
TIER 4 — IN THE HUNT
15. Iowa City Farmers — 22-23
AL West | +15 Run Differential | .489
Iowa City has actually outscored its opponents despite sitting below .500.
The Farmers have scored 220 runs and allowed 205.
The pitching staff has a 4.31 ERA and leads the league with 348 strikeouts.
Ricardo Guapo has 63 strikeouts in 70 innings.
The offense, however, is hitting only .241.
If Iowa City can turn some of those strikeouts and strong pitching performances into wins, the Farmers could climb quickly.
16. Arizona Artists — 21-24
NL West | -5 Run Differential | .467
Arizona has a much better offense than its record might suggest.
The Artists have scored 222 runs and are hitting .277 as a team.
Hector DeLeon is batting .342.
Rich Shirley is at .319.
The problem is the pitching staff, which has a 4.80 ERA and has allowed 227 runs.
Arizona has enough offense to make a run.
The pitching has to give it a chance.
17. London Hot Spurs — 24-21
NL East | -7 Run Differential | .533
London has managed to stay above .500 despite scoring only 183 runs.
That's the lowest offensive total among the teams currently above .500.
The pitching has been the difference.
The Hot Spurs have a 3.79 ERA, and Morgan Sierra has been excellent out of the bullpen with 13 saves and a 0.96 WHIP.
London is only three games behind Baltimore.
But the offense will eventually have to do more of the heavy lifting.
18. Louisville Tempted — 22-23
NL South | +4 Run Differential | .489
Louisville has a pitching staff good enough to keep the team in the race.
The Tempted have a 3.81 ERA.
Buck Bell is 6-1 with a 2.61 ERA and 1.16 WHIP.
But the offense has scored just 184 runs, third-lowest in KML.
Louisville's .723 OPS is also below league average.
The formula is simple:
The pitching has done its job. The offense needs to catch up.
19. Cheyenne Chinook — 20-25
AL West | -6 Run Differential | .444
Cheyenne has been mediocre on both sides of the ball.
The Chinook have scored 200 runs and allowed 206.
Their .701 OPS ranks near the bottom of the league.
Maikel Nieves has 14 home runs, but is hitting only .232.
The pitching has been somewhat better, with a 4.22 ERA.
At seven games behind Colorado Springs, Cheyenne still has time to make a run.
But the offense needs to improve.
TIER 5 — THE BIGGEST QUESTIONS
20. Philadelphia Union — 19-26
AL East | -26 Run Differential | .422
The defending Season 26 champions have stumbled badly out of the gate.
Philadelphia has scored 219 runs but allowed 245.
The pitching staff's 5.11 ERA is the obvious problem.
The strange part is that the lineup has produced one of the league's most dominant individual performances.
Carl Vining is hitting .316 with 26 home runs, 52 RBI and a 1.153 OPS.
Jacque Blake is hitting .350 with a 1.086 OPS.
Those are MVP-caliber numbers.
Unfortunately for Philadelphia, the rest of the roster hasn't been able to turn that production into wins.
At 19-26 and nine games behind Augusta, the Season 26 champions have some work to do.
21. Vancouver Tweakers — 21-24
AL North | -12 Run Differential | .467
Vancouver's offense has been productive enough.
The Tweakers have scored 233 runs and own a .775 OPS.
Henderson Barrett is one of the league's best hitters, batting .357/.417/.599 with a 1.016 OPS.
Daniel Baez has added 13 home runs.
But the pitching staff has allowed 245 runs and owns a 5.00 ERA.
At five games behind Sioux Falls, Vancouver isn't out of the AL North race.
But the pitching has to improve.
22. Fresno Fox — 21-24
NL West | -14 Run Differential | .467
Fresno has struggled to put everything together.
The Fox have scored 218 runs and allowed 232.
The pitching staff's 4.84 ERA ranks near the bottom of the league.
Garry Torrealba has been a bright spot in relief, with a 2.90 ERA.
But Fresno has gone 2-8 over its last ten games and has lost five straight.
The NL West is still within reach.
The recent trend isn't encouraging.
23. Kansas City Lightning — 20-25
AL West | +5 Run Differential | .444
Kansas City is an interesting team because the overall numbers aren't nearly as bad as the record.
The Lightning have actually outscored their opponents by five runs.
Shane Blevins has been outstanding, going 6-1 with a 1.60 ERA.
The problem is consistency.
The offense has a .747 OPS and the pitching staff has a 4.49 ERA.
At seven games behind Colorado Springs, Kansas City needs a strong second-quarter run.
24. Tacoma Tigers — 19-26
NL North | -12 Run Differential | .422
Elvis Einertson has been one of the league's better hitters, hitting .320 with a .963 OPS.
But Tacoma has scored only 207 runs and allowed 219.
The Tigers also have a 4.48 ERA.
At eight games behind Buffalo, Tacoma needs to start stacking wins quickly.
TIER 6 — PLAYING CATCH-UP
25. Montreal Marauders — 21-24
NL North | +4 Run Differential | .467
Montreal's pitching has actually been respectable.
The Marauders have a 3.92 ERA and 1.29 WHIP.
Vic Tarraga has thrown 79 innings with 89 strikeouts and a 2.73 ERA.
The problem is the offense.
Montreal has scored only 194 runs.
That's the second-lowest total in the NL.
If the bats wake up, Montreal could still make a move in the division.
26. Jacksonville Black Market Alligator Dealers — 19-26
AL South | -13 Run Differential | .422
Jacksonville has some legitimate pitching.
Hub Finley is 4-1 with a 2.05 ERA.
Alving De Los Santos has a 2.29 ERA.
Andres Hernandez has converted 13 saves.
But the overall staff has a 4.34 ERA, while the offense has produced only 191 runs.
The Black Market Alligator Dealers need more consistency from both sides.
27. Charleston Bumpy Roses — 21-24
AL South | -47 Run Differential | .467
Charleston's 21-24 record doesn't look terrible until you look underneath it.
The Bumpy Roses have scored just 175 runs while allowing 222.
The result is a -47 run differential, one of the worst marks in the league among teams near .500.
The offense owns a .709 OPS.
The pitching staff has a 4.56 ERA.
At four games behind Florida, the division is still attainable—but Charleston needs improvement in a hurry.
28. Trenton Hessians — 21-24
NL East | -33 Run Differential | .467
Trenton's pitching has been better than the overall record suggests.
Bart Ward is 4-2 with a 2.84 ERA and 1.05 WHIP.
Norm Robbins has been excellent in the ninth, converting all 12 of his save opportunities while posting a 0.75 ERA.
The offense, however, has scored only 208 runs.
Trenton is six games behind Baltimore, so there is still time.
But the offense has to provide more support.
29. Nashville Knights — 19-26
AL South | -77 Run Differential | .422
Nashville has had a rough first quarter.
The Knights have scored 205 runs but allowed 282.
The pitching staff has a 5.79 ERA and 1.54 WHIP.
The offense has been average at best, producing a .747 OPS.
Hal Hunter is hitting .329 with a .900 OPS, and Clay Hennessey has 13 home runs.
But those individual performances haven't translated into enough team success.
30. Pittsburgh Parking Chairs — 16-29
AL East | -88 Run Differential | .356
Pittsburgh has struggled on both sides of the ball.
The Parking Chairs have scored just 168 runs, the fewest in KML.
They've also allowed 256 runs.
The pitching staff has a 5.46 ERA.
Harry Alberto has 15 home runs, but the team is hitting just .233/.298/.374.
At 12 games behind Augusta, Pittsburgh has a lot of ground to make up.
31. Austin Jiveturkeys — 20-25
NL South | +2 Run Differential | .444
Austin may be the strangest team in KML.
The Jiveturkeys have scored 259 runs, second in the league.
They are hitting .292, the best team batting average in KML.
Denard Chambers is hitting .336 with a 1.003 OPS.
Yet Austin is five games under .500.
Why?
The pitching staff has allowed 257 runs and posted a 5.12 ERA.
Austin's offense looks like a contender.
Austin's pitching looks like a problem.
The Jiveturkeys will be one of the most fascinating teams to watch over the next 40 games.
32. Atlanta Braves — 14-31
NL South | -145 Run Differential | .311
Atlanta has had the roughest opening quarter in KML.
The Braves have scored 174 runs while allowing an incredible 319.
That produces a -145 run differential.
The 6.55 team ERA is easily the worst in the league, while the .681 OPS ranks 32nd.
At 14-31, Atlanta is already nine games behind Jackson in the NL South.
There is still a lot of baseball left.
But the Braves need improvement virtually everywhere.
Q1 AWARDS & SUPERLATIVES
Offensive Player of the Quarter — Carl Vining, Philadelphia
.316 AVG | 26 HR | 52 RBI | 1.153 OPS
Vining has been the most explosive offensive player in KML through 45 games.
He leads the league in both home runs and OPS.
The unfortunate part for Philadelphia is that his production hasn't translated into enough team victories.
Pitcher of the Quarter — Stevie LeBlanc, Las Vegas
6-0 | 1.29 ERA | 0.97 WHIP | .187 OAV
LeBlanc has been almost impossible to hit.
Only 37 hits in 55.2 innings.
Only one home run allowed.
And six wins without a loss.
Best Team Pitching — Baltimore Crab Cakes
2.85 ERA | 1.11 WHIP | .216 OAV | 133 Runs Allowed
Baltimore has allowed 32 fewer runs than the next-best team.
That is an enormous gap after 45 games.
Best Team Offense — Huntington Apex
279 Runs | .287 AVG | .362 OBP | .489 SLG | .852 OPS
Huntington leads the league in runs, batting average, OBP, slugging percentage and OPS.
That's an extraordinary offensive quarter.
Hottest Team — Salem Witchland
9-1 in the last 10 | 8-game winning streak
Salem has gone from contender to legitimate threat by winning eight straight.
Best Run Differential — Huntington Apex
+89
No other team is close.
Augusta is second at +64.
Baltimore is third at +58.
Best Individual Batting Average — Alcides Aquino, New York
.368
Aquino also has a .417 OBP and 14 stolen bases.
Most Home Runs — Carl Vining, Philadelphia
26 HR
Vining has six more home runs than anyone else in the league.
Most Wins — Gaby Grudzielanek, Sioux Falls
7 wins | 2.05 ERA
Grudzielanek is 7-1 after nine starts.
Most Saves — Andres Hernandez, Jacksonville
13 saves
Hernandez has converted 13 saves in 17 opportunities.
THE Q1 STORYLINES TO WATCH
Can Augusta Repeat?
The defending champions are back near the top of the American League.
And the numbers are encouraging.
A +64 run differential and 3.67 ERA provide a much stronger statistical foundation than the 28-17 record alone suggests.
The big question is whether the offense can continue producing enough while the pitching staff carries the load.
Is Huntington the Team to Beat?
The Apex have the league's best run differential and the league's best offense.
The one concern is the pitching.
A 4.00 ERA isn't bad, but it's not at the level of the team's offense.
If Huntington gets better on the mound, the Apex could become extremely difficult to catch.
Can Baltimore's Pitching Carry Them?
Baltimore has allowed only 133 runs.
That's extraordinary.
But the Crab Cakes have also scored only 191.
The question isn't whether Baltimore can prevent runs.
The question is whether the offense can provide enough support when the games get tighter later in the season.
How Long Can Las Vegas Keep Winning?
The High Rollers have the best record in KML at 28-17.
But their +18 run differential is considerably less impressive than their record.
Stevie LeBlanc and the pitching staff have been outstanding.
Can that continue?
Is Salem's Hot Streak the Beginning of Something Bigger?
Nine wins in ten games and eight straight wins have changed Salem's position dramatically.
The Witchland still have only a +13 run differential.
But momentum matters.
And right now, nobody in the NL West is hotter.
Can Philadelphia Save Its Season?
The defending champions are 19-26.
Carl Vining is having an incredible season.
Jacque Blake is hitting .350 with a 1.086 OPS.
The problem is the pitching.
Philadelphia has allowed 245 runs and has a 5.11 ERA.
The talent is there.
The question is whether the pitching can catch up.
Which Austin Team Is the Real Austin?
The Jiveturkeys have the second-most runs in the league and the best team batting average.
They're also 20-25.
That makes Austin perhaps the biggest "what if?" team in KML.
If the pitching improves, the NL South could become very interesting.
THE Q1 VERDICT
After 45 games, the KML landscape is beginning to take shape.
Huntington has been the league's most statistically dominant team.
Augusta has paired a 28-17 record with the second-best run differential in the league and the third-best ERA.
Buffalo, Baltimore, Colorado Springs and Sioux Falls have also established themselves as legitimate contenders.
Las Vegas owns the best record.
Salem owns the hottest streak.
And several teams—including Philadelphia, New York, Jackson and Austin—have enough talent or enough positive underlying numbers to make the standings look very different by midseason.
The first quarter has given us clues.
But 117 games remain.
And in a league this competitive, the second quarter may tell us much more about which of these teams are contenders—and which were simply off to a good start.
Forty-five games down.
117 to go.
The race is on.
No comments:
Post a Comment