Manama musings 2.0

[jjw]

The Pearls keep their hold on first place in the Burt League, which now stands at 3 1/2 games over the Hebrew Hammers. Not quite 1/3rd of the way into the season, Manama has a 33-18 record, and that .647 winning percentage remains the best ins the UMEBA (but just barely ahead of the Tripoli Piranhas). The club has not been playing superior baseball, but they have been good enough to win more than they lose and stay ahead of Jerusalem. Beating the Hammers 3 out of 4 last week certainly helped in that regard.

Outstanding players are same ones that have led them all season: LF/1B Patrick Strolz is still leading the league in batting average, his .390 far ahead of Baghdad's Tony Hernandez' .329, and in batter WAR (2.1); Strolz and RF Taylor Barfoot continue to lead Burt in OPS, at 1.006 and .952 respectively. And Barfoot's 14 homers keep him tied for the league lead while his 44 RBIs trail Jerusalem's Dane Licht only by one. Catcher Patrick Faber has been very hot at the plate lately, and his 1.8 batter WAR now puts him in 3rd position. Faber has pretty much taken over the main role behind the plate, but Felipe Delgado, probably a better defensive catcher, gets his share of starts too.

Edgar Sosa's pitching has also stayed solid, even if there has been a small falloff: his 3.49 ERA still leads the Burt as does his 1.6 pitcher WAR. Bullpen stalwarts Santiago Sưñiga, Huang Cheng, and Wayne Mawle continue to shine (Cheng has been very good in the closer role, with Owen McKelvey relegated to middle relief, showing no signs of regaining form, and suffering now from a sore elbow that has put him on the IL).

The Pearls have not yet settled on a consistent lineup, still shifting players in batting position, trying to find the best order but remaining flexible (flexibility in roles and the like has been a hallmark of Manama for three seasons now).