08.12: One Third of the Way Through - Hope, thy Name is...

[agrudez]

Through the 1st third of the season, the Barnstormer’s (currently at 24-32, 10GB in the division) are about what we thought they were. They rank last or close to last in every meaningful pitching* and hitting** statistic and there are more questions than answers throughout the breadth of the roster; however, there have been, through the chronic disappointment of the afforementioned, diamonds in the rough that have made and will continue to make the season worth watching.

While he is not the pitcher Barnstormer nation fell in love with years ago when he was acquired in 2004, 37 year old SP Jay Lee has still put in a respectable season thus far – posting a 54.5% QS rate,4.33 ERA, 1.4 WHIP and 5-3 record (despite the team’s struggles) thus far. In May, particularly, he showed multiple instances of his former self, posting a 2.78 K:BB ratio and 3.41 ERA in 5 starts (4 of which were wins).

27 year old SP Luis Luna continues to be worth the price of admission as the left-handed hurler has kept up his all-star statistical pace with a 1.37 WHIP, 2.89 ERA and 6-2 record through 12 starts (10 of which have been of the quality kind). While the stats have normalized a bit after posting a mind-blowing 1.94 ERA in April, his peripherals have actually been better in May (2.35 vs. 1.55 K:BB ratio) and he shows no signs of slowing down.

28 year old C Tobias Kelly continues to be the rock on which the Barnstormer offense is built – particularly in lieu of the recent departure of Pere. For the season he holds a .819 OPS; however, the month of May saw a significant spike in power (6 vs. 2 HR) over the month of April and looks to be a harbinger for things to come on Kelly’s continual pursuit of his ‘05/’06 form.

34 year old Kenji Masaki continues to be a defensive stalwart at the SS position with a knack for putting his bat on the ball with a .309 AVG and .709 OPS.

And, of course, we would be remiss to not mention co-rookie phenoms Phan Ta and Miguel Toro whom for much of the season have let the Barnstormer offensive in multiple categories between the two and currently sit with an .806 and .877 respective OPS (good for 3rd and 1st on the team respectively) whom have been written about ad nauseum already.

So, while the current season is quickly turning into the wash it was expected to be from the outset, multiple successful ML pieces and encouraging reports from the farm continue to keep optimism high for the future here in blustery Nebraska.

*
9th in Runs allowed – 301
8th in Opponent AVG - .278
7th in HRs allowed – 61
11th in BBs allowed – 225
Last in strikeouts – 368

**
9th in Runs scored – 249
9th in OPS - .728
10th in slugging - .393
11th in HRs – 40

[jpoppe0219]

Nice write up both Kelly and Luna look like nice pieces to a complicated puzzle

[agrudez]

Nice write up both Kelly and Luna look like nice pieces to a complicated puzzle

Its funny you use that word [complicated] as that is how I would likely describe it as well. I actually was planning to write player features highlighting the frustration guys like Munoz (under performance), Rouse (early aged regression) and Krieger (absurd splits) give me.

As for Kelley and Luna, I agree and really like them both. With Martinez coming back, Toro on a tear and Masaki proving to be ageless I, at least, have the 5 hardest pieces of the puzzle on the table (#1+2 starter, #3+4 hitter and elite defensive SS w/ a respectable bat), it is the rest of the pieces that just aren't there... no 3-5 starter, no bullpen (at all), marginal hitters in every other slot, etc. Normally I'd be able to re-tool a squad like this pretty quickly (in another league), but another huge delimiting factor is how incredibly sparse FA is in this league (compounded with the retention of FA compensation which is quickly becoming a rarity in OOTP communities)... and now in my first ammy draft I was hit with the leanest pool the league has seen in years - its like someone is purposely stacking the deck against me, haha. Through it all I'm having a blast, though... definitely my favorite league of the 3 I'm currently active in.

[jpoppe0219]

yeah this league definately sets itself apart from other leagues

[felipe]

There must be quite the proliferation of 'Luna'-tics in the stands already...

[Al-Hoot]

I'm pretty sure we'll be getting rid of losing a draft pick for signing Type-A.


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[agrudez]

There must be quite the proliferation of 'Luna'-tics in the stands already...

Yeah, their practically Lun-ey for him.

[felipe]

Ahh..they're all out to Loon-ch...

[agrudez]

Ahh..they're all out to Loon-ch...

Maybe they're just tired... we should prescribe them Lun-esta.