Starscreams | Rising Stars Re-Enter Playoff, Division Race (51.07)

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Starscreams | Rising Stars Re-Enter Playoff, Division Race (51.07)

Post by mragland » Mon Jul 04, 2022 12:58 pm

Starscreams: A Valencia Stars Baseball Blog

Rising Stars Re-Enter Playoff, Division Race

7/7/2051
Brianna Robles, Starscreams contributor

You probably didn't need me to tell you that the Stars are playing very well right now, but let's go back three weeks. On June 15, the Stars salvaged a win against the ever-troublesome Popes to avoid the sweep at home. This win brought the Stars' season record up to 33-35, about where they had been hovering most of the season. On June 15, the team was 9 ½ games out of first place in the Pacific, and the Stars appeared to be well on their way to finishing out of the running for the division crown by double digits for the eleventh straight season.

On the face of it, there wasn't much reason to celebrate in the middle June, but something was stirring. Juan Mateo, who had been relegated to pinch-hitter status after a disastrous 2050 campaign, had forced his way back into the lineup and his OPS had climbed above .900 yet again. Good news for a team whose offense just needed some more pop to start scoring at a high rate. Kenan Reis, somebody who the team could count on for 20+ home runs the past three seasons, also had turned things up a notch in June. On June 1st, he had a .687 OPS, but as of June 30th, he would improve to an .828 OPS.

In the bullpen, the addition of Fernando Villareal was helping to settle what had been one of the statistically worst relief corps in the association. It appeared that the team had been groping for a bridge to Román and Olson for much of the early going, and had at last found one in Villareal.

You could see how a team like the Stars might string some wins together, but the club hadn't been able to do it. With the memories of the humbling four-game home sweep at the hands of the Nine still fresh, and what looked likely to be yet another Sacramento sweep of the Stars not far on its heels, spirits weren't especially high in Valencia on June 15. But the Stars beat the Popes, despite a fairly flat performance from starter Ken Arroyo and notching just five hits as a team. They played good defense, walked more than they struck out, and didn't beat themselves.

And they would win 16 of the next 18 games they would play coming into tonight, including seven series wins in a row. Suddenly, the Stars are in a second place tie with Sacramento in the Pacific, both teams trailing Portland by three games. They are also in a three-way tie for second in the wild card standings, three games behind Louisville, and one win away from a four-game sweep of the Black Sox, the Stars' last game before the all-star break.

It's become much easier to see how team like the Stars might continue to string some wins together, because we just saw them do it, and they haven't slowed down yet. We'll see if they can keep things going after the break.
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Re: Starscreams | Rising Stars Re-enter Playoff, Division Race (51.07)

Post by tylertoo » Mon Jul 04, 2022 1:51 pm

We in Chicago hope this article jinxes you!

(Kidding — nice run and good luck).
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Re: Starscreams | Rising Stars Re-enter Playoff, Division Race (51.07)

Post by ae37jr » Mon Jul 04, 2022 3:57 pm

No reason Chicago and Valencia can't both make the playoffs with Nashville and Sacramento at home cheering them on.
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Re: Starscreams | Rising Stars Re-enter Playoff, Division Race (51.07)

Post by tylertoo » Mon Jul 04, 2022 5:39 pm

ae37jr wrote:
Mon Jul 04, 2022 3:57 pm
No reason Chicago and Valencia can't both make the playoffs with Nashville and Sacramento at home cheering them on.
True, that would work. :D
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Re: Starscreams | Rising Stars Re-Enter Playoff, Division Race (51.07)

Post by CTBrewCrew » Tue Jul 05, 2022 9:35 pm

Why not TWC & MAD then!
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Re: Starscreams | Rising Stars Re-enter Playoff, Division Race (51.07)

Post by Dington » Tue Jul 05, 2022 10:49 pm

ae37jr wrote:
Mon Jul 04, 2022 3:57 pm
No reason Chicago and Valencia can't both make the playoffs with Nashville and Sacramento at home cheering them on.
Starting to look like a possibility in Tennessee.
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