2056-8 Mounties: Contender or Pretender?

[Knucklehead254]

If you had told Wharram at the beginning of the season they would be leading the Frick League by the end of April (yes I know there's still two games left) he would have called you crazy, yet the Mounties currently sit at a 19-7 record and are first in the Frick League, second in the whole BBA behind Boise who are 21-4. Yet, has this incredible start shown the league that this is a team that can make a deep run at the playoffs? Or will they just crash and burn?

STRENGTH OF SCHEDULE

The Mounties have currently faced the following teams:

Sacramento Mad Popes (15-11)
Yellow Springs Nine (13-12)
Valencia Stars (13-13)
San Fernando Bears (12-13)
Twin Cities River Monsters (11-14)
Portland Lumber Jacks (11-15)
Seattle Storm (9-17)
Hawaii Tropics (8-17)

Combined Win/Loss record: (92-112)

Does this show that the Mounties have only been able to win off 'easy' opponents? Their only series losses have come from the hands of Sacramento and Yellow Springs, the two teams with a winning record. Both series' were 2-1 for the other team. Next month will have games against Long Beach, Sacramento and Nashville, three opponents who gave the Mounties a rough time last year, will it be more of the same?

RUN DIFFERENCE

A 28 Run difference in retrospect doesn't sound like a lot, and it honestly isn't. When looking at the teams nearby below they have been able to win games at much wider margins then the Mounties. In fact there are 7:

Calgary Pioneers (71)
Long Beach Surfers (61)
Charm City Jimmies (54)
Nashville Bluebirds (37)
Omaha Cyclones (37)
Rocky Mountain Oysters (37)
New Orleans Crawdads (35)

Sure Run Difference is a flawed way to judge one's team, but it makes you wonder if this early luck will eventually run out.

PITCHING PRODUCTION

The Mounties currently have the second best ERA among all starters in the Frick League, thanks largely in part to Ace Phil Cole and Gamal bin Badr. Bin Badr in particular has had a fantastic start to his Mounties career. Since being acquired from Las Vegas at last year's deadline his stats as a Mountie are:

12 Games Started, 7-1 record, 2.82 ERA, 61 K, 2.07 WAR

His numbers from his first five starts this year are truly impressive:

5 Games Started, 3-0 record, 1.76 ERA, 29 K, 1.19 WAR

But the big question is will this kind of elite production keep up? If he (and the rest of the Mounties starters) slowly regresses back to his average can the Mounties offense handle it? Will the bullpen, who is off to a disappointing start, be able to become as shutdown again as they were last year?

INJURIES

While the team has been blessed to not have an injury crisis like some other teams already, losing two valuable infielders in Ewan Allman and Bob Irwin for at least the next month certainly doesn't help the already thin depth at those spots. And with the team near the edge of the cap it will be difficult to either trade for, or sign a valuable player without being in cap hell. If another serious injury occurs it could spell disaster. Abdul-Sabur Nabhan and Jeremy Pickens are currently the ones filling in the gap and will have some decent shoes to fill unless the team can work out a deal. Will they step up to the plate?

So what are your thoughts? Have the Mounties been blessed with good luck and shouldn't be any better than how they've usually fared? Or are they a team that can tussle with the very best of the BBA and make a run for the championship?

[Trebro]

I think you'll know a lot more after those next 3 series finish out. My hunch is a slight regression but still a contender all year. The cap issue hurts for sure in terms of adjustments on the fly.

[Dington]

Contender

[Knucklehead254]

Right now? Pretender.

[BaseClogger]

Pretender but so are the Bears.

[Knucklehead254]

It’s official.. CONTENDERS