Sticking Points 2038.15: Rolling Rockville

[aaronweiner]

The Rockville Pikemen continued on their quest to set a franchise record for wins this week, going 5-2 in seven games to run their record on the year to a spectacular 78-39 mark. In the process, they moved 9 1/2 games up on the Las Vegas Hustlers in the race for a first round bye and put themselves on pace to finish with 108 wins, which would be the franchise's most wins in 30 years, when the franchise was in Hackensack.

"We're not worried about franchise records, but the fact that we're getting closer to a first round bye is fantastic," said Rockville manager Chet Rouse. "We know we're on a mission this year and having the time off to spend with family will take some of the pressure off."

Rockville did get some bad news this week, finding out that Sawyer Silk candidate Chip Puckett would miss at least three weeks with a torn thumb ligament. Puckett was leading the Johnson League in batter WAR when he went down, though the superstar shortstop was relieved that his teammates would be able to pick up the slack.

"How many teams in this situation can call on a guy like Felix Delvalle or Pedro Diaz to fill in for me?" said Puckett. "We seriously have such a remarkable team."

The Pikemen pitchers also got some good press this week, as all three of the Rockville top starters were mentioned in an article which projected the possible Steve Nebraska Award winner this season. Arthur Dempster, Dave Martin, and BBA ERA leader Dan Cannon are the top three JL pitchers in pitcher WAR this year so far, each with a mark over 5.0 this year.

"We're going to keep doing what we're doing," said Martin. "It's so exciting to be part of this franchise."

The Pikemen likely don't have a realistic chance to catch the 1995 Hackensack Bulls at 114 wins; they would have to go an absurd 36-8 (winning 9 out of every 11 games) over their last 44 games to do it. However, at this point they might be on cruise control. Rockville has just THREE series against teams with winning records the rest of the year, and just one such series in September.

"We're going to remain focused no matter what," said Dempster. "It's what we do."