2063-4 Calgary Wins 1st Half, Loses 2nd

[indiansfan]

Calgary Wins 1st Half, Loses 2nd

Calgary spent much of this season in the top wild card spot in the JL, trailing Phoenix in the Frontier division. However as the season neared its end the team began to slip, eventually barely making the playoffs. In due course the team lost in the first round. It was if the team had two different seasons.

During the first half of the season Calgary ranked near the top in most pitching categories and was producing decent offensive numbers. The team posted an outstanding record during the first 3 months, 54-30, .642. When you are winning almost 2/3rds of your games things are going well. It looked like the team was heading to a 100 win season.

Then July happened. The team went 11-15 followed by a slightly better August 15-14. Due to the first half, the team was still in good shape. A few players were slumping, the rotation wasn't as hot and a couple of key players got hurt.

September is where it gets really ugly. Every team has injuries and Calgary was in better shape than most, so you can't blame it on that. The team finished 10-13 for the month. When you are in a playoff race any kind of losing September is ugly. Then Montreal finished them off in 4 games.

Trying to make sense of this season a few things stand out. The team barely had a winning record at home, 40-41. Most teams have a better record at home for many reasons. You have the home crowd. The players know the park. Ownership can build a team that fits the park or build a park that fits the team.

The Stockyard is a hitters park. It was designed for players to hit more doubles, triples and homers. For years the team was built around power hitters and pitchers that could keep the home runs from flying.

Calgary hit 150 HRs (13th in JL) and gave up 188 HRs (12th in JL). So the pitchers did their part but the offense hit 38 homers fewer than their opponents while players in a hitters park. The team finished 1st in the league with 316 stolen bases. Only 3 other teams had over 200 SB and the 2nd place team was 97 steals behind. So first place 316, 2nd place 219.

One can conclude from this that the team that is on the field does not match the park very well. Calgary's ownership needs to either direct the GM to go in a different direction on the field or pony up the money for a new ballpark.

[BaseClogger]

I’m not sure being 12th out of 16 in home runs surrendered counts as the pitchers “doing their part”.

[indiansfan]

I’m not sure being 12th out of 16 in home runs surrendered counts as the pitchers “doing their part”.

It was in reference to pitching in this park. My guys are always going to give up homers because of the park settings. It has always been that way, but with guys like Stinson we usually hit abt 50 more than we gave up.

[trmmilwwi]

Yep, I always think of the long ball with Calgary.

[Trebro]

How old is your stadium?

[indiansfan]

40 yrs old. Tied with DM for oldest

[Trebro]

40 yrs old. Tied with DM for oldest

Are you purposefully going for a Wrigley Field vibe or just haven't had time for a switch?

[indiansfan]

40 yrs old. Tied with DM for oldest

Are you purposefully going for a Wrigley Field vibe or just haven't had time for a switch?

Haven't had the points to switch. Haven't done enough writing and my points have gone to creating coaches for the most part.