09.01: Neptune's Midseason Recap

[agrudez]

Thanks to the hands down top offense in the league, Amsterdam sits at a mere 1 GB of the overall EBA best record (Brussels) and 7.5 games up on the Western Alliance’s second place squad (Munchen). The team has compiled a league best 479 runs (an incredibly 6.06 runs/game) over the first half of the ’09 campaign, but perhaps most impressively is that they have done so in so many different ways: 1st in AVG (.306), 1st in OBP (.388), 2nd in HRs (76) and 1st in SBs (67).

As you might expect from the top offense in the league, Amsterdam has a very deep lineup, with an astounding 12 batters currently sporting a .700+ OPS, 5 batters currently sporting a .800+ OPS and 3 sporting a .900+ OPS. The true offensive leader; however, has been 3rd year EBA vet, left-handed slugger Jude Longton with a 1.018 OPS, 19 HRs and 64 RBIs. Many of those RBIs have no doubt come from speedy Edgardo Ayala whose 21 SBs and .777 OPS go a long way towards mitigating his suspect glove at short.

Poor pitching and poor defense often go hand in hand, and for the Neptunes this correlation is no exception. By FIP they actually have a relatively strong bullpen, with 3 pitchers all with sub 3.5 metrics: Bejinez, Cleaves and Forest; however, only one of those pitchers (Bejinez) has a sub 3.5 ERA. The rotation, meanwhile, is led by 24 year old right-handedEdwyn Odenthal, currently sporting a 3.56 ERA and 3.81 FIP.

[trmmilwwi]

could Edwyn close games in the Monty? Ummm...

[agrudez]

could Edwyn close games in the Monty? Ummm...

The EBA is VERY rich in relievers (and, oddly enough, the MBBA is pretty darn weak in that regard). If you notice, almost every top starter over there only has 2 pitches and would make a solid reliever over here - on top of some of the elite arms they actually have in their 'pens.