One Third of the Way Through: Western Conference
Posted: Wed Sep 21, 2016 12:24 pm
Much was made of the rising feud between Belfast and Madrid GM's this offseason. One didn't like that the other made a trade to make his team better. The other accused the other of being a a, uh, "lover" of bulls. But has their budding animosity manifested on the field or is the Western conference chugging along without paying it heed? Let's take a look.
London Bishops
While Belfast and Madrid battled in a war of words, the London Bishops went through most of the offseason without a GM - with only a brief pit stop by league control (me, actually) to make sure they had enough players to fill a roster without sinking their financial situation for years to come. The result? First place. Though how they got there is anyone's guess. 6th in the EBA in runs scored and 3rd in runs allowed doesn't seem like that should have them in this spot - and, in fact, by PYTH they are only the 3rd best team in the division. That is to say, we will call their lead 'tenuous', at best. They do; however, have new ownership that may be looking to put their fingerprints on the squad as the season goes along and, as I always say (well, sometimes, at least... like last season, instance), it's better to be lucky (or, at least, not unlucky) than good.
Belfast Northstars
Through the offseason bluster, Dee went, very literally, ALL in with some majors acquisitions - acquisitions that have pushed up to and blown past the limits of financially sustainable for an EBA team. in 2032, for example, they are already projected for a 16.4M payroll. That number would be the #1 payroll in the EBA this season by 2.5M. Needless to say, Adam clearly does not expect to be with this team whenever the chickens come to roost from his torrid offseason. Hell, we might need to do some league intervention (though Matt very likely won't) once he's back in the MBBA to make sure Belfast's next owner isn't completely crippled. But this isn't about how little of a shit their current management gives about the plight of their future management, it is about their present season - and it is tough to imagine that half a game over .500 is what they were hoping for at this point. Their PYTH record is better (30-25), but even by that they would be only second in the division despite Fulton Reed crop dusting the league.
Paris Patriots
Paris only had 3 offseason exports (out of 9 opportunities) and then management promptly vacated as soon as the season started. Needless to say, this was not a team with very much hype entering the season. That said, with very new management having taken over recently, they find themselves in a favorable position. Tied for second in the division in record, but leading the division in PYTH (by 3 games). They have the number 1 offense in the EBA this season - without ravaging their checkbook to get it like some of their divisional competitors - led by the next great Rule 6 draftee, Jean-Luc Lacaze along with an extremely good supporting case - almost all of whom are still in their cost control years.
Madrid Matadors
After finishing above .500 two years in a row this start has to be a giant disappointment for Madrid as they find themselves last in both record (6 games back) and PYTH (6 games back again) and under .500 by 2.5 games. And despite all of the bluster from their GM about Belfast's disregard for finances, Madrid is putting up this level of "production" with the second highest payroll in the EBA (trailing, obviously, Belfast). Granted, a lot of that was inherited by the new management, but they still did rack up 2.3M in payroll for this current season during the offseason. And the result of those 4 acquisitions? A net -0.4 WAR thus far... ouch.
London Bishops
While Belfast and Madrid battled in a war of words, the London Bishops went through most of the offseason without a GM - with only a brief pit stop by league control (me, actually) to make sure they had enough players to fill a roster without sinking their financial situation for years to come. The result? First place. Though how they got there is anyone's guess. 6th in the EBA in runs scored and 3rd in runs allowed doesn't seem like that should have them in this spot - and, in fact, by PYTH they are only the 3rd best team in the division. That is to say, we will call their lead 'tenuous', at best. They do; however, have new ownership that may be looking to put their fingerprints on the squad as the season goes along and, as I always say (well, sometimes, at least... like last season, instance), it's better to be lucky (or, at least, not unlucky) than good.
Belfast Northstars
Through the offseason bluster, Dee went, very literally, ALL in with some majors acquisitions - acquisitions that have pushed up to and blown past the limits of financially sustainable for an EBA team. in 2032, for example, they are already projected for a 16.4M payroll. That number would be the #1 payroll in the EBA this season by 2.5M. Needless to say, Adam clearly does not expect to be with this team whenever the chickens come to roost from his torrid offseason. Hell, we might need to do some league intervention (though Matt very likely won't) once he's back in the MBBA to make sure Belfast's next owner isn't completely crippled. But this isn't about how little of a shit their current management gives about the plight of their future management, it is about their present season - and it is tough to imagine that half a game over .500 is what they were hoping for at this point. Their PYTH record is better (30-25), but even by that they would be only second in the division despite Fulton Reed crop dusting the league.
Paris Patriots
Paris only had 3 offseason exports (out of 9 opportunities) and then management promptly vacated as soon as the season started. Needless to say, this was not a team with very much hype entering the season. That said, with very new management having taken over recently, they find themselves in a favorable position. Tied for second in the division in record, but leading the division in PYTH (by 3 games). They have the number 1 offense in the EBA this season - without ravaging their checkbook to get it like some of their divisional competitors - led by the next great Rule 6 draftee, Jean-Luc Lacaze along with an extremely good supporting case - almost all of whom are still in their cost control years.
Madrid Matadors
After finishing above .500 two years in a row this start has to be a giant disappointment for Madrid as they find themselves last in both record (6 games back) and PYTH (6 games back again) and under .500 by 2.5 games. And despite all of the bluster from their GM about Belfast's disregard for finances, Madrid is putting up this level of "production" with the second highest payroll in the EBA (trailing, obviously, Belfast). Granted, a lot of that was inherited by the new management, but they still did rack up 2.3M in payroll for this current season during the offseason. And the result of those 4 acquisitions? A net -0.4 WAR thus far... ouch.
