It is no secret that the turn around that the Lumberjacks had from last year to this year can be credited in large part to the pitching rotation and staff that finished the season ranked #1 in several categories in the Frick League. Most importantly in the runs allowed category. The pitching staff was aided by one of the top ranked defenses as well so they go hand in hand. But unlike some seasons where choosing someone as the top pitcher is easy due to a lack of candidates, this year had several worthy possibilities.
Bill Beals emerged out of nowhere to win 14 games as a rookie and post a 3.05 ERA. Murali Patachli, our top rookie, had a 3.2 WAR with 13 wins of his own, and ranked second in the BBA with a 2.85 ERA and 1.05 WHIP. Juan Marroquin had a great first season in Portland, notching 14 wins on the season with a respectable 3.76 ERA and 1.23 WHIP. Even our 5th starter, Steffan Gimsing, looked better in 2059 than he did in 2058 and tallied 11 wins and raised his WAR to 2.2 this season.
But as good as all of those guys were, and they were excellent, none of them quite matched what { url="https://statspl.us/brewster/reports/new ... 43928.html">Alaric Wullenweber pulled off this season. Just for a run down of his numbers, he went: 18-7 with a league leading 2.64 ERA, 1.09 WHIP, 163 strikeouts, and 5.3 WAR. He led the Frick League in ERA, was tied for the league lead in WAR, and finished 2nd in the league in strikeouts on the season. He'll likely win the Nebraska Award this season, becoming the first Portland Lumberjacks pitcher to ever do so. Those were his numbers just for this season against the league. As for how those rank in the franchise's history, it gets even better.
The 2.64 ERA ranks 2nd all-time in a season behind Ken Sparks' 2.57 in 2050
His 18 wins ties the team high along with Randolph Marable from 2050 and Ken Sparks in 2051
The 5.3 WAR is the 4th best single season pitching WAR in team history behind Sparks in 2049 and 2050 and Gusby Pinkerton in 2044.
His 221.2 innings pitched tops our single season list, edging Ken Sparks' 221.0 in 2049.
His 1.09 WHIP would be a tie for 6th on the single season list, dropping some once you add Patachli to the fold.
So it is safe to say that the 2059 season that Alaric Wullenweber posted goes down as one of, if not the best, single season pitching performance in Portland Lumberjacks history.
