The Boys of Summer - APBA League: April 2014

Wednesday, April 23, 2014

Shut-Down Man

NATIONAL LEAGUE
(Week 7 - Award Winners)

Two pitchers each had really solid weeks during Week 7, unfortunately, we can only pick one pitcher. First, we'll start with the runner-up to the award in Hiroki Kuroda of the Urbana Locomotives. Kuroda was not the only Urbana pitcher to have a great week (no surprise there!), but he had the best week -- earning two wins, one of them a complete game shut-out (improving to 7-2, with a 2.88 ERA), while striking out 11 batters, walking 5. He only allowed 11 hits & one earned run, during the stretch -- it's almost hard to imagine some one having a better week.

But it's true, Bartolo Colon of the Portland Microbrewers had the best week, earning him the N.L. Pitcher of the Week Award. Colon pitched two shut-outs during the week! Improving his record to 5-2, with a 1.67 ERA -- he only allowed 8 hits & 2 walks, for a week WHIP of .556 in his 18 innings.

On the hitting side of things, the offense was relatively quiet in the National League. The award this week went to a guy who's had nothing but a quiet season up to this point, but is hopefully starting to heat up for the Holland Hitchhikers. This week's award for N.L. Player of the Week goes to Bryce Harper. Harper batted .368 (7-for-19), with 2 HR's, 6 RBI, while scoring 3 runs. His current batting average this season is only .198!

N.L. Honorable Mention:

SP-David Price (URB) - W, 9 IP, 3 H, ER, 10 K, 1 BB -- improves to 7-1, 2.33 ERA.
SP-Clayton Kershaw (KING) - W, 9 IP, one-hit shutout, 8 K & 4 BB.
SP-Colby Lewis (URB) - L, 9 IP, 5 H, 0 ER/run, 8 K/2 BB (4-1 with a 1.42 ERA this season).
3B-Todd Frazier (POR) - .294 (5-for-17), 2 HR, 6 RBI, 4 runs.
OF-Jon Jay (HAN) - .364 (8-for-22), 2 RBI, 2 runs, SB.
SP-Bronson Arroyo (SEA) - W/L, 14 IP, 10 H, 1 ER/2 R, 11 K & 2 BB's (0.64 ERA for the week).
SP-Hiroki Kuroda (URB) - 2 W, 17 IP, CG (SHO), 11 H, ER with 11 K's & 5 BB's.
C-Carlos Ruiz (URB) - .700 (7-for-10), HR, 4 RBI & 2 runs.
SP-Cliff Lee (POR) - ND, 9 IP, 3 H, ER, with 10 K's, no walks.
IF-Pedro Ciriaco (T.C.) - .400 (6-for-15), HR, 4 RBI, 2 runs & 3 steals.
OF-Jon Jay (HAN) - .364 (8-for-22), 2 RBI, 2 runs, SB.
SP-Matt Moore (HOL) - W, 8 IP, 2 H, ER, 6 K & 5 BB.
SP-Joe Kelly (HAN) - W/L, 16 IP, 9 H, 2 ER, 12 K & 6 BB's -- improves to 4-3, 3.96 ERA.
SP-David Phelps (KING) - ND, 8.1 IP, 6 H, 3 ER, 8 K's & BB.

Big Week for Trumbo

AMERICAN LEAGUE
(Week 7 - Award Winners)

The American League was packed with offense this week, which probably led to the close competition with the pitching, with no real player standing out of that bunch. South Shore's offense was clicking as always with Joe Mauer usually in the middle of it, but he was not the best Imp player for the week -- that would be Shin-Soo Choo, who had a big week of .435 AVG (10-for-23), 2 HR, 5 RBI, 7 runs & a steal. Yet, it was not good enough to win the weekly honors of the A.L. Player of the Week.

The award of A.L. Player of the Week goes to the Bronx Bombers' Mark Trumbo, who got used to circling the bases this week. Trumbo batted .346 (9-for-26), 4 HR, 8 RBI, while scoring 6 times.

The pitching was wide-open, James Shields for the Bombers settled down after giving up 4 ER's in the first two innings of his game, and then went on to pitch 8 scoreless innings into extras, to earn the victory, while pitching 14 K's & allowing 5 hits and 5 walks. Another pitcher who had a good week was Edwin Jackson of the Boston Bravos, even though he was more on the bad luck side-of-things, earning a loss & no decision; Jackson's week on the other hand was 13.2 innings, with only 3 ER's allowed, while earning 17 K's & 5 walks.

It was a tough call, but this week the A.L. Pitcher of the Week award goes to the smooth, Andy Pettitte of the South Shore Fighting Imps. Pettitte got called up, and pitched 15 innings, allowing 12 hits & 4 ER's (1.98 ERA for the week), with 16 K's & 5 BB's -- earning his first win this week as well.

A.L. Honorable Mention:

OF- Shin-Soo Choo (S.S.) - .435 (10-for-23), 2 HR, 5 RBI, 7 runs & SB.
OF-B.J. Upton (CAR) - .333 (7-for-21), Grand Slam, 6 RBI, 4 runs.
OF-Matt Holliday (S.S.) - .381 (8-for-21), 2 HR, 5 RBI & 5 runs.
OF-David Wright (S.S.) - .368 (7-for-19), 4 RBI, 3 runs & SB.
SP-Wandy Rodriguez (BUF) - W, 8.1 IP, 4 H, ER, 10 K/3 BB.
SP-Johnny Cueto (BOS) - W, 8 IP, 5 H, no runs, 6 K/2 BB.
SP-Edwin Jackson (BOS) - 13.2 IP, L, 15 H, 3 ER (1.98 ERA), 17 K & 3 BB.
C-Joe Mauer (S.S.) - .429 (6-for-14), 3 RBI, 4 runs.
SP-Zack Greinke (WAS) - Heating up (6 consecutive wins), W, 8 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 6 K & 3 BB -- He has now improved to 6-2, 4.05 ERA.
C-Ryan Doumit (CAR) - .438 (7-for-16), 2 HR, 7 RBI, 3 runs.
SP-R.A. Dickey (BOS) - W, 8 IP, 3 H, no runs, 9 K/2 BB -- improved to 3-4, 2.94 ERA.
SP-Jordan Zimmermann (BUF) - Has been on bad-luck side of things all season, his current 1-5 record does not reflect his 2.73 ERA. Zimmerman recorded another loss this week with a complete game, allowing only 3 hits & a run, while striking out 9 (walking two).
3B-Miguel Cabrera (BUF) - .500 (11-for-22), 2 RBI.
OF-David Murphy (BRX) - Had a 5-hit performance in Game 1, batted .435 (10-for-23), with HR, 3 RBI & 3 runs.
SP-Jered Weaver (CAR) - W, 8.1 IP, 3 H, no runs, 6 K/3 BB.
SP-Adam Wainwright (BRX) - ND, 10 IP, 5 H, ER, 10 K/2 BB.
SP-Kris Medlen (CHI) - 9 IP, 5 H, ER, 8 K's.
SP-Drew Smyly (CHI) - W, 8 IP, 7 H, 2 ER, 13 K's & 2 BB.

Wednesday, April 16, 2014

Strikeout Sale!

NATIONAL LEAGUE
(WEEK 6 - Award Winners)

Chris Sale is piling up the strikeouts for King Road this season, he has now racked up 54 K's in 55.2 innings, while improving his record to 4-2, with a 3.56 ERA. Sale recorded two of his 4 wins against Holland this week; He allowed only 6 hits & 3 earned runs in 15.1 innings, with 17 K's & 5 BB's. His second performance of the week was the most impressive of the two outings, in which on three days rest, went 8.1 innings, allowing only 1 ER, while striking out ten Hitchhikers! Chris Sale is this week's National League Pitcher of the Week.

Last week's Award winner in that category, Jeremy Hellickson of the Urbana Locomotives, had another impressive week, but not as good luck, as he came up on the losing end twice. Hellickson pitched 16.1 innings, allowing only 7 hits, an earned run (out of 5 runs), 0.56 ERA, with 12 K's & 5 BB's.

Sale is not the only pitcher to rack up K's this week, we go to Urbana where Portland's Cole Hamels pitched a single-game league record of 16 K's! Hamels only allowed 2 ER's & 2 walks in the losing effort, giving up 8 hits. Still the feat should not go unrecognized, a great week for Mr. Hamels! His teammate Anibal Sanchez had a great week as well.

For this week's Player award, I changed my mind at the last second. The award nearly went to Traverse City's Giancarlo Stanton, but at the end of the day, the National League Player of the Week it goes to the Hannibal Cavemen's Jon Jay. It was real close with all the hitters this week, but Jay did a bit of everything. Jon batted .333 (8-for-24), with a HR, 7 RBI, 5 runs & 3 stolen bases, to help his team come off with a series split against Seattle. Stanton's effort was pretty similar, batting .333 (7-for-21), 3 HR, 6 RBI & 4 runs, while the Panthers lost their series 3-2 to Sacramento (the last game got rained out).

Honorable Mention:

SP-Jeremy Hellickson (URB) - 16.1 IP, 2 L's, 7 H, ER (5 R), 0.55 ERA for the week, with 12 strikeouts & 5 walks.
SP-Anibal Sanchez (POR) - 2 W, 16.1 IP, 10 H, 1 ER & 14 K's.
1B/DH-David Ortiz (POR) - .625 (5-for-8), HR, 3 RBI & 4 runs.
OF-Ryan Braun (SAC) - .429 (6-for-14), HR, 3 RBI & 3 runs.
1B/3B-Edwin Encarnacion (SAC) - .389 (7-for-18), 2 HR, 3 RBI & 2 runs.
OF-Giancarlo Stanton (T.C.) - .333 (7-for-21), 3 HR, 6 RBI & 4 runs.
OF-Denard Span (HAN) - .417 (10-for-24), 4 runs & 4 steals in 4 games.
OF-Jon Jay (HAN) - .333 (8-for-24), HR, 7 RBI, 5 runs & 3 SB's.
OF-David DeJesus (SEA) - .471 (8-for-17), RBI & run.
SP-Clayton Kershaw (KING) - W/L in 2 outings, 15 IP, 15 H, 5 ER, 12 K & 4 BB's.
OF-Curtis Granderson (KING) - .333 (7-for-21), HR, 4 RBI & 4 runs.
2B-Daniel Murphy (KING) - .526 (10-for-19), run.
SP-Cole Hamels (POR) - 16 K's in a single-game, league record!
SS-Alcides Escobar (HOL) - .421 (8-for-19), 2 RBI & run.
C-Buster Posey (HAN) - .385 (10-for-26), HR, 5 RBI & 4 runs.

Justin-Credible!

AMERICAN LEAGUE
(WEEK 6 - Award Winners)

Let's just jump right into it, Justin Verlander becomes the first player in the history of the Boys of Summer Online APBA Baseball League to pitch a no-hitter. It happened this week against the Bronx Bombers during Game #4 of their six-game series.

Verlander's stats are not his usual, with only 4 K's while allowing 4 walks, the Bombers helped by hitting into five double-plays to minimize any possible damage. The Bombers even had a guy on second at one point, when Daniel Nava stole second base.

We are not going to deny Verlander for a shot at the weekly award for his lack of K's, it's a no-hitter, enough said! Something tells me that will not be the last one we will see from "J.V." He is this week's American League Pitcher of the Week.

The Fairgrove Tigers' Paul Goldschmidt stood out for the hitters this week, he batted .455 (10-for-22), with 3 HR's, 8 RBI, while scoring six times -- helping his team defeat the Boston Bravos, 4 games-to-2. He is this week's American League Player of the Week.

Honorable Mention:

SP-Doug Fister (S.S.) - W, 2 GS, 13.1 IP, 12 H, 3 ER's, striking out 13 (allowing no walks) -- improving his record to 3-1, 3.12 ERA after slow start.
SP-Jake Peavy (S.S.) - 9.2 IP in CG victory, 4 H, 2 ER with 13 K/0 BB (improves to 4-3, 2.65).
SP-Zack Greinke (WAS) - In any other week, this may have gone to Greinke -- 2 Wins (1 SHO), 15.2 IP, 6 H, 1 ER, 13 K/2 BB, 0.58 ERA! Records 5th win of season.
SS-Hanley Ramirez (BRX) - .318 (7-for-22), 3 HR, 4 RBI & 6 runs.
C-Joe Mauer (S.S.) - .389 (7-for-18), HR, 3 RBI & 2 runs.
1B/DH-Paul Konerko (WAS) - .318 (7-for-22), 3 RBI & 5 runs.
SP-Kris Medlen (CHI) - W (SHO), 4 H, 8 K/2 BB's.
SP-Mat Latos (FAIR) - W, CG, ER, 10 K/1 BB -- improves to 4-1, 1.07 ERA.
SP-Madison Bumgarner (FAIR) - W (SHO), 4 H, 10 K/5 BB -- Leads A.L. with 6 wins, has 1.70 ERA for the season. May be the most consistent pitcher in A.L., and is present in all pitching categories.
OF-Andre Ethier (FAIR) - .346 (9-for-26), 2 RBI & 6 runs.
2B-Dustin Pedroia (CAR) - .273 (6-for-22), 3 HR, 3 RBI & 4 runs.

Friday, April 11, 2014

Kick Start!

NATIONAL LEAGUE
(WEEK 5 - Award Winners)

Jeremy Hellickson got things started right for the Urbana Locomotives, by setting the tone for their series against the Traverse City Panthers. Hellickson pitches a two-hit shutout, it would be the first of three shutouts for Urbana in this five-game road series, as Urbana ends up pulling off a sweep of their division rivals. The Panthers have now been shut out seven times!

Hellickson also collected 5 K's & no walks, while recording his 3rd win (3-2 record), and lowered his season ERA to 2.45. Hellickson earns this week's A.L. Pitcher of the Week against some stiff competition, including his teammates David Price (who came close to winning his third award), Colby Lewis & Hiroki Kuroda.

On the lineup side of things, Urbana was all over the place as well with Adrian Beltre, Jimmy Rollins & Carlos "Chooch" Ruiz, but at the end of the day, the A.L. Player of the Week went to someone not on the Urbana Locomotives; This week's winner is the Seattle Rainiers' Josh Willingham.

N.L. Honorable Mention:

OF-Mike Trout (POR) - The #1 overall pick is heating up! .421 (8-for-19), 2 HR, 5 RBI, 6 runs & a stolen base.
SP-Matt Moore (HOL) - 8 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 7 K & 3 BB's.
SS-Jimmy Rollins (URB) - .350 (7-for-20), 3 HR, 4 RBI, 6 runs & SB.
SP-Gio Gonzalez (HAN) - 9 IP, 4 H, ER, 10 K/4 BB.
3B-Adrian Beltre (URB) - .381 (8-for-21), 2 HR, 4 RBI, 4 runs & SB.
OF-Carlos Quentin (HAN) - .400 (4-for-10), 2 HR, 3 RBI & 2 runs -- three games of action.
OF-Josh Hamilton (KING) - .300 (6-for-20), 2 HR, 8 RBI & 6 runs.
OF-Yoenis Cespedes (SEA) - .368 (7-for-19), HR, 5 RBI & 6 runs.
SP-Colby Lewis (URB) - 9 IP, SHO, 7 H, 11 K & 0 BB's -- due to all the attention on Price, Lewis has quietly gone 4-0 with a 1.53 ERA!
SP-David Price (URB) - 9 IP, SHO, 4 H, 10 K & 4 BB's.
SP-Bartolo Colon (POR) - 9.1 IP, 2 H, ER (2 runs), 1 K & 4 BB's in extras.
1B-Prince Fielder (SEA) - Currently on a record 23-game hitting-streak, having a productive week of .333 (6-for-18), HR, 3 RBI & 4 runs.

Gonzo Delivers

AMERICAN LEAGUE
(WEEK 5 - Award Winners)

Although his team lost their series 3-2 to Chicago, Adrian Gonzalez (of the Buffalo Yankees)'s stats were too difficult to ignore. Gonzalez is this week's A.L. Player of the Week; Gonzalez batted .421 (8-for-19), 3 HR's, 10 RBI & 4 runs. Gonzalez is the second Yankee to receive the weekly award.

Last week's A.L. Player of the Week award winner, Carlos Beltran had another productive week for the Washington Filibusters, batting .421 (8-for-19), scoring 4 runs, including 2 solo HR's accounting for his 2 RBI -- his two addition homers makes his total a whopping 12 HR's in 27 games. Beltran is not the only Filibuster player to have big weeks, other nominations include Brandon Phillips, Paul Konerko & Kyle Lohse (for pitcher).

"King" Felix Hernandez helped the Chicago Nine take Buffalo in the series, pitching a two-hit complete-game victory, allowing only one run, while striking out 9 batters & walking two -- improving to 4-2 for the young season; Earning Hernandez the A.L. Pitcher of the Week honors.

A.L. Honorable Mentions:

2B-Brandon Phillips (WAS) - .500 (8-for-16), 3 HR, 3 RBI, 4 runs.
SP-Matt Cain (CAR) - 9 IP, 3 H, ER, 8 K/2 BB, improves to 4-0.
1B-Paul Konerko (WAS) - .300 (6-for-20), 3 HR, 5 RBI, 4 runs.
SP-Madison Bumgarner (FAIR) - Seems to be a weekly staple in the 'Honorable Mention' area, pitches 7 strong innings, allowing only two hits, run, with 8 K's & 2 BB's. Picks up win #5!
SP-Kyle Lohse (WAS) - 9 IP, 3-hit SHO, with 4 K's & 2 BB's.
2B-Dustin Pedroia (CAR) - .353 (6-for-17), HR, 5 RBI, 3 runs, SB.
SP-Jordan Zimmermann (BUF) - 9 IP (W), 4 H, 2 ER, 7 K & 2 BB.
SP-Jeff Samardzija (CHI) - 8 IP (W), 3 H, ER (2 runs), with 11 K's & 2 BB's.

Friday, April 4, 2014

Nearly a Sacramento Sweep

NATIONAL LEAGUE
(WEEK 4 - Award Winners)

The Sacramento 66'ers nearly pull off a complete sweep for the week, they end up sweeping the two awards this week, and took 4 of 5 games from the Seattle Rainiers. This week's N.L. Player of the Week goes to first baseman Edwin Encarnacion. Encarnacion batted .357 (5-for-14), 3 HR, 9 RBI & 5 runs, while his teammate Sean Marshall wins the N.L. Pitcher of the Week. Marshall pitched 7 scoreless innings in relief, picking up two saves in the process, while striking out 6 batters (walking none), allowing only four hits for a 0.571 WHIP for the week.

The 66'ers are in a close division race with the Portland Microbrewers & King Road Kings. Sacramento hosts Portland next.

N.L. Honorable Mention:

3B-Adrian Beltre (URB) - .300 (6-for-20), HR, 6 RBI & 3 runs.
SP-Jarrod Parker (HAN) - 9 IP, SHO, 8 H, 8 K & 2 BB's.
SP-Brandon Morrow (T.C.) - 7 IP, W, 5 H, ER, 5 K & 2 BB.
SP-Jason Vargas (SEA) - 8 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 8 K (lowers ERA to 2.87).
1B-Brandon Belt (T.C.) - .385 (5-for-13), HR, 6 RBI & 5 runs.
SP-Barry Zito (SAC) - 8 IP, 3 H, ER, 4 K & 4 BB, improving to 3-2 for the season.
DH-Kendrys Morales (SEA) - .385 (5-for-13), HR, 3 RBI & 2 runs.
OF-Xavier Paul (KING) - One game: 5-for-5, 4 doubles (single-game record), RBI, run & steal.

A Bird? A Plane?! No, It's Beltran!

AMERICAN LEAGUE

(WEEK 4 - Award Winners)

Carlos Beltran was everywhere this week for the Washington Filibusters, batting .375 (6-for-16), with 9 RBI's and 6 runs scored -- to top it off, he smacked a series record 5 HR's (one being a Grand Slam)! So with no surprise, and a offensive onslaught such as this week's performance, Carlos Beltran was the easy choice for A.L. Player of the Week. Beltran's numbers through the first four weeks, now stand at, .299 batting average, 10 HR's & 21 RBI in 22 BoS games.

Beltran's performance also helped the Washington Filibusters win their series over the Bronx Bombers, 4 games to 1 -- evening their record now at 11-11.

On the pitching side of things, the field was wide open, but one slightly stood out. R.A. Dickey of the Boston Bravos delivered 13 K's against the South Shore Fighting Imps; Even though Dickey's performance came in the form of a losing effort, it was a solid performance of 2 ER's allowed in 8 innings (lowering his ERA to 3.21). Dickey is this week's A.L. Pitcher of the Week.