BoS: NLCS Games 1 & 2

PORTLAND MICROBREWERS (94-68) vs. URBANA LOCOMOTIVES (104-58). The Brewers swept the Seattle Rainiers in the opening round, while Urbana got a first round bye.

GAME 1 - Hisashi Iwakuma - PORT (9-7, 4.18 ERA) vs. David Price (23-4, 2.35 ERA)

A back-and-forth battle between the two best teams in the National League. The Microbrewers would touch up Urbana's starting pitcher David Price with a barrage of 6 extra-base hits & 5 runs as he stays in for the complete game. It's only fitting that "Big Papi" David Ortiz hits a HR in the post-season to go along with Freddie Freeman's two-run game-changing home run in the top of the 6th. N.L. MVP-candidate Adrian Beltre tried his best by momentarily tying the game 4-4 in the 4th.

Portland 5, Urbana 4

Portland's Freddie Freeman is locked in.

GAME 2 - Matt Harrison - PORT (13-13, 3.73 ERA) vs. Cole Hamels (19-10, 2.78 ERA)

Freddie Freeman shows Cole Hamels the same respect he had for Price's season record, as he got the Brewers off to a 2-0 start in the top of the 2nd, with a two-run blast. It would be Freeman's first of two HR's for the night, making it 3 HR's in this young series already -- 5 HR's during these playoffs! The Boys of Summer may have its first "Mr.October" in Freeman.

Urbana's bats were quiet (collecting only 4 hits). Nick Markakis did his best for the Locomotives, smacking a solo HR in the 6th, but unfortunately he made friends with the wall in right, as he slammed into the wall going for a ball. Carlos "Chooch" Ruiz (fitting that he plays for the Locomotives) tries to keep this close by hitting a two-run HR in the bottom of the 7th, making it 4-3 Portland. Ruiz and Adrian Beltre would collide in the top of the 8th, costing Beltre the rest of the game, thank goodness for Urbana fans' sake that they at least have a day of rest, even though it's a long travel to the Pacific to play Portland.

Glen Perkins locks down his 2nd save of the series, while Matt Harrison (acquired from the lousy Traverse City Panthers) pitched an effective game, allowing only 3 ER's & 4 hits in 8 innings -- he struck out 5, while walking 3. Cole Hamels struck out 6, while allowing 7 hits, 4 runs & 2 walks in 8 innings.

Portland 4, Urbana 3

BoS: ALCS Games 1 & 2

The Imps' David Wright.

BOSTON BRAVOS (92-70) vs SOUTH SHORE FIGHTING IMPS (110-52). The Bravos won their series 3-1, while the Fighting Imps had a first-round bye.

GAME 1 - Edwin Jackson - BOS (9-9, 5.47 ERA) vs. Jake Peavy - S.S. (18-11, 3.08 ERA)

Corey Hart got things started for the Bravos, with a two-run HR in the first, but the Imps answer back with four runs in the bottom of the first, taking a 4-2 lead. The Imps never looked back, as they score 6 runs & 11 hits off of Edwin Jackson's lousy start. Jake Peavy did better with 8 K's, but still allowed 3 runs in 6 innings.

Allen Craig lead Boston with 3 hits out of the team's 13 hits, going 3-for-4, with a RBI double & run; Each member of the South Shore's starting lineup got a hit in this one.

GAME 2 - Chris Capuano - BOS (17-9, 3.74 ERA) vs Scott Diamond (14-6, 2.64 ERA)

David Wright and Matt Holliday each had RBI singles, during the bottom of the 4th, that would make all the difference -- as the Imps take control of the series (2-0), with a 2-0 victory. Scott Diamond pitched a three-hit shutout, while the Bravos' Chris Capuano pitched a good game, allowing only two runs in 7.1 innings, while getting no support from his lineup. Capuano & Diamond each had 7 stBrikeouts. Wright went 2-for-3 in the contest.

The series goes back to Boston, we'll see if Boston can fight back in this one.

BoS - League Divisional Series (Games 3 - 4)

GAME 3

American League

The Fairgrove Tigers visit Boston to play the Boston Bravos, both teams split the first two games in Fairgrove, MI. 

Game 3 - Ryan Vogelsong - FAIR (19-8, 2.98 ERA) vs. R.A. Dickey - BOS (14-11, 3.08).

The Boston Bravos struck first with a RBI double by Adam LaRoche during the bottom of the 4th. Ichiro Suzuki added a solo HR to right in the bottom of the 5th, to make it 2-0.

The Fairgrove Tigers cut the lead in half, with an RBI double by Jason Heyward, driving in Michael Morse -- but R.A. Dickey was too much for the Tigers, as he goes the distance, allowing 6 hits & a run, as Fairgrove stranded 6 runners. Dickey also had 9 K's. Ryan Vogelsong was ineffective, allowing 5  hits & 4 runs in 5.1 innings, earning the loss.

Boston wins 5-1 & takes a 2-1 series lead.

National League
The Seattle Rainiers are looking for some help from their hardcore fans, to help them bounce back hopefully against the Portland Microbrewers. The Brewers stormed back, and shocked the Rainiers in Game 2. Can Seattle make this a series?

Game 3 - Cliff Lee - PORT (11-9, 3.93 ERA) vs. Wei-Yin Chen (11-8, 4.13 ERA)

Yoenis Cespedes gets things going for the Rainiers with a solo HR off of Lee to deep left center. Josh Willingham adds another solo HR in the bottom of the 4th.

Seattle would take their 2-0 lead into the top of the 7th, when Freddie Freeman gets started by hitting a solo HR off of Chen. Seattle holding onto a 2-1 lead in the 9th, calls on Jonathan Broxton to close things out, as Freeman strikes again with another solo shot, tying it up 2-2. Seattle would walk Alfonso Soriano, and would pay the price allowing another long ball, this time by veteran Eric Chavez.

Freeman: Just getting started?

With Seattle fans in shock, Glen Perkins of Portland, comes in and closes things out, as the Portland Microbrewers are advancing to the National League Championship to play the Urbana Locomotives. Austin Jackson and Mike Trout each went 2-for-4 in Game 3, as Jackson batted .545 for the series, with Trout batting .600. Trout smacked in 8 RBI the first two games of the series.

GAME 4

American League

Boston has now won two straight to take 2-1 lead, as Fairgrove will try to even the series 2-2 in Boston, and hopefully send it back to Fairgrove.

Gordon was all smiles for Boston.

Game 4 - Rick Porcello (7-5, 3.77 ERA) vs. Brandon Beachy (8-5, 3.38 ERA)

Entering the bottom of the 5th, with a 1-0 lead, Boston would score three key runs. Alex Gordon would get his 2nd ribbie of the day (RBI single in the 3rd), with a sac fly, scoring in Omar Infante, making it two outs. Adam LaRoche would come up big again, with a two-run double, giving him 6 RBI's for the series. Boston now leads 4-0.

Adam Jones gets the Fairgrove Tigers on the board with a solo HR off Beachy, in the 6th. The Bravos' Alex Gordon answered back with a RBI double in the 7th, making it 5-1. Gordon had 3 RBI for the day, 2-for-3 performance.

Boston turns to Johnny Cueto to close out the last 3 innings for the Bravos, with 3 K's.



Brandon Beachy ended the day with 9 K's, Boston wins the series on three consecutive victories, and now look forward to heading to New York to play the South Shore Fighting Imps.

2013 BoS Gold Glove Award Winners

AMERICAN LEAGUE

C - Yadier Molina (Washington)

1B - Adrian Gonzalez (Buffalo)

2B - Brandon Phillips (Washington)

3B - Miguel Cabrera (Buffalo)

SS - J.J. Hardy (South Shore)

LF - Andre Ethier (Fairgrove)

CF - Adam Jones (Fairgrove)

RF - Jay Bruce (Buffalo)

P - Matt Cain (Carolina)

NATIONAL LEAGUE

C - Buster Posey (Hannibal)

1B - Freddie Freeman (Portland)

2B - Aaron Hill (Urbana)

3B - Adrian Beltre (Urbana)

SS - Yunel Escobar (King Road)

LF - Curtis Granderson (King Road)

CF - Andrew McCutchen (Sacramento)

RF - Justin Upton (Hannibal)

P - Clayton Kershaw (King Road)

League Divisional Series - Boys of Summer

GAMES 1 & 2 

American League

The Boston Bravos (92-70) of the A.L. East, travel to Fairgrove, Michigan -- to face the A.L. West Division Champs. The Fairgrove Tigers sported a 95-67 record. The Bravos took 7 of 12 from the Tigers during the season, we'll see if any of this plays out for Boston. Both teams have even splits for their home & away records, pretty balanced. Everything on paper is pointing at this series to be pretty even, maybe going the distance for all 5 games? We'll see.

Game 1 - Edwin Jackson - BOS (9-9, 5.47 ERA) vs. Madison Bumgarner - FAIR (15-8, 3.49).

The Fairgrove Tigers appeared to get contributions from everywhere in their lineup, as everyone except for two of their starters collected hits, as the team went 11-for-32. Jason Heyward, Andre Ethier & Salvador Perez each had 2 hits, while Ethier & Perez added a RBI. Boston's Edwin Jackson wasn't exactly sharp, allowing 3 runs & 8 hits in 5.1 innings, all while collecting 7 strikeouts though, without allowing a walk.

The game remained 1-0 Fairgrove, ahead on a sac fly by Adam Jones (in the bottom of the 2nd) until Fairgrove padded it's lead with two runs in the bottom of the 5th. Down 3-1, in the 7th, Boston finally got on the board with a RBI double by Omar Infante. Tigers answered back with another sac fly, this time by, Howie Kendrick, for an insurance run & lead of 4-1.

Madison Bumgarner was dealing in Game 1.

That's where the score remained with an excellent performance by Fairgrove's starting pitcher Madison Bumgarner, allowing only 6 hits & one run, while massing 13 strikeouts, in only 6.2 innings. Fairgrove relievers, Craig Stammen and Robbie Ross, lock down the rest of the game, adding 3 more K's to the mix (Boston batters struck out 16 times).

Can Boston bounce back in Game 2?

Game 2 - Chris Capuano - BOS (17-9, 3.74 ERA) vs. Mat Latos - FAIR (14-10, 4.12 ERA).

Bostons' bats once again could only manage 6 hits, but so was the case for the Tigers. Fairgrove struck first with a two-run homer by Howie Kendrick (giving him 3 RBI for the series) during the bottom of the first. Boston inched closer with Chris Johnson scoring off a sac fly by Omar Infante in the second. 

The big moment of the game came with Adam LaRoche hitting a clutch two-run homer in the top of the 6th for the Bravos. Alex Gordon added a RBI single in the 7th, as Boston took a 4-2 lead.

LaRoche delivered a blast that changed the tide of Game 2.

Chris Capuano pitched a effective game of 6 innings, 6 hits & 2 runs, plus 3 walks allowed, while striking out 9 Tigers; while Mat Latos was not on his 'A' game. Craig Kimbrel would come in for the save as the Bravos hold onto a 4-2 victory.

Series even, 1-1.

NATIONAL LEAGUE

The wildcard Seattle Rainiers (86-76) travel south to Portland to face their division rivals, the N.L. West Division Champions - the Portland Microbrewers, who ended up with a 94-68 record. Portland definitely has the upper hand in pitching, while Seattle slightly has them with the bats.

Game 1 - Max Scherzer - SEA (10-12, 4.05 ERA) vs. Chris Tillman - POR (7-5, 3.96).

Mike Trout, the face of the franchise, kicks things off early for Portland with a solo blast to right off of Max Scherzer in the bottom of the first, with two outs. 

Bottom of the 3rd, Austin Jackson (acquired from the Traverse City Panthers during the season) hits a solo HR off of his friend Scherzer, to make it 2-0 Portland. Marco Scutaro reaches base on a single, which brought up Mike Trout once again, he once again belts it out, this time to deep left -- putting an early 4-0 lead on the board.

Trout puts up a monster Game 1 for Portland.

Mike Trout didn't stop there, as he knocked in two during the bottom of the 4th, to score in two on a double. Trout's line for the day: 3-for-4, 2 HR, 6 RBI, 2 runs on 10 total bases! Trout ended up overshadowing his teammate, starting pitcher Chris Tillman's terrific day. Tillman pitched a two-hit shutout, striking out 11 Rainiers for the night.

Seattle's bats would have to come alive in Game 2, before letting this series get away from them.

Game 2 -  Bronson Arroyo - SEA (16-9, 3.62 ERA) vs. Jonathan Niese - POR (16-8, 2.61 ERA).

During the top of the third, Seattle strikes first as Jose Altuve hits a double, after a single by Rob Brantly, Derek Jeter scores in Altuve off of a single. Prince Fielder pulls off a rare triple to score both base runners in, as Josh Willingham hits a solo HR for the Seattle Rainiers. Exactly the inning & start to a game that Seattle was hoping for.

Portland answers back in the bottom of the third. Mark Ellis draws a walk, Austin Jackson follows that with a double. With runners on 2nd & 3rd, Marco Scutaro singles in Ellis, making it 4-1 Seattle. Mike Trout (4-for-5 for the series) hits a sacrifice fly, scoring in Jackson from third.

Down 4-2, in the bottom of the 4th, Jason Kipnis singles, steals second & is batted in by Freddie Freeman. Portland would end up tying the ball game, 4-4, in the bottom of the 5th, on another sacrifice fly by Mike Trout (his 8th RBI of the series). During the inning Portland knocked out Seattle's starter Bronson Arroyo (bringing in reliever David Robertson) & Scutaro collected his second hit.

Big game for Marco Scutaro of Portland.

Seattle strikes back with a solo HR by Yoenis Cespedes in the top of the 6th, knocking Portland's starter Jonathan Niese out of the game, taking back a 5-4 Seattle lead. Portland doesn't stay down for long, the Brewers pinch-run Coco Crisp for Mark Ellis, after Ellis drew a walk, Crisp would end up stealing second; Austin Jackson drives Crisp in on a single, tied 5-5.

Bottom of the 8th, David Ortiz draws a walk, Portland pinch-runs A.J. Ellis for Ortiz, Jason Kipnis gets walked, runners on 1st & 2nd. Seattle calls on Charlie Furbush, as he comes in and shuts Portland down.

Seattle fails to score in the top of the ninth against Portland reliever Matt Albers. During the bottom, Portland's Russell Martin leads off with a double off Furbush. Austin Jackson strikes out. Marco Scutaro hits a deep fly to left center into the gap, Mickey Brantley in center doesn't even offer going after it, as Portland's dugout pours onto the field in a celebration walk-off! Down early 4-0, the Microbrewers come storming back in this one.

Seattle fans will come out for sure in Game 3, but they will be hoping it's not their last game. We'll see... what a comeback for Portland. Marco Scutaro had 3 hits & 2 RBI in this one -- including the all important walk-off hit.

League Division Matchups

AMERICAN LEAGUE

The Boston Bravos (92-70) of the A.L. East, travel to Fairgrove, Michigan -- to face the A.L. West Division Champs. The Fairgrove Tigers sported a 95-67 record. The Bravos took 7 of 12 from the Tigers during the season, we'll see if any of this plays out for Boston. Both teams have even splits for their home & away records, pretty balanced. Everything on paper is pointing at this series to be pretty even, maybe going the distance for all 5 games? We'll see.

NATIONAL LEAGUE

The wildcard Seattle Rainiers (86-76) travel south to Portland to face their division rivals, the N.L. West Division Champions - the Portland Microbrewers, who ended up with a 94-68 record. Portland definitely has the upper hand in pitching, while Seattle slightly has them with the bats.

Summer's Setting Sun (Part II)

The AMERICAN LEAGUE (Divisions in Review)

We start in the A.L. East with Bill Gillam's South Shore Fighting Imps. 17 games, everyone in the division was close, South Shore led with a 10-7 record, but started to gradually move apart from the herd -- by April 13th, the team was 24-12, 6 games up on it's closest division foe at the time. By April 18th, they finished with a 6-game winning streak, and was 29-12, the rest of the three teams were tied in last at 19-22 (10 games back) -- Imps went 19-5 since their 10-7 start to the season. There was only one other team that would make plenty of noise in the division and that would be Larry Waddell's Boston Bravos.

The Imps have fought back, each time challenged.

The Bravos would go on a seven-game winning streak between May 21st-29th, all good, that's if the Imps were losing, which they had a winning-streak of their own at 5 straight. Boston's seven-game streak was snapped on the 30th, as the Imps won again. Then starting May 31st, the Bravos would start an impressive streak just prior to the break. At the break, their new streak was 5 consecutive wins, while South Shore stumbled and lost 3 straight.

At the break, South Shore led the A.L. East at 53-28, 10 games up on Boston's 43-38 record. The Imps would win their first 4 after the break, but would then follow that with a 3-game skid. Boston, meanwhile, continued their streak started prior to the All-Star Game, and made it 12 wins straight on June 17th. The Bravos were now within 7 games of the Imps. South Shore was good at keeping a division lead, regardless how much more Boston won, Boston would end up setting a league-record 15 straight wins -- but their last 3 wins were zilch as South Shore won their last 3 as well.

Between May 20th - June 21st

• The Bravos won a remarkable 22 of 23 games, climbing out of the cellar and hopping two teams in the process. The only problem is, during that span, they were only capable of shaving 6 games off of South Shore's division lead; The Imps went 16-7 during the span.

The South Shore Fights Back

• Boston would be within 6.5 games on July 2nd (and as late as July 7th) at 60-40 (29-3 during their climb from the bottom) -- but South Shore would slowly pull away again. South Shore would have it's way in inter-league play with Traverse City & Holland, while Boston had the misfortune of having to face Urbana and Hannibal. South Shore's 10-game winning streak ended July 24th, with a 12-game cushion on Boston at 83-37 (.692 win pct) -- winning 23 of their last 29 games.

South Shore clinched the division last series (The Urbana Locomotives clinched the week before), while the Imps became the first team this season to reach the century mark in wins. They are currently 100-44, with Boston Bravos at 84-63 (16.5 GB), holding a 3.5 game lead over the A.L. wildcard spot.

The Bravos went on a scorching run of 29-3, to make the N.L. East race interesting.

The A.L. West for the most part has been a two-team race, Stray Corrado's Chicago Nine was in the midst at one point with a 38-34 record, 3 games out of first, and has faded after the break. Robert Mosher's Fairgrove Tigers have been holding off the Carolina Eagles for awhile now, but by only a few games. The margin has not been more than 5 games for some time, and should be interesting (just like the N.L. West when it comes down the stretch). Fairgrove is currently 84-62, with a 4 game lead on the Eagles. 

Both, South Shore & Fairgrove are built on starting pitching, the Tigers' rotation has descended from where they were earlier in the season, while the Imps have actually out-performed the Tigers' rotation, and has 3 guys in the top 6 in ERA with Scott Diamond (2.86, 4th), and with Tommy Milone & Jake Peavy tied for 6th, with a 3.01 ERA. The Imps also lead the league with a 3.19 ERA, while Fairgrove fell to 3.81 (4th). Madison Bumgarner (14-6 record, 3.61 ERA & 227 K's) and Ryan Vogelsong (17-7, 2.98 ERA & 167 K's) have lead the way for the Tigers.

At one point South Shore closer Fernando Rodney was on pace for 60 saves, he has slowed down a bit, but still leads the league with 41 Saves.

South Shore is tops in batting average (.273), HR (179) Runs Per Game (5.3), and have a .343 OBP (2nd place - Fairgrove, has a .317 mark). The team though has the least steals (68) and leads the league with 1,021 players Left on Base. If it comes down to the two teams in the American League Championship, one thing to keep in mind, South Shore won the season series 8-4.

The Buffalo Yankees' Miggy has his eyes on the crown.

Peter Wennin's Buffalo Yankees may not have had much to cheer about for his team, but certainly can be happy with their franchise's top pick in Miguel Cabrera (the 2nd Overall Pick in the Inaugural BoS Draft). Cabrera is currently leading all of the Triple Crown categories, but only by slivers in two of the three categories, this may go down to the final day.

BATTING AVG

• Miguel Cabrera (BUF) - .318
• Adrian Gonzalez (BUF) - .316
• Joe Mauer (S.S.) - .305

HOME RUNS

• Miguel Cabrera (BUF) - 42
• Matt Holliday (S.S.) - 32
• Carlos Beltran (WAS) - 31

RUNS BATTED IN

• Miguel Cabrera (BUF) - 106
• Paul Goldschmidt (FAIR) - 100
• Matt Holliday (S.S.) - 97

One of my favorite team names & team logo ( I made the logo).

Jeff Tritthart's Bronx Bombers are very likely to have a top 5 pick in this upcoming 2014 (2013 MLB Players) Draft. I met, Jeff in the U.S. Navy, and with every baseball project, he always goes by the Bronx Bombers team name. Frank Thomas joined us a few days after Frank "The Big Hurt" Thomas was elected to the Hall of Fame -- which made us scratch our heads at first, could it be?! The real Frank Thomas, already bored & missing baseball. Frank Thomas' Washington Filibusters had the chance to host the league's 1st All-Star Game, during the game, his player Carlos Beltran hit a Grand Slam and earned All-Star Game MVP. Thomas also came up with maybe (because it's really hard to choose from all these clever team names) my favorite name of the bunch -- The Filibusters!

It's going to be interesting to see who goes to the playoffs from each league, and who will be the first two teams competing for the league's first World Championship of the Boys of Summer APBA Baseball League.

Summer's Setting Sun (Part I)

The Boys of Summer APBA Baseball League's inaugural baseball season is coming to a close. There is 3 weekly series left for everyone to play.

I have had a wonderful time this year with our new league. I never officially commissioned a league before, it's been trying at times (especially the league's rough start), but overall I feel everyone (the owners) for the most part have enjoyed it as well. I feel confident that the league will only get better & stronger in time, and I feel that I have learned from the seasons' mistakes, and how to go about things as the league moves on for future seasons. I don't like giving myself pats on my shoulders, maybe I'm being modest, I just can never take credit for this great experience.

A experience that I could have never done without all the owners involved. Well, I shouldn't say owners, I should say my new friends (and a few old ones as well) -- I've said this before, somewhere, and I'll say it again.. Seriously, I believe if we all lived a few miles apart, we would be rolling the dice or also doing the BBW still, and if we happened to all be of the same age, and if we were kids in the same neighborhood, we would be driving our parents bonkers right now-- They'll be wondering where one another was, while shouting for us to come home for dinner, LOL! I feel like we formed a band of brothers, and I feel that bond will only get stronger in time. We have men from all ages, in different regions of the country, playing make-believe General Manager, practicing our managing skills in the game we grew up to love. Honestly, is there anything better than Baseball? I refuse to believe there is, well.. okay for me, my wife Becky, family & God --- but after that really?!

So before I move on with the season to date... I just want to say thanks to the following in alphabetical order, because everyone has played a part of making -- what I feel, and hopefully what they feel, as a successful APBA BBW League. Here is to many more years...

Thank you..

• John "Stray" Corrado
• Charles Evans
• Bill Gillam
• Robert Mosher
• Thomas Nelshoppen
• Steve Ruder
• Brad Stark
• Frank Thomas
• Jeff Tritthart
• Larry Waddell
• Merle Watkins
• Peter Wennin
• Randy Woolley

David Price of the Urbana Locomotives.

These 13 guys have made this season memorable for many reasons. Everybody joined at the right time, whenever doubt started to creep into my mind -- if running a league was going to even work out? We would certainly have our tests along the way. We survived a draft that the online site crashed on our 7th overall pick in Justin Verlander -- the joke between a few of us, was that J.V. brought to much heat with him. But we pulled together within that hour to run the draft through my Advanced Draft, overall we were mostly strangers as this chaos went down, but we pulled together, communicated with each other, and moved forward to at least log in 15 rounds that day. We had guys new to APBA BBW all together, and some that were used to BBW, but never played in a league with file sending, so it was something to get used to at first, but now they are all pros at it.

The NATIONAL LEAGUE (Divisions in Review)

Let's get to the season in review so far, the Urbana Locomotives (managed by Thomas Nelshoppen of The APBA Blog) jumped off to a 14-5 start in the National League East. When they lost their next two games, my Traverse City Panthers were just 3 games back at 11-10. We played the next series, where T.C. visited Urbana, and I got swept in all 6 games -- the rest of the division was going in the opposite direction as well, and Tom had his Locomotives up by 9 games, with a 20-7 record. In late April, Game #43 (would have been mid-May for us) -- I would once again, represent myself as a spring board for Randy Woolley's Hannibal Cavemen, I would once again get swept to a division rival, losing in all six. The Cavemen would win 9 straight at one point, and be within 8.5 games of Urbana at the Game #53 mark -- Hannibal was a even 26-26, where Urbana went 15-11 since their 20-7 start -- I remember Tom being a bit nervous thinking his team was going to start declining, personally I felt the division would be between Urbana and Hannibal all along, on the way they executed the Draft. I kept my own predictions to myself at the time, in old leagues we would do preview issues, but as a new commissioner and still feeling out things in the league, and not knowing how owners would take a predictions issue -- I felt it was best to stay quiet.

Beltre is on top of nearly every offensive category in the N.L.

Thomas & his Locomotives just clinched the division August 15th. He currently leads the division by 27.5 games, entering play yesterday, with a 96-51 record. His team has been outstanding, led by a heavy N.L.Cy Young favorite in David Price -- who has a 21-4 record (.840 win pct), while leading the league in wins, ERA (2.42), complete games (tied with 10), shutouts (6); he is 5th with 215 K's, but his 9.3 K's per 9 innings (ranks 3rd), and is ahead of strikeout leader Clayton Kershaw's 8.4 K's per 9 inning. On the offensive side of the ball, Urbana's slugger Adrian Beltre was in the Triple Crown hunt. Beltre is at the top of nearly every offensive category -- Batting Average (.351 over Erick Aybar's .324), Slugging (.613), On-Base Percentage (.389), Runs Created (132.8), Total Average (1.039), Runs Contributed (58.4), Runs (93), Runs Batted In (129), Hits (193), Doubles (37) & MultiHit Games (58) entering  August 20th. His 35 HR's are currently 10 HR's behind Edwin Encarnacion of the Sacramento 66'ers.

Harper & Holland looking to be Royal pains.

The cellar-dwellers in the N.L. East are Steve Ruder's Holland Hitchhikers and my own Traverse City Panthers, we drafted mainly for 2013 & present, I think both teams have bright futures, and will test their division mates in time. Holland has a lot of youth and is led by two young studs that play for the Nationals in Bryce Harper and Stephen Strasburg. The Hitchhikers should also think of changing their colors to Royal blue with all the Kansas City players on their roster in Eric Hosmer, Mike Moustakas, Alcides Escobar, and Greg Holland. Traverse City's Giancarlo Stanton is currently 3rd in HR's with 33. They also have guys who take big steps in 2013 with Josh Donaldson, Matt Carpenter, Brandon Belt & Brian Dozier -- along with bright starting pitching on the horizon, led by the franchise's top pick in Yu Darvish.

The National League West has been probably the closest division all year. For the first 21 games, the Brad Stark's Portland Microbrewers and Charles Evan's King Road Kings were neck-to-neck. On May 4th, Portland only led the division by two games over 2nd place Sacramento Kings, the last place team Seattle Rainiers were only 6 games out, at this point. The next day, the Portland would make a deal with Traverse City, bringing in a new acquisitions in starting pitchers Matt Harrison and Brandon Morrow, outfielder Austin Jackson & Traverse City's 3rd Round Draft Pick (2014 - 2013 MLB Season) in exchange for two young pitchers in Corey Kluber & Nathan Eovaldi, and veteran outfielder Ryan Raburn. Harrison pitched a solid 10.1 inning Portland debut, allowing 3 earned runs with 5 K's. Portland adds some starting pitching with their already effective rotation, to give them that extra push, plus a bat (in Jackson) to help with what was a struggling lineup at that point.

Kershaw leads possibly the best 1-2 punch in BoS (both southpaws).

The Kings have a scary one-two punch in their starting rotation with lefties Clayton Kershaw & Chris Sale. The only problem, the team doesn't get good run support (in bottom half of league), have left many men on base (2nd w/994), and have been punched out at the plate more than any other National League team, not named the Traverse City Panthers, with 1,181 K's. Kershaw has been on fire, particularly the second-half & finally started to accumulate some victories; Leads league with 232 K's, 3rd in victories (18), 2nd in ERA (2.53), while topping the league in Earned Runs Prevented (41.1), Innings Pitched (249.1), and possibly making a strong case with his 26 Quality Starts (1st) to David Price's 19, when it comes to the Cy Young conversation. Sale, on the other hand, has been punished with weak run support (tied with 3 starting pitcher for 1st) with 3.4 runs per outing, and is right there with Kershaw with a .198 Opponent's Batting Average against them, he has also compiled 200+ strikeouts with 219, making it 451 K's between the two of them -- making a legit case that there is no better 1-2 punch at the top of the rotation than Kershaw & Sale. Kershaw started getting more run support in the second half, and actually ranks 7th (tied) with 4.8 runs per game now.

Merle Watkins' Seattle Rainiers is an interesting bunch, I like the pieces he has, and I was a bit surprised that they came out of the gates a bit sluggish, they have played better of late. When I looked at the division as a whole, Portland out of the four stood out. I felt they had more impact pieces, and drafted pretty good around the board, plus you can never go wrong with Mike Trout as the top overall pick, but other picks like Jason Kipnis & Cliff Lee stand out. I think the rest of the division would be anywhere from 2-4, I think you could have many different scenarios when you look at this division, you can also draw up plenty of scenarios where Portland is not on top as well -- everything in this division is about a break here, and a break there. Seattle has Prince Fielder, Evan Longoria, and Max Scherzer, while drafting youngsters in Yoenis Cespedes and Michael Brantley.


-- to be continued....

Summer's Setting Sun (Part II) - The AMERICAN LEAGUE (Divisions in Review)