18 games over .500 with a 5 game lead in the division and number one in the power rankings??!! All brand new territory for the organization. The Mustang Magic just keeps coming. One week from the all star break they are riding a six game winning streak. Five of those six games were won by only one or two runs. One of the biggest questions surrounding the Mustangs is do they know how to deal with this kind of success? The locker room has been remarkably subdued. Most players avoid even acknowledging that things are going well. Part of the reason is trying to put your finger on what has really changed. There are some new faces that are adding value. But at it's core this is the same team that it has been since the inaugural draft. Why the sudden improvement?
LF Tommy Harris was an exception when talking to the media. He was all smiles when asked about the status of the team. "In the year and a half I have been with this organization I have been impressed with how it is run. They knew where they wanted to go and stuck with the guys they thought could get them there. I know that I personally did little to contribute my first year here. Management let me work through my struggles. The coaching staff was key in getting me back into a groove."
That is all well and good, but does just letting guys work through their problems explain why Callum Ritchie and Francisco Garza's batting averages are up by 46 and 37 points from last season? Where did Eric "Flash" Black find the pop to be on pace for 20 HR all of a sudden? Pitching has always been a strength for the Mustangs but this level of dominance is just ridiculous. With a team ERA of 3.13 and an opponent batting average of .235 runs against this club are incredibly hard to come by. The starting rotation just couldn't find room for 2013 AAA Cy Young winner Chet Carver. After all, his ML era was over 4. That is just not good enough for this roster. Obviously the league's #1 defense by both zone rating and efficiency, deep fences, and elite pitching coach Brian Taylor are factors. But can that really be the whole story?
Bottom line is that there really are no answers to the question. It seems that the baseball deities just favor the Mustangs in this magical season. So Mustang fans, grab some popcorn, kick back, enjoy the ride, and hope for continued success all the way to the post season.
Monday, February 25, 2013
Friday, February 15, 2013
Welcome to the inaugural blog of the Mile High Mustangs. Success has been pretty sporadic for the franchise so far as the owner continues to struggle with understanding the subtle complexities of the game. That being said, year three is off to a tremendous start. Eight games over is brand new territory for the fledgling OOTP owner. Season one looked promising at 82-80 that included a late season run at a division championship which fell short in the last couple sims. Season two was a disappointing 80-82. Especially disappointing because it took a late season surge to get to that point. The high fan expectations plummeted by over 25 points throughout the coarse of the season. Even with the great start this season we still struggle to get even 40,000 into the seats. All that being said, this team is finally playing like they are supposed to and looks to be a real contender.
The pitching staff is firing on all cylinders with a ridiculous 3.11 ERA despite losing two starters to injury. AAA call ups Tim Berry (5-2, 3.10 ERA, 6.93 H/9) and Scott Wilson (3.26 ERA, 3 CG) are right at home in the majors. When the staff gets healthy the Mustangs will likely be in the rare position of selling starting pitching. There may be an opportunity there to further improve an already vastly improved offense. As amazing as the starters have been, the bullpen is the true strength. Their jaw dropping 2.63 ERA has protected leads and given the offense the opportunity to come back again and again. Closer David Reynolds started off rocky but has hit his groove. Special mention to Barry Johnson who is yet to allow a run in 17 IP.
Attention to defense in the inaugural draft is paying obvious dividends. The team ranks #1 in defensive efficiency. Center fielder Eric Black continues to be a dominant defensive presence, chasing down balls with reckless abandon and sporting a double digit zone rating yet again.
What has really translated to more wins however is the improved offense. Tommy Harris was putrid last season after signing a huge free agent contract. This year he is making a case for team MVP. His .293 average is all the way up from .238 last season. He is rolling with a .395 OBP and 37 RBIs and displaying an offensive prowess as yet unseen in a Mustang uniform. Season one all stars Callum Ritchie and Jeff Wade are both returning to form after bad showings last season. AAA call up Manuel Sanchez and free agent pick up German Hernandez have taken full advantage of their opportunities to help the cause.
It is early and things could easily break bad, especially in the insane competition of the Sparky Anderson division. But if the Mustangs do sneak in to the playoffs, they are just the type of team that no one wants to see in a series.
The pitching staff is firing on all cylinders with a ridiculous 3.11 ERA despite losing two starters to injury. AAA call ups Tim Berry (5-2, 3.10 ERA, 6.93 H/9) and Scott Wilson (3.26 ERA, 3 CG) are right at home in the majors. When the staff gets healthy the Mustangs will likely be in the rare position of selling starting pitching. There may be an opportunity there to further improve an already vastly improved offense. As amazing as the starters have been, the bullpen is the true strength. Their jaw dropping 2.63 ERA has protected leads and given the offense the opportunity to come back again and again. Closer David Reynolds started off rocky but has hit his groove. Special mention to Barry Johnson who is yet to allow a run in 17 IP.
Attention to defense in the inaugural draft is paying obvious dividends. The team ranks #1 in defensive efficiency. Center fielder Eric Black continues to be a dominant defensive presence, chasing down balls with reckless abandon and sporting a double digit zone rating yet again.
What has really translated to more wins however is the improved offense. Tommy Harris was putrid last season after signing a huge free agent contract. This year he is making a case for team MVP. His .293 average is all the way up from .238 last season. He is rolling with a .395 OBP and 37 RBIs and displaying an offensive prowess as yet unseen in a Mustang uniform. Season one all stars Callum Ritchie and Jeff Wade are both returning to form after bad showings last season. AAA call up Manuel Sanchez and free agent pick up German Hernandez have taken full advantage of their opportunities to help the cause.
It is early and things could easily break bad, especially in the insane competition of the Sparky Anderson division. But if the Mustangs do sneak in to the playoffs, they are just the type of team that no one wants to see in a series.
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