Maple is heading to the playoffs for the 2nd consecutive season. Maple also clinched the Billy Martin division in the TML for the 2nd consecutive season. We felt Jersey was the up and coming team this year especially after their strong finish last year but, we are proud of our team on how they battled and got better each and every month. Currently we 14-8 in the month and have 3 home games vs. Jersey and one road game vs. SF left in the regular season.
Whos Hot entering the playoffs? Robert Martinez is 13-2 with a 1.62 ERA in his past 19 GS. He also is the only other 20 Game winner in the TML behind some guy named Gould for Vegas. Vic Jennings acquired from Las Vegas at the trade deadline is on fire batting .500 with 2 homers in his last six games. Then we have our powerful DH Eric McSwan who had one of the greatest individual sim performances in ABL history by hitting 5 homers in his last 5 games. Cale Hines 3B also has been steady all season long and is hitting .500 over the past 8 games. RP Villa, Wilson, Wilder, Costello and Coleman are all on fire entering the playoffs.
From a team perspective Maple is #1 in HRs in the TML and #1 in Runs allowed. Power and Pitching will have to carry this team if they are to have a shot at the ABL World Series in Year II.
Down on the farm; Astoria collapsed with an 0-7 sim to fall 4.5 games back and all but eliminate them frmo AAA playoff contention. Sandy Springs sits at 110 wins and is one of the most dominant AA teams in the league. In Single A we are hoping for Kingwood to hit .500 or better in the final sim. Currently 79-80 with 3 games left. Knights need a 3-0 or 2-1 sim to do it! A great turn around by the Knights after a miserable Year 1.
Baseball America has improved Maple up to 14th overall in the Top Minor League Systems Standings. 3B Dave Guenette in Single A is starting to hit the ball well for Kingwood, Dave Picot has some some flashes of brilliance in Single for Kingwood and finally our R1 pick last year Joshua Goldberg continues to climb up the charts now sitting at 86th overall. Two sims ago he entered the top 100 at 98th overall. When I asked my son what he thought about this he just "shaked his head"....
HOME OF THE 10TH MAN
HOME OF THE 10TH MAN
Saturday, November 10, 2012
Sunday, November 4, 2012
Season II - August Report - Maple playing their best baseball now...
The Maple Mauraders continued their great July result (15-11) by doing even better in August (17-9) with two games remaining vs. Las Vegas. Maple has extended their lead in the TML Billy Martin Division by 13 games and unless they completely collapse they are a shoe in to win their 2nd consecutive division title. Maple is winning the close games this year going an impressive 11-5 in extra inning frames and 24-19 in one run games. Maple has to be one of the surprises so far this season especially considering Ray Lester SP, Dave Kruse SP and Millard Marshall CL haven't seen the field.
Maple has used the long ball to help their turn around (Ranked 3rd in the TML). The strength of the team reamins in the pitching staff (Ranking 1st in ERA, Runs Allowed, Strikeouts in the TML). Maple also has 12 more home games down the stretch than road games. The trade deadline acquisition of Vic Jennings is also serving benefits.
Vic Jennings is hitting .296, 3 HR, 11 RBI, 13 Runs and 10 Base on Balls in 98 ABs so far since joining the Mauraders.
Down on the farm, Maple's organization has made strides at each level this year. Astoria is battling for a division title in AAA ball (75-58, 2.5 games back). In AA ball, Sandy Springs has been dominant this season (88-45). The nicest surprise has been Kingwood in A ball; despite being under .500 at 64-69 and 27.5 games back in the division they are showing signs of life and the player morale is improving!
The prospect watch has a new entry. The son of the owner Joshua Goldberg has made the top 100 in Baseball America's top prospects. Drafted in Round 1 last year, Joshua started off pretty hot in A ball but, did not fare so well in his brief promotion to AA ball. Recently demoted Joshua Goldberg is now pitching his best baseball with Kingwood. Right now the experts have him penciled in as the #98 ranked prospect. We expect his stock to rise in the coming sims!
Maple has used the long ball to help their turn around (Ranked 3rd in the TML). The strength of the team reamins in the pitching staff (Ranking 1st in ERA, Runs Allowed, Strikeouts in the TML). Maple also has 12 more home games down the stretch than road games. The trade deadline acquisition of Vic Jennings is also serving benefits.
Vic Jennings is hitting .296, 3 HR, 11 RBI, 13 Runs and 10 Base on Balls in 98 ABs so far since joining the Mauraders.
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| I'm glad to be back in the World Series hunt! |
Down on the farm, Maple's organization has made strides at each level this year. Astoria is battling for a division title in AAA ball (75-58, 2.5 games back). In AA ball, Sandy Springs has been dominant this season (88-45). The nicest surprise has been Kingwood in A ball; despite being under .500 at 64-69 and 27.5 games back in the division they are showing signs of life and the player morale is improving!
The prospect watch has a new entry. The son of the owner Joshua Goldberg has made the top 100 in Baseball America's top prospects. Drafted in Round 1 last year, Joshua started off pretty hot in A ball but, did not fare so well in his brief promotion to AA ball. Recently demoted Joshua Goldberg is now pitching his best baseball with Kingwood. Right now the experts have him penciled in as the #98 ranked prospect. We expect his stock to rise in the coming sims!
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| 11-9, 2.80 ERA, 1.13 WHIP and 167 Ks in 151 IP |
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