It’s been too long since I vested some time in a good old fashion article and as play opened up on the morning of June 10, two teams had a winning percentage over .650. In the American League, Justin P’s Spanish Harlem Pinata Beaters are currently weathering a strong push from Shamokin (winners of 8 of last 10), but still command a 7.5 game lead and own ATB’s best run differential. In the National League, the Brighton Shadows have a 9 game lead and ATB’s second best Run Differential. Which squad is better?
The Offenses
The heart and soul of the Beaters lineup is the big man himself, Babe Ruth. Off too a torrid start, Ruth has 50% more home runs than the rest of the Beater lineup combined, and has equal or more home runs than 5 other whole teams. He’s not a one man show, never think it. Wade Boggs, Lou Boudreau, Buck Leonard, and the upstart Biz Mackey have combined to offer the Beaters a .387 on base percentage. Pete Reiser is batting .341 / .378 / .584 with 13 doubles and 10 home runs. This is a high end offense that is currently leading ATB in runs scored and is tied in runs per game.
Brighton counters with an understated (by comparison) but still Top 50th percentile lineup. You won’t find Babe Ruth nor will you find anyone approaching a .370 on base, but you will find quality at the heart of the order. Rickey Henderson, Richie Ashburn, Joe DiMaggio, Norm Cash, and Dick Allen are batting a combined .275 / .352 / .420 with 59 doubles and 31 home runs. In the later part of the lineup, opposing pitchers must also navigate through Javy Lopez (.607 SLG) and some strong help from the bench.
Add it all up and the Beaters have a square advantage:
SPB - .268 / .347 / .422, .769 OPS, 5.1 RC/27, 4.8 R/G
BS--- .263 / .326 / .400, .726 OPS, 4.5 RC/27, 4.2 R/G
Pitching Staffs
Here, we can see the true strength of the Shadows. Their 1-2 combination of Joe Wood and Tiny Bonham (actually these are their 1st and 4th starters) are among the best back to back starters in the league. They’re a combined 18-6 with a 2.23 ERA and 1.08 WHIP. #2 starter Ed Walsh has been solid (5-1, 3.67 ERA) while 3rd starter Dizzy Dean has struggled (5.02 ERA, 1.45 WHIP).
The Top 4 Shadow relievers have this sweet line:
2.16 ERA, 1.04 WHIP, 137 IP, 108 H, 34 BB, 95 K,
Spanish Harlem counters with an elite starter in Garland Braxton (5-2, 1.71 ERA), followed by Jimmy Key (6-4, 3.36 ERA), and three interchangeable parts in Al Orth, Dick Donovan, and Teddy Higuera. Each have ERA’s in the 3.80s and a combined WHIP of 1.25.
Their top 4 Relievers are not quite as good as Brightons:
2.92 ERA, 1.11 WHIP, 154 IP, 138 H, 33 BB, 84 K
SPB – 3.16 ERA, 1.19 WHIP, 553 IP, 169 BB, 249 K, 42 HR
BS -- 2.93 ERA, 1.14 WHIP, 553 IP, 154BB, 342 K, 67 HR
Who’s better, at least at this stage? The nod must go to Spanish Harlem:
The Offenses
The heart and soul of the Beaters lineup is the big man himself, Babe Ruth. Off too a torrid start, Ruth has 50% more home runs than the rest of the Beater lineup combined, and has equal or more home runs than 5 other whole teams. He’s not a one man show, never think it. Wade Boggs, Lou Boudreau, Buck Leonard, and the upstart Biz Mackey have combined to offer the Beaters a .387 on base percentage. Pete Reiser is batting .341 / .378 / .584 with 13 doubles and 10 home runs. This is a high end offense that is currently leading ATB in runs scored and is tied in runs per game.
Brighton counters with an understated (by comparison) but still Top 50th percentile lineup. You won’t find Babe Ruth nor will you find anyone approaching a .370 on base, but you will find quality at the heart of the order. Rickey Henderson, Richie Ashburn, Joe DiMaggio, Norm Cash, and Dick Allen are batting a combined .275 / .352 / .420 with 59 doubles and 31 home runs. In the later part of the lineup, opposing pitchers must also navigate through Javy Lopez (.607 SLG) and some strong help from the bench.
Add it all up and the Beaters have a square advantage:
SPB - .268 / .347 / .422, .769 OPS, 5.1 RC/27, 4.8 R/G
BS--- .263 / .326 / .400, .726 OPS, 4.5 RC/27, 4.2 R/G
Pitching Staffs
Here, we can see the true strength of the Shadows. Their 1-2 combination of Joe Wood and Tiny Bonham (actually these are their 1st and 4th starters) are among the best back to back starters in the league. They’re a combined 18-6 with a 2.23 ERA and 1.08 WHIP. #2 starter Ed Walsh has been solid (5-1, 3.67 ERA) while 3rd starter Dizzy Dean has struggled (5.02 ERA, 1.45 WHIP).
The Top 4 Shadow relievers have this sweet line:
2.16 ERA, 1.04 WHIP, 137 IP, 108 H, 34 BB, 95 K,
Spanish Harlem counters with an elite starter in Garland Braxton (5-2, 1.71 ERA), followed by Jimmy Key (6-4, 3.36 ERA), and three interchangeable parts in Al Orth, Dick Donovan, and Teddy Higuera. Each have ERA’s in the 3.80s and a combined WHIP of 1.25.
Their top 4 Relievers are not quite as good as Brightons:
2.92 ERA, 1.11 WHIP, 154 IP, 138 H, 33 BB, 84 K
SPB – 3.16 ERA, 1.19 WHIP, 553 IP, 169 BB, 249 K, 42 HR
BS -- 2.93 ERA, 1.14 WHIP, 553 IP, 154BB, 342 K, 67 HR
Who’s better, at least at this stage? The nod must go to Spanish Harlem:
- They have the highest scoring offense and the #2 pitching staff. Brighton counters with the #1 pitching staff, but only the 11th ranked offense.
- Spanish Harlem has recently added Al Orth, the 6th pitcher taken overall in the draft
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