National Division Enjoys Tight Race

The National Division is shaping up to be a season long battle for their two open playoff slots. At press time, 5 of the 6 teams were within 3.5 games of each other for the division crown. The Wild Card was closer yet, with 4 teams within 2.5 games of each other.

The current division leader is Helena Handbasket, With a 19-12 record and a sporty +32 run differntial, second best in all of ATB, Joe T’s squad has been getting great results from centerfielder Oscar Charleston (.810 OPS) and third basemen Adrian Beltre (.867 OPS). However, the team is just 9th in overall runs scored and relies on a deep pitching staff.

Currently 3rd in team ERA (3.42), the Handbaskets have enjoyed success from both their starters and the bullpen. Juan Marichal is the team’s best starter, compiling a deceiving 3.89 ERA but giving up just 35 hits in 42 innings of work. Dean Chance, a spot starter, has been incredible yielding just two runs across his three starts.

While in third place, the Newark Slam Dumps make a claim the division’s best. Their +42 run differential is the best in ATB and their pitching staff has had an April of legends. Randy Johnson leads the way with a 5 wins anda 1.20 ERA while Bill Bernhard, Hank Aguirre, and Ben Sheets add 6 wins and a combined ERA less than three to the mix. Their bullpen is led by Tiny Bonham (2.35 ERA) and Rob Muprhy (2.19 ERA)

Not to be left out of the conversation, the Londonderry Machine have won four in a row and 6 of 7, climbing into second place with a 18-13 record despite a net-zero run differential. All eyes have been pointing directly at the new second basemen Ross Barnes. Batting .339 / .410 / .460, Barnes has proven to be a valuable 1st round draft choice and currently leads his team in batting average, slugging percentage, hits, doubles, triples, OPS, and Runs Created.

Perhaps a tier below these “Big 3” are the Willets Point “Mechanics” and Planet 10. The former has managed a 17-14 record despite being outscored by 41 runs (frankly, this is amazing), while Planet 10 is now at .500 after recently losing 6 of 10 contents.

Looking at each team’s head to head records only muddles the picture even further. Follow this if you can:

Helena is one game over .500 versus Plant 10, but one game under .500 combined versus the Mechanics and Slam Dumps. The Slam Dumps are one game over .500 both versus the Machine and combined against Planet 10 and Helena. The Machine have done very well (7-1) combined versus Planet 10 and the Mechanics, but , of course, against the 6th team in the division and worst team in baseball (the 8-22 Texas Gringos), they have a losing record.

One thing is clear, outside the Gringo’s the division is a combined 20-10 in interleague play. Should be a great summer.