The backstops for Helena Handbasket have done a tremendous job of stopping the running game cold this season. They have thrown out more than half of all would be base stealers, nabbing 22 of 43 total (48.8%). 1979 Darrell Porter gets most of the credit, though 1947 Walker Cooper has had significant action behind the plate as well.
Contrast this feat with that of the Hathsin Sur
vivors. Their catchers of gunned down, and this is a very loose term, only 5 of 43 (!) base runners. That is a 88.4% success rate against them. 1889 Fred Carroll is mostly at fault, though Hathsin owner will have a difficult time sitting a catcher that's hitting .306 / .415 / .414.
Perhaps worse are the Willets Point "Mechanics". Even though opponents have been less successful (86.3%) they have managed a league leading 63 stolen bases against them, almost twice as many as Hathsin. In this case 1997 Mike Piazza is to blame.
Here is the summary data for every team in the league:
I blame the pitchers for putting so many guys on base, more than I blame Piazza! I do have an "Ex" throwing arm on the bench most of the time, perhaps it's time to sacrifice some power for defense...
ReplyDeletesomeone should hit piazza in the head
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