Posted on

Power Rankings: Week 7

The final edition of the power rankings is headed by Orleans and Y-D.

1. Orleans Firebirds
Record: 29-15 (4-3 last week)
Previous Rank: 1

The Firebirds are slacking off – they no longer lead the league in key stats for all three phases, as Harwich finished with a better fielding percentage. But two out of three is plenty good enough to cement the Firebirds as the league’s best team as the playoffs begin. Orleans boasts the best batting average and best team ERA in the league. There seems to be good vibe, too – they clinched the division title with a walk-off win. Crucially for the playoffs, as a lot of teams are losing a lot of guys, Orleans has held on to almost everybody, particularly in its pitching rotation.

2. Y-D Red Sox
Record: 27-16-1 (4-4 last week)
Previous Rank: 2

The Red Sox beat Orleans right after the last power rankings came out. It wasn’t a great week that followed, but the fact that Y-D owns the season series over the Firebirds is an interesting sidebar for two teams that have appeared to be on a collision course for a while now. And doesn’t Y-D have some kind of history of playoff success? I feel like I read something about that.

3. Falmouth Commodores
Record: 24-19-1 (5-2 last week)
Previous Rank: 3

Falmouth finally emerged from the pack with a strong final week and held off Cotuit for the division title. It’s the second straight West crown for the Commodores, who will be looking for a second consecutive appearance in the championship series (and probably rooting for Orleans, at this point). The slugging never stopped for Falmouth, which finished with more home regular season home runs than any team in the Cape League since 2012. Two questions as the playoffs approach. Is Alec Bohm good to go? He didn’t play for about a week before returning for the season finale. And is there enough depth in the pitching rotation ? With Matt Mercer and Kyle Bradish both leaving, Falmouth is missing some key pieces, though Dalton Feeney and James McArthur have been good lately.

4. Cotuit Kettleers
Record: 22-21-1 (4-4 last week)
Previous Rank: 5

Cotuit enters the postseason with the league’s MVP and top pro prospect still in the fold and going strong. Michael Toglia has also been red hot lately, with a four home run in four day stretch last week. The overall offensive numbers don’t look too pretty – Cotuit is eighth in team batting average – but Toglia, Griffin Conine and Greyson Jenista make the lineup more fearsome than the statistics would indicate. On the mound, can Cotuit keep cobbling things together? Fifteen different pitchers have started at least one game and few have gone deep into their starts.

5. Brewster Whitecaps
Record: 21-21-2 (5-2 last week)
Previous Rank: 8

Outside of Falmouth, Brewster is the hottest team in the league entering the playoffs and its strong finish included wins over East leaders Orleans and Y-D. The Whitecaps seem to have a good nucleus of hitters still around. Nick Dunn and Marty Costes are red hot while Mickey Gasper, Michael Curry and Chandler Taylor offer plenty of pop. With some attrition in the pitching staff, the projected rotation has several guys with ERAs over four, though Tony Locey has emerged as a bona fide ace lately.

6. Bourne Braves
Record: 22-22 (3-5 last week)
Previous Rank: 4

The Braves lost five games in a row then broke out in impressive fashion with a pair of blowout wins over Wareham. It’s hard to give too much credence to the offensive explosions given Wareham’s decimated pitching staff, but the Bourne hitters will certainly be feeling good about themselves as the postseason begins. Jameson Hannah has been on fire lately and provides a crucial boost to the lineup. Pitching-wise, while the overall numbers weren’t great, the Braves have three solid starters in Eli Kraus, Daniel Bies and Brian Eichhorn.

7. Chatham Anglers
Record: 21-23 (3-4 last week)
Previous Rank: 6

It’ll be a rivalry battle in the first round of the East playoffs as neighbors Chatham and Orleans square off. They’re pretty familiar with each other at this point, with the Firebirds winning a pair of games over the Anglers on the final two days of the regular season, which clinched a 5-1 edge in the season series. I wouldn’t write off Chatham yet, though. Johnny Aiello is a dangerous bat in the middle of the order, top starter Austin Bergner has been fantastic and the bullpen has some shutdown arms. Then there’s the potential for some magic, as manager John Schiffner closes out his career with his team looking to send him out a winner.

8. Wareham Gatemen
Record: 18-25-1 (2-6 last week)
Previous Rank: 7

If you saw the Wareham Gatemen a few weeks ago, when they had a dominant stretch of starting pitching and reeled off a win streak, you’d be surprised at where they are now. You’d also be surprised at the roster. Nobody has been hit harder by late departures than the Gatemen, who have released nine players since July 17, including league batting champ Tanner Dodson, highly touted slugger Tristan Pompey and standout starting pitchers Miller Hogan, Griffin Roberts and Joey Matulovich. Perhaps Wareham will catch fire in the postseason, but if it happens, a new-look group will have to lead the way.

9. Harwich Mariners
Record: 15-28-1 (4-3 last week)
Previous Rank: 10

Harwich had one of its best weeks of the season after getting eliminated from playoff contention. Ultimately, though, an eighth place spot in both team batting average and team ERA was a tough sell all season.

10. Hyannis Harbor Hawks
Record: 16-25-3 (3-4 last week)
Previous Rank: 9

Hyannis nearly caught Wareham for the final playoff spot and might have been better positioned to make a Cinderella run. As it is, the Harbor Hawks will miss out on the postseason. Pitching remained the sticking point throughout, with Hyannis finishing with a league worst 5.40 ERA.

Posted on

Power Rankings: Week 6

More of the same at the top, with some shifting below among the West’s top teams.

1. Orleans Firebirds
Record: 25-12 (4-1 last week)
Previous Rank: 1

For about a two-week span, Orleans and Y-D won every game except when they played each other – and they nearly made it to tonight’s rematch with the streak intact before both lost Wednesday. Still, the top two are crystal clear at this point, and Orleans still gets the edge. I don’t remember a team so consistently successful in every area. The Firebirds still lead the league in batting average, team ERA and fielding percentage.

2. Y-D Red Sox
Record: 23-12-1 (4-1 last week)
Previous Rank: 2

If things hold, it’s going to be a heck of an East Division finals series. Y-D has been almost as impressive as Orleans, ranking third in both batting average and ERA. They haven’t been the league’s best in the regular season in their title years recently, but they’re right there this summer.

3. Falmouth Commodores
Record: 19-17-1 (4-1 last week)
Previous Rank: 5

Wareham has fallen off after an impressive win streak, leaving three teams neck-and-neck. Falmouth currently leads the group in the standings and leads here, too, though the Commodores could lay claim to this spot even if they weren’t in first place. The slugging offense has yet to cool off, and there’s an ace emerging in Matt Mercer to solidify the pitching staff.

4. Bourne Braves
Record: 19-17 (3-2 last week)
Previous Rank: 6

The Braves are sandwiched between Falmouth and Cotuit in the standings and they get a boost above the Kettleers here thanks to the quality of their three wins this week. They beat Falmouth, Cotuit and Orleans to hold serve in the tight division race.

5. Cotuit Kettleers
Record: 18-17-1 (2-4 last week)
Previous Rank: 3

Cotuit didn’t have a great week and now sits sixth in both team batting average and team ERA. The pitching rotation doesn’t shape up to be as strong as some of the other top teams – not a single Kettleer pitcher has thrown enough innings to qualify for the ERA title – and the departure of Justin Hooper hurts. Griffin Conine and Greyson Jenista keep the offense dangerous, though.

6. Chatham Anglers
Record: 18-19 (2-3 last week)
Previous Rank: 7

The Anglers have won their last two games over Brewster, helping them keep a leg up on the Whitecaps for third place. Austin Bergner looks like a bona fide ace, leading a pitching staff with the fifth-best team ERA in the league. Chatham’s team batting average ranks ninth in the league.

7. Wareham Gatemen
Record: 16-19-1 (1-4 last week)
Previous Rank: 4

Wareham takes the biggest tumble in the rankings after a win streak turned quickly into a losing skid. This time last week, the pitching staff was in the midst of a dominant run, but one starter departed and two more – Joey Matulovich and Griffin Roberts – have since joined him. The Gatemen will likely still make the playoffs, but may not be as dangerous as they looked.

8. Brewster Whitecaps
Record: 16-19-2 (1-3-1 last week)
Previous Rank: 8

Brewster has lost a few key arms, too, with the departure of Davis Daniel and all-star Robert Broom. The Whitecaps have gone just 2-7-1 in their last 10 games. The pitching staff still ranks fourth in team ERA.

9. Hyannis Harbor Hawks
Record: 13-21-3 (2-2-1 last week)
Previous Rank: 10

Fading this time last week, Hyannis has stayed afloat by beating some other sliding teams, with the two wins coming against Brewster and Wareham. With top hitter Jake Mangum and Robert Neustrom heading out after the All-Star game, it’s going to be grind the rest of the way.

10. Harwich Mariners
Record: 11-25-1 (1-4 last week)
Previous Rank: 9

Harwich lost nine in a row before Wednesday’s win over Y-D, which snapped the Red Sox’ nine-game winning streak. The Mariners are still in playoff contention and have gotten a boost from Team USA arrival Jake McCarthy.

Posted on

Power Rankings: Week 5

Orleans holds in the top spot for the third straight week. Y-D’s win streak vaults it into second. And really, it’s those two and everybody else right now.

1. Orleans Firebirds
Record: 21-11 (5-1 last week)
Previous Rank: 1

Yes, Y-D beat Orleans 11-2 last night and leads the season series over the Firebirds. But both teams had fantastic weeks and, with a good chunk of the season in the books, the body of work still favors Orleans. The Firebirds lead the circuit in team batting average and runs scored, and they lead in team ERA and opposing batting average. The lineup is extremely deep – as noted when Steve Passatempo hit three homers in a seven at-bat span – and the pitching is as good as the numbers indicate. Logan Gilbert is emerging as a bona fide ace on a staff of aces and the bullpen is rolling along.

2. Yarmouth-Dennis Red Sox
Record: 19-11-1 (5-0 last week)
Previous Rank: 4

The Red Sox have won five in a row and eight of their last nine. They’re three games back of Orleans for first place and the gap the other way is growing – Y-D has a seven-point edge on third-place Chatham. The Red Sox rank fourth in the league in hitting and third in team ERA. The pitching rotation doesn’t look as deep as what Orleans can bring to the table, but it’s still one of the best in the league.

3. Cotuit Kettleers
Record: 16-14-1 (2-3 last week)
Previous Rank: 2

The top four teams in the West are separated by two points in the standings. For now, Cotuit has a slight edge and gets the nod here, too. The Kettleers have been the streakiest team in the league – owners of six-game and four-game win streaks and five- and four-game losing streaks. The Kettleers rank sixth in the league in both team batting average and ERA. But they’ve shown that, on their best days, they’re tough to beat.

4. Wareham Gatemen
Record: 15-15-1 (4-1 last week)
Previous Rank: 6

The underlying numbers hinted at a breakout, and the Gatemen appear to be in the midst of it. Ranking second in both team batting average and ERA, they were under .500 this time last week, but they’ve climbed back and are in the thick of the West race. Tanner Dodson leads the league in hitting and Steven Kwan has been terrific atop the order since his late arrival from Oregon State’s run in Omaha. What really stands out is the starting pitching – in a four-game stretch last week, Gatemen starters didn’t give up a run. One of the pitchers, Miller Hogan, departed with an innings limit, but the others are still going strong.

5. Falmouth Commodores
Record: 15-16-1 (3-4 last week)
Previous Rank: 3

Falmouth hasn’t been able to get hot and at times this week, its powerful offense showed some chinks against good pitching. Orleans shut them out and Bourne held them to one run. Still, the Commodores continue to lead the league in slugging and the lineup is only getting stronger, with catcher Joshua Breaux hitting five home runs over his last 11 games.

6. Bourne Braves
Record: 16-15 (2-3 last week)
Previous Rank: 7

The Braves are closest to Cotuit in the standings and have a chance to overtake the Kettleers with a head-to-head matchup tonight. Bourne is the opposite of Cotuit in terms of streakiness, with just two stretches of three straight anything. It’s made for a bit of a rollercoaster, but the Braves keep ending up on the positive side of the ledger. And if nothing else, they’ll always lead the 2017 Cape League highlight reel. 

7. Chatham Anglers
Record: 16-16 (4-2 last week)
Previous Rank: 9

Chatham makes a jump after a strong week highlighted by a dominant pitching stretch. The Anglers went 30 innings across four games without allowing a run. They now rank fifth in the league in ERA, and if they can sustain anything like that stretch going forward, they could emerge as a clear No. 3 team in the East.

8. Brewster Whitecaps
Record: 15-16-1 (2-4 last week)
Previous Rank: 5

Brewster didn’t have a terrible week, but with Chatham surging and the top West teams so tightly-packed, the Whitecaps take a tumble in the rankings. A tough schedule didn’t help – the Whitecaps’ four losses were to East leaders Y-D and Orleans, along with streaking Wareham and Chatham. This still looks like a solid group. There’s a big gap in these rankings from eight to nine.

9. Harwich Mariners
Record: 10-21-1 (1-5 last week)
Previous Rank: 10

Harwich is out of the basement, but that’s mostly because Hyannis had a brutal week. The Mariners – after a decent stretch early last week – haven’t helped themselves much since. The team batting average is climbing, but still ranks 10th in the league. The team ERA is ninth.

10. Hyannis Harbor Hawks
Record: 11-19-2 (1-6 last week)
Previous Rank: 8

It wasn’t a great week for the Hyannis offense, which didn’t score more than four runs in any game, and that was particularly bad news given the kind of pitching week the Harbor Hawks had. After beating Chatham 3-1 last Thursday, the Harbor Hawks lost their next six and gave up an average of 8.2 runs per game. The team ERA now sits at 5.53.

 

Posted on

Power Rankings: Week 4

No. 2? No, coach, you're No. 1.
No. 2? No, coach, you’re No. 1.

 

No one had a particularly good week – 3-2 was the best record for anybody – so the rankings stay largely the same, with a few small moves.

1. Orleans Firebirds
Record: 16-10 (2-3 last week)
Previous Rank: 1

The Firebirds didn’t have a great week, losing to a pair of their top challengers in Falmouth and Y-D. On the flip side, both of those were one-run games. And based on the overall numbers, there’s no reason to shift the Firebirds from the top spot. They’ve out-scored the opposition by 50 runs – in a year when no other team has a better than plus-15 run differential – and they lead the league in team ERA and team batting average.

2. Cotuit Kettleers
Record: 14-11-1 (2-2-1 last week)
Previous Rank: 2

After a hot streak last week, the Kettleers held steady, though they ended on a low note with their first loss to rival Hyannis Wednesday. Cotuit ranks fourth in the league in hitting and second to Falmouth in slugging percentage, with their 20 home runs also second to the Commodores’ 30. The lineup is deep and talented. Pitching has been a little tougher to peg, though the arrival of star Florida closer Michael Byrne should help.

3. Y-D Red Sox
Record: 14-11-1 (3-2 last week)
Previous Rank: 4

The top team from the first two installments of the rankings regrouped after a wobbly stretch to stay firmly in the upper echelon. A stunning rally against Orleans closer Josh Hiatt helped the cause. Y-D ranks fourth in both team batting average and team ERA. On the negative side, the offense seems to be missing a true slugger and the pitching rotation took a hit with the departure of starter Hogan Harris.

4. Falmouth Commodores
Record: 12-12-1 (1-2-1 last week)
Previous Rank: 3

The most powerful offense in the league hasn’t slowed down much, but pitching continues to be the more important bellwether for the Commodores. The team ERA ballooned to 4.63 this week, with the Commodores giving up seven runs in one game and nine in another. They also lost a 1-0 game to Brewster so it’s not quite as cut-and-dry as “pitch well and win.” But pitching better with this offense – Falmouth leads the league in home runs and doubles – would mean a lot of success.

5. Brewster Whitecaps
Record: 13-12-1 (3-2 last week)
Previous Rank: 5

Brewster probably deserves to move up but consider the Whitecaps on the rise despite them staying put in the rankings. The Whitecaps rank seventh in the league in hitting but second in on-base percentage thanks to the league-high 117 walks they’ve drawn. Their team ERA ranks second in the league behind Orleans and was impressive in the last week. Davis Daniel’s six shutout innings of Falmouth was one of the best performances of the year.

6. Bourne Braves
Record: 14-12 (3-2 last week)
Previous Rank: 7

It’s probably time to admit that the Braves are a pretty good team despite some of the underlying numbers. The Braves rank ninth in both batting average and on-base percentage and are fifth in team ERA. The knack for winning close games hasn’t faded, though, and Bourne is 8-6 against its West Division mates.

7. Chatham Anglers
Record: 12-14 (3-2 last week)
Previous Rank: 9

Two of Chatham’s three wins this week came against No. 2 Cotuit and No. 3 Y-D, so the Anglers get a boost. Their team batting average is tied with Bourne but more production has led to the Anglers ranking fourth in runs scored. Johnny Aiello’s presence should only help.

8. Wareham Gatemen
Record: 11-14-1 (1-3-1 last week)
Previous Rank: 6

Wareham is tied with Brewster for the second-best run differential in the league, but as we said last week, that’s mostly due to a string of blowout wins. Still, the Gatemen sort of have the opposite profile of Bourne – good numbers but not as much to show for it. They rank third in team ERA and fourth in batting average. This week, luck was no help. Wareham played 23 innings over one two-game stretch and ended up with just a tie. Wednesday, it lost to Bourne on walk-off.

9. Hyannis Harbor Hawks
Record: 10-13-2 (2-1-1 last week)
Previous Rank: 8

A win over Cotuit Wednesday highlighted a solid week for the Harbor Hawks. The team ERA still ranks worst in the league, but in the wins this week, Hyannis pitchers allowed a total of three runs – and that was against No. 1 Orleans and No. 2 Cotuit. The Harbor Hawks are still near the top in team batting average. Interestingly, though, they rank just eighth in runs scored.

10. Harwich Mariners
Record: 9-16-1 (2-3 last week)
Previous Rank: 10

Harwich’s struggles in the first half of the season started trickling into the second half, but wins Tuesday and Wednesday have stopped the bleeding. And in fact, Harwich is the only team in the league currently sporting a win streak. There’s light at the end of the tunnel for the offense, with College World Series reinforcements Antoine Duplantis, Johnathan India and Josh Smith providing a spark. 

Posted on

Power Rankings: Week 3

Jimmy Herron leads Orleans in hitting.
Jimmy Herron leads Orleans in hitting.

 

For the first time this summer, it’s not the Y-D Red Sox at the top.

1. Orleans Firebirds
Record: 14-7 (5-1 last week)
Previous Rank: 2

The streak ended Wednesday, but it had already cemented the Firebirds’ spot. Orleans won 10 games in a row, the first such streak in the league since Cotuit in 2012. Everything was working as the wins piled up, with the Firebirds out-scoring opponents 72-21 in the streak. They lead the league in team ERA and strikeouts, while ranking first in on-base percentage and first in fielding percentage. The crazy thing is the Firebirds started the season 0-4. That makes them 14-3 since.

2. Cotuit Kettleers
Record: 12-9 (5-2 last week)
Previous Rank: 5

Falmouth looked set to join Orleans in a clear top two when it won six games in a row, but Bourne beat the Commodores Sunday and Cotuit got them twice in a holiday home-and-home set. Those victories were part of a four-game win streak for the Kettleers, who grab the No. 2 spot instead. Cotuit ranks in the middle of the pack in team batting average but is third in slugging. The team ERA was at 4.46 last week but dropped to 4.19 at last check.

3. Falmouth Commodores
Record: 11-10 (3-3 last week)
Previous Rank: 4

Even with the recent skid, Falmouth’s offense remains a force to be reckoned with. The Commodores have 10 more home runs than anyone else in the league and are tops in runs scored. The middle of the order is the toughest in the league- with Alec Bohm on fire and Hunter Steinmetz, Trevor Larnach and Marty Bechina not far off his pace. Pitching is still the issue – the Commodores have the second worst ERA in the league at 4.66. They’re actually top four in opponent batting average, but walks continue to pile up.

4. Y-D Red Sox
Record: 11-9-1 (3-5 last week)
Previous Rank: 1

Knocked from the top spot, the Red Sox tumble a bit further after being on the wrong side of a 32-inning scoreless streak and three consecutive losses. A week after they led the league in batting average and OPS, they’re now fifth in average and fourth in OPS. I would wager it’s a cold stretch for a lot of hitters and not a sign that the Red Sox will struggle at the plate the rest of the way. The pitching will keep them in games either way, with Y-D ranking third in team ERA. Three of the top six on the league’s strikeout leaderboard are Red Sox.

5. Brewster Whitecaps
Record: 10-10-1 (3-4 last week)
Previous Rank: 3

Two wins over scuffling Harwich helped Brewster get back on track after it managed just one run in two losses to Orleans. The Whitecaps remain one of the top pitching teams in the league, with a 3.48 ERA and 173 strikeouts that both rank fourth. An offense that ranks in the middle of the pack should get a boost from the arrival of Vanderbilt’s Julian Infante, but the Whitecaps could really use help on defense. Their fielding percentage is worst in the league.

6. Wareham Gatemen
Record: 10-11 (4-2 last week)
Previous Rank: 7

The Gatemen are behind Bourne in the standings but a good week – and good underlying numbers – get them a step ahead here. Wareham owns the second-best team ERA in the league and is tied for second in team batting average. That looks like a team that should be better than 10-11. The problem? Wareham has racked up the numbers in a handful of games – they have 9-0, 10-2, 11-3, 11-0 and 13-2 wins to their name. If those performances become more regular, look out.

7. Bourne Braves
Record: 11-10 (4-4 last week)
Previous Rank: 6

The Braves were one game over .500 for the first edition of the power rankings and have gone 4-4 in consecutive weeks to stay pretty much where they were. The offense still lacks pop – four home runs and 32 extra-base hits – and the team ERA ballooned to 4.57 due to 13-run games this week, but the Braves are finding ways to win.

8. Hyannis Harbor Hawks
Record: 8-12-1 (2-5 last week)
Previous Rank: 8

The Harbor Hawks rank second in the league in hitting, but they’re having to out-slug people thanks to a struggling pitching staff. Hyannis’ team ERA sits at 5.16. Oddly enough, they’ve had three shutouts, one back of the league lead, but consistency has been the issue.

9. Chatham Anglers
Record: 9-12 (3-4 last week)
Previous Rank: 9

Chatham stopped Orleans’ win streak and has a leg up on Harwich for fourth place in the East. The Anglers rank eighth in the league in team batting average and sixth in team ERA. Apart from a good start to the summer, they haven’t been able to string much together.

10. Harwich Mariners
Record: 7-13-1 (2-4 last week)
Previous Rank: 10

Still not much going right for the Mariners, who rank seventh in team ERA and still can’t get the offense going. They’re batting a league-low .214, .33 points behind the closest team.

Posted on

Power Rankings: Week 2

Screenshot 2017-06-29 at 11.05.57 AM

The top remains the same, but streaks – both good and bad – have pretty much everybody else on the move.

1. Y-D Red Sox

Record: 8-4-1 (4-3 last week)

Previous Rank: 1

You could make a strong case for Orleans or even Falmouth after both had big weeks – and both beat Y-D – but the overall numbers still favor the defending champs. The Red Sox lead the league in overall runs allowed and rank second in ERA. Starting pitchers Kyle Bubic, Hogan Harris and Tim Brennan all went at least five innings with at least nine strikeouts in the last week. The Red Sox also lead in batting average and OPS. Throw in a league-best 24 steals and the second-fewest strikeouts in the league, and you have an offense that will be difficult to keep down.

2. Orleans Firebirds

Record: 9-6 (6-1 last week)

Previous Rank: 5

The Firebirds have won five straight games, the best streak any team has had this summer. They lead in team ERA by a pretty good margin, with the bullpen looking particularly dominant. The overall offensive numbers are still getting dragged down a bit by a slow start – the Firebirds rank seventh in team average and sixth in runs scored – but Orleans did just put up 13 runs yesterday, so there’s more in the tank.

3. Brewster Whitecaps

Record: 7-6-1 (4-4 last week)

Previous Rank: 4

Pitching had Brewster in the top four last week. Their team ERA went up by about a run this week, but it still ranks third in the league. And all of a sudden, the Whitecaps lead the league in runs scored thanks to 12- and 11-run performances in the last seven days. Mickey Gasper and A.J. Graffanino are both hitting .366.

4. Falmouth Commodores

Record: 8-7 (5-2 last week)

Previous Rank: 9

The Commodores had some good numbers and some ugly numbers after a week. Since then, the good numbers have held pretty steady and the ugly ones have improved. The Commodores still lead the league in home runs and extra-base hits – with Marty Bechina’s league-best six home runs setting the pace – and the pitching staff went from issuing 47 free passes in the first seven days of the season to 17 in the second week. That improvement has allowed their league-best 131 strikeouts to mean a little more.

5. Cotuit Kettleers

Record: 7-7 (3-4 last week)

Previous Rank: 3

The Kettleers haven’t hit their stride again after a 4-0 start but they’ve stayed in the mix, and they beat both Y-D and Brewster in the last week. Griffin Conine has cooled off a bit – he’s forgiven since he basically only had two-hit games for about 10 days – but is still hitting .389. John Cresto has been a big producer in the middle of the order. The pitching has been a little shaky, with the Kettleers sporting a 4.46 ERA and giving up the highest opponent batting average in the league.

6. Bourne Braves

Record: 7-6 (4-4 last week)

Previous Rank: 7

Another week, another hard-to-peg stretch for the Braves. They continued to excel in close games, with Ryan Feltner dominant in the closer’s role. The pitching staff has a 4.28 ERA, right in the middle of the pack, but the offense continues to lack punch. The Braves rank second-to-last in team batting, last in runs scored and second-to-last in extra-base hits.

7. Wareham Gatemen

Record: 6-9 (3-4 last week)

Previous Rank: 6

The Gatemen are the last team to beat Orleans and they did it emphatically with an 11-3 victory. That alone buys them a spot ahead of Hyannis. The Gatemen haven’t hit the ball too well with a .249 average, though they had one of the season’s highlights when Tristan Pompey homered twice in his debut. The team ERA ranks fourth and Justin Montgomery leads in individual ERA.

8. Hyannis Harbor Hawks

Record: 6-7-1 (3-4 last week)

Previous Rank: 10

The Harbor Hawks didn’t have a great week, but a doubleheader sweep of Chatham and a win over Bourne last night are enough to get them out of the basement. Hyannis has tapped into some offense, with Reece Hampton now leading the league in hitting and the team ranking third in batting average. The pitching staff has a 4.66 ERA, which is tied for seventh.

9. Chatham Anglers

Record: 6-8 (2-6 last week)

Previous Rank: 2

The Anglers suffered the biggest drop after a rough, six-loss week. They still have some of the best offensive numbers in the league – even in some of their losses, they’ve been putting up runs – but some of the typical “bad baseball” stats stuck out in the last week. They’ve committed the third-most errors in the league and the pitching staff walked 38 batters over the last eight games. Wednesday, the Anglers out-hit Brewster 9-7 and lost 11-1.

10. Harwich Mariners

Record: 5-9-1 (2-5 last week)

Previous Rank: 8

The Mariners have played great defense (10 errors on the summer) and have pitched OK (a 4.29 team ERA), but they just haven’t hit the ball. Harwich is batting a league-worst .213, .36 points worse than anybody else.
Posted on

Power Rankings: Week 1

Y-D celebrates during last year's championship series and is likely celebrating in similar fashion upon seeing the power rankings.
Y-D celebrates during last year’s championship series and is likely celebrating in similar fashion upon seeing the power rankings.

 

We did some power rankings around here a few years ago, and it’s a good time to bring them back. Rankings are subjective and a bit tricky right now with a gap in games played (Bourne is at five and a number of teams have played eight). Feel free to share opinions in the comments.

1. Yarmouth-Dennis Red Sox
Record: 4-1-1

Not only did the Red Sox’ nine-run eighth inning Wednesday night send them to a win over Chatham, it also vaulted them past the Anglers for the top spot in the rankings. The defending champs have lost only once this year – a 5-2 defeat against Harwich – and rank third in both team batting average and team ERA, the best hitting-pitching combo in the league. Four hitters are above .400 and five have homered. Four solid starting pitchers have emerged and the bullpen has been lights out.

2. Chatham Anglers
Record: 4-2

The aforementioned eight-run inning by Y-D came when Chatham led 8-2. Had things held, Chatham’s offense would be the dominant story in the rankings – but it’s still good enough for No. 2. The Anglers have scored at least six runs in five of seven games. They lead the league in batting average, on-base percentage, slugging and OPS. As for the pitching, the Anglers have scuffled to a 5.37 ERA, second-worst in the league, though that number would be significantly different if not for the eighth inning last night. In general, Chatham’s pitching has looked good enough when paired with this offense.

3. Cotuit Kettleers
Record: 4-3

The last unbeaten team standing has since lost three in a row, but the Kettleers have plenty of reasons for optimism. The Duke duo of Griffin Conine and Zack Kone are red-hot and the lineup looks deep, though Michigan standout Ako Thomas was released today. On the mound, Cotuit has a 3.88 team ERA.

4. Brewster Whitecaps
Record: 3-2-1

Brewster owns the best team ERA in the league by a decent margin at 2.17. A doubleheader sweep at the hands of Cotuit – in which both games were decided by one run – hurt the Whitecaps’ chances to turn the strong pitching numbers into a better record. The team batting average is middle of the pack, though the Whitecaps have the second fewest hits in the league.

5. Orleans Firebirds
Record: 3-5

The Firebirds own the league’s second-best team ERA behind Brewster, and some other indicators make it reasonable to say their staff has been the best overall. The Firebirds have struck out 67 in 66 innings, have the best WHIP in the league and own two shutouts. At the plate, the Firebirds haven’t scored a ton of runs but are right in the niehgborhood of the league leaders in extra-base hits.

6. Wareham Gatemen
Record: 3-5

The Gatemen had lost four in a row when they broke out with a 10-2 victory over Hyannis Wednesday night, a sign that they’re searching for consistency. In two of their three wins, they’ve out-scored Harwich and Hyannis 19-2, but it’s been a grind otherwise. Willie MacIver has been a force in the middle of the order. On the mound, four pitchers turned in scoreless starts, but the bullpen has had some ups and downs.

7. Bourne Braves
Record: 3-2

It’s a little hard to place the Braves. They’re over .500 and rank fourth in team ERA but have really struggled at the plate. They have the worst team batting average in the league and just six extra-base hits. They’ve managed to prevail in some close games, but that’s a fine line to walk.

8. Harwich Mariners
Record: 3-4-1

The Mariners have had some clunkers, but they’ve also beaten Y-D and Cotuit, two of the top three in the rankings. They’re hitting .222 as a team and didn’t hit their first home run of the season until last night. Their pitchers have a 3.82 ERA, just the seventh-best mark in the league.

9. Falmouth Commodores
Record: 3-5

Falmouth has been pretty good offensively, ranking fourth in team batting average and tying for the league lead in home runs. They also rank first in extra-base hits. But the pitching has been on the far opposite end of the spectrum, with the Commodores sporting a 6.26 team ERA through eight games. Oddly, they’ve struck out more batters than any other team but have given up the most hits in the league and by far the most walks (19 more than anyone else).

10. Hyannis Harbor Hawks
Record: 3-3-1

Someone had to be 10th. Hyannis doesn’t really profile as a team that’s going to struggle mightily or anything – seven hitters are batting .300 or better and the pitching staff ranks fifth in ERA. But the Harbor Hawks just haven’t quite set themselves apart yet, and the 10-2 loss to Wareham last night sealed this spot.

Posted on

Week 6: Steady Anglers

Not a whole lot is changing in the sixth edition of the RFF Power Rankings – certainly not the top spot. Chatham has won 16 of 21 and is showing no signs of slowing down.

RANK TEAM RECORD THE SKINNY
1 Anglers.jpg Chatham Anglers
23-10-1
 The league’s steadiest team is showing now signs of slowing down. After their hot start to the season followed by a cold streak, the Anglers have won 16 of their last 21 games. They lead the league in fewest runs allowed and rank second in runs scored, which gives them a plus-56 run differential, also best in the league. Using runs scored and runs allowed to figure out the Pythagorean winning percentage, the Anglers are projected to finish the season with 30 wins. At this point, it’s a good bet.
2 falmouthlogo.gif Falmouth Commodores
19-14
 The Commodores have yet to really catch fire and they remain just off the pace of Cotuit and Hyannis in the West, but I still like them as the league’s second-best team. The debate on whether Hyannis or Falmouth is better centers around the team’s polarizing strengths – hitting for Falmouth, pitching for Hyannis. In reality, Falmouth has scored 61 more runs than the Harbor Hawks and has actually allowed one fewer run. Maybe Hyannis just plays better baseball, but Falmouth has the profile of the better team and its 3-2 week included a 12-1 victory over Hyannis.
3 HyannisHawks_150.gif Hyannis Harbor Hawks
21-12-1
 At this point, you can throw the run differential stat out the window. Yes, Hyannis has a minus-15 number, but it’s clearly one of the best teams in the league regardless of that. Hyannis went 4-2 for the week and shut out Chatham to finish that stretch. As noted above, I still give the edge to Falmouth in the rankings, but Hyannis has the inside track on winning the West. They’ll be a team to reckon with in the playoffs, although one concern is that star pitcher Jeff Hoffman won’t be there – he has made his last start on the Cape.
4 cotuit white.jpg Cotuit Kettleers
20-14-1
 Cotuit continues to hold its own, going 2-3-1 on the week. The team’s leading home run hitter, Yale Rosen, is out with an injury, adding another line to the long list of players the Kettleers have lost this year. On the bright side for Cotuit, Nevada standout Austin Byler and Texas’s Mark Payton are joining the fold as big late-season additions and Bradley Zimmer is expected to return after spending most of the summer with Team USA.
5 TeamLogo_Harwich2003.jpg Harwich Mariners
17-16-1
 I was tempted to put Harwich ahead of Cotuit but it’s a tough sell based on results. The Mariners rank third in the league in run differential but they went 1-3-1 for the week and are clinging to second place in the East. Ultimately, I think they’ll be a dangerous team in the playoffs, especially with Aaron Bummer, Chandler Shepherd and Dillon Peters at the front of the rotation, but for now, they’re treading water.
6 TeamLogo_Bourne2003.jpg Bourne Braves
16-17-1
 Bourne and Harwich have followed similar paths all season – they look like they should better but they haven’t quite put it all together. The pitching rotation still has as much upside as any in the league, with Jaron Long, Ryan Kellogg and Austin Gomber leading the way. Finding production continues to be a key – the Braves have scored the fourth-fewest runs in the league despite the second-ranked batting average.
7 firebird1.jpg Orleans Firebirds
17-18
 The Firebirds were teetering on a collapse this time last week. Now, they’re making a two-spot move up the rankings after a 5-1 week. The victories included one over contender Falmouth, and one each over East challengers Y-D and Brewster. Will Fulmer, Ross Kivett and Jordan Luplow have given the offense a big boost of late, and the pitching staff is settling in.
8 TeamLogo_YD2003.jpg Y-D Red Sox
16-18-1
 The Red Sox went 3-3 for the week and with Brewster sliding, they have put themselves in a much more comfortable position as far as a playoff berth goes. If they get in, it might still be a tough road, though. At one time, the Red Sox had one of the league’s highest batting averages but it has dipped to .257, which is only good for seventh. The pitching staff has given up the most runs in the league.
9 TeamLogo_Brewster2003.jpg Brewster Whitecaps
12-22
 For a while, it looked like the Whitecaps might make a run at a playoff spot. It’s not out of the realm of possibility but this week really hurt the cause. While Orleans went 5-1, Brewster went 1-5. The Whitecaps still have some standout players but it’s going to be an uphill climb.
10 gatemen_logo_opt.jpg Wareham Gatemen
7-27
 The Gatemen need a miracle to make the playoffs at this point and it isn’t likely to happen. They’ll just be trying to finish the season strong, and could still deliver some bright moments. Playoff MVP Kyle Schwarber is reportedly coming back to town after a summer with Team USA.
Posted on

Week 5: Repeat

Parity continues to reign for most of the Cape League, but Chatham is doing nothing to lose its stranglehold on the top spot. Chatham has been No. 1 three teams in five weeks, and has now done it twice in a row.

The Cape League season is just past the midway point. With Chatham at the top, the RFF Power Rankings are right back where they started.

RANK TEAM RECORD THE SKINNY
1 Anglers.jpg Chatham Anglers
19-9-1
 I feel like some people aren’t believing in the Anglers yet. It’s getting to be time. Chatham has gone 4-1 in its last five and clearly has a brand of baseball that’s working. The Anglers work counts, draw a lot of walks and have enough good hitters to score runs. The bigger reason for continued success is the pitching staff, which has all but three of its pitchers sporting an ERA below three. The bullpen has been especially impressive, with eight guys at a 2.79 ERA or less.
2 falmouthlogo.gif Falmouth Commodores
16-12
 It was not the best week the Commodores have had but the positives outweighed the negative in my book. In Falmouth’s two victories, it allowed a total of one run, getting seven strong innings from Brandon Magallones and six good ones from John Means. Both wins were against Y-D, who has the second best batting average in the league. If the Falmouth pitching staff can hold its own, the lineup might do the rest.
3 HyannisHawks_150.gif Hyannis Harbor Hawks
17-10-1
 Hyannis had a busy week and held its own. A loss to Cotuit hurt but the Harbor Hawks hold onto the third spot in the rankings based on projection. While Cotuit continues to lose key pieces, Hyannis is trotting out the best pitcher in the league and is seeing offensive stars like Skyler Ewing and Tyler Spoon emerge. The Harbor Hawks pitching staff continues to keep the team in a lot of games, and it now ranks second in the league in strikeouts. Offensively, the team still ranks ninth in batting average but now has the third-most home runs in the league.
4 cotuit white.jpg Cotuit Kettleers
18-11
 Cotuit had a great week but the loss of Mike Ford puts a serious damper on it. The MVP candidate is leaving the Cape to sign with the Yankees and it’s a big blow for a team that has already lost a lot of key pieces. The next week will say a lot for the Kettleers’ future, starting with games against Chatham and Hyannis. The Kettleers may just hold steady but the hill is getting steeper.
5 TeamLogo_Harwich2003.jpg Harwich Mariners
16-13
 Harwich started the week 0-2 but has won the last three in impressive fashion, with all the wins coming against teams ahead of it in the rankings. The Mariners topped Falmouth 8-3 then shut out Cotuit and Chatham behind Dillon Peters and Chandler Shepherd. With those two joining Aaron Bummer atop the rotation, there’s a lot to like.
6 TeamLogo_Bourne2003.jpg Bourne Braves
13-14-1
 The Braves are making a little charge and their three wins this week separate them from the pack they’ve been in for a while. The Braves have the best team ERA in the league. The offense continues to lag behind, but I wouldn’t want to face any lineup that has Max Pentecost in it.
7 TeamLogo_YD2003.jpg Y-D Red Sox
13-15-1
 Y-D lost Eric Filia to injury and ace Erick Fedde to a brief stint with Team USA. Fedde is expected back, but it continues to be a tough road for the Red Sox – with the same troubles cropping up. Y-D ranks second in the league in hitting but last in team ERA.
8 TeamLogo_Brewster2003.jpg Brewster Whitecaps
11-17
 The Whitecaps make their first appearance outside the bottom two thanks to a 3-2 stretch that included victories over Harwich and Orleans, the team just ahead of them in the standings. Brewster did lose standout Jose Brizuela, but a good amount of offensive punch remains, led by leadoff hitter Scott Heineman. And right now, the pitching rotation is as good as it’s been all summer.
9 firebird1.jpg Orleans Firebirds
12-17
 The Firebirds have been hovering around .500 but they went the wrong direction this week, going just 1-5. It’s a team that should be in decent shape based on some key numbers, but it hasn’t been happening lately.
10 gatemen_logo_opt.jpg Wareham Gatemen
6-23
 Wareham has yet to go over .500 in a week and is fading further into the basement in an otherwise hotly-contested Western Division. The Gatemen are already 15 points out of fourth place. Surprisingly, the team does lead the league in strikeouts, but the offense continues to struggle. Even if 2012 playoff MVP Kyle Schwarber returns to Wareham after Team USA’s season ends, it may be too little, too late.
Posted on

Week 4: Anglers Again

The Cape League season is just past the midway point. With Chatham at the top, the RFF Power Rankings are right back where they started.

RANK TEAM RECORD THE SKINNY
1 Anglers.jpg Chatham Anglers
15-8-1
 The Anglers officially have something special. After a hot streak and a cool streak, they’re back in business and settling in as the top team in the league. They went 4-2 in the seven-day stretch ending yesterday, and won two walk-offs in that span, prompting manager John Schiffner to say “This team is special….It has been a dream season so far.” The Anglers lead the league in ERA and rank fifth in average while leading in on-base percentage. They seem to have a knack for finding ways to win.
2 falmouthlogo.gif Falmouth Commodores
14-9
 If power rankings were all about power bats, Falmouth would win by a long shot. The quartet of Rhys Hoskins, Dylan Davis, Kevin Cron and Casey Gillaspie continues to look like a murderer’s row that no other team in the league can match. Unfortunately for the Commodores, that hasn’t led to smooth sailing. They went 3-3 over the last week and dropped a tough one to Hyannis after roughing up star Jeff Hoffman in the early innings. That game was emblematic – the Commodores can hit all they want, but the pitching needs to improve on its 3.65 ERA, which ranks seventh. Still, it’s hard to ignore the offense and it’s the reason Falmouth stays near the top.
3 HyannisHawks_150.gif Hyannis Harbor Hawks
15-7
 With its low batting average and a middle-of-the-road ERA, I keep expecting Hyannis to fade, but it’s not happening. The Harbor Hawks went 4-2 in their last six, including the aforementioned win over Falmouth. One reason for the team’s success? The Harbor Hawks have owned the other top teams in the league – they’re 4-0 against Falmouth, 2-1 against Chatham and 2-0 against Harwich. Only Cotuit has gotten the best of them, winning two of three. All told, Hyannis is 9-3 against the other teams with winning records.
4 cotuit white.jpg Cotuit Kettleers
14-10
 Cotuit remains near the top of the West standings but has yet to put together a streak like its 6-1 start. In fact, the Kettleers are 8-9 since the 6-1 opening. They’re doing enough to hold steady, but personnel losses may be starting to catch up to them.
5 TeamLogo_Harwich2003.jpg Harwich Mariners
13-11
 Harwich held steady with a 3-3 week that began with a slugfest victory over Falmouth. The Mariners have very good offensive potential, with speed at the top and Derek Fisher leading the league in hitting, but consistent production has been difficult to come by. Chandler Shepherd and Aaron Bummer have continued to shine at the top of the rotation but the back end has had some rough outings.
6 TeamLogo_YD2003.jpg Y-D Red Sox
11-12-1
 The Red Sox jump up two spots after a solid week that included victories over Chatham and Cotuit. They rank second in the league in hitting, and the pitching has gotten a bit better in the last few games.
7 firebird1.jpg Orleans Firebirds
11-12
 The Firebirds just cannot string anything together – they have not been more than two games over or two games under .500 in the entire season. They went 2-4 this week and remain in the middle of the road in both hitting and pitching categories.
8 TeamLogo_Bourne2003.jpg Bourne Braves
10-13
 If the rankings were based on potential, the Braves would be higher on the list. Max Pentecost is emerging as perhaps the best player in the league and the pitching rotation has three stars at the top. And yet, the Braves have not been able to find their groove. They went 1-4 this week, with the only victory coming on the shoulders of Pentecost’s heroics.
9 TeamLogo_Brewster2003.jpg Brewster Whitecaps
8-15
 The Whitecaps had their best week of the season, going 4-2 as they try to climb back into the East race. The team ERA remains the worst in the league, but Brandon Leibrandt is emerging as an ace. The offense has been solid.
10 gatemen_logo_opt.jpg Wareham Gatemen
4-19
 Wareham actually had its best week so far, going 2-4 after three straight 1-5 stretches. But it’s going to be a long road back. The Gatemen scored just 61 runs all season.