Tag: Power Rankings

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		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		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		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 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		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		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		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		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		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		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.

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		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		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		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 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		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		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		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		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		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		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.

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		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		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		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 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		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		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		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		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		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		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.

The summer is heating up and so are the teams atop the RFF Power Rankings. Falmouth takes over the top spot, becoming the third different team at No. 1 in three weeks.

RANK		TEAM	RECORD	THE SKINNY
1		Falmouth Commodores	11-7	Since week one, the Commodores have looked like a team that could grab the top spot. After another impressive week, they’re in business. Falmouth beat Brewster and Wareham to open the six-game stretch – and then finished in very impressive fashion with a holiday series sweep of previous No.1 Cotuit. The Commodores now lead the league in batting average and runs scored, and their pitching staff remains tops in strikeouts. The addition of Dylan Davis, who’s hit three home runs in three games, makes a good offense even better.
2		Cotuit Kettleers	11-7	The Kettleers continue to look solid but they’ve only gone 5-6 since their 6-1 start, and the losses to Falmouth knock them down a peg. Cotuit still leads the league in home runs and the pitching staff ranks fourth in ERA. At some point, personnel losses may catch up to the Kettleers but it hasn’t really happened yet. Someone always seems to pick up the slack, like Yale Rosen and Logan Ratledge. If the starting rotation holds together, it’s a solid group as well.
3		Chatham Anglers	11-6-1	The Anglers were showing a few chinks in the armor this time last week, but they responded with a 4-2 stretch that put them back atop the East standings. They lead the league in on-base percentage and have a host of steady contributors leading the offense. Led by Andrew McGee, the pitching staff remains solid, ranking third in the league in ERA
4		Hyannis Harbor Hawks	11-5	Hyannis owns the best record in the league. The statistics still aren’t what you’d expect – the Harbor Hawks rank ninth in hitting and sixth in team ERA – but something’s working for them. The offense showed a lot more pop this week, blasting eight home runs (the team had one coming into the week), and the addition of Jeff Hoffman to the pitching staff could be huge.
5		Harwich Mariners	10-8	Harwich shot up the rankings last week but they drop a few spots this week after going 2-4 in six games. You still have to like the offense, with the speedy Aaron Barbosa at the top and big bats like Derek Fisher and A.J. Reed in the middle, but the starting pitching that had been so dominant didn’t have a great week.
6		Orleans Firebirds	6-6	The Firebirds have hovered around the .500 mark all season but jumped a game over it with a 3-2 week. Two of the wins came against Falmouth and Chatham, the top two teams in the rankings. The offense has been inconsistent, with some huge games and some very quiet games. Starting pitching could use a little dose of consistency too, although Bobby Poyner and Trent Szkutnik are emerging with ace potential.
7		Bourne Braves	9-9	It’s been a roller-coaster season for the Braves, and it was another roller-coaster week, encapsulated by a 9-0 victory over Hyannis and a win over Cotuit that were followed by two straight losses. The Braves got back to .500 with two wins over last-place Wareham. With Jaron Long, Ryan Kellogg and Austin Gomber leading the way, the starting rotation may end up as the best in the league and Bourne already leads in team ERA. The offense needs more production.
8		Y-D Red Sox	8-9-1	The Red Sox stay put in the No. 8 spot, despite a pretty good week. It’s still the same story for the Red Sox – one of the league’s best offense pairing with the league’s highest-ERA pitching staff. The Red Sox can hang with anybody but making a strong move to the top will be tough until the pitching staff comes around.
9		Brewster Whitecaps	4-13	Brewster and Wareham have struggled since the beginning and the struggles continued this week. On the bright side for the Whitecaps, the offense has done pretty well, with the team ranking fourth in runs. Jose Brizuela and Scott Heineman have been great lately. The pitching staff hasn’t had as much luck, with Brewster ranking ninth in ERA.
10		Wareham Gatemen	3-15	Wareham has been consistent in an unwelcome way – going 1-5 in each of the first three weeks of the season. Some reinforcements have arrived and the Gatemen should start playing better, but they’re facing an uphill battle. The offense has scored 20 runs fewer than anyone in the league.

The top two spots are easy. The rest? That’s where it gets interesting. The group from three to seven are all pretty even.

RANK		TEAM	RECORD	THE SKINNY
1		Chatham Anglers	6-1	The Anglers’ 6-0 start was the best by any Cape League team since the 2007 Y-D Red Sox. It ended Wednesday, but certainly not with a thud – Bourne beat them 1-0. Chatham leads the league in team batting average and ERA, making them an easy choice for the top spot. They’ve also beaten Cotuit, the only other contender for No. 1.
2		Cotuit Kettleers	6-1	The Kettleers weren’t going to surpass Chatham in the first rankings, not with a 5-4 loss to the Anglers on their resume, but that is their only loss. They rank third in the league in batting average and third in ERA. They also lead the league in runs scored, home runs and extra-base hits, and they’re tied for second in strikeouts. Those categories make me think the Kettleers have the chance to be explosive, in addition to being steady.
3		Orleans Firebirds	3-3	The Firebirds’ record isn’t all that impressive, but there are reasons to think they’ll be a contender. Their pitching staff has a surprisingly high 3.02 ERA but ranks second in strikeouts and owns the league’s best strikeout-to-walk ratio. On the offensive side, they’re hitting .230 but rank third in extra-base hits, behind only Cotuit and Chatham.
4		Bourne Braves	3-4	The Braves are under .500, but have won three in a row since an 0-4 start, including a shutout of previously unbeaten Chatham on Wednesday. Bourne has the second-best team ERA in the league. With Austin Gomber and Ryan Kellogg now in the fold, the pitching staff should be getting even better. Offensively, the Braves just need more production. They’ve only scored 16 runs despite 56 hits.
5		Falmouth Commodores	3-4	The Commodores have been up-and-down so far but they have a lot of characteristics of a team that can be one of the best in the league. The middle of the order has been steady and Falmouth ranks third in the league in runs scored. The team ERA is over three, but Falmouth leads the league in strikeouts.
6		Harwich Mariners	3-3	Harwich looked like one of the most talented team in the league in the preseason, and even with some losses to Team USA, it’s a strong-looking roster. It hasn’t all come together yet, but the Mariners do rank fourth in ERA. Offense has been an issue. Their team batting average is only .214 and they’ve been held to a total of three runs in their three losses.
7		Y-D Red Sox	3-4	The Red Sox are sitting just behind Chatham in the team batting average rankings, but the difference is production. Y-D has just eight extra-base hits for a slugging percentage of .291. The pitching staff has had some struggles, with a 3.66 ERA, but starting pitching has been solid.
8		Hyannis Harbor Hawks	3-2	Hyannis started 3-0 and still has a winning record, but the Harbor Hawks have come crashing to earth in their last two games, losing 10-0 to Chatham and 7-0 to previously winless Brewster. The Harbor Hawks are hitting a league-worst .180 and the pitching staff ranks seventh in team ERA.
9		Wareham Gatemen	1-5	The defending champs are trying to hold it together with a lot of their roster in Omaha, and it’s been a tough go. The pitching staff has been middle of the road, which keeps them out of the bottom spot on the rankings, but the offense has struggled mightily. The Gatemen have just one extra-base hit in six games.
10		Brewster Whitecaps	1-5	The Whitecaps broke into the win column on Wednesday, but it’s certainly been a tough start. Their 3.78 ERA ranks last in the league and their .209 team batting average is just eighth.