Season 79 Q1 Power Rankings

Season 79 – Quarter Pole Edition (40 Games)

Forty games into the season, the Mantle League picture is beginning to take shape.

Some preseason predictions have proven remarkably accurate. Anaheim remains a powerhouse. Fresno has emerged as a legitimate challenger. Kansas City hasn’t missed a beat after inheriting Toledo’s 100-win core. Vancouver’s elite pitching staff has transformed the Fighting Skeletons into one of baseball’s most complete teams.

Elsewhere, the surprises have been just as compelling.

Cuba sits atop the AL East after inheriting the former Highlanders franchise. Montgomery leads a division many expected Wichita to dominate. Boston has already won nearly half as many games as it did all of last season.

And perhaps most shocking of all, preseason AL East favorite Dover owns one of the worst records in baseball.

With a quarter of the season complete, here’s how all 32 teams stack up.

Tier 1: Championship Favorites

#1 Anaheim Agitated Aardvarks (29-11)

The king remains on the throne.

Anaheim owns the league’s best record, the second-best ERA in baseball, and a remarkable 15-2 road record. The Aardvarks haven’t quite matched Fresno’s run differential, but until someone knocks them off, they remain the standard by which every contender is measured.

#2 Fresno Grizzlies (28-12)

If these rankings were based solely on underlying performance, Fresno might be number one.

The Grizzlies have outscored opponents by an astonishing 94 runs through 40 games, easily the best mark in the league. The offense ranks among baseball’s elite, the pitching staff owns a 3.61 ERA, and the roster looks every bit as dangerous as advertised.

Unfortunately for Fresno, they share a division with Anaheim.

#3 Vancouver Fighting Skeletons (27-13)

The best pitching staff in baseball earns Vancouver a place among the elite.

The Fighting Skeletons lead the league with a 2.52 ERA while allowing opponents to hit just .223. Combined with a steadily improving offense, Vancouver has established itself as the clear favorite in the NL West.

#4 Kansas City Royals (26-14)

The transition from Toledo to Kansas City has been virtually seamless.

The Royals continue to pair quality pitching with a balanced offense, and the organization remains firmly on pace to defend its NL North crown.

#5 Texas Tweakers (24-16)

The offense remains terrifying.

Texas leads the league in OPS (.864) and home runs (77), carrying the club despite a pitching staff that has been surprisingly average by championship standards. If the arms improve even slightly, the Tweakers could become even more dangerous.

Tier 2: Legitimate Contenders

#6 Salem Pitches (25-15)

Salem may be the most overlooked 25-win team in the league.

The offense ranks among the best in baseball, and a +72 run differential suggests the Pitches belong in the contender conversation despite residing in the brutal AL West.

#7 Montgomery Mules (24-16)

The biggest surprise among division leaders.

Few predicted Montgomery would be leading the NL South after 40 games, but strong pitching and timely hitting have carried the Mules to the top of a highly competitive division.

#8 Montreal Expos (23-17)

The Expos look exactly like the team many expected entering the season.

Solid pitching, quality on-base skills, and a balanced roster have positioned Montreal as Kansas City’s primary challenger in the NL North.

#9 Chicago Coyotes (22-18)

Chicago’s 15-5 road record is one of the most impressive accomplishments in baseball.

The Coyotes continue to win with consistency rather than flash and currently sit atop the tightly packed AL North.

#10 Wichita Evil Sheep (22-18)

The preseason National League favorite hasn’t quite found top gear.

Still, the underlying numbers remain strong, and Wichita remains one of the teams nobody wants to face in October.

Tier 3: Playoff Contenders

#11 Cuba Koi (22-18)

The biggest surprise in the American League.

After inheriting the former Highlanders franchise, Cuba has immediately transformed into a division leader. Whether they can stay there remains to be seen, but the first 40 games have been a massive success.

#12 Santa Fe Trail (21-19)

The aggressive offseason has paid off.

Santa Fe owns one of baseball’s best offenses and has quickly become one of the league’s most interesting success stories under new ownership.

#13 Portland Lastplace (21-19)

The name is misleading.

Strong pitching and solid execution have Portland firmly in the NL playoff race despite modest offensive production.

#14 Boise Renegades (21-19)

The record is respectable, but expectations were higher.

After an aggressive offseason, Boise remains firmly in the playoff hunt but has yet to make the leap many expected.

#15 Austin Celtics (22-18)

The Celtics may be the league’s toughest team to evaluate.

Austin owns a winning record despite being nearly even in run differential (-2). While the underlying metrics suggest a team closer to .500 than contender status, the standings still matter. Through 40 games, Austin has consistently found ways to win close games and remains firmly in the playoff conversation.

#16 Chicago Iveys (20-20)

The offseason spending spree appears to be paying off.

The Iveys sit atop the NL East and have shown noticeable improvement from last year’s 74-win club.

#17 Seattle Run (20-20)

No team has a larger gap between its offense and pitching.

Seattle owns one of the league’s best pitching staffs and one of its worst offenses. If the bats wake up, this team becomes dangerous.

#18 Minnesota Lakers (19-21)

The defending AL North champions haven’t found consistency, but they’re still very much alive in a division where nobody has separated from the pack.

#19 New York Metros (19-21)

The defending NL East champions have underperformed, but the division remains so tightly packed that New York is still just one hot streak away from first place.

Tier 4: Hanging Around

#20 Boston Bruisers (18-22)

After going 38-124 last season, simply being competitive represents enormous progress.

Boston has already demonstrated more fight in 40 games than it showed for most of last season.

#21 Cincinnati Hawk Tuah (18-22)

The Hawk Tuah remain exactly what they’ve always been: competitive enough to stay relevant, but still searching for another gear.

#22 Norfolk Tides (18-22)

The offense has been respectable, but the pitching staff’s 5.12 ERA continues to limit Norfolk’s ceiling.

#23 Philadelphia AllStarIncs (18-22)

Philadelphia can hit.

Unfortunately, preventing runs has proven far more difficult.

#24 Toronto Yankdawgs (18-22)

Toronto remains within striking distance, but the offense has struggled too often to seriously threaten Kansas City or Montreal.

#25 Columbus Clippers (17-23)

The NL East keeps everyone relevant.

Columbus remains only a few games out despite some concerning underlying numbers.

#26 Jacksonville DEPLORABLES (16-24)

Better than the record suggests, but not good enough yet.

The DEPLORABLES continue searching for consistency in a difficult NL South.

Tier 5: Major Disappointments

#27 Charleston Mezcals (16-24)

After an active offseason and a franchise rebrand, Charleston expected to contend.

Instead, one of the league’s worst pitching staffs has left the Mezcals fighting an uphill battle.

#28 New Orleans Voodoo (14-26)

A year after winning 86 games, the Voodoo have taken one of the league’s largest steps backward.

#29 Washington D.C. Senators (14-26)

The offense has actually been respectable.

The pitching staff has not.

Washington has allowed a league-worst 265 runs despite ranking near the middle of the league offensively.

#30 Dover Gulls (13-27)

No team has fallen further.

The preseason AL East favorite has seen both its offense and pitching regress dramatically, turning a projected contender into one of baseball’s biggest disappointments.

#31 Milwaukee Lagers (14-26)

The rebuild continues, but meaningful progress remains difficult to find.

#32 Colorado Mountain High (11-29)

The offense isn’t terrible.

The pitching staff owns a staggering 7.66 ERA and has already surrendered 307 runs. Until that changes, Colorado will remain anchored to the bottom of the rankings.

Biggest Surprises

• Cuba Koi leading the AL East.
• Montgomery leading the NL South.
• Boston becoming competitive again.
• Portland remaining firmly in the playoff race.

Biggest Disappointments

• Dover Gulls
• Charleston Mezcals
• New Orleans Voodoo
• New York Metros

Quarter-Pole Awards

Best Team: Anaheim Agitated Aardvarks

Best Statistical Profile: Fresno Grizzlies

Best Pitching Staff: Vancouver Fighting Skeletons

Best Offense: Texas Tweakers

Biggest Surprise: Cuba Koi

Biggest Disappointment: Dover Gulls

Final Thought

Forty games into Season 79, the race for the Mantle League championship appears deeper than ever.

Anaheim, Fresno, Vancouver, Kansas City, and Texas have established themselves as the league’s elite. Behind them sits a massive group of teams separated by only a handful of games, each believing it can make a second-half run.

The next 40 games will determine whether the surprises are real, whether the disappointments can recover, and whether anyone can catch the giants at the top.

For now, Anaheim remains the standard.

Season 79 Preview

Things have been busy for me, but I have been using AI more at home and at work.  Thus I thought, how about I let ChatGPT put together a season preview based on last season's standings and current rosters/free agent additions.  

Mantle League Season 79 Preview

New Faces, Old Powers, and a League Ready to Explode

For 78 seasons, the Mantle League has rewarded stability, patience, and smart roster construction. Season 79 may test all three.

The league enters the new year at a fascinating crossroads. The established superpowers remain loaded, several playoff-caliber clubs are pushing aggressively toward contention, and a wave of franchise turnover could reshape the competitive landscape far sooner than expected.

Last season produced two 108+ win monsters in the American League, a 100-win powerhouse in the National League, and perhaps the deepest collection of middle-tier contenders the league has seen in years. This offseason only intensified the competition. Across the league, contenders opened their wallets, rebuilding clubs accelerated their timelines, and new ownership groups immediately began reshaping their franchises.

And in Hardball Dynasty, that usually means chaos.

---

The State of the League

At the highest level, Mantle currently feels split into three tiers:

Tier 1: The Giants

• Anaheim Agitated Aardvarks

• Texas Tweakers

• Kansas City Royals (formerly Toledo Freight Depot)

• Wichita Evil Sheep

• Fresno Grizzlies

Tier 2: Dangerous Contenders

• Dover Gulls

• Vancouver Fighting Skeletons

• Salem Pitches

• Minnesota Lakers

• Montreal Expos

• Charleston Mezcals

Tier 3: The Wild Cards

A massive collection of teams hovering between 75 and 88 wins — close enough to dream about October, but flawed enough to collapse if injuries hit.

What makes Season 79 unique is how many of those middle-tier clubs chose aggression over patience this winter.

---

Franchise Changes Bring New Energy

Several organizations enter Season 79 under new ownership or identities:

• New York Highlanders → Cuba Koi

• Kansas City Masterpieces → Charleston Mezcals

• El Paso Knights → Santa Fe Trail

• Toledo Freight Depot → Kansas City Royals

The Royals situation is especially fascinating.

Toledo dominated the NL North with 100 wins last season, but ownership changes often create uncertainty. Whether Kansas City continues operating as a win-now powerhouse or begins making long-term adjustments could become one of the defining stories of the season.

---

American League Preview

The AL Still Runs Through Anaheim and Texas

The Anaheim Agitated Aardvarks and Texas Tweakers were historically dominant in Season 78.

Anaheim finished 109-53.
Texas finished 108-54.

Both clubs posted identical 59-22 road records. Both demonstrated elite organizational depth. Both appear loaded once again entering Season 79.

What's even more concerning for the rest of the league is that Anaheim appears to have improved. The addition of Pete Curtis gives an already loaded roster even more depth and reinforces Anaheim's status as the team to beat.

Texas remains just as dangerous. The Tweakers continue to feature one of the league's deepest lineups and most complete rosters.

The scary part?

Neither organization appears ready to take a step backward.

---

Dover Is Quietly Becoming a Serious AL Threat

Dover's 91-win season somehow flew under the radar last year, but the front office doesn't appear interested in remaining overlooked.

The signing of Aroldis Marin was one of the most important moves of the offseason and immediately strengthens an already impressive pitching staff. The Gulls already looked positioned to control the AL East entering Season 79. Their offseason activity only strengthens that projection.

For years, conversations about the AL have begun and ended with Anaheim and Texas.

Dover may be forcing its way into that discussion.

---

Fresno Is Baseball's Best "Second Favorite"

It feels almost unfair that a 97-win team entered the offseason overshadowed.

But that's life in the AL West.

Fresno quietly built one of the league's strongest rosters, and the ratings back it up. The Grizzlies possess high-end talent, balance throughout the lineup, and enough pitching depth to survive a full six-month season.

If Anaheim slips even slightly, Fresno is fully capable of winning 95+ games again and taking control of the division.

And if they reach October healthy, they may be the most dangerous matchup in the league.

---

Salem and Minnesota Look Built to Overachieve

Salem won 89 games last season and still feels underrated entering Season 79.

The roster grades out well across multiple categories, particularly organizational depth. They may lack Anaheim's superstar ceiling, but few teams are as structurally sound from top to bottom.

Minnesota finds itself in a similar situation.

The Lakers narrowly captured the AL North with 86 wins and appear capable of sustaining contention thanks to a balanced roster construction philosophy.

---

The AL South Could Become Chaos

Texas remains the overwhelming favorite, but the division underneath them suddenly looks fascinating.

Charleston enters after an 87-win season under its former Kansas City identity and immediately attacked free agency, adding Charles Carter and Daniel Sasser. New owner CamdenGhost appears intent on competing right away.

Santa Fe took a similar approach. After finishing Season 78 on a seven-game winning streak, the former El Paso franchise added Ivy Bass, Graham Ross, and Henry Yearwood rather than beginning a rebuild.

The division probably belongs to Texas.

But the Wild Card race absolutely does not.

---

National League Preview

Wichita May Be the NL's Most Complete Team

The Wichita Evil Sheep won 96 games last season, but their underlying roster quality suggests they may actually be better entering Season 79.

The organization grades exceptionally well across nearly every area:

• Lineup balance

• Athleticism

• Pitching depth

• Organizational consistency

Unlike some contenders that rely heavily on aging stars, Wichita appears positioned for sustained success.

There may not be a safer pick in the National League.

---

Kansas City's Ceiling Is Massive

The former Toledo Freight Depot were dominant last season:

• 100 wins

• +38 division margin

• One of the league's strongest home records

Now the franchise enters a new era as the Kansas City Royals.

The talent remains obvious. The roster remains loaded. But ownership transitions always create uncertainty.

If Kansas City maintains continuity, they may still be the National League favorite.

If not, Montreal will be waiting.

---

Boise and Chicago Could Be This Year's Risers

No teams were more aggressive this offseason than Boise and Chicago.

Boise added Marc Garland, Nelson Hall, and Fritz Gilbert in an effort to challenge Vancouver in the NL West.

Chicago responded by adding Nicky Vance, John Knott, Stu Hatchell, and Bob Williams after a disappointing 74-win season.

Neither club entered the offseason as a favorite.

Both leave it looking far more dangerous.

---

Montreal and Vancouver Are Lurking

Montreal's ratings profile is stronger than its 85-win record suggests.

Meanwhile, Vancouver may have the most quietly impressive roster in the league and looks fully capable of defending its NL West crown.

Both organizations appear positioned to capitalize if one of the league's elite clubs stumbles.

---

Teams Facing Pressure

New York Metros

Winning the NL East at 90-72 was impressive. Repeating may be harder as rivals continue to improve.

Boston Bruisers

After a brutal 38-124 season, Boston chose aggression over patience, adding Vladimir Martinez, Jose Arias, and Brian Snell in an effort to accelerate its rebuild.

Cuba Koi

Formerly the Highlanders, Cuba begins a completely new chapter. The addition of Mark Kim gives the franchise at least one notable building block as it attempts to establish a new identity.

---

Early Season 79 Predictions

American League Division Winners

• Minnesota Lakers

• Dover Gulls

• Texas Tweakers

• Anaheim Agitated Aardvarks

American League Wild Cards

• Fresno Grizzlies

• Salem Pitches

National League Division Winners

• Kansas City Royals

• New York Metros

• Wichita Evil Sheep

• Vancouver Fighting Skeletons

National League Wild Cards

• Montreal Expos

• Boise Renegades

---

World Series Favorites

1. Anaheim Agitated Aardvarks

2. Texas Tweakers

3. Wichita Evil Sheep

4. Kansas City Royals

5. Dover Gulls

---

Final Thought

Season 79 feels like the beginning of a transition era.

The superpowers remain dominant. But beneath them, the league is changing rapidly. New ownership groups, relocations, aggressive free-agent spending, and emerging contenders have created far more volatility than the standings alone might suggest.

For now, Anaheim and Texas still own the American League.

Wichita and Kansas City may control the National League.

But the gap is shrinking.

And in Mantle League history, that's usually when chaos begins.

World Series 77 Preview

                       Texas Tweakersvs     Montreal Expos

                           (92-70)                                                                            (100-62)

It's time for World Series 77, where the winner will be the 7th different team to win the World Series in the last 7 seasons!  It’s a battle between the #2 seed Texas Tweakers of the American League and the #5 seed from the National League, the Montreal Expos.  Montreal is seeking their first title in franchise history, while Texas is seeking its first title since Season 51 when the franchise was based in Kansas City.  Both teams should be well rested for the World Series having each won their LCS in 5 games.  Texas got a bye in the 1st round and has been scorching hot ever since, going 7-1 in their two rounds to get here.  Montreal was 1 game back of division winner Toledo, forcing them to play an extra round.  That hasn't hurt them as they have also been red hot going 10-2 to get here including ousting their division rival Toledo in the NLDS.  Montreal has the better record, but Texas will have the home field advantage.  What will make a difference in the World Series?  Let's breakdown the matchup.

Texas is led by dirtyhill03, who is in his 17th season at the helm of the Texas.  After making the playoffs in 6 out of 8 seasons, he felt that he needed to mix things up as Texas went into rebuild mode.  After missing the playoffs for 5 straight seasons, they emerged as AL North champions this season.  You could argue that their progress is ahead of schedule as a lot of their draft picks haven't even made it to the majors yet.  

The one recent impactful draft pick that has made it to the majors is their star rookie SP Rick Edwards who was the #2 pick in the Season 73 draft.  Edwards is one of the finalists for Rookie of the Year and has a good chance to win it based on his 15-3 record with a 2.94 ERA and 1.10 WHIP which is considerably more impressive when you factor in that he pitches his home games in a hitter friendly ballpark and pitches in the American League.  He is also a finalist for the Cy Young Award although it might be tough to overcome Salem's Miguel Amaral this season.

Texas was able to jump-start their rebuild thanks to some big trades.  The biggest trade of them all was when they traded superstar hitter Dana Robinson to the then-London Royals.  One of the key pieces they received in that trade was Yasmany Chacin, their 25-year old star 2B who has already won Rookie of the Year and MVP.  They also brought in other key players via trades, including LF Addison DeVoss, relievers Alex Chen and Nicky Vance, and SP Billy Kennedy.  The big move to put Texas over the top was giving a max contract this season to star pitcher Yovani Ethier.  They also added reliever Midre Franco at the deadline to help fortify the bullpen.  

Texas ran a 3-man rotation against Salem and their top 2 SPs Ethier and Edwards were excellent as Texas won all 4 games they started.  I would expect them to run a similar strategy in the World Series.  If the series goes 7 games, it will be interesting to see if Ethier can make a 3rd start.  Their pitching staff was 15th in team ERA, but running a shorter rotation and using their top relievers has led them to a 1.67 ERA so far in the playoffs, best among all teams.  Their offense was 4th in the regular season in OPS at 0.787 and 8th in runs scored.  Their OPS is a little bit lower at 0.767 in the playoffs but they have mashed 50 runs in 8 games.  They don't steal a lot of bases (42 in the regular season), but they really don't need to.  The entire team is firing on all cylinders right now, and we'll see if they can continue it in the World Series.  

Montreal is led by McGirkTheJer who is in his 27th season with the Expos.  After missing the playoffs for 15 consecutive seasons, Montreal has been a contender for the last four seasons and had their best record in 20 seasons with a 100-62 record.  They've gotten over the National League hump to win their first pennant since Season 56.  They've been a very balanced team as they are 3rd overall in team ERA and tied for 14th in runs scored (3rd in the NL). 

Their pitching staff is led by the excellent SP Kenneth Christensen, who is an impending free agent.  Montreal tried to make a trade happen and get a great return, but when they couldn't find a willing trade partner, they decided to go all-in to win it this year.  He had a fantastic 2.15 ERA in the regular season, but he is 1-2 with a 5.57 ERA in the playoffs.  He will need to up his game in the World Series to stop the hot Texas bats.  The rest of their rotation has been fantastic in the playoffs.  They have run a 4-man rotation so far in these playoffs, and it looks like that may continue in the World Series.  Howie O'Connor (9-3, 2.65 ERA) is a solid and dependable #2, Wilkin Cedeno (17-4, 2.66 ERA, Cy Young finalist) has been excellent as their #3, and although he will likely only make one start, David Randall (11-5, 3.93 ERA) is a great #4 to have.  Theodore Roberts was part of a couple trades that sent him away and then back to Montreal.  He was solid in his return to Montreal, but has a 5.40 ERA so far in these playoffs.  Chico Carreras has only gotten into 2 games in the playoffs, but he was another solid reliever in the regular season.  Their closer Rip Branyan has been excellent in these playoffs, converting on all 7 of his save opportunities with an ERA of 1.35.  Their pitching staff isn't as top-heavy as Texas, but they have so many good arms, that they can thrive in a deeper series.

The Montreal offense was the 3rd best in the league at getting on base, and their offense gets a jump-start from leadoff man Rio Doyle who doesn't steal a lot of bases, but had a phenomenal 0.446 OBP in the regular season.  Actually the entire team doesn't steal a lot as they were last in SBs with 17 (Texas and Montreal were 30th and 32nd, respectively).  When they are at home, 7 of their 8 positional starters have OBPs of 0.340 or higher with SS Gustavo James at 0.320.  Gonzalo Guapo is their best power hitter mashing 41 HRs in the regular season with 95 RBIs.  The Expos will need him to come through in the clutch against the Texas pitching.

It feels like a short series favors Texas while a longer series (6 or 7 games) favors Montreal.  Both teams are playing excellent baseball right now, and it's anyone's series to win!  Good luck to both teams in the Season 77 World Series!

Season 67 Draft Review - 10 Seasons Later

This is something new I want to do when I have time, recapping a draft 10 seasons after it occurs.  It's challenging to do a draft recap of one that just took place due to not having adequate scouting, but 10 seasons allows to get a feel for how good or bad the picks were.  I am going to focus just on the 1st round (excluding supplemental picks) for this iteration, but may expand for future seasons.  With that, let's begin!

This was definitely one of the weaker draft classes I have seen.  Assuming I didn't miss anything, there have only been 2 players in the 1st round to even make an all star game.  Four of these picks turned into Type D picks for the following season.

Best Pick: Jaret Medders (#1)

Best Value: Fred Thurman (#27)

Pick-by-Pick Review:

1. New York Metros - Jaret Medders (P)

• The Season 72 Rookie of the Year, Medders has been a solid starting pitcher for the Metros and has a career ERA of 3.03 as of the time of this post.  He hasn't gotten a lot of recognition however as he has yet to make it to the All Star Game.  Medders got a new 5-year contract from the Metros before last season and is set to be a primary cog in the surging New York team that is currently leading the NL East and is 2nd in the NL.  All things considered a fairly solid #1 pick.

2. Anaheim Agitated Aardvarks - Hainley Lomasney (1B)

• The #2 pick in the draft, Hainley Lomasney has been a steady albeit unspectacular player so far in his career.  Anaheim traded him after a couple of seasons to Montreal for pitcher Rico Pascual in Season 69 which seemed to benefit both teams.  Lomasney's best trait is his eye which is why he has a career OBP above 0.350.  He has also been typically been a 20-25 HR per year player.  The downside is he is really just a 1B/DH, which makes the production a little bit disappointing for a #2 pick.

3. Austin Appaloosas (Season 77 now Jackson) - Felipe Florimon (P)

• He's not a huge innings eater, but Felipe Florimon has been a solid pitcher the last few seasons with Oklahoma City and now Jackson.  However, with just 54 stamina/24 durability, he needs to be used out of the pen.  His first few years in Nashville were rough, but his ERA the last few seasons has been 3.55, 5.26, 2.98, and now 3.06 this season as of this post, so it seems like he has turned the corner.

4. Syracuse Sugar Maples (New York - AL) - Cesar Alvarez (C)

• After a long time in the minors, Cesar Alvarez finally got some full-time action in the majors last season and produced to a slash line of 0.282/0.350/0.480 as a full-time DH.  Offensively, he clearly has the talent, but most managers likely would not prefer to use him behind the plate given his defensive limitations.  He is 28 so now is the time to use him, but he is underwhelming for the #4 pick.

5. Montreal Expos - Orlando Perez (P)

• Perez did not sign, which worked out well for Montreal because their Type D pick in Season 68 was a solid pitcher in Kenneth Christenson.

6. Portland Lastplace - Danys Casilla (P)

• Casilla also did not sign for Portland.  Their Type D pick in Season 68 was pitcher Derek Bonds who was traded to Salem and has been great for them.

7. Trenton Tea Baggers (Milwaukee) - Theo Laffey (SS)

• Traded the season after being drafted Theo Laffey has been a steady 3B for the Colorado franchise with a career 0.800 OPS, 13 plus plays to 0 negative plays, and a career fielding percentage of 0.979 at 3B.  Unfortunately, he is showing signs of decline at age 31 so his best days might be over.  He may not fit the billing of a top 10 pick, but at least he has carved out a decent career.

8. Scottsdale Berzerker Mulletheads (Boise) - Dioner Querecuto (C)

• A good two-way catcher, Querecuto had been a staple for the Scottsdale/Boise franchise before being traded last season.  A career slash line of 0.281/0.357/0.496 and one all star game appearance to his name, he is having a career year so far in Season 77 and could be headed to his second.  A pretty good pick all things considered.

9. Louisville Brown-Forman (New Orleans) - Babe Strausborger (P)

• Good pitchers are hard to find, but The Babe was a solid find at pick #9 for Louisville.  The Rookie of the Year in Season 71, Strausborger has a career ERA of 3.74 and 80 wins to his name thus far.  He has struggled a little bit as of late, but is still a good value for pick #9 in a weak draft class.

10. Anaheim Agitated Aardvarks - Bobby Randolph (CF)

• Their second pick of the 1st round, Anaheim had another solid pick with Bobby Randolph, a defensive wizard in CF.  Somehow Randolph has yet to win a gold glove despite 82 plus plays and a career fielding percentage of 0.980.  He isn't known for his bat, but still has a 0.700 OPS for his career.  Maybe not the huge draft Anaheim was hoping for but still solid value from their second 1st rounder.

11. Fresno Grizzlies - Ross Pose (CF)

• Pose didn't sign and unfortunately Fresno didn't get a Type D pick for it either.

12. Seattle Run - Harry Mujica (P)

• A seemingly pretty good lefty reliever, Mujica hasn't gotten a lot of time in the majors as he only has 2 ML years up until now.  However, he is having a solid Season 77 with a 1.40 ERA in over 25 IP.  If he can continue this stretch into the future, Seattle could still get some good value from this pick.

13. Cheyenne Sioux Nation (Colorado) - Johnny Halman (P)

• Halman has stuck around as a starting pitcher for the Colorado franchise, but hasn't had a ton of success.  He has a career ERA around 5 and a losing record for his career, but he has been durable never having gone on the DL.  He has played in some tough home parks, so his ERA would likely be a lot better in a pitcher's park or even more neutral parks.

14. New Orleans Krewe (Wichita) - Cecil McNichol (3B)

• Touted as a good 3B with some offensive upside, McNichol has underachieved bouncing around from team to team as a RF with below average offense. 

15. San Antonio Stars (Houston) - Jason Davis (CF)

• Drafted as a defensive CF, Jason Davis has mostly lived up to the defense and shown signs of being able to get on base with a career OBP of 0.341.  The lack of SBs is maybe the one downside or else Davis would have been a really good pick at #15.

16. Baltimore Blue Rocks (Washington DC) - Jose Javier (CF)

• Another solid defender up the middle, Javier has just a career OPS of 0.688, but is having a career year this season in DC with a slash line of 0.296/0.351/0.427.  If he had produced like this his whole career, he would have been a steal.

17. Norfolk Tides - Enerio Burgos (P)

• Burgos didn't have much of a career, but it's surprising that he already retired despite a career ERA of 4.42.  

18. Philadelphia AllStarIncs - Sadie Bates (SS)

• Bates is a good defender and had some good numbers in Norfolk putting up an OPS between 0.747 and 0.785 each of his four seasons there.  He is in AAA now, but if he gets back to the majors again he could still provide some two-way value.

19. Vancouver Fighting Skeletons - Happy Wagner (P)

• It took him a few seasons to settle in, but Happy Wagner has been a great value pick for Vancouver at #19.  Wagner has a career ERA of 3.50 with ERAs of 3.23, 2.86, and 2.87 in the last 2+ seasons.  This could be one of the better long-term picks in this draft.

20. Salt Lake City Mountaineers (Toledo) - Lon Ward (2B)

• Ward has a career OPS just below 0.700, which would be okay if he played an important defensive position, but he has never proven to be anything better than a LF.

21. Toronto Yankdawgs - Milt Jones (P)

• Jones never amounted to much in the majors and has retired with a career ERA of 5.12.

22. Cincinnati Chevy's (Chicago) - Kristopher Andrews (P)

23. Cincinnati Chevy's (Chicago) - Vance Torres (P)

• Cincinnati had back-to-back picks and didn't sign either one nor did they get a Type D pick out of it.  An unfortunate waste of draft capital for them.

24. Scranton Parade Days (Cincinnati) - Danny Davis (RF)

• Danny Davis is a free agent, but his major league career is likely over with a career OPS of 0.687.

25. Madison Doodoo Heads - Junior Hegan (P)

• Hegan has had a tough time of things in hitter-friendly Madison.  His career ERA of 5.06 would likely be much better in another park, but he started to show signs of turning things around last season with a 4.36 ERA.  Madison will have a tough decision next season on whether or not to keep him around for the long haul.

26. Texas Tweakers - Dan Schneider (C)

• Schneider has been traded a few times, but he has shown to be a valuable pick late in the 1st round.  He isn't known for his defense, but Schneider's offense is what makes him a great find.  He has a career OBP of 0.380 and total OPS of 0.829 although admittedly doesn't have a ton of plate appearances.

27. Trenton Tea Baggers (Milwaukee) - Fred Thurman (SS)

• A solid defender with some offense, Fred Thurman is a 3x All Star which is the best of this list.  He achieved those mostly with defense and was a Gold Glove winner at 3B last season.  His offensive numbers aren't special, but they aren't bad either with a career 0.728 OPS.

28. Portland Lastplace - Jim Baker (P)

• Portland turned this Type D pick into another Type D pick.

29. London Royals (Boston) - Charlie Peterson (CF)

• London followed the Portland route and got a Type D pick for not signing Peterson.

30. Columbus Clippers - Sergio Day (CF)

• Another defensive 2B, Columbus immediately traded Day the following season.  Day has been great in the field but has a career OPS just shy of 0.700.  He has great speed, but his lack of baserunning has held him back from being a great player.  He has stolen 141 bases but has been caught 117 times.

31. Tampa Bay Devil Dogs (Austin) - Chun-Lim Martin (P)

• Martin can say he pitched 15 innings in the majors, but that's all he can really claim as he looks like a career minor league from here on out.

32. Scranton Parade Days (Cincinnati) - Manuel Calles (P)

• Calles was a solid value pick at #32 as he has pitched over 600 innings with an ERA currently at 3.72.  He is locked up until Season 79 for Cincy, the franchise that drafted him.

33. Pittsburgh Privateers (Minnesota) - Matt Mattheus (RF)

• Mattheus didn't sign and Pittsburgh didn't get a Type D pick for it.  I don't think they cared since they were in the middle of their 4-peat of titles.

34. Salem Pitches - Matty Baez (SS)

• Baez is a pretty good defender but his lack of offense has held him back in the majors.  He may not get another chance at this point.

Season 75 Midseason Recap

We are 75 games into the 75th season of Mantle, and playoff races are starting to take shape.  In the American League, 4 of the 6 teams that made the playoffs look poised to make it back to October baseball.  Only 3 teams can say the same in the National League which has extremely tight races in the NL South and NL West.  Let's recap some of the stories from the first half of the season.

American League

Current Playoff Picture:

1. Fresno (48-27)
Tied-2. Minnesota (44-31)
Tied-2. New York (44-31)
Tied-2. Houston (44-31)
WC1. Anaheim (43-32)
WC2. Dover (43-32)

In the hunt:

Madison (38-37)

Philadelphia (36-39)

Texas (36-39)

The AL has already seen some separation between the playoff teams and non-playoff teams as Madison is the closest team out of the playoff picture but they are 5 games back.  Anyone in the playoff hunt outside the top 6 is going to have to go on a run pretty soon if they expect to play postseason baseball.

Biggest Surprise - Fresno Grizzlies (48-27)

Currently the #1 team in the AL, the Fresno Grizzlies are on a 103-win pace thanks to solid all around play in all facets of the game.  They are 5th in runs scored, 4th in runs allowed, and 5th in fielding percentage through the 75-game mark.  Maikel Cervantes (0.289 AVG, 22 HRs, 65 RBIs) is an MVP candidate for his stellar two-way play and Valerio Bastardo (9-2, 2.18 ERA) is a Cy Young candidate leading their pitching staff.  Together they will have to keep up their great play to hold off several teams that are within striking distance.

Biggest Disappointment - Salem Pitches (35-40)

It's a little bit unfair to put them in this category, but the Salem Pitches' 19-season playoff streak is at risk of coming to an end with Salem 8 games out of the final playoff spot.  You wouldn't know it by their run differential though, as they are +9 through 75 games.  They unfortunately have a handful of players that are just struggling this year such as the aging potential future hall of famer Mitchell Forrest, fellow veteran pitchers Andy Stone and Damion Cho, and sluggers Dennis Lorenzen and Ali Villafuerte.  An injury to star pitcher Matty Guerrero hasn't helped as well.

MVP - Dana Robinson, Houston Romans

The Romans made a big splash bringing in Dana Robinson on a max contract, but he has been worth every penny so far, leading the AL in HRs, SLG, and OPS.  Together with fellow team Raul Pulido, the Romans might have the top two candidates for MVP at the end of the year.

Cy Young - Derek Bonds, Salem Pitches

The brightest spot for Salem this season, Derek Bonds has the best ERA in the AL and has the IP and wins to get him a nomination.  This race is pretty wide open right now though, so there's a good chance this changes by the end of the year.

National League

Current Playoff Picture:

1. Toledo (55-20)
2. Columbus (43-32)
3. Boise (40-35)
4. Montgomery (40-35)
WC1. Montreal (42-33)
WC2. Florida (40-35)

In the hunt:

Vancouver (40-35)

Jacksonville (38-37)

Portland (38-37)

Biggest Surprise - Toledo Freight Depot (55-20)

I wanted to give this to Boise, but I had to give it to Toledo, who has the best record in the entire league and is on-pace to win 22 more games than a season ago.  They have the Cy Young favorite in Willie Iglesias (more on him below), the #2-4 top OPS hitters in the NL in Ebenezer Cuyler, Randall Russell, and Parker Peavy.  They've scored the 2nd most runs in the league and are #1 in runs allowed.  They were already a great team, having won 96 games last season, but it seems like everyone is stepping up this season.  They're doing this even after losing Type A free agent Ray High and Type B free agent P.T. Sosa.  With the #1 seed looking like a lock, Toledo can focus the second half of the season on staying healthy and getting ready for the playoffs.

Biggest Disappointment - Portland Lastplace (38-37)

They are still above 0.500, but Portland has gone downhill from last year.  Their pitching has always been their strength, and that hasn't fallen off much.  They were 3rd in team ERA a year ago and they are 3rd again this season, and their offense has gone from 25th to 29th.  However, there is still time for them to turn it around as they are only 2 games out of the division lead.  They have more competition than normal this year, so it will be up to their offense to turn it around soon.

MVP - Robbie Stinson, Jacksonville Deplorables

He is only throwing out 19% of stolen base attempts, but Robbie Stinson's offensive numbers have been off the charts this season.  He is #1 in the NL in HRs, OBP, SLG, and OPS which is 100 points better than the next highest players.  The offense should be enough to overcome the defense for Stinson to be the eventual MVP.

Cy Young - Willie Iglesias, Toledo Freight Depot

The runaway favorite right now, Willie Iglesias has been awesome for Toledo.  He has 3 more wins than any other pitcher in the NL, the best ERA by 0.70 runs, and is 3rd in the NL in IP.  Barring a meltdown the second half of the season, Iglesias should have the Cy Young in the bag.

Mantle and The 100-Win Season

In Season 72, only one team managed to win 100 games and it was exactly 100 wins.  That got me thinking, how many times has 100 wins happened in Mantle and how does that compare to MLB.  As it turns out, in MLB history there have been 119 teams that won 100 games.  The Yankees have done it the most at 21 times and the most number of teams to win 100 games in a season is 4 (2019 and 2022).  Obviously in HBD we have 32 teams and have always had 162 games in a season, so I would expect more than MLB.  Here's what I found in the data:

Through Season 74, there have been 160 times where a team won at least 100 games, an average of 2.16 per season.  The most number of 100-win teams in a season has been 5 and that has happened three times in the world's history:

• Season 17
• Season 50
• Season 70

There have been five instances where no team won 100 games and the last time that happened was over 30 seasons ago:

• Season 4
• Season 27
• Season 31
• Season 38
• Season 41

The franchises with the most 100-win seasons are the current Toronto franchise and the now departed Monterrey franchise with 17 each.  Anaheim is the only other franchise with double digit 100-win seasons at 14.  There are four franchises that have never won 100 games: Dover, Oklahoma City, New York, and Vancouver.  13 of the 32 franchises have not won 100 games more than 3 times, or roughly 40% of the league.  So even though it does happen in our world more often, it's still not very common and most teams haven't done it much.  I hope you found all of this information interesting.

By the way, the most wins in league history is 120 by the Norfolk franchise in Season 17, and that team actually ended up losing in the World Series!  My next post will talk more about the top ten teams by record of all time.  Stay tuned!

What's In a Record: League Records Through Season 69

As someone who has been in a handful of HBD leagues, I am always interested in my team's history when I join a new world.  If you're interested in some of the league's historical records, here's how things stack up through the first 69 seasons of the league's history:

Most Wins

The current Richmond franchise has the overwhelming lead in wins with 6,051, the only franchise above 6,000 winning 54.1% of their games.  They have had two separate dynasties in their history.  The first came in the beginning stages of the league when welsh5 won 3 titles with his Florida Lockdown in the first 29 seasons of the league.  Eventually, tricklesee would take over in Season 49 and win 3 titles of his own in Oklahoma City.  Together, they amassed 4,490 of the franchise's wins.

Most Titles

While the Richmond franchise has the most wins, they are tied for the 2nd most World Series titles with the Milwaukee and Anaheim franchises at 6.  The Toronto franchise actually leads the way with 7 titles.  Four different owners have led the franchise to a title, but it is jonas1102 who has the most with 3.  Jtpsops has the most recent title in Season 52, but things eventually went downhill under his reign.  It has taken a little bit, but erbgotti has gotten this once proud franchise back on track and will be looking for title #8 this season.

For the full historical records, see the table below.  I'll try and update this every season!