Well, the Tornadoes have reclaimed the top spot for at least a day. The last time lasted for exactly one day, so we don’t exactly know how long this tornado season will last. And it doesn’t help that the Tornadoes don’t garner the same love and affection as the Drive, even though we have never won an EFL championship before and our last name is also Johnson. So I imagine the wishes will be for a Drive return to the top, and to be honest, I don’t fear that as much as I should. But for today? We celebrate! And in case you need to prepare yourselves for a longer Tornado stint at the top than you would like, here are some tips to prepare for Tornado season:
- Use your remaining transactions this month to bench your best players, because you don’t want them to get hurt this late in the season, do you?
- Make sure you have enough snacks on hand to watch the final days unfold dramatically.
- Make sure your cell phones are charged and your backup batteries are also charged, in case you need to text Tornado management well-wishes and good tidings before the storm gathers its full strength.
- Sit back and enjoy a good ole’ twister but don’t get too close, because that is the most dangerous place to be.
- Don’t Drive your cars, instead park them in secure locations so they won’t become damaged.
- Lock your pet dragons away because as strong as they are, they don’t withstand Tornado winds very well.
- Pick all the Pears you’ll need because after the storm there will surely be none left for you to enjoy.
EFL Standings for 2020
| TEAM |
WINS |
LOSSES |
PCT. |
GB |
RS |
RA |
| Flint Hill Tornadoes |
29 |
23 |
.552 |
— |
270.2 |
255.4 |
| Kaline Drive |
28 |
23 |
.545 |
0.4 |
223.8 |
200.9 |
| Haviland Dragons |
27 |
24 |
.529 |
1.2 |
247.9 |
232.1 |
| Peshastin Pears |
26 |
26 |
.496 |
2.9 |
273.9 |
270.8 |
| Cottage Cheese |
24 |
27 |
.465 |
4.5 |
262.4 |
282.9 |
| D.C. Balk |
24 |
27 |
.461 |
4.7 |
236.9 |
256.3 |
| Bellingham Cascades |
23 |
28 |
.450 |
5.3 |
252.5 |
291.3 |
| Canberra Kangaroos |
21 |
30 |
.420 |
6.8 |
249.7 |
293.5 |
| Old Detroit Wolverines |
21 |
31 |
.406 |
7.6 |
246.4 |
298.3 |
| Pittsburgh Alleghenys |
18 |
33 |
.353 |
10.2 |
229.0 |
310.4 |
| Portland Rosebuds |
15 |
37 |
.297 |
13.3 |
240.8 |
372.1 |
Flint Hill: W, 6-1 (46PA; 7.1IP)
| AVG: 0.216 |
OBP: 0.370 |
SLG: 0.297 |
OPS: 0.667 |
Welcome to first place, Tornadoes (for now)! Though the top spot seems to be especially volatile, we will gladly take a turn for as long as we can manage to stay here. If you look at the stat line for today, you might be confused. How can those number equal a 6-1 win? Well, Steven Matz came back to the mound after an extended absence and promptly gave up 6 runs (the only runs any Tornado pitcher gave up yesterday), but he is completely on the bench because he has been terrible all season. The other pitchers, all relievers, gave up 0 runs in 4IP, and our surplus starter innings, which have an ERA of 2.49, kicked in to lead us to a win and a swing of .7 games to take the lead (for now).
Kaline: “W,” 3-3 (62PA; 8.7IP)
| AVG: 0.161 |
OBP: 0.242 |
SLG: 0.286 |
OPS: 0.528 |
How is that for PAs on a day? I don’t what the number is for most PAs in a day this season, but that has to be close to it. Unfortunately, they were lackluster PAs with only 9 hits and 3 GIDP, 16 Ks to 6 BBs. Orlando Arcia was the lone bright spot for the Drive, going 2 for 3 with a 2B and a HR. But Max Fried returned from the IL and dazzled on the mound, going 5IP and giving up 1ER. And Michael Fulmer went 3 scoreless innings, to keep the Drive afloat for the day and very much in the hunt for the truncated trophy…I mean, the trophy for the truncated season.
Haviland: W, 6-5 (61PA; 16IP)
| AVG: 0.327 |
OBP: 0.393 |
SLG: 0.527 |
OPS: 0.921 |
The Dragons excelled at the plate, though many of those stats were suppressed due to surplus PAs at the following positions: 2B, 3B, LF, CF, RF. The team collected 18 hits, led by Amed Rosario (3), Phil Gosselin (2), Dylan Carlson (2), Gary Sanchez (2), Jed Gyorko (2), and Brandon Lowe (2). But the phenom Sixto Sanchez had a rough game, giving up 5 runs in 4IP, and Trevor Williams gave up another 5 runs 4.1 IP. The Dragons remained 1.2 games behind the leader, which I have to believe they are thankful for after a day like that on the mound. Today they send another fee SPs to the bump, and will surely hope for a better outcome.
Peshastin: W, 11-1 (69PA; 17.6IP)
| AVG: 0.304 |
OBP: 0.426 |
SLG: 0.518 |
OPS: 0.944 |
Well, the Pears saw the Drive PA output for the day and did them 8 better, sending a batter to the plate 69 times in one day (don’t worry, it wasn’t the same batter – it was 13 different batters). And they did an excellent job hitting the ball. Juan Soto and the recently returned Teoscar Hernandez each got 3 hits on the day, and Ozzie Albies, Victor Robles and Tommy Edman each chipped in 2 hits apiece. Both of Albies hits were HRs, which increased his OPS for the month to 1.167. The pitching was equally voluminous, with 7 different pitchers combining for over 17 IP. Zach Eflin was the best hurler on the day, tossing 7 innings of scoreless work. The Pears were able to climb .6 games closer to first place.
Cottage: L, 3-10 (55PA; 14IP)
| AVG: 0.239 |
OBP: 0.364 |
SLG: 0.348 |
OPS: 0.711 |
A glimpse into the EFL transaction world, in case you missed it: “Activate Castellani 100% as a starter. ACIT: Are you sure this is a good idea? He pitches for the Rockies! Okay, since you insist, Castellani is now 100% allocated beginning Sept. 16.” This happened two days ago, and though it appears as though it is two people talking to one another, I can confirm it was Dave talking himself. And if only he would have listened to himself! Castellani pitched yesterday, his first day being allocated 100%. His line? 4.3IP and 7ER. Dave, next time listen to the ACIT!! Danny Duffy added another 6ER in 3.7IP, but somehow Chris Paddack missed the stink-it-up memo, because he tossed 6 innings of scoreless baseball. The two Coreys (Seager and Dickerson) were the only players to collect more than hit, combining to go 5 for 12 with a HR.
DC: W, 5-3 (38PA; 6.3IP)
| AVG: 0.206 |
OBP: 0.270 |
SLG: 0.441 |
OPS: 0.711 |
The Balk, like a normal baseball team, sent 9 batters to the plate last night, and 4 of them were pretty good. Of course, the named Mookie was exceptional, going 2 for 5 with a 3B and a HR. Adalberto Mondesi continued his hot September, going 2 for 4 with a 2B and a SB. The pitchers were led by Alex Cobb, who pitched 6 innings and have up 2 runs. All in all, a very good day for the Balk!
Bellingham: W, 8-5 (50PA; 6.9IP)
| AVG: 0.286 |
OBP: 0.367 |
SLG: 0.595 |
OPS: 0.963 |
These are the kinds of Cascade days to which we have become accustomed. Perhaps these formidable mountains were just waiting for some clean air to do their work. Paul Goldschmidt went 3 for 6, and three players hit a HR (Acuna, Nottingham and Ozuna). 5 pitchers threw on the day, and they all did well to help their team win. Gio Gonzalez was the best, going 2.3 IP and giving up 0 runs.
Canberra: “L,” 2-(-2) (50PA; 14IP)
| AVG: 0.222 |
OBP: 0.300 |
SLG: 0.311 |
OPS: 0.611 |
That excellent pitching line led to a Roo…loss? Looking past that oddity, Canberra had two starters (Rich Hill and Tyler Mahle) combine for 12.7IP and only 2ER given up. The Roo hitters got 10 hits on the day, but no HRs, though Yoshi Tsutsugo hit a 3B. Kyle Tucker had the best day, going 2 for 4 with a 2B and a HR.
Old Detroit: “L,” 6-6 (50PA; 4.3IP)
| AVG: 0.304 |
OBP: 0.360 |
SLG: 0.500 |
OPS: 0.860 |
The Wolverine hitters had a good day, led by Lewis Brinson (whew!) who went 3 for 4 and added a SB. Austin Riley, Gavin Lux, and Evan White all added a HR apiece to help the cause. But the pitching was quite good enough to eke out a win. The main culprit was AJ Cole who gave up 2 runs in 1/3 of an inning.
Pittsburgh: L, 4-10 (40PA: 4.3IP)
| AVG: 0.182 |
OBP: 0.325 |
SLG: 0.273 |
OPS: 0.598 |
The Alleghenys had a day to forget, getting little of value from anyone not named Christian Vazquez, who collected 3 of the 6 Pittsburgh hits and added 2 SBs. Logan Webb gave up 6 runs in 3.3IP, and so the Alleghenys are counting down the days until the season will end.
Portland: L, 4-8 (42PA; .3IP)
| AVG: 0.216 |
OBP: 0.310 |
SLG: 0.459 |
OPS: 0.769 |
It is difficult, in my opinion, to have a legal EFL roster and to lose as often as the Rosebuds have lost this month. I know they are perfectly happy losing, but their monthly record is now 3-13, and they could likely earn no more than 5 wins this month, which would be quite a feat. Bryce Harper was the lone star on the day (he can’t be happy with the Rosebuds record…I hear he is demanding a trade), going 4 for 6 with 2 2Bs and a HR.
Combined MLB + EFL Standings for 2020
| TEAM |
WINS |
LOSSES |
PCT. |
GB |
| Tampa Bay Rays |
34 |
18 |
.654 |
— |
| New York Yankees |
30 |
21 |
.588 |
3.5 |
| Flint Hill Tornadoes |
29 |
23 |
.552 |
5.3 |
| Toronto Blue Jays |
26 |
25 |
.510 |
7.5 |
| Baltimore Orioles |
22 |
30 |
.423 |
12 |
| Old Detroit Wolverines |
21 |
31 |
.406 |
12.9 |
| Boston Red Sox |
19 |
33 |
.365 |
15 |
| TEAM |
WINS |
LOSSES |
PCT. |
GB |
| Atlanta Braves |
30 |
21 |
.588 |
— |
| Miami Marlins |
26 |
24 |
.520 |
3.5 |
| Philadelphia Phillies |
26 |
25 |
.510 |
4 |
| D.C. Balk |
24 |
27 |
.461 |
6.5 |
| New York Mets |
23 |
28 |
.451 |
7 |
| Canberra Kangaroos |
21 |
30 |
.420 |
8.6 |
| Washington Nationals |
19 |
30 |
.388 |
10 |
| TEAM |
WINS |
LOSSES |
PCT. |
GB |
| Chicago White Sox |
33 |
18 |
.647 |
— |
| Minnesota Twins |
31 |
22 |
.585 |
3 |
| Cleveland Indians |
28 |
23 |
.549 |
5 |
| Bellingham Cascades |
23 |
28 |
.450 |
10 |
| Detroit Tigers |
21 |
29 |
.420 |
11.5 |
| Kansas City Royals |
21 |
30 |
.412 |
12 |
| Pittsburgh Alleghenys |
18 |
33 |
.353 |
15 |
| TEAM |
WINS |
LOSSES |
PCT. |
GB |
| Chicago Cubs |
31 |
20 |
.608 |
— |
| St. Louis Cardinals |
24 |
24 |
.500 |
5.5 |
| Cincinnati Reds |
25 |
26 |
.490 |
6 |
| Milwaukee Brewers |
24 |
26 |
.480 |
6.5 |
| Cottage Cheese |
24 |
27 |
.465 |
7.3 |
| Pittsburgh Pirates |
15 |
36 |
.294 |
16 |
| TEAM |
WINS |
LOSSES |
PCT. |
GB |
| Oakland A’s |
32 |
19 |
.627 |
— |
| Kaline Drive |
28 |
23 |
.545 |
4.2 |
| Haviland Dragons |
27 |
24 |
.529 |
5 |
| Houston Astros |
25 |
26 |
.490 |
7 |
| Seattle Mariners |
22 |
29 |
.431 |
10 |
| Los Angeles Angels |
22 |
30 |
.423 |
10.5 |
| Texas Rangers |
18 |
33 |
.353 |
14 |
| TEAM |
WINS |
LOSSES |
PCT. |
GB |
| Los Angeles Dodgers |
37 |
15 |
.712 |
— |
| San Diego Padres |
33 |
19 |
.635 |
4 |
| San Francisco Giants |
25 |
25 |
.500 |
11 |
| Peshastin Pears |
26 |
26 |
.496 |
11.2 |
| Colorado Rockies |
22 |
28 |
.440 |
14 |
| Arizona Diamondbacks |
20 |
32 |
.385 |
17 |
| Portland Rosebuds |
15 |
37 |
.297 |
21.6 |
