Not All Records Were Made To Be Broken

It's been a while since the Las Vegas Doggs have seen the view from the top of the standings. For the past 8 weeks they've been cruising through the league, losing just one game, and winning their victories by an average score of 7-3. Unfortunately, as far as records go, that won't be enough.But that's not to say there won't be some other new records set in 2012. 

Not All Records Were Made To Be Broken

By Barry Larkin; EHCC Historian

As well as the Doggs have been playing this season, they don't stand a chance at breaking the long  standing Highest Winning Percentage record set by Quebec City in 2003. The Doggs, who currently sit with a .613 winning percentage, would ultimately have to finish the remaining 7 weeks with an overall record of 69-0-1 just to tie the record. Las Vegas would also need to win 68 of the final 70 games to tie the Piglets' Team Wins record, also set in 2003. Needless to say, but I'll say it anyway, that's not happening. Piglet's Field Manager Zack Morris, currently in his second season with the team, likes to focus on the present situation of his club. When I made mention that his franchise's place in the record books was safe, Morris simply responded with, 

"That's good...I wish my team didn't suck this year." - Zack Morris, Piglets' Field Manager

Unlike the season-long Winning Percentage record, there are a few season-long records poised to be overtaken in 2012. In 2011 we saw 3 new records set - Saves by QC (143), ERA by Las Vegas (3.51), and WHIP by recently contracted Detroit (1.22). Though it was nice that the Urban Farmers were able to put their stamp on the league in the short period of time they were around, it may not last long. The Arlington Warriors currently hold a 1.17 WHIP on the season. With just 7 weeks left they are in prime position to take the record by the end of the season. The Warriors also hold a firm grasp on the league's best ERA, 3.41, which is a whole tenth of a point lower than the Las Vegas record set last season. Assuming the Warriors keep pitching an average 75.2 IP per week, which they've held up so far this season, they'll only need to keep an average ERA of 3.72 each week and a WHIP of just 1.33 per week to tie each record. Unfortunately, if the record is broken, it may come with some controversy as the Warriors have not been able to adjust their roster since the MiDraft, due to not paying league dues. 

"It would be a shame if a record was set by a team that was just coasting through the season. Records in this league should be earned. If Arlington were to pay their dues and have their roster unlocked, able to make moves and adjust their lineup and then still set records, that would be great. But if they just end up coasting through the rest of the season without even as much being able to put new pitchers on the field, then I think it would be a little tainted. Hopefully it doesn't come to that," commented Commissioner Rickey Henderson on the current state of the Warriors league dues situation.

Though they won't lose their team winning percentage or overall team wins records, the Piglets may lose their season-long pitching Wins record, which currently stands at 136 set in 2008. Many teams have come close to breaking it in the past 3 seasons, but none have set themselves up the way Rio de Janeiro has this season. With 102 Wins on the season through the first 15 weeks, the Cristos need just 5 wins per week for the final 7 match ups to put themselves in the record books. 

Here's a list of all current records and who's got the best shot to break it after 15 weeks into the season. 

Runs - 782 (LV-2006); 487 (SD-2012) - needs 42.1 R/week; currently averaging 32.5 Runs/week 

Homeruns - 241 (GLD-2006); 133 (SD-2012) - needs 15.5 HR/week; currently averaging 8.9 HR/week 

Runs Batted In - 791 (RAK-2006); 476 (WEY-2012) - needs 45 RBI/week; currently averaging 31.7 RBI/week 

Stolen Bases - 173 (WS-2007); 92 (AUG-2012) - needs 11.6 SB/week; currently averaging 6.1 SB/week 

Batting Average - .302 (WEY-2006); .282 (LV-2012) - needs .344 AVG/week; currently averaging .282 AVG/week


Wins - 136 (QC-2008); 102 (RIO-2012) - needs 5 W/week; currently averaging 6.8 W/week 

Saves - 143 (QC-2011); 81 (LV-2012) - needs 9 SV/week; currently averaging 5.4 SV/week 

Strikeouts - 1830 (QC-2008); 1189 (RIO-2012) - needs 91.6 K/week; currently averaging 79.3 K/week 

Earned Run Average - 3.51 (LV-2011); 3.41 (ARL-2012) - needs 3.72 ERA/week; currently averaging 3.41 ERA/week 

Walks and Hits per Innings Pitched - 1.22 (DET-2011); 1.17 (ARL-2012) - needs 1.33 WHIP/week; currently averaging 1.17 WHIP/week

Highest Team Winning % - .734 (QC-2003); .613 (LV-2012) - needs .993 winning percentage/week; currently averaging .613 winning percentage/week 

Lowest Team Winning % - .284 (ARL-2009); .357 (BRW-2012) - needs .128 winning percentage/week; currently averaging .357 winning percentage/week 

Team Wins - 156 (QC-2003); 88 (LV-2012); needs 9.7 Team Wins/week; currently averaging 5.9 Team Wins/week 

Team Losses - 150 (ARL-2009); 92 (BRW-2012); needs 8.3 Team Losses/week; currently averaging 6.1 Team Losses/week 

Unbeaten Streak - 23 (BRW-2007/2008); 5 (SD-2012) - needs 18 straight unbeaten weeks to tie 

Winless Streak - 26 (TKO-2005/2006/2007); 8 (DUB-2012) - needs 18 straight winless weeks to tie

Though the Doggs won't come close to taking the team wins records, that might be a blessing in disguise as I think we all remember how the 2003 Quebec City Piglets finished their season.

"Records are nice. We have a few and we're proud of them, but the only record we're gunning for this year has to do with championships." - Roger Lodge, Field Manager for the Las Vegas Doggs