Offense Sells Tickets, Pitching Wins Championships

 

Giancarlo Stanton and Jose Fernandez are just a few products of the Weymouth minor league system, but can they lead the Shaddupu to an EHCC championship?

Offense Sells Tickets, Pitching Wins Championships
By Skip Clifton, San Diego Chronicle

For years, the EHCC has been "The Way of the Pitcher." Since the days of that Rakeville roster that used the "5 pitching categories + stolen bases" strategy, pitchers have cost the proverbial arm and an arm (Is that right? I think that's right). Looking around the rosters for the 2014 season, offense is scarce and pitching is abundant.

So keeping up with that mantra, my predictions for this season are very pitcher-oriented. Here are my final regular season standings:

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EASTERN DIVISION
6. Bridgewater Weasels - Like Augusta at the Major League Draft, Bridgewater has been nowhere to be found. The Weasels' GM has not logged into Yahoo since March 29th, and while sources say he is on his honeymoon (whatever THAT is), he's not doing his team any favors. Archie Bradley and Byron Buxton are being groomed in Raynham, but in the meantime the big league boys have their work cut out for them. Ryu and Haren are good, but when your best offensive player is your catcher, there are problems.

5. Augusta Albatross - Augusta was still in the playoff hunt in Week 19 in 2013, but the lack of offense hurt their chances (only Encarnacion hit more than 21 home runs for them). The team did nothing in the offseason/draft to improve their hitting, and their pitching has low expectations (besides Gallardo and Bailey), so unless they get active on the market don't expect any improvement from the Georgia Boys.

4. San Juan Guerites - You could flip-flop San Juan and Rakeville, but I give the Rockets a slight edge thanks to their big bats. The Guerites overachieved in their first season in the league thanks to some dominant pitching, and most of it (Bumgarner, Teheran, Pineda) is back. If their staff does as well as in 2013, and they don't get shut down near the end of the year, they could finish 3rd rather than 4th.

3. Rakeville Rockets - Jack Reed is in the midst of a 3-year window after the 2012 title, but that doesn't mean he isn't trying to win. Jose Abreu was a great addition to a power offense, and you're always in contention with King Felix on your staff. However, they just don't have the depth to keep up with the big Doggs (and Shaddupu) of the East. Thank God for 2012 though!

2. Las Vegas Doggs - The Doggs are the epitome of consistency: Power hitting, strikeout pitching, and just the right amount of speed. Every year they supplement their veterans with contributing prospects, and this year its Billy Hamilton. He may hit .200, but every time he's on base he's a SB risk and could win Vegas that category each week by himself. So where is the flaw that will keep the Doggs from winning the East...

1. Weymouth Shaddupu - Speaking of consistency, how about the Shaddupu? 13 years in the league, 12 playoff appearances, 6 championship showings, and 4 titles. And just when it was supposed to be a rebuilding period, Weymouth uses the minor league draft to create arguably the best offense in the league. Giancarlo Stanton, Mike Trout, Bryce Harper, Freddie Freeman, Jose Fernandez... all came through Nantucket, and are now some of the best in the EHCC. Not only that, but they still have guys like James Paxton, Taijuan Walker, and Nick Castellanos waiting on the farm. Things are looking good in Weymouth, and should for years to come.


WESTERN DIVISION
6. Tokyo Omyoujis - The tides have turned over the past few years. Before 2011, the East was 10 for 10 in championships. However, the West has won 2 of the last 3 and the overall talent of the division has been much better than that of the other side. That being said, there's no shame to Tokyo being last in the West. Sure, after Puig and Fielder there's not much superstar talent on the offense. Sure, their best pitcher is a 33 year old, 300 lb. workhorse who has 180 IP in each of his 13 seasons. If they were in the East they'd be 3rd or 4th. But they're in the West, which earns them #6.

5. Quebec City Piglets - If Weymouth is the #1 offense in the league, Quebec City is 1A. Longoria, Upton, McCutchen, Brown, Pujols anchor a batting order with no glaring holes. If they can help counter the lack of superstar pitching, they could do much better. That, or wait until Wacha, Gausman, and Bauer get some innings under their belt and prove their worth the hype. 2014, however, looks like the Piglets will have to wait.

4. Tijuana Hispanics - 2013 was a Cinderella year for the Mexicans. They sold their future (draft picks, minor league studs) for a shot at the title, but came up on the wrong end of a 5-5 tie in the Semi-Finals. That being said, they are a balanced team with a little power, a little average, plenty of speed, lots of relievers, and a plethora of starters that they continue to churn. The strategy worked last year and can work again, but it'll take a lot of work with no assets (prospects or picks) left to use for trade bait.

3. Santo Domingo All-Star Factory - How great was Santo Domingo in their 2nd season in the league? The best record in the league, General Manager of the Year, the Cy Young runner-up... oh yeah, and an EHCC championship. They have a top-ended pitching staff (Darvish, Verlander, Cliff Lee), a well-balanced offense (Ortiz, Bautista, Zimmerman, Myers), and a manager that is smart enough and isn't afraid to pull the trigger when necessary.

2. Rio de Janiero Cristos - Entering Week 22, the Cristos were just 4 games out of 6th place. However, a run in with Dublin in the season finale gave them the top seed of the consolation bracket. 2014 is their rebound year, with a good staff anchored by David Price and Zack Grienke, and an extremely balanced offense with Jay Bruce, Matt Adams, and Troy Tulowitzki. If they can stay healthy they can make a run at the division, but more likely is a wild-card berth.

1. Dublin Snake Chasers - The problem with a highly-touted young pitching staff are innings limits. Dublin SORT OF had that problem last year, but really their downfall was lack of offense. Sure, Chris Davis hit 53 home runs, but then what? And whats different about this year? A full season of a healthy Adrian Gonzalez, a (finally) producing Alex Gordon, a stud middle infield with Pedroia and Kipnis, and a shortstop that could steal 50 bases is an upgrade from 2013. Even without a bullpen, Dublin could have a 5-1 head start each week before the matchup even starts. In the wild wild West, Dublin could finish 5th, but they should finish at the top once again.

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If last year was any indication, I'll get almost all of my postseason picks correct and then jinx some poor team by choosing them as the 2014 champions. For Las Vegas, Rio de Janiero, Santo Domingo, and Tijuana, they will have to deal with another year of disappointment.

For the remaining two squads, it will be a classic battle of Hitting vs. Pitching. Will it be the home-grown power bats, or the young dominant hurlers that could (should) set more EHCC records.

Dublin over Weymouth, 5-4.

Jinxed.


Skip Clifton is a columnist for the San Diego Chronicle. He once got hit in the head with a can of soda, but luckily it was a soft drink.