MLR Ranked - S4 Pitching Staffs - #30 to 26
We have a new platform, with new journalistic endeavors on the horizon. New reporters, new games, new everything; The Write-Up is a place of unfounded opportunities in the world of fake sports journalism.
However, the more things change, the more they stay the same. For the third season in a row, I, Kian Davies, will be ranking the MLR pitching staffs. I will be evoking my old lists in this iteration, and try my best to provide accurate analysis and historical insight as we comb through the ever-growing landscape of fake baseball.
Reminder, that complaining does nothing to change the rankings. This is just for fun. Also, as I am a tad removed from the league this season, my opinions may not hold as much weight. As this series is often done over a period of time, stats might be at varying levels of completion as well. However, I'll do my best and sink plenty of hours into research.
#30 - Houston Colt .45s
Season 3 Ranking: #17
Season 2 Ranking: #10
The Houston Astros rebranded to start out this season, but sadly it did not change their brand of mediocrity. The Colt .45s start off this list of poor pitching staffs as their team sits 4-8 in the cellar of the competitive AL West. The Colts' staff is the only one in the league with negative pWAR across the board, and the struggles of this staff are in large-part to some uncharacteristically difficult seasons from previously talented pitchers.
Such seasons are that of Willoughby Hoose, who had a successful stint with the Devil Rays and an inspiring return to Houston. He sits now with an ERA of 6.22 after 18.1 innings. Thomas Beowulf Jr., who had an abysmal ERA over 7 at the All-Star Break last season, has continued this trend into Season 4. The mononymous Crawdaddy has a 9.75 ERA after 8 innings, with a WHIP of 2.50-- ouch.
I won't rag on this staff too much longer. It definitely has names to be recognized-- Hoose and Bongiovanni and such. The latter actually hasn't been too bad and has been a valiant workhorse, just rather mediocre in a league that just gets better and better at pitching. I think it's safe to put this team at thirtieth, however. There's always next season.
Derek Bongiovanni / Thomas Beowulf Jr. / Willoughby Hoose / Crawdaddy
Innings Pitched: 27.0 / 12.2 / 18.1 / 8.0
Earned Runs Allowed: 17 / 15 / 19 / 13
ERA: 3.78 / 7.11 / 6.22 / 9.75
WHIP: 1.37 / 2.13 / 2.13 / 2.50
Strikeouts: 9 / 11 / 30 / 4
D/BF: 239.81 / 231.44 / 225.42 / 217.41
pWAR: -0.176 / -0.901 / -0.888 / -0.765
#29 - Pittsburgh Pirates
Season 3 Ranking: #6
Season 2 Ranking: #5
The Pirates seem keen to sell. Gone to the Phillies went Basebally McBaseballface, who hadn't seen much playing time up until the transaction went through. They received a first round pick after the deal, albeit at the expense of a second round pick, and with their underwhelming record they may be looking forward to Season 5. This is an admirable strategy, of course. But with the departure of McBaseballface, who had only pitched 8 innings but with admirable numbers, things look bleak regarding the Pirates rotation.
The names are there. Atlas Quin is popular in the MLR circuit, albeit for his charming personality over any pitching plaudits. Dylan Green was the National League Newcomer of the Year in his rookie season, and Matt Himynamis is a big name in the Discord server. However, each has an ERA over five and WHIPS over 1.50, struggling across the board. Green barely has any innings to his name, though he appeared for the team's most recent game against the Cubs to nice results. Yolo Hernandez seems like a wicked pickup, with a K/6 over fucking 10, but his 8.1 innings are not enough to boost his team in a pitcher's league like the MLR.
The Pirates have their pieces, and are not entirely out of playoff contention. But the pitching isn't there.
Dylan Green / Atlas Quin / Matt Himynamis / Yolo Hernandez
Innings Pitched: 2.1 / 24.1/ 26.2/8.2
Earned Runs Allowed: 2 / 22 / 23 / 3
ERA: 5.14 / 5.42 / 5.18 / 2.08
WHIP: 2.14 / 1,52 / 1.50 / 1.38
Strikeouts: 1 / 37 / 16 / 15
D/BF: 231.09 / 243.52 / 236.45 / 271.11
pWAR: 0.008 / 0.764 / 0.690 / 0.325
#28 - Atlanta Braves
Season 3 Ranking: #3
Season 2 Ranking: #9
The Braves are another team whose pitching struggles are rather recent. The Paper Cup runners-up have seen a rough patch this season, with spotty activity from their former-OOTC general manager Petetholomew Jones. Jones herself has seen few innings with fewer success, and Einhorn seems to be having one of those difficult seasons he's been privy to every other campaign. Thomas Beowulf, who ran a sub-3 ERA throughout last season, is nursing a 4.68 earned run average with a WHIP over 1.60. All-in-all, the Braves are a team whose pitchers are vastly underperforming, and its been quite the blow to their record.
Chris Orosz is a sure bright spot, however. He did well last season, and seems to be on the same boat here; however, his lack of innings is a trouble.
Dane Konrad / Einhorn / Petetholomew Jones / Thomas Beowulf / Chris Orosz
Innings Pitched: 2.0 / 18.0 / 4.0 / 19.2 / 13.0
Earned Runs Allowed: 0 / 17 / 3 / 15 / 5
ERA: 0.00 / 5.67 / 4.50 / 4.58 / 2.31
WHIP: 0.50 / 1.61 / 2.00 / 1.63 / 1.38
Strikeouts: 3 / 30 / 0 / 12 / 9
D/BF: 317.50 / 241.04 / 257.05 / 245.72 / 252.85
pWAR: 0.258 / 0.393 / 0.464 / 0.571 / 0.645
#27 - Kansas City Royals
Season 3 Ranking: #10
The Kansas City Royals exploded into the league during Season 3, immediately showing themselves as a marquee organization. Their 8-4 record and inaugural season playoff runs, however, are in spite of some rather mediocre-to-poor pitching over the seasons. After giving up 7 runs in a loss to Detroit, they're at a low currently. Hayden McCloud and Brett Breadard have both been poor for the club, and though he has been serviceable, Syd Kidd isn't topping any charts himself. Both these pitchers sit below negative pWAR with 26 innings between them.
Zander Ackley has been very good, however, with a 2.95 ERA in over 18 innings pitched. He hasn't been putting up All-Star numbers, but any team would love to have him. Jobert Maclin has been all right, but a 4.30 ERA isn't too fantastic, especially with the middle-of-the-rotation struggles highlighted above.
The Royals are in a very tough division, and could very well lose a playoff spot with a few poor performances. They would do well to invest in better pitching, or perhaps to capitalize on hitting and score over 10 runs per game.
Syd Kidd / Zander Ackley / Hayden McCloud / Brett Breadard / Jobert Maclin
Innings Pitched: 15.2 / 18.1 / 14.0 / 12.1 / 15.1
Earned Runs Allowed: 0 / 17 / 3 / 15 / 5
ERA: 3.83 / 2.95 / 5.57 / 8.27 / 4.30
WHIP: 1.40 / 1.20 / 1.71 / 2.35 / 1.43
Strikeouts: 8 / 28 / 10 / 7 / 13
D/BF: 317.50 / 241.04 / 257.05 / 245.72 / 252.85
pWAR: -0.047 / 0.824 / 0.242 / -0.640 / 0.416
#26 - Philadelphia Phillies
Season 3 Ranking: #15
Season 2 Ranking: #5
Thank God for Mitch Kramer. The Phillies pitching staff has been a huge disappointment through this season, despite boasting much of the same staff that made them a top 5 rotation in Season 2. It's a tale of underperformance, and stark underperformance at that. Oliver Yu, Joel Embiid, and Hudson Hildebrandt all have ERAs above 5. If not for the recent acquisition of Basebally McBaseballface and the elite pitching of Mitch Kramer, this skid in rankings could go deeper. Kramer's 2.86 ERA and 1.110 pWAR has been a highlight on a disappointing middle part of the season, and his workload has surpassed 20 innings before the All-Star break.
GM Charlie Bae Jr. has been trying his best to salvage this ship, and we'll see if the Phillies can turn things around at the death. As things stand, though, they may experience a rather less-dramatic exit than they did in Season 3.
Hudson Hildebrandt / Joel Embiid / Oliver Yu / Basebally McBaseballface / Mitch Kramer
Innings Pitched: 10.1 / 16.2 / 17.1 / 8.0 / 21.0
Earned Runs Allowed: 9 / 14 / 17 / 2 / 10
ERA: 5.23 / 5.04 / 5.88 / 1.50 / 2.86
WHIP: 1.65 / 1.50 / 1.96 / 1.13 / 1.43
Strikeouts: 11 / 11 / 11 / 4 / 15
D/BF: 226.91 / 245.16 / 222.55 / 273.32 / 247.16
pWAR: 0.091 / -0.128 / 0.017 / 0.324 / 1.110