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No More Mr Nice Guy?

 Perennial underdog, State Street Sluggers and their lovable loser manager Nick Ventresca have found themselves in an unusual state, as a winner. Finishing last year with a 64-98 record and coming into the May weekend with an 18-21 record, David Wright, Carlos Beltran and Mark Sweeney caught fire.  With pitching help from Esteban Loaiza, David Bush and rookie Joe Blanton the Sluggers  had an incredible 21-9 May against the West Division including a 6-0 sweep of the Thunderchickens. 

That puts the the Sluggers at 39-30 and tied for 3rd place. 

The Chicago Highlanders who last year, couldn't lose if they wanted to (winning 106 games) continue their torrid pace with a 42-27 record thanks in part to Roger Clemens who literally cannot lose.  He is 12-0 with a 1.35 ERA leading in both categories.

 

Two Hurlers Eye Big 300

Speaking of the Rocket, Clemens is involved in a very unique race with Champions' starter Greg Maddux.  At this point, both pitchers are tied for IAL career wins with 297.  No doubt, both will reach 300 wins this year but I'm sure both would like to be the first. 

Maddux entered 2006 with a 290-285 advantage.  However, with Clemens' 12-0 start, he has done more than close that gap.

There is a slight possibility that their paths may cross when the Champions and the Highlanders face each other in June.

 

 

 Three-way Tie for First Heats up Playoff Race

With almost half the season under our belt, the wheat is starting to separate from the chaff.  A three-way tie for first place is making things interesting.  Here's a quick overview of the teams:

Twin Cities Thunderchickens:  Manager Nelshoppen is the first to admit it isn't his hitting that's keeping him in the race.  "No, we're hitting something like .200." (ed. note: it's actually .228, 8th in the league).  "We just try to get runners on for Albert.  Our strength is our defense and pitching."  The Thunderchicken ERA is a tidy 3.98.   Tom Glavine has 10 wins and the bullpen is strong (Luis Ayala and Damaso Marte have sub 2.00 ERAs while closer Huston Street has 9 saves with a 2.54 ERA. 

Chicago Highlanders:  While the Thunderchickens have a solid pitching staff, the Highlanders have a downright dominant one.  The team ERA is 3.22.  That is best in the league by a wide .52 margin.  Manager Rob Moore can thank Roger Clemens for a lot of that.  It is June and the Rocket just lost his first game.  On his quest for win 300, Clemens is 13-1 with a stellar 1.50 ERA.  There aren't superstars on the offensive side but there aren't any slouches either. 

State Street Sluggers:  Nobody's patsy anymore.  The Sluggers don't do it with finesse pitching or fancy defense.  As the name implies, they do it with the bat with thirdbaseman David Wright leading the way.  They lead the IAL in hitting and are second in the league in homers.  That said, their pitching staff of has-beens (Esteban Loaiza) and youngsters (Joe Blanton) as well as off-season pickup Brandon Webb has done the job. 

Not far behind:  The Three Rivers Gamblers and Chicago Champions are knocking on the door.  They are both within 2 games of first place.  The Green Rock Bomber are six out.

 

Clemens Notches 300!

Maddux not far behind with 298

Roger Clemens has reached the pinnacle of pitching domination.  He has won his 300th game.  In seven innings against the Aurora Gamblers, he allowed 2 runs and struck out nine to get the milestone win. 

Unlike most older players who crawl and limp their way to a significant milestone, the Rocket is having the best year of his career.  Some say the best season by an IAL pitcher ever.  In 18 starts, he is 15-1 with a 1.56 ERA.  Not only that, he threw a no-hitter in June.  He is leading his Chicago Highlanders to another playoff bid. 

In addition to leading all IAL pitchers in career wins, Clemens has the all-time mark in strikeouts (4220), games started (653) and innings pitched (4607 2/3).  Before the season started, Clemens wasn't even among the top 15 in career ERA.  Through half the season though, he has lowered it to 3.70, good for 13th on the list.

 

YEAR CLUB G GS CG IP H R ER BB SO W L Sv ShO ERA
1985 CARDS 38 8 0 90    100 41 40 31 77 5 8 2 0 4.00
1986 MERCS 15 15 3 96 2/3 88 48 45 36 61 4 8 0 0 4.19
1987 MERCS 33 33 19 254    182 105 95 99 214 16 16 0 3 3.37
1988 MERCS 36 36 20 281 2/3 187 120 112 104 262 18 13 0 1 3.58
1989 MERCS 34 34 18 264    194 99 92 94 246 20 10 0 3 3.14
1990 MERCS 36 36 10 244    192 102 99 109 187 14 13 0 3 3.65
1991 DRMTM 28 28 16 225 1/3 138 74 72 55 219 17 9 0 3 2.88
1992 DRMTM 35 35 12 271 1/3 157 75 69 65 251 20 11 0 3 2.29
1993 DRMTM 31 31 15 244 1/3 149 72 64 86 207 19 11 0 3 2.36
1994 DRMTM 28 28 10 181 1/3 175 120 106 96 147 8 10 0 1 5.26
1995 DRMTM 34 34 9 240 2/3 204 109 107 100 201 15 12 0 0 4.00
1996 DRMTM 26 26 5 158 1/3 154 84 82 66 138 7 9 0 1 4.66
1997 GMBLRS 34 34 5 240    217 126 118 102 238 13 12 0 1 4.43
1998 GMBLRS 34 34 10 264    163 86 80 86 304 18 11 0 2 2.73
1999 GMBLRS 33 33 5 228 2/3 159 97 82 101 267 20 2 0 2 3.23
2000 GMBLRS 30 30 3 180 2/3 162 106 99 70 176 16 8 0 1 4.93
2001 HLNDRS 32 32 3 204 1/3 165 121 107 98 191 10 14 0 0 4.71
2002 HLNDRS 33 33 4 220    156 86 68 73 206 14 14 0 2 2.78
2003 HLNDRS 29 29 1 171 2/3 166 110 102 72 149 9 13 0 1 5.35
2004 HLNDRS 33 33 4 199 2/3 219 131 120 72 174 11 10 0 1 5.41
2005 HLNDRS 33 33 0 214 1/3 177 120 110 82 189 11 8 0 0 4.62
2006 HLNDRS 18 18 2 132 2/3 46 26 23 43 116 15 1 0 2 1.56
21 Totals 683 653 174 4607 2/3 3550 2058 1892 1740 4220 300 223 2 33 3.70

Not far behind Clemens is Chicago Champions starter Greg Maddux.  The two of them have been neck and neck all season.  Right now, Maddux has 298 career wins.

 

The Race to 300

(IAL career wins among active pitchers)

Pitcher Team Career Wins
Roger Clemens Highlanders 300
Greg Maddux Champions 298
John Smoltz Hitmen 215
Tom Glavine Thunderchickens 211
Kevin Brown Gamblers 204

 

Some Clemens History

The Rocket was originally drafted by Maquoketa Cardinal manager Tom Reisdorph in 1985 but only stuck around for one year before being traded to skipper Rob Taylor and his Chicago Mercenaries.  It didn't take long before he reaped rewards as the Mercenaries won the 1986 IAL championship. 

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Clemens in his rookie season with the Maquoketa Cardinals

He stayed with that franchise for fifteen years surviving 3 name changes, two managers, and one change of location.  At the same time, he celebrated 3 championships and two first place finishes.  During the span of six years (1988-1993), Clemens won 108 games with an ERA of 2.99.

Clemens' trade to Highlanders in 2001 signaled a turn in his career.  While he had a decent year in 2002 (14-14, 2.78), his ERA went significantly up the next couple years.  That said, his win totals stayed generally in double figures and he helped the Highlanders to two playoff appearances and a first place finish in 2005.

Which brings us to this year.

 

Clemens' Impact

Where would the Highlanders be this year without Clemens?  Do the math.

Clemens is 15-1 right now. The Highlanders are doing fine in second place with a 50-37 record (they are actually tied for the lead in wins due to the Thunderchickens getting a bye in July).

If the Highlanders had been using a mediocre pitcher who went 8-8 (instead of 15-1), that would give them a 43-44 record... and sixth place.

I hear Clemens calling his agent right now.

 

 Maddux comes through with #300

One month after Highlander Roger Clemens won his 300th career game, Chicago Champion Greg Maddux got his due. 

Maddux entered the Three Rivers series with 298 wins.  He won Game 4 of the series handily 6-1.  Manager Mallasch left Maddux' second start for the last game of the series.    Thanks to Alex Rodriguez' two homers and five rbis, Maddux won his historical 300th game 6-2. 

That Maddux and Clemens reached this milestone so close in time says much about the effect these two have had on the Illowa APBA League.  These two sure future IAL Hall of Famers are 1-2 in career  strikeouts, complete games, games started and innings pitched among all IAL pitchers. 

Not only that, Maddux is number two all-time ERA with a 3.49.  If he picks it up a bit this year, he could surpass the ERA king, Bert Blyleven whose ERA is .01 lower at 3.48.

 

YEAR CLUB G GS CG IP H R ER BB SO W L Sv ShO ERA
1988 CHAMPS 42 42 3 178    235 160 135 95 155 4 15 0 0 6.83
1989 CHAMPS 34 34 7 235    228 107 103 67 161 13 14 0 3 3.94
1990 CHAMPS 35 35 5 236 2/3 219 123 112 92 162 15 10 0 2 4.26
1991 CHAMPS 34 34 8 233 2/3 169 74 67 55 155 12 10 0 3 2.58
1992 CHAMPS 37 37 10 262    208 100 94 82 187 20 11 0 4 3.23
1993 CHAMPS 35 35 14 267    144 66 58 72 250 20 10 0 8 1.96
1994 CHAMPS 36 36 13 266 2/3 160 89 76 92 211 21 8 0 7 2.56
1995 CHAMPS 36 36 18 287    163 100 97 84 289 23 10 0 6 3.04
1996 CHAMPS 32 32 10 235 2/3 124 64 61 24 260 22 5 0 4 2.33
1997 CHAMPS 35 35 6 245    188 95 81 13 166 16 10 0 3 2.98
1998 CHAMPS 32 32 14 231 2/3 168 103 95 22 225 17 15 0 3 3.69
1999 CHAMPS 34 34 11 251    169 106 96 101 257 16 11 0 3 3.44
2000 CHAMPS 30 30 12 219 2/3 176 87 81 29 135 17 6 0 2 3.32
2001 CHAMPS 32 32 16 249    178 88 81 27 196 21 9 0 4 2.93
2002 CHAMPS 32 32 11 233    178 95 86 21 151 17 7 0 2 3.32
2003 CHAMPS 32 32 1 199 1/3 176 104 100 62 126 15 11 0 1 4.52
2004 CHAMPS 34 34 6 218 1/3 225 119 107 22 128 11 15 0 0 4.41
2005 CHAMPS 33 33 9 212 1/3 214 124 118 75 176 10 19 0 1 5.00
2006 CHAMPS 21 21 4 136    125 58 55 45 83 10 7   2 3.64
18 Totals 615 636 178 4397    3447 1862 1703 1080 3473 300 203 0 58 3.49

Maddux' stats speak for themselves but one thing they don't reflect are two first place finishes and 3 IAL championships he has helped the Chicago Champions to.  He has won an amazing 4 Cy Young awards.  He had a monopoly on the award for 3 years straight (1994-1996).  Five years later in 2001, he won another.

Congratulations to Greg Maddux!
 
In other news NOT related to Greg Maddux or Roger Clemens....

This year, Northside Hitmen starter John Smoltz has passed Steve Carlton on the all-time career wins list.  Smoltz with 216 wins, is now 4th behind two 300 game winners and Orel Hershiser who has 220 wins.

IAL Career Leaders in Wins

active pitchers in bold

Pitcher Career Wins
Roger Clemens 300
Greg Maddux 300
Orel Hershiser 220
John Smoltz 216
Steve Carlton 214

 

 

All-Star Weekend Date Set

The 2007 Illowa APBA League All-Star Game date has been set for October 20 and will take place in familiar territory at the Holiday Inn in Naperville.  As dictated by last year's standings, the West Division will be headed up by Thunderchickens skipper Tom Nelshoppen while Chicago Champions manager Tedd Mallasch will lead the East Division team. 

Update:  The All-Star ballots have been counted and the results are in.  Here are your 2007 Illowa APBA League All-Star starters:

West

 

Team
Catcher Joe Mauer Moline Upperdeckers
Firstbase Mark Teixeira Rising Bamm Beanos
Secondbase Robinson Cano Rising Bamm Beanos
Thirdbase Chipper Jones Moline Upperdeckers
Shortstop Hanley Ramirez Rising Bamm Beanos
Outfield Alfonso Soriano Green Rock Bombers
Outfield Vladimir Guerrero Molly Putts Marauders
Outfield Andruw Jones Moline Upperdeckers

 

East

 

 Team
Catcher Victor Martinez Chicago Champions
Firstbase Ryan Howard State Street Sluggers
Secondbase Chase Utley Northside Hitmen
Thirdbase David Wright State Street Sluggers
Shortstop Miguel Tejada Chicago Highlanders
Outfield Grady Sizemore Chicago Champions
Outfield Lance Berkman Chicago Champions
Outfield Vernon Wells Chicago Highlanders

You can see the full results of the ballot here.

You can see photos of past Illowa APBA League All-Star weekends at our Photo Gallery.  Here are photos from the 2004 All-Star weekend and the 2005 All-Star weekend.

Update:  The managers have chosen the lineups, reserves and pitchers. 

West Lineup East Lineup

1. Hanley Ramirez  SS-8

2. Alfonso Soriano  LF-2

3. Joe Mauer  C-8

4. Chipper Jones 3B-3

5. Mark Teixeira 1B-5

6. Vladimir Guerrero RF-2

7. Andrew Jones  CF-3

8. Robinson Cano  2B-7

9. Tom Glavine  P-1

 

 

1. Grady Sizemore  LF-3

2. Chase Utley  2B-7

3. Ryan Howard  1B-3

4. Lance Berkman  CF-2

5. David Wright  3B-3

6. Victor Martinez  C-7

7. Vernon Wells  RF-3

8. Miguel Tejada  SS-8

9. Roy Oswalt  P-2

 

 

 

You can see the full roster here.

 

Ryan Howard was a unanimous selection

All-Star Demographics

Just who made the 2007 IAL All-Star teams?  It was a decisive ballot with nine of the eighteen starters voted in with a unanimous margin.  The East Division was two votes shy from having a unanimous infield. 

The closest vote was at the West's second base position.  Three votes separated the top three contenders.  Robinson Cano won by a slim margin over Jose Valentin and Orlando Hudson.

 
Secondbase 1st 2nd 3rd Totals
Cano, R. 3 3 2 26
Valentin, J 3 3 1 25
Hudson, O 3 2 2 23

The Rising Bamm Beanos and Moline Upperdeckers can both boast three starters for the West Division.  The Chicago Champions also have three starters for the East Division. 

One rookie, Hanley Ramirez from Rising Bamm Beanos, was voted to the All-Star roster.  His selection was unanimous.  

 

Hanley Ramirez was the lone rookie voted to the starting roster.