On The Lookout: Catching Up on 2023 Playoff Race

We are 10 days into the 2023 RDBL Playoffs and while no team has won the Title yet, a pair of clubs are struggling so badly on the mound that they might have lost it. The story of the Playoffs thus far is the disastrous stretch of pitching from the Lunatic Fringe and Mt. Diablo Devils who own a 6.62 and 6.51 ERA respectively while sitting in 5th and 6th entering play Thursday.

Here's a quick look at the current standings as well as who is hot

Standings and Projected Thursday Starters

1. Lake Merced Goutfish 561.5 (Fried vs. STL)

2. Spokane Fightin' Fish 526.5 (Assad vs. ARZ)

3. Idaho Taters 523.5 (N/A)

4. Mission Viejo Maulers 436.5 (Castillo @ TB)

5. Lunatic Fringe 333.5 (N/A)

6. Mt. Diablo Devils 272.0 (Rodriguez @ NYY)

Who's Hot, Who's Not

Lake Merced Goutfish:

Yordan Alvarez: 14-for-33, 4 HR, .424/.578/.849, 57.5 Points

Blake Snell: 13.0 IP, 0 ER, 5 Hits, 59.0 Points

Brandon Woodruff: 13.0 IP, 2 ER, 57.0 Points

Tim Anderson: 5-for-32, 4.5 Points

Lars Nootbaar: 2-for-21, 8.5 Points

Daulton Varsho: 5-for-28, 9.0 Points

Spokane Fightin' Fish:

Teoscar Hernandez: 13-for-35, 3 HR, 36.5 Points

Ke'Bryan Hayes: 11-for-32, five extra base hits, 35.0 Points

Zack Wheeler: 12.0 IP, 2.25 ERA, 46.0 Points

Aaron Nola: 4.2 IP, 13.50 ERA, -19.0 Points

Tyler O'Neill: 2-for-15, 5.0 Points

Idaho Taters:

Justin Steele: 14.0 IP, 0.00 ERA, 0.79 WHIP, 65.0 Points

Trea Turner: .406/.441/1.156, 52.0 Points

Brandon Nimmo: .364/.417/.818, 39.0 Points

Spencer Strider: 8 2/3 IP, 10.38 ERA, 1.73 WHIP, -13.0 Points

Adolis Garcia: 5-32, .156/.250/.406, 13.0 Points

Mission Viejo Maulers:

Alex Bregman: 16-for-39, .410/.477/.564, 42.0 Points

Gleybar Torres: 10-for-25, .400/.500/1.000, 40.5 Points

Tarik Skubal: 13.0 IP, 2.77 ERA, 39.0 Points

Ryan Jeffers: 3-for-21, 3.0 Points

Luis Castillo: 5 IP, 9.00 ERA, -9.0 Points

Kevin Gausman: 9.0 IP, 6.00 ERA, -2.0 Points

Lunatic Fringe

Marcell Ozuna: 13-for-34, 4 HR, 4 2B, 45.5 Points

Ronald Acuña: 14-for-42, 4 HR, 43.5 Points

Grayson Rodriguez: 12.0 IP, 1.50 ERA, 45.0 Points

Lucas Giolito: 3.0 IP, 27.00 ERA, -35.0 Points

Josiah Gray: 6.0 IP, 10.50 ERA, -17.0 Points

Kenta Maeda: 9.0 IP, 9.00 ERA, -17.0 Points

Mt. Diablo Devils

Mookie Betts: 9-for-31, .290/.421/.581, 31.0 Points

Emmanuel Clase: 5.0 IP, 1.80 ERA, 36.0 Points

Will Smith: 4 2/3 IP, 0.00 ERA, 25.0 Points

Lance Lynn: 9.0 IP, 15.00 ERA, -40.0 Points

James Paxton: 1.1 IP, 40.50 ERA, -28.0 Points

Nathan Eovaldi: 1.1 IP, 27.00 ERA, -19.0 Points

Pitching Prospect of the Year: Eury Perez, Falcons

The Maltese Falcons missed finishing in the money for just the third time in Franchise History this season, but the stockpile of talent their Front Office has accrued and developed this season leave little doubt that they will return to the winner's circle quickly. No greater talent is ready to lead the rebound more than right-hander Eury Perez who dominated his way to the 2023 Roger Dorn Baseball League Pitching Prospect of the Year Award.

Selected in the 1st Round of the 2022 RDBL Reserve Draft (15th overall), Perez proved to be far too much for Minor Leaguers to handle, posting a 0.93 WHIP in Double-A to earn a May promotion to the big leagues while skipping over Triple-A.

Through 16 big league starts at just 20 years old, Perez owns a 2.86 ERA and 1.08 WHIP, punching out 95 in 78 2/3 innings. Eight of his 16 starts have gone for 20 or more points with the Miami Marlins keeping a completely reasonable pitch limit on the prized right-hander who didn't eclipse six innings in any start.

Perez becomes the second Maltese Falcons pitching prospect to win the award, joining Tyler Glasnow who received the nod in 2014.

Perez leads an impressive group of young players ready to lead the Falcons into 2024, joining potential activations Triston Casas, Royce Lewis, Sal Frelick, Coby Mayo, Luis Matos, Edouard Julien and Austin Wells.

Honorable Mention: Gavin Williams (Aristocrats), Paul Skenes (Ducks), Yoshinobo Yamamoto (Goutfish), Bobby Miller (Goutfish), Josiah Gray (Fringe)

2023 Activation of the Year: Corbin Carroll, Stacks

It's not hyperbole to call the 2023 Activation Class the best in League History as a star-studded group of prospects turned into key contributors this season across the RDBL. In a season full of young stars, Alamo Short Stacks outfielder Corbin Carroll stood tallest to capture the 2023 Activation of the Year Award.

Carroll finished the RDBL Regular Season ranked 8th in scoring while leading all activations with 390.0 points, posting a .281/.364/.520 line with 22 home runs and 40 steals, becoming the first Rookie since Mike Trout to go 20/40 in his Rookie campaign.

Those 390.0 points in the RDBL Regular Season just edged out fellow star Julio Rodriguez of the Spokane Fightin' Fish while Cloverdale Clovers young phenom Adley Rutschman certainly had a case for the award as well, leading all catchers in scoring. The talent hardly stopped there with standout seasons from Bryson Stott (Aristocrats), Nico Hoerner (Maulers), Tanner Bibee (Hammerheads), William Contreras (Aristocrats), Josh Jung (Taters) and Gunnar Henderson (Jokers).

Carroll joins Vladimir Guerrero, Jr. (2021) as the only Stacks players to win the Activation of the Year Award.

Points By 2023 Activations 1 Corbin Carroll, Stacks: 390.0 2. Julio Rodriguez, Fish: 387.0 T-3. Bryson Stott, 'Crats: 337.0 T-3. Adley Rutschman, Clovers: 337.0 5. Nico Hoerner, Maulers: 332.0 6. Tanner Bibee, Heads: 302.0 7. William Contreras, 'Crats: 289.0 8. Gunnar Henderson, Jokers: 285.5 9. Josh Jung, Taters: 278.0 10. Riley Greene, Falcons: 255.0

​Activation of the Year Winners 2023 OF Corbin Carroll, Stacks 2022 RHP Alek Manoah, Ducks 2021 1B Vladimir Guerrero, Jr., Stacks 2019 OF Ronald Acuña, Jr., Goutfish 2018 RHP Jose Berrios, AMC 2017 OF Aaron Judge, Hops 2016 3B Kris Bryant, OF Mookie Betts, Fish 2015 RHP Carlos Martinez, Goutfish 2014 OF Christian Yelich, Clovers

Honorable Mention: OF Julio Rodriguez (Fish), C Adley Rutschman (Clovers), 3B Josh Jung (Taters), RHP Tanner Bibee (Hammerheads), SS Bryson Stott (Aristocrats), 2B Nico Hoerner (Maulers)