In a season as competitive as any we have seen in Roger Dorn Baseball League History, we will take a Division by Division look at how clubs are faring through six periods of play in 2021.
We continue the roundup by group with the Masters Division which is currently led by the Spokane Fightin' Fish who rank first in lifetime earnings with $2,675 including two division titles and two RDBL Titles.
Spokane Fightin' Fish
Overall: 2nd | Hitting: 7th | Pitching: 2nd
Top Hitter: OF JD Martinez, 152.0
Top Pitcher: RHP Trevor Bauer, 213.0
- The Fightin' Fish have been anchored by a dominant starting staff which GM Michael Tirabassi has been assembling leading up to the unplayed 2020 season. Tirabassi took a chance on Trevor Bauer, giving up a 2nd Round pick and making a $55 commitment to the right-hander despite a disastrous 2019 season. While they didn't see the benefit in his Cy Young season last year, Bauer is matching that output in 2021. The club gave up a 1st Rounder this season for Tyler Glasnow and then forked over a record $73 contract for Gerrit Cole. The trio ranks 2nd, 3rd and 4th in pitcher scoring while the pitching staff as a whole ranks 2nd behind the Goutfish.
- The Fightin' Fish have struggled to piece together the back-end of their starting rotation but made a key acquisition on Monday, landing left-hander Alex Wood (1.75 ERA, 0.94 WHIP) from the Mission Viejo Maulers in exchange for infielder Starlin Castro.
- With the acquisition of Trevor Story on Draft Night, the Fish are playing Period 8 with a salary cap of $286 which will factor into their ability to add more firepower before the Trade Deadline.
- The Fish made another savvy deal with the Maulers, giving up a mid-round pick for the first claim of Period 5 and nabbed outfielder Adolis Garcia. Garcia is now slashing .296/.341/.592 and hit his 11th home run on Monday.
- The Fish took some heat for holding back on the activation of Ke'Bryan Hayes but it looks quite smart now. Hayes injured his wrist early in the year and has been limited to just five at-bats this season.
- Outfield prospect Julio Rodriguez is cementing his status as one of the game's elite prospects. He is slashing .353/.441/.784 with five early home runs in just 51 at-bats at High-A. Should the Fish make him available, Rodriguez should be able to net any player on the market in return.
Las Vegas Aristocrats
Overall: | Hitting: 1st | Pitching: 15th
Top Hitter:
Top Pitcher:
- Adam Frazier has been one of the league's top values as his $1 contract has produced a .323/.390/.462 line with 13 doubles and eligibility at both second and the outfield. With Cavan Biggio heating up (.429 OBP over last 14 days), the 'Crats have the roster flexibility to shuffle around when injuries hit.
- The move away from Coors Field hasn't been an issue for Nolan Arenado who slipped from a $55 contract in 2019 to $38 on Draft Day. Arenado is slashing .300/.353/.562 with nine home runs so far.
- Joe Musgrove has helped cover up some issues in the 'Crats starting rotation which is likely the key area GM Nick Holz and Assistant GM Nick Kusanovich will try and address in the coming weeks. Despite ranking 1st in hitting, the club ranks last in pitching with a 4.31 ERA and 1.30 WHIP, both lows in the RDBL.
- Activation Max Fried looks to have turned the corner after a rough start and IL stint to start 2021. The lefty has allowed just three runs over his last 17.0 innings and looks to have avoided any serious injury after leaving his start early on Monday.
- Pre-season acquisition Zach Davies has been a rough spot for the 'Crats while posting a 5.60 ERA and 1.78 WHIP over 35.0 innings so far this season.
- Dylan Carlson looks to have been a Draft Day steal at $15 as he has been a steady force with a .281/.372/.424 line through 139 at-bats for the Cardinals.
Idaho Taters
Overall: 9th | Hitting: 8th | Pitching: 7th
Top Hitter: 1B Jared Walsh, 132.0
Top Pitcher: RHP Kevin Gausman, 200.0
- Few players have stood out more than first baseman Jared Walsh in the early part of the season as the Taters' leading hitter has slashed .343/.413/.577 through 137 at-bats. His 132.5 points rank second among all first baseman and he has the look of a foundational piece for GM Mike Friedrich moving forward on a team-friendly 1/$10 contract.
- Kevin Gausman enters play Tuesday ranked 5th in overall pitcher scoring with 200.0 points. Gausman has been remarkably consistent this season and holds a 1.84 ERA and sparkling 0.84 WHIP through 53 2/3 innings atop the Giants rotation.
- Carson Kelly has quietly been a force behind the plate and despite hitting the IL last week, the backstop leads all catchers with 105.0 points entering Tuesday while slashing .338/.491/.613 with six home runs. Kelly is another core piece for Friedrich on his 1R/$1 contract this season.
- The Taters sit just 30.0 points out of the final Wild Card spot which could have Friedrich regretting his early move to ship off shortstop Trevor Story to the Fightin' Fish on Draft Night. The return included a 2022 1st Round Pick and Casey Mize who had his best outing as a pro on Monday night but remains a work in progress with 36 walks in 46.0 innings.
- Nate Pearson continues to trend towards a future in the bullpen as groin and shoulder injuries have hampered him this season which is a trend we have continued to see since 2019.
Mission Viejo Maulers
Overall: 10th | Hitting: 15th | Pitching: 3rd
Top Hitter: OF Cedric Mullins, 128.5
Top Pitcher: LHP Carlos Rodon, 141.0
- The Maulers have been dominant on the mound but a series of Draft Day trades have left their lineup short on talent which has led to the league's worst production at the plate. The group is hitting a paltry .235/.315/.397 entering play Tuesday.
- While the Maulers remain just 54.5 points out of the final Playoff spot, GM Chris Ferraro remains focused on 2022 and beyond as evidence by their trade of Alex Wood on Monday. Despite losing Dustin May and Adrian Morejon (Tommy John) to those next year plans, the Maulers could roll out a combination of Mike Clevinger, Noah Syndergaard, Justin Verlander, Aaron Civale, Carlos Rodon and Griffin Canning, all on team friendly deals in 2022.
- Mark Melancon remains one of the top trade targets for clubs in need of a boost in the bullpen. Melancon has posted 121.0 points this season with a 0.96 ERA and 0.75 WHIP along with 14 saves.
- Aaron Judge is white hot and posted an eye-popping 47.5 points in Period 7, pushing him to 125.5 points on the season.
St. Joseph Jokers
Overall: 15th | Hitting: 11th | Pitching: 12th
Top Hitter: SS Trea Turner, 134.5
Top Pitcher: RHP Kyle Gibson, 176.0
- The Jokers have been stung by the absence of Christian Yelich who has had just 34 at-bats this season due to lingering back issues. Yelich was handed a $59 contract and has just 32.5 points this season.
- Buster Posey has been one of the league's top surprises. He ranks second in scoring at catcher with a .362/.444/.649 line and eight home runs so far this season. Posey looks quite capable of continuing strong production into 2022 after looking like a potential candidate to retire. Should the Jokers fall out of the race, GM Rick Steen could face a difficult choice but given his $12 contract, he could net a substantial return.
- Kyle Gibson has been the standout of the Jokers roster, currently ranking 10th in pitcher scoring with 176.0 points while posting a 2.32 ERA and 1.01 WHIP through 54.0 innings.
- Yermin Mercedes played his way into a Period 6 activation and has slashed .364/.410/.574 through 129 at-bats this season.
- Trea Turner has not disappointed on his $49 contract, slashing .329/.373/.584 with 10 home runs and eight doubles entering play Tuesday.
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