After two mediocre chapters, the team that we knew and loved back in Chapters One and Two finally returned and kicked some ass, resulting in a 21-7 chapter. Unless some team catches fire over the next few days, this will likely be the best Chapter Five record in the BDBL this chapter, and with the second-highest runs differential (with Los Altos being #1, of course.)
We swept Joplin, Ravenswood, and Darien in Chapter Five, won three out of four against Allentown, and split against Akron, Vegas, and North Carolina. One worrisome pattern this year is that we seem to beat up the bad teams and struggle against the better teams. Currently, Ravenswood (9-3) is the only opponent with a .500+ record that we have a winning record against this season. We are 4-4 against Bear Country, 3-9 against Los Altos, and 3-9 against Akron. That could be a major problem come November!
The Good
Our two newest relievers, Rowan Wick and Aaron Bummer, have been fantastic for us so far. Combined, the two pitched 26+ innings in Chapter Five, with just 15 hits allowed, and a 1.02 ERA.
I can't believe I'm about to type these words, but...Andrew Benintendi wasn't completely useless in Chapter Five! On the contrary, the guy was a machine! He hit .360/.439/.640 for the chapter, in 50 at-bats, and actually contributed to the team!
After struggling big-time the past two chapters, Max Scherzer (5-0, 1.16 ERA in 31 IP) could very well be the OL's Pitcher of the Chapter this time around. BDBL teams continue to load their lineups with left-handers against him, to the point where he has already faced more lefties in the BDBL than he did in MLB, with a full chapter remaining in this season.
Christian Walker has quietly put together a solid year. In Chapter Five, he was more than solid. He hit .344/.411/.688 for the chapter, with team-leading totals in home runs (8), RBI's (24), and runs created (29.2).
Our dream of having a Cy Young winner from Salem now rests solely with Sonny Gray (4-0, 3.86 ERA in 28 IP.) On the season, he is now 17-5 with a 3.04 ERA, which could be Cy-worthy in this difficult year for pitching. Another preseason dream was to see three Salem pitchers win 20 or more games, but that will not happen, as Scherzer has won just 13 games this season, and will likely start five times in Chapter Six.
Jose Ramirez (.290/.359/.570) was surprisingly good in Chapter Five, following four relatively boring chapters. Trea Turner (.295/.357/.533) has been consistently good. Shohei Ohtani (.340/.439/.574 in 47 AB) also hit well in a small sample. The same is true of Cameron Maybin (.333/.381/.769 in 39 AB).
The Bad
Stephen Strasburg (5-2, 4.22 ERA in 42+ IP) continues to add to his home run tally, surrendering five more last chapter to give him 23 for the year. He allowed 24 all of last MLB season, in fewer innings, and in a home ballpark that is one of the friendliest in baseball for home runs.
Rafael Devers (.271/.328/.421) was MVP-bound for the first four chapters or so, but he's really hurt his chances with back-to-back mediocre chapters.
Anibal Sanchez (3-1, 4.89 ERA in 42+ IP) continues his Jekyl-and-Hyde season. He started five games in Chapter Five. Three of those games, including eight shutout innings against Ravenswood, were fairly decent. Two were absolute disasters, including a game against Allentown in which Sanchez allowed TEN earned runs in only six innings.
Brett Gardner (.200/.294/.444) was supposed to have been an upgrade over Benintendi, but for one chapter, at least, the two seem to have switched bodies.
The Ugly
Through the first two chapters of the season, Trevor May was a respectable 4-1, with 5 saves, and a 3.54 ERA in 28 innings. The wheels completely fell off the bus in Chapter Three, and have yet to stop rolling around on the highway. He has posted an ERA of -- get this -- 10.45 since Chapter One. In a little more than 20 innings, he has allowed 27 hits, 26 runs (24 earned), 12 walks, and 9 -- count 'em, 9! -- home runs. In Chapter Five, May contributed a 5.68 ERA in a little over six innings.
Mark Melancon (6.75 ERA in 9+ IP) is supposed to just eat a few innings in middle relief, and he can't even seem to do that.
Our catching tandem of Bryan Holaday (.176/.263/.471) and Alex Avila (.111/.360/.278) were beyond awful last chapter. If only Adley Rutschman would hurry the hell up and arrive already.
