April 27

April 27, 2020, 09:35:50 AM

After tomorrow's games, we'll be taking a couple day break to run the next slate of Game Inside the Game so feel free to modify your MP in the meantime.

April 27th games with a focus on the Uecker today:

After a fast start to the season, the Argonauts have cooled a bit and today's game against the blisteringly hot Kraken was no exception. Though Brett Martin had the relief game of his life - 5 IP, 2 hits, 5 Ks - the Argos and the Kraken entered the 14th inning tied at 4 before the Kraken broke it open with a clutch double by Realmuto to score Benintendi from first. Benintendi is fast, but he was flying around the bases on that double.

Another team that started hot but has cooled significantly is the Madmen. After they started the season winning their first 6, the Madmen are now sitting below .500. Coach Brian has been working with some of his younger players (Acuna, Biggio, Gallo, and Bell). Some days it shows and some days, not so much. With the exception of Bell (3 for 5 with a HR), the younger Madmen were mostly silent in this 9-6 loss to the Sweets who continue their hot streak with 8 wins over their last 11 games.

I've now mentioned two of the top teams in the Uecker, but haven't mentioned the division leader yet. That would be the Brewers who have won 11 of their past 14 and now have a solid two game lead. There most recent win comes against the Rattlers who, despite a fearsome lineup, couldn't put together the hitting they needed to take one from Sandy Alcantara who had a great outing (8 IP, 3 hits, and 6K. Probably the biggest impact to the Rattlers chances though were the 3 errors - this could be a problem all year for the Ratters, who lead the league with 26 errors or just over 1 per game.

The Rainiers are feeling pretty good about themselves after Brett Gardner was able to work the count to his advantage against Tuivailala and then hit a walk-off home run in the bottom of the 11th to win 5-4 against the Landlubbers. Despite a team that isn't putting up a lot of runs, the Rainiers have kept games close. Unfortunately for the rebuilding Landlubbers, who aren't putting up a lot of runs, they aren't keeping games as close (besides this one of course!) But with 4 first round picks in the upcoming draft, things should turn around quickly for the team from Ann Arbor.

The Cutthroats are another team that is keeping it close with a 2 run differential, but its not showing in their record as they sit 9-16 on the season. That feels like a statistical aberration though and I have a feeling that things will turn around given some time. Today's game against the Rum Runners is a good example of the disparity between individual game results and record. Though the Cutthroat kept it close, the 4 runs they gave up in the 1st inning were enough for the Rum Runners who prevailed 4-3. Coach Darrell might want to take a peek at his leadoff batter, who is hitting .146 on the season and is not setting the table as Coach Darrell had hoped.