FRONTIER FIVE: FIGHT TO THE FINISH BREWING IN THE EAST
July 21, 2023 - The Frontier League season has reached the second half, in the west, the playoff picture has begun to crystallize with three teams separating from the rest. In the east, a five way fight to the finish is brewing.
The East
Five and a half games separate one and five in the east division. The Jackals sit in first, led by the slugging All-Star trio of James Nelson, Josh Rehwaldt and Keon Barnum. Second are the surging Capitales followed by the Boulders, ValleyCats and Miners rounding out the top five.
The Jackals have relied on the long ball to climb to the top of the east, mashing a league leading 99 home runs so far this season. Rehwaldt and Barnum each have 20, tied for the league lead while Nelson has added 16 of his own. The Jackals have also swiped more bags than anyone else in the east with 113 through 55 games. Unsurprisingly given the ballpark they play in, the Jackals have also allowed the most home runs in the league. However, given the fact that the pitching staff sits third in K's per nine and fourth in total K's, I'm willing to chalk up the long balls and by extension the bloated ERA to playing in Hinchcliffe stadium.
Quickly closing the gap on the Jackals in first are the winners of 10 straight and the defending champion Quebec Capitales. The Capitales are playing a totally different brand of baseball compared to the Jackals but find themselves only a game and a half back. The name of the game in Quebec for the Capitales and manager Pat Scalabrini is pitching and defense. So far the Capitales rank fourth in team ERA with the fourth least home runs allowed, and also fourth in WHIP. Combine those pitching numbers with them being third in fielding percentage, first in doubles plays turned while having allowed the second lowest number of stolen bases and you have a winning formula that doesn't require hot bats every night.
Rounding out the current playoff picture in the east are the New York Boulders. Led by double play combo Matt McDermott and Tucker Nathans, the Boulders have found a very balanced approach that has proved successful this season, they have hit the fifth most home runs while also having the third best team batting average. They also lead the league in doubles with 124 through 55 games. In addition they don't strike out much and have the third highest on base percentage in the league, Tj Stanton's club has established themselves as a dangerous lineup deep with contact hitting and power.
The West
The top of the west is easier to decipher than the top of the east. Barring a disaster for one of the top three teams, the teams going to the playoffs will be the Grizzlies, Boomers and Otters, Windy City currently sits in fourth, seven and a half games behind the Otters in third.
Leading the pack in the west and tied for the best record in the league are the Gateway Grizzlies, featuring seven All-Stars and the manager with the fourth most wins in league history, it is safe to say that this season is title or bust at this point for the team from Sauget.
Three games behind Gateway and second in the west are the Boomers. Led by veteran manager Jaime Bennett and contact hitting second baseman Chase Dawson, the Boomers rank near the top of the league in batting average and on base percentage. They also have seen a surge in production from their pitching staff, now ranking third in staff ERA.
Rounding out the west playoff picture are the boys from Bosse Field, the Evansville Otters. Evansville has been something of a steady Eddie so far this season, never too high and never too low, led by All-Star outfielders Noah Myers and Jeffery Baez and a dominant pitching staff, the Otters have the best staff ERA and WHIP in the league, the also have the most strikeouts and fourth least walks allowed, combine this with a high powered, although inconsistent lineup, and you have a team that could easily make a September run.
The Frontier Five
5- Quebec Capitales
Led by pitching and defense and full of playoff moxie as proven last year, the Capitales are quietly moving into position to defend their title.
4- Evansville Otters
Given how good their pitching staff has been, if the lineup can heat up, they can be as good as anyone.
3- New York Boulders
Their lineup hits for power and average, they have a veteran manager with veteran players that have big league experience, if their pitching staff can figure it out just a little they have as good a chance as anyone to win it all.
2- New Jersey Jackals
Their lineup is so incredibly deep, led by three MVP candidates. Plus they have a pitching staff that induces lots of swings and misses which is a necessity in that stadium. Their stadium brings so much variance into play that I worry about them in the playoffs however.
1- Gateway Grizzlies
I've said it before and I'll say it again, it is title or bust for this year's Grizzlies team. Not only is their lineup absolutely loaded but they have a pitching staff that has the second most strikeouts in the league, combine that with a 600 career game winner for a manager and it should in theory equal a title.
