Iggy’s Baltimore Sports Report – July 11, 2015

Ravens:
Ravens locked up punter Sam Koch for 5 more years… With training camp approaching REALLY soon, the Ravens need to hope that they have done enough in the off season to improve in a number of categories. A recent Baltimore Sun article lists 10 things that they need to improve on, including 3rd down efficiency, tackling, catching, road performance, Take Aways, Penalties and pass defense. Visit BaltimoreSun.com for their discussion, and I agree with most of them, but not all.

Orioles:
After surging into First place, the O’s have dropped back 3 games behind the yankees due to their inability to score runs. All-“Star” game is this week where we once again have to watch the most popular players, not the best players, show case their talents. I still advocate ditching the entire voting system in favor of a mathematical approach based on statistics. Here the list of league leaders who EARNED a trip, whether they make it or not!

Position	American League
1B	Logan Morrison, SEA (.999 FPCT) Mike Napoli, BOS (60 AST) Albert Pujols, LAA (26 HR) Mark Teixeira, NYY (62 RBI) Prince Fielder, TX (113 H, .417 BARISP) Miguel Cabrera, DET (.350 AVG, .456 OBP)
2B	Eric Sogard, OAK (.993 FPCT) Jason Kipnis, CLE (27 2B) Brian Dozier, MN (261 AST, 66 R) Jose Altuve, HOU (25 SB)
SS	JJ Hardy, BAL (.996 FPCT) Alexei Ramirez, CWS (253 AST)
3B	Trevor Plouffe, MN (.978 FPCT) Kyle Seager, SEA (183 AST)
LF	Alex Gordon, KC (1.000 FPCT) Yoenis Cespedes, DET (7 AST)
CF	Mike Trout, LAA (1.000 FPCT, 26 HR, 66 R, .618 SLG, 196 TB) Leonys Martin, TX (10 AST) Kevin Kiermaier, TB (9 3B)
RF	JD Martinez, Det (.994 FPCT) Avisail Garcia, CWS (10 AST) Jose Bautista, TOR (66 BB)
C	Tyler Flowers, CWS (1.000 FPCT) Brian McCann, NYY (44% CS%) Russell Martin, TOR (47 AST)
SP	Felix Hernandez, SEA (11 W, 2 SHO) Dallas Keuchel, HOU (11 W, 2.14 ERA, 130.1 IP, 2 SHO, 14 QS) Corey Kluber, CLE (148 SO) Chris Sale, CWS (.94 WHIP, .205 BAA) Mark Buehrle, TOR (4 CG) Mike Montgomery, SEA (2 SHO) Jose Quintana, CWS (4 PO) Mike Pelfrey, MN (20 GDP) Hector Santiago, LAA (.136 BAARISP)
RP	Glen Perkins, MN (28 SV) Zach Britton, BAL (35 GF) Joe Smith, LAA (22 HLD) Blaine Hardy, DET (8.3% IRS) Wade Davis, KC (0.24 RERA) Will Harris, HOU (.120 RBAA) Anthony Bass, TX (47.2 RIP) Chasen Shreve, NYY (6 RW) Delin Betances, NYY (75 RSO)
Position	National League
1B	Lucas Duda, NYM (.999 FPCT) Andrew Rizzo, CHC (24 2B) Paul Goldschmidt, AZ (69 RBI, 59 R, .345 AVG, 68 BB, .431 BARISP) Joey Votto, CIN (90 AST)
2B	Danny Espinosa, WAS (.997 FPCT) Dee Gordon, MIA (269 AST, 119 H)
SS	Andrelton Simmons, ATL (.992 FPCT) Starlin Castro, CHC (258 AST)
3B	Yunel Escobar, WAS (.975 FPCT) Todd Frazier, CIN (24 2B, 195 TB) Nolan Arenado, COL (203 AST, 69 RBI)
LF	David Peralta, AZ (1.000 FPCT) Chris Coghlan, CHC (7 AST) Ben Revere, PHI (6 3B)
CF	Billy Hamilton, CIN (1.000 FPCT, 42 SB) Charlie Blackmon, COL (7 AST) Andrew McCutchen, PIT (24 2B) Randal Grichuk, StL (6 3B)
RF	Jay Bruce, CIN (.994 FPCT) Matt Kemp, SD (8 AST) Giancarlo Stanton (27 HR) Bryce Harper, WAS (.469 OBP, .703 SLG)
C	Kevin Plawecki, NYM (1.000 FPCT) Yadier Molina, STL (42% CS%) Derek Norris, SD (52 AST)
SP	Gerrit Cole, PIT (13 W, 16 GDP) Zach Greinke, LAD (1.30 ERA, 123.1 IP, 17 QS) Max Scherzer, WAS (123.1 IP, .8 WHIP, 3 CG, 2 SHO, .188 BAA) Clayton Kershaw, LAD (160 SO) Shelby Miller, ATL (2 SHO) Brett Anderson, LAD (6 PO) Carlos Martinez, StL (.134 BAARISP)
RP	Mark Melancon, PIT (29 SV, 36 GF) Jim Johnson, ATL (20 HLD) Sergio Romo, SF (20 HLD) Tony Watson, PIT (20 HLD) George Kontos, SF (0% IRS) Trevor Rosenthal, StL (0.67 RERA) Joaquin Benoit, SD (.133 RBAA) Justin De Fratus, PHI (49 RIP) Jason Motte, CHC (6 RW) Aroldis Chapman, CIN (65 RSO)
Legend: 2B: Doubles 3B: Triples AST: Assists AVG: Average BAA: Batting Average Allowed BAARISP: Batting Average Allowed with Runners in Scoring Position BARISP: Batting Average with Runners in Scoring Position BB: Base on Balls (Walks) CG: Complete Games CS%: Caught Stealing PCT ERA: Earned Runs Average FPCT: Fielding PCT GDP: Ground in to Double Plays GF: Games Finished H: Hits (Batting) HLD: Holds (Pitching) HR: Homeruns IP: Innings Pitched IRS: Inherited Runners Scored OBP: On Base PCT PO: Pick Offs QS: Quality Starts R: Runs RBAA: Relief Batting Average Allowed RBI: Runs Batted In RERA: Relief ERA RIP: Relief Innings Pitched RSO: Relief Strike Outs RW: Relief Wins SV: Saves SB: Stolen Bases SHO: Shut Outs SLG: Slugging PCT SO: Strike Outs TB: Total Bases W: Wins WHIP: Walks & Hits per Innings Pitched Names in Bold were actually selected to the team.
Stat Sources: MLB.com, ESPN, Washington Post, Fox Sports

Alouettes
The Al’s have opened the season 1-2, after losing to Winnipeg 25-23 on the road this week.

Blast (MASL):
Nothing to report.

Chesapeake Bayhawks: (Home games at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium)
The Bayhawks are now 5-6, 4.5 games behind New York.

Charm:
Nothing to Report.

Capitals (See website for more details):
Nothing to Report.

Wizards (See website for more details):
Nothing to Report.

Mystics (See website for more details):
Mystics are in 4th place at 6-5, but only 1.5 games back.

D.C.United (See website for more details):
DC (10-6-5, 35 points) are in first place, 11 points ahead of Columbus, Orlando and New England.

What do you want to see in the Ravens report? What should be scrapped? Actually, never mind. No one is reading this anyway so you probably won’t know the difference. Send an email to iggy at tealdragon.net. Thanks!