2016 Season Review

What a season it was! After the league agreed to a new 120-game season, up from 82, even that proved to be one game too short. Trey and his Austin Bats were on the wrong end of the play-in game, losing in nail-biting, heart-racing, stomach-punch fashion to Syracuse. It also had to hurt watching Montreal clinch the East division title with a 60-60 record, three games worse than Austin.

The Orange will play Frisco, while the other playoff series’ can be seen here. Let’s take a look back at the regular season.

Inside the Numbers

  • 17-16

    • Frisco’s record after trading several top prospects for starting pitchers Gio Gonzalez, Justin Verlander and Jordan Zimmerman. (49-38 prior to trade)
  • 77

    • Number of wins Calgary had, best in the CBL. Traverse City was the only other team to eclipse even 70 wins, winning 74. The two Frontier League rivals seem poised to meet for the right to represent their league in the Premier Cup.
  • 75

    • Number of losses Bowling Green contributed, earning(?) them the top choice in the first-year player draft this off-season. They will have several elite prospects to choose from. Young Andrew Baker seems to be getting a lot of chatter in pre-draft workouts. Akron lost 73 games, and will select second.
  • 4.9

    • Wins Above Replacement Mike Moustakas provided for San Diego this season, after being acquired from Frisco for prospects. He combined for 2.5 wins in his two seasons in Frisco, due to injury troubles. His 4.9 mark was 3rd best in the Frontier League and 6th best overall.
  • 31

    • Years of age for Matt Cain. Cain signed a 5-year, $22 million contract in the off-season, as Vallejo tried to find another top tier starter to pair with superstar Stephen Strasburg. Cain posted a 4.93 ERA and went 9-11, a very underwhelming year for the Admirals. Thankfully, Joulys Chacin emerged as what Vallejo hoped Cain would become, and Vallejo made the playoffs.
  • 1.99

    • Sean Marshall‘s ERA this season. Signed to a 3-year, $30 million contract in the off-season, Marshall earned his salary and then some in his first season. He saved 24 games for Richardson City, as they improved and built upon their expansion season last year.
  • $44,000,000

    • Amount of money Luke Gregerson secured this off-season. Vancouver signed him to a 4-year pact, but he was rarely used as a closer. He was being used in a mop-up role by the end of the season. He posted a 3.45 ERA, and threw 57 innings so while he wasn’t without value, he was making nearly $13MM this season. Too much.
  • 2-6

    • The Charlotte Knights record this season against league-best Calgary. The Knights will try to topple the giants in their first round playoff series this week, but if the regular season is any indication, Charlotte’s in trouble. Charlotte did go 19-6 against the Heartland League playoff teams, though, so if they can get to the Premier Cup they may be in great shape.
  • $26,500,000

    • David Price‘s salary this season. Savannah signed the left-hander this past off-season to a 4-year, $97MM contract with a 5th year team option. (The 4th year is a player option Price will certainly exercise at this rate) He went 6-8 with a 4.93 ERA, and just didn’t look anywhere close to the kind of pitcher he was back in his MLB days. The Sand Gnats undoubtedly have some buyer’s remorse.
  • 9-26

    • The Altoona Curve‘s record against left-handed starting pitching this season. They posted a decent 41-44 record against righties, so if the team can acquire a few right-handed hitters to contribute against left-handers, Altoona could improve quickly.
  • 15

    • Number of teams who wish Daytona‘s Mike Trout was on their team. The league’s inaugural draft top pick hit a ridiculous .331/.431/.598 this season, posting 8 wins above replacement, and he was an elite defender in center field as well. Daytona missed the playoffs this season for the first time in franchise history, and getting back shouldn’t be too difficult as long as this superstar stays healthy.
  • Too Many to Count

    • Hours Tim and Steve put into simming and getting rosters right and everything else. Thanks to you guys for running sims consistently and all the time you put in, and thanks to everyone for another great season. Best of luck to the playoff teams, but not really. I want to win.
0 0 votes
Article Rating
Subscribe
Notify of
6 Comments
Oldest
Newest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Tim Imasa

Well done, Erik! I truly enjoyed this piece!

Calgary has the best record in the CBL yet again. Twice now in 3 season. But, they seem to come up short in post season. Can David take CAL over that hump this year? We will see.

I think everyone will agree here with item # 15. Haha!

David Jones

Anxious to see that myself Tim.

I honestly think that anything short of a Premier Cup would be a bit of a disappointment. Certainly a great showing in the final series is the bare minimum.

Wish me luck???

David Jones

Great summary of the season Erik!

These are always fun and you did a great job touching “all the bases” with a bit from most of the CBL.

Big contracts that stink are always fun. Ka-Ching… ;-(
But it’s also part of the challenge.

Steve Meyers

Another outstanding post by Erik who always manages to find the sweet spot on the pulse of the CBL.

Trey Schalk

Brilliant!

6
0
Would love your thoughts, please comment.x
()
x