Prestige is on the Line in the Most Important Race Left of the 2017 Season

With only 15 games to play in the 2017 season we have a few intriguing races still to be played out.  As emotions are riding high, managers losing sleep and players with flailing nerves only the best will stand out and take over.  One race imparticular has a few new contenders.  Over the last couple seasons two teams have dominated this race, in fact for the last 3 years these teams have finished 1-2 in the race.  We want to congratulate Terrance and Terry for finally using that talent of draft's past to improve the team and leave the race for the #1 pick. (Although Terrance Knights are only 4 games up on the current #1 seed, we feel that is a big enough margin for him to stay out.)  We will highlight our top 3 contenders, break down the teams and see who has what it takes to secure BSA's worst record and the right to first pick in the 2018 amateur draft.

First off let's identify the Top 3 and they are according to record at this point:

Niagara Falls Frenzy 49-98

Irvine Gang Green 50-96

St. Charles Sheens 51-95

The Frenzy have 15 games left to play while the other two still have 16 games to go. Here's how the schedules break down:

NFF: 3 vs LAB, 3 @ IRV, 3 vs NYK, 3 @ORL, 3 vs CLV               

IRV: 1 @BAF, 3 @MAU, 3 vs NFF, 3 @LAB, 3 vs SNF, 3 vs LCC

SCS:  1 vs REN, 3 @SEA, 3 @KCY, 3 @POC, 3 vs TOR, 3 @GRN

NFF has the easiest schedule coming in with an average winning percentage of .472 while both IRV and SCS opponents are over the .500 mark at .515 for SCS and .525 for IRV.  St. Charles will also play the most games on the road with 12 of their final 16 games come away from home.  

Niagara Falls

After 74 wins last year and some good young players, NFF looked prime to compete, after disastrous April and May that was shot to hell.  It seems the young pitchers, both starters and relievers, were held back and a patch work rotation of veterans shouldered the load.  In fact at this point in the season the pitching staff has 9 members who are over the age of 30 years old, a staff that is dead last in almost every category in the NL.  The starting rotation features 4 starters who have lost over 14 games including former 16 game winner Allan Landry who has lost an impressive 18 of his 21 starts this season.

NFF seemed to have a leg up on the #1 pick up through August.  Pitching was terrible.  The veteran bats were terrible.  Former super spec and 2nd year man Bernardo Guzman was sub par, and then August hit.  The Frenzy had a winning record at 15-13.  Phillips and Guzman combined for 15 HR.  JJ's freaky bunch was winning.  They are currently 4-7 in September, Benny McCafferty is coming off a Player of the Week award and they have the easiest schedule remaining of my contenders.  While they have a bright future, what will the next 15 games bring?

Irvine Gang Green

First year owner Larry Rice knew he didn't have much to work with when he moved the franchise from El Paso to Irvine following former owner Michael Flaherty's jump to greener pastures taking over the San Fransisco franchise.  A new ballpark, much bigger than the bandbox this team was use to in El Paso created more of a pitching environment instead of the big offensive teams of the past.  What he did have is a young 21 year old ace in Etienne Garcia and a powerful ROY candidate in Alden Lindsey, after the it was murky.  After a terrible June, Irvine has seemed to be neck and neck with the Frenzy, and they also had a good month in August going 12-16 to keep pace with the "hot" Frenzy.  

The currently have the hardest remaining schedule, facing 7 games with playoff teams.  Unlike NFF they have called up a few top prospects.  Those include former 7th overall pick Jose Esparza and SP Ignacio Colon, who was the main piece in sending Jerry Burgess to Jersey Shore in 2015.  Irvine has been active on the waiver wire this year as well, probably most notably getting former Baffin closer Razor Ramon for free who has thrived as the closer since coming over.  Will Irvine play playoff spoiler and upset a few contenders or will they fall by the way side and slide into the #1 pick? Only time will tell.

St. Charles Sheens

This was a team who was just 81-81 two years ago. They finished 2nd to only division winner Seattle and a core of Fred Jones, Phil Lindsey and Dominque Marquis seemed to be set up for a good future.  Fast forward 2 years and this team is on the verge of 100 losses, Fred Jones fell apart, Lindsey is on the shelve with a long injury and has been a shell of his former self and the Sheens are looking toward a younger generation.  The interesting things about the Sheens in the race is they weren't even on the radar until a 7-23 August helped them gain an astronomical 9 games on Niagara Falls and put them right in thick of things.  

The Sheens late season schedule sees them have games with 1 for sure playoff team in Greenville, one playoff contender in Seattle and the under achieving yet still loaded Toronto team.  The Sheens have been good about keeping young talent and have a system littered with some very nice pieces to compete in the future.  Currently on their major league team are a trio of players they obtained in the Gillberto Montano trade that happened in 2014.  The speedy John Meldelson has done an adequate job filling in for the entire injured outfield.  While he might not be ready yet 15 steals and 34 extra base hits in 323 at bats isn't anything to sneeze at.  Top SP prospect 23 year old "Ratchet" Moreno was called up this month to fairly terrible results but the talent is there.  1B 22 year old Alfredo Rivera has broken out this year with 13 HR on way to a 22.5 VORP and currently hits clean up.  Will the trio help the team win games or just get that valuable experience for the future?  

All 3 are interesting teams who all have a shot at the prestigious prize.  Who will get it? Stay tuned.