Grading the Vermont Mountaineers

With the All-Star game looming on the horizon (Sunday to be exact), I think now is as good time as ever to look back at the first 28 games the Vermont Mountaineers have played before we turn towards the frantic last week of playoff chases and lead changes. It's time to grade the Mountaineers. Although the Mountaineers 18-10 record is second in the league and 2.5 up on the competition, there is still room for improvement. The categories we will use are the typical four: offense, starting pitching, bullpen and coaching. Let's begin with offense.

Offense: A-
Team offensive ranks:

	Runs	Hits	2B	3B	HR	AVG	OBP	SLG	OPS
Stat	113	217	35	4	8	.246	.319	.322	.641
West	4th	4th	4th	1st	4th	3rd	6th	3rd	4th
NECBL	10th	11th	9th	T-1st	T-7th	6th	13th	7th	9th

Vermont has not had the best offense, but they can get results. They're the kind of team that will win games 2-0, 2-1, 5-3 and rely on their stellar pitching to get them to go the distance. The have shown some flashes of hitting, as they have won 9-0 and 11-2, but they're not as powerful as an offense like Newport. They rarely strike out though, as they lead the league in that category. The Mountaineers get an A- in this category because they're not best hitting lineup, but they get results and provide enough run support to their pitchers. They're scoring an average of four runs a game, and when your pitchers are giving up less than three a game- you're going to win.

The Mountaineers offense received a pick me up in the form of Indiana's Scott Donley, who over ten games is hitting .345 with four doubles. Other key parts are infielder Brad Kazcka (.300/11R/8SB) and outfielder Pat Wiese (.293/5RBI/9R).

Pitching: A+

Team starting pitching ranks (includes bullpen):

	ERA	SV	BB	SO	WHIP	BAA
Stat	2.61	7	79	208	1.12	.211
West	1st	2nd	1st	4th	1st	1st
NECBL	2nd	3rd	1st	11th	1st	2nd

The Mountaineers have been incredible on the mound. They don't necessarily strike out a bunch of players, but they get them out. Hitters are hitting just .211 against them and they've walked just 79 batters, which leads the league. They allow less than three runs a game, and have shutout their opponents four times this year. They're clearly the best pitching team in the Western division, which will give their offense a chance to stay in the game in the later part of the year. 

Starters: A+

Overall, the Mountaineers starting rotation has been, well, dominant. Six Mountaineers have consistently toed the rubber, and hold a combined 2.41 ERA over 25 starts. They are clearly the best in the Western Division, but have competition in the East in the form of the Newport Gulls. 

The six guys Vermont have been using are some of the top pitchers in the league. John Miles, the 6-3 righty from the University of Missouri is 3-0 with a league-leading 0.31 ERA over six appearances and four starts. Miles will be starting the upcoming All-Star game for the Western Division. Virginia's Trey Oest (2-0, 2.38 ERA, 22.2 IP) and Central Connecticut's Cody Brown (3-1, 3.69, 24.1 IP) have also stood out in the rotation.

Bullpen: A

The Mountaineers bullpen is good all around. The trio of Robert Strader, Nick Naradowy and Pat Delano have been superb in a combined 24 appearances  Not to be forgotten is Zach Grossfield, who has a 1.29 ERA over five appearances including a team-leading three saves. Strader has also been shut down out of the pen, holding a 0.55 ERA and a 2-0 record with 14 strikeouts over 10 innings pitched. The reason I can't give them an A+ is because they have a combined 3.74 ERA, a high ERA which a bullpen shouldn't have.

Coaching: A+

Not much to say here other than Joe Brown has done an incredible job in his first year in the Green and White of the Vermont Mountaineers. Brown has come in, and in his first year with no returning players, has shaped a 18-10 baseball club. He's a very smart baseball guy and has managed his way out of any situations the Mountaineers find themselves in.

Overall, the Mountaineers have had a very impressive year going into the All-Star game, and have the potential to go deep into August and the playoffs.