I’ve decided to take the day off from a daily post because of the rain, and turn it into ATVL’s first power rankings!

First of all, let me just say- this is ridiculous. Depending on what metric you use, brilliant reader, you could come up with a completely different list. That’s fine; I’m not putting this out there as some final word on the order of teams in the VBL- it’s just one guy’s opinion on things.

Also, we work very, very hard to be positive in this space, so we will not be singling out any players with criticism. Instead, I will make a comment on something positive.

The lines go like this: Team, record, run differential, hitting slash line (avg/OBP/slugging), team ERA, and pitching staff BB/K totals. 

So. Let’s start!

  1. Strasburg, 9-3, +26, 280/379/371, 3.76, 52/83. Express has the 2nd best OBP in the league. Ingram and Strasburg ExpressHalas leading the way- the two have been on base 46 times in 12 games so far.
  2. Waynesboro, 8-3, +23, 268/349/362, 2.99, 44/85. Five guys hitting over .300, Tyler Davis has 16 K’s in 10 innings so far.
  3. Harrisonburg, 6-4, +11, 290/383/380, 3.58, 32/80. Best average and OBP. Three regulars hitting over .342! (Denton, Arias, Popatak)
  4. Front Royal, 6-6, +18, 213/313/309, 2.17, 53/108. Staff is filled with strikeout machines: 108 in 112 2/3 innings. Valdes: 3 starts, 1.01 ERA, 21 K’s in 17 2/3 innings
  5. Winchester, 7-4, -15, 248/337/293, 5.87, 54/83. Run differential, team ERA destroyed by 19-0 loss to Staunton. Will Garcia sign soon? Bureau has given up 2 hits, 0 walks, 0 runs, 9 strikeouts in 7 IP in relief.
  6. New Market, 5-7, -6, 285/360/428, 5.66, 68/100. Look at that slugging percentage! The best in the league by far. Team has 28 doubles, 2 triples, and 10 home runs!
  7. Covington, 3-5, -6, 274/365/385, 5.33, 29/60. Rainouts have made this a tough team to figure. It’s great to see Jose Carrera back- and he has 9 stolen bases already!
  8. Charlottesville, 4-6, -9, 215/321/271, 4.10, 34/74. In contrast to the Rebs, the Sox have one home run- hit by Mitchell Webb. Top of pitching staff looks really tough, though.
  9. Staunton, 4-8, +5, 244/348/335, 4.24, 54/72.  Will that 19-0 shutout spring the Braves to a winning streak? Four regulars are hitting over .300.
  10. Woodstock, 4-7, -18, 279/374/348, 6.25, 39/85. Hyman, Tisevich lead a potent offense. Tisevich has 8 extra base hits in 10 games!
  11. Purcellville, 4-7, -29, 238/356/292, 4.74, 48/83. Obviously, don’t count out the Cannons after only 11 games!