The pre-season favorite Toronto Thunder fulfilled their destiny and earned the 2024 World Series title, paced by a powerful offense (a league-leading 133 HRs) and a dominant pitching staff (second best team ERA of 3.22 and team opposing batting average (.217), and a league low 72 HRs allowed). The Holy Triumvirate of Aaron Judge (6.8 WAR), Bobby Witt (5.2) and Tanner Houck (5.2) paced the Thunder to their historic season. As a side note, they also broke the stranglehold the Willnus brothers had on the title as one of them has won the title each of the previous three years. Steve Willnus did, however, win Manager of the Year award for an outstanding regular-season performance by the Loggers.
Aaron Judge won the MVP award easily. I think he led the league in leading the league in stat categories! He slashed .328/.465/.715, clubbed 32 HRs, and racked up 62 RBIs and led in many other categories. His attempt to claim the Triple Crown, however, was thwarted by Mount Pleasant's Vladimir Guerrero Jr, who crept past Judge in RBIs in the last games of the season (finishing with 63). Judge's 74 walks (15 intentional) are now the highest single-season total of walks in the "modern era" of the last 17 years that were all played on computer. He is tied with 2011 Miguel Cabrera. Juan Soto's 73 walks this season puts him 3rd on that list.
Tanner Houck was the ace for the Thunder all season long, including the playoffs. His 1.69 era this year is officially now one of the best ever! He ranks 4th all-time in league history, behind only Kyle Bradish (2023), Roger Clemens (1989), and Jim Palmer (1980)!. Houck went 9-2.in the regular season and was 4-0 with an 0.91 ERA in the playoffs.
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| Judge wins his second FL MVP! |
Some other tidbits from the season...
Wichita led the league with a 3.05 team ERA, putting them third all-time!
Bobby Witt (TOR) and Vladimir Guerrero (MTP) were the only players with 100 hits (107 and 101 respectively)
Juan Soto, we hardly knew ye! The Lake Erie one-year phenom slashed .263/.414/.544, knocked 20 HRs, and collected 73 walks.
Maine's Carlos Rodon (CAW!!) led the league in wins with 11, and was the only hurler in double digit wins
Wichita's Ryan Pepiot logged the highest winning percentage at .875 winning percentage, with his 7-1 record
In a controversial vote, Logan Gilbert (WIC) edged Tanner Houck for the Cy Young. Gilbert went 9-5 with a 2.38 ERA. He dazzled voters with his 133 Ks in 125 innings. He also led the league in Ridiculous Faces Made While Pitching, as seen below...
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| Logan Gilbert throwing gas, or possibly just releasing some "gas", judging from that expression! |
Dairon Blanco may have led the league in steals, but it was Pawtucket Patriot Cedric Mullins with the biggest single day of thievery, swiping 6 bases in one game against Mount Pleasant.
Las Vegas closer Justin Slaten won the Rolaids Relief Award with his league-leading 24 saves. Wichita reliever Brant Hurter made the all-time list, tying Chaz Roe (KC) for 2nd best single-season reliever ERA of all time, at 0.30. Nate Jones of Michigan set the all-time mark in 2016 with 0.23!
Cole Ragans (BOS) led everyone with 139 K's, rolled up in just 111 innings. His 11.27 K's per 9 innings was also tops in the league.
Blowout City! Toronto beat Pawtucket 21-8, racking up 29 hits in the biggest offensive output of the season.
Fremont legend Jose Ramirez had 6 hits in 6 at bats in a game against Pittsburgh. Several other players accumulated 5 hits in a game but only Jose got to six (or seis, for all you bilingual folks out there!)
Three players had three HR games this year: Aaron Judge (TOR), Carlos Correa MTP, and Logan O'Hoppe (MIC).
Mount Pleasant led the league with 12 complete games! That sort of abuse of a pitching staff may lead to some Tommy John surgeries, but it also gives me a chance to repost the meme referencing my favorite fictional ballplayer of all time, Tungsten Arm O'Doyle of the 1921 Akron Groomsmen!
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| Herb Washington, the OG and patron saint of pinch runners back in the early 1970's |
Thanks to all for another exciting and fun season! Looking forward to seeing you all for the Draft!
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