Week 1 Power Rankings: Hyannis and YD Perform Well Early

By Ian Martin


Every Thursday, the Braves Blog will (as objectively as possible) rank the leagues teams. The criteria is a combination of team statistics, overall record, and how the team has done in the past week in particular. Think of the general rule as follows: Which team would you want your team to play the least right now (no. 1) to the team that would be the most appealing to play.


NOTE: These rankings do not take into account tonight's two CCBL games.

1. Hyannis (4-1, first in Western)

The Harbor Hawks are third in the league in both team ERA and team batting average after the first week, meaning they're one of the few teams without a major disparity between its offense and defense. The side is averaging a respectable 2.6 runs per game, and has allowed just eight runs in the first week — five of which came in the team's only loss of the year. OF Dan Gulbransen and C Kevin Plawecki both are hitting over .350 with at least 14 at bats each, meaning there's a lot of consistency in the team's lineup in the early season.

2. Yarmouth-Dennis (4-1-1, first in Eastern)

Despite being the early leaders in what will likely be the tougher division of the Cape Cod Baseball League in 2011, the Red Sox scored two of its first four wins against Bourne and Falmouth, really the only chink in the vest of an otherwise hard to beat team. Pitching, at least so far, has propelled YD in its beginning games. Only once did the staff allow more than two runs in a game in week one, a seven-run anomaly in a loss to Cotuit. With a seemingly average week ahead (i.e. facing no teams in the in the top four of the power rankings), YD could have an early-season win streak coming.

3. Cotuit (3-2-1, second in Western)

The defending champions are placed in the third spot because as of Thursday, they are the only team in the CCBL that can claim a winning streak. Granted, at two games it's not going to determine the season, but the team continues to gain momentum after its 1-2-1 start. The team's last victory against Bourne in particular is the type of win that streaks are made of, after the squad gave up the lead in the seventh only to regain it on a three-run home run from OF Victor Roache in the eighth.

4. Harwich (3-3, third in Eastern)

As is explained in the next team's paragraph, Harwich would be five if not for their victory over the statistically superior Brewster. That convincing 6-3 win is the only surprise for what has otherwise been a team that wins the games it should — e.g. its doubleheader sweep of Bourne this week — and loses games against teams ahead of it in the standings such as Yarmouth-Dennis and Orleans. OF Jabari Henry is the early offensive bright spot for the Mariners, going 6-20 in his first at-bats, with three of those hits going for doubles. He also has four RBI in just six games.

5. Brewster (3-3, fourth in Eastern)

When it comes to scoring runs, no team is better than the Whitecaps. 2B Ryan Jones leads the league with a 10-19 first week (a .526 average), and the team has put up 12 runs in two separate games this season. However, the results haven't backed up the staggering offense every day. Brewster pitching has given up five or more runs in three of the team's first six games, and the Whitecaps lost the first head-to-head matchup with division rival Harwich (hence why they Mariners are 4 and the Whitecaps 5) by three runs on Tuesday night.

6. Orleans (2-1-1, second in Eastern)

Not much is known about the Firebirds after a good amount of weather disrupted three straight days of games for the team, but early signs could be positive. Orleans tied YD and split a doubleheader with Hyannis. This team very easily could be in the top 3 next week, and this speculation comes from its pitching. Orleans has meager 0.82 ERA, but again the sample size isn't as large as the other teams so there's no guarantee these numbers will hold. A dominant hitter for the Firebirds hasn't emerged yet, and the team is hitting just .170 after one week.

7. Wareham (3-2, second in Western)

Honestly the three through seven spots on this list are much closer than any other grouping, so the Gatemen shouldn't be dissatisfied with lucky number seven. This squad has middle of the division tendencies early in the season with one great hitter (CF Brandon Thomas — hitting .500 after 16 at bats) among what is otherwise an average lineup. The doubleheader sweep of Brewster was impressive, but the team has a potentially-rough next week with two games against Orleans and a doubleheader at Yarmouth-Dennis.

8. Chatam (2-3-1, fifth in Eastern)

Unfortunately for the Anglers, the team's two wins aren't what most would consider quality, as both came by just one against winless Falmouth in a doubleheader. The pitching has been mediocre, with a high ERA (at least by summer league standards) of 3.67, and offensively the only categories the team leads the league in are home runs (positive) and strikeouts (negative). Saturday's matchup against Bourne at Doran Park will be a great opportunity for two desperate teams to add a much-needed win.

9. Bourne (1-4, fourth in Western)

The Braves offense is finally showing vital signs after being held scoreless in the teams' first three games. Those first games were particularly frustrating for the team as they gave up just five runs in those contests, but still weren't able to get runs home. After defeating Falmouth in a matchup of then-winless teams, the Braves suffered a crushing late-inning loss to Cotuit that could've catapulted the team up the division standings (and power rankings). Starting pitching is definitely the best asset for last year's Western champs early in the season, with no starter allowing more than one run in any appearance so far.

10. Falmouth (0-5, fifth in Western)

It could be a long season for the Commodores, especially if the squad's hitting continues to be as paltry as it has in the first five contests. In those five losses, the Commodores have just three runs. The team's 2.11 ERA is more than workable, but the .131 team batting average isn't going to turn around the slow start. The first win should come soon in a probable 2-1, 1-0 type victory, but this isn't the way to start the season for Falmouth.