Around the Diamond: Back in the win column?; Versatility key for club

The Majors, on a 3-game losing skid, look to make up ground this weekend; Versatile Newton providing an offensive spark; London leading the way statistically; And more! Catch our latest news & notes …

(Photo: Matt Hiscox Photography).

* * *

1) Unfamiliar territory. Including a Canada Day weekend sweep, the Majors won five games in a row between June 26 and July 6. Since then, however, they’ve lost three in a row – with each of those losses coming last weekend. It’s only three games, but it’s a rare occurrence for this ballclub. How rare? London hasn’t lost three in a row since before the COVID-19 pandemic.

Certainly, that speaks more to how well the Majors (16-8) have played this season – and throughout their 2021 championship year – than to any significant struggles recently. In fact, one of the losses was a one-run affair, in which the Guelph Royals walked it off in the ninth inning, and another was an extra-inning loss to the first-place Welland Jackfish. Still, London would surely like to snap their mini losing streak as soon as possible, and they’ll get their first opportunity Friday against the Kitchener Panthers at Labatt Park. 

Despite last Sunday’s loss, Jose Arias certainly did his part. The ace right-hander turned in yet another strong outing on the mound for the Majors, allowing just an unearned run on five hits in 6 innings. He struck out 10, giving him 81 in his nine outings this season (eight starts and one relief appearance). That ranks him second in the IBL, while his 0.95 ERA is tops in the league. He’s now posted four double-digit strikeout games.

Robert Mullen, likewise, could be forgiven for not realizing the team was on the losing end all last weekend. The 26-year-old catcher continued to swing the bat well – something he’s done ever since pulling on a Majors uniform this spring. Mullen, who leads the league with a .433 batting average, went 5-for-13 in those losses, with a home run and seven RBIs. His nine home runs tie him with teammate Cleveland Brownlee for most in the IBL, while his 32 RBIs are second to Brownlee. 

2) A Newtonian discovery? He didn’t arrive until June, after finishing up his collegiate career at Florida Tech University, and he got off to a slow start in his IBL debut, but boy has Jakob Newton picked it up over the last few weeks.

Beginning June 21, the 24-year-old has enjoyed an eight-game stretch where he’s batted .520 (13-for-25) with 10 runs scored and 10 RBIs, hitting safely in each of those contests. The Oakville, ON native has also been valuable for his versatility, playing both in the outfield and, more recently, at second base.

That hot stretch has his season average up to .360 in his first 15 games as a Major. He’s scored 17 times, stolen four bases, and shown solid plate discipline (six walks against just three strikeouts). His on-base percentage is an impressive .441. With veteran second baseman Chris McQueen struggling in the first half, Newton has stepped up to provide productivity while playing multiple positions and hitting out of various spots in the lineup. In two of last weekend’s three games, he batted out of the No. 2 spot. Speaking of versatility … 

Jakob Newton has provided versatility (centrefield and second base) and plenty of pop lately, batting .520 in his last eight games. (Photo: Matt Hiscox Photography).

* * *

3) Interchangeable parts. Newton isn’t the only player who’s moved around the diamond so far this year. Just last weekend alone, the Majors played Austin Wilkie in both centrefield and left, Starling Joseph in centre and right, Byron Rechstein at first base and right field, Phil Whelan at first and left, and Gibson Krzeminski at third base and left field.

That’s a lot of defensive versatility. And it’s no accident. Manager Roop Chanderdat is purposeful about signing players who can play multiple positions. It’s a boon for a manager when they can confidently put guys in different spots, and for a player it means getting your bat in the lineup more often if you can play around the diamond. 

“We’re going to be a team with a lot of guys who can play all over,” Chanderdat told Gameday London before the season even began. “I got guys who can play multiple positions – and play them well.”

So far, that’s been the case. Especially with the return of Reichstein, it’s likely Majors players will continue to move around. It’s a good problem to have, as it means there are bats that need to be in the lineup. Like first baseman Dan Perrier, for instance, who enjoyed a hot stretch in late June/early July, in which he went an eye-popping 10-for-15 with three homers and 13 RBIs during the Majors’ five-game winning streak.

4) Leading the pack. With the Majors (16-8) sitting in second place in the IBL standings, two games behind Welland (18-6) heading into action this weekend, perhaps it’s not surprising that the club leads in several statistical categories thus far. But it might be even more than you think.

For starters, London has both the best team batting average (.320) and team ERA (3.45) through their first 24 games. Their +105 run differential is tops in the league (Welland is 93). On offense, they have more hits, home runs and total bases than any other team in the league (and an IBL-best .922 OPS). On the mound, they’ve allowed the fewest runs, and their pitching staff has compiled the most strikeouts (251) of any staff in the league.

Individually, the aforementioned Mullen leads the league in batting average (.433), while Brownlee and Mullen share the lead in home runs (9) and Brownlee has the most RBIs (35). Arias, as mentioned, leads the IBL with a 0.95 ERA and is second in strikeouts (81). Owen Boon’s 66 strikeouts are third most (his 3.12 ERA is fifth among starting pitchers). Arias and Boon have six wins apiece, which tie them for second in the league.