The 2015 Pacific Association season was the third season of the Pacific Association. There was a four team 77 game schedule. Most series included a three-game series with each team having 39 home games. The Pittsburg Mettle became the Pittsburg Diamonds for the 2015 season.
| 2015 Pacific Association season | |
|---|---|
| League | Pacific Association |
| Sport | Baseball |
| Duration | June 1, 2015 – August 31, 2015 [1] |
| Number of games | 77 (155 games in total) |
| Number of teams | 4 |
| Regular season | |
| Season champions | Sonoma Stompers 1H (26–11), San Rafael Pacifics 2H (29–11) |
| League postseason | |
| Finals champions | San Rafael Pacifics |
| Runners-up | Sonoma Stompers |
The San Rafael Pacifics entered the season as defending champions, having won both halves of the 2014 Pacific Association season.
The playoffs concluded on August 31, with the San Rafael Pacifics defeating the Sonoma Stompers 4–3 in the league's 2015 championship game.[2]
Team and rule changes
editThe four teams in the league played a 77-game schedule. Each team played 39 games for the first and second half of the season. Each half champion would receive a place in the best-of-one championship game.
In 2015, the Sonoma Stompers hired Ben Lindbergh and Sam Miller to advise the team using their 'sabermetrics' theory of player management. They went on to write a book about their experience, called 'The Only Rule Is It Has to Work'.[3]
In June, Sonoma Stompers' pitcher Sean Conroy became baseball's first openly gay professional player. On the Stompers' pride night, Conroy threw a complete game shutout win.[4][5]
In July, the San Rafael Pacifics used three cameras stationed at different points around the ballpark, and used a robo umpire for the strike zone. Eric Byrnes would then announce balls and strikes.[6][7]
Regular season standings
editas of August 31, 2015
| Pacific Association | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pos | Team | G | First half record | Second half record | Season record | Pct. | GB |
| 1 | x – San Rafael Pacifics | 78 | 19–19 | 29–11 | 48–30 | .615 | -- |
| 2 | x – Sonoma Stompers | 77 | 26–11 | 18–22 | 44–33 | .571 | 3.5 |
| 3 | e – Pittsburg Diamonds | 77 | 18–20 | 20–19 | 38–39 | .494 | 9.5 |
| 4 | e – Vallejo Admirals | 78 | 13–26 | 12–27 | 25–53 | .321 | 23.0 |
- y – Clinched division
- x – Clinched playoff spot
- e – Eliminated from playoff contention
Statistical leaders
editHitting
edit| Stat | Player | Team | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| HR | Matt Chavez | San Rafael Pacifics | 31 |
| AVG | Scott David | Pittsburg Diamonds | .384 |
| RBIs | Matt Chavez | San Rafael Pacifics | 85 |
| SB | Matt Hibbert | Sonoma Stompers | 32 |
Pitching
edit| Stat | Player | Team | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| W | Gregory Paulino, Max Beatty | Sonoma Stompers, San Rafael Pacifics | 8 |
| ERA | Dennis Neal | Vallejo Admirals | 2.47 |
| SO | Nick DeBarr | San Rafael Pacifics | 115 |
| SV | Steve Chapter | Pittsburg Diamonds | 14 |
To qualify as league leader for hitter, AVG - Minimum of plate appearances of 2.7 per team game. To qualify as league leader for pitcher, ERA - Minimum inning(s) of .8 pitched per team game. [9]
Playoffs
editFormat
editIn 2015, The winner of the first and second half played a best-of-one championship game. The Sonoma Stompers won the first half with a 26–11 record. The San Rafael Pacifics won the second half with a 29–11 record. The Pacifics hosted the Stompers on August 31.
| Championship Game | |||
| 2 | Sonoma Stompers | 3 | |
| 1 | San Rafael Pacifics | 4 | |
Individual Awards
edit| Award | Player | Team |
|---|---|---|
| Most Valuable Player | Matt Chavez [10] | San Rafael Pacifics |
| Pitcher of the Year | Max Beatty [11] | San Rafael Pacifics |
| Reliever of the Year | Sean Conroy [12] | Sonoma Stompers |
| Rookie of the Year | Mark Hurley [13] | Sonoma Stompers |
| Manager of the Year | Aaron Miles [14] | Pittsburg Diamonds |
| Executive of the Year | Mike Shapiro | San Rafael Pacifics |
Defensive Players of the Year
edit| Position | Player | Team |
|---|---|---|
| C | Isaac Wenrich | Sonoma Stompers |
| 1B | Daniel Baptista | Sonoma Stompers |
| 2B | Yuki Yasuda | Sonoma Stompers |
| SS | Daniel Gonzalez | San Rafael Pacifics |
| 3B | T.J. Gavlik | Sonoma Stompers |
| LF | Matt Hurley | Sonoma Stompers |
| CF | Zack Pace | San Rafael Pacifics |
| RF | Matt Hibbert | Sonoma Stompers |
| P | Sean Conroy | Sonoma Stompers |
Notable players
editFormer Major League Baseball players who played in the Pacific Association in 2015
- Jose Canseco (Pittsburg), (Sonoma)
- Aaron Miles (Pittsburg)
- Tony Phillips (Pittsburg)
- Tony Torcato (Pittsburg)
Other notable players who played in the Pacific Association in 2015
- Sean Conroy (Sonoma)
- Fehlandt Lentini (Sonoma)
- P. J. Phillips (Vallejo)
References
edit- ^ "Pacific Association - schedule".
- ^ "San Rafael Pacifics Win 2015 Pacific Association Championship". Independent Baseball. September 2, 2015.
- ^ "How 'moneyball' came to the Sonoma Stompers". sonomanews.com. Retrieved 22 June 2024.
- ^ "Now Starting for the Sonoma Stompers". slate.com. Retrieved 22 June 2024.
- ^ "GOOD FOR YOU, SEAN CONROY!". stompersbaseball.com. Retrieved 22 June 2024.
- ^ "Eric Byrnes Lends Voice to 'Robo Ump,' Calls Balls and Strikes at Baseball Game". bleacherreport.com. Retrieved 22 June 2024.
- ^ "San Rafael minor league baseball team replacing human umpire with tech". abc7news.com. Retrieved 22 June 2024.
- ^ "Pacific Association - standings".
- ^ "Pacific Association - stats".
- ^ "Marin briefs: Pacifics' Chavez earns league MVP honors". marinij.com. Retrieved 22 June 2024.
- ^ "Marin briefs: Pacifics' Chavez earns league MVP honors". marinij.com. Retrieved 22 June 2024.
- ^ "STOMPERS SEAN CONROY VOTED PACIFIC ASSOCIATION'S TOP RELIEF PITCHER". stompersbaseball.com. Retrieved 22 June 2024.
- ^ "STOMPERS RE-SIGN 2015 ROOKIE OF THE YEAR MARK HURLEYs". stompersbaseball.com. Retrieved 22 June 2024.
- ^ "Aaron Miles, Manager". diamondsproball.com. Retrieved 2 March 2024.
- ^ "SEVEN STOMPERS SELECTED DEFENSIVE PLAYERS OF THE YEAR". stompersbaseball.com. Retrieved 22 June 2024.
- ^ "Marin briefs: Pacifics' Chavez earns league MVP honors". marinij.com. Retrieved 22 June 2024.