2015 Pacific Association season
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| 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 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.
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]
The 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
as 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
Hitting
| 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
| 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]