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(AP)
We have a new number one! The Philadelphia Freedom went 6-0 this week by sweeping Washington and Batavia and cruise past the Bats into the top spot in the BLB. Windy City also had a huge week as they go 6-1 in the midst of a playoff race and are now only 1.5 games behind Batavia for the 4th wildcard spot in the IL. On the other side Maine lost five in a row and went 1-5 while Phoenix put up a team ERA of 7.35 and went 1-5 as well.
Power Rankings
1) Philadelphia Freedom (127.3, +)
2) Washington Bats (124.0, -)
3) Hartford Whalers (114.3, +)
4) Seattle Pilots (107.5, -)
5) Miami Sharks (107.1, ++)
6) Denver BC (104.9, ++)
7) New York Knights (101.5, -)
8) Montreal Exports (99.1, +)
9) New Orleans Dukes (97.9, +)
10) Santo Domingo Rum Runners (95.7, --)
11) Maine Guides (95.7, --)
12) Windy City Blues (92.6, ++)
13) Pittsburgh Millers (92.5, o)
14) Syracuse Snappers (90.1, o)
15) Los Angeles Dinos (81.2, +)
16) Indianapolis Racers (80.9, o)
17) Batavia Red Jackets (77.5, -)
18) Wilmington Wildcats (77.3, o)
19) Carolina Tobs (73.3, --)
20) Baltimore Bulldogs (65.7, ++)
21) Pawtucket Patriots (64.0, +)
22) Phoenix Roadrunners (63.5, -)
23) Toronto Canadians (63.5, o)
24) California Kodiaks (60.6, --)
Performance of the Week
LF A.J. Whiting - On September 10th against Pittsburgh he recorded four hits, hit two home runs, drove in four, and scored four times in a 10-4 victory. On the season he's hitting .259 with 26 HR's and 76 RBI's with a 3.7 WAR. He hurt his back on September 14th running the bases and will be out for several weeks but will hopefully be good to go for the playoffs.
Injury of the Week
P Pieter van Westen - Not good news out of DC as he went down into the 2nd inning against Carolina on September 14th. The team feared the worst and it came true when he was diagnosed with a torn flexor tendon in his elbow and will be out for 7-8 months. On the year he was 10-4 with a 3.09 ERA, 1.03 WHIP, and 3.5 WAR. The 25 year old was the 24th pick in the 2024 draft by Washington and is 31-15 overall in four season with the Bats.
Prospect of the Week
RF Deonte Peery - The 21 year old played for the Texas Longhorns before being drafted 7th overall in 2030. He started this season in A ball but was moved up to AA and has hit .290 with 5 HR's and 26 RBI's in only 24 games. He is a natural leader, has a great work ethic and scouts say Peery is "leaned on heavily to produce and set an example."
Five Things We Think We Think
1. The Red Wedding has nothing on the bloodbath in the Lager right now. After Montreal led most of the season Santo Domingo currently has the lead with a 80-63 record. We say currently because Montreal and Miami are both a half game back at 79-63 while New Orleans is three games back at 77-66. Currently every team is projected to make the playoffs but there is a huge difference between a 1st round bye and being the away team in a wildcard match-up. Miami has the toughest remaining schedule as their opponents have the highest winning percentage and they play 14 out of 20 on the road.
2. The battle for last in the IL (wildcard spot that is) started to boil this last week when Windy City went 5-1. Batavia now has 69 wins while LAD and Windy City have 68. The Red Jackets are 2-8 in their last 10, LAD is 3-7, and the Blues are 6-4. LAD's remaining opponents have the lowest win percentage and they get 14 out of 20 at home. We think the Dino's will take it.
3. If the draft was held today California would have the #1 pick and Baltimore would have the #2 pick. Unfortunately for them neither team has rights to their 2032 1st round pick as California sent theirs to Batavia and Baltimore sent theirs to California. At least the Kodiaks can sleep a little better at night knowing they will more than likely have a top three pick, but we're sure they dream about what could hage been with two top three picks. Other current 1st round trades: Wilmington to California, Santo Domingo to Pawtucket, Pittsburgh to Toronto, and Montreal to Syracuse.
4. Ron 'Vampire' Hutchison is having a Stout Slugger type of year. He's hitting .314/.383/.625 with 47 HR's and 110 RBI's. He leads the entire league in slugging, isolated power (.311), OPS (1.009), OPS+ (170), total bases (342), runs created (129.3), and win probability added (6.22). To give you an idea though of how dominant Hall of Famer Ricky Murillo was in 2012 when he won the Triple Crown. His isolated power was .409, slugging percentage was .753, OPS was 1.195, and his OPS+ was 231. Those numbers might never be reached. To be fair to Vampire though, he's only 23 and Murillo was 27 during his out of this world season.
5. Seattle holds a half game lead over Denver for the Bock title. Denver plays 10 at home and 10 away to finish the year. Seattle plays 9 at home and 10 away...exactly in that order. The Pilots have a nine game home stand coming up then finish off the season at California, at LAD, then a huge three game series at Denver the 3rd, 4th, and 5th of October. Ticket prices are already skyrockerting at Rocky Top Park.
Stat of the Week
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| Most Wins in Final Season (Top 25 Players) |
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