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(AP)
There are the Bats and then there is everyone else. From #2 to #13 the point differential is 19.6. From #1 to #2 the point differential is 18.2. New York jumped up to #2 after a 5-1 week and with several key injuries (more on that later) they could pass the Freedom in the last week and secure the top wildcard spot. Meanwhile over the in DL everything has been settled as six teams have clinched a postseason birth. Some team stat leaders this week as everyone played six games: Denver scored 45 runs...Syracuse scored 15, Wilmington stole 13 bases...LAD stole 1, Wilmington had a 2.00 ERA...Baltimore had a 7.00 ERA, and Santo Domingo only gave up 2 home runs while Philly gave up 15.
Power Rankings
1) Washington Bats (131.0, o)
2) New York Knights (112.8, ++)
3) Hartford Whalers (111.0, +)
4) Santo Domingo Rum Runners (110.4, ++)
5) Denver BC (108.8, -)
6) Miami Sharks (104.9, ++)
7) New Orleans Dukes (103.7, +)
8) Montreal Exports (102.0, --)
9) Philadelphia Freedom (102.0, --)
10) Maine Guides (98.0, o)
11) Wilmington Wildcats (97.4, ++)
12) Los Angeles Dinos (95.3, o)
13) Seattle Pilots (93.2, --)
14) Windy City Blues (86.8, o)
15) Pittsburgh Millers (81.3, o)
16) Batavia Red Jackets (80.1, o)
17) Carolina Tobs (77.8, +)
18) Indianapolis Racers (72.0, -)
19) California Kodiaks (70.4, +)
20) Pawtucket Patriots (67.1, ++)
21) Syracuse Snappers (67.0, --)
22) Toronto Canadians (65.5, -)
23) Baltimore Bulldogs (62.6, -)
24) Phoenix Roadrunners (59.2, -)
Performance of the Week
P Dave Short - In his 5th season playing for Maine in the BLB the 28 year old Short has put together his best campaign ever. He currently sits at 14-4 with a 2.52 ERA and 4.8 WAR after his September 27th outing against Hartford. In that gem of a game he pitched a two hit shutout with six strikeouts and one walk.
Injury(s) of the Week
P Hoon 'Yard Man' Park - He was brought to Philly by the GM in hopes of securing the Freedom's first ever title, but on September 28th against New York he made it one inning before getting injured on a routine double play to end the first. An x-ray showed he had a fracture in his elbow and will be out for at least six months. On the year Park was 16-5 with a 3.05 ERA and 4.7 WAR.
P Steve 'Dum Dum' Fasola - To add insult to injury the night before 'Yard Man' went down the Freedom suffered another bad injury when Fasola made it two pitches and one out before having to come out. An MRI showed he had a partially torn UCL in his elbow and will be out for almost nine months. On the season he had appeared in 60 games with a 1.90 ERA, 1.05 WHIP and was 2-3 with 24 saves.
Prospect of the Week
RF Jimmy Spargo - The 26th pick in the 4th round of 2027 draft by Montreal is currently 22 years old and playing for California's AA team after being traded last season. When it comes to defensive ability there aren't many like him in the BLB as he can play the infield and outfield equally well and at a very high level. He's also hitting .316 with 10 HR's and 34 RBI's in 72 games. Scouts think he's very intelligent and are loving his future.
Five Things We Think We Think
1. The DL is set as Hartford, Maine, Santo Domingo, Montreal, Miami, and New Orleans are all postseason bound. The wildcard teams can all thank the Pittsburgh Millers for completely melting down and going 9-17 in September and -13 since August to take all the drama out of the race. There is some drama though as it looks like Hartford will take the Ale but #2-6 is still up in the air. Four game separate top seed Santo Domingo from New Orleans in the Lager while Maine has 87 wins and is right in the middle of the Lager mess as well when it comes to seeding.
2. The IL still has a three way race to see who makes the 4th wildcard spot as LA, Batavia, and Windy City all have a shot. LAD has seven at home against Seattle and Windy City, Batavia has seven at home against New York and Baltimore, while Windy City has a seven game road trip against Phoenix and LA. If Seattle concedes the Bock to Denver we think LAD has the best chance of getting in. If not Batavia is only one back from LAD and has a good shot to pass them.
3. Turell 'Two Ton' Morris has more than likely secured his 2nd straight home run title as he sits at 56 with Ron Hutchison in second with 50. He has a shot to get to 60 with seven games left, which after last year hitting 69 would be his second time reaching that mark. In the history of the BLB no one else has hit more than 58.
4. Since 1978 six players have stolen 70 or more bases with all but one coming before 1995. Jaime Rush of Wilmington was that one when he swiped 76 in 2028. Him and Geoff Dail of Miami both currently sit at 68. No one has more stolen bases in the last decade than Dail who with 491 has over 100 more than 2nd place Colin Day.
5. The battle for the 1st pick will come down to the wire as Baltimore (56 wins), Phoenix (57 wins), California (58 wins), and Toronto and Pawtucket (59 wins each) duke it out. As stated before Baltimore sent their pick to California though and California has sent their pick to Batavia.
Stat of the Week
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| Most Runner-up Finishes Within 10 Games Of First |
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