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Monday, September 18, 2034
(AP)
The Bats have the best week in the league by going 5-1, building a six game lead in their division, and compiling a three game lead over Seattle for home field throughout the playoffs. Talk about a week. Meanwhile on the other side of life Pittsburgh goes 0-6, gets swept by both teams that were previously trailing them in the wildcard, and now are the ones on the outside looking in! A tale of two cities.
Power Rankings
1) Washington Bats (125.3, o)
2) Seattle Pilots (115.5, ++)
3) Batavia Red Jackets (111.8, -)
4) Baltimore Bulldogs (109.0, -)
5) Santo Domingo Rum Runners (108.7, -)
6) Hartford Whalers (108.0, o)
7) Philadelphia Freedom (99.9, +)
8) Miami Sharks (99.2, o)
9) Wilmington Clowns (98.7, ++)
10) Indianapolis Racers (98.4, ++)
11) Maine Guides (97.9, --)
12) Syracuse Snappers (96.1, -)
13) Windy City Blues (84.6, +)
14) New York Knights (83.9, o)
15) Pawtucket Patriots (81.6, +)
16) Pittsburgh Millers (81.1, --)
17) Phoenix Roadrunners (80.3, +)
18) Los Angeles Dinos (77.8, o)
19) Carolina Tobs (71.6, +)
20) California Kodiaks (71.3, --)
21) New Orleans Dukes (65.7, o)
22) Montreal Exports (65.6, o)
23) Toronto Canadians (63.0, o)
24) Denver BC (62.3, o)
Performance of the Week
1B J.R. Pont - On September 13th against Hartford he hit two home runs, drove in five, and scored three times in a 11-4 victory. On the year the 29 year old is hitting .251/.339/.504 with 26 HR's, 76 RBI's and a 2.2 WAR.
Injury of the Week
P J.P. Petruzzelli - The Guides losing SS Dave Ryman for a month was much more significant but you gotta feel for J.P. The 24 year old was called up for the 40 man and on September 15th got his first BLB action of the year in the 7th inning. He walked the first batter on four straight balls then got Dave Crackel to fly out to end the inning. Immediately though something appeared to be wrong as he walked off the field and went straight into the clubhouse. Officials later stated he would need elbow ligament reconstruction surgery and will be out for almost a year.
Prospect of the Week
1B Abel Dudik - The 19 year old was the Outstanding Hitter of the NCAA this year after hitting .422/.506/.692 with 11 HR's and 50 RBI's in 49 games. Scouts say his intelligence is off the charts, he runs better than average, and he has the ability to play the corner outfield position or first base down the road.
Five Things We Think We Think
1. As previous mentioned the Millers watched their playoff odds go from 77% to 29% this past week after being swept by both Wilmington and Syracuse and losing four of the six by one run. For a team that had the best record in the league early by starting out 33-15 they have gone 12-15, 13-11, 12-16, and now 4-12 in consecutive months. They are now tied record wise with Syracuse as both teams trail Wilmington by two games for the final wildcard spot in the DL.
2. Jaime Rush is closing in on a record that many though was unbreakable. In 1978 Sonny Fulton stole 87 bases for Syracuse and no one has surpassed it since. Rush this season is up to 74 swipes, 31 more than his closest competition, and he is on pace for 84. We're being told that 'Run Jaime Run!' shirts being sold at the ballpark are gone almost as soon as they are printed.
3. With Washington pulling away it looks like Batavia and Baltimore are battling for the top wildcard spot in the IL and a chance to play either New York or Windy City, both teams that will more than likely enter the postseason with losing records. The Red Jackets currently have a half game lead over the Bulldogs and these two meet for a three game series October 2nd-4th. One player that might make a difference down the stretch is Batavia's AJ Ingle. In his last nine appearances he's pitched nine innings, allowed no runs, struck out 13 and has recorded eight saves. On the year he's 5-3 with 43 saves and a 0.67 ERA. Might as well give him the Last Call now.
4. The Rochester Monarchs took down the Boise Bluegills this week three games to one to win their first Rookie League Cup. The MVP was 2B Louis Brajak who had seven hits in fifteen at bats with one home run and seven runs batted in. The former UCLA Bruin was a 3rd round pick by Batavia in the 2033 draft and on the year hit .283/.359/.551 with 13 HR's and 59 RBI's.
5. Twenty year old Rory Elia now leads the league with not only 46 home runs but with 12 triples. The Tob is tied with RJ Kapper for the league lead in WAR at 6.6 and has posted a +4.6 ZR in center field as well. Not bad for a kid who never played in the majors before this season
Stat of the Week
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| Highest Percentage of RBI from Home Runs (Top 25 Players, Minimum 20 RBI) |
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