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(AP)
06/16/2036
This time we are correct when we say the California Kodiaks have the best record in the league as they win their 8th straight, go 6-0 on the week including a sweep of rival Seattle, and are now 46-18 on the season. Other great weeks belonged to Santo Domingo, Pittsburgh and Phoenix who all went 5-1. The Millers now lead the Ale, the Rum Runners have a seven game lead in the Lager, and the Road Runners are 29-34 and only four games out of the wildcard. The other side of life this week was Montreal, New York, Windy City and Pawtucket who all went 1-5.
Power Rankings
1) California Kodiaks (143.4, +)
2) Santo Domingo Rum Runners (131.6, -)
3) Batavia Red Jackets (125.6, -)
4) Pittsburgh Millers (124.3, o)
5) Syracuse Snappers (112.2, +)
6) Indianapolis Racers (111.6, -)
7) Carolina Tobs (111.5, +)
8) Baltimore Bulldogs (105.1, -)
9) Seattle Pilots (94.4, -)
10) Washington Bats (93.3, +)
11) Los Angeles Dinos (90.4, -)
12) New Orleans Dukes (89.6, +)
13) Hartford Whalers (88.7, +)
14) Wilmington Clowns (87.4, -)
15) Phoenix Roadrunners (85.9, ++)
16) Toronto Canadians (83.4, +)
17) Miami Sharks (81.8, --)
18) New York Knights (70.7, -)
19) Maine Guides (70.6, +)
20) Windy City Blues (70.5, -)
21) Philadelphia Freedom (65.7, o)
22) Denver BC (55.9, +)
23) Montreal Exports (50.1, -)
24) Pawtucket Patriots (12.7, o)
Performance of the Week
DH Gil Mandell - The slugger posted one of the best single game scores in league history against Pawtucket on June 14th when he recorded five hits, one home run, drove in 10, and scored four times in a 26-2 victory. His one home run was a grand slam in the 7th off 1B Xavier Landress and he also hit for the cycle. He's currently hitting .324/.364/.615 with 21 HR's and 62 RBI's and is the favorite for the DL New Brew. His 10 RBI's tie the DL all-time single game record with Ray Davila of Maine and Tex Watts for LAD.
Injury of the Week
P Jimmy Hallam - The 35 year old has a long injury history and added to it after going down with an elbow strain on June 11 against Montreal. He's predicted to be back in a few weeks but some wonder if he will get a limited role in order to save him for the stretch run. On the year he's 5-2 with a 3.65 ERA and 1.25 WHIP in 12 starts.
Prospect of the Week
P Kaleb Philips - With the BLB draft officially over we look today to the #1 overall pick by the Denver BC, Kaleb Philips. The 20 year old finished 2nd in the CCBL Outstanding Pitcher Award this season for the Bourne Braves and was an All-Star after going 3-2 with a 2.39 ERA and 0.84 WHIP in 10 starts. He throws a slider, change-up and fastball (Editor - it's a knuckleball) and all though his velocity is in the mid 80's he's projected to be a strikeout machine. Scouts are worried somewhat about his work ethic but it's not hard to argue that he was the consensus overall number one in this years draft.
Five Things We Think We Think
1. Post draft the Montreal Exports have the #1 farm system and some serious talent coming up through the ranks. SS Preston 'Cowboy' Capps, 3B Jaxson Neal, SS Kahron Reyes (who can play 2B) will make up a promising infield while CF Layne 'Pinto' Marmol and CF Logan Wilcher patrol the outfield. Throw in SP Maynor Franco, SP Manny 'Slinky' Johnson, and SP Rex 'Guns' Hochstetler and this team could be really good by 2040. Not to mention the marketing aspect when you have 'Cowboy', 'Pinto', 'Slinky' and 'Gun' in the lineup.
2. Big congrats are in order for two BLB stars as Turell 'Two Ton' Morris hit his 400th career home run and Ethan Jackson recorded his 300th career save. Morris is 33, playing in his 9th season, while Jackson is also 33 but playing in his 12th. 'Two Ton' is now 5th among active players and 31st all-time while Jackson is 2nd among active players but 43rd all-time.
3. The All-Star game is in less than a month and the top vote getters are now young guns Robert 'Stretch' Jessee of Toronto and Marco Taylor of Batavia. Both are 22, corner outfielders, and were drafted in 2031. Jessee was a two-time HS All-Star before fracturing his finger his senior year and missing almost two months. Taylor was a three-time HS All-Star and won the 2029 and 2030 Outstanding Hitter award. So far in the BLB 'Stretch' was the 2035 Refreshing New Brew in the DL while Taylor finished 3rd in the IL. Taylor though is the front runner for the Triple Crown and Stout Slugger and could be the one to finally dethrone Johnny Swope who has taken that award home five of the last six seasons.
4. Pitching and defense still seem to be winning out in the BLB. Every division leader is positive in ZR with Santo Domingo and Batavia leading everyone else in their division while Pittsburgh and California are second behind Wilmington and LAD respectively.
5. Speaking of Wilmington how about JJ Plumley this season. The best pitcher in the league is 4-4 with a 1.72 ERA and 0.94 WHIP in 12 starts. His run support a game is 1.9, 4th worst in the league among qualifiers. He's not one to complain though and if he does people can just point to poor Kaleb Kay in Pawtucket. He's 1-9 with a 3.84 ERA this season with the leagues lowest RSG of 1.2.
Stat of the Week
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| Most All-Stars Drafted By Franchise |
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