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08/23/2038
(AP)
Batavia is the champ of the week after going 6-0 with sweeps of New York and Phoenix. The Red Jackets have now moved into a tie for the final wildcard spot in the IL with Denver, and upped their playoff odds to 76%. The other big week belonged to Pittsburgh who went 6-1 and are now 66-60 on the season. They lead Wilmington by 6.5 games for the final wildcard spot in the DL while their playoff odds sit at 85%. On the other side of life Syracuse posted a 8.83 ERA for the week, went 1-5, and have now been officially eliminated from the postseason.
Power Rankings
1) Washington Bats (131.3, o)
2) Hartford Whalers (111.6, ++)
3) Indianapolis Racers (110.7, -)
4) New Orleans Voodoo (108.1, +)
5) Batavia Red Jackets (107.8, ++)
6) Seattle Pilots (107.6, --)
7) Carolina Tobs (101.9, --)
8) Los Angeles Dinos (101.6, -)
9) Pittsburgh Millers (101.3, ++)
10) Denver Bulls (100.8, -)
11) Toronto Canadians (99.6, -)
12) California Kodiaks (95.4, --)
13) Windy City Blues (95.3, o)
14) Miami Sharks (93.7, --)
15) Wilmington Clowns (86.0, -)
16) Pawtucket Patriots (84.8, ++)
17) Philadelphia Freedom (77.6, -)
18) Montreal Exports (77.0, o)
19) Baltimore Bulldogs (75.3, +)
20) Santo Domingo Rum Runners (69.9, ++)
21) Phoenix Roadrunners (68.7, --)
22) Maine Guides (68.1, -)
23) New York Knights (67.0, -)
24) Syracuse Snappers (25.6, o)
Performance of the Week
P Barton Mejia - On August 21st against the reigning champs he took it to the Tobs with an eight inning, four hit, zero run, 15 K performance in a 2-0 Blues victory. On the season Mejia is now 16-3 with a 1.72 ERA, 0.82 WHIP, 254 ERA+ and 8.8 WAR. He is leading the IL for the Triple Crown and has turned in the #1, #3, #8, #10, #13, #14, and #15 pitching performances of the season.
Injury of the Week
2B Donte 'Stocky' Kim - After coming over from the Bats in a draft day trade he has hit .342/.380/.525 with 8 HR's and 30 RBI's in 62 games. Sadly in the midst of a playoff wildcard race he was injured on August 20th in the 9th inning after Rum Runners first basemen Dave Grubel slid hard into him at second base. X-rays showed a broken rib, his second of the season, and he will more than likely miss the rest of the year.
Prospect of the Week
P Khadeen Kianyandaarwa - He entered the BLB as an IAFA from South Africa and was signed by the Phoenix scouting department back in 2033. After being traded to Maine in 2036 he's moved his way up the rankings and is currently the #30 overall prospect in the league. Kianyandaarwa has had a rough go in AAA this season where he is 1-9 with a 4.75 ERA and 1.49 WHIP in 20 starts, but scouts still are in love with his potential. He throws almost 100 MPH, has three very good pitches, and is known for being able to strike out almost anyone. The Guides should be very excited to have this youngster in their ranks.
Five Things We Think We Think
1. J.D. Rice is up to 47 home runs after hitting five more this week, placing him well ahead of Clowns' Fitzpatrick Fisher and Archie Thorington who both have 40. He is on pace to hit 60, which would be the 3rd most all-time behind Turell 'Two Ton' Morris who hit 69 in 2030 and 61 in 2031. He has upped his home run total every season and at 26 years old should reach 200 career dingers by early next season. At pick 1.12 he was the fourth first basemen taken in the 2029 draft behind Dave Marion (Bat), Ed King (Cal), and JJ Leo (NYK).
2. The Bats are 87-40 and currently hold a 14.5 game lead over Carolina in the Stout. Their worst month was May when they went 18-11 and their run differential of +274 is so far in front of everyone else we won't even mention second place. They also have a -2 PYT.
3. The Kodiaks up and down season continues. After going 19-6 in July they are 9-11 in August. Still 27-17 over the last two months is +10 and if you do that consistently you have a darn good season. One bright spot lately has been Toby Green who has won eight consecutive games, the highest active streak in the BLB. He came over in the Kevin Alston deal last season with the Rum Runners and has picked up the slack with Ramos struggling. Currently he is 11-3 with a 3.90 ERA and 1.21 WHIP in 22 starts.
4. This might be the first season since 2032 that we don't have a player in the BLB join the 30/30 club. Dinos center fielder LaVernus Contreras has the best chance as he is currently sitting at 22 HR's and 28 SB's. Archie Thorington of Wilmington has 40 HR's but only 20 SB's, while Freedom outfielder Gilles 'Mudcat' Rugiero has 21 HR's and 20 SB's. The DK's favorite son, Seth Blankenship, who was almost the first player in BLB history to hit the 40/40 club for several seasons in a row has 41 HR's but only 12 SB's.
5. The DL wildcard race appears to be just between Pittsburgh and Wilmington. Meanwhile in the IL things are going to be crazy. Carolina holds the #1 seed at 72-54. Meanwhile six teams back from the Tobs sit the Blues who are 66-60. Six teams and four spots separated by six games with a little over 35 games to go.
Stat of the Week
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