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06/04/2040
The Millers hold onto the top spot with a 5-1 week, but Wilmington moves into 4th after going a perfect 6-0 while Montreal shoots up to 2nd with a 5-1 week. The Clowns now trail Pittsburgh by 5.5 in the Ale while the Exports have built a four game lead in the Lager. On the flip side both Maine and Toronto went 0-6. The Guides managed to score only 15 runs all week and slip to 3rd in the Ale while Toronto is shockingly last in the Lager. Looking at that team though they have the talent, so we expect a big rebound coming soon out of Canada.
Power Rankings
1) Pittsburgh Millers (130.0, o)
2) Montreal Exports (121.2, +)
3) Seattle Pilots (117.5, o)
4) Wilmington Clowns (113.4, ++)
5) California Kodiaks (112.3, +)
6) Batavia Red Jackets (110.8, -)
7) Washington Bats (106.7, --)
8) Santo Domingo Rum Runners (100.4, o)
9) Windy City Blues (99.4, o)
10) Syracuse Snappers (92.7, ++)
11) Philadelphia Freedom (87.7, ++)
12) New Orleans Voodoo (86.5, -)
13) Pawtucket Patriots (86.2, -)
14) Denver Bulls (82.1, ++)
15) Maine Guides (81.7, --)
16) New York Knights (75.7, ++)
17) Baltimore Bulldogs (73.6, -)
18) Hartford Whalers (73.6, +)
19) Indianapolis Racers (73.2, +)
20) Los Angeles Dinos (72.7, ++)
21) Carolina Tobs (72.6, --)
22) Dallas Drillers (72.1, o)
23) Phoenix Roadrunners (59.3, +)
24) Toronto Canadians (57.9, --)
Performance of the Week
P J.J. Plumley - On May 30th against Pawtucket he turned in the 2nd best pitching performance of the season during an 8-1 Clowns victory. In 8.1 innings he allowed three hits and one run while striking out 15 batters and walking just one. On the season he's now 4-0 with a 2.00 ERA and 1.05 WHIP in 10 starts. He also hasn't lost a game in 23 starts and should be a favorite down the stretch to win his 4th Pale Ale.
Injury of the Week
P Demetrius Insua - Big news out of Seattle this week as Insua left a May 30th game against California favoring his throwing arm. He was later diagnosed with shoulder inflammation and will be out at least four months. He is the ace of the Pilots staff and was 3-2 with a 3.36 ERA and 1.14 WHIP in 10 starts so far this season. Where Seattle goes from here we're not sure, but we are sure it will be interesting to see what their GM does.
Prospect of the Week
RF Rolando Pridgen - The 21 year old was the 9th overall pick in last years draft by Pawtucket and has the potential to be a 50+ home run hitter in the BLB someday. So far this season in AA he's hitting .297/.361/.471 with 3 HR's and 19 RBI's while splitting time between left and right field.
Five Things We Think We Think
1. Goodness Baltimore, take a knee or something. During their May 28th match-up with Carolina the Bulldogs were up 14-2 going into the 8th. The Tobs brought in outfielder Orlando Godines to try his luck, and it didn't work out. Twelves batters and seven runs later Carolina got the 3rd out. Down now 21-2 in the 9th the Tobs had first basemen Dave Grubel trot back out to the mound and he surrendered another two runs. Final score 23-2 with Baltimore racking up 22 hits and Carolina recording three errors.
2. One of the big reasons Montreal has slowly built a small lead in the Lager is rookie pitcher Maynor Franco. In 2035 he entered the league as an IAFA from Guatemala and Montreal signed him with a $7.5m bonus. He worked his way up through their system and made his BLB debut last season when he appeared in one game, pitched 4.2 innings, and allowed five earned runs. This season at 23 years old he started in AAA but came up after the Israel Levy injury. In seven starts he's 5-1 with a 1.74 ERA, 1.01 WHIP, and just won the May DL Rookie of the Month award.
3. It looks like Ron Snider's career might have come to an end. The 38 year old was just released by the Denver Bulls after hitting .149/.237/.269 with 2 HR's and 7 RBI's in 20 games this season, and we don't think he will have a lot of suitors. Drafted in the first round of the 2022 draft by Carolina he was traded to Pittsburgh in 2023. The sweet swinging lefty used the Millers smaller park dimensions to his advantage and hit 310 home runs over seven seasons there, while winning the Stout Slugger twice, before being allowed to walk in free agency. Since then he's played for six more teams and his career numbers are .277/.353/.537 with 525 HR's and 1374 RBI's. He's 2nd among active home run leaders and 7th all-time and has a good chance to be inducted into the BLB Hall of Fame in a few years.
4. Geoff 'Mr. Reliable' Dail has swiped two bases this season in a very limited role for Wilmington and is on pace to finish the year with 654 career stolen bases. He just turned 39 years old and his opportunity to break Jerry Daly's record of 677 might have slipped away. From 2023 to 2032 he stole at least 30 bases a season with his high being 69 swipes in both 2028 and 2031. He is a lifetime .290 hitter but was only named to one All-Star game while winning two Designated Driver awards.
5. Over the first 51 games of the season Seattle has outscored opponents by 100 runs, an amazing feat. Pittsburgh is a close second at 93, but third place is Washington who is way back at 49. Meanwhile poor Carolina checks in last at -78, which we can partially blame on Baltimore after the beat down previous discussed.
Stat of the Week
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