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08/10/2048
Toronto held the top spot for a while, but alas no more as they went 1-5 for the week after getting swept by LAD and losing two of three to Denver. They were joined in the sad column by Pittsburgh, Hartford, and Indy who all went 1-5 as well. At least Canadians' fans can rejoice that they will be going to the playoffs this year. On the winning side Batavia and Wilmington proved their mettle against their interleague foes by going 5-1. With everyone playing six here are the team leaders: Batavia scored 41 runs (Indy 11), Batavia hit 13 home runs (WC/Cal 3), Montreal hit .315 (Pho .186), SDR/Phi/NO allowed 16 runs (Har 45), Windy City allowed 2 home runs (Mai/Tor 11), and Pawtucket held opponents to hitting .198 (Har .336).
Power Rankings
1) California Kodiaks (114.7, +)
2) Pawtucket Patriots (107.5, o)
3) Wilmington Clowns (105.2, +)
4) Montreal Exports (101.6, ++)
5) Dallas Drillers (101.5, -)
6) Philadelphia Freedom (101.4, o)
7) Toronto Canadians (100.9, --)
8) Batavia Red Jackets (99.2, ++)
9) New York Cyclones (96.7, ++)
10) Windy City Blues (96.2, o)
11) Los Angeles Dinos (95.7, -)
12) Maine Guides (94.9, --)
13) Phoenix Roadrunners (93.8, -)
14) Baltimore Bulldogs (89.4, -)
15) New Orleans Voodoo (85.8, +)
16) Denver Bulls (85.4, ++)
17) Washington Bats (85.1, o)
18) Seattle Pilots (84.1, o)
19) Carolina Tobs (82.2, +)
20) Syracuse Snappers (80.8, --)
21) Santo Domingo Rum Runners (80.2, +)
22) Pittsburgh Millers (73.5, o)
23) Indianapolis Racers (64.5, --)
24) Hartford Whalers (40.6, o)
Performance of the Week
P William Minniear - The 27 year old is only in his third BLB season but has established quite a name for himself in Toronto. Originally drafted by Hartford in 2042 with the 5th overall pick he was traded to the Canadians in 2043 and was on the opening day roster in 2046. Back to this season though where on August 4th against Denver he threw the fourth best pitching performance of the year. In his second shutout of the season, he went all nine while allowing only three hits and striking out 11. He's now 10-5 with a 3.49 ERA, 117 ERA+, and one of only a small handful of pitchers in the league who can throw six pitches.
Prospect of the Week
P Ashton Bell - Hartford selected Bell with the 221st overall pick in the 10th round of the 2042 draft. He's now the 10th overall prospect in the league. With a 99 mph fastball while keeping hits on the ground, combined with a work ethic that puts his teammates to shame, he has a chance to put up some Christian Vines type numbers. Not the Pale Ale winning Vines, but the current Vines who is 'only' 13-3 with a 2.60 ERA and 151 ERA+.
Five Things We Think We Think
1. Only one division has a winner according to the playoff odds...the Bock with the California Kodiaks. With a 7.5 game lead over LAD and an average win number of 94.8 the math experts have picked them to win the division for the fourth straight season. Toronto, even after going 1-5, is at 98% to win the Lager thanks to the leagues second weakest schedule down the stretch. Their opponents have a winning percentage of .476, second only to Maine who has a nice .468 schedule to finish off the season. Philly comes in next at 92% to take the Stout, even with just a 3.5 game lead over the New York Cyclones. Finally Pawtucket rounds out the league with an 82% chance to take the Ale.
2. We think that some of those mathematicians from above might have made a few mistakes. For some reason the Washington Bats have a 2% chance of winning the Stout. Yes those same Bats who are in fifth place and nine games behind the Freedom. Washington is currently 55-60 this year but apparently the odds must figure in history. Do you know the last time Washington finished the season without a winning record? If you guessed 2008 congrats...and they finished 81-81 that season. The last time they finished with a losing record was 1999 when they went 76-86. In the history of the Bats, which have been around since 1978 as the then Washington Yankees, they have had three losing seasons. That is simply unbelievable.
3. Congrats to Seattle who doesn't have the worst PYT in the league anymore. After big name after big name was shipped out of Seattle via trade they went 14-11 in July and are now 4-4 in August to push their PYT to only -3. Hail to our new champs, the Los Angeles Dinos, who now sit at -5. After going 12-14 in July, their first losing month of the season, they are now 4-4 in August and are the unluckiest team in the league. At 60-54 they are tied for the wildcard lead though and have a 94% chance of making the playoffs. Rumors are still flying that Preston 'Cowboy' Capps could be on the way out, but that would have to be a heck of an offer to pry away a guy on pace for almost a six WAR season and who led them to the playoffs last season.
4. Everyone knows that defense wins championships, so lets take a look at team zone rating. Coming in first is none other than Carolina at +31.3...and the Tobs are in last place in the Stout. Well at least five of the next six teams on the list should make the playoffs as we have LAD, California, Montreal, SDR, Wilmington and Dallas. On the flip side Indy comes in at -46.01, and they do have the second worst record in the league. Right above them though at -38.02 is New York, who is 60-54 and 3.5 back from Philly in the Stout. It seems as if New York has adopted the Carolina method of old. In 2037 the Tobs won the Brewmasters after going 106-56 during the regular season. Their team ZR was -17.5 but they smashed 281 home runs, 8th most all-time.
5. What's on tap? How about two huge series between the division leaders. California travels to Philly for four, and Toronto travels to Pawtucket for four, with both series starting August 13th. The Kodiaks and the Canadians both lead their respective series 5-2, and this will be the final regular season match-up between the teams. Streak wise no team has won or lost more than four in a row, while on the individual side Joseph 'Bane' Garneau has a 21 game hitting streak going. In the Triple Crown watch Pittsburgh starter Cordarius Gomez still leads the Domestic in wins, ERA, and K's, while New York's Melchior Werth is third in average, first in home runs, and second in RBI.
Stat of the Week
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| Smallest Difference Between OBP and AVG Among Batting Title Winners (Top 25 Players, Pitchers Excluded) |
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