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05/20/2052
Whoa...it's been a while since we've seen Maine at the top of the Power Rankings...but here they are. After a week in which they went 6-0 with sweeps of Baltimore and Phoenix they are now even with Pawtucket for the Ale lead. Another big week was had by Seattle who also went 6-0. After being dead last in the league they are now 14-3 in May, 12-1 over their last 13, and have won nine straight. Looks like they've finally taken off as they now trail Denver by only a game and a half in the Bock. On the other side of life Syracuse went 0-6 while Carolina went 1-5. Some team leaders: Denver scored 42 runs, Batavia hit 10 HR and swiped 14 bases, Maine allowed only 14 runs and opponents hit only .207 against Seattle.
Power Rankings
1) Maine Guides (127.7, ++)
2) Washington Bats (120.5, ++)
3) Seattle Pilots (118.5, ++)
4) Pawtucket Patriots (116.7, --)
5) Denver Bulls (111.9, ++)
6) Batavia Muckdogs (111.2, --)
7) Philadelphia Freedom (109.9, --)
8) New York Cyclones (106.5, ++)
9) New Orleans Voodoo (106.2, --)
10) Pittsburgh Millers (100.0, --)
11) Dallas Drillers (97.9, -)
12) Indianapolis Clowns (97.9, --)
13) Baltimore Bulldogs (91.0, -)
14) Montreal Exports (89.0, ++)
15) Los Angeles Dinos (78.0, o)
16) Toronto Canadians (71.8, ++)
17) Windy City Blues (70.8, +)
18) Wilmington Wildcats (70.1, -)
19) California Kodiaks (69.8, ++)
20) Hartford Whalers (67.0, --)
21) Syracuse Snappers (64.5, --)
22) Phoenix Roadrunners (64.1, +)
23) Santo Domingo Rum Runners (61.1, -)
24) Carolina Tobs (39.4, o)
Performance of the Week
1B Dominique Graham - The 35 year old can still swing the bat as he showed the LAD pitchers yesterday. In four at bats he had four hits, three home runs, four RBI and scored four times in an 8-3 victory. On the season he's now hitting .305/.361/.596 with 12 HR and 29 RBI in 38 games. The fountain of youth is alive and well in the BLB.
Prospect of the Week
P Troy 'Rat' Cooper - The 9th overall pick from last years draft is currently playing for Indy's Rookie League team, the Norfolk Captains. At 6'2 and nearly 180 pounds, 'Rat' is known for his cheese with a cutter and devastating changup that has struck out 39 so far this season in 29 innings pitched. At only 18 years old scouts think his movement and control will only get better, and he a chance to be front of the rotation material for the Clowns someday.
Five Things We Think We Think
1. We had five cycles last season in the BLB, which is around average for a year. Well this last week we had two, on back-to-back days. First was Denver's Devon Stock on May 18th. Stock hit a solo-shot off Taishawn Ballios in the 1st, hit an RBI triple in the 3rd, singled in the 4th, flied out in the 6th, hit an RBI single in the 7th and hit an RBI double in the 8th. Then the following day it was New Orleans Julian Morgenson. Morgenson singled in the 2nd, flied out in the 4th, doubled in the 5th, hit a two-run home run off Zack Timlin in the 7th and hit an RBI triple in the 8th. Congrats to both for their big days.
2. Buzz Barr isn't a name well known outside of Hartford, but the 25 year old rookie was named the Domestic POTW today. Drafted in the 3rd round, 49th overall, out of Oregon State in 2047, he made his big league debut this season. After being a 2x NCAA All-Star he won the AAA Platinum Stick award in left field last season when he hit .260 with 15 HR and 46 RBI. So far this season he's hitting .303 with 6 HR and 22 RBI in 37 games for the Whalers.
3. Zeke Lebron hit .238 with 2 HR, 4 RBI, and 3 SB last week...and he's still on pace to hit 58 HR and steal 108 bases. He will turn 27 this upcoming week and it appears the 6'10 slugger from Santiago de Cuba is 'quietly' putting up Stout Slugger numbers. Last season he made the 40/40 club (42 HR/64 SB), and in the process became only the fourth player in BLB history to do so. Colby 'Mirror' Hullinger did it twice, in 2045 and 2047, and Lebron is on pace to tie that record. We talked about it before but can he be the first 50/50 man?
4. Toronto, Wilmington, Carolina, and Windy City are the only teams with playoff odds of 0% so far this season. Obviously we're only in May, and a lot can happen, but don't the Canadians know the DK picked them to win the 2052 Brewmasters! What is going on in Toronto? Currently they sit at 16-23 but are only seven games out of the Lager while holding down fourth place. They are second in the Domestic in hits and average, but 7th in runs scored and 10th in home runs. Pitching wise though they have been dreadful. They are 11th in ERA, 12th in bullpen ERA, 11th in runs allowed, and 11th in BABIP. We'd look to their minors for help, but their poor A ball team only has five starters and a closer on the roster currently.
5. What's on tap? Washington runs the gauntlet this week as the first place Bats get home stands against the second place teams in the IL. First up Philly comes to town, then to end the week the Pilots come a visiting. The Freedom are 2-1 against the Bats this season, while Washington and Seattle have not met yet. The Bats have the best record in the league, and are led by Stout Slugger candidates Parker Lee and Elijah Milone. Milone is often lost in the shuffle but he's hitting .370 with 5 HR and 11 RBI in 26 games this season. Not too bad for being unheard of. Streak wise the Pilots have won nine in a row, and the Snappers have lost eight in a row.
Stat of the Week
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