The 2053 Daily Keg - Week 16

[Matt]

07/28/2053

California stays on top with a 5-1 week to give them the best record in all the land at 66-34. The Kodiaks have built a five game lead over Seattle in the Bock as they have gone 16-5 over the month of July. Keeping up with them though are the Drillers, who also went 5-1 to move their monthly record to a respectable 13-7. They hold a 4.5 game lead over New Orleans in the Lager and are still the DK's pick to win it all. Last but not least the Indy Clowns went 5-2 to move to 51-50 on the year. It is the first time all season the Clowns haven't been underwater and they have bumped their playoff odds up to 34%. On the other side of life Hartford and New York City went 1-5.

Power Rankings

1) California Kodiaks (129.8, o)
2) Dallas Drillers (126.0, +)
3) Washington Bats (118.6, -)
4) New Orleans Voodoo (113.7, -)
5) Seattle Pilots (112.8, o)
6) Pittsburgh Millers (106.6, +)
7) Los Angeles Dinos (102.8, -)
8) Indianapolis Clowns (98.9, ++)
9) Maine Guides (98.8, ++)
10) Santo Domingo Rum Runners (91.4, --)
11) Carolina Tobs (89.0, o)
12) Pawtucket Patriots (88.5, +)
13) Denver Bulls (84.5, --)
14) Toronto Canadians (83.3, --)
15) Phoenix Roadrunners (81.1, ++)
16) Syracuse Snappers (80.2, ++)
17) Montreal Exports (79.2, +)
18) Windy City Blues (77.4, ++)
19) Batavia Muckdogs (74.9, --)
20) Baltimore Bulldogs (74.2, --)
21) Wilmington Wildcats (66.9, --)
22) Hartford Whalers (66.6, -)
23) Philadelphia Freedom (65.0, +)
24) New York Cyclones (51.9, -)

Performance of the Week

RF Ben Clewley - Barely edging out Justin Knight at five, Clewley turned in the fourth best performance of the season on July 25th against Wilmington. In an 11-2 victory he racked up four hits, two home runs, six RBI and scored three times. The 37 year old is on his 6th BLB team and is hitting .229/.322/.369 with 6 HR and 33 RBI in 79 games this season.

Prospect of the Week

1B Carlos Kinney - The 3rd round pick by Toronto last season is the 97th prospect in the league, but scouts think his power potential is off the charts. If he can get the bat on the ball a bit more, and not strike out as much, he could be a premier home run hitter down the road. This season in the Rookie League the 18 year old is hitting .223 but he's launched 30 home runs and driven in 69 runs.


Five Things We Think We Think

1. Ike 'Big Cat' Evans had quite a week for Syracuse as he smashed 5 HR and drove in 12 runs for the Snappers. Traded to Syracuse earlier in the season from Phoenix, he was originally a 10th round pick by Washington back in 2045. At 6'4, and weighing in at 205 pounds, he can put a hurting on the ball and coaches agree that the 25 year old still has room to grow. This season he's hitting .279/.352/.522 with 18 HR and 54 RBI in 90 games.

2. The youth movement in the BLB is alive and well as players like Justin Knight (MON) and Evan Turner (CAR) are making huge waves. The New York Cyclones have their own young slugger as well in Rob Detling. Called up a few weeks ago after just turning 20, Detling hit his first BLB home run this past week against LAD. Drafted with the 5th overall pick of the 2050 draft he's another kid who has room to grow, and will only get better with major league instruction and playing time. In 15 games he's hitting .276 with 1 HR and 5 RBI, but also 15 K's. In High School he was named the 2049 Outstanding Hitter after hitting .457 with 18 HR and 54 RBI in only 40 games.

3. The Roadrunners are having a rough season but as mentioned before Pat 'Melody' Nunes is giving them something to cheer about. Someone else though getting the rest of the press (and maybe even more) is do it all 2B/SS/CF Rick Anderson. Is there anyone in the league who can play up the middle defense at the high level he can? Did we mention that he's also hitting .299 and has swiped 57 bases! He's on pace to steal 94 bases which would be fourth all-time, and if Phoenix wants to fill the seats they could have "Rick Anderson" night where he plays a different infield or outfield position every inning.

4. Lucas 'One Dog' Sharp for the Drillers is 13-2 on the season with a 3.89 ERA and 1.36 WHIP. That's not bad for a guy who hasn't started a game all season. After playing in AAA last year, where he started only five games, he got the call up this year for Dallas where he comes in as long relief. The last time he was a true starter was 2049 when he was in the Rookie League. He was a sixth round pick out of Cal by Dallas in 2047 and is apparently has the luck of the BLB gods with him.

5. What's on tap? We get a fun match-up this week as California travels to Los Angeles for a three game series. So far this season they are 3-3 against each other in the battle of the two best defensive teams in the league. The Kodiaks are first in the league with a +48.56 ZR, while LAD comes in second at +45.10. Third place is New Orleans at +34.97...that's how far ahead those two are. Now that we said that the series will turn into a comedy of errors. Streak-wise Dallas has won five straight, Phoenix and Indy have won four straight, Jannero Peter (BAL) hasn't lost in 19 straight starts, and Byron Bentley (DAL) has a 14 game hitting streak.


Stat of the Week
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Most Wins without Starting a Game

Player Jon Vejar	Team LAD	Year 2007	Age 31	Wins 15	IP 119.1	Games 80
Ben Fisher	HYU	1978	21	14	102.1	62
Davon Charles	WIL	2021	30	14	97.1	88
Dave Esterline	SYR	2035	26	14	104.2	72
Nicoli Porcaro	DEN	2045	35	14	145.0	60
Roberto Degarcia	PIT	1983	30	13	85.2	55
Alejandro Portillo	NYK	2019	25	13	100.1	86
J.P. Larrison	CAR	2021	29	13	107.1	77
Geremia Barichello	CHI	2039	27	13	114.0	61
D.J. Andrews	LAD	2027	22	13	90.2	64
Raśl Reyes	AFR	1995	29	13	97.1	94
Herbert Connolly	PAW	2045	27	13	75.0	58
Darius Huschke	DAL	2051	26	13	168.2	74
Lucas Sharp	DAL	2053	26	13	90.1	37
Quinto Rivena	AFR	1984	35	12	80.1	67
Ronnie Tribe	PIT	1985	39	12	101.2	65
Firhun Luwandi	CAR	1985	33	12	77.1	57
Montego Rugamas	DEN	1983	36	12	128.2	73
Doug Liggins	WIL	1985	29	12	91.2	75
Frank Kelly	MAI	1980	25	12	113.0	72

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