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04/13/2054
Here we go again as the 76th season of the BLB begins. Can Washington go back to back to back? Will Dallas make it back to the Brew and capture their GM's first title? Will the California GM continue to threaten to jump out of his press box if the Kodiaks don't go 162-0? Only time will tell! For now though let's just focus on week one. The not so surprise team was the Santo Domingo Rum Runners who went a perfect 6-0 with sweeps of Hartford and Montreal. They have been picked by the OSA to win the Lager, and so far so good. The other big week was the Kodiaks who went 6-1. Sadly they lost a game, so currently emergency responders are in the stadium with a giant trampoline just in case. On the flip side Montreal and Baltimore went 1-6. We still think Baltimore will make the playoffs, but for now it's just an unfortunate start for one of the leagues most consistent franchises.
Power Ranking
1) Santo Domingo Rum Runners (192.0, ++)
2) California Kodiaks (165.3, +)
3) Carolina Tobs (133.6, +)
4) Dallas Drillers (132.6, +)
5) Syracuse Snappers (132.6, ++)
6) Washington Bats (132.6, ++)
7) Wilmington Wildcats (132.6, ++)
8) Batavia Muckdogs (102.9, --)
9) Pittsburgh Millers (102.9, ++)
10) Denver Bulls (101.9, --)
11) Windy City Blues (89.0, ++)
12) New York Cyclones (78.1, +)
13) Indianapolis Clowns (77.1, --)
14) Maine Guides (77.1, --)
15) Seattle Pilots (77.1, ++)
16) Pawtucket Patriots (75.1, -)
17) Los Angeles Dinos (74.1, --)
18) Philadelphia Freedom (59.0, --)
19) Hartford Whalers (55.0, --)
20) New Orleans Voodoo (47.4, --)
21) Phoenix Roadrunners (47.4, --)
22) Toronto Canadians (47.4, -)
23) Montreal Exports (19.7, --)
24) Baltimore Bulldogs (14.7, --)
Performance of the Week
1B Dominique Graham - The 37 year old has shown no signs of slowing down as he cracked a .484 average with 1 HR and 7 RBI this past week. On opening day against New Orleans he set the tone for the week when he went five for five with a home run, two RBI, and four runs scored in an 11-4 victory. He's now only six home runs away from 500 for his career, as the 9x All-Star and 2043 Stout Slugger will someday be a first ballot Hall of Fame member. We'd say 'someday soon', but at this rate it might be a while.
Prospect of the Week
CF Dulani Cherry - The sweet swinging 16 year old turns 17 in a few weeks and could be the top pick in the 2054 BLB draft. After last years sophomore slump (.256, 9 HR, 32 RBI), he's hitting .267/.413/.517 with 8 HR and 28 RBI in 30 games this season. After hitting .351 with 20 HR his freshman year some scouts have to wonder what gives? Talent alone though has to make him at least a top five pick. His fielding and baserunning are average, but if he taps into that potential then watch out.
Five Things We Think We Think
1. Cordarius Gomez announced April 9th that he was retiring after this season. The 38 year old is in his 16th season with the Millers, and has compiled a lifetime 189-112 record with a 3.38 ERA. During that time he was a 7x All-Star and won the 2049 Domestic Pale Ale award. He also helped lead Pittsburgh to two titles in 2045 and 2047. During those two seasons he was a lights out 32-7 in the regular season and 4-2 in the postseason. So what does the old man do a few days later in his first start of the 2054 season? How about go out and throw a complete game shutout against Wilmington to start off his final year 1-0.
2. You know who's not retiring, Pat 'Melody' Nunes. The guy is 45 years old and still trotting out on the field. So far in four games he's hitting .200 with 1 HR and 3 RBI in 15 at bats. With 615 career home runs he's solidly in second place all-time. With 3,525 career hits he's now only 21 behind Steve Suarez for the all-time record. Finally with 1961 career RBI he's only 40 behind Dani 'Steady' Álvarez for the all-time record. What an absolute amazing career he has had...and continues to have.
3. Speaking of old men (in the baseball world), Denver's Xzavier 'Blockhead' Medellin is on pace to hit 116 home runs this season, while driving in 278 runs. Can a 4x All-Star fly under the radar any more than 'Blockhead' has done over his career? The guy has hit over 30 home runs in 12 of his 15 seasons and is looking to do it again in his 16th year. The three other times he didn't reach 30 was when he hit 28, 27, and 23. The fact that he's only been to four All-Star games should be looked into for a guy that averages .285 with 32 home runs a season.
4. The Cyclones had a rough 2053 when they only won 56 games. The good news is that 2053 is over and they have the first pick in the upcoming draft. The better news is they already have the top ranked farm system in the league as they have 11 players in the Top 100, and four pitchers in the top 40. Blue skies are on the way.
5. What's on tap? Well it's our first interleague match-up of the season. Some series we are looking forward to: Denver at Wilmington, Seattle at New Orleans, and Carolina at Maine.
Stat of the Week
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| Most Saves by Age (Earliest Occurrence Shown) |
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2054 DK Season Predictions
(once again the DK takes no responsibility for trades/injuries/OOTPR and should be used for entertainment value only)
Ale
x Pawtucket
z Maine
z Hartford
Pittsburgh
Syracuse
Indinapolis
Lager
x Santo Domingo
z New Orleans
z Wilmington
Dallas
Montreal
Toronto
Stout
x Washington
z Carolina
New York
Baltimore
Philadelphia
Batavia
Bock
x Seattle
z Los Angeles
z California
z Denver
Windy City
Phoenix
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Wild Card
Maine over Wilmington
New Orleans over Hartford
Carolina over Denver
Los Angeles over California
Divisional Series
Pawtucket over New Orleans
Santo Domingo over Maine
Los Angeles over Washington
Seattle over Carolina
League Championship
Santo Domingo over Pawtucket
Seattle over Los Angeles
Brewmasters
Santo Domingo 4-3 over Seattle
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Stout Slugger
James Munsie - Pawtucket
Julian Irwin - California
Pale Ale
Rick Robertson - Wilmington
Cayden Wittmeyer - Seattle
Refreshing New Brew
Damon Dickinson - Indy
Sully Volpe - Windy City