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05/18/2054
After going 5-1 last week, and winning 12 out of their last 13 games, the Wilmington Wildcats fall to #2 in the Power Rankings. Talk about a brutal league. Out in front happens to be the other 5-1 team from last week, the Seattle Pilots. They swept Syracuse and went 2-1 against Montreal to squeak by the Wildcats. Some other winning weeks were had by New Orleans, Hartford, Denver, Indy and Windy City who all went 4-2 against their interleague foes. Some not winning weeks were had by Phoenix and Syracuse who each went 1-5.
Power Ranking
1) Seattle Pilots (138.9, +)
2) Wilmington Wildcats (135.6, -)
3) California Kodiaks (116.0, -)
4) Windy City Blues (110.9, +)
5) Dallas Drillers (109.5, o)
6) Denver Bulls (109.2, +)
7) Indianapolis Clowns (104.0, ++)
8) Santo Domingo Rum Runners (101.5, +)
9) Washington Bats (100.0, --)
10) Carolina Tobs (97.5, --)
11) Hartford Whalers (96.7, ++)
12) New Orleans Voodoo (94.7, o)
13) Pittsburgh Millers (92.7, o)
14) Los Angeles Dinos (89.0, o)
15) Pawtucket Patriots (85.3, ++)
16) New York Cyclones (83.5, +)
17) Montreal Exports (79.5, -)
18) Syracuse Snappers (74.1, --)
19) Toronto Canadians (70.1, o)
20) Baltimore Bulldogs (65.2, +)
21) Philadelphia Freedom (63.3, -)
22) Batavia Muckdogs (55.5, -)
23) Maine Guides (53.5, o)
24) Phoenix Roadrunners (37.2, o)
Performance of the Week
LF Andy Dillon - The 24 year old former first round pick tore up Hartford on May 15th to the tune of two home runs, four RBIs, and three runs scored. Too bad for him the Whalers scored eight runs in the 6-7-8 innings and won 10-6. Still though for Dillon it was good enough for the second best hitting performance of the season. In his second BLB season, Dillon is now hitting .270/.407/.649 with 6 HRs and 16 RBIs on the season.
Prospect of the Week
3B Ja'Quan McLaren - The number seven overall prospect in the league is the top batter, and we can see why. At 23 years old he was moved up to AAA this season and is currently hitting .276 with 6 HRs and 13 RBIs. Scouts think his ability is off the charts, as the OSA believes him to be "an elite starting third basemen on a contending team."
Five Things We Think We Think
1. A week after Gramling got his 2000th hit, he was joined in the club by Daryl Walken of the Snappers. Walken was a third round pick by Montreal back in 2038, where he played from 2042 to 2048. During that time he was a 6x All-Star, won 2 DWI's, and won both a BLB title and the Stout Slugger in 2044. He became a free agent in 2049 and was signed by Washington for $170m over six years. He didn't like it there though and opted out after 2051. He then signed one year deals with Wilmington and Toronto, before signing a three year deal with Syracuse this past off-season.
2. It looks like Carolina of old as they currently lead the league with 55 total home runs. The Tobs have three of the top nine seasonal home run records in BLB history...all from 2036 to 2038. They cracked 848 home runs during that stretch, and won the BLB title in 2037. This season they are lead by 20 year old Evan Turner (10), outfielder Tyson Dodd (9), and catcher Quinn Wicklund (8). Carolina also has the third highest strikeout percentage, as they abide by the old adage 'go big or go home'.
3. Amric Robinson has been everything the Rum Runners have hoped for and more. This past week he hit six home runs, drove in eight, and scored eight times. The 28 year old is now hitting .379/.434/.655 with 10 HRs and 38 RBIs this season, and is on pace to hit 43 home runs. He only signed a one-year contract this off-season, so as of now what the future holds only the Rum Runners GM knows.
4. In the record watch, Pat 'Melody' Nunes is only seven hits away from tying Steve Suarez for the all-time hit record. We've been talking about that for a bit though. What we haven't talked about is Robert 'Stretch' Jessee is only 10 RBI's away from tying the all-time record of 2001 set by Dani 'Steady' Álvarez. He retired in 2001, with 2001 RBIs, and no one has gotten close to that record since then. It's the end of the road for both of these legends, as Nunes is hitting .205 with 2 HR and 7 RBIs, and Jessee is hitting .185 with 1 HR and 5 RBIs on the season. If they can make history it will be worth it though.
5. What's on tap? Carolina gets the gauntlet this week as they get Washington on the road to open the week, then Seattle at home to close it. It's not much easier for the Bats though as they get the Tobs then have to face California. Then we have the Kodiaks who have to face Washington and Denver. So apparently there are three gauntlets. Streak wise the Pilots have won five straight, Collin 'Reach' Makuch (MON) has a 16 game hitting streak going, Dez Swanson (IND) has a 12 game hitting streak, and Jarryd 'Sparrow' Giles (NO) has homered in three straight games.
Stat of the Week
.
Most Middle IF (2B / SS) Double Plays
| Javy Gudino | BAT,HAR,MAI,MON,PHI,SDR,WIL | 2028-2044 | 1813 |
| Dusty Schmidl | BAT,CAL,DAL,MIA,NYK,PHO,SDR,SEA,TOR,WIL | 2029-2046 | 1792 |
| Oscar D'Addona | BAT,DAL,MON,NYC,PAW,PHO,PIT,WAS | 2029-2049 | 1769 |
| Edwin Meck | CAR,DEN,IND,NO,NYK,PHI,PHO,SDR,SYR | 2032-2048 | 1604 |
| Jonathon Valenti | BAL,LAD,NYK,SDR,SYR | 2028-2042 | 1495 |
| Jimmy Brabec | BAT,CAL,PHO,SEA,SYR | 2033-2053 | 1488 |
| Dusty Kocurek | CHI,HAR,NO,SEA | 2031-2045 | 1472 |
| Brenden Santoro | CAL,SYR | 2035-2048 | 1397 |
| Dave Bickford | CHI,NYK | 2028-2041 | 1350 |
| Jimmy Doss | BAT,CHI,PAW,PHI,PIT,SDR | 2035-2048 | 1348 |
| Aubrey Albano | PAW,SYR,TOR | 2041-2054 | 1328 |
| Omar Jones | CAL,DEN,PHI | 2036-2051 | 1280 |
| Dave Cohen | BAT,PHO | 2031-2042 | 1243 |
| Gil Porter | BAL,IND,NYK,PAW,SDR | 2028-2039 | 1229 |
| Zeus Alder | BAL,CAR,DAL,NYC,PHO | 2036-2052 | 1210 |
| Jon Santiago | BAL,CAR,MAI,PHI,PIT | 2028-2042 | 1199 |
| Pat Pierce | CAR | 2028-2038 | 1195 |
| Dave Davis | BAT,NYK,PHO,WIL | 2028-2040 | 1147 |
| Elias Shelton | IND,MON,PIT | 2035-2050 | 1130 |
| Asa Wyman | HAR,IND,PHI,SDR | 2038-2050 | 1072 |
| Nehemiah Daniel | CAL,LAD,SEA | 2028-2042 | 1063 |
| Antonio Melendez | DEN,MIA,NYK,PAW,PHI,PHO,SDR,SEA,SYR | 2028-2040 | 1051 |
| Pat Holes | BAT,PHO,SEA | 2035-2049 | 1050 |
| Rylan Westerman | BAL,MAI,NYC,PAW,TOR,WIL | 2042-2054 | 1049 |
| Timmy Ungureanu | BAT,MAI,PHI | 2040-2051 | 1045 |