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06/14/2055
Interleague was back again...and did the Domestic fair any better this time? Considering there were four 5-1 teams, and two of them were from each league, they did indeed. In fact the DL won the week 38-34. All hail the Domestic, champions of the BLB...well maybe not quite yet. Anyways those aforementioned teams were Dallas, Wilmington, Washington and LAD. LAD took over the top spot in the Power Rankings, but Santo Domingo had the biggest jump in the ELO rankings after going 4-2 against Windy City and Seattle. Some team leaders this past week: Wilmington scored 40 runs (WC/Mon 15), Phoenix hit 14 bombs (WC/Phi 3), Wilmington and Phoenix swiped 12 bases (did any other teams play this week?), Dallas allowed only 12 runs (Mon 40), and LAD gave up three home runs (NO 13).
ELO Rankings
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| 1 | Washington | IL | 42-22 | 3.8 | 1576.7 | |||||
| 2 | Seattle | IL | 41-22 | 1.4 | 1572.5 | |||||
| 3 | Dallas | DL | 40-25 | 6.1 | 1566.1 | |||||
| 4 | Los Angeles | IL | 42-23 | 6.3 | 1561.6 | |||||
| 5 | Syracuse | DL | 40-25 | 1.0 | 1547.6 | |||||
| 6 | California | IL | 38-28 | 4.2 | 1535.9 | |||||
| 7 | Windy City | IL | 37-28 | -7.7 | 1521.6 | |||||
| 8 | Pawtucket | DL | 33-31 | 3.6 | 1517.8 | |||||
| 9 | Santo Domingo | DL | 33-30 | 12.6 | 1512.8 | |||||
| 10 | Indianapolis | DL | 38-27 | -15.0 | 1506.8 | |||||
| 11 | Wilmington | DL | 31-35 | 11.0 | 1505.4 | |||||
| 12 | Pittsburgh | DL | 30-35 | -3.5 | 1503.8 | |||||
| 13 | Baltimore | IL | 34-31 | -4.6 | 1502.3 | |||||
| 14 | Maine | DL | 34-30 | -9.9 | 1496.6 | |||||
| 15 | Carolina | IL | 27-38 | 5.5 | 1493.9 | |||||
| 16 | Denver | IL | 30-35 | 8.8 | 1492.9 | |||||
| 17 | Hartford | DL | 29-37 | -8.0 | 1491.1 | |||||
| 18 | New Orleans | DL | 31-34 | -5.0 | 1487.8 | |||||
| 19 | Phoenix | IL | 33-32 | 4.0 | 1476.3 | |||||
| 20 | New York | IL | 30-35 | -8.7 | 1474.4 | |||||
| 21 | Montreal | DL | 23-42 | -7.5 | 1433.0 | |||||
| 22 | Philadelphia | IL | 22-42 | 4.7 | 1418.9 | |||||
| 23 | Batavia | IL | 19-47 | -0.2 | 1405.9 | |||||
| 24 | Toronto | DL | 21-44 | -2.9 | 1397.8 |
Performance of the Week
1B Dominique Graham - The 38 year old shows that age means nothing as he turned in the sixth best hitting performance of the season on June 11th against Denver. In five at bats he tallied up four hits, two home runs, drove in five, and scored three times as the Snappers won 12-8 thanks to a six run 9th inning. On the season Graham is hitting .293/.359/.543 with 15 HRs and 36 RBIs. It looks like the 9x All-Star is on his way to All-Star game number ten.
Prospect of the Week
SS Tariq Alston - The 14th overall pick of the 2051 draft is only 21 but currently in AAA for the Cyclones, and is ranked the 31st overall prospect in the league. He can play short stop or second, he can run and steal bases, and he's a captain in the clubhouse. Scouts believe he will be an everyday player for a 'top-tier team', and he certainly looks like it to us as well.
Five Things We Think We Think
1. Tom 'Heartbreaker' Campbelll is back in the BLB and the BLB is better for it. After a career that never saw him play after his University of Texas career was over, he retired from the game in 2020 and got a masters in business. From there he worked his way up though the sports world before being named Assistant GM of California in 2036, the year they won the Brewmasters. After two seasons there he realized his love for the game was on the field, and he took a job for the Rookie League Santa Monica Tropical Fish as their manager. After one season he was promoted to A ball. He then had his first losing season before three straight winning ones. In high demand he became the manager of the NY Knights where he had two straight 77 win seasons. In 2045, after being 52-62, he was suddenly let go. He spent the rest of the season fine tuning his approach before Pawtucket came calling before 2046. In seven straight seasons he led the Patriots to first place in the Ale, and won the Brewmasters Cup in 2051. After 2053 when Pawtucket 'only' won 83 games he was not re-signed. Sitting out again all of 2054 his phone rang several weeks ago and it was the Batavia Muckdogs. After some behind the scenes dealings, on June 11th manager Erik Pardue was let go, and Campbell was named the new skipper of the team. Welcome back 'Heartbreaker', Batavia is in good hands.
2. The first years player draft is this Wednesday as GMs and scouts around the league have been working overtime. Our mock five is C David Mitchell (TOR), P Seth Faber (PHI), 3B Scott McDonald (PHO), LF Donald Dworkin (BAT), and SS Jarrett Shaneyfelt (MAI). We're pretty confident in this list as we've been in touch will all 24 teams, but there could always be a surprise. Looking at last years draft five players have played in the BLB to date. Two of them have a positive WAR, Wilmington outfielder Neil Wanant (+2.53) and Batavia's pitcher Carter Moss (+.59). Wanant was selected ninth overall and is making a big case for Refreshing New Brew. Meanwhile Moss was selected 225th overall out of Cal and has struck out 17 batters in just 13.1 innings pitched.
3. It's mid-June and only four teams have a playoff odd percentage of zero...Philly, Montreal, Toronto, and Batavia. Denver is the next lowest at 4.4% (and only five games under .500), but everyone else is in double digits. This means we could have a wild and crazy summer. Trade wise things could be heating up thanks to the June 15th rule happening tomorrow. Free agents signed this past off-season are now allowed on the market. Looking for a big piece to add to the puzzle, or maybe even some small pieces...well your time is now.
4. Who has been putting the butts in the seats this year...how about the Indianapolis Clowns. With a 99.4% capacity percentage the fans love to pack The Big Top to cheer their Clowns to victory. They are currently fourth in overall attendance, with Pawtucket, Washington, and California coming in 3-2-1. Those three teams do have a max capacity higher than Indy though, so possibly look for some construction at The Big Top this coming off-season. On the other end of the spectrum is Carolina. Coming off a Brew that they almost won, they sadly average only 47% capacity. Their average attendance of 18,907 is 25k less than California. That's a lot of money left at the gate that could be used in a few years for their young and upcoming stars. Time for a Tob promotion or two.
5. What's on tap? This week we get a battle of the #1's, and get to see some solid wildcard battles as well. First up is Dallas at Syracuse for three. Earlier in the season the Snappers got swept by the Drillers and were outscored 14-5. Since then though Syracuse went 19-10 in May and are now 7-5 in June. They are first in the Domestic in hits, second in runs scored, and first in runs allowed. Yet their run differential of +83 is 10 less than the Drillers who lead the league in that category once again. The Drillers 327 total runs are first in the Domestic, and second in the league...behind only Phoenix? Yes those Roadrunners have been pounding their opponents into submission as they are now 33-32 on the season. Another fun match-up are those Roadrunners at LAD for three. After a dreadful April, Phoenix is 25-15 since. They are scoring runs, swiping bases, and breaking hearts. Unfortunately their starting pitching is also broken as they are last in the Import in starters ERA and second to last in runs allowed. They do have three top 50 pitching prospects in the minors so help is coming. The Dinos meanwhile are en fuego as they are 11-1 in June. They rely on pitching, defense, and baserunning to win games, and they are very good at all three. They also have all four minor league teams with winning records. Sounds like an organization to keep any eye on for the up and comers.
Stat of the Week
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| Largest Percentage Decline in Attendance (Top 25 Teams) |
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