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08/07/2056
Like a fictional character in a galaxy far, far, away...the Santo Domingo Rum Runners appear to be the BLB's only hope when it comes to taking down the empire known as the Bats. This past week they went 5-2 to take back over the PR and move within a game of tying Washington for the best record in the league. Other 5-2 weeks belonged to Pittsburgh, LAD, Pawtucket, and Maine. The Millers once again lead the Ale, LAD is only a game back from Seattle, and Maine is only 4.5 games out of the final DL wildcard spot. Meanwhile Pawtucket, at 48-61, is only 5.5 games out of the final DL wildcard spot. Wild times we live in. The not so good week was Hartford who went 1-5, while New Orleans, Syracuse, Montreal, and California all went 2-5.
Power Rankings
1) Santo Domingo Rum Runners (131.0, +)
2) Washington Bats (121.6, -)
3) Dallas Drillers (109.3, +)
4) Los Angeles Dinos (102.7, -)
5) Seattle Pilots (102.3, +)
6) Baltimore Bulldogs (101.6, +)
7) Pittsburgh Millers (101.2, ++)
8) Carolina Tobs (92.8, ++)
9) New Orleans Voodoo (91.3, --)
10) Phoenix Roadrunners (89.8, ++)
11) Denver Bulls (88.2, -)
12) Windy City Blues (86.0, +)
13) Syracuse Snappers (85.4, --)
14) Wilmington Wildcats (85.0, ++)
15) Batavia Muckdogs (84.7, ++)
16) Hartford Whalers (82.7, --)
17) Indianapolis Clowns (82.3, -)
18) New York Cyclones (82.3, +)
19) Maine Guides (81.7, +)
20) Toronto Canadians (81.7, -)
21) Pawtucket Patriots (81.3, +)
22) California Kodiaks (80.7, --)
23) Philadelphia Freedom (57.9, +)
24) Montreal Exports (56.6, -)
Performance of the Week
SS Gage Hay - Since he's making over $20m a year it's about time he put on a show, and he did just that on August 4th against Windy City. In four at bats he had three hits, two home runs, and drove in all six of the Muckdogs runs...and they lost 6-7. We would feel sorry for him, but when you're getting paid what he's getting paid, and hitting .261 with a -15.4 ZR at shortstop, well we're not sorry at all.
Prospect of the Week
P Rice Cochell - The 21 year old was a second round pick by SDR in 2052 and he's blossomed into the 14th overall prospect in the league. This season in 19 AA starts he's 12-3 with a 2.91 ERA, 1.15 WHIP, 143 ERA+, and a whopping 137 K's. This guy can not only throw 101 mph, but he has five pitchers which scouts believe will be top of the line. Scouts also think he has great movement that will keep the ball in the park, and should end up a future #1 starter. Times appear to be good for the Rum Runners.
Five Things We Think We Think
1. It is indeed a wild and strange time when Pawtucket and California are both very much in the playoff race. As talked about above, the Patriots are 48-61, and in 11th place in the Domestic. Yet they are only 5.5 games out of a wildcard spot. Meanwhile California is 49-59, and in 11th place in the Import. Yet they are only 5.5 games out of a wildcard spot. Both teams have appeared to throw in the towel though as they have been busy on the trade front. Pawtucket already unloaded Trevon Pearson, Theodore Blume, and James Munsie, while California has said goodbye to Josiah Foust and now Charlie Guevin. Look for them both to finish with losing records, sneak into the playoffs, and meet in the Brewmasters.
2. It was the who's who in the BLB for the Player of the Month awards in July. In the Domestic it was Zeke Lebron (WIL) and Ken Burns (SDR). In the Import it was Parker Lee (WAS) and Charlie Spence (CAR). Stop me if you've heard those names before. Meanwhile the ROTM's went to David Mitchell (TOR) and B.B. Trynkov (SEA). Mitchell was the first overall pick of last years draft and looks like he could be one of the best catchers the league has seen in a while. At 21 years old he's already ranked as the 8th best catcher in the league, and he's hitting .290 with 10 HRs and 47 RBIs in 90 games. Trnkov meanwhile is 24, and was a scouting discovery out of Rustavia (Georgia) back in 2048. On the season he's 4-7 with a 4.38 ERA and 1.45 WHIP in 20 starts. He has a devastating slider but struggles with his control. Scouts think he can be serviceable pitcher near the bottom of the rotation though.
3. Burgess 'Nuke' Nalivkin entered the BLB in 2041 as an IAFA from Uzbekistan and was signed by Carolina. He played seven games for the Tobs in 2046 before being shipped off to New Orleans for a few picks. He then played five seasons with the Voodoo before making the Ale rounds at Hartford, Pittsburgh, and Indy. Nalivkin became a free agent last winter, and signed a two-year contract with Toronto for $56,000,00 in February. Did we also mention he was just selected for his first All-Star appearance a few weeks ago? This season at 31 years old he's hitting .336/.401/.537...all career highs. Better late than never. It's not like it has been a middling career though. Lifetime he's a .304/.364/.462 hitter with 142 HRs, 638 RBIs, and a 120 OPS+. There are 118 players in the history of the league with an average of .300 or higher, and 'Nuke' is one of them.
4. We talked about Denver last week and their woeful defense, but apparently they make up for it on the base paths. The Bulls are first in the entire league in wSB with a +9.19. Phoenix is second at +9.07, and Indy is third at +5.16. On the other end New York is last at -8.16, followed by Montreal at -5.28, and Hartford at -5.08. Denver has the highest steal success rate in the league as well at 78.8%, Washington has the most walks at 399, the Roadrunners have been beaned a league high 76 times, and the Tobs have been intentionally walked 24 times.
5. What's on tap? How about a little interleague love fest. The series of the week is none other than Santo Domingo at Washington. The two top teams in the league, both playing at a high level, squaring off in the field and giving us a possible Brewmasters Cup preview...what could be better? The Bats are 35-13 at home this year, while SDR is one of three teams with a winning record on the road (Washington and Dallas). The Rum Runners have the best pitching staff in the Domestic, the Bats have the best offense in the Import. Get your popcorn ready! We also get to see a bunch of 50+ win teams square off against each other as LAD travels to Hartford, Syracuse faces Denver, Denver hits the road to Indy, and Indy flies to Cali to face LAD. Streak-wise Pittsburgh and SDR have won five straight, while Hartford and New Orleans have lost five straight.
Stat of the Week
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