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07/22/2058
The Rum Runners are perfect on the short week as they take over the top of the Power Rankings, and close the Lager lead to only 4.5 games. Don't look now Voodoo fans, but the Wildcats are right there at 4.5 back as well. Will this be a repeat of last year where New Orleans started out on fire, but finished 76-86 and missed the postseason? The other top team was Pawtucket who went 3-0. At 39-55 their season would be over if they weren't in the worse division in the league. Instead they are just eight games back in the never say never Ale.
Power Rankings
1) Santo Domingo Rum Runners (119.2, ++)
2) Los Angeles Dinos (118.1, +)
3) Wilmington Wildcats (115.2, -)
4) New Orleans Voodoo (111.6, --)
5) Baltimore Bulldogs (109.5, o)
6) Washington Bats (106.4, +)
7) New York Cyclones (102.7, ++)
8) Seattle Pilots (99.5, -)
9) Dallas Drillers (98.6, o)
10) Phoenix Roadrunners (96.7, -)
11) Toronto Canadians (92.7, o)
12) California Kodiaks (89.1, +)
13) Maine Guides (86.0, +)
14) Indianapolis Clowns (85.4, -)
15) Pawtucket Patriots (82.7, ++)
16) Pittsburgh Millers (81.4, -)
17) Syracuse Snappers (77.5, +)
18) Carolina Tobs (76.2, -)
19) Windy City Blues (73.3, +)
20) Denver Bulls (69.9, ++)
21) Montreal Exports (68.2, --)
22) Hartford Whalers (67.5, --)
23) Philadelphia Freedom (66.0, -)
24) Batavia Muckdogs (63.1, o)
Performance of the Week
RF Val Schmit - All though he didn't rank in the Top Performances list, he almost single-handedly beat Batavia this week. After going 1-4 in their opening series loss, he decided to turn up the heat. Over the next two games he hit three home runs, drove in five, and scored four times as Baltimore won 6-2 and 4-1. Since coming over to Baltimore he's hitting .361 with 10 HR and 27 RBI...in 27 games!
Prospect of the Week
SS Drew Yewell - The 18th overall pick of last years draft by Carolina is only 18, but he was selected to play in the Future Stars game this past week. Not only did he play, he smacked a home run, drove in four, and scored once as the Domestic won 11-6. He has the range to play either shortstop or second, and he has the bat to make him deadly behind the plate as well. So far in 80 games this season he's smacked 14 home runs while driving in 37. Scouts think he's a future all-star on both sides of the plate.
Five Things We Think We Think
1. The All-Star game unfortunately wasn't played this past weekend, as a power outage at Old Port Park caused a several hour delay. By the time the lights came back on the commish decided it was too late to begin the game, and it was called off. The fans stuck around though and the players treated them to a little unofficial baseball as the two teams played a few innings before doing their own home run derby. The stadium then had a firework show as the players signed autographs for the kids, and all in attendance were treated by the league to free concessions. Overall even though things didn't go as planned everyone agreed it was a great night for the BLB.
2. One thing that did go to plan was the Home Run Derby a night before the scheduled game. In a champion that surprised no one, Houston Yap (HAR) took down Rodrick Madhubuti (PAW) in the first round, Neall Rabah (WAS) in the semis, and finally Julian Irwin (DAL) in the championship. Yap currently leads the entire league with 31 home runs and 75 runs batted in. The 26 year old former first round pick is on pace for 53 home runs, but if he gets hot 60 is still on the table. Not bad for a guy who hit 23 and 22 home runs the last two years respectively.
3. A lot was made about the Los Angeles/Washington trade thirteen games into the 2054 season that sent All-Star Neall Rabah to the Bats. How does Washington get a stud like Rabah after winning back to back titles many asked. What is Los Angeles thinking sending him to an Import rival others wanted to know. After all the California GM's 'anonymous' questions were answered, life moved on. Rabah then went and helped Washington once again win the title in 2055, and get back to the Brew in 2056.
Don't forget though that LAD was nicely compensated. They received in that trade outfielder Tris Chikumbu, outfielder Efren Zamora, reliever Dane Wines and two second round picks. The 23 year old Zamora finished second in the IL New Brew last season and went to the All-Star game, but sadly tore his PCL at the end of the year. He's back now and in 16 games is hitting .396 with 1 HR and 6 RBI. Meanwhile the 23 year old Tris Chikumbu just made his BLB debut this week, where he hit .300 with a home run. Finally 23 year old Dane Wines is currently in AAA, where he's 1-0 with 19 saves and a 1.11 ERA in 31 games. Meanwhile the picks turned into starter Phil Russell, who's in the bigs, and outfielder Karim Brown who's been a back to back Bush League All-Star. In the end it looks like a very profitable trade for both franchises, which everyone just loves to see.
4. In the race for the #1 pick of the 2059 draft the Philly Freedom are out in front. It's not the race you're looking to win, but if you aren't going to the playoffs it's not a bad consolation prize. Currently they have a 63.2% chance of finishing last, and their average loss total is an even 100. With some eye catching hitters in the 2059 draft (what else is new lately), finishing first...er last...isn't as imperative as it used to be. The race now appears to be between them, Batavia, and Denver, with Pawtucket and Syracuse being dark horses.
5. What's on tap? Well we're back for the second half the 2058 BLB season and what a week it is. Look at these series we were blessed with. New Orleans at Santo Domingo, Baltimore at Washington, and finally Pittsburgh at Hartford. Okay no one cares about the last one, but talk about some heavyweights going at it in the first two. Then later in the week we get to see first place Maine play New Orleans. Streak wise Montreal has lost six straight, Hartford has lost five straight, and Pawtucket and SDR have won four straight.
Stat of the Week
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| Most 200 Home Run Hitters By Franchise |
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