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05/12/2059
Last time we checked in California was first in the Bock and the Power Rankings, and Seattle was starting the season 6-7. Now here we are as the Pilots are 9-1 in May and have the second best record in the league. This past week they went 6-1 as they swept LAD and took thee of four from Washington. No wonder they are first in the Power Rankings. The other 6-1 week belonged to division mate Phoenix, who swept Cali and took three of four from Philly. The unicorn of the week though was the Montreal Exports. They went 7-0 by sweeping both Dallas and Pawtucket. The Exports are now above .500 and in second place in the Lager.
Power Rankings
1) Seattle Pilots (129.1, ++)
2) Wilmington Wildcats (126.8, -)
3) Phoenix Roadrunners (114.9, ++)
4) Pittsburgh Millers (113.5, -)
5) New York Cyclones (109.2, ++)
6) Baltimore Bulldogs (108.9, +)
7) Carolina Tobs (107.9, +)
8) Montreal Exports (106.3, ++)
9) Washington Bats (100.6, --)
10) Los Angeles Dinos (97.7, +)
11) Maine Guides (96.0, +)
12) Hartford Whalers (93.7, +)
13) Batavia Muckdogs (93.2, --)
14) Toronto Canadians (89.7, --)
15) California Kodiaks (87.3, --)
16) Syracuse Snappers (84.8, ++)
17) Dallas Drillers (75.8, -)
18) Windy City Blues (73.4, ++)
19) Indianapolis Clowns (69.8, -)
20) Pawtucket Patriots (63.1, --)
21) New Orleans Voodoo (61.5, o)
22) Santo Domingo Rum Runners (59.5, --)
23) Denver Bulls (58.5, o)
24) Philadelphia Freedom (46.9, o)
Performance of the Week
P Zane Hastings - The 25 year old Toronto starter was 6-2 with a 3.36 ERA last year before tearing his labrum and missing the rest of the season. He started out this season with a win over Dallas and was named the player of the game. His next outing he made it two outs before getting pulled after getting shelled for seven runs against Pawtucket. He then went win, loss, no decision, and loss before his May 9th start against Pittsburgh. So what does the 25 year old do, how about throw the #1 pitching performance of the season. Over eight innings he allowed no hits, one run, two walks, and stuck out 12 as Toronto won 12-1. He's now 3-3 with a 4.08 ERA on the season and appears to be back on track.
Prospect of the Week
SS Abraham Koziarz - The second overall pick from last years draft is just 18 years old and playing in A ball, but he's off to a promising start. So far in 22 games he's hitting .415/.477/.809 with 7 HR, 40 RBI, and 11 SB. When you're on pace for 218 RBI in just 120 games that qualifies as a promising start to say the least. He can play any infield position at a high level (including pitcher?), he's extremely fast on the base paths, and his work ethic and intelligence are both raved about. Sounds like Philly has a future star.
Five Things We Think We Think
1. It looks like we went from the Legit Lager to the Super Stout this season as five of the six teams in the Stout have a winning record. In fact nine of the twelve teams in the Import have winning records, while only five in the Domestic are above .500. The top dog in the entire league though is the Domestic's very own Wilmington, who sit at 22-10, followed by Seattle at 21-11. Wouldn't a Wildcat vs Pilot Brewmasters be something else?
2. Jannero Peter (BAL) and Riley Boland (WIL) are the only undefeated pitchers in the league. Peter finally gave up a run (in fact six of them) since we last checked in, but over seven starts he's 5-0 with a 1.16 ERA and 347 ERA+. Meanwhile Boland is 5-0 with a 1.69 ERA and 237 ERA+ over six starts. Jannero has won two Pale Ale's and been selected to five All-Star games. Boland has won zero Pale Ale's and has only been to the All-Star game once when he bought a ticket. Drafted in the third round of the 2044 draft by the then New York Knights, he played for them from 2051 to 2055 where he started just 15 games in the majors. He became a minor league FA after 2057, was scooped up by Philly, and then released before the start of the 2058 season. He signed with the Wildcats, started 21 games, and went 8-4 with a 3.21 ERA. Now he has one of the best records in the entire league. All while making $280k.
3. Another season, another Pilot pitcher who comes out of nowhere to dominate the league. This time it's Conner Cook. Drafted 8th overall by the Indianapolis Racers, he made his debut for them in 2054 (as Wilmington) at just 20 years old. He was then traded to Batavia in the Zeke Lebron deal, where he spent almost all of 2055 in the minors. After the season he was traded to Seattle for Tommy 'Fist' Tisthammer, and he's been mostly starting for the Pilots every since. He's been good, all though not remarkable, as he went 14-7, 10-2, and 11-8, before now going off the rails and sporting a 5-1 record with a league leading 1.04 ERA. Tisthammer meanwhile went 1-13 with a 5.79 ERA in 2057 and hasn't started for the Muckdogs since.
4. Looking back at Hastings game against Pittsburgh, he was possibly an error away from a no-hitter. In the top of the 8th he struck out Seth Laskie to start the inning off. At this point he had given up no hits, no runs, and struck out 11. Isaac Pack was up next, and he hit a dribbler to Cory 'Boy Scout' Petit, who for some reason was playing third base. Petit couldn't handle it and Pack reached first on an error. To be fair to 'Boy Scout', this was his first game at third base...ever, as he's played his other 791 BLB games at first base. In fact it was his first game at third base in the history of his career dating back to 2047 when he was in the Rookie League. Anyways two pitches later there was a passed ball, and Pack raced around the bases to third. Jeremy Knowlton then ground out to Petit (who said after the game he felt horrible), but it allowed Pack to score. Hastings then struck out Benjamin Guy to end the inning, and his day on the mound. Toronto added six runs in the bottom of the 8th and Ja-Ron Anstey came in for the Canadians and stuck out the side for the combined no-hitter. What could have been.
5. What's on tap? We're back to interleague this week as the Domestic and Import do battle. Some series we are looking forward to: Montreal at Carolina (can the Exports stay hot), Seattle at Pittsburgh (battle of division leaders), and Phoenix at Hartford (are the Roadrunners back). Streak wise Montreal has won seven straight, Pawtucket has lost six straight, Douglas 'Shepherd' Morrison (SEA) has scored in 12 straight games, and Bryant Francis (IND) has homered in three straight.
Stat of the Week
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| Most Players Used In A Season (Top 25 Teams) |
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