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07/28/2059
Dallas rises out of the ashes like a phoenix with a 6-1 week that featured a four game sweep of the Patriots. The Drillers are now 45-56, which in the Domestic means they are only 2.5 games out of the final Wildcard position. The other top weeks were Batavia and Pittsburgh. Unfortunately for the Muckdogs they have more wins than the Drillers, but find themselves 4.5 back in the Import. Pittsburgh meanwhile has secured a double digit lead in the Ale and now has a 98% chance of winning the division thanks to our friends at Stats+. On the flip side New York and Pawtucket went 1-6, while Hartford and SDR went 1-5.
Power Rankings
1) Baltimore Bulldogs (115.7, ++)
2) Montreal Exports (112.4, +)
3) Pittsburgh Millers (109.0, o)
4) Wilmington Wildcats (109.0, ++)
5) Seattle Pilots (107.8, --)
6) California Kodiaks (105.6, +)
7) Toronto Canadians (102.4, +)
8) Washington Bats (102.0, --)
9) Phoenix Roadrunners (98.5, +)
10) Los Angeles Dinos (95.1, +)
11) Batavia Muckdogs (93.4, ++)
12) New York Cyclones (91.8, --)
13) Dallas Drillers (90.2, ++)
14) Maine Guides (89.7, +)
15) Syracuse Snappers (87.2, o)
16) New Orleans Voodoo (83.0, +)
17) Carolina Tobs (82.2, +)
18) Windy City Blues (74.1, +)
19) Indianapolis Clowns (72.4, ++)
20) Hartford Whalers (72.2, --)
21) Pawtucket Patriots (68.6, --)
22) Philadelphia Freedom (68.2, o)
23) Denver Bulls (61.2, o)
24) Santo Domingo Rum Runners (60.6, --)
Performance of the Week
1B LaMark Canete - The first round pick from 2056 is in his second season, and is only hitting .253, but he's also belted 26 home runs in just 95 hits. This past week against Pawtucket he smashed three more out of the park to go along with six runs batted in as the Millers won 7-4.
Prospect of the Week
SS Cody Henning - The 21 year old was the 7th overall pick of last years draft and got called up to AAA earlier this season. So far in 66 games he's hitting .288 with 2 HR, 19 RBI, and 19 SB, while putting up a +9.1 ZR at shortstop. In a time where defense up the middle is king, he looks like a future lock to start in the Exports infield. The problem for Montreal is that Zechariah Norkus and Max Johnson, the starting second basemen and shortstop for the Exports, are both 25 years old. I guess there are worse problems to have.
Five Things We Think We Think
1. Congrats to Aubrey 'Gypsy' Albano, who yesterday set the Brewers League Baseball all-time hits record. It was a nice breezy 81 degree day in Dallas, as Albano came into the came trailing all-time hit leader Pat 'Melody' Nunes by one career hit. Albano started out slow with two ground outs, but singled to tie the record in the bottom of the fifth. He came up again in the sixth, but struck out on a 3-2 pitch as the crowd was in a frenzy and on their feet. In the bottom of the eight he came up for the last time, and after taking a strike, he smacked a ball into the right field gap and scooted all the way to third base. The game was stopped and the 44,000 plus gave Albano a 10 minute standing ovation. Discovered out of the Philippines in 2037 by the Miami Sharks, this is his 19th season in the league where he has become a 12x All-Star, 9x Designated Driver, and 3x DWI winner at second base.
2. Denver and California got into last week during the final game of the series. With the game tied at three, Denver pitcher Webb Martinez gave up a solo shot to Stan Sikes that traveled 431 feet. Words were exchanged and Martinez was visibly angry. Already reeling from a 3-9 season, he smoked 20 year old Spencer Stephens with the fourth pitch and Stephens took offense. The 6'3, 195 pound Stephens charged the mound, and the 6'8, 200 pound Martinez was ready for him. By the time it was said and done both subjects were tossed out the game with ripped shirts and scratches, and Martinez was ejected a whopping 11 games by the office of the commish. He also picked up the loss and is now 3-10 with a 5.92 ERA on the season.
3. In a random stat of the day, California reliever Aubrey Wheelwright hasn't lost a game since 2057. The former first round pick by Phoenix in the 2051 draft never developed into the starter the franchise hoped, and he was traded to California in 2057. That year he started out 0-2, before winning three games to close out the season. In 2058 over 70 games he was a nice 8-0 with a 1.16 ERA. Now this year he's 3-0 with a 3.59 ERA. He throws 101 mph, has a wicked fastball and slider, and is known around the clubhouse as a good teammate. Considering he's won 14 straight games he might just turn into a great teammate.
4. It was a week for threes as three players each hit three home runs in the same game. LaMark Canete was listed above, but also part of the hat trick were Seattle's Ryan Carr and Syracuse's Asher Kappler. Both those guys are 22 years old, while Canete is the old guy at 23 years old. Carr has 26 jacks on the season, while Kappler is hitting .253 with 15 HR, 16 SB, and playing centerfield. All three teams won, but Carr was the hero as he saved the best for last with a 352 foot 11th inning walk-off.
5. What's on tap? How about a battle of the Domestic leaders as Wilmington travels up I-95 to Pittsburgh. Both teams come into the week with 60-40 records, with the Wildcats being 24-20 on the road, while the Millers sport a leagues best 30-12 home record. The Millers are currently banged up though, and considering in the Domestic they are 11th in batting average, and 10th in bullpen ERA, we're not sure how they are winning games. As we look around the Ale and realize they are the only team with a winning record, well that might explain it. Meanwhile Wilmington is first in home runs, and first in runs allowed, but they've had a rough go lately. At 9-12 with just four games left in July, it might be their first sub-.500 month unless they get hot. Streak wise Clay Newhouse (CAR) has a 15 game hitting streak, Markel 'Locomotive' Crawford (DAL) has homered in three straight games, and Stephen Gibbs (BAL) hasn't lost in 12 straight starts.
Stat of the Week
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| Players To Win A Defense With Integrity (DWI) Award, End Of Season Award, And Be An All-Star In The Same Season (EOS Awards: Stout Slugger Award, Pale Ale Pitcher Award, Refreshing New Brew Award) |
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