Tweet
09/15/2059
In a most ridiculous turn of events, the Millers lead the league with a 5-1 week and somehow take over the Power Rankings. We forgot to say they have the seventh best record in the league. Pittsburgh now has an eight game lead in the Ale, has clinched a playoff spot, and has a magic number of three. Runner-up was Hartford who went 5-2, as the Whalers get back in the playoff hunt. They now have a 13% chance to the Drillers and Snappers 45% and 42%, but at least they have a chance. Other than Pittsburgh and Hartford the BLB saw four teams go 4-2, and three teams go 4-3, as it was just a mediocre week all around.
Power Rankings
1) Pittsburgh Millers (107.7, ++)
2) Seattle Pilots (106.9, +)
3) New York Cyclones (103.7, -)
4) Wilmington Wildcats (102.7, -)
5) Baltimore Bulldogs (101.8, -)
6) Toronto Canadians (101.7, o)
7) California Kodiaks (100.0, -)
8) Washington Bats (99.3, ++)
9) Phoenix Roadrunners (98.6, -)
10) Maine Guides (94.2, -)
11) Montreal Exports (91.3, +)
12) Syracuse Snappers (89.6, ++)
13) Hartford Whalers (88.3, ++)
14) Carolina Tobs (88.2, o)
15) Batavia Muckdogs (87.7, ++)
16) Dallas Drillers (86.6, --)
17) Indianapolis Clowns (83.9, +)
18) New Orleans Voodoo (82.7, --)
19) Los Angeles Dinos (81.9, -)
20) Windy City Blues (77.9, -)
21) Pawtucket Patriots (74.6, +)
22) Santo Domingo Rum Runners (72.8, --)
23) Denver Bulls (70.5, o)
24) Philadelphia Freedom (67.3, o)
Performance of the Week
LF Andy Wulfeck - After an OPS+ of 56 in 26 games to start the season with the Kodiaks, he was quickly shipped off to Baltimore. In 74 games there he's hit .286 with 7 HR, 24 RBI, and a 130 OPS+. This past week against Batavia he also turned in the 15th best performance of the season when he three hits (one home run), drove in six, and scored three times as Baltimore won 14-6. It seems like he's been around a lot longer than he has, but the 2054 New Brew winner is still only 27 years old.
Prospect of the Week
LF Alec Boersen - The Puyallup HS Vandal could be a top three pick in next years draft. At 17 years old the 6'4 lefty from Modesto, CA has scouts absolutely stunned at his potential. In the OSA report it states he has the "highest ceiling imaginable as an elite left fielder." Goodness. This past season he hit .356 with 11 HR and 20 RBI while putting up a 162 OPS+.
Five Things We Think We Think
1. Baltimore has a 2.5 game lead in the Stout and an 82% chance of winning the division. On August 1st they had a 10.5 game lead and a 99% chance of winning the division. Obviously they are still in the drivers seat, but a 6-12 September has really changed the dynamic of the runaway train the defending champs had become. They are actually dead even at 80 in runs scored and runs allowed this month, but that's mostly due to an 11-5 win over Philly on September 9, and 14-6 win over Batavia a few days ago. Their remaining schedule is at home against Washington, then on the road against LAD and...New York. What a series that might turn into. The Bulldogs are 5-4 against the Cyclones this season and it might just come down to the final series, and then if things really get wild one more game on top of it.
2. Speaking of the Bulldogs, the Roadrunners went into Baltimore a few days ago and left with a sweep. Phoenix now has a two game lead over Carolina and an 83% chance of making the postseason. This month on the road they swept Toronto, took two against Carolina, won one against Seattle, and swept Baltimore. This week they are at Chicago then at Washington, before finishing the season at home against Denver. With a 14-5 September record, and only three home games in a 23 game stretch, if they pull it off there is no denying they deserve it.
3. Parker Lee has turned into the slugger of the 2050's for the BLB. In the past four seasons he's hit 50, 40, 45, and now 43 home runs. His 178 total home runs over that span are 20 more than second place, California outfielder Stan Sikes. The second round pick of the 2048 draft fractured his foot his senior year of high school, which brought down his draft stock. Washington took a chance though, and in his first full season in the Rookie League he smashed 49 home runs in just 120 games. A star was born. He's now a 7x All-Star who's helped Washington win three world titles, and at just 29 years old already has 352 career home runs.
4. Another player who's even more of an outlier is Tobs starter Charlie Spence, who is going to finish first in strikeouts once again...for the sixth straight season. From 2054 to present he has recorded an unheard of 2,037 strikeouts. Second place is Levi Brown, at 1,693. For those who aren't math teachers that's a 344 K difference, or basically what Spence averages in a year. During that period he's also had 15+ K's in a single game sixteen times! Christian Vines, who won four Pale Ale's, is second with nine such games. Did we mention Spence is just 29 years old as well.
5. What's on tap? There is a lot at stake this week. Washington travels to Baltimore to try and take the champs down another notch. So far they've done a great job as they are 7-2 against the Bulldogs this season. Toronto and Montreal battle it out to see who's going to be the top Wildcard team in the Domestic (and maybe an outside chance at the Lager). Dallas heads to Hartford to try and end the Whalers season, and keep their own alive. Finally two heavyweights square off as New York travels to Seattle. The teams are tied at 4-4 this season, and both of them of playing for their respective divisions. Streak wise Batavia has won four in a row, and Baltimore has lost four in a row. Yes you read that right.
Stat of the Week
.
| Longest Losing Streak To Finish a Season (Top 25 Teams) |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|