Tweet
07/19/2060
In the short week we had Wilmington, Baltimore, Seattle, Pawtucket, and LAD get clean sweeps to get a head start on the second half of the season. It's all but certain Seattle and Baltimore make the postseason, and LAD comes in with a playoff percentage of 97.5% thanks to Stats+. Don't give up though on the Wildcats and Patriots. They are both just two games out of the final Wildcard spot...with 70 to play. Sounds like they have time.
Power Rankings
1) Phoenix Roadrunners (127.6, o)
2) Seattle Pilots (122.3, o)
3) Baltimore Bulldogs (115.3, o)
4) Los Angeles Dinos (107.5, ++)
5) Montreal Exports (105.7, +)
6) Syracuse Snappers (104.5, -)
7) New York Cyclones (102.4, +)
8) Washington Bats (101.8, --)
9) New Orleans Voodoo (98.6, ++)
10) Wilmington Wildcats (91.2, ++)
11) Pawtucket Patriots (91.1, ++)
12) Maine Guides (91.0, --)
13) Santo Domingo Rum Runners (89.9, -)
14) Hartford Whalers (89.0, +)
15) Pittsburgh Millers (85.3, +)
16) Toronto Canadians (85.0, --)
17) Dallas Drillers (84.2, --)
18) Indianapolis Clowns (78.3, --)
19) Denver Bulls (75.3, --)
20) California Kodiaks (69.8, +)
21) Carolina Tobs (66.3, -)
22) Philadelphia Freedom (63.9, +)
23) Windy City Blues (59.4, -)
24) Batavia Muckdogs (53.4, o)
Performance of the Week
P Louis Berry - Only one player made the Top Performances list this week, and it just happened to be the best pitching outing of the season. On July 14th against Cali, Berry dominated the Kodiaks with a four-hit shutout that featured one walk and 15 K's. The 26 year old is already in his seventh season with the Roadrunners, and is having his best one yet. So far he's 7-5 with a 3.78 ERA and 103 ERA+.
Prospect of the Week
CF Avon McAnally - The 2060 Outstanding Hitter and Platinum Stick winner in center really knows how to take it to opposing pitchers. Last season he was challenged time and time again right down the pipe, and he delivered with a .427/.487/.848 slash line. He also hit 15 HR and 51 RBI in just 40 games, and has incredible range and speed. Batavia is in line to have the first pick of the draft, and it might be hard to pass on McAnally. Reports are though that Montreal is already offering the farm in order to move up, believing he could be a star both on the field and in the locker room.
Five Things We Think We Think
1. Jett Speer was unloaded by Indy to Phoenix last month for a 10th round pick, as the 36 year old was struggling. In 54 games as a Clown he was hitting .199 with 8 HR, 20 RBI and a 0.6 WAR. So far in 20 games in the desert he's hitting .312 with 6 HR, 16 RBI, and a 1.0 WAR. He was also just named the Player of the Week, his first such award since 2058 when he won the Brewmasters with Baltimore. This is Speer's fifth organization he's played for. Drafted by Cali in 2044 he played sparingly for the Kodiaks until he was traded to Dallas in 2051. After never putting up higher than a 0.7 WAR, he put up a 5.3 WAR in 2053 and 4.4 in 2054. He was then signed by Baltimore where he put up four pretty good seasons. Indy took a turn at him, and he plummeted back to California numbers. It's a short sample size, but he seems to have rebounded again.
2. Evan Turner re-upped this week in Carolina to the tune of four years and $88,000,000. From 2055 to 2057 there was no one better in the league as his 20.5 WAR was over a point and half higher than second place. It's hard to believe he's only 26, but as of late he doesn't scare opposing pitcher like that anymore. Still though the 5x All-Star, 5x Designated Driver, and 2056 Stout Slugger is a solid outfielder who can easily hit 30 HR and steal 30 bases a season. The former #1 pick deserves the chance to play in Carolina at least until he's in his 30's.
3. Speaking of Tobs, where have you gone Charlie Spence, the state of Carolina turns its lonely eyes to you. In 19 starts the 30 year old is 4-11 with a 4.79 ERA. Looking closer though he's once again on pace for an absurd 356 strikeouts, and is projected to reach an 8.0 WAR. That would be the second highest of his career, behind only 2056 (8.6 WAR) when he was 21-4 with a 2.51 ERA and set the single season strikeout record. Part of the issue is his run support, as his 2.4 RSG is the lowest of his career. Also when you look at his FIP, which is at 2.28, that's also only been bettered by the 2056 campaign (2.25). In fact it's the lowest in the league, which is why he was just named an All-Star. As we've seen around the league, it's just a strange season. Sometimes the ball just doesn't bounce your way.
4. Congrats to Cayden Wittmeyer who reached 3000 strikeouts on July 13th against Denver. In the top of the 8th he struck out Liam Gill to move to 2,999, then struck out TJ Carter two batters later for the big 3,000. Unfortunately the game was stopped for a short presentation and Wittmeyer got completely out of his groove. Up to that point he had allowed no runs, just two hits and struck out 13 batters. After the ceremony he allowed a single, then double, a run to score, and promptly got pulled. Newly acquired J.D. 'Spoon' de Leon came in and gave up a single (another run), then a two-run home run before getting Kyle Burns to fly out to end the inning. The Pilots ended up winning in the bottom of the 12th, but Wittmeyer was visible upset after leaving the game. Still though the 34 year old, and first overall pick by Maine in 2046, has turned into everything that pick should be. Lifetime he's now 175-104 with a 3.38 ERA, 44.1 WAR, 118 ERA+, and 3000 strikeouts. He's also been a 5x All-Star and won the 2057 Pale Ale.
5. What's on tap? We're back at it with a full slate of games and we're excited to see Baltimore at Phoenix. Both teams are first in their division, and trying to hold off two very strong second place teams in New York and Seattle. So far this season the Roadrunners have won six of the seven games against the Bulldogs and have outscored them by 15 runs. Phoenix is first in runs scored, first in runs allowed, and 49-20 since May 1st. The Bulldogs are second in runs allowed, and first in hits, but are still struggling to score runs. They are 5th in both home runs and runs scored, and might go looking for a bat to help out Val Schmit (.282, 26 HR, 63 RBI).
Stat of the Week
.
| Unluckiest Teams Based on Pythagorean Record (Top 25 Teams) |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|