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05/16/2061
It was a good week to be a Denver Bull. With a sweep of Pittsburgh, and taking two of three against Indy, they are now 24-16 and just 2.5 back in the Bock. It was also a good week to be a Santo Domingo Rum Runners. All though the front office is in turmoil with reports the GM is stepping down, the players on the field took it to Batavia and Windy City to go 5-1 as well. On the flip side Carolina went 0-6, while Batavia, Syracuse, Indy, and LAD all went 1-5. At one point the Dinos had lost 15 straight games before an 8-1 victory over the Millers yesterday. Sometimes it just isn't your week...or two weeks...or month.
Power Rankings
1) Baltimore Bulldogs (134.0, o)
2) Washington Bats (131.0, o)
3) Phoenix Roadrunners (124.0, +)
4) Pawtucket Patriots (121.4, +)
5) New York Cyclones (115.7, o)
6) Montreal Exports (111.9, +)
7) Denver Bulls (111.0, +)
8) Syracuse Snappers (104.9, --)
9) Toronto Canadians (100.0, -)
10) Maine Guides (88.5, ++)
11) Wilmington Wildcats (84.5, ++)
12) New Orleans Voodoo (82.1, o)
13) Santo Domingo Rum Runners (81.8, ++)
14) Dallas Drillers (81.1, ++)
15) Pittsburgh Millers (80.1, -)
16) California Kodiaks (78.8, ++)
17) Batavia Muckdogs (75.5, --)
18) Windy City Blues (75.5, o)
19) Philadelphia Freedom (74.8, o)
20) Indianapolis Clowns (65.0, --)
21) Carolina Tobs (63.8, --)
22) Seattle Pilots (61.6, o)
23) Los Angeles Dinos (54.6, o)
24) Hartford Whalers (53.8, o)
Performance of the Week
P Cooper Welsh - The 31 year old bounced around over the last season, going from Indy to Wilmington to now California, but he's been a bright spot for the Kodiaks so far this season. This past week against Indy he went eight innings, allowed just two hits, one run, and struck out 13 as California won 5-1. In 8 starts this season he's now 4-3 with a 3.51 ERA and 115 ERA+.
Prospect of the Week
1B Nigel Torres - We think Windy City is quietly building a juggarnaut with guys like Torres leading the way. The 4th round pick from the 2057 draft has blossomed into a lights out prospect who could be in the BLB as soon as next year. In A ball he's crushing pitchers right now with a .306/.489/.592 slash line to go along with 8 HR and 20 RBI in just 29 games. Last season he was named to the Futures team and also helped lead the Boise Bluegills to the Rookie Cup.
Five Things We Think We Think
1. Franchises, like dynasties, rise and fall. As mentioned before, it's a good time to be a Denver Bull as they are on the rise. In the new age of the BLB where young hitters are leading the way, Alex Cain has become a force leading that rise. He's looking to repeat what Chase 'Havor' Calhoun did in 2058, as Cain is currently the front runners to win the Stout Slugger and New Brew. So far in 38 games he's hitting .372/.412/.650 with 8 HR, 23 RBI, and a league leading 27 stolen bases. He's also put up a +1.4 in ZR in 37 games in center. Drafted 1st overall last season he's a cornerstone player who could lead Denver back to the postseason and beyond.
2. Speaking of ol' 'Havoc', its nice to see Calhoun playing well again. After that amazing rookie season (.367, 13 HR, 106 RBI, 106 SB, 10.6 WAR) he's come back to earth a little. He was one of the first 'young guns' the league saw, and people were blown away. Now though with players like Cain, teammate Brian Wheat, Teddy Burch, Devin Cundiff, and Asher Kappler, we are truly in a new era. With players specializing more than ever, the ability for young players to play right way is truly turning franchises around. Okay back to Chase, we got a little distracted. This season in 39 games he's hitting .314/.356/.549 with 3 HR, 21 RBI, and 24 stolen bases. He's also started 23 games at second, and 14 games in left field. Calhoun's currently on pace for a 6.6 WAR, which would tie what he put up the last two seasons combined. Now it's time for Wheat to wake up and Toronto can get rolling. After back to back 8+ WAR seasons where he won the Stout Slugger both times, he's on pace for a 1.7 WAR year. We think he'll be fine though, especially if he stops trying to steal bases. So far this season he's swiped seven, but been thrown out 14 times. Over his career he's 98 for 213, or 46%. That's...not...good.
3. In the example of Wheat, the season to season variation in players (and teams) can be frustrating for fans. Look at Seattle. They've been to the playoffs 12 straight seasons, which is tied for the longest streak in the league (with who else but Washington). This season they are 14-25 as their pitching, usually their strong point, has let them down. They are last in the Import in home runs allowed, ninth in earned run average, and eighth in runs allowed. If we've seen it once, we've seen it a hundred times. Sometimes teams and players start out the season poorly. They get down on themselves, the fans start to turn, and they just can't climb back out of it. Sometimes they do though. Last season Washington was 13-27 and in last place in the Stout at about the same time of the season. They didn't panic, let their players play, and in the end they finished 81-81 and made the playoffs once again. This season they are 28-12 and a top their division. As a great BLB philosopher once said, water always finds its level.
4. Welcome to the show Rory Elia Jr. The second ranked prospect in the league made his debut this past week and hit .280 with his first BLB home run, while driving in four. He also swiped four bases, which is something his old man wasn't known for. His old man was known for a lot though as he was a 10x All-Star, won two Stout Sluggers, and led Carolina to the 2037 Brewmasters Cup where the Tobs took down Santo Domingo four games to one. Junior though has his own book to write. Born in 2040 in Denver, Colorado, he went to Chandler High school before being drafted first overall by California in 2058. He won the Rookie League cup with Austin a few months later, and was named to the 2059 and 2060 Futures team. Well the future appears to be now for the 20 year old. Scouts think he has the ability to be an elite third basemen, and instead of giving the rookie a hard time teammates have gravitated to him. With this be another anchor of the team who plays the next 20 season for the Kodiaks? They certainly hope so.
5. What's on tap? The top match-ups this week have to be New York at Washington, and Montreal and Toronto. The Cyclones are 24-14, yet three games behind Washington and Baltimore. They are trying to hold while they wait for star shortstop Alexander Charter to return from his hamstring issue. Washington is just Washington. They don't rebuild, they just reload. Parker Lee is on fire, Evan Baker is 5-0 with a 2.04 ERA, and catcher Joey Bell is another young star in their history of young stars. Meanwhile in the Domestic, the Canadians are two games back from the Exports. Both are teams with young stars that once again have championship aspirations. Toronto won it all in 2059, Montreal then won it all in 2060, and this could repeat for the next few seasons. Currently Montreal is first in OBP, OPS, and OPS+, while Toronto is first in runs scored, extra-base hits, and stolen bases. Looks like the fans are in for a treat!
Stat of the Week
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| Most Postseasons Played In (Top 25 Players) |
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