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07/11/2061
Toronto and California continue their climb as they both go 6-0 by laying waste and destruction to their interleague foes. The Canadians took out Carolina and Washington, while California beat up on Syracuse and Wilmington. Both teams are now second in their division as their ascension into the history books continues. Well maybe not that dramatic for July 11th, but at least it's a start. The other top weeks were had by Philly, Maine, and Seattle who all went 5-1. On the other side of life Wilmington went 0-6, while Pawtucket, Carolina, New Orleans, and Indy all went 1-5. Once again it appears the poor Domestic got abused as they went a combined 28-44 on the week.
Power Rankings
1) New York Cyclones (115.7, o)
2) Baltimore Bulldogs (111.8, +)
3) California Kodiaks (110.9, ++)
4) Maine Guides (108.9, ++)
5) Montreal Exports (107.8, -)
6) Phoenix Roadrunners (107.6, --)
7) Toronto Canadians (106.9, ++)
8) Syracuse Snappers (99.1, --)
9) Washington Bats (97.6, -)
10) Seattle Pilots (94.0, ++)
11) Pawtucket Patriots (89.9, --)
12) Windy City Blues (86.0, +)
13) Dallas Drillers (85.0, -)
14) Batavia Muckdogs (84.9, ++)
15) Denver Bulls (83.1, +)
16) New Orleans Voodoo (82.0, -)
17) Pittsburgh Millers (81.1, o)
18) Wilmington Wildcats (81.0, --)
19) Los Angeles Dinos (78.2, +)
20) Santo Domingo Rum Runners (77.3, -)
21) Philadelphia Freedom (75.2, +)
22) Carolina Tobs (71.0, --)
23) Indianapolis Clowns (70.5, -)
24) Hartford Whalers (57.0, o)
Performance of the Week
Jakob Hilliard - The undrafted gunslinger continues to be a key part of the Roadrunner rotation and showed why once again last week against Hartford. Over eight innings he allowed just two hits, no runs, no walks, and struck out 13 as Phoenix won 3-0. The 26 year old is now 12-4 with a 4.10 ERA and 100 ERA+ on the season.
Prospect of the Week
P Keanu Concepcion - Drafted seventh overall last season, Concepcion won't be 22 until next month but is already in AAA for the Patriots. There he's a solid 6-1 with a 1.98 ERA and 234 ERA+ in 11 starts. He was called up to the majors at the beginning of the season, but was sent down last month after being 0-2 with a 6.00 ERA in five starts. Scouts think he can anchor a rotation though, as he still has some growth to do. We think he'll be back in the bigs sooner than later.
Five Things We Think We Think
1. Hats off to the Drillers who have amassed their own "Old-Timers" roster. Two of those guys, Aubrey 'Gypsy' Albano and Dez Swanson had big weeks in the history books. Swanson reached 2000 hits, which only 203 players have reached in their career. Meanwhile Albano reached 4000 hits, which only one player has reached in their career. Taking nothing away from Swanson, a 4x All-Star and 3x DWI winner, but it's just unfathomable what Albano has done. We've already covered him extensively this season as he approached the milestone, but the 40 year old has almost 400 more hits than second place all-time, Pat 'Melody' Nunes. He's also in the running to get selected to the All-Star team in two days, which would be his 13th time. His lifetime average of .335 is only surpassed by Jaime Rush and Hector Chavez*.
2. The Wild Card race update still features seven teams in the Domestic within six games...for four spots. Meanwhile in the Import Baltimore or New York seem to have the top spot locked down, while six teams are within 10 games for three spots. With 71 or more games to go we won't be putting down any bets very soon, but it will be fun to watch unravel. Strength of schedule wise poor Denver has the hardest road (.519), while Montreal has the easiest (.484). For average wins the Bulldogs come out on top with 95.4, while Hartford is still the favorite for the 2062 top pick at 62.1.
3. Charlie Spence is now 3-0 with a 0.31 ERA and 1288 ERA+ in four starts for the Kodiaks. Expecting nothing less than for him to never lose a game again, the Kodiak front office quickly signed him to a 4 year/$112m extension yesterday. This past week against Syracuse he dominated the Snappers with a 17 strikeout game, which surpassed the California regular season game record for strikeouts by two. The guys been in town 20 days and he's already setting records. He's also still on pace for a ridiculous 374 strikeouts and has once again solidified himself as the best pitcher in the game. With California a surprising 27-10 since June 1st it appears the sky is the limit for Spence and the Kodiaks.
4. The next all-time record to fall is creeping closer by the start. Washington pitcher Reid Rothstein now has 3,567 career strikeouts, third most in BLB history. He's just three short of Hall of Fame pitcher Johnny McDade, and 30 short of leader (and HoF'er) D.J. 'The Brick' Engstrom. Even at 40 years old Rothstein has been a respectable 5-5 with a 4.75 ERA in 18 starts this season, his 18th of his career. To make him, and the rest of us, feel old...a year after he was drafted was when the fifth overall prospect in the league, pitcher Oscar Kiss, was born.
5. What's on tap? How about All-Star weekend. The game is back and better than ever as the soon to be named 2061 All-Stars will travel to Seattle this year. With temperatures predicted to be in the mid-60's it should be another great long weekend in the history of the BLB. Before that we get a short week though that features Pawtucket at Maine (the Guides now lead the Ale), Wilmington at Dallas (the Drillers have a .001 lead over the Wildcats in the Lager), and New York at Baltimore (a Bulldogs sweep would put them first in the Stout).
Stat of the Week
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