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08/15/2061
The Desert Birds go 6-0 with sweeps of Denver and Philly to now post the best record in the league and be atop the Power Rankings once again. The Clown from Indy also went 6-0, but at eight games back in the Wild Card all they are doing is moving in the draft...the wrong way. Coming in third was the Tobs at 5-1, while Maine and Syracuse went 5-2. On the flip side Pittsburgh went 0-6 to extend their league worst 10 game losing streak, while Montreal went 0-6 to end up now tied in the Lager with New Orleans.
Power Rankings
1) Phoenix Roadrunners (122.0, ++)
2) Maine Guides (114.7, ++)
3) New York Cyclones (111.1, +)
4) New Orleans Voodoo (105.0, -)
5) California Kodiaks (103.0, +)
6) Baltimore Bulldogs (102.1, --)
7) Wilmington Wildcats (101.4, ++)
8) Washington Bats (97.6, +)
9) Pawtucket Patriots (97.4, ++)
10) Toronto Canadians (96.0, -)
11) Syracuse Snappers (94.6, ++)
12) Windy City Blues (93.7, --)
13) Indianapolis Clowns (93.6, ++)
14) Montreal Exports (92.0, --)
15) Seattle Pilots (91.7, +)
16) Dallas Drillers (85.3, --)
17) Denver Bulls (84.0, --)
18) Carolina Tobs (83.6, o)
19) Batavia Muckdogs (76.8, --)
20) Los Angeles Dinos (70.7, +)
21) Santo Domingo Rum Runners (66.1, ++)
22) Hartford Whalers (58.9, -)
23) Pittsburgh Millers (58.6, --)
24) Philadelphia Freedom (51.9, -)
Performance of the Week
Parker Lee - The reports of his demise have been greatly exaggerated as Lee smashed two home runs and drove in seven in an 11-7 victory over California on August 19th. He now leads the BLB in home runs and RBI and continues to be who we though he was. He broke into the league in 2051, and from 2052 until now he's been one of the most consistent offensive performers in the game. His OPS+ over that time: 154, 156, 161, 154, 149, 172, 148, 164, 147, and 155.
Prospect of the Week
RF Zane Sirignano - Drafted 11th overall this year by Indy out of Oregon State, Zane lasted all of 24 games in A ball before getting called up to AA. When you're hitting .411/.477/.832 with 10 HR and 29 RBI in those 24 games you definitely need to move a step up. So far in 28 games now for the Shorebirds he's hitting a paltry .330/.407/.437.
Five Things We Think We Think
1. On August 1st, the Exports had a 7.5 game lead in the Lager over New Orleans. Now today they find themselves tied. So far they are 7-12 this month, which isn't horrible, but it isn't working out for them either since New Orleans is 14-4, Wilmington is 12-7, and Toronto is 12-8 over that time. Montreal's odds of winning the division are now at 46.1%, while New Orleans is at 38.1%. The good news for both is that they are probable shoo-ins for the postseason, but when you have to play in the Wild Card we all know anything can happen. If anyone is to blame for the downfall it's their pitching staff. Their 4.49 ERA is fourth worst in the league this month. With a tough week against Wilmington and Pawtucket it sure isn't going to get easier.
2. It was a big week for 30 year old Tom Ho of the Rum Runners. The IAFA from Myanmar signed with Washington in 2049. He won a championship in his 2055 rookie season, before being traded to Pawtucket in 2056. He then won a DWI for the Patriots in 2057 at second, before going to Pittsburgh in 2059 and now Santo Domingo in 2060. Over that time he's played in 596 games, but two days ago against Pittsburgh finally hit his first home run. Up 5-1 in the top of the 9th, Ho battled against Luke Clark of the Millers. On a 1-2 count he hit a ball 396 feet out to right-center that cleared the fence by a good 10 yards. Not the fastest, Ho was already rounding first and sprinting to second before he realized it was a home run. He kept running hard though before finally slowing down and getting mobbed at the plate by his teammates. A great day for Ho and par for the course for the Millers who allowed a league leading 13 home runs last week while sporting a 6.05 ERA.
3. Windy City is growing up before our eyes. The DK's next team of the mid 2060's (along with Denver) started out the season by going 12-14 in April. They then went 14-14 in May, 16-12 in June, 15-11 in July, and now 10-8 in August. With a 67-59 record they are holding down the final playoff spot in the Import, and have built a 3.5 game lead over Seattle. Led by 21 year old short stop Brad Castro, 25 year old outfielder Ezekiel Wolfson, and 22 year old center fielder Ralph Neben they have a bright future. Throw in future slugger and possible captain Nigel Torres, who leads a 6th ranked farm system, and we're excited to see what they will do.
4. The Roadrunners are 14-5 this month thanks in part to 35 year old starter Theodore Blume. In four starts this month he is 3-0 with a 2.22 ERA, 35 K's, and only five walks. Drafted 7th overall in 2043 by the Millers, he won the Pale Ale in 2051, 2051, and 2053. He never lead Pittsburgh to a title though, and in 2055 he was shipped off to Pawtucket after starting 1-6 with a 5.11 ERA. He ended up getting traded to Dallas in 2056 and rebounded with a huge 19-4, 2.95 ERA season in 2058. Of course it was an opt out year so off he went. He was quickly scooped up by California for $150m over six years but was traded to Batavia in 2060, then flipped to Phoenix seven months later after the season. On his sixth team, he's been to four All-Star games, but has never won a Brewmasters. Can he be the one who finally leads Phoenix back to the promised land? Time will tell.
5. What's on tap? In series that have big playoff implications we get to see Toronto at Dallas, Wilmington head north to Montreal, Syracuse host New Orleans, and Windy City goes to the desert to play Phoenix. Streak wise Indy and Phoenix have won six straight, Maine has won five straight, while Montreal has lost six straight, and Pittsburgh has lost 10 straight. Meanwhile 40 year old Aubrey 'Gypsy' Albano has a 23 game hitting streak, second longest in the BLB this season.
Stat of the Week
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