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09/19/2061
Boom! With a 6-1 week that included a three-game sweep of Denver, it appears the Seattle Pilots are close to completing a massive turnaround and going back to the postseason. After starting the season by going 9-17, then having a 12-18 August, they are now 9-1 over their last ten and lead Windy City by one game for the final Wild Card spot. In the Domestic all the news has been on Maine. They also started out the year rather poorly with a 3-14 record, and now are a 100% lock to win the Ale and have a good chance to hold HFA throughout the playoffs. Other big weeks were New Orleans who went 5-1, and took over the Lager by half a game, and California who went 5-2 to more than likely punch their playoff ticket as well.
Power Rankings
1) Maine Guides (112.4, o)
2) New Orleans Voodoo (108.0, +)
3) Seattle Pilots (104.7, ++)
4) Phoenix Roadrunners (104.0, +)
5) Montreal Exports (103.4, --)
6) California Kodiaks (102.8, ++)
7) Wilmington Wildcats (102.1, +)
8) Baltimore Bulldogs (101.2, --)
9) Toronto Canadians (100.9, ++)
10) New York Cyclones (99.7, --)
11) Pawtucket Patriots (99.5, --)
12) Washington Bats (96.5, -)
13) Windy City Blues (94.6, ++)
14) Denver Bulls (90.8, -)
15) Syracuse Snappers (89.0, -)
16) Dallas Drillers (84.3, ++)
17) Pittsburgh Millers (80.3, +)
18) Carolina Tobs (79.7, -)
19) Batavia Muckdogs (79.3, -)
20) Indianapolis Clowns (77.4, --)
21) Los Angeles Dinos (68.4, o)
22) Philadelphia Freedom (66.7, o)
23) Hartford Whalers (58.1, o)
24) Santo Domingo Rum Runners (53.8, o)
Performance of the Week
LF Spencer Stephens - The 22 year old is already in his third year and has turned into one of the best players in the league. This past week against LAD he smashed two home runs, drove in six, and scored three times as Cali won 9-2. He's currently hitting .309/.371/.595 with 34 HR, 115 RBI, and 43 stolen bases while posting a 7.1 WAR. Stephens is the only player in the league that was close to accomplishing the rare 40-40 feat, but with his talents he might end up reaching it more than once before his playing days are over.
Prospect of the Week
1B Levi Lane - Calling him a first basemen might be a bit of a stretch. Calling him a generational slugger who could post an OBP over .400 is not. Yes we know the kids only 19, but he has a chance to combine contact and power with an ability to draw walks that could be special. In three seasons at USC he's posted a .299/.443/.595 slash line while hitting 42 home runs and driving in 104 runs. Lane will be eligible for next years draft and could be a top three pick.
Five Things We Think We Think
1. It took until mid September but it appears the Domestic League playoffs have been set. Maine will win the Ale, and either New Orleans or Montreal will win the Lager. The Wild Card will then be the 'Lager Loser' in the top spot with Wilmington, Pawtucket and Toronto still fighting for seeding. In the Import both divisions are still up for grabs, but the only playoff drama now comes down to Seattle and Windy City. The Pilots hold a single game lead, and are hot-hot-hot. Ryan Carr has been on fire, so much so that he's suspended another game for arguing with the umpire two days ago. Both teams have 10 games left, with the Blues having seven at home while the Pilots have six at The Port. Sadly they don't meet as Seattle plays LAD, Carolina, and Phoenix while Windy City plays California, Batavia, and LAD.
2. Everything has gone right for Maine this season. Free agent pick up Frank 'Slugger' Memmi leads the entire league with 42 home runs, and the Guides are 27-17 in one-run games, 7-4 in extra inning games, and lead the league with a whopping +13 PYT. They also have a run differential of -3, but are 26 games over .500. The only other team with a negative R/D and winning record is Toronto. They are 81-71 but have a R/D of -34. It's amazing to think that Phoenix has a R/D of 117 more than Maine, yet has two less wins.
3. Byron Carlton has been the only bright spot in a dreadful Millers season. He now has a 15 game hitting streak going and was just named Player of the Week for the second consecutive week. The ninth pick of the 2057 draft is hitting .334/.379/.569 with 24 HR, 70 RBI, and 34 SB while posting a +2.1 ZR in left field. The rest of the team though has just been awful as Pittsburgh is 9th in hits, 10th in runs scored, and 11th in on base percentage. Throw in pitchers Colin Holdin and Cody Nemes, who are a combined 2-11 in their last 16 starts, and the season can't end soon enough.
4. The minor league playoffs are wrapping up. At the AAA level the Flushing Chiefs (LAD) and Lynn Patriots (PAW) are playing for the Horizon Cup. Meanwhile in AA, A, and the Rookie League they are all only one game into the LCS. In the RL Porter LCS, Rocky Mountain (NYC) currently has a 1-0 lead on Omaha (WAS). The Oysters posted a 91-29 record this season, the best in all the minors. Yet they only won their division by four games...over Omaha. Looks like New York and Washington might be pretty good in a few seasons, which should give those 'struggling' franchises some much needed help down the road.
5. What's on tap? How about Baltimore at New York for the Stout title? Okay maybe it won't quite settle things, but it has the potential. A New York sweep would all but assure them a first round bye and their first division title since 2006! A sweep for Baltimore might do the same, except it would be their first division title since...well...last season. You don't get an exclamation point for that. Fortunately for New York they are 6-3 against Baltimore this season. Unfortunately for New York they have to travel to California after facing the Bulldogs. The other big series is New Orleans hosting Montreal. They are also separated by a half game and just like the other series it might settle the division race. The Voodoo hold a 6-3 advantage and are 54-20 at home this season. Looks like some tough sledding for Montreal.
Stat of the Week
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| Highest Percentage of RBI from Home Runs (Top 25 Players, Minimum 20 RBI) |
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