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07/03/2062
Welp we didn't have to change the Power Ranking logo as the Exports continue to cruise. At 51-28 they are the only team in the BLB with more than 50 wins, and that's after going 3-3 this past week. Last week's top teams though were Denver who went 5-1, and Dallas, Batavia, and New Orleans who all went 5-2. On the other side of life Philly and Baltimore went 1-5. Stat wise New York hit .330, Washington crushed 12 home runs, Pawtucket scored 43 runs, California gave up just nine runs (imagine if they could hit with runners on base), and Denver gave up just one home run (apparently their opponent can't hit them either).
Power Rankings
1) Montreal Exports (121.2, o)
2) New Orleans Voodoo (114.8, o)
3) New York Cyclones (109.9, o)
4) Denver Bulls (108.5, ++)
5) Pawtucket Patriots (103.9, ++)
6) Windy City Blues (103.5, ++)
7) Los Angeles Dinos (102.9, --)
8) California Kodiaks (102.2, ++)
9) Carolina Tobs (99.5, --)
10) Washington Bats (98.2, --)
11) Wilmington Wildcats (98.1, --)
12) Santo Domingo Rum Runners (93.0, +)
13) Toronto Canadians (90.3, --)
14) Phoenix Roadrunners (89.9, o)
15) Dallas Drillers (87.3, ++)
16) Maine Guides (82.4, o)
17) Indianapolis Clowns (80.8, o)
18) Pittsburgh Millers (80.8, +)
19) Batavia Muckdogs (73.8, ++)
20) Baltimore Bulldogs (72.8, --)
21) Syracuse Snappers (68.2, -)
22) Hartford Whalers (66.5, +)
23) Philadelphia Freedom (62.2, -)
24) Seattle Pilots (47.1, o)
Performance of the Week
C Andy 'Turk' Christman - The only player in the league who might be better is teammate Teddy Burch, which is just scary for the rest of the teamsto think about. Christman though has become the greatest catcher this league has seen in a long time, not only at the plate where he's hitting .305 with 15 HR, 43 RBI with a 147 OPS+, but behind the plate where he's thrown out almost 40% of base runners while putting up a +2.1 ZR. This past week against Maine he turned in the 14th best performance of the season when he hit two home runs, drove in five, and scored three times as the Exports won easily 10-4. Drafted first overall in 2057 he's become everything the Exports hoped he would become.
Prospect of the Week
P Rohan 'The Professor' Zezulka - The 16 year old is the top rated HS pitcher with one of the most impressive repertoire of pitches we've ever seen. He throws a slider, curve, change-up, splitter, cutter, and knuckle curve. He also can already hit 95 mph on the gun, and scouts believe he has the ability to keep opponents from hitting home runs and eventually anchor a rotation someday. Originally from Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, he is 6-2 with a 3.47 ERA in 19 high school starts to date.
Five Things We Think We Think
1. Someone break up the Bulls. After going 7-12 to start the season the GM was at the end of his wits. Then in June they decided to go 23-6 and they now lead the Bock by a game. They are still 10th in the Import in home runs, but they've moved up to second in average and fifth in runs scored. Unfortunately they caught the injury bug this past week as Oscar McKinney and Johnathan 'Stony' Wang will miss four and five weeks respectively with a fractured foot and strained hamstring. Still though we haven't seen a month like that from any team in a long time. When you start the month second to last in the division and end the month first, that's bound to make a few smiles appear in the front office.
2. With the rise of one empire comes the fall of another. It's been a long time since Baltimore hasn't been a top three, or even top two team in the league. Yet here we sit in July and they are 35-43 and 12.5 games out of first in the Stout. To throw salt on the wound every single one of their minor league teams has a losing record, and their minor league system is ranked 18th overall. Not a lot to cheer for now, not a lot to cheer for in the future. It's been a heck of a run though. From 2050 until 2061 this team went to the playoffs eleven out of twelve seasons, won 90 or more games eight times, and captured the 2058 Brew with a 4-1 thrashing of Pittsburgh. We don't hear any singing though, so they still have a chance. Can some of the old veterans on this team will them back to one last postseason appearance?
3. Denver was the big winner of June, but Carolina was right behind them at 19-9. The Tobs have had a resurgence themselves thanks to Evan Olsen who leads the league in average (.363) and RBI (74). The 21 year old was the second overall pick of the 2061 draft out of UNLV and is absolutely lighting up the league. Throw in 32 year old pitcher Chase Vaughan, who is 13-1 with a 2.32 ERA and 169 ERA+ and the Tobs might be postseason bound for the first time since 2057. Vaughan hasn't lost in 15 starts, and has won 13 straight decisions as it's become the year of the Tob. Currently their playoff odds are at 92.6%, while they have a 26% chance of winning the division. The Cyclones currently have a 2.5 game lead, but since there are 82 games left to play we won't quite call it yet.
4. Pawtucket is already running away with the 'Awful Ale' as they've built a 7.5 game lead and are the only team in the division with a winning record. Even after a 15-13 June, it doesn't look like anyone will catch them. Rookie sensation Brian Van Hook is hitting .318/.352/.555 with 14 HR, 48 RBI, 19 SB, and +1.4 ZR in center. He also just took home the Rookie of the Month and Batter of the Month awards. The Patriots also just resigned slugger and last years playoff hero Trent West to another four years at a cool $44.5 million. West is currently hitting .254 and is second in the Domestic with 22 home runs. Pawtucket is first in OBP, OPS, runs scored, and walks, and second in SLG, XBH, and home runs. Once again it looks like they are primed for a deep playoff run.
5. What's on tap? How about some 'Brutal Bock' love as Windy City travels to California. The Blues and Kodiaks are second and third in the Bock, yet both are only a game back. One game behind them is Los Angeles, where their new GM has the rebuild in overdrive. The 42-36 Dinos travel to Washington this week for a big four-game series to see if they are all they are cracked up to be. So far this year LAD has the 3-1 advantage over the Bats with a +11 R/D in that previous series. Streak wise Baltimore has lost four straight, while California's Stephen Caskey has an 18 game hitting streak.
Stat of the Week
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