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09/04/2062
Roster expansion and September baseball...who has it better than the BLB? Unlike a great poet from nearly 100 years ago, we don't want to wake up when September ends because we don't want to miss a thing. This past week some teams that didn't need to wake up were Pawtucket, California, Wilmington, and Windy City. They all went 6-1 to punch their ticket to the postseason (or close enough). Toronto was just behind them by going 5-1 and raising their playoff odds to 96.3%. On the other side of life Batavia and Pittsburgh both went 1-6. The Muckdogs have an 11% chance of capturing the first overall pick, but are doing their best to try and get it. Meanwhile the Millers has lost 12 of their last 15 games to completely blow their postseason chances. After a string of postseason appearances and two titles, the fans have all but given up on this once proud franchise.
Power Rankings
1) Montreal Exports (123.5, +)
2) Wilmington Wildcats (117.0, +)
3) Denver Bulls (114.6, -)
4) Windy City Blues (113.3, +)
5) Pawtucket Patriots (110.9, ++)
6) California Kodiaks (109.5, ++)
7) Phoenix Roadrunners (101.4, ++)
8) Los Angeles Dinos (100.4, -)
9) Carolina Tobs (100.4, -)
10) New York Cyclones (99.9, --)
11) Toronto Canadians (98.0, +)
12) New Orleans Voodoo (95.2, --)
13) Washington Bats (87.4, --)
14) Santo Domingo Rum Runners (87.0, ++)
15) Syracuse Snappers (86.3, -)
16) Maine Guides (82.3, o)
17) Dallas Drillers (74.8, ++)
18) Indianapolis Clowns (74.6, --)
19) Baltimore Bulldogs (73.1, o)
20) Pittsburgh Millers (70.6, -)
21) Philadelphia Freedom (69.3, o)
22) Hartford Whalers (64.9, o)
23) Seattle Pilots (58.5, o)
Performance of the Week
RF Donald Dworkin - The fourth overall pick of the 2055 draft has been in the majors since 2058, where he's been a solid producer in the lineup. Unfortunately this season has been the anomaly as his projected 1.0 WAR is not what the Muckdogs need. He did show what he's capable of this past week against Carolina, but then again so did everyone else it appears. In a 24-3 shellacking of the Tobs, Dworkin had six hits, one home run, drove in four, and scored four times. His game score of 114 is the best this season, and nine points higher than second place.
Prospect of the Week
RF David Hankins - He spent the first part of the year in the Rookie League, but the 20 year old got called up to A ball on July 17th and hasn't looked back. So far in 37 games he's hitting .314 with 10 HR, 24 RBI and a 152 OBS+. Drafted 22nd overall by Wilmington in 2060 he's now the 62nd ranked prospect in the league. Scouts love his power with the bat and speed on defense, and with one of the strongest arms in the minors he could eventually play all three outfield positions.
Five Things We Think We Think
1. In one week it appears the playoffs scenarios shifted...a lot. In the Domestic it's all but settled except for the the final Wild Card spot, which the Rum Runners are in the drivers seat for. With an almost 50% chance of capturing it according to Stats+, they currently hold a 3.5 game lead over Syracuse and Maine, followed by Indy and Pittsburgh at four games. Let's be honest though, those numbers could change by next Monday. One thing not going for them is that out of those teams they have the hardest remaining schedule with an opponents remaining SOS of .524. Meanwhile the Snappers have the easiest at .476. In the Import meanwhile it's a blood bath as eight teams have 71 or more wins, double the Domestic. As of now it appears Denver, Windy City, Cali, and New York are in. The remaining two teams will come from Phoenix, LAD, Carolina, and Washington. The Roadrunners are the favorites at 74.7%, while Carolina has the easiest remaining schedule.
2. Welcome to the league Levi Lane. The Hartford Whalers are long out of the playoff race, but the fans were in for a treat as the 20 year old got the call up this past week and played in two major league games. In eight at bats hit hit .375 while smacking two home runs and driving in three. Drafted second overall this season, he was playing for USC just a few months ago where he won the 2062 College World Series and took home the NCAA Outstanding Hitter Award. After being drafted he played 24 games in A ball, 24 games in AA, and just 11 games in AAA before his August 28th debut.
3. The road is not friendly as only five teams have winning records away from home. Three of them (WIL, NY, CAR) are a combined +6, while California is +8 and Montreal is +7. Meanwhile on the home front no one does it better than the Bulls. Denver is 53-19 at Rocky Top Park this season, followed closely by Montreal who is 53-22, then Windy City who is 47-22. In fact only three teams in the entire league have a losing record at home...Pittsburgh, Seattle and Batavia. The team that suffers the most though has to be the Whalers. They are 33-31 at home, and 19-49 on the road. Maybe it's time to upgrade the yellow school bus they've been using to get around the country.
4. Lon Leseberg is currently on the 'Who's Hot' list while also showing up in the Triple Crown race. Not bad for a guy who finished second in the New Brew in 2055, put up a 2.2 WAR in 2056, then started off 2057 hitting .242 and got shipped out of California to New Orleans for a pick and C.J. 'Splits' Spicer. Leseberg didn't regain his form much the rest of the season with the Voodoo, but from 2058 to present he's hit .300 with 109 HR and 446 RBI while putting up a 26.0 WAR. He was also named to the 2058, 2060, and 2062 All-Star teams. This season he's on pace for a 7.7 WAR. He won't win the Triple Crown as his average isn't anywhere near Pawtucket's Keith Friday, but it's been a heck of a run. Strangely Leseberg was shipped out the same year Frank Memmi was brought in. Memmi also found himself being shown the door four seasons later as well. Now residing in Maine he leads the league in home runs and is on pace for a 6.3 WAR himself. Sharing is caring, and it appears the Kodiaks care a lot.
5. What's on tap? It's the last interleague match-ups of the regular season and what could be better than a little potential Brewmasters preview as Montreal travels to Denver? The best record in each league squaring off for three...we'll get the popcorn ready. Some other great series are Pawtucket at Windy City, and Carolina at Wilmington. Streak wise Wilmington and Pawtucket have won six straight, Pittsburgh has lost six straight, and Kevin 'Dingus' Tickles (MON) hasn't lost in 11 straight starts.
Weekly Milestones
CF Henry Lennox (PIT), 20 yo, hit his first home run
LF Isaac Pack (PIT), 29 yo, reached 300 extra base hits
LF Eli Tracy (MON), 24 yo, reached 500 hits
3B Rory Elia Jr. (CAL), 22 yo, reached 250 hits
3B Trevor Master (SEA), 22 yo, reached 100 hits
3B Oscar Wilson (BAL), 23 yo, reached 100 hits
1B Johnny Jackson (WIL), 25 yo, reached 100 hits
RF Ezekiel Wolfson (CHI), 26 yo, reached 100 home runs
2B Dave Christal (CAR), 21 yo, hit his first home run
1B Levi Lane (HAR), 20 yo, hit his first home run
1B Rayshaun Stuart (DEN), 27 yo, reached 500 RBIs
CF Jaret Foley (MAI), 32 yo, reached 400 extra base hits
1B Frank Memmi (MAI), 33 yo, reached 300 extra base hits
RF Nathan Stiso (NO), 24 yo, reached 100 extra base hits
P Douglas Okeyo (CHI), 32 yo, reached 100 wins
P Abel Harreld (WIL), 27 yo, reached 500 strikeouts
P Owen Carr (HAR), 27 yo, reached 250 strikeouts
Stat of the Week
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