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04/23/2063
And we're back for the 85th season of the BLB. No one told us the season started so we missed week one, but that's okay because it was just week one! First off congrats to the Denver Bulls, the 2062 Brewers League Baseball champions. Now that's a phrase we haven't heard in a while...or ever. In a season that saw them win 96 games, the fourth most in their history, they took down California in seven, Windy City in seven, and finally Toronto in six to bring home the franchises first ever title. Hats off once again!
Enough with the past though, onto the present! This past week was interleague as we saw the Wilmington Wildcats post the best record in the BLB as they went 5-1. They swept Seattle and took two of three from those aforementioned Bulls. We then had seven teams go 4-2, seven teams go 3-3, and nine teams go 2-4. Not too many ups, not too many downs...just how we like it to start the season off.
Power Rankings
1) Washington Bats (146.5, o)
2) California Kodiaks (128.0, +)
3) Wilmington Wildcats (127.0, ++)
4) Syracuse Snappers (116.8, +)
5) Indianapolis Clowns (114.8, ++)
6) Santo Domingo Rum Runners (114.8, ++)
7) Windy City Blues (113.8, +)
8) Carolina Tobs (106.0, --)
9) Denver Bulls (97.9, -)
10) Pawtucket Patriots (95.9, -)
11) Toronto Canadians (95.9, --)
12) Baltimore Bulldogs (92.9, --)
13) Philadelphia Freedom (89.1, ++)
14) Los Angeles Dinos (85.1, +)
15) Montreal Exports (82.1, +)
16) New Orleans Voodoo (79.1, --)
17) Maine Guides (78.1, --)
18) New York Cyclones (70.2, ++)
19) Seattle Pilots (66.2, o)
20) Phoenix Roadrunners (65.2, -)
21) Hartford Whalers (64.2, --)
22) Pittsburgh Millers (55.0, -)
23) Dallas Drillers (50.4, o)
24) Batavia Muckdogs (35.5, o)
Performance of the Week
1B Levi Lane - The 21 year old is our vote for New Brew since he only had 106 at bats last season, and he justified our confidence in him by hitting two home runs and driving in five on Opening Day against the Patriots. He's now hitting .340 with 3 HR and 13 RBI on the season and is on pace for an 8.1 WAR. Drafted second overall last season out of USC he won the 2062 College World Series with the Trojans while also being named the NCAA Outstanding Hitter.
Prospect of the Week
CF Toby Foster - The top ranked hitter in all the land has started out his AAA career by smashing three home runs in six games, which by our metrics is not too shabby. With a work ethic second to none that has earned him the admiration of both his teammates and fans, the first overall pick of the 2061 draft could be in the majors before the season is over. At 6'2 he has the power potential to turn into a "human highlight film" according to scouts and we believe them. Combine the fact that he could be the best defensive corner outfielder in the game while stealing 75+ bases...goodness.
Five Things We Think We Think
1. Congrats to Jannero Peter of Baltimore who picked up his 200th career win. The 158th player taken in the 2045 draft turned out nicely. By nicely we mean two Pale Ale's, two DWI's, eight All-Star selections, and winning the 2058 Brewmasters with the Bulldogs. His 73.3 career WAR is almost double that of the second place pitcher from that draft, which happens to be Baltimore's eight round pick Oliver Lanham. The top hitter from that draft, Jerry 'Snake Hips' Coleman, check in with 'only' a 46.8 WAR. To say that Peter is a diamond in the rough might be an understatement, unless it's a very large diamond.
2. The Bats are back baby...but did they really ever leave? This team won 81 games in 2060, 87 games in 2061, and 88 games last season. This season they lead the BLB with a 10-3 record and our friends at Stats+ put their average wins at 89 games. Even with that 81 win season they've managed to go the playoffs 14 seasons in a row, while also winning the Brewmasters Cup in 2052, 2053, and 2055. This season they've gone to a six man lineup which so far in two weeks is first in runs allowed, hits allowed, and opponents average. Meanwhile their oldest player on offense is 30 year old Ty Dec. The Bats don't rebuild, they just reload. In 84 full seasons they've been to the playoffs an amazing 70 times while taking home 12 titles. They're simply the best, better than all the rest, better than anyone, anyone we've ever met.
3. Rick Anderson and Julian 'Skeeter' Ludin are deadlocked at 960 career stolen bases, and we're not sure how this one will play out. Anderson is about to turn 36, while 'Skeeter' just turned 37. They still have speed for days, have DWI potential in the infield, and could play a few more seasons. Anderson has struggled coming out the gate (.146, 2 RBI, 4 SB), while Ludin has not (.407, 2 RBI, 3 SB). If we had to guess we might give the nod to Ludin. He's a lifetime .305 hitter who's a career 79.3% base thief. Meanwhile Anderson is career .284 hitter who's seen his average go down four straight seasons. He's also the career leader in caught stealing (307), as his 75.7% stolen base success rate isn't up there with Ludin, but still impressive nonetheless.
4. With Denver winning the 2062 Brew, only two organizations in the BLB are without a title. The Philadelphia Freedom and Syracuse Snappers/Slammers were both founded in 1978 but haven't experienced the championship parade quite yet. The Freedom have been to the playoffs 29 times, the Snappers/Slammers 26 times. Alas together they are 0 for 55. The Slammers made it to the Brew in 2002 and 2041, but lost to Washington and Windy City. Meanwhile Philly went in 1984, 2010, 2017, and 2033 but lost to Maine, Pawtucket, Dallas, and Santo Domingo. It's bound to happen sooner or later, we just hope we're around to see it.
5. What's on tap? This week we get to see some fun divisional match-ups as LAD travels to Denver, Indy heads to Maine, Montreal hosts Toronto, and Syracuse hops over to Pawtucket. Streak wise Washington, Philly, and California have won four straight, while Robert Wenstrom of Syracuse has knocked in a run in seven straight games, including six all by himself two days ago against Baltimore.
Weekly Milestones
3B Jehvon Curry (LAD), 28 yo, reached 1000 hits
LF Danrad Orozco (NYC), 23 yo, reached 250 hits
SS Derek Rosado (MAI), 26 yo, reached 250 hits
C Randy Wassell (DEN), 24 yo, reached 100 hits
LF Cade McCormick (CHI), 28 yo, reached 250 home runs
RF Nelson Chandler (PHI), 24 yo, hit his first home run
C Mason Camillo (SDR), 23 yo, hit his first home run
SS Timon Angeles (PHO), 24 yo, hit his first home run
SS Keon Pryor (TOR), 27 yo, reached 300 extra base hits
2B Joseph Flynn (PHI), 30 yo, reached 200 extra base hits
SS Wellington Wingate (PHI), 27 yo, reached 200 extra base hits
RF Marquis Alagna (WIL), 25 yo, reached 100 extra base hits
P Jannero Peter (BAL), 35 yo, reached 200 wins (42 players have reached this milestone)
P Guy Hunnicutt (PHI), 27 yo, reached 100 saves
P Marc Carlson (SDR), 26 yo, reached 750 strikeouts
P Jim Miller (BAL), 25 yo, reached 250 strikeouts
Stat of the Week
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2063 DK Season Predictions
(once again the DK takes no responsibility for trades/injuries/OOTPR and should be used for entertainment value only)
Ale
x Pawtucket
Indy
Syracuse
Maine
Pittsburgh
Hartford
Lager
x Wilmington
z Montreal
z Toronto
z New Orleans
z Santo Domingo
Dallas
Stout
x Washington
z New York
Baltimore
Carolina
Philly
Batavia
Bock
x California
z Windy City
z Denver
z LAD
Seattle
Phoenix
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Wild Card
Montreal over Santo Domingo
New Orleans over Toronto
Windy City over LAD
New York over Denver
Divisional Series
Montreal over Pawtucket
Wilmington over New Orleans
Washington over New York
Windy City over California
League Championship
Wilmington over Montreal
Windy City over Washington
Brewmasters
Windy City over Wilmington 4-3
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Stout Slugger
Andy Christman - Montreal
Brad Castro - Windy City
Pale Ale
Zane Hastings - Toronto
Charlie Spence - California
Refreshing New Brew
Levi Lane - Hartford
Grant Henry - Windy City