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05/07/2063
It's already May as season 85 of the BLB is in full swing. This past week Maine and LAD were the crown princes as they both went 5-1. The Guides swept Dallas while LAD swept New York. Some other winning weeks belonged to Pawtucket, Cali, Denver, Washington, and and Carolina who all went 4-2. On the other side of life Toronto went 1-5. The Canadians are down after losing last years Brew, but definitely not out. Even at 10-16 and 6.5 games back in the Lager this team is too talented for the front office and fans to start to worry yet.
Power Rankings
1) California Kodiaks (134.6, o)
2) Washington Bats (127.6, +)
3) Wilmington Wildcats (121.2, +)
4) Maine Guides (119.8, ++)
5) Windy City Blues (116.3, --)
6) Denver Bulls (112.0, o)
7) Pawtucket Patriots (106.8, ++)
8) Indianapolis Clowns (99.0, o)
9) Los Angeles Dinos (98.0, ++)
10) Santo Domingo Rum Runners (94.3, ++)
11) Montreal Exports (91.6, --)
12) Carolina Tobs (89.6, ++)
13) Hartford Whalers (88.0, -)
14) Syracuse Snappers (86.7, ++)
15) New Orleans Voodoo (82.7, -)
16) Philadelphia Freedom (80.1, --)
17) New York Cyclones (78.2, o)
18) Baltimore Bulldogs (75.0, --)
19) Pittsburgh Millers (66.8, ++)
20) Dallas Drillers (64.2, -)
21) Toronto Canadians (62.2, --)
22) Seattle Pilots (61.7, -)
23) Batavia Muckdogs (61.0, -)
24) Phoenix Roadrunners (52.4, o)
Performance of the Week
P Rick 'Barracuda' Robertson - Originally drafted by the Indy Racers back in 2050, he's been a lifelong Wildcat in the BLB. If this doesn't make sense to you then go ask the Indy Clown GM to explain it. Anyways the 75th overall pick has turned into quite the selection as he's been to six All-Star games and helped lead Wilmington to the 2057 title. He's also only 30 years old and still pitching in his prime, as Hartford found out two days ago. Over nine innings 'Barracuda' allowed just three hits, no walks, and struck out eight. Unfortunately the Wildcats failed to score as well and it went into extras. They ended up prevailing in the 12th but Robertson got his third straight no decision.
Prospect of the Week
CF Steve bin Hakim - Discovered by scouts in 2056 out of the baseball hotbed of Algeria, Steve is currently the 41st overall prospect in the league. At 22 years old he's in A ball, where in 16 games he's smashed nine home runs while driving in 21. He also has the speed and range to be a top flight center fielder. Coaches love his work ethic and scouts think he could be a "first division starter" down the road. Looks like the Canadians might have found a diamond in the rough.
Five Things We Think We Think
1. The month of May has come and gone, so time for a quick recap. California was the top team in all the land with a 15-5 record. They scored 105 runs, second in the league, while throwing up a 2.76 ERA and allowing only 58 runs. Plus 47 runs for a shortened month is ridiculous. The Bats from Washington came in second with a 15-6 record. They were ninth in runs scored (95), but won thanks to pitching and defense as they were third in runs allowed (61). Following them were Windy City (14-7), and Wilmington (13-7). On the other side of life Batavia and Phoenix each went 6-15. Some team leaders: Syracuse scored 106 runs, New Orleans hit 27 home runs, and Cali swiped 40 bases. Denver meanwhile allowed just 53 runs while opponents hit .214 off the Bats.
2. Frank 'Slugger' Memmi is off to another hot start as the now 34 year old continues to be a star for the Guides offense. So far in 18 games he's hitting .338/.430/.926 with a league leading 11 home runs and 27 runs driven in. In 465 career games with the Kodiaks he hit .235/.333/.463 with 99 HR and 276 RBI. In 323 games with Maine he's hit .272/.352/.566 with 100 HR and 238 RBI, while putting up 4.1 WAR more for the Guides. He hit 44 home runs two seasons again, 45 last year, and is now on pace for 69 this season! That's some nice production from a guy who's made just $23m during his three seasons in Maine, or $5m less than California paid him in his first season in the league.
3. Is this the year of the pitcher? California legend Charlie Spence is 5-0 with a 1.56 ERA. Baltimore legend Jannero Peter is 6-0 with a 1.82 ERA. Pittsburgh legend Stephen Gibbs (formerly Baltimore legend) is 1-3 with a 6.91 ERA. Considering Gibbs is ranked by the OSA as a top eight pitcher in the league, and the Millers paid him $92,000,000 this off-season, we think some heads might roll. Back to the good pitchers though. Spence has been everything he was asked to be when the Kodiaks acquired him from Carolina. He won the Pale Ale in 2061 and finished second in voting last season, while breaking his own single season strikeout record. This season he's on pace to go 30-0 and has California atop the power rankings. Peter meanwhile has been untouchable once again. The 8x All-Star, and two time Pale Ale winner is 35 years old but playing like 25. During that season he won his first Pale Ale by going 19-3 with a 1.96 ERA. Here we are a decade later and he's just as dominant.
4. If this is the end it was a good run for the Roadrunners. After seasons of futility they went to the playoffs five times in six seasons from 2056 to 2061, and made it to the Brewmasters twice. Alas all good runs must come to an end (unless you play baseball in the nations capital). The preseason predictions had Phoenix at 69-93 and last in the Bock. The Daily Keg had them last in the Bock. Now it's May 7th and Phoenix is 8-18 and last in the Bock. With the fourth highest payroll in the league, the Roadrunners have a projected balance of -$54,030,246 this season thanks in part to six players making more than $12m. It looks like the cuts and trades might start coming fast and furious as they try and rebuild for the future. With a dedicated GM and some young talent hopefully for the fans sake it doesn't take too long.
5. What's on tap? How about a bunch of divisional match-ups that features teams who haven't met yet this season. Windy City at Cali, New Orleans at Wilmington, Montreal at Santo Domingo, and Washington at Philly are a few of our favorite. Streak wise Pawtucket and LAD have won four straight, while Frank Memmi and Kellen Todd (HAR) have homered in three straight games.
Weekly Milestones
LF Darrin Cramer (IND), 30 yo, reached 500 hits
3B Erik Gripka (CHI), 23 yo, reached 250 hits
3B J.C. Creamer (WAS), 24 yo, reached 250 hits
RF Scott Davila (CAR), 28 yo, reached 250 hits
2B Jay Sharpe (CHI), 22 yo, reached 100 hits
1B Nigel Torres (CHI), 23 yo, reached 100 hits
SS Peter Wingenbach (CHI), 26 yo, reached 100 hits
SS Jim Jimenez (WIL), 22 yo, hit his first home run
SS Vern Morales (BAT), 22 yo, hit his first home run
RF Marcus Valdez (MAI), 22 yo, hit his first home run
2B Lon Leseberg (NO), 29 yo, reached 500 extra base hits
2B James Hylton (BAT), 28 yo, reached 400 extra base hits
CF Teddy Burch (MON), 24 yo, reached 200 extra base hits
3B Marcus Fahr (CAR), 25 yo, reached 200 extra base hits
3B Erik Gripka (CHI), 23 yo, reached 100 extra base hits
P Bobby Ferguson (BAT), 35 yo, reached 100 wins
P Justin Casey (WAS), 27 yo, reached 50 wins
P Conner Cook (NO), 29 yo, reached 1500 strikeouts
P Keegan Groves (PHO), 35 yo, reached 1000 strikeouts
P Dawson Hupp (NYC), 33 yo, reached 1000 strikeouts
P Steven Frack (BAT), 29 yo, reached 500 strikeouts
P Turner Hicks (PHI), 33 yo, reached 500 strikeouts
Stat of the Week
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| Longest Postseason Drought |