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07/02/2063
We missed the last few weeks and it appears that the Lager and Stout are over already. Congrats to the division champs, Wilmington and Washington. This past week though congrats to Batavia who went 7-0! When you think of unicorns you don't think of Muckdogs, but these Muckdogs are magical. They are now 35-45, which in the Domestic would mean just a few games back in the Wild Card race. Alas they are in the Import, which means they are six games back. Still though they have a shot. Some other perfect weeks were Montreal and Denver who each went 6-0. The Exports are back above .500 and second in the Wild Card race, while the defending champion Bulls are 48-30, and also in second place in the Wild Card. On the other side of life poor Phoenix went 0-7, while Baltimore and Santo Domingo went 0-6. The Roadrunners won 87 games last season and just missed the playoffs. They are currently on pace to win just 51 this year. Sometimes it just isn't your season.
Power Rankings
1) Wilmington Wildcats (136.9, o)
2) Washington Bats (130.9, o)
3) Denver Bulls (120.8, ++)
4) Windy City Blues (112.9, o)
5) California Kodiaks (111.1, -)
6) Montreal Exports (107.6, ++)
7) Los Angeles Dinos (103.5, -)
8) New Orleans Voodoo (98.7, ++)
9) Pawtucket Patriots (97.0, ++)
10) Pittsburgh Millers (93.2, -)
11) Batavia Muckdogs (91.8, ++)
12) New York Cyclones (89.3, --)
13) Indianapolis Clowns (87.0, o)
14) Carolina Tobs (86.8, --)
15) Toronto Canadians (82.9, +)
16) Maine Guides (81.1, +)
17) Seattle Pilots (78.5, ++)
18) Philadelphia Freedom (77.5, ++)
19) Santo Domingo Rum Runners (76.9, --)
20) Hartford Whalers (71.8, -)
21) Dallas Drillers (70.8, -)
22) Baltimore Bulldogs (67.1, --)
23) Syracuse Snappers (63.8, o)
24) Phoenix Roadrunners (19.5, o)
Performance of the Week
CF Henry Keddie - The Bats rookie lit up Windy City on June 28th in an 11-4 victory for Washington. Keddie went 4-4 with a home run, a double, two singles, and a walk while scoring four times and knocking in three. On the season the former second round pick is hitting .259 with 1 HR, 14 RBI, 25 SB while putting up a +2.7 ZR in center field.
Prospect of the Week
2B Fredrick 'Turf' Palumbo - The first overall pick of the 2063 draft is now the first overall prospect in the league. At just 17 years old he has a lot of growing to do, but if he reaches anywhere near that potential he has the ability to put the ball in play, put said ball over the fence, steal bases, and play at a high level defensive at second.
Five Things We Think We Think
1. The month of June is over as the Wilmington Wildcats absolutely demolished the league. We can't remember a month where a team has performed better as the Cats went 24-5. They scored the most runs and gave up the least runs, which is usually a recipe for success. They also crushed their enemies, saw them driven before them, and heard the lamentations of their women. Yes it was that bad. As of now they have a 13.5 game lead over New Orleans and their .705 win percentage is the best in the league. Next up were the Bats at 19-8, who have built their own 13.5 game lead, and then the Bulls at 19-10. At the other end was Phoenix at 5-22. The Roadrunners sported a 7.89 ERA and gave up 143 more runs than Wilmington did.
2. The disparity between leagues is large once again. New York is 40-38, and barely holding on to the final Wild Card spot in the Import. Meanwhile 40-38 in the Domestic would put you in first place in the Ale. To be fair to the Domestic, the final two Wild Card teams are 40-40 and 39-39, so we suppose it is just the Ale that is 'Awful' once again. At least it's exciting though. From top to bottom the six teams are only separated by 7.5 games, and the playoff odds (brought to your by our friends at Stats+), show every team with at least a chance to win the division. If you can't be dominant at least be exciting.
3. Denver has been deadly on the base paths this season, as their 86.2% stolen base success rate is tops in the league. It would be more impressive though if they had swiped more than 56 total bases, which is 21st in the league. The real terror is California. They have the green light on top of the green light to run, as they have stolen 160 bases with a 78.4% success rate. They have six players in double digits, and three of them have 25 or more. Currently 22 year old Rory Elia Jr. leads the team with 42, and is second overall in the Import. The first overall pick of the 2058 draft is also hitting .309 and on pace for a 6.3 WAR season. This team doesn't rebuild, they just reload.
4. Monteal's Eli Tracy won the Batter of the Month on July 1st, and the Player of the Week on July 2nd. He earned the later by hitting .571 with 4 home runs, while driving in 14 runs...in five total games. For the month of June, Tracy hit .333 with nine home runs, 27 RBI and 22 runs scored...in 24 games. The 2060 New Brew was the seventh overall pick of the 2055 draft. He's a back to back All-Star since then, and won the Designated Driver in left field last season as well.
5. What's on tap? This week we get to see the Ale shake up as Indy travels to Pittsburgh and Syracuse heads to Maine. Meanwhile the Bulls run the gauntlet as they start out the week in Windy City, then host the Bats from Washington. They are three 50+ win teams in the league, Denver gets to see two of them over the next seven days. Streak wise Montreal and Batavia have won seven straight, Denver has won six straight, Baltimore has lost eight straight, and Phoenix has lost 12 straight.
Weekly Milestones
CF Ralph Neben (CHI), 24 yo, reached 500 hits
SS Logan Kedzie (DAL), 24 yo, reached 250 hits
C Chandler Frazee (WIL), 25 yo, reached 250 hits
C Sean McReynolds (LAD), 28 yo, reached 250 hits
CF Troy Peek (DAL), 25 yo, reached 100 hits
CF Henry Keddie (WAS), 22 yo, hit his first home run
3B Sullivan Hazelwood (NYC), 24 yo, hit his first home run
LF Trent West (PAW), 28 yo, reached 500 RBIs
CF Teddy Burch (MON), 24 yo, reached 250 RBIs
RF Ken Daly (TOR), 30 yo, reached 250 RBIs
2B Chase Calhoun (TOR), 26 yo, reached 400 extra base hits
RF Tris Chikumbu (LAD), 28 yo, reached 300 extra base hits
CF Rob Morris (PHI), 26 yo, reached 250 extra base hits
3B Olin Keele (TOR), 25 yo, reached 250 extra base hits
P Collin Jackson (DEN), 33 yo, reached 2000 strikeouts
P Noel Fetter (NO), 31 yo, reached 1500 strikeouts
P Rich Mount (TOR), 27 yo, reached 1000 strikeouts
P Buddy Moore (MAI), 30 yo, reached 750 strikeouts
P Max Biggers (WAS), 32 yo, reached 500 strikeouts
P Ervin Lee (CAL), 26 yo, reached 250 strikeouts
P Brad Zook (MON), 27 yo, reached 250 strikeouts
Stat of the Week
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