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04/21/2064
The defending champion Bats stay hot with another 5-1 week. They are now 11-2, on pace to win 136 games, and could go back-to-back like they did in 2052 and 2053. This team is just stacked. They weren't alone this week though as New York, California, Carolina, and Los Angeles all went 5-1 as well. Considering all five of those teams are in the Import, and it was Interleague week, that doesn't bode well for the Domestic. Some team leaders with everyone playing six: Seattle scored 37 runs (SDR 10), New York hit 16 home runs (BAT/BAL 3), Pawtucket hit .321 (SDR .168), LAD allowed just nine runs (PIT 42), and opponents hit .126 against those Dinos (PHI .341).
Power Rankings
1) Washington Bats (165.3, o)
2) California Kodiaks (145.4, ++)
3) Carolina Tobs (132.6, ++)
4) Wilmington Wildcats (127.6, -)
5) Los Angeles Dinos (126.1, ++)
6) Montreal Exports (123.1, o)
7) New York Cyclones (118.7, ++)
8) Denver Bulls (112.7, --)
9) Toronto Canadians (100.8, ++)
10) Dallas Drillers (99.8, +)
11) Santo Domingo Rum Runners (94.8, --)
12) Windy City Blues (86.2, -)
13) Indianapolis Clowns (84.2, ++)
14) Pawtucket Patriots (82.2, ++)
15) Hartford Whalers (78.2, ++)
16) Baltimore Bulldogs (72.1, --)
17) Maine Guides (70.1, ++)
18) Seattle Pilots (68.3, ++)
19) Batavia Muckdogs (66.3, --)
20) Pittsburgh Millers (62.3, --)
21) Syracuse Snappers (62.3, --)
22) Philadelphia Freedom (36.6, +)
23) New Orleans Voodoo (33.6, -)
24) Phoenix Roadrunners (15.7, o)
Performance of the Week
1B Fred Etheridge - This is his ninth year starting for the Cyclones, he's been to multiple All-Star games, and yet some people still say "who?". This past week on April 19th the Snappers knew who he was after he blasted them with four hits, two home runs, five RBI and three runs scored. NYC won 12-4 and Fred was easily voted the POTG. On the season he's now hitting .316 with 4 HR and 12 RBI.
Prospect of the Week
P Spencer Maldonado - The top pitching prospect and #7 overall prospect in the league doesn't have the 'stuff' to strikeout a lot of batters, but according to scouts he "makes up for it with his pinpoint control." He was drafted 8th overall in 2063 by Syracuse after a college career where he excelled at Arizona State. This is the 21 year olds first season in AA and so far he's posted a 0-0 record and 3.86 ERA in two starts.
Five Things We Think We Think
1. The Bock has California, the Stout has Washington, the Lager has Wilmington, and the Ale has no one. Once again the 'Awful Ale' is back as six of the six teams are all under .500. To be fair to the Ale though the Bock has Phoenix, the Stout has Philly, the Lager has New Orleans, and the Ale has no one. So maybe it's just that the teams are so good that they beat each other up and dominate everyone else! Let us check the schedule for last week. Nope that's not it. Against the Import the Millers went 1-5, Snappers went 2-4, while the Patriots, Whalers, Guides, and Clowns all went 3-3.
2. We had our first WWE match this past week as New Orleans traveled to California to "get it on!" In the 6th inning of their April 19th match-up, Voodoo starter Connor Cook gave up a home run to Stephen Caskey, who appeared to shout something at the Voodoo dugout when he ran by. Spencer Stephens was up next, and even though he got hit on the fifth pitch of the at-bat, he assumed it intentional and decided to seek revenge. The 6'3, 200 pound Stephens then proceeded to "spear" the 5'11, 180 pound Cook and drive him into the turf before Cook's teammates could get there to assist. Both dugouts cleared, there was lots of shoving and harsh words, and after order was restored Stephens and Cook were ejected. The office of the commish ended up suspending both, Stephens for four games, and Cook for six.
3. Brian Wheat appears to be back to Stout Slugger winning 2059-2060 Wheat where he posted an 8.6 and 8.4 WAR respectively. This season he's hitting .347 with 6 HR and 11 RBI and is on pace for a nice 13.7 WAR. At just 25 years old he's already in his seventh season, where he's accumulated a 35.8 career WAR while hitting .320 with 167 HR and 610 RBI while putting up a +52 ZR in center field. Goodness that's everything you expect the 2056 first overall pick to be, and maybe more.
4. All though it's early and numbers are all over the place, the Rum Runners have filled their stadium to it's breaking point this young season, with a 99.5% capacity to full. On the other end of the spectrum Toronto (42.3%) and Philly (48.3%) are the only two teams under half. The Freedom had a horrible off-season where they didn't generate any big news via free agency and it's showing. All though this team is potentially stacked for a run in the near future, their fan interest in a recent survey is the lowest since 1982. That's a long time ago. Their $69m payroll is the lowest in the league, and their recent streak of eleven straight seasons with 67 or fewer wins have pushed their team budget to last in the league at $110m. Chants of "sell the team" have already echoed through the half empty General Dwight D Eisenhower Field this year.
5. What's on tap? We're back to each league beating up on each other and we get some fun series this week. First up is Carolina at Windy City. The Tobs have the best player in the league in Dominick 'Shock' Booth and are currently 9-4, with some predicting them to be the Stout champs. Meanwhile Windy City has come out slow at 6-7, but many (including the DK), have them as the 2064 BLB champs. In the Domestic we're going to tune into Toronto hosting Wilmington. Hopefully this series can get some of those fickle fans to Dylan Owens Stadium. It's a travesty to see it half empty since Toronto has gone to the playoffs for six straight years and won the Brewmasters in 2059. Where's the loyalty? On the other side Wilmington is the king of the Domestic for now. They are first in runs scored and first in runs allowed and their +29 RD is 16 more than second place Montreal.
Player Streaks
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| SP Evan Browning (LAD) has won 15 consecutive games. |
| MR James Forbes (LAD) has won 9 consecutive games. |
| MR Tommy Pitz (WAS) has won 9 consecutive games. |
| MR Carl Vertullo (BAL) is on a 11 game losing streak. |
| MR Levi Stiefel (DEN) has won 7 consecutive games. |
| CL Dawson Hupp (NYC) hasn't blown a save in 30 chances. |
| MR Max Biggers (WAS) has won 6 consecutive games. |
| SP Graysen Thomas (HAR) has won 6 consecutive games. |
| LF Kelvin Kenney (WIL) has hit a home run in 3 consecutive games. |
| CL Guy Hunnicutt (PHI) hasn't blown a save in 24 chances. |
Weekly Milestones
LF Walter Muller (PHI), 25 yo, reached 100 home runs
RF Andy Bernard (NO), 25 yo, reached 100 home runs
3B Israel Ball (PAW), 22 yo, hit his first home run
SS Terry Rowland (BAL), 22 yo, hit his first home run
3B Skyler Gervais (MON), 21 yo, hit his first home run
LF Reese Bowman (TOR), 29 yo, hit his first home run
CF Frank Glass (BAT), 22 yo, hit his first home run
2B Dave Jacob (CAL), 23 yo, hit his first home run
RF Evan Turner (CAR), 30 yo, reached 1000 RBIs
2B Walt Dutro (DAL), 28 yo, reached 250 RBIs
1B Brad Pendolino (DEN), 33 yo, reached 800 extra base hits
LF Ezekiel Wolfson (CHI), 28 yo, reached 300 extra base hits
LF Kellen Todd (HAR), 24 yo, reached 200 extra base hits
CF Raymond Trainor (LAD), 24 yo, reached 100 extra base hits
2B Jay Sharpe (CHI), 23 yo, reached 100 extra base hits
CF Felton Kirt (CAR), 24 yo, reached 100 extra base hits
SS Kaniel Martinez (PAW), 29 yo, reached 100 extra base hits
1B Ozzie Huang (WIL), 26 yo, reached 100 extra base hits
P Alex Landrum (NYC), 29 yo, reached 100 wins
P Allan Allen (PAW), 31 yo, reached 75 wins
P Marc Carlson (SDR), 27 yo, reached 1000 strikeouts
P Dylan Montgomery (MON), 30 yo, reached 1000 strikeouts
P Brad Hudson (SDR), 28 yo, reached 500 strikeouts
P Jamal Brown (HAR), 28 yo, reached 500 strikeouts
P Jaden Froman (WIL), 32 yo, reached 250 strikeouts
P Clancy Buchanan (WIL), 31 yo, reached 250 strikeouts
Stat of the Week
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| Highest Career Home Run/Stolen Base Combinations (Top 25 Players, Sorted By Lower of HR/SB) |
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