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04/28/2064
One of the most ridiculous months for a team continues to roll on as Washington goes 7-0 to move to 18-2 on the season. The defending champions lead the league in almost every offensive category, have lost those two games by a combined four runs, and have a run differential of +59. They are just pounding their opponents into submission. Since it's a frequent occurrence there is a reason you either love Washington or hate them. The other top week was New Orleans who went 6-1. After a dismal start they have finally awoken to move to 9-11 on the season. Thanks to a bunch of middling Domestic teams that puts them only one game out of the Wild Card...with 142 games to play. Finally we had Pittsburgh who went 5-1 to give the Ale not just one, but two teams with winning records. On the other side of life Maine, Philly, Montreal, California, Hartford, Denver and SDR all went 2-5. That's a lot of losers. Only for a week though as things are bound to get better for at least a few of those franchises.
Power Rankings
1) Washington Bats (184.0, o)
2) Wilmington Wildcats (129.0, +)
3) Carolina Tobs (128.1, o)
4) New York Cyclones (124.0, ++)
5) California Kodiaks (106.0, --)
6) Pawtucket Patriots (104.0, ++)
7) Los Angeles Dinos (103.2, -)
8) Windy City Blues (97.7, ++)
9) Dallas Drillers (95.7, +)
10) Pittsburgh Millers (95.7, ++)
11) Toronto Canadians (93.0, -)
12) Montreal Exports (89.7, --)
13) New Orleans Voodoo (87.0, ++)
14) Denver Bulls (84.0, --)
15) Indianapolis Clowns (84.0, -)
16) Santo Domingo Rum Runners (76.0, --)
17) Baltimore Bulldogs (75.8, -)
18) Batavia Muckdogs (73.0, +)
19) Seattle Pilots (71.0, -)
20) Hartford Whalers (65.0, --)
21) Syracuse Snappers (64.0, o)
22) Maine Guides (59.2, --)
23) Phoenix Roadrunners (42.0, +)
24) Philadelphia Freedom (40.0, -)
Performance of the Week
RF Nelson Chandler - Two days ago against the Roadrunners the 25 year old Chandler smashed two home runs, drove in five, and scored twice during a 9-6 victory. His first home run, a grand slam in the second inning, burst the game wide open and gave the Freedom an 8-0 lead. They were able to hang on, with the only other run coming on Chandler's second home run in the top of the ninth. On the year he's now hitting .257 with 6 HR and 12 RBI.
Prospect of the Week
2B Royce Turner - The 17 year old senior has a scouting profile that states, "has a high ceiling and projects well on the field and at the plate." We tend to agree as he hit .349/.431/.535 with 23 HR and 102 RBI over his 160 game career in high school. Turner also put up a +6.6 ZR at second, and coaches say with some work he'd be decent to good at third and short as well. Looks like a complete package to us.
Five Things We Think We Think
1. Bulldog pitcher Kevin Ellis gave up seven runs this past outing against New York and still sports a 2.93 ERA. If he just would have gotten pulled after the 7th inning on Wednesday it would have been around 1.15, but manager Mike Dominquez decided to let him keep rolling. Ellis got a quick ground out, then proceeded to give up a single, a single, a double, and another single before getting another out. Dominguez figured he could work out of it but instead Ellis threw a wild pitch allowing another run, and then another single and a triple before getting sent to the showers. In came poor Bryan Capps who immediately got rocked with a double, beaned a batter, then gave up three straight singles before getting Jim Mjima to fly out to end the inning. The final tally for the Cyclones was 11 hits, 10 runs, and two left on base.
2. Denver is going for the three-peat when it comes to Zone Rating, a DK favorite! We always heard it's all about 'Pitching and Defense', and Denver puts the D in defense. In 2062 when they won it all they posted a leagues best +54.25 ZR. Last season when they won 103 games they once again led the league with a +56.37 ZR. Now this young season they are already at +13.58, almost three points higher than second place Seattle. Up the middle they are as solid as anyone in the league with short stop Austin Sarpong, second basemen Oscar McKinney, and center fielder Alex Cain all boasting elite fielding abilities. No wonder they also lead the league with a .207 BABIP.
3. After getting lambasted in the Syracuse Daily after only two weeks of play, Asher Kappler hit .400 with 5 HR and 11 RBI last week while taking home the Domestic POTW. Drafted 8th overall in 2057 he broke into the BLB in 2057 and has been a star for Syracuse. After going to three All-Star games he signed a lucrative $163,200,000 contract extension in 2062 to make him the face of the franchise. So far this season he's hitting .254 with 7 HR and 13 RBI, and his OPS+ is 136, which is the second highest in his career behind only his stellar 2060 season. That year he hit .333 with 30 HR and 125 RBI while putting up an 8.3 WAR and starting 107 games in center.
4. We talked briefly last week about Dominick 'Shock' Booth being the best player in the league and we're going to follow up on that. Exhibit number one is that he's hitting .443/.514/.738 which is absurd numbers for week one, much less almost at the end of the first month. Drafted 8th overall in 2059 he's blossomed into such an elite hitter that the fact that he's a DWI level shortstop almost gets forgotten about. How about that he could steal 60+ bases on the season too. The 22 year old from York, Pennsylvania, combined with 23 year old Evan Olsen should equal a lot of wins and postseason appearances for the Tobs over the next decade or so.
5. What's on tap? First is the Battle of the Ale as 11-9 Pawtucket hosts 10-9 Pittsburgh. It's not often you get to two Ale teams with +7 run differentials square off on the diamond. Next up we get Washington at Baltimore. The Bats have won 12 straight, which is three games more than Baltimore has won all season. To be fair to the Bulldogs only four teams have more than 12 wins in the league, and Washington is one of them. Finally we get Montreal at Wilmington, two of the DL's premier teams. The Exports have been to the playoffs six straight seasons and took home the 2060 title. The Wildcats have been to the postseason six of the last seven, lost the title last season but won it all in 2057. Throw in Toronto who went to the Brewmasters in 2059 and 2062, taking home the cup that first season, and the Lager has been representing.
Player Streaks
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| SP Evan Browning (LAD) has won 15 consecutive games. |
| MR Tommy Pitz (WAS) has won 9 consecutive games. |
| MR James Forbes (LAD) has won 9 consecutive games. |
| MR Carl Vertullo (BAL) is on a 11 game losing streak. |
| MR Max Biggers (WAS) has won 7 consecutive games. |
| CL Dawson Hupp (NYC) hasn't blown a save in 32 chances. |
| SP Maxwell Cullen (CAR) has won 6 consecutive games. |
| SP Graysen Thomas (HAR) has won 6 consecutive games. |
| CL Logan Bunnell (CAR) hasn't blown a save in 25 chances. |
| SS Dominick Booth (CAR) has hit safely in 16 consecutive games. |
Weekly Milestones
RF Asher Kappler (SYR), 27 yo, reached 1000 hits
2B Oscar McKinney (DEN), 25 yo, reached 250 hits
2B Jay Sharpe (CHI), 23 yo, reached 250 hits
LF Deontay Gardner (NYC), 22 yo, reached 100 hits
RF Darrin Turner (WAS), 23 yo, reached 100 hits
CF Marc Lowell (NO), 24 yo, reached 100 hits
CF Vincent Moffett (MON), 21 yo, hit his first home run
3B Brock Jackson (SYR), 27 yo, hit his first home run
2B Drew Foster (BAL), 21 yo, hit his first home run
SS Joey Tindall (SDR), 24 yo, hit his first home run
RF Wade Cummins (BAT), 25 yo, reached 500 RBIs
LF Jared Rosewall (NYC), 28 yo, reached 500 RBIs
LF Walter Muller (PHI), 25 yo, reached 250 RBIs
3B Rory Elia Jr. (CAL), 23 yo, reached 250 RBIs
CF Ralph Neben (CHI), 25 yo, reached 250 extra base hits
3B Rory Elia Jr. (CAL), 23 yo, reached 200 extra base hits
LF Evan Olsen (CAR), 23 yo, reached 200 extra base hits
3B Trevor Master (SEA), 23 yo, reached 100 extra base hits
P Eric Hendrix (WAS), 32 yo, reached 75 wins
P Torren Orji (DEN), 36 yo, reached 1000 strikeouts
P Bailey Pilarski (NYC), 27 yo, reached 250 strikeouts
Who's Hot
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Stat of the Week
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| Most Innings Pitched Without Appearing in the Postseason (Top 25 Players) |
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