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05/05/2064
And we're back as Montreal, New Orleans, and LAD all go 5-1 this past week. The Exports are now 23-15 and on a hot streak. Last time we checked they were 12-13 and their GM was publicly bashing them and catcher Andy Christman all over the media. Apparently it worked since Christman is now hitting .333 with 5 HR and 14 RBI in May and the Exports are 12-4. That guy sure knows how to motivate his squad. Meanwhile New Orleans is now 22-17 thanks to a 12-4 May as well, while LAD is now first in the Bock at 24-15. After passing up those Kodiaks for the division lead, we expect California to start posting some big names on the trade block since they are a half game back with only 123 games to go. Could Charlie Spence be on the move...they wouldn't dare would they?
Power Rankings
1) Washington Bats (128.9, o)
2) Wilmington Wildcats (127.5, o)
3) Los Angeles Dinos (120.8, ++)
4) Montreal Exports (119.9, ++)
5) California Kodiaks (112.7, o)
6) New Orleans Voodoo (111.5, ++)
7) Carolina Tobs (107.2, --)
8) Windy City Blues (106.2, --)
9) New York Cyclones (102.5, ++)
10) Indianapolis Clowns (100.0, -)
11) Maine Guides (99.7, --)
12) Dallas Drillers (93.7, -)
13) Baltimore Bulldogs (91.0, -)
14) Pittsburgh Millers (79.3, +)
15) Pawtucket Patriots (75.5, ++)
16) Syracuse Snappers (75.5, o)
17) Hartford Whalers (73.8, o)
18) Toronto Canadians (72.8, ++)
19) Seattle Pilots (72.5, --)
20) Denver Bulls (67.0, +)
21) Santo Domingo Rum Runners (65.8, --)
22) Batavia Muckdogs (62.5, +)
23) Philadelphia Freedom (60.0, --)
24) Phoenix Roadrunners (33.6, o)
Performance of the Week
1B Colton Coffin - After being cast off by Pittsburgh at the start of 2061, and Denver at the end of 2061, Coffin found a home in LA. He hit 31 home runs his first season, 28 the next, and he's on pace for a lovely 64 this season. We doubt he'll make it but the 29 year old is crushing it. Thank goodness he went to LA and not some Canadian city where the ball doesn't fly as well! Anyways back on topic as this past week against Pawtucket he smashed two home runs, drove in three, and scored three times in a 7-0 victory over the Patriots. He's now hitting .381 with 15 HR and 37 RBI in just 37 games.
Prospect of the Week
LF Alec Echard - The former 5th round pick by Washington should help Bats fans temporarily stop crying after they lost three in a row to close out last week, especially since he's now the 5th overall prospect in the league. Scouts think he has "an elite eye and should someday lead the league in walks", while he can also "make consistent contact." Those seems like good qualities to us, now let's see how that translates to the field. Well so far in 29 AAA games he's hitting .363/.492/.765 with 10 HR and 29 RBI. Looks like it adds up.
Five Things We Think We Think
1. With organizations up in arms over the ball and mound changes the BLB made this off-season, which have altered stats, let's see how last years playoff teams are doing if the playoffs started today. Wilmington...in, Montreal...in, New Orleans...in, Indy...in, Washington...in, California...in, Windy City...in, New York...in, LAD...in. The three on the outside as of now are Pittsburgh, Toronto, and Denver with Dallas, Maine, and Carolina taking their spot. So far things are shaking out about normal. Stat wise things are different though. The batting average last season was .264, this year the league is at .253. The ERA last season was 4.04, this season it's at 4.27. Home runs per game last season was 1.02, this year it's at 1.30. Strikeouts per game last year were at 10.2, this season it's at 7.0. It's early though, very early.
2. The Muckdogs are 15-25 but showing some signs of improvement, and one main reason is Donald Dworkin. The 26 year old just had his 23 game hitting streak snapped, but has already been named Player of the Week twice this season so far. The former fourth pick of the 2055 draft broke into the league at 20, where he hit .303 in 103 games. Since then he's been one of the better Muckdogs, but in 2062 only put up a 0.7 WAR and last season a 1.7 WAR. This year he's hitting .377 with 12 HR an 30 RBI, and is already at a 2.1 WAR, while on pace to get to 8.5. If Batavia could find some decent pitching they might have a chance. Currently they are 11th in the Import in starters ERA and runs allowed, while 12th in walks allowed.
3. Philly centerfielder Rob 'Hit Squad' Morris broke his collarbone a week and a half ago and is projected to be out for another month plus. Drafted second overall in 2057 he exploded onto the scene in 2058 when he won the Refreshing New Brew and took home the DWI in center while posting a 6.0 WAR. In 2059 he went to the All-Star game for the first time and hit .287 with 16 HR, 71 RBI, and 43 SB, while having a +8.0 ZR in center and 5.3 WAR. Since then he's posted a WAR of 5.5...total...in five seasons, including a -0.7 so far this season. The reason being at only 27 years old he's sadly 37 years old in body. In 2059 he was day to day for a month with knee issues in his left knee, then out for a month due to tendinitis in his right knee. In 2060 he missed two months due to back issues, in 2061 he missed four months due to tearing a ligament in his thumb, and in 2062 he was out two months due to back spasms. In 2063 he battled knee and back issues again, but only missed limited time. Now in 2064 he's out again with that broken collarbone. In sports if we asked you to name someone who's career was torpedoed due to injuries you could probably name a handful of players. Sadly for Morris he's heading for that list.
4. Brian Van Hook has been everything Pawtucket hoped he would be after being drafted top ten back in 2061. He just won the Player of the Week and has homered in three straight games, driven in a run in six straight games, and scored in eight straight games. Only in his third year he's on pace for a 9.4 WAR while hitting .354 with 10 HR, 27 RBI all while putting up a +4.4 ZR in 32 games in center. He's gone to two straight All-Star games, and he won the Designated Driver and DWI in center last season. He's also just 23 years young.
5. What's on tap? How about the best series in baseball in California at Washington. The Bats have the Kodiaks number come playoff time, and this is the first time they met after Washington walloped California in the ILCS last year. This year as we all know the Bats started out on fire, but California even coming off a losing week only trails them by five total wins. Meanwhile in the Domestic we get to see Wilmington host Montreal. The Exports have cut the Wildcats lead to just three games in the Lager thanks to their hot May. After bad starts not only is Christman on fire, but pitchers Dylan Montgomery and Jakob Hilliard are 4-0 in their last four games after starting out 1-4. See screaming at your players in the locker room does work!
Player Streaks
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| SP Evan Browning (LAD) has won 15 consecutive games. |
| MR Tommy Pitz (WAS) has won 9 consecutive games. |
| SP Maxwell Cullen (CAR) has won 8 consecutive games. |
| MR Carl Vertullo (BAL) is on a 11 game losing streak. |
| MR Max Biggers (WAS) has won 7 consecutive games. |
| CL Logan Bunnell (CAR) hasn't blown a save in 30 chances. |
| SP Wyatt McManus (BAT) is on a 9 game losing streak. |
| SP Graysen Thomas (HAR) has won 6 consecutive games. |
| MR Gerold Lentz (WIL) has won 6 consecutive games. |
| CF Brian Van Hook (PAW) has hit a home run in 3 consecutive games. |
Weekly Milestones
RF Ian Schreiber (HAR), 27 yo, reached 1000 hits
RF Andy Bernard (NO), 25 yo, reached 500 hits
SS Trever Leach (WAS), 25 yo, reached 250 hits
1B Joey Trinidad (BAT), 21 yo, reached 100 hits
3B Tate Brown (DAL), 22 yo, hit his first home run
1B Evan Neff (TOR), 35 yo, hit his first home run
2B Corey Hughes (WIL), 23 yo, hit his first home run
RF Evan Turner (CAR), 30 yo, reached 800 extra base hits
RF Andy Bernard (NO), 25 yo, reached 200 extra base hits
LF Walter Muller (PHI), 25 yo, reached 200 extra base hits
C Khaleen Romero (PAW), 29 yo, reached 100 extra base hits
CF Johnathan Weeks (NO), 24 yo, reached 100 extra base hits
P Ephram Arnold (HAR), 30 yo, reached 75 wins
P Tommy McGue (CAL), 25 yo, reached 50 wins
P Conner Flowers (LAD), 26 yo, reached 50 wins
P Maxwell Cullen (CAR), 30 yo, reached 250 strikeouts
P Conner Scott (BAT), 25 yo, reached 250 strikeouts
Who's Hot
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Stat of the Week
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| Highest Career Games Started/Games Finished Combinations (Top 25 Players, Sorted by Lower of GS, GF) |
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