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08/04/2064
And we're back...and it appears we have a new #1. Apparently the Daily Keg curse uncursed itself and the Blues are who we thought they were. After the perfect unicorn of a week (7-0), Windy City has now won...15 straight! Please don't lose the next game, or the curse that uncursed itself will be cursed again. Next up was New York who went 6-1 to close to only 13 games back from the Bats. Finally we had Batavia and Indy who went 5-1, while New Orleans and their BFF Montreal went 5-2. So many winners, just so many winners. (Checks weekly total). Okay maybe not as it appears Baltimore, LAD, Syracuse, and Philly all went 1-6. Sometimes you're the windshield, sometimes you're the bug.
Power Rankings
1) Windy City Blues (143.3, o)
2) Washington Bats (122.1, o)
3) Wilmington Wildcats (115.7, +)
4) New Orleans Voodoo (112.9, -)
5) Indianapolis Clowns (108.9, +)
6) New York Cyclones (107.2, ++)
7) Montreal Exports (102.6, ++)
8) California Kodiaks (98.2, -)
9) Dallas Drillers (97.7, -)
10) Hartford Whalers (97.6, -)
11) Los Angeles Dinos (94.2, --)
12) Batavia Muckdogs (94.0, ++)
13) Carolina Tobs (93.4, ++)
14) Pittsburgh Millers (87.4, +)
15) Pawtucket Patriots (82.5, --)
16) Santo Domingo Rum Runners (81.1, +)
17) Toronto Canadians (79.1, --)
18) Denver Bulls (78.0, +)
19) Baltimore Bulldogs (75.5, --)
20) Seattle Pilots (67.4, o)
21) Maine Guides (64.4, o)
22) Phoenix Roadrunners (63.2, +)
23) Syracuse Snappers (53.3, o)
24) Philadelphia Freedom (49.8, -)
Performance of the Week
P Grant Henry - The 23 year old is only in his second season with the Blues but has settled in nicely. Only July 29th against Denver he tossed a 3-hit shutout that featured eight K's and just one walk as Windy City won easily 4-0. Henry, a former 2nd round pick from 2058, throws four pitches and is known for his pinpoint control. He is now 8-8 with a 3.17 ERA and 134 ERA+.
Prospect of the Week
CF Tommy Dunham - Drafted 8th overall this year, the 20 year old played all of seven games in the Rookie League before being bumped up to A ball. In 34 games he's hitting .272/.323/.524 with 9 HR, 31 RBI, and 6 stolen bases. Considering he can play any infield or outfield position at a high level, he's one of the more exciting prospects in the entire league.
Five Things We Think We Think
1. The reports of Charlie Spence's demise seem to have been greatly exaggerated. Import League starting All-Star pitcher...Spence. Import League pitcher of the month for July...Spence. League leader in strikeouts...Spence. Oldest player on the OSA Top Players list (batters and pitchers)...Spence. Soon to be the all-time Brewers League Baseball leader in strikeouts...Spence. So he's 10-10 with a 3.46 ERA, 2.1 WAR, and 124 ERA+. He's also pitched 2758 full innings in his career, and from his first full season in 2053 to present no one in the league has pitched more. He can still hit 98 mph on the gun, just was selected to his 10th All-Star game, has won two Pale Ale's in the last three seasons, and is a sure first ballot Hall of Fame selection someday.
2. Windy City started out July by going 7-7, then won their final game before the All-Star break. Since the break they haven't lost. As mentioned above they have won 15 straight games against California, Carolina, Denver and Baltimore. Two, possibly three of those teams are playoff bound. During the run they've outscored opponents by 45 runs, smashed 23 more home runs, and outhit their opponents by 43 points. Twelve different players have hit home runs, with Ezekiel Wolfson and Ralph Neben smacking seven each. Meanwhile seven different players have picked up a win, with starter Mardy Owens picking up three. The playoffs are always a crap shoot, but there is no better overall team in the league than the Blues.
3. The Blues weren't the only winner of July as New Orleans tied them by going 19-7. The Voodoo are now only 4.5 games back from Wilmington, as New Orleans has the fourth best record in the league thanks to an offense that is first in home runs and second in runs scored in the Domestic. New York also made a run by going 17-9, while Hartford went 15-10. The Cyclones playoff odds are over 92% now, while the Whalers are at 93.5%. Hartford won 78 games last season, but are on pace to win 89 this season thanks to that offense which is second in hits and extra-base hits, and third in runs in the DL. Some team leaders: New Orleans scored 154 runs (DEN 78), NO hit 61 home runs (Maine 15), Batavia and Carolina stole 49 bases (DEN 8), opponents hit .227 off of California pitchers (PHO .283), and LAD allowed just 89 runs (PHO 171).
4. Lucas Gray is benefiting from the mound adjustments this past off-season it seems. The 22 year old recently won the IL ROTM after going 4-1 over five starts with a 2.89 ERA. In a game that was dominated by hard throwing fastball pitchers, Gray throws around 96 mph and has just a "decent" fastball according to scouts. His slider and sinker are okay, but he makes up for it all with pinpoint command of his pitchers. Like Henry who was mentioned above, Gray simply does not walk batters. His BB/9 is 1.3, which if he had enough innings to qualify would lead the entire league. He's also only given up eight home runs in 81.1 IP. We suppose when you don't allow free base runners, and you don't allow many home runs, more good than bad will occur.
5. What's on tap? We're back to interleague as the DL and IL do battle.
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Streaks
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| Derek Rosado (MAI) has a 13 game hitting streak |
| Dave Christal (CAR) has a 13 game hitting streak |
| Grady Faulkner (BAT) hit a HR in 3 straight games |
| Jamal Brown (HAR) has converted 22 straight save opportunities |
| Liam Polyak (PHI) has lost 10 straight decisions |
| Derian Romary (HAR) hasn't lost in 10 straight starts |
| Jamal Brown (HAR) has converted 22 straight save opportunities |
Who's Hot
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Stat of the Week
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| Most Walks by Age (Earliest Occurrence Shown) |
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