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09/01/2064
Well it appears the Santo Domingo dynasty is off to a good start after going 6-1 this past week. Now just nine games back from a playoff spot the Rum Runners finished off August by sweeping Wilmington then taking three of four from Syracuse. Other big weeks were had by Toronto, California, and LAD who all went 5-2. The Kodiaks and Dinos are going to be playoff bound, while the Canadians now have a 0.6% chance of making it accordingly to our friends at Stats+. So you're telling me there is a chance? Speaking of those Dinos they posted a leagues best 2.51 ERA, while Santo Domingo crushed the ball with a league high .325 average. Meanwhile Seattle posted a 9.31 ERA and Syracuse hit .215 on the week. The first two went 11-3, the later went 4-10. Math checks out.
Power Rankings
1) Washington Bats (127.3, o)
2) Wilmington Wildcats (112.2, +)
3) California Kodiaks (109.5, ++)
4) Windy City Blues (108.3, -)
5) Los Angeles Dinos (106.5, ++)
6) Dallas Drillers (103.8, o)
7) Indianapolis Clowns (102.8, o)
8) Montreal Exports (101.4, +)
9) New York Cyclones (99.1, ++)
10) Hartford Whalers (97.8, --)
11) New Orleans Voodoo (97.2, --)
12) Pittsburgh Millers (94.0, -)
13) Toronto Canadians (91.0, ++)
14) Carolina Tobs (90.4, --)
15) Baltimore Bulldogs (89.0, --)
16) Santo Domingo Rum Runners (87.6, +)
17) Batavia Muckdogs (87.6, -)
18) Pawtucket Patriots (79.6, -)
19) Denver Bulls (76.8, o)
20) Maine Guides (65.1, +)
21) Seattle Pilots (63.9, -)
22) Phoenix Roadrunners (59.6, +)
23) Philadelphia Freedom (58.5, -)
24) Syracuse Snappers (54.6, -)
Performance of the Week
RF Tris Chikumbu - The IAFA from the baseball hot bed of Zimbabwe was signed by the Bats in 2051 and traded to the Dinos back in 2054. Always known for his power, the sweet swinging lefty put up a 2.5 WAR last season after crushing a career high 32 home runs. This season has been no different as yesterday he smacked three home runs against Carolina, and is on pace to hit a career higher 33...wait, what. Well anyways the 29 year old is currently hitting .261 with 27 HR and 72 RBI while playing both left and right field this season. To be fair he's not playing them very well, but he makes up for it with that bat.
Prospect of the Week
1B Tyreek 'Mister X' Nomura - Born in Tondabayashi, "Mr X" made his debut this season with the New Orleans Firebirds of the CCBL. How he ended up in the USA playing in the CCBL is a long story, best saved for another day. What we can say is that scouts report that, "he's regarded as having one of the best pure swings out of all young players." In his first season he hit .333/.417/.466 with 3 HR and 18 RBI. He can't field, run, or hit the ball deep...but he will put the bat on the ball and won't strikeout much.
Five Things We Think We Think
1. We're onto September! A look back at the month of August shows that the Washington Bats were the cream of the crop as they went 19-9 to lead all teams. There were more than a few semi-cream of the crops though as Indy, Pittsburgh, and Wilmington all won 18 games. On the other side of life, Syracuse went 8-21 while Phoenix went 9-21. Stat wise the league leaders were as follows: California scored 166 runs (SYR 85), California smashed 57 home runs (SYR 21), California posted an .850 OPS (SYR .585)...we're starting to see a pattern here...and Batavia swiped 66 bases (DEN 10). Pitching wise LAD allowed only 94 runs (PHO 188), while opponents hit .203 off of Pittsburgh pitchers (PHO .307).
2. Batavia shortstop Keon Pryor hit for the cycle against Baltimore on August 27th, the fourth cycle of the season. It would be more note worthy if it didn't take him two games to do it...as the Muckdogs and the Bulldogs decided to play 19 innings. I guess that's just the dog in them! We'll be here all week, please tip your servers. In a game that featured 133 at bats, 29 hits, and 13 pitchers, Pryor started the game out hot with a first inning triple. He then hit a double in the 3rd, before flying out in the 5th, striking out in the 7th, grounding out in the 9th, popping up a bunt in the 12th, singling in the 14th, flying out in the 17th, then crushing a two-run home run in the bottom of the 19th to walk it off. The 28 year old is having one of his best career seasons as he's now hitting .295 with 14 HR, 61 RBI, and 46 stolen bases while recording a +7.0 ZR at shortstop.
3. Baltimore is five games back in the Import Wild Card race and their odds are down to 8.2% for making the postseason. At 66-66 they have been treading water for two months now. Don't believe us, well in August they were 15-15, while in July they were 12-12. With a +4 PYT and a run differential of -37, the math experts just don't have their luck holding out. How about New York though. They have a run differential of -37, but are 26-15 in extra inning and one-run games and are sporting a leagues best +8 PYT. That all adds up to a 71-62 record and having an 89.3% chance of making the postseason. Apparently the luck in New York is luckier than the luck in Baltimore. Meanwhile poor Denver still sports a -8 PYT. In the expected record world, Denver would only be a half game behind those Cyclones. Sometimes you're the hammer, sometimes you're the nail.
4. Andy Christman sent four balls over the wall in his last nine games, to now give him 25 on the season. He's on pace to hit 30, while posting a .282/.359/.531 slash line. Take away that ugly opening month though and his line would be .298/.371/.573, not too shabby for a guy the local media was ready to ship to AAA in May. If he continues to stay 'hot' over the month of September those numbers will only rise. The two players everyone has their eye on though are Colton Coffin and Andy Bernard. Both of them currently sit at 43 home runs, and both of them are pace to hit 52 dingers. The last time the BLB had two 50+ home run players was 2037 when Manny Quezada hit 55 and J.D. 'Hurricane' Rice hit 51. Hard to believe that was almost 30 years ago.
5. Interleague is back and better than ever...
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Let's Go Streaking
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| Jared Rosewall (NYC) has a 14 game hitting streak |
| Andy Christman (MON) hit a HR in 4 straight games |
| Joseph Flynn (PHI) hit a HR in 3 straight games |
| Dustin Gaspard (TOR) hit a HR in 3 straight games |
| Andy Christman (MON) has an RBI in 6 straight games |
| Frank Glass (BAT) has an RBI in 6 straight games |
| Tyler Wolfe (WIL) has converted 16 straight save opportunities |
| Nic McClelland (SEA) has converted 14 straight save opportunities |
| Blake Galik (NO) has converted 11 straight save opportunities |
| Tyler Wolfe (WIL) has won 8 straight decisions |
| Quenton Wagner (SEA) has lost 10 straight decisions |
| Derian Romary (HAR) hasn't lost in 15 straight starts |
| Johnny Youngstrom (PIT) hasn't lost in 11 straight starts |
Who's Hot...
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Stat of the Week
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