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07/27/2065
All hail the Clowns, who with a 6-1 week are 50-50 on the season after starting the season 8-16. They are now in second in the Ale, and only three games back from Montreal in the Domestic Wild Card race. Next up was Windy City who went 5-1 to take a three game lead over Seattle in the Bock. The Blues have the second best record in the BLB and are the odds on favorites to take home the Brewmasters trophy this fall. We don't believe there is a more talented team in the league. Finally we had New Orleans who went 5-2 to pull into third in the DLWC. The Voodoo are now 11-10 this month after posting a hot 17-11 in June. On the other side of life Maine went 0-7 to move to 35-66, last in the league. The franchise has 10 titles since 1978, but their last one came in 2031. Sounds like they could really use some of that old time magic these days.
Power Rankings
1) Santo Domingo Rum Runners (117.3, +)
2) Windy City Blues (112.8, ++)
3) Los Angeles Dinos (110.3, +)
4) Seattle Pilots (105.8, +)
5) Hartford Whalers (105.2, --)
6) Dallas Drillers (103.2, --)
7) New Orleans Voodoo (102.3, ++)
8) Montreal Exports (99.4, +)
9) Wilmington Wildcats (98.2, -)
10) Indianapolis Clowns (97.0, ++)
11) Philadelphia Freedom (94.6, -)
12) Denver Bulls (92.1, -)
13) California Kodiaks (91.9, o)
14) Pittsburgh Millers (91.2, +)
15) Batavia Muckdogs (88.6, --)
16) Pawtucket Patriots (85.8, +)
17) Baltimore Bulldogs (82.9, o)
18) Washington Bats (82.0, +)
19) Carolina Tobs (81.2, --)
20) Toronto Canadians (78.9, -)
21) New York Cyclones (67.4, o)
22) Phoenix Roadrunners (61.8, +)
23) Syracuse Snappers (60.8, -)
24) Maine Guides (46.5, -)
Performance of the Week
P Holden Ritchey - The 30 year old just tossed the first no-hitter of the season against New York this past week. The right-hander used his signature changeup to perfection as the Freedom waltzed to an easy 9-0 win. "He was what the kids call 'filthy,'" losing manager Rory Vest said later. In a dominant performance, Ritchey faced 29 batters in all and finished the game with four strikeouts and one walk. He's now 9-8 with a 4.06 ERA and 104 ERA+ on the season.
Prospect of the Week
Cole Carter - The second overall pick of the draft is playing for the Muskrats (PHO-A), where he's been shutting down the competition. So far in six starts he's 3-0 with a 1.29 ERA, 0.71 WHIP, all while walking only five batters and striking out 31. Was the DK wrong when they wrote TINSTAAPP in an earlier edition? Maybe. At only 20 he doesn't appear to have a dominant pitch, but his control does give him the chance to be elite. Maybe a little off-season development could turn him into the star Phoenix is hoping for.
Five Things We Think We Think
1. In what world are Philly and Batavia tied for the Stout lead while Washington is 47-55? In this world apparently! In one of the more exciting stories this season, the Freedom and Muckdogs are both trying to get to the postseason for the first time since 2052. It's very nice that after missing it for 12 straight seasons they have decided to form a blood pact and attempt to go together. Then again, the BLB gods are always watching, and what would they want more than for the Bats to get hot and knock them both out in game 163. For now though Batavia is winning with pitching (1st in hits allowed, 2nd in runs allowed) while Philly keeps winning with offense (1st in runs scored, 2nd in hits). Washington is lurking though. They are first in hits, second in walks, but fourth in runs scored. With a run differential of only -16 we just know the train is coming...why...because it always does.
2. Carolina is 11 games under .500 since June 1st and their GM was recently fined for complaining to the media that the "game was rigged" against his team. Their main problem though is that since June 1st they are hitting .238, fifth worst in the league, while scoring just 187 runs, fourth worst in the league. They've been outscored by 32 runs over the period and have seen opponents smash nine more home runs. That is nothing new though as it's been a problem all season. They are last in the Import in home runs and runs scored, and with their pitching regressing that just means more losses. The Tobs have always been known for going deep, but not this season. In the top ten of most team home runs in a season, Carolina holds three of the spots. Where have you gone Rory Elia, Ricky Murillo, Zeus Alder, and Evan Turner...Tobs nation turns their lonely eyes to you.
3. Well, we know where Evan Turner has gone...to Wilmington. The 31-year-old is hitting .259/.343/.537 with 23 HR, 57 RBI, and a 131 OPS+ this season. The all-time leader in Carolina with 369 home runs signed a one-year contract this March with the Wildcats after the Tobs let him walk. The 9x All-Star and 2056 Stout Slugger is "outspoken about his political beliefs" but has been kept in line by captain Shayne 'Wasp' Hall. Nineteen batters have played for Wilmington this season, and Turner is tied for the most games after appearing in 90 so far. He has played sparingly in left and right field, as most of the time he's the DH while batting cleanup. He's doing quite well there as he's second on the team in slugging, ISO, OPS and OPS+, and is the only player on the team with double digit steals (12).
4. Even with New Orleans going 5-2 and popping above .500 for the month, they still sport the worst PYT in the league at -6. They are 3-8 in extra-inning games, 16-25 in one-run games, and yet have a +95-run differential, second only to Windy City. New Orleans is "projected" to be 60-41 at this point and leading the Lager by four games. The Voodoo haven't won a title since 2045, but they are one of the best run franchises in the league. Since 2038 they have gone to the playoffs 21 out of 27 seasons, making it to the Brew once in 2055 where they lost to Washington in seven. They made it back to the DLCS last season but lost 4-2 to the eventual champion Wildcats. As mentioned they can score early and often, and being second in the league in runs scored and tied for fifth overall in runs allowed means if the ball starts bouncing their way (even more), another deep playoff run is a very good possibility.
5. What's on tap? It's divisional rivalry week as Philly tries to put some space between them and Washington, Dallas tries to close the space between them and SDR, and Batavia tries to bury the Bulldogs at home.
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Streaking
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| New Orleans visits Montreal on a 4-game win streak |
| Maine visits Hartford on a 8-game losing streak |
| Louis Hockney (PHO) has a 13 game hitting streak |
| LaMark Canete (PIT) has an RBI in 6 straight games |
| Levi Backman (BAL) has converted 18 straight save opportunities |
| James Forbes (LAD) has converted 15 straight save opportunities |
| Gerald Tura (BAT) has converted 11 straight save opportunities |
| Troy Cooper (HAR) has converted 11 straight save opportunities |
| Jonah Gower (LAD) has won 8 straight decisions |
| Deondre Ivy (MAI) has lost 11 straight decisions |
| Alex Landrum (NYC) has lost 8 straight decisions |
| Erick Greenway (PAW) has lost 8 straight decisions |
| Rice Cochell (SDR) hasn't lost in 12 straight starts |
Who's Hot
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Stat of the Week
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