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(AP)
Well Baltimore gave up the top spot for one week before sweeping LAD and taking two of three from Phoenix to rocket back into first. Pawtucket also continues to surprise everyone but themselves as they went 5-1 and are now 19-8 in May and only a half game back from Pittsburgh for the Ale lead. The third team to go 5-1 was New York who at 28-23 would be close to the top of most divisions but instead find themselves in 3rd and 7.5 games behind the Bulldogs. The bottom feeders this week were Miami, LAD, Syracuse, Phoenix and Denver who all went 1-5.
Power Rankings
1) Baltimore Bulldogs (133.0, +)
2) Pawtucket Patriots (119.6, +)
3) Pittsburgh Millers (113.9, -)
4) Maine Guides (107.4, ++)
5) Windy City Blues (107.4, ++)
6) Batavia Red Jackets (104.8, ++)
7) Hartford Whalers (102.2, o)
8) New York Knights (101.8, ++)
9) Washington Bats (92.4, ++)
10) Philadelphia Freedom (92.2, --)
11) Indianapolis Racers (91.0, ++)
12) Phoenix Roadrunners (90.3, --)
13) Miami Sharks (88.6, --)
14) Syracuse Snappers (87.8, --)
15) Santo Domingo Rum Runners (85.2, +)
16) Seattle Pilots (84.2, ++)
17) New Orleans Dukes (81.1, +)
18) Los Angeles Dinos (79.5, --)
19) Carolina Tobs (76.6, o)
20) California Kodiaks (74.2, --)
21) Toronto Canadians (73.1, -)
22) Wilmington Clowns (67.4, o)
23) Montreal Exports (62.8, o)
24) Denver BC (44.0, o)
Performance of the Week
P J.R. Longval - On May 25th against Miami he threw a complete game two hitter as the Patriots won 8-0. The 27 year old was a first round pick in 2026 by New York but was traded last month to Pawtucket. Since coming over he's 1-1 with a 3.23 ERA in five starts.
Injury of the Week
P Brendan Edwards - For the Bulldogs relievers Edwards is second in innings pitched at 35 and first in ERA at 3.60 while also sporting a 4-0 record. On May 25th though against LAD he came in and made it two innings before having to leave with elbow pain. He was later diagnosed with an elbow inflammation and is projected to be out around two months.
Prospect of the Week
LF Charles Farris - The 22 year old was the 1st round pick of the Pilots in the 2031 draft and is currently playing for the Washington Oaks, their AA club, after being called up a few weeks ago. In 15 games so far he's hitting .333/.418/.500 with 1 HR and 8 RBI's while playing left field. Scouts say he "consistently focuses on the tasks at hand" and his power potential could be special.
Five Things We Think We Think
1. The NCAA College World Series is almost set as UNLV awaits the winner of Cal State/Texas A&M after the Rebels knocked off UCLA two games to zero. UNLV was 28-22 on the year and is led by CF Johnny Ogren who hit .340 with 7 HR's and 38 RBI's and starter Khristian Andino who is 3-1 with a 2.86 ERA in 10 starts. Meanwhile the Cape Cup this year was won by the Bourne Braves after they took down the Harwich Mariners and won their third straight CCBL championship. Outfielder Shan Rivera was named the series MVP after a season where he hit .368/.463/.603 with 10 HR's and 48 RBI's in 50 games. In the HS playoffs the championship series is tied 1-1 between the Puyallup Vandals and the Notre Dame Knights.
2. All-Star game voting has started and so far Ian James of SDR and Edward Cantu of LAD lead the way. This would be James ninth straight All-Star appearance and Cantu's first. James is hitting .344 with 7 HR's and 19 RBI's in 30 starts while Cantu is hitting .316 with 8 HR's and 24 RBI's in 37 starts.
3. Kevin Clayton of Syracuse missed 14 months due to a torn rotator cuff in 2031 and only played in two games in 2032. He started out this year in the BLB but after starting the season 2-3 with a 8.78 ERA he was sent back down to AAA this past week. So far in two games he's pitched in 4.2 innings and allowed four hits, no runs, and struck out four. He was named the #1 prospect in the BLB in 2031 and the Snappers organization is hoping he can return to form.
4. The 2033 draft is underway and the first round has come to a close. Seventeen hitters and seven pitchers were selected with the Toronto Canadians taking Curtis Noworyta with the 1st overall pick and California, with their 4th pick of the 1st round, selecting Carter Pulley with the last pick of the round. So far no one from the 2032 draft has played in the BLB while two players from 2031, Edwin Meck and Seth Blankenship who both play for the Snappers, have made it.
5. Speaking of drafts can anyone guess which Round 1 from what year has produced the most WAR? Answer below SOTW.
Stat of the Week
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Answer: The 2007 Round 1 draft currently has a WAR of 818.6 while producing such stars as P Pat Evans, C Dave Piekarski, 3B C.J. Wilkinson, LF Sonny Mason and 2B Jimmy 'Revenant' Kidwell.
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