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05/11/2054
The DK wasn't in the printing press the last time the Wilmington Wildcats were first in the Power Rankings...but here we are. After a 6-0 week, and their seventh straight win, the Wildcats are atop the Lager and the league with a 22-11 record. Can they keep it up though? We have no idea but are excited to watch their new GM keep trying to work his magic. Other big weeks were New York who went 6-1, and Montreal, New Orleans, Dallas, and Windy City who all went 2-5. Not so big weeks were Baltimore, Pittsburgh, and Phoenix who all went 1-6.
Power Ranking
1) Wilmington Wildcats (133.0, ++)
2) California Kodiaks (127.5, -)
3) Seattle Pilots (126.8, -)
4) Washington Bats (119.5, -)
5) Dallas Drillers (113.9, ++)
6) Windy City Blues (113.9, ++)
7) Carolina Tobs (102.2, ++)
8) Denver Bulls (100.6, -)
9) Santo Domingo Rum Runners (98.2, --)
10) Indianapolis Clowns (96.3, +)
11) Syracuse Snappers (89.7, o)
12) New Orleans Voodoo (88.8, ++)
13) Pittsburgh Millers (88.6, --)
14) Los Angeles Dinos (87.0, -)
15) Montreal Exports (85.8, ++)
16) Hartford Whalers (84.0, --)
17) New York Cyclones (81.8, ++)
18) Pawtucket Patriots (81.4, --)
19) Toronto Canadians (68.5, +)
20) Philadelphia Freedom (67.5, -)
21) Batavia Muckdogs (61.2, ++)
22) Baltimore Bulldogs (58.5, --)
23) Maine Guides (51.2, --)
24) Phoenix Roadrunners (40.1, -)
Performance of the Week
P Drake DePuy - The 33 year old pitched the rare 10 inning complete game on May 7th in a 2-1 victory over the Blues. He allowed just three hits, one run, and struck out eight as he moved to 2-3 on the season. A lifetime Bulldog, who was a 3rd round pick in 2038, DePuy is known as an 'innings eater' who can pitch deep into games.
Prospect of the Week
P Bruno Sheline - The 10th overall pick from last years draft is now the 2nd overall prospect in the league for the Canadians. He's currently in A ball, where he is 3-1 with a 3.09 ERA in five starts. Last season in the Rookie League he was 9-1 with a 1.14 ERA, after going 7-2 with a 2.43 ERA for UNLV during the college season. This kid is a winner, and it looks like Toronto has a future star.
Five Things We Think We Think
1. Congrats to Adrian Gramling for getting his 2000th career hit, and Jaxson Neal for reaching 900 extra base hits. Gramling was a 3rd round pick by Washington back in 2038 and turned into a 6x All-Star, 2x Designated Driver, and 6x playoff series MVP. He opted out from the Bats after 2050 and signed with Seattle where he has led them to three straight ILCS appearances. Neal meanwhile is the 51st player in the history of the league to reach 900 extra base hits. Montreal signed him in 2034 with a $5,000,000 bonus and he's been a 5x All-Star and was named the 2046 DL Stout Slugger.
2. The Ale could be a battle of attrition this season as there seems to be no clear cut dominant team. First place Pittsburgh is currently 17-15, and has lost five straight, while last place Maine was last years division champ. They did battle this past week with the Lager, and now every team in the Ale has lost at least one game in a row. Meanwhile every team in the Lager has won their last game. Four of the six teams in the Ale are .500 or better so they have that going for them. In the end we still think Pawtucket, Maine, and Hartford make the playoffs. Time will tell.
3. The California and Seattle show in the Bock just continues to impress us. Last season they came down to the final week before Seattle claimed the division. So far this year the Kodiaks are 23-10, and the Pilots are 22-10. Both teams are solid all around. Seattle is second in batting average, California is third. Seattle is first in starters ERA, California is second. California is first in OPS, Seattle is second. So far they have played once this season and the Pilots took two of three. Nine more games to go, with the final series coming September 21-23, the second to last week of the regular season. Might as well go ahead and buy tickets now.
4. Cory 'Boy Scout' Petit is currently hitting .333, which would be great if he wasn't in AAA. Have the Voodoo given up on the 2052 Stout Slugger and Refreshing New Brew? In his first season in the league (at 25 years old) the phenom hit .394/.438/.584 with 20 HR, 105 RBIs, and a 7.4 WAR. His sophomore slump though was bad, at least for him, as he hit .291/.320/.429 with 12 HR and 82 RBIs. This season he started out hitting .133 with 1 HR and 9 RBIs in 13 games, and was sent down to Baton Rouge. At only 27 years old what does the future hold. Petit was a scouting discovery out of France in 2044 and scouts say "he's an above average ballplayer and should have no trouble as a BLB first basemen." We'd love to see him get another shot, even if not in New Orleans.
5. What's on tap? Well interleague is! Some of the series we are looking forward to: Pittsburgh at Washington, Indy at Carolina, and Santo Domingo at Denver. Streakwise Wilmington has won seven straight, Dallas and Montreal have won four straight, and Pittsburgh has lost five straight. With Melchior Werth having his hitting streak snapped at 21 games, the new leader is New Orleans outfielder Kade 'Dutch' Cotto at 12 games.
Stat of the Week
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| Most 100 RBI Seasons (Top 25 Players) |
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