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05/24/2066
We finally get a new logo in the Power Rankings as the Wilmington Wildcats sweep Indy and Montreal and go 7-0 to push their division lead to...4.5 games. Apparently Dallas also went 7-0 as they swept New Orleans and Syracuse. California goes 6-1 yet somehow falls out the top spot, Pittsburgh goes 5-1 to move within a half game of Hartford, and Santo Domingo and Windy City go 5-2. On the other side of life New York, Phoenix, Toronto, and Indy all went 1-6, while Montreal went 1-5.
1) Wilmington Wildcats (150.0, +)
2) California Kodiaks (147.7, -)
3) Dallas Drillers (134.8, +)
4) Pittsburgh Millers (116.4, o)
5) Hartford Whalers (115.9, -)
6) Washington Bats (104.7, +)
7) Carolina Tobs (101.7, ++)
8) Santo Domingo Rum Runners (101.7, +)
9) Seattle Pilots (99.9, o)
10) Windy City Blues (93.0, ++)
11) Pawtucket Patriots (91.0, +)
12) Los Angeles Sharks (89.0, --)
13) New Orleans Voodoo (87.0, --)
14) Batavia Muckdogs (82.9, ++)
15) Philadelphia Freedom (76.0, ++)
16) Baltimore Bulldogs (75.0, ++)
17) Denver Bulls (75.0, ++)
18) Montreal Exports (73.0, --)
19) Indianapolis Clowns (67.3, --)
20) Syracuse Snappers (62.0, +)
21) New York Cyclones (60.7, --)
22) Phoenix Roadrunners (60.4, --)
23) Toronto Canadians (55.1, --)
24) Maine Guides (37.3, o)
Performance of the Week
RF Stephen Caskey - On May 21st Caskey almost single handily defeated Toronto. Down 3-0 in the first, Caskey hit a grand slam to start off his day. He ended up hitting one more home run, driving in a total of eight, and scoring three times as the Patriots won 11-8. As part of the Brian Van Hook trade, Caskey has started 29 games in right and four in center while hitting .281 with 6 HR and 20 RBI.
Prospect of the Week
CF Sir Mahuika - Scouts found this kid in the baseball hotbed of Wallis and Futuna Islands, which is just west of Somoa for those who don't know...like us. Now 22 years old he plays for the Moose Jaw Moose (A) and is still pretty raw, but scouts like his potentials. He has the ability to play all three outfield positions, and if he develops his bat it should give him an audition at the major league level someday.
Five Things We Think We Think
1. Philly is under new management, and they've been blessed with a team that has picked in the top five of every single draft since 2053. Unfortunately, four of them were pitchers who either never made it out of the minors or now play for another BLB team. They do have a winner though with the second pick of the 2060 draft, Alec Boersen. The 23-year-old rookie just won Player of the Week, has a 12-game hitting streak going, and is slashing .308/.368/.660 with 14 HR and 27 RBI on the season. Scouts not only think he's an above average fielder, but his bat speed and raw power could make him a .280 hitter who launches 40+ home runs a season. Now if only Toby Foster, the first pick of the 2061 draft, can stay healthy then they might be able to get something going.
2. When did Rice Cochell turn into the best pitcher in baseball? From 2057 to 2062 he was a full-time starter for the Rum Runners. During that time, he was very respectable 74-57 with a 3.72 ERA and put up in the 11th best WAR among starting pitchers. In 2063 he then got sent to the pen where he had a career worst ERA+ of 96 and put up a 0.8 WAR. The next season Cochell became a starter once again and went 14-6 with a 4.31 ERA. Then in 2065 he goes ballistic with a career best 18-4, 2.54 ERA, 5.9 WAR season. Now in 2066 he's 3-0 with a league leading 1.63 ERA and 246 ERA+. Scouts say his control will suffer every now and then, but he throws five good pitches and has the stuff to strike out anyone. At just 31 years old he could be the most dominant pitcher in the game until the end of the decade.
3. Speaking of Rum Runners, they have turned it around by going 15-6 in May. If Cochell is the best pitcher in the game right now, Micah Lumsden might be the hottest hitter. He's hit five home runs in the last seven games, including one in four straight. When you hit as many home runs in one week as you did all last month, well it appears you ironed out that swing. He's also got better defensively. After a 2065 developmental complex setback, he appears to have shaken off the yips. Scouts say his range has increased which has helped his ability to play third. In 40 games this year he's only put up a -0.2 ZR, which is far better than the -10.9 he put up last season. Offense plus defense, no wonder SDR has outscored their opponents by 49 runs just this month.
4. The Lager overall is just hot though. In May the Drillers are 17-5 while the Wildcats are 16-5. Even New Orleans, who has agents contacting other teams throughout the league, have gone 12-9. Poor Toronto though. They've been swept by Dallas and Santo Domingo and are 5-16 in the month of May. They are 18.5 games out of the division, but just six games out of the Wild Card. It doesn't appear to matter though as the GM has put literally everyone on the block. To be fair the Canadians had a run that many would love to have. From 2058 to 2063 they went to the playoffs every season, making it to the Brewmasters twice. They lost to Denver in 2062, but in 2059 they took down Baltimore in seven to take home their first title since 2022. It may be a downswing now, but flags fly forever.
5. What's on tap?
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Streaking
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| Skyler Gervais (MON) has a 12 game hitting streak |
| Alec Boersen (PHI) has a 12 game hitting streak |
| Micah Lumsden (SDR) hit a HR in 4 straight games |
| Milton Hastings (CAL) has converted 20 straight save opportunities |
| James Forbes (LAS) has converted 15 straight save opportunities |
| Payton Cooke (NYC) has converted 11 straight save opportunities |
| Joe Hodo (DAL) has won 8 straight decisions |
| Wyatt Laginess (CAL) hasn't lost in 10 straight starts |
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Stat of the Week
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| Most Seasons Appeared In Prior To First Home Run (Top 25 Players) |
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