Tweet
07/26/2066
The last week in the Brewers League Baseball showcased the dramatic highs and lows that define mid-season baseball. Batavia led all teams with a stellar 6-1 record, while several clubs including Syracuse (5-1), Dallas (5-1), New Orleans (5-1), Philadelphia (5-1), and Seattle (5-1) also dominated their competition. Santo Domingo went 4-3 while leading the offensive charge with 39 runs in seven games, and Philadelphia's 5-1 week was powered by a potent attack that averaged 6.0 runs per game with an impressive .833 OPS. On the flip side, Maine endured the week's worst record at 0-6, managing just 10 runs while their pitching staff surrendered 35, extending their losing streak to six games. Baltimore also struggled at 1-6, while Pittsburgh (2-4), New York (2-4), Washington (2-4), Carolina (2-4), and Phoenix (2-4) all posted disappointing records. Individual brilliance emerged from players like Andy Christman, who torched opposing pitching with a .579 average and 1.900 OPS, and Benedict Zacarias, who tossed a dominant 2-hit shutout.
1) Dallas Drillers (131.2, +)
2) Wilmington Wildcats (124.5, -)
3) California Kodiaks (120.6, o)
4) Hartford Whalers (111.5, +)
5) Pittsburgh Millers (106.8, -)
6) Philadelphia Freedom (106.6, ++)
7) Windy City Blues (104.7, +)
8) Seattle Pilots (102.6, ++)
9) Santo Domingo Rum Runners (101.5, +)
10) Carolina Tobs (99.0, --)
11) Phoenix Roadrunners (93.5, --)
12) Montreal Exports (93.2, -)
13) New Orleans Voodoo (87.6, ++)
14) Syracuse Snappers (85.0, ++)
15) Los Angeles Sharks (84.5, -)
16) Washington Bats (84.0, --)
17) Batavia Muckdogs (83.5, +)
18) New York Cyclones (78.8, -)
19) Pawtucket Patriots (77.8, --)
20) Denver Bulls (75.2, o)
21) Indianapolis Clowns (66.8, o)
22) Baltimore Bulldogs (59.2, o)
23) Toronto Canadians (46.7, +)
24) Maine Guides (37.7, -)
Performance of the Week
P Benedict Zacarias - Benedict Zacarias delivered a masterful performance for the Pittsburgh Millers on July 20th, 2066, shutting out the Indianapolis Clowns 4-0 with a dominant 2-hit complete game. The 30-year-old right-hander was nearly untouchable, striking out seven batters while walking none and hitting just one batter across nine efficient innings. Zacarias threw 89 pitches (63 strikes) and earned an outstanding game score of 90, completely stifling the Clowns' offense and allowing only singles to Ray Ayres and Harry Barron. The victory improved his season record to 13-5 with a stellar 2.69 ERA, as he continues to anchor Pittsburgh's rotation in their pursuit of the Domestic League Ale Division title. With this gem, Zacarias has now thrown 127.1 innings this season with 68 strikeouts and just 27 walks, establishing himself as one of the league's most reliable starters.
Prospect of the Week
2B Keaton Ang - Ang has firmly established himself as the top prospect in the entire league after being selected first overall in the 2066 draft by the Roadrunners. The 20-year-old switch-hitting second baseman from Taiwan has shown incredible power potential, already blasting 10 home runs in just 30 games since joining the Belle River Bombers in the Rookie League, despite struggling with a .182 average due to striking out 42 times. His raw talent is undeniable - scouts project his power could reach elite levels, and he's already demonstrated that ability by hitting 19 home runs in the Cape Cod League earlier this year with a monster 1.036 OPS. While Ang clearly needs to improve his contact, his combination of gap power, excellent infield defense at second base, and proven track record as a multiple-time Cape Cod League All-Star and MVP winner makes him the most exciting young talent in the league. At just 20 years old with tremendous upside, Ang represents the future of the Phoenix organization and could develop into a franchise cornerstone if he can harness his raw abilities.
Five Things We Think We Think
1. Frank "Slugger" Memmi reached a remarkable milestone last week when he launched his 300th career home run against Syracuse on July 20th, capping off an impressive nine-year journey in the Brewers League Baseball. The 37-year-old Italian first baseman has been a consistent power threat throughout his career, highlighted by back-to-back home run titles in 2061 (44 HRs) and 2062 (45 HRs) while playing for Maine, where he also captured the RBI crown with 114 in 2062. Despite struggling this season with a .207 average, Memmi's career .242 batting average and .489 slugging percentage tell the story of a player who has delivered clutch power when needed most. His journey has taken him from California, where he began his career and earned multiple Batter of the Month awards, to Maine where he's found a home and achieved his greatest success. With 300 home runs, 736 RBIs, and 20.0 career WAR, Memmi has established himself as one of the premier power hitters of his generation, and his recent hot streak (.444 average with 2 home runs last week) suggests there may still be more memorable moments ahead for the veteran slugger.
2. As long as we have the Daily Keg, we'll talk about defense. Wilmington leads the Domestic League's Lager Division with a stellar 71-30 record (.703), and their zone rating tells the story—they rank first in Total ZR at +52.72, excelling across nearly every defensive position. Their dominance is particularly evident in center field (+13.95 ZR) and left field (+7.26 ZR), contributing to their league-best .758 defensive efficiency. Similarly, California sits atop the Import League's Bock Division at 67-33 (.670) while posting solid defensive numbers with a +8.46 Total ZR. The contrast is stark when examining struggling teams like Maine (27-75, .265) and Toronto (29-72, .287), both sporting horrific Total ZR ratings of -22.53 and -31.97 respectively. Maine's center field has been particularly catastrophic at -19.98 ZR, while Toronto's center field ranks dead last at -17.24 ZR. Even competitive teams like Pittsburgh (61-39, .610) benefit from strong defense, ranking fourth in Total ZR at +22.81 despite some weaknesses at shortstop (-5.11 ZR).
3. We can't forget to talk about offense though either. The offensive landscape in the BLB reveals some fascinating disparities that directly correlate with team success through the 2066 mid-season. Dallas leads the league in nearly every offensive category, posting a monster .824 OPS with 529 runs scored while maintaining an impressive 69-31 record—their .275 average and league-leading .487 slugging percentage showcase a complete offensive attack. Santo Domingo provides another compelling case study, as their patient approach (.340 OBP, 8.76% walk rate) and power surge (160 home runs, .815 OPS) has translated into 512 runs and a solid 53-48 record despite defensive struggles. Hartford's balanced offensive philosophy shines through their .799 OPS and 496 runs, combining high average (.265) with excellent extra-base hit production (382 XBH) to fuel their 62-39 division-leading performance.
On the flip side, offensive futility tells the story of the league's basement dwellers. Maine's catastrophic .659 OPS represents the worst offensive output in the league, with their .222 batting average and mere 305 runs scored directly explaining their dismal 27-75 record. Baltimore (.676 OPS, 374 runs) and Denver (.687 OPS, 363 runs) similarly demonstrate how offensive ineptitude translates to poor standings position. The data suggests that teams need to either excel offensively like Dallas and Santo Domingo, or find the right balance between hitting and defense like Hartford and Wilmington—those stuck in offensive mediocrity without elite defense find themselves fighting for respectability rather than championships.
4. Dominick 'Shock' Booth has firmly established himself as one of the premier players in the BLB, and the Carolina Tobs have wisely secured his services for the long term. The 25-year-old shortstop, who was set to become a free agent after the 2066 season, recently signed a lucrative 6-year contract extension worth $174,173,111, ensuring he'll remain in Carolina through at least 2072. Booth's elite combination of offensive production and defensive excellence has made him indispensable to the organization - he's currently posting a 4.8 WAR through 96 games this season while maintaining his trademark speed with 44 stolen bases, a .284/.378/.481 slash line, and a +9.3 zone rating at short stop. The 5x All-Star, multiple Designated Driver winner at shortstop, and 2x Stout Slugger Award winner demonstrate his value as both a franchise cornerstone and one of the league's most complete players. By locking up Booth before he could test free agency, the Tobs have not only retained their star player but also signaled their commitment to building a championship-caliber team around his talents.
5. What's on tap?
Wilmington Wildcats at Pittsburgh Millers (July 29 - 3 games) The week's premier matchup features the league-leading Wilmington Wildcats (71-30) visiting the Pittsburgh Millers (61-39) in what could be a potential playoff preview. Despite Wilmington's impressive record, this series is evenly matched with both teams splitting their season series 2-2. Pittsburgh will look to close the gap in the Domestic League Ale Division, where they trail Hartford by just half a game, while Wilmington aims to maintain their commanding lead in the Lager Division.
Hartford Whalers at Montreal Exports (July 29 - 4 games) Hartford (62-39) takes their division-leading act on the road to face Montreal (48-50) in a crucial four-game set. The Whalers currently hold a razor-thin half-game lead over Pittsburgh in the Ale Division race and cannot afford any stumbles. Montreal trails 1-2 in the season series but will be motivated to play spoiler at home.
Seattle Pilots at Phoenix Roadrunners (July 26 - 3 games) This Import League Bock Division battle features two teams heading in opposite directions. Seattle (52-48) brings a hot 5-game winning streak to Phoenix (53-48), where the Roadrunners have been dominant at home (36-19) but are coming off a 3-game losing streak. Seattle leads the season series 4-2, making this a potential momentum-shifting series for both clubs' playoff hopes.
Philadelphia Freedom vs Batavia Muckdogs (July 26 - 3 games) Philadelphia (52-46) looks to extend their impressive 5-game winning streak when they host struggling Batavia (44-57) at home. The Freedom have been one of the hottest teams in baseball and will be heavy favorites against a Muckdogs team that's fallen well behind in the Import League Stout Division race.
Let's Go Streaking
Player Streaks: The most compelling storyline belongs to Dallas Drillers' Joe Hodo, who enters with an incredible 13-game winning streak and an astounding 20 consecutive starts without a loss - making him one of the most dominant pitchers in recent memory. His teammate Devantae Kim has also been lights-out with 10 straight winning decisions from the bullpen. Montreal's Devyn Glover brings a sizzling 12-game hitting streak into the week, while several closers are riding impressive save streaks, led by California's Milton Hastings with 31 consecutive save opportunities converted and New York's Payton Cooke with 30 straight saves. On the negative side, Maine's Arthur Braddy is mired in an 11-game losing streak, while Syracuse's Antonio Sutton has dropped 10 consecutive decisions.
Team Streaks: Philadelphia enters the week riding their hottest stretch with a 5-game winning streak, looking to extend their momentum against struggling Batavia. Seattle also brings a 5-game hot streak on the road to Phoenix, setting up a potential momentum-shifting series. Conversely, Maine continues their nightmare season with a 6-game losing streak as they host Pittsburgh, while Washington carries a troubling 4-game slide into their series with New York.
Who's Hot - Who's Not
Who's Hot: Leading the scorching hitters is Montreal's Andy Christman, who has been absolutely dominant with a .556 average over his last 7 games, including 5 home runs and an astronomical 1.785 OPS that's drawing league-wide attention. New Orleans' Kai Hayes has been nearly as impressive with a .321 average and 5 home runs over 7 games, posting a 1.387 OPS. Seattle's Louis Shiring (.419 average, 3 HRs, 1.212 OPS) and Pittsburgh's Isaac Pack (.320 average, 3 HRs, 3 steals, 1.260 OPS) are also tearing the cover off the ball. On the mound, Philadelphia's Donte' Escarcega has been absolutely dominant with a 1.06 ERA over his last 2 starts, while Pittsburgh's Benedict Zacarias continues his excellent season with a 0.59 ERA in recent outings. Seattle's Mark Myers and Denver's Darien Melton have been perfect out of the bullpen, both posting 0.00 ERAs in their recent appearances.
Who's Not: The struggles are equally stark on both sides of the ball. Pittsburgh's Aiden Mero leads the cold hitters with a dismal .111 average and just 3 hits in 8 games (.259 OPS), while Montreal's Cody Henning (.069 average, .233 OPS) and Denver's Austin Sarpong (.071 average, .205 OPS) are in deep offensive slumps. The pitching woes are even more concerning, with Pittsburgh's Johnny Youngstrom posting a horrific 7.59 ERA over 2 starts, New York's Dave Jasper struggling with an 8.71 ERA, and Washington's Joel Thompson surrendering a 7.36 ERA.
Stat of the Day
.
| Highest Career Hit to Strikeout Ratio for Batters (Top 25 Players, Min 100 Career Hits) |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|