Power Poll

We are near the 60 game mark and its time for the second power poll. This power poll was compiled using a very sophisticated logarithm. If I were to tell you, I would have to kill you…… taking the teams with the best records, comparing ERA and Batting averages, I ranked the teams. Any ties were decided based on the fielding prowess of the teams involved in the tie. Let us get to the rankings:

1. Durham Daddies: (44-13) Previously (1), No changes here. They just keep rolling along.

2. Charleston Chew: (36-21) (4), This team is on a good roll right now, up two from last week. Making a big jump in this poll shows this reporter that management has this team heading in the right direction.

3. Syracuse Saltine Warriors: (36-21) (5), The Warriors are up two as well this week. Improvements in their batting and pitching since the last poll has propelled them to the top NL team in this weeks poll. Look for this team to stay put, if their bats stay hot.

4. Louisville Derbies: (39-18) (3), This team is kind of an anomaly. They are winning their games by simply out scoring their opponents. The Derbies are a notch below the Warriors because of their pitching. They have the worst pitching of the top 10 teams, but have a very potent offense. If this team wants to move back up the rankings, they will have to start finding a way to pitch better. We’ll see.

5. Columbus Crush: (36-21) (2), Maybe the pressure was too much for them. The Crush fall this week three spots because of their pitching. While this was one of the strengths in the early part of the year, they seem to have fallen back to earth. The bats are still working, but the pitching staff has ballooned to over five runs a game.

6. Toledo Dirt Roosters: (34-23) (8), The Roosters are starting their move to the top of the division. With Syracuse in their sites, it should be a good run to the NL East division title. Toledo seems to have come to a nice balance right now between pitching and hitting. If they continue at this pace, they will definitely improve on last years win total.

7. Washington 42’s: (33-24) (NR), The 42’s make the power rankings for the first time this season at number seven. schuyler101 seems to have the team coming together. They have made big strides this year and may even have their first winning season under Schuyler’s tutelage. Maybe management’s decision to keep him as GM has started to payoff.

8. Ottawa Rocks: (32-25) (6), The Rocks are hanging in there, hoping for a strong run like they had in 2007. Their pitching is among the league leaders, but the bats have gone cold. Quebec needs to light a fire under his team or they will continue to fall like “rocks”.

9. Vancouver Tuques: (32-25) (9), the Tuques are holding steady at number nine. Look for this team to make a move up this list, Eric has made some strong moves recently to improve the offense. We shall see if it is enough to hang on to the lead in the NL West.

10. Chicago hillbillies: (32-25) (7), This team maybe on its way out of the top ten. The hillbillies are giving up 5.5 runs a game. It is hard to continue winning even when you are hitting .289 as a team.

Power Poll-

Here is the first mid season power poll. There are some familiar names in the top ten as well as some new blood. It just goes to show that the league is getting more balanced as the seasons go by. Without further adu, here is the top ten:

1. Durham Daddies (22-6): This team is still the one beat. After a disappointing end to last season, this team has come out of the blocks on a mission. Look for them to stay near the top of this list all season.

2. Columbus Crush (22-6): Amazing start to the season. Offense is firing on all cylinders and the pitching seems to have gelled in the early part of the season. Will be interesting to see if it holds up all year.

3. Louisville Derbies (18-11): Here is an annual playoff contender and top NL squad. No surprises here; should be strong all season with a powerful offense putting up more runs then even Durham. If the pitching holds together, this team will be very hard to beat this year.

4. Charleston Chew (17-12): This team is fighting some early troubles; seems to have the pitching to compete with Durham, but the offense has yet to come around. Look for this team to find a way to score more runs, as they make another playoff push.

5. Syracuse Saltine Warriors (16-12): This team gets the nod over the defending WS champs, because of the better offense so far this season. The Warriors seem to have made a slight improvement over last years pitching staff. Should be playoff bound if the team can keep it together.

6. Ottawa Rocks (16-13): Seems the team is still suffering from a post season hangover after winning the WS. They are dangerously close to mediocre, but that's what the experts said about them last year.

7. Chicago hillbillies (18-11): This team should be ranked lower, but right now they are playing better then their stats show. With the amount of runs they are giving up, it will be hard to beat the likes of Durham and Columbus. If the team wants to move past the first round in the playoffs, they will have to tighten up the loose ends.

8. Toledo Dirt Roosters (16-12): Team is trying to make it back to the playoffs. So far this season looks like they will be good enough to make the dance, but won’t last very long if they continue to play like they are.

9. Vancouver Tuques (18-10): This team is ranked this low because of their low offensive numbers. Of the top ten teams, they have scored the least amount of runs. If it wasn’t for their pitching, they wouldn’t be this good. Time will tell if this team falls or will they start putting the pieces together and make a strong playoff push.

10. Richmond Rebels (17-12): This team is hanging in at the number ten position, if they want to stay there, they will have to start scoring more then their opponents. Right now they are giving up more then they push across. Tribute their good start to good managing and timely hitting in the close games.

Polanco No-Nos Burlington!!

Detroit’s David Polanco threw a no hitter in yesterdays game against the Burlington Drunken Catamounts. This is the first no-no this season.
“I feel like a million dollars!” Polanco said after the game. The 26 year old, right hander completed the game on 93 pitches and only allowed four men to even reach base. In fact, he faced only one over the minimum, thanks to a three double plays to clean up two of the base on balls and one hit batter. The hardest hit ball was off the bat of Burlinton’s SS, Octavio Castro, a deep fly ball to center field that made it to the warning track.
This youngster has a promising career ahead of him. Should be fun watching him develop, as long as you are a team, NOT in the American League.