Sim #22 Completed

Just a sim away from the trading deadline, and the two leagues retain their same characteristics.

The Platonic League is still boring, as Seattle maintains its seven-game lead and holds the best record in the OEL. Better win the title this year, Matt. Sylva is still in the wild card spot. Maryland is three games behind Sylva and Stockholm is 4.5 games out of the playoffs. Pittsburgh's grip on the cellar loosened as Cairo pulled within two games.

In the Socratic League, things are tightening back up and the hot streaks of Marietta and the Brooklyn seem to have passed. Marietta is still in first, but their lead is only 2.5 games. Winnipeg has moved into the wild card spot, sparking little electronic spasms of joy in computers everywhere. Brooklyn is just a half-game behind Winnipeg and three games out of first while Jersey City sits just another half-game back. It seems to be a four-team race for the two playoff spots. Helena, who waved the white flag a few sims ago, is still only five games out of the playoffs. Meanwhile, New York fended off Pittsburgh's bid and maintains its grip on the first pick in the draft.

Miscellaneous notes:

Only day-to-day injuries, so that won't be an impetus for the next-to-last sim for trades.

Winnipeg's David Austin hit for the cycle on July 23 during a 6-5 win over Stockholm.

Sylva's Benito Figueredo and Jersey City's Brendon Townsend took home Player of the Week honors.

On July 22, Brooklyn scored one in the ninth and two in the tenth to beat Pittsburgh 4-2. Meanwhile, Helena pushed a run across in the 11th to beat Cairo 5-4.

On July 23, Winnipeg rode Austin's cycle to a 6-5 10-inning victory over Stockholm. Brooklyn again broke Pisces' fans hearts (hey, there's a few Pisces fans, including Debbie Allen!) with a one-run victory in the tenth. This time, the middle relief was the main culprit as the Bombers scored six in the eighth inning.

On July 24, Maryland shut out Seattle 2-0 as Lewis McGurk and three relievers scattered seven hits and three walks. (Scattered, of course, is the mandatory verb to be used in shut outs where the scoreless team has more than five hits. I don't make the sportswriting rules, I just follow them.)

Nothing struck me as interesting about the games on July 25 and 26, so look them up yourselves if you're bored.

The big series of the next sim will be when Winnipeg plays three in Marietta.

The next sim will only be four days, as it will go up to July 31. That means that the trading deadline will be next Wednesday, when the sim rolls into August. Just five shopping days left!

The league file is up and the web pages are en route. Nate will handle the next sim, on Monday. Have a good weekend everyone.