On the Books!

 Jessica Fletcher - contributing reporter

This budget reports is brought to you by the number 7...as in 7yankee7 and 7jerry7, here is who has the most committed in future seasons. List in order of most future money committed. In the 'Most likely to propose to their girlfriend after 3 weeks' are the Philadelphia Harpers with just over $250M and at least $64M on the books for the next three seasons. No commitment issues there! On the flip side, the guys who will date their girls for 10 years and never think once about putting a ring on it, are the Helena Hot Dogs and Mexico City Staring Frogs; neither of whom have committed a single $1 to future seasons. Now if that doesn't say, I'm weighing my options; then I don't know what does. Santa Fe is an interesting case, they currently sit at the #3 overall pick next season but have the third most money tied up in current contracts. Should be interesting to see how they handle their pennies the next few years. 

S54 Final Leg

 Richard Castle - contributing reporter

We are in the final stretch of the season, just a couple of games over 30 remain. Let's look at some of the key matchups and magic numbers.

• NATIONAL LEAGUE
• The playoff teams appear to mostly be set, but their position within the playoffs has some wiggle room; with the loss of one of their main starters; even New Orleans place at the top now seems in question. The North is the closest race and could be the difference between a first round bye and home field advantage in the NLDS versus playing as the top Wildcard team. The loser of the NL North and East divisions will be the wildcard teams. Vancouver sits just far enough out of Wildcard #2, being 9 games out their fate really lives in how well Buffalo finishes. 
• NL North
• Hartford - They currently sit just a single game ahead of Chicago in the NL and the #2 seed in the NL. 
• Buffalo: 2/8 PM2 - 2/9 PM. Anytime you face another playoff team, you have to watch the series closely. 
• Oklahoma City: 2/14 PM - 2/15 AM. OKC might have their division unofficially secured, they could be resting players by this time or pushing for a first round bye. A win against Hartford could be huge in securing that.
• Chicago: 2/18 AM - 2/18 PM2. Final series of the season, and this one could go every which way. It could determine the division title, first round bye, or even which wild card rating the loser gets. Depending on the second round bye positioning, both teams might be jockeying themselves for the playoffs and be less worried about the final series knowing they both make the playoffs. 
• Chicago - In a close fight for the division title and possible first round bye. They have the easiest route to the playoffs of all teams listed here, having to only deal with one playoff bound team; although it is the team they are fighting for the division and will be the last series of the season. At a game back from the division title, some have them pegged as the favorite. 
• Hartford: 2/18 AM - 2/18 PM2. See above.
• NL East
• Pittsburgh - Another close division to watch, but it's looking like no matter who wins both will be playing in the first round. Pittsburgh held the lead most of the season, though their recent 4-6 over the past 10 has only been helped by Buffalo's recent 3-7 run. 
• New Orleans: 2/12 AM - 2/12 PM2. The Yinzers will need to keep up the Ws if they are going to hold off Buffalo.
• Buffalo: 2/18 AM - 2/18 PM2. Just like the Hartford v Chicago matchup, there could be A LOT riding on this series. The Pitt locks up the division prior to this series, expect them to rest many of their starters; many of whom are starting to get a little worn outside of Rip and McMillan. 
• Buffalo - Buffalo appears to have the tougher schedule between the two for the division, we'll see if the experience can pull it off. It could all come down to the final series.
• Hartford: 2/8 PM2 - 2/9 PM. See above. 
• New Orleans: 2/9 PM2 - 2/10 PM2. Back to back series against the top two teams in the NL, though Buffalo has no issues handling the NOOFs; going 6-0 when playing them so far this season.  
• Pittsburgh: 2/18 AM - 2/18 PM2. See above.
• NL South
• New Orleans - They have officially secured their 4th straight division title, but they have back to back to back series against playoff teams and now down Thompson who has been a main part of their 4 man rotation; things aren't looking great. Come roster expansion, I'd expect a bunch of call-ups even though their starters seem well rested; their owner doesn't want to risk another late season injury. 
• Buffalo: 2/9 PM2 - 2/10 PM2. To date Buffalo has swept both series they've played in. At this point, the NOOFs might be resting players but still one to watch. 
• OKC: 2/11 AM - 2/1 PM2 & 2/15 PM2 - 2/16 PM2. Neither team is expected to be at their full potential, but don't count out OKC during the playoffs. 
• Pittsburg: 2/12 AM - 2/12 PM2. Will be the third straight series against a playoff team.
• NL West
• Oklahoma City - sitting on a comfortable lead for the division and quietly making a push for the #2 slot and first round bye; winning these series could help push them for that extra rest; though after a tough run they are now 7 games out from the #2 spot. 
• New Orleans: 2/11 AM - 2/1 PM2 & 2/15 PM2 - 2/16 PM2. New Orleans may be resting players by this point, but winning the majority of the 7 games against the best record in the NL would still be huge. 
• Hartford: 2/14 PM - 2/15 AM. Hartford in the mist of division battle themselves, so I expect a tough matchup; if OKC deems the W is a need. 

• AMERICAN LEAGUE
• Less set than the National League, with 9, potentially 10 teams still in the hunt. 
• AL North
• Philadelphia - Even after 130 games the division is all tied up, but playing playoff potential teams from 2/11 AM to 2/16 PM2; it will be an uphill battle to claim the division for the 5th time in 5 years. Loser likely watches the playoffs from home. 
• New York: 2/11 AM - 2/11 PM2. This series is likely more important to Philly as they fight for the division. 
• Houston: 2/12 AM - 2/12 PM2. The series before an off day, Philly will hope Houston is giving their players a little extra rest. 
• Colorado Springs: 2/14 PM - 2/15 PM. CS in their own division battle will likely be treating these as a must win. 
• Atlanta: 2/15 PM2 - 2/16 PM2. Luckily Atlanta has already started resting their players to keep them at 100% for the playoffs, and they've proven beatable over the last 15 games.. 
• Minnesota: 2/18 AM - 2/18 PM2. These games will be huge if the division is still tight. 
• Minnesota - Still tied with Philly, their likely only chance at the playoffs is winning the division as they stand on the outside of the Wildcard looking up. 
• Monterrey: 2/12 AM - 2/12 PM2. Monterrey is pushing for a wildcard slot and won't be taking any series lightly. 
• Colorado Springs: 2/15 PM2 - 2/16 PM2. See above, it's cluster in the AL and most teams will be making pushes for make it. 
• Philadelphia: 2/18 AM - 2/18 PM2. See above.
• AL East
• Atlanta - It's been a tough the last 15 or so games, but not many key series left as they've nearly secured a first round bye; but watch their matchup against Houston. With the way Houston is streaking, it could have some value to it and a potential look at the teams fighting for the AL Pennant. But we question if any stars from either team will see much time in the series. They've been resting players for awhile now to keep them both rested and injury free. 
• Houston: 2/14 PM - 2/15 PM.
• New York - Holding tight to yet another playoff appearance, and while they face the top two teams of the AL, both might be resting their stars; making their schedule a little bit easier. But for now they've slipped into a tie for the Wildcard lead with Monterrey and will need every win possible. 
• Philly: 2/11 AM - 2/11 PM2. If New York is going to hold on to the wild card slot, they will need to play well this series.
• Houston: 2/15 PM2 - 2/16 PM2. Should be a tough 4 game series, unless Houston is resting their starters. 
• Boston: 2/17 AM - 2/17 PM2. This could be a key matchup to determine the Wildcard. Potential that this series does more damage to both teams than it does help if things happen right in Philly or Minnesota. 
• Atlanta: 2/18 AM - 2/18 PM2. What a way to end the season, against the #1 team who has a first round bye. Could be a good thing if their all-stars are all resting. 
• Boston - Don't sleep on Boston, they are just a game out from both Wildcard slots and playing in one of the, if not THE toughest divisions in the league. If they were in the AL West, they'd be in the lead but here they are; trailing Monterrey and New York for the wildcard slots. 
• Atlanta: 2/13 PM - 2/14 AM. Even resting starters, Atlanta is a tough matchup. 
• Monterrey: 2/15 PM2 - 2/16 PM2. This could be their chance to secure a Wildcard slot, but they will likely need to at least break even, 2-2 in this series. 
• New York: 2/17 AM - 2/17 PM2. Back to back series that could determine the Wildcard. 
• AL South
• Houston - Seems to have pulled away in the division and appears to be the clear #2 favorite, receiving a second round bye. There's hope in Houston they secure home field throughout but trail Atlanta by 6 games. 
• Philly: 2/12 AM - 2/12 PM2. Houston likely won't quite be ready to really start resting players, but things have changed for them in the last week as they start to separate themselves from Monterrey. 
• Atlanta: 2/14 PM - 2/15 PM. Always a fun matchup to see these two go at it. 
• New York: 2/15 PM2 - 2/16 PM2. Should be a tough 4 game series, but will Houston have pulled away by then?
• Monterrey: 2/18 AM - 2/18 PM2. Likely more important to Monterrey than Houston.  
• Monterrey - If Monterrey can hold on, Houston having series against both New York and Atlanta could help them. 
• Boston: 2/15 PM2 - 2/16 PM2. Boston is hungry for a Wildcard slot and will give this series everything they got. 
• Houston: 2/18 AM - 2/18 PM2. Not likely fighting for the division but a series W will help in the Wildcard. They do have the easier schedule of the AL playoff teams. 
• AL West
• Helena - The Hot Dogs are now tied with Colorado Springs for the division lead but still plenty of games remaining. 
• New York: 2/8 PM2 - 2/9 PM. Going to be a tough matchup against this aging team.
• Houston: 2/9 PM2 - 2/10 PM2. Same as New York, just a much younger team.
• Colorado Springs: 2/17 PM - 2/17 PM2. Second to last series of the year, will be a tight one to watch and could have a HUGE effect on the division title.
• Colorado Springs - With a chance to miss the playoffs for a third straight year, 
• Atlanta: 2/9 PM2 - 2/10 PM2 & 2/12 PM - 2/13 AM. Two series against Atlanta, it's going to be an uphill climb for the division. 
• Philly: 2/14 PM - 2/15 PM. Another team that will be fighting for the playoffs, should be an interesting late series to keep an eye on.
• Helena: 2/17 PM - 2/17 PM2. See above.

And let's not forget about the chase for the better draft picks.

• There are 8 teams within 6 games from each other, with only 2 games separating the #3 pick from the #8 pick. I hate to say the T word, but there's going to be a lot of aggressive base running, AAAA players called up for "experience", and errors around the diamonds. Get ready for a wild ride!
• Columbus Corgis (47-83) - 8-31 since the All-star break. They are the odds on favorite to claim the #1 pick next season. 
• Dover Hazmats (49-81) - Series against Anaheim, Mexico City and a final series against Milwaukee will have a HUGE effect on the draft order next season. 
• Anaheim Diablos (51-79), Tacoma Aroma (51-79), & Santa Fe Surf Riders VIII (51-79) - all have a legit claim to the toughest schedule of the teams on this list. Though Anaheim plays more playoff teams than the other two; they just don't play as many teams on this list as the other two either. 
• Mexico City Staring Frogs (52-78) & Milwaukee Metronomes (52-78) - Milwaukee finishes 2 of their last 3 series against non-playoff teams where as Mexico City has teams who are in dog fights for their division or Wildcard. Should be interested to see how it shakes up. 
• Augusta Alcoholics (53-77) - Their 2 series against Seoul will likely be the deciding factor for their draft order; but games against nearly every AL playoff team helps. 

In The Lab Exposè - S54

Catherine Trammell - contributing reporter

Steroid use is running rampant throughout Cobbfather and the commissioners office has very little to say about it! We went undercover to Dr James Keggi's office and gained access to a few clubhouses around the league, with the most prominent being the Oklahoma City Barons and the defending World Champs, Atlanta Expos. And in the wake of the William Thompson injury, we are hearing rumors around the league about the NOOFs sending him to Oklahoma City to visit their 'lab'. 

• Oklahoma City
• Midre Benavente - If Midre wasn't the ace of the staff before seeing the "doctors" he definitely is now. Word has it, he's improved his stamina, 4 points on his control, 2 on each of his splits, and even the quality of his two primary pitches, a sinker and a slider. Those kind of improvements are almost underheard of for a 33 yr old. The sinker went from good to down right nasty!
• Nefi Sierra - The Nefi we all see today isn't the same as the one who played for Columbus at the start of the season. Since benefiting from OKC's "doctors", Nefi has seen two stints on the DL, each time recovering better than when he went down. By the ratings of our scouts, he's gone from an 82 at the start of the season to an 84! Though most of that growth has come in the field as he's getting to balls faster. His health and durability were said to improvement but maybe the OKC doctors were trying out a new serum because you ask "Hey Catherine, if his health improved why did he land on the DL a second time?" And I'd suggest the second stint was another ploy to try out a new batch of their power serum. Rumor has it, given their pitcher's park; the team is looking for ways to improve their power hitting.  
• Stretch Story - What Midre did as a starter, Story did as a reliever. This 29 yr old saw a 4 point bump in his control, 2 vL, 3 vR, and 2 bumps in all three of his pitches; putting his 4-seam above quite a few others in the league. Story saw a 4 point bump in his overall ratings by the Blog's scouts. The lab seems to work it's wonders!
• Rafael Rodriguez - Like Nefi, Rafael saw a big jump in his range, durability, and health. Unlike Neif, Rafael also saw a 4 point ratings bump in his speed. I'd expect a small uptick in his average since he's a tad bit tougher to throw out at first. 
• Pedro Puello - Yet another starter who comes back from the DL healthier than ever before! Pedro's increases were minimal but across the board. When a playoff team's SP1 and SP2 see these kind of increases when they shouldn't be improving, every medical person raises an eye brow. 
• Atlanta
• Alan Street - Atlanta liked what they saw so much like OKC with Sierra, they sent Street back to the labs for "tendinitis". The Expos are hoping for another 1-2 points in Control, Splits, and maybe even a little bit on the velocity. Going on the 60 day now, should have him back for the ALCS...assuming Expos put an end to their current losing streak. 
• Steve Etherton - Yet another pitcher who picked up control and splits, righties will have an even tougher time getting a base hit off him. And that velocity! The lab is working for Etherton!
• Chicago
• Eduardo Cespedes - EC may not be starting anymore, but the 33yr old is guaranteed $8.7M next season and has a $10.7M mutual option the follow season, so the Chicago owners are vested. Rumor has it, he was sent down to OKC for 'a second opinion' and like Puello and Benavente before him, saw increases across the board. 

Mr. Comissioner, the ball is in your court. Think of the kids who look up to these players! Soon American kids will be bottle fed steroids, think of the kids! Oh wait, he loves Canada more than America. BOO!!!!

S54 Updated Power Rankings

Richard Castle - contributing reporter

Here we are with another Skynet update and final update of the year. Atlanta's is costing, and even though they lost the winner of the last two AL MVPs, their hitting hasn't stopped producing. Houston holds strong at #3 with Hartford finally making their ascension to the top, taking the #2 and top NL team with their power bats favored over the NOOFs. Nigel White is having an amazing season, just unfortunately that he can't start every game. OKC's rankings are standing firm though the team is jiving much better these days with the second best record since the previous mid-season rankings update. 

Either people in Portland cannot read or they just don't care about the opinion of the blog; but with a lack of improving their bats, they've sunk from 2 games to 11 games behind OKC in the division race and are currently 10 games behind Buffalo for the Wildcard 2 slot. 

On the other side of the rankings, Milwaukee holds the bottom tightly and in a dog fight for the top overall pick in next year's draft as there are 7 teams within 1 game of each other. Lots of tie breakers going into effect this year. 

By record of the current playoff picture as of this writing:

• 88-30 Atlanta (AL-E) - 30-8 since last update
• 82-36 New Orleans (NL-S) - 26-12 since last update
• 78-40 Houston (AL-S) - 25-13 since last update
• 71-47 Hartford (NL-N) - 23-14 since last update
• 70-48 Pittsburgh (NL-E) - 20-17 since last update
• 69-49 Chicago (NL Wildcard 1) - 24-14 since last update
• 68-50 Oklahoma City (NL-W) - 26-11 since last update
• 68-50 New York (AL Wildcard 1) - 19-19 since last update
• 67-51 Monterrey (AL Wildcard 2) - 18-19 since last update
• 67-51 Buffalo (NL Wildcard 2) - 22-16 since last update
• 65-53 Philadelphia (AL-N) - 22-16 since last update
• 63-55 Boston - misses playoffs - trails Monterrey for Wildcard 2 by 4 games
• 61-57 Helena (AL-W) - 20-17 since last update

The NOOFs have taken a bit of a hit, but I'd still love to see the Swamp Series take place; Houston v New Orleans.

Good luck the rest of the way!