Monday, July 18, 2112As we approach the trade deadline and with 90 games in the books, the
WBA Times staff has reviewed the current rosters and is releasing their predicted final standings. Please note that these standings may be updated following any late activity before the trading deadline.
Americas Baseball LeagueNORTH AMERICAN DIVISION |
Team | W | L | PCT | GB | Northwest Emeralds | 100 | 56 | 0.641 | - | Los Angeles Stars | 95 | 61 | 0.609 | 5 | Mexico City Aztecs | 72 | 84 | 0.462 | 28 | Ottawa Whiskey Jacks | 58 | 98 | 0.372 | 42 | Carolina Flight | 57 | 99 | 0.365 | 43 |
LATIN AMERICAN DIVISION | Team | W | L | PCT | GB | Buenos Aires Dolphins | 94 | 62 | 0.603 | - | Santo Domingo Palmchats | 83 | 73 | 0.532 | 11 | Puerto Rico Coqui | 78 | 78 | 0.500 | 16 | Rio de Janeiro Jaguars | 75 | 81 | 0.481 | 19 | Sao Paulo Toucans | 68 | 88 | 0.436 | 26 |
In the North American Division we look for Steve Tibbs's injury to bring the Stars back down to earth from their early season overachieving as they are currently +6 compared to their Pythagorean expectation and 15-6 in one run games. Nobody on staff here is happy about predicting a 5th straight division title for the Northwest Emeralds but that's just the way we see it. Regardless, the Stars should qualify for the playoffs comfortably even if it's not as division champions.
In the Latin American Division the Buenos Aires Dolphins should end up not facing much of a challenge for the division despite only a 3 game lead at this point. The Times staff is selling on the Puerto Rico Coqui hard due to early overachievement and a surprisingly below average offense that is only getting good production from star catcher Juan Baca. The main beneficiary of that prediction would be the Santo Domingo Palmchats, a result which is obviously based on absolutely zero bias or favoritism here at the publication's Santo Domingo headquarters.
Intercontinental Baseball League
AFRO-EUROPEAN DIVISION | Team | W | L | PCT | GB | Black Forest Foxes | 100 | 56 | 0.641 | - | London Monarchs | 86 | 70 | 0.551 | 14 | Rome Generals | 78 | 78 | 0.500 | 22 | Barcelona Bulls | 77 | 79 | 0.494 | 23 | Paris Fleur-de-Lis | 43 | 113 | 0.276 | 57 |
ASIAN DIVISION | Team | W | L | PCT | GB | Mumbai Cobras | 90 | 66 | 0.577 | - | Manila Folders | 86 | 70 | 0.551 | 4 | Karachi Falcons | 85 | 71 | 0.545 | 5 | Shanghai Sharks | 81 | 75 | 0.519 | 9 | Melbourne Meteors | 54 | 102 | 0.346 | 36 |
Black Forest looks to be a comfortable favorite in the Afro-European Division while due to injury issues elsewhere in the division London figures to finish in second place and be in the thick of the fierce IBL wild card race.
Whether we are slow learners or will prove to be prescient, either way we at the Times still can't quite believe that the Manila Folders are as good as they've played so far this season. Melbourne is the only Asian Division team that shouldn't be involved in the playoff race at all as the other four teams could all end up anywhere from division champions to watching the postseason from home. |
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