Minor League Monday: June 6, 2021

Author: Dawson Haywood

Current OKLH NC MiLB Power Rankings

#1. Durham Bulls (20-9) (Series: 4-1) (Weekly Titles: 3) 

The Bulls continue to dominate and have taken their place last week and have run with it. This is the first time in this series that we have a team defend their title so congrats to the Bulls. It helps that they are a part of the highest division played in the state and that they are performing so well at it. It is likely we see the Bulls defend their titles for weeks to come as they will play teams that they have either defeated or have been close with in their series against. 

#T2. Carolina Mudcats (18-11) (Series: 2-2-1) (Weekly Titles: 1)

The Mudcats are in this position, not because of their stellar performance but because there is nobody to take their place. Carolina is close to slipping in the standings if they continue to play the way they did this past week but they are coming into the week looking at a series against the #10 Kannapolis Cannon Ballers which could be their saving grace and momentum builder. 

#T2. Down East Wood Ducks (18-11) (Series: 3-1-1) (Weekly Titles: 1) 

The Wood Ducks find themselves tied at the #2 spot with the Mudcats because they actually beat the Mudcats this past week but we have not forgotten about their series lost against Fredericksburg. Down East is back on the right path to compete for the #1 spot but they have a lot of ground to cover as the Bulls are very dominant this year. 

#4. Asheville Tourists (13-16) (Series: 3-2)

The Tourist, though they lost their series against the Greenville Drive this past week, are still my sleeper team. In order for them to crack into a higher position they need to have a winning overall record. Their series record has given them the #4 spot this week. The Tourists have a few competitive series coming up and wins could creep them into that top position eventually.

#T5. Greensboro Grasshoppers (15-15) (Series: 0-0-5)

At this point in the season I am rooting for the Grasshoppers to tie every series they play in. This is getting out of hand and is making it difficult for me to position them in these rankings. It is fun to follow because they will start off down in the series 0-3 then catch fire and all of a sudden they've tied the series. This past week their latest series was against the also #5, Winston-Salem Dash.This week they go up against the #8 Hickory Crawdads... will we see a 0-0-6 team? or will we finally see them rise to the occasion or fall. 

#T5. Winston-Salem Dash (15-15) (Series: 1-1-3)

The Dash were another victim to Greensboro's "Can't Nobody Beat Us" tour, but it wasn't a loss. They are on the verge of having a winning record despite only having won one series. Since the Dash do have a win it is difficult to put them below the Grasshoppers... so tied at #5 it is. 

#7. Charlotte Knights (11-18) (Series: 1-3-1) 

The Knights tied this past week which is better than them being nearly swept so it is appropriate to move them up. The Knights may be another sleeper team as the season goes on and I predict that Charlotte will click at just the right time and b-line it into the Top-5. 

#8. Hickory Crawdads (12-18) (Series: 0-2-3) 

The Crawdads are struggling to compete this far into the season. Coming off back to back tied series the last thing the team needed was a loss. When a team has had back to back ties their future on this leaderboard is very fragile as a win could boost them up a position or two or lower them a position or two. In this case the Crawdads have fallen two positions. 

#9. Fayetteville Woodpeckers (12-17) (Series: 2-2-1)

The Woodpeckers the last two Power Ranking Updates have been riding the struggle bus as they were swept last week and then lost to the #10 Kannapolis Cannon Ballers twice out of their 5 game series. The Woodpeckers are lucky enough that the Cannon Ballers have dug themselves in such a deep hole it may still take a few weeks for Kannapolis to even make a scratch in the standings. 

#10. Kannapolis Cannon Ballers (4-25) (0-5)

We cannot move a team that consistently loses up in a power ranking list. I mean, we could but all credibility would be out the window. Kannapolis lost to the #9 Fayetteville Woodpeckers, again, the Bottom of the Barrel Series continues. Kannapolis will hosts the #2 Carolina Mudcats this week. While anything can happen in baseball, anything is possible. 

Last Week's Standings
1. Durham Bulls
2. Carolina Mudcats
3. Asheville Tourists
4. Down East Wood Ducks
5. Greensboro Grasshoppers
T6. Winston-Salem Dash
T6. Hickory Crawdads
8. Charlotte Knights
9. Fayetteville Woodpeckers
10. Kannapolis Cannon Ballers