Minor League Monday: May 17, 2021

Author: Dawson Haywood

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

#1 (+2) Carolina Mudcats (8-4) (Series 1-0-1)
The Mudcats find themselves in a good position after tying with the Wood Ducks in their series against each other. Since the Mudcats scored more overall points against the Wood Ducks (16-10) and they were close in last week's standings I have put them above Down East. The Mudcats will face a powerful Delmarva team this coming week. A win in the series against them could secure their place in the standings for weeks to come. 

#2 (-) Down East Wood Ducks (9-3) (Series: 1-0-1)
After the Wood Ducks swept the Cannon Ballers last week they finally found their first loss against the Mudcats. The series was tied at 3-3 but the Mudcats ended up scoring more points this series. The Mudcats were #3 and the Wood Ducks were #2 last week, Because the Mudcats scored more points in this series (10-16), Down East has moved down below Carolina. The Wood Ducks will have an opportunity to move up again as they travel to Charleston this week to square off against the Riverdogs.

#3 (-2) Durham Bulls (7-5) (Series 1-1)
The Bulls fell in this week's standings because of their 2-4 record against the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp. The Bulls did wind up scoring more than the Jumbo Shrimp in this series (27-33) which keeps them close in their race for the #1 position. A hiccup by the Mudcats or the Wood Ducks could land the Bulls back into the #1 spot. This week they go off to face their in-state-rival Charlotte Knights. This is a must win series because a loss against the Knights could drop the Bulls in next week's standings significantly.

​#4 (+1) Greensboro Grasshoppers (6-6) (Series (0-0-2)
The Grasshoppers are still technically undefeated in series play. After tying with the Rome Braves, who have a winning record (7-5), the Grasshoppers have proved that they can compete with any team they face off against. There is still room for improvement though as they scored 22 against the Braves and allowed 27 runs. This coming week they will travel to Hickory to play the Crawdads. 

#5 (-1) Asheville Tourists (4-7) (Series 1-1)
The Tourists were nearly swept this past week by the Bowling Green HotRods. The Tourist offense did not show up only scoring 17 points in the series and the pitching was not much better allowing 33 points to be scored. This week they go up to face the 6-6 Greenville drive. 

#6 (+1) Winston-Salem Dash (7-5) (Series 1-1)
After beating a team that was only one spot above them in last week's standing's, the Dash find themselves in a better position than the Crawdads. Since they have a better record than the Tourist they are tied with them and a good series against the Jersey Shore Blue Claws will put them above the Tourists. 

#7 (+1) Charlotte Knights (6-6) (Series 1-1)
The Knights went on a redemption tour this week going 5-1 against the Norfolk Tides. This upcoming week the Knights face off against our #3 team and in-state-rivals, the Durham Bulls. The Knights have momentum and winning this next series could move them up significantly in the standings. 

#8 (-2) Hickory Crawdads (4-8) (Series 0-1-1)
This past week the Crawdads were nearly swept by the Winston-Salem Dash only winning one game against last weeks #7 team, only winning one game. Unfortunately, this results in them moving down in the standings. This week they will meet with the Greensboro Grasshoppers who have yet to win a series. 

#9 (-) Fayetteville Woodpeckers (6-6) (Series 1-1)
The Woodpeckers defeated last week and this week's #10 team, the Kannapolis Cannon Ballers. in a dominating fashion scoring 43 runs and only allowing 12. This offensive performance poses two questions. Do the Woodpeckers have potential to move up in these standings or are the Cannon Ballers just that bad? Though they now have more wins and a better series record than the Crawdads I cannot move them up in the standings since they beat our last place team.

#10 (-) Kannapolis Cannon Ballers (1-11) (Series 0-2)
The Cannon Ballers' inaugural season is not living up to the hype. The team has struggled putting up runs as they scored 2 or less points in five games of the last series against the #9 Woodpeckers. This unfortunately secures their spot at the bottom of the standings, at least for a while. A good series against the Columbia Fireflies could set them up to move up in the standings in later Power Ranking updates, but they will have to have a complete turnaround to even get to the #9 spot in the next month.