Minor League Monday: Season 2, Week 2

#1 (+1): Worcester Red Sox (9-3 | 2-0-0 | #T1: 29 PTS)
Opponent: Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs (4-2 | +11)
We had a tough time putting the Red Sox above the Dodgers, but that one extra win is what put them on top. The final two games of the series against the Iron Pigs would have been great games to go to if you like high scoring. Within two nights, runners found home 44 times. Pitching needs to improve to maintain the #1 spot, but the Worcester Red Sox are our top team for now. This week Worcester will take on a 1-10 Syracuse Mets team. Anything less than a sweep is unacceptable. 


#2 (-1): Oklahoma City Dodgers (8-4 | 1-0-1 | #T1: 29 PTS)
Opponent: El Paso Chihuahuas (3-3 | +11)
Oklahoma City, unfortunately, dropped this week since they were unable to clinch a series win against El Paso, but they kept their losses close, and their wins not so much. The first three games of the series did not look too good, losing by a combined total of 5 points, but the Dodgers rallied back and won the last three games by a combined total of 17 points. Perhaps a good series against the Sacramento RiverCats will put the Dodgers back on top. 


#3 (-): Nashville Sounds (8-4 | 2-0-0 | #3: 26 PTS)
Opponent: Gwinnett Stripers (4-2 | +14)
One could argue that the Sounds should be our #1 team this week. They likely have the highest quality series wins on this list after beating the Bulls, then turning around and beating the Stripers. Luckily, even though they are #3 this week and in the season standings, they're only three points behind #1 Oklahoma City and #1 Worcester Red Sox. This week Nashville will host the Charlotte Knights, who are currently 6-6.


#4 (+1): Akron RubberDucks (5-4 | 1-1-0 | #4: 23 PTS)
Opponent: Reading Fightin' Phils (4-2 | +4)
We brought in the RubberDucks to compete with Durham, and this week due to Durham's lack of positive performance, they now sit above the Bulls in both Season Standings and this week's standings. So now they have to aim for that #1 spot. The Bowie Baysox will host the Rubber Ducks this week. 


#5 (+1): Greenville Drive (6-3 | 1-1-0 | #T5: 21 PTS)
Opponent: #15 Asheville Tourists (5-1 | +30)
The Greenville Drive had the best week, nearly sweeping the now #15 Asheville Tourists. Their only loss was by two, but they had two consecutive wins by more than ten runs. This put Asheville at the bottom of this week's rankings, and Greenville is currently tied with the Durham Bulls in our season rankings.


#6 (+4): Tennessee Smokies (5-3 | 2-0-0 | #8: 16 PTS)
Opponent: Montgomery Biscuits (3-2 | -3)
The Smokies have been surprising through the first two series of the season, first beating Chatanooga and now beating Montgomery. Though one of the games was postponed due to weather, the Biscuits had as many opportunities to win this series as the Smokies did. It wasn't a dominating series win, but it was a win against a quality team. This week the Smokies have the opportunity to add another quality series win against the Rocket City Trash Pandas, who are 6-3 so far. 


#7 (-3): Durham Bulls (4-8 | 0-2-0 | #T5: 21 PTS)
Opponent: Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp (2-4 | -21)
Well... our defending champions are not having the start of the season we expected. The Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp, who were utterly obliterated by the #1 Worcester Red Sox just last week, ruined any chance of the Durham Bulls' chance to reclaim their throne. It's only week two, but if the season continues as it has been for Durham, we may never see them sitting at the #1 spot this season. This week the Bulls will travel to Norfolk to take on a Norfolk Tides team that has seen little resistance all season. 


#8 (-1): Greensboro Grasshoppers (4-5 | 0-1-1 | #7: 17 PTS)
Opponent: #13 Winston-Salem Dash (3-3 | +14)
Finally, the Greensboro Grasshoppers are not in the losing column. They're back to their old tying ways. You have to love to see it. The Dash are not the best team to tie to, but it's Greensboro, so what do you expect? This week the Grasshoppers will host the 6-3 Aberdeen IronBirds.


#9 (-1): Kannapolis Cannon Ballers (6-3 | 1-0-1 | #9: 15 PTS)
Opponent: #12 Down East Wood Ducks (3-3 | +6) 
It may be redemption season for the Cannon Ballers because the Wood Ducks dominated the Cannon Ballers last season. Though the series was split 3-3, the Cannon Ballers did outscore the Wood Ducks. This week, the Cannon Ballers will play another team that did not perform well last season but has found some success this season, the Fredericksburg Nationals. With the momentum Kannapolis has, they could sneak their way into the Top-5 within the next few weeks. 


#10 (+2): Chattanooga Lookouts (5-4 | 1-1-0 | #T10: 10 PTS)
Opponent: Birmingham Barons (4-2 | +19)
It was an excellent week for the Lookouts after falling to the #6 Tennessee Smokies. Perhaps week one was a fluke, and their play against the Barons is enough evidence to make that case. A game one win by 12 and a game five win by 11 against the Barons should keep Chattanooga fans optimistic. This week, the Lookouts will travel to Mississippi to take on the Mississippi Braves and hopefully accomplish what no team has accomplished in a six-game series this season, a series sweep. 


#11 (-): Memphis Redbirds (6-6 | 0-0-2 | #T10: 10 PTS)
Opponent: Charlotte Knights (3-3 | 0)
Is Memphis the new Greensboro? If you followed us last season, you know we like a team that consistently splits series 3-3. Ironically, Memphis will play the Omaha Storm Chasers this week, who are 1-1 in series play, but 6-6 in their game-to-game record. Memphis is tied with the Chattanooga Lookouts in the season standings, but as we saw last season, tying every game isn't necessarily bad as long as other teams play poorly. So for the sake of our entertainment, let's hope this trend continues.


#12 (+1): Down East Wood Ducks (3-6 | 0-1-1 | #13: 7 PTS)
Opponent: # Kannapolis Cannon Ballers (3-3 | -6)
It's odd seeing the Wood Ducks close to the bottom of our weekly standings. Last season, they fluctuated in the Top-3 before ending the season in second. Tying with the Cannon Ballers and scoring less is even odder. But maybe we will see some of last year's magic spark within the next few weeks. The Columbia Fireflies will host the Wood Ducks this week.


#13 (+1): Winston-Salem Dash (3-6 | 0-1-1 | #14: 5 PTS) 
Opponent: #8 Greensboro Grasshoppers (3-3 | -14) 
The Winston-Salem Dash have not had a flattering start to the season but going 3-3 against the #8 team is worth something. Granted, they were outscored by 14 points, but at least they have a few wins under their belt. Now we wait to see if they can get a series win against a #5 Greenville Drive team that is hot. Winston has the opportunity to get out of the bottom five and move up this week should they perform well. 


#14 (+1): Fayetteville Woodpeckers (2-7 | 0-2-0 | #15: 3 PTS)
Opponent: Salem Red Sox (2-4 | -14) 
Poor Woodpeckers. We had such high hopes for them coming into the season, yet they sit at the bottom of the barrel. Luckily, they did not get swept like last week and have two wins, but that isn't enough to get them out of the bottom two. This week they'll take on a 4-5 Augusta Greenjackets team who, while they have a losing record, do manage to keep games close. 


#15 (-6): Asheville Tourists (1-8 | 0-2-0 | #12: 8 PTS)
Opponent: #5 Greenville Drive (1-5 | -30)
It has been a ROUGH start for the Tourists. After being dominated by the #5 Greenville Drive, they dropped six spots which is the most dropped positions since we started doing Minor League Monday. Luckily, it is only week two of the Minor League season, and movement within the rankings is typically more dramatic now than later in the season. The Tourists will have to get out of last place before teams start getting into their groove and settling in their place in the rankings. Luckily, the Tourist will travel to Jersey to take on another one-win team, the Jersey Shore Blueclaws. 


Season Standings:
#1 Oklahoma City Dodgers/Worcester Red Sox: 29 Points
#3: Nashville Sounds: 26 Points
#4: Akron RubberDucks: 23 Points
#5: Durham Bulls/Greenville Drive: 21 Points
#7: Greensboro Grasshoppers: 17 Points
#8: Tennessee Smokies: 16 Points
#9: Kannapolis Cannon Ballers: 15 Points
#10: Memphis Redbirds/Chattanooga Lookouts: 10 Points
#12: Asheville Tourists: 8 Points
#13: Down East Wood Ducks: 7 Points
#14: Winston-Salem Dash: 5 Points
#15: Fayetteville Woodpeckers: 3 Points


Series to Watch
Series of the Week: #5 Greenville Drive vs. #14 Winston-Salem Dash