American Association Insider: Sunday August 30th Takeaways and Power Rankings

 Kevin Luckow

(non member of IBWAA)

I'm going to stray off script here. For those that didn't know, Kansas City finished the sweep of Lincoln. Winnipeg was no hit into the seventh but came back to win. Sioux Falls and Sioux City both won easily to keep pace with each other. Milwaukee swept Fargo-Moorhead at Newman Outdoor Field. And Cleburne clinched the last spot in the East finishing a six game sweep of Chicago. 

Let's look at all the possible scenarios to keep tabs on this week. 

East

Milwaukee. Leads Lake Country by four games, Kane County by 5.5, and has a game lead over Kansas City for best overall record. The division title seems to be a formality, but the race for best overall record will go down to the last weekend. 

Photo courtesy of Jennifer Andreachi


Lake Country. Leads Kane County by 1.5 games, Cleburne by six games. With a seven game home stand against Gary SouthShore and Sioux City, I see the DockHounds holding second place, though Sioux City comes in for the weekend with lots at stake. 

Kane County. Behind Lake Country by 1.5 games and up 4.5 on Cleburne for third place. The Cougars wrap up a 10 game road trip with three in Chicago, before four against Cleburne. I don't see a scenario where the Cougars move up or down in the standings.

Cleburne. Behind Kane County by 4.5 games. It would take the Railroaders sweeping Sioux Falls then Kane County on the road to bypass the Cougars. I think the Roaders are planted in fourth.

Gary SouthShore and Chicago. Two teams with players that have baseball cards, so they will battle to the end even with nothing to play for. 

West

Kansas City. Up on Winnipeg by 3.5 games, 6.5 on Fargo-Moorhead. The Goldeyes will be likely dropping a continued game in Fargo, so let's call it four. I don't see the Monarchs losing ground to Winnipeg before meeting them for the final four games. Best overall record is in reach, one game behind Milwaukee.

Winnipeg. Behind 3.5 on Kansas City. Up three on Fargo-Moorhead, 5.5 on Sioux Falls. It will be tough for the Goldeyes to catch up on Kansas City. Winning three or splitting the series against the RedHawks will solidify second place. An absolute collapse would have to occur for the Canaries to catch the Goldeyes.

Fargo-Moorhead. The RedHawks at 6.5 games back of Kansas City is insurmountable. But the RedHawks can catch Winnipeg, but it will have to be at the expense of the East leading Milwaukee Milkmen who have the first overall seed to play for. 

Sioux Falls Canaries. The Canaries could land anywhere between 2nd and 6th. 5.5 behind Winnipeg, 2.5 games behind Fargo-Moorhead. The race everyone is looking at however is for fourth where the Canaries are one game and a tiebreaker ahead of Sioux City. Lincoln is six games behind Sioux Falls with four at the Birdcage next weekend. The focus will be on staving off the Explorers.

Sioux City Explorers. The Explorers are 6.5 behind Winnipeg, 3.5 behind Fargo-Moorhead, but one behind Sioux Falls. A gauntlet of three in Kansas City and four in Lake Country await. But a team playing for their playoff lives is a dangerous team. 

Lincoln Saltdogs. Basically, they will have to run the table at home against Milwaukee then in Sioux Falls. Look for them to be eliminated by the time they arrive at the Birdcage on Friday. 

Power Rankings

1. Milwaukee Milkmen 64

2. Kansas City Monarchs 58

3. Winnipeg Goldeyes 57

4. Lake Country DockHounds 57

5. Kane County Cougars 55

6. Cleburne Railroaders 53

7. Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks 52

8. Sioux City Explorers 51

9. Sioux Falls Canaries 50 

10. Lincoln Saltdogs 43

11. Gary SouthShore RailCats 42

12. Chicago Dogs 31


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