Power Rankings: Week 7

The final edition of the power rankings is headed by Orleans and Y-D.

1. Orleans Firebirds
Record: 29-15 (4-3 last week)
Previous Rank: 1

The Firebirds are slacking off – they no longer lead the league in key stats for all three phases, as Harwich finished with a better fielding percentage. But two out of three is plenty good enough to cement the Firebirds as the league’s best team as the playoffs begin. Orleans boasts the best batting average and best team ERA in the league. There seems to be good vibe, too – they clinched the division title with a walk-off win. Crucially for the playoffs, as a lot of teams are losing a lot of guys, Orleans has held on to almost everybody, particularly in its pitching rotation.

2. Y-D Red Sox
Record: 27-16-1 (4-4 last week)
Previous Rank: 2

The Red Sox beat Orleans right after the last power rankings came out. It wasn’t a great week that followed, but the fact that Y-D owns the season series over the Firebirds is an interesting sidebar for two teams that have appeared to be on a collision course for a while now. And doesn’t Y-D have some kind of history of playoff success? I feel like I read something about that.

3. Falmouth Commodores
Record: 24-19-1 (5-2 last week)
Previous Rank: 3

Falmouth finally emerged from the pack with a strong final week and held off Cotuit for the division title. It’s the second straight West crown for the Commodores, who will be looking for a second consecutive appearance in the championship series (and probably rooting for Orleans, at this point). The slugging never stopped for Falmouth, which finished with more home regular season home runs than any team in the Cape League since 2012. Two questions as the playoffs approach. Is Alec Bohm good to go? He didn’t play for about a week before returning for the season finale. And is there enough depth in the pitching rotation ? With Matt Mercer and Kyle Bradish both leaving, Falmouth is missing some key pieces, though Dalton Feeney and James McArthur have been good lately.

4. Cotuit Kettleers
Record: 22-21-1 (4-4 last week)
Previous Rank: 5

Cotuit enters the postseason with the league’s MVP and top pro prospect still in the fold and going strong. Michael Toglia has also been red hot lately, with a four home run in four day stretch last week. The overall offensive numbers don’t look too pretty – Cotuit is eighth in team batting average – but Toglia, Griffin Conine and Greyson Jenista make the lineup more fearsome than the statistics would indicate. On the mound, can Cotuit keep cobbling things together? Fifteen different pitchers have started at least one game and few have gone deep into their starts.

5. Brewster Whitecaps
Record: 21-21-2 (5-2 last week)
Previous Rank: 8

Outside of Falmouth, Brewster is the hottest team in the league entering the playoffs and its strong finish included wins over East leaders Orleans and Y-D. The Whitecaps seem to have a good nucleus of hitters still around. Nick Dunn and Marty Costes are red hot while Mickey Gasper, Michael Curry and Chandler Taylor offer plenty of pop. With some attrition in the pitching staff, the projected rotation has several guys with ERAs over four, though Tony Locey has emerged as a bona fide ace lately.

6. Bourne Braves
Record: 22-22 (3-5 last week)
Previous Rank: 4

The Braves lost five games in a row then broke out in impressive fashion with a pair of blowout wins over Wareham. It’s hard to give too much credence to the offensive explosions given Wareham’s decimated pitching staff, but the Bourne hitters will certainly be feeling good about themselves as the postseason begins. Jameson Hannah has been on fire lately and provides a crucial boost to the lineup. Pitching-wise, while the overall numbers weren’t great, the Braves have three solid starters in Eli Kraus, Daniel Bies and Brian Eichhorn.

7. Chatham Anglers
Record: 21-23 (3-4 last week)
Previous Rank: 6

It’ll be a rivalry battle in the first round of the East playoffs as neighbors Chatham and Orleans square off. They’re pretty familiar with each other at this point, with the Firebirds winning a pair of games over the Anglers on the final two days of the regular season, which clinched a 5-1 edge in the season series. I wouldn’t write off Chatham yet, though. Johnny Aiello is a dangerous bat in the middle of the order, top starter Austin Bergner has been fantastic and the bullpen has some shutdown arms. Then there’s the potential for some magic, as manager John Schiffner closes out his career with his team looking to send him out a winner.

8. Wareham Gatemen
Record: 18-25-1 (2-6 last week)
Previous Rank: 7

If you saw the Wareham Gatemen a few weeks ago, when they had a dominant stretch of starting pitching and reeled off a win streak, you’d be surprised at where they are now. You’d also be surprised at the roster. Nobody has been hit harder by late departures than the Gatemen, who have released nine players since July 17, including league batting champ Tanner Dodson, highly touted slugger Tristan Pompey and standout starting pitchers Miller Hogan, Griffin Roberts and Joey Matulovich. Perhaps Wareham will catch fire in the postseason, but if it happens, a new-look group will have to lead the way.

9. Harwich Mariners
Record: 15-28-1 (4-3 last week)
Previous Rank: 10

Harwich had one of its best weeks of the season after getting eliminated from playoff contention. Ultimately, though, an eighth place spot in both team batting average and team ERA was a tough sell all season.

10. Hyannis Harbor Hawks
Record: 16-25-3 (3-4 last week)
Previous Rank: 9

Hyannis nearly caught Wareham for the final playoff spot and might have been better positioned to make a Cinderella run. As it is, the Harbor Hawks will miss out on the postseason. Pitching remained the sticking point throughout, with Hyannis finishing with a league worst 5.40 ERA.

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