Week 12 in Review: What Rollercoaster Ride Is It This Week!

Wow, what a rollercoaster ride the league has been this year! This late in the season and only 9.5 games separates the 12th place team from the 6th place team just after the halfway point. That may sound like a lot, but if a team gets hot (look at Morning Wood), then all teams are still virtually alive. In year's past, this would be about the time to write one or two teams off, but not this year. Plus, look at all the shifting in the standings each and every week. Hitters jumped all the way from 8th to 4th in one week!!!! Unfortunately for Plaz, he went from 5th to 8th. This is how tight the standings are and just one week of a blowout can have a team dreaming of HH glory or can have the other team restless in their bed at nights. Ok, that is some hyperbole thrown in there, but you get my drift. Except for Stars and maybe Hardballers, no one is safe. There is pressure on some of the bottom teams though to keep winning or keep the losing close because one week of a blowout can doom the chances at this point. Matchups are really getting crucial for some teams teetering on the edge. Now for a look at last week's contests.

Hitters 10 to Plaz 2: What looked like to be a Plaz runaway turned 180 degrees. Tommy's pitching has been coming on the past couple of weeks and combine that with an outstanding offense, then this team is extremely tough. The key to me though is the pitching. Can this squad be consistent enough for what it takes to get on a roll? Washburn and Hammel are really unsung heroes right now. Plus, the Rocks keep winning to get Street plenty of save opportunities. I just don't see this staff holding up, but with this offense Hitters is dangerous.
Plaz's team has good strengths like starting pitching and speed. Weaknesses have to be power and relief pitching. Having a first round pick like Reyes injured for so long really hurts matters. Konerko and Hardy really need to bolster this lineup and snap out of funks. Plaz will hang around, but really needs to address holes in this lineup to be a force like last year.

BASEMAN 9 to Ageless 3: Mike has a very dangerous team. The one problem is that there is too much inconsistency from week to week. He could easily beat a team 9-3 or lose by the same as he did this week. But, Quentin and Ramirez will drastically help when they come back. Then I feel Ageless can sustain momentum from week to week and be a bonafide contender. I am glad to be done with his team for the time being! B-man's offense is showing some good signs. The average still isn't great, but for 57 hits there was good production with 39 runs and 32 RBI's. The offense definitely is not flashy with not a lot of star power, and if I was an opponent I wouldn't be too intimidated by looking at the surface, just as Plaz says. But, look a little deeper and balance can be found. Offense won't blow teams away, but B-Man relies on pitching to keep the contests close or happen to win big once in awhile.

Stars 7 to Utica 3: Poor Kerm! The guy has put together one of his best teams and the injury bug has hit hard. Two offensive studs now out, plus a closer. But, don't count this team out. Hamilton is coming back soon. Even with Beltran's injury status uncertain, this offense is too good to go away. I do agree with Stars, that Utica did need to exhibit more patience with the pitching. There needs to be more depth here. One rarely can go far in the playoffs without balance and the team seems too overloaded on offense. See Tennessee Hitters. Stars got back on the winning track this week with good #'s in runs, HR's and RBI's. The Wright trade helped i the speed dept. The last trade with Woodie should help both teams. Overall balance of the club is solid. Count on the # 1 seed for Stars.

Zonk 7 to Squirrels 5: Stephen is trying to turn things around. Has a good number of hits at 60 this week and a .291 avg. and without anything from Rollins or Orlando Cabrera. I would be surprised if Rollins doesn't turn it around, but not happening yet as he was benched for some mental downtime. So stay tuned. Zonk needs this guy doing his usual thing to get closer in contention. Zonk again goes wild on the WW with pitchers and seems to pluck everyone as is the case with Tommy Hunter. Who is he again? But, Zonk does have Kazmir who he basically got for nothing. Question: What happens to those who slump in the offense? Where is the depth? Very unique strategy displayed by Stephen. Will work sometime, but does it work consistently enough? As for Squirrels, this is a scary team, but hard to figure out. I like the pitching. Lester has been on a roll, Haren is just GOOD, and Edwin Jackson has reached his potential. Downside is Dice K getting hurt and Harang being inconsistent, and only 2 closers. On offense, teams are starting to pitch around Pujols. Could that hurt long term? That guy is amazing and I would love to have him, but he is getting Barry Bonds treatment. Youkilis needs to get hot and is quite capable. Lots of power on this team, but it could come in bunches. Some weeks are going to be down. Only 45 hits and a .238 average this week. Look for Squirrels to destroy someone and soon.

Morning Wood 6 to Harballers 5: If I am not mistaken, Woodie has 5 wins in a row under his belt and this was a tough test. Only 6.5 games back of the #6 spot, I have to commend Timmy on his guts to make some speculative trades to get his team back into contention. Now with the addition of Manny and Reynolds, Timmy's team is more dangerous than ever. What a feat this would be for him to make the playoffs when it looked bleak to put it nicely at one point in the season. He hit .317 with 39 runs and 7 steals. Nice numbers. Pitching only took 2 points and it is coming down to earth, but Paulino could be a find? Randy's team may be in the midst of a mini-slump right now. Longoria a little banged up, Hart and Rios having off weeks along with Morneau. Happens to every team as we know. I think Randy's team will snap out of it as again, I like the balance. His pitchers don't strike out too many batters except Verlander and sometimes Zimmerman, but the BB's are down. Randy's plan is to keep it close in pitching and bury you on offense. The offense needs to get it cranking again, and then all will be fine with Hardballers.

REDS 6 to Champs 4: Rick has now gotten Halladay, Sizemore, and A. Cabrera (SS) back, so there is hope. Berkman had a fine week as did Kubel. I think a player that could really help Rick's fortunes is Stephen Drew. He also had a good week. If he can come alive and Sizemore start producing to his capability, then REDS has a chance. It is slim, but there is hope if those questions are answered. Some good pitching, but also has to hope the 4th, 5th, and 6th starters can produce. Champs is just going the other way lately and needs to get the ship righted in a hurry. This team produces RBI's like the federal government is printing U.S. money! The one problem is the values haven't really increased. Champs only had 39 hits and a .223 avg. Ouch! A-Rod seems to be bothered by the hip injury. At least Utley has gotten production despite the hip surgery. Tommy Hanson has been awesome with 3 shutouts in a row for his innings pitched. Great pickup! This staff has great potential and Ed did win pitching this week. I am just waiting for the offense to explode, but it ain't happening and it better have soon!

BASEMAN