Okay league, sorry about last week as I had a busy week ahead of me, but things have finally settled down with school getting out as I teach, and now the weekly reviews should be consistent for some time now.
I titled this week "Separation Anxiety" because one team is clearly distinguishing itself from the rest. This team is performing very reminiscent of two years ago. You guessed it! This team is Stephen's Stars Super Squad! Stephen just pounded Rick's REDS this past week and REDS was performing quite adequately to start the week, but faded. Rick by no means am I picking on your team, but 9 out of 10 matchups with Stars and you don't have a chance. I will say that about my team too! Not many teams can match up here! Stephen even knows what he needs to improve his team and then it is all but over for who wins the league regular season title. Some team would just have to hope for the miraculous victory you pulled off merely two seasons ago in the championship to beat him. This past week Stars won on offense in a sweep. The most telling stat was 40 RBI's to 15. Plus a 12:51 BB:K ratio is extremely tough. Now with Carpenter healthy and back to his old self, well.....! With Harden coming back, well......! Stars even knows how to manage his pitching staff. Rick would have lost even worse, but Frank Francisco , a closer, lost on Sunday to give Rick the point in losses. I very well could put my own name here for getting stomped as I would have gotten pasted by Stars this week myself.
The big questions for REDS? Can Ortiz make a difference? With Sizemore down and out on the DL, where is the team speed going to come from? This is a team in turmoil right now, and things need to turn around quickly. I know this REDS team was right there in the hunt for the #6 spot, but this route really hurt. The time is now Rick!
BASEMAN vs. Plaz: This was a close one throughout the week with both teams taking turns leading. B-Man won a close one 6-5 in this rivalry between two old roommates. What did it boil down to? Well, Plaz's offense hasn't been as hot and pitching again saved B-Man. Plaz totally outhit me 65-47 and had a nice .293 avg. to my .240. I was clearly outmatched, but Plaz didn't make all those hits count. A difference of 18 hits and I was fortunate to tie in RBI's at 28 and lose only by 1 in runs. Plus, my team hit the HR and stole bases. Plaz's first lose in SB's for the year. Peter really misses J. Reyes! This guy is a catalyst for his team. Let's just say I was fortunate to come out on top this week. Having Greinke, Lincecum and Billingsley has been a blessing this year and keeps my team going. Also, Dempster steps up from time to time and now with Price and Kuroda, the pitching gets even tougher. But, unless B-Man's offense comes around, then there will plenty of close matchups each week. If it does come around, which I anticipate soon, then watch out for some ladder climbing. Same with Plaz. He has a very quality team that will be in the hunt. Very respectable and at times imposing offense and defense!
Zonk vs Halfway: Randy lost a close one this week (6-4) and to a good, but so far underachieving team in Zonk. Zonk lived up to his team's potential this week, and I totally agree with Plaz that his team can sneak up fast as I love the offense. Plenty of power, hitting for avg. and good speed. A balanced attack on offense. I am not in love with Zonk's defense at all, but teams will have to get in a shootout with his defense as he throws even the kitchen sink at you. A shootout there was in defense too. Both Randy and Zonk delivered 6 W's and 3 L's. Zonk even had 7 saves. He did have the worst BB/K ratio of the week at 28:41. This helped Randy. On offense Randy was the hard luck loser. He had a .344 avg. to Zonk's .350. That has to hurt! Zonk had 79 hits to Randy's 65. Ouch again! Plus, need I say more, but Zonk had 40 RBI's. For all of Randy's meeting some teams at the right time, this wasn't one of them. All things eventually even out. So, I pick Randy as the Hardball Heaven Hard Luck Loser of the Week. Not the best consolation prize, but you make some headlines with my post anyway!
Morning Wood vs. Ageless One: Timmy Wins! Timmy wins! 7-5 was the outcome as Timmy dominated with great pitching numbers this week. Took all 6 categories which is no small feat on defense. The problem was on offense as Ageless won all but one category to keep the contest close. Here are Timmy's pitching numbers, so take a good gander! 4 w's, 0 l's, 8 saves, 13:44 BB/K ratio, and a 2.01 ERA. Wow! Now look at who helped with these numbers. Can you say Carl Pavano!! Can you say Jamie Moyer!! Holy Shit (pardon me), but I thought they were recycled garbage. No my friends, they were vintage garbage this week! Can Pavano and Moyer keep improving? If so, then Timmy needs to hope Tommy Glavine comes back soon. Maybe, just maybe, Jesse Orosco will come out of retirement to close out games? If Pavano and Moyer can continue this mastery, then anything is possible. Players can be used as retreaded tired and used again, and again, and again. You get my drift. These numbers can't continue. Ageless on the other hand has a good, scrappy offense that can hurt you. A testimony to that was his 43 runs scored and a .300 average. The offense will have to carry his team as the pitching numbers aren't overly impressive.
Squirrels vs. Utica: This looked closer than it really was at 7-4 Squirrels, but Utica was one lucky SOB this week to get any points. His team won by 1 in hits with a scant 51, only 3 SB's to win by 1, 3 losses to 4 in pitching, and 3 to 2 in saves. Talk about cutting it close. This could have easily been a route! Utica, you really think your pitching is fine? Your team posted a 6.55 ERA for worst this week. The pitching is mediocre at best. Like Ageless, Utica is going to need the offense to carry his club. Hamilton and Beltran better stay healthy or trouble could loom ahead.
As for Squirrels, talk about squirrely numbers on offense! 12 HR's, but only30 runs and 29 RBI's total! Very little production for the power. Looking at the offense and there can be feasting aplenty from week to week. Plus, with Pujols and Youkilis, this team can feast and dine like kings! But, for some weeks, Pujols and Youkilis needs to make sure this team doesn't starve as there are plenty of hitters than can slump. Not the prettiest of matchups this past week, but Squirrels comes out ahead.
Hitters vs. Champs: 6-6 tie. This was a very close matchup of the week as determined by the score. The numbers really didn't stand out though. Here's how close it was. Tommy won RBI's, SB's, and BB's by 1 point per category. ERA was close at 3.99 to 4.10. Champs on the otherhand, won hits by 1, HR's by 1, and runs by 3. Whew! Talk about close all the way around. Both teams did nothing to impress the judges this week if this were a judged competition, so therefore a tie was probably best. Tommy's pitching isn't very deep at all. Champs lacks the intangibles Plaz spoke about like SB's and Saves (although Randy Choate now may be a Savior.....!) Both teams lack speed. Champs has the best chance of making a run, but Tommy's team is going to have a hard time consistently winning from week to week. I have to agree with Plaz on that one. Sorry!
The best way to throw tomatoes my way is to write your own posts or comments. Keep up the good work everybody! I love all the great posts this year!
BASEMAN
No comments:
Post a Comment