Congrats to Champs for starting off Week #1 in first place. For those teams that got off to a good start, I'm sure it feels good. For the rest, it is only the first week and hope springs eternal!
Despite not starting out great myself, I enjoyed my one wonderful week of free MLB on Direct TV with all the games! My wife hated it, but I was in heaven! Now it is back to stattracker, the Rockies games, ESPN, Fox, and MLB TV. Still plenty of outlets, but not quite the same as having every game live at my fingertips. I think I wore out the remote going back and forth watching my players. It was awesome!!! Well, mostly awesome. Watching stinking Trevor Hoffman blow another save opportunity against the Cards Sunday evening was brutal, which cost me a point against Squirrels as Carpenter wiggled off the hook for a loss. Some of the relief pitching out there is absolutely awful. The position is already volatile for some teams and its just the first week. OK, now onto the review of matchups, starting with first place Champs against Plaz.
Champs 10 to Plaz 2: Ed's team tore it up in week 1, and Plaz had to be the whooping boy in this one. I agree that Champs must enjoy the limelight while it lasts as I don't see it lasting at the top all season. The reason why is the average won't hold up and despite Halladay and Santana, I don't believe the pitching can do what it did this week consistently. But props goes out to getting Polanco at 2nd base for the Phils. Batting 2nd in that lineup, he will put up numbers. Rollins looks to be a new player this year so far. I can't figure that guy out?? Rajai Davis ran wild. David Price, Happ, and Pavano are ok, but they won't pitch like that every week. Halladay is the real deal who should win the CY Young in my mind. Santana plays for the Mets, whose offense is a bit worrisome. I like Champ's team and he will be good, but not this good! 43 runs in the first week is ridiculous! Plaz ran into a buzzsaw and despite his misfortune, the team's overall numbers were ok on offense and had bad luck on defense by getting edged with a 2.91 ERA. If Vernon Wells has healthy wrists and Soriano can bounce back, and J. Hamilton stays healthy, the Plaz can surprise. I started out 3-9 last year, so a 2-10 start can easily be overcome. The offense will hurt you on various weeks, but don't see enough depth in the pitching. Not a good start, and I still see a long year for Plaz.
Hitters 8 to Ageless 4: I guess someone had to win this matchup as the numbers weren't great. Not quite sure what Hitters is doing with his lineup either, but somehow got 8 points? No catcher on Sunday, no reliever to speak of (although now Feliz has the Texas job), and Texeira on the bench?? Has 1 win on defense, 5 losses and 0 saves, but gets 8 points?? How the hell does that happen?? Living right the first week is how. Can't continue against the top notch clubs. Ageless trots out his usual team of speed with a little power mixed in. I love Garret Jones right now, and was hoping to scoop him up. That is a nice benefit for the Ageless One. The offense will be much better than this week, but is not intimidating. Outside of Johnson and maybe Beckett, the pitching needs help. Not enough heat and too many walks on the staff. Tommy enjoy your opening week victory and the 2nd place standing right now because if some managing strategy doesn't improve, it will be short lived.
Zonk 7 to Hardballers 3: Stephen had one of the best all around offensive performances of the week. I know I didn't give this team much love in my predictions and I am still skeptical, but they performed well this week. Beltre has an excellent first week for the Red Sox with a .400 average. Mauer did his usual hitting .380 and Morneau is in a nice hitting spot. Nelson Cruz was unconsious this week with 4 dingers. Still think there are too many sluggers with low batting averages which will hurt in the long run, but they scored big this week. The pitching will get better as Verlander started slow and King Felix a bit too. But, they will be strong. Zonk will do his usual mainstreaming with pitchers as the depth is thin after the big two. Randy's team had a good number of hits, but not much to show for it. Only 20 RBI's and 26 runs was unusual. Will have to ride C.C. and Hanson in the pitching dept. Although, Slowey was a nice surprise this week. Almost a no-no for C.C. against the Rays as well. Good start for Zonk and a welcome surprise.
REDS 7 to Utica 4: I disagree with Rick. This win was pretty as the numbers proved it. For the first week, this showdown had impressive hitting. Usually we don't start seeing these kinds of numbers until later in the summer. Tough offensive battle here. Utica leaves off right where he did last year by laying out 68 hits and a .317 average, only to be outdone by Rick's 70 hits and .321 average. Tough break there. Miguel Cabrera is just a stud, and if Magglio Ordonez can keep it going like the days of yesteryear, the REDS may be onto something. I do think David Wright will improve upon last year's performance. REDS had a good pitching performance too. 2.54 ERA with Wainwright doing his usual and Weaver and Buerhle having good outings. Not sold having 3 Detroit Tigers on offense and the pitching can't keep it up, but for the week, REDS looked good. Uticans deserved better this week on offense, but ran into the wrong club at the wrong time. Can Feldman be for real for the Rangers? Will Harden stay healthy? Some questions marks on the pitching staff, but if the pitching can prevail, the Uticans will be tough. Longoria may have an MVP type year as he started out good!
Squirrels 7 to Baseman 4: Having the 1st pick in the draft two years in a row doesn't hurt! Pujols only had 4 HR's this week and 10 RBI's and 7 Runs. This guy can carry a fantasy team, and outside of Jason Heyward, practically did. This was a close contest, but B-Man felt like running uphill all week and just couldn't make the final spurt. Is Jason Heyward for real? Sure looks like it. If he can continue to hit like he did this week with 3 HR's, then Squirrels will battle for the title. Vladimir Guerrero looked like his old self in the Texas lineup too. Pitching doesn't walk many people with only 10 BB's. Will be hard to beat this lineups power. B-Man had some bad luck in relief despite posting quality numbers. Not the best week and could have gotten blown out though, so will take the loss instead of being in a deeper hole. Injuries already creeping up on B-Man with Montero on the DL and Zimmerman with a hurt hammy. Pitching numbers were good, but Squirrels was a bit better. Squirrels got revenge in this one!
Stars 6 to Coyote Utley 5: This was the tightest matchup of the week both by score and numbers. Lincecum once again is the real deal. Man, I miss him already from my team last year. Now Stars gets to benefit. Did okay in the pitching stats despite poor performances by Nolasco and Kershaw. Garza picked up the slack though. The relief pitching is scary though to say the least. The Astros are atrocious and how many opportunities will Lindstrom get? Gonzalez is a joke on the mound for the O's. Dotal plays for the Buccos. Enough said there. I don't blame Stephen for picking relief late, but these are not quality relievers at all or play for bad teams. Love the offense and it will be more potent as the season heats up. Enough said there. I also like Utley's offense. 38 RBI's with only 55 hits is pretty nice! Coyote went big on the pitching, so will try to survive sometimes by number of starts it seems. timmy definitely won't repeat last year's debacle with this squad. Two quality teams that were locked in a heated battle. Look for these teams to rise in the standings in due time.
Hope you enjoyed the 2010 first edition of "Week in Review." Please feel free to give comments my way, even when you disagree. I think???
BASEMAN
Ubaldo Jimenez: Pitched Rockies 1st No-Hitter