The Check Swing: Week 18

Well, gang, we made it through our 18-week season. Surprisingly, we had no change in the points race this week. All teams remained in the spots they held after week 17. Stay tuned for a playoff preview to come later today, including a complete rundown of the matchups. (Please note that my previous ramblings about playoff byes was incorrect; I showed a deep misunderstanding of the playoff structure. I think I understand it now.)

1. Manwaring a Muumuu (3,250 points, 12-6, last week 1): The 1-point loss to the Braunies in Week 18 was a heartbreaker, but Muumuu management is more than happy to throw Carlos Quentin under the bus for this one. Quentin scored zero points (or 20 fewer than Eric Young of Testosteraun Braun) in the one game he managed to play a portion of.

2. Misfits (3,061 points, 14-4, last week 2): Ho-hum. Just another 200-point week for Reid's Misfits. This team is firing on all cylinders, and a reliable fourth starter might be the only thing that could keep the Misfits from a championship. Freddie Freeman and Francisco Liriano combined for 69 points in the Misfits' blowout win against the Rookies.

3. Lawyers, Guns & Money (2,988 points, 10-8, last week 3): Yadier Molina's injury was a mere hiccup in another win for Matt's juggernaut. Andrew McCutchen is rolling like he was last year, and Lance Lynn seems to have recovered from his recent struggles. Can Yasiel Puig stop running into walls long enough to lead LGM to a championship?

4. Arbitration Losers (2,947 points, 10-8, last week 4): Cliff Lee scored 7 points, Nate Schierholtz had 4 and Aroldis Chapman had 3, yet Tim's team still scored almost 200 points for the week. If Matt Kemp and Johnny Cueto can return from injury and contribute, the Arbitration Losers could be FBLG winners when all is said and done.

Looks like someone's mad at Scott for
earning a first-round matchup with LGM.

5. Testosteraun Braun (2,921 points, 11-7, last week 5): The Roid Ragers rode big performances from Madison Bumgarner and Julio Teheran to defeat Manwaring a Muumuu. The matchup with Arbitration Losers in the first round of the playoffs will be a challenge, but Bill's team still shows the ability to put up big points.

6. Pitch You Blockhead (2,767 points, 11-7, last week 6): Sixth in points but fourth in the standings, PYB earned a first-round matchup with the surging LGM. Scott's team limped into the playoffs, with Shin-Soo Choo slumping, Carlos Gonzalez injured, and Travis Wood and Jonathan Papelbon getting knocked around. Is Omar Quintanilla the answer at shortstop?

7. Going Going Gonzo (2,756 points, 6-12, last week 7): A shorthanded Gonzo team managed to get past PYB, which was the difference between being the 8 seed in the playoffs and being relegated to the consolation round. The win was impressive considering that the outfield didn't produce (B.J. Upton, Nori Aoki and Jay Bruce combined for 20 points) and Trevor Cahill and Jason Grilli didn't play because of injuries.

8. Rookies (2,657 points, 7-11, last week 8): The Rookies didn't exactly finish the season strongly. The pitchers combined for 11 points in the loss to the Misfits, and 10 of those came from closer Bobby Parnell. If not for Henry's Braves — Jason Heyward scored 29 and Chris Johnson 24 — the Rookies' week would have been a disaster.

9. Silver State Sagebrushers (2,615 points, 6-12, last week 9): It's off to the consolation round for Brian's team, which got burned all season by poor performances from Rickie Weeks, Starlin Castro and Andre Ethier. With Brandon Belt's inconsistent playing time and an injured David Wright, things don't look good for the Sagebrushers.


10. Fresh Fish (2,531 points, 3-15, last week 10): What a difference a year makes for Rick's team, which won the points championship in 2012. The Fish will have their work cut out for them to avoid a last-place finish this year. Injuries to Hanley Ramirez (again) and Miguel Montero won't help. Neither will Todd Frazier, who managed to put up fewer points this week than Montero and Edward Mujica, neither of whom even played.