Week 6: Saturday's report

Jay Bruce's bat came alive thanks to
mediocre Milwaukee pitching.

STUDS: Madison Bumgarner (Testosteraun Braun) struck out 11 and allowed 1 run in a 7-inning win. Andre Ethier (Silver State Sagebrushers) had 2 doubles and 2 singles and scored 3 runs. Jean Segura (Going Going Gonzo) had a homer, a double and 2 singles, and scored 3 runs. Jay Bruce (Going Going Gonzo) hit 2 doubles and a homer, drove in 2 and scored 2 runs. Adam Wainwright (Misfits) struck out 7 in a shutout and flirted with a no-hitter. Jonathan Papelbon (Pitch You Blockhead) earned a save and struck out 3 in 1.2 innings.

DUDS: Ryan Zimmerman (Lawyers, Guns & Money) went 0 for 3 and committed 2 errors. Jon Niese (Misfits) allowed 8 runs and took the loss while striking out 2 in 4.1 innings. Huston Street (Manwaring a Muumuu) blew a save and took the loss, allowing 2 runs in 0.2 inning.

TRANSACTIONS: Pitch You Blockhead places SP James McDonald on the disabled list and acquires free agent Dan Haren.

Head-to-head scores

Testosteraun Braun 148, Fresh Fish 114
Manwaring a Muumuu 176, Misfits 114
Pitch You Blockhead 111, Rookies 96
Arbitration Losers 152, Going Going Gonzo 132
Lawyers, Guns & Money 104, Silver State Sagebrushers 85

Week 6: Friday's report

First, Matt Harvey flirts with perfection. Then
Shelby Miller retires 27 batters in a row —
13 of them via strikeout.

STUDS: Shelby Miller (Manwaring a Muumuu) threw a 1-hit shutout and struck out 13. Ian Desmond (Manwaring a Muumuu) singled, doubled, homered, drove in 3 and scored 3 runs. Matt Cain (Fresh Fish) had an RBI single, earned a win while striking out 7 in 8 innings, and allowed 2 runs. Garrett Jones (Fresh Fish) homered and doubled twice, scored 2 runs and drove in 3.

DUDS: Shaun Marcum (Testosteraun Braun) allowed 6 runs and took the loss while striking out 2 in 4.2 innings. Tim Hudson (Lawyers, Guns & Money) allowed 6 runs and took the loss while striking out 4 in 3.2 innings. Nick Hundley (Pitch You Blockhead) went 0 for 2 with 3 strikeouts and committed an error.

TRANSACTION: Manwaring a Muumuu makes a conditional DL move on OF Michael Cuddyer, who has missed 2 games with a neck problem. Denard Span would replace Cuddyer in the lineup.

Head-to-head scores

Testosteraun Braun 110, Fresh Fish 97
Manwaring a Muumuu 141, Misfits 91
Pitch You Blockhead 86, Rookies 80
Arbitration Losers 112, Going Going Gonzo 98
Lawyers, Guns & Money 81, Silver State Sagebrushers 66

Week 6: Thursday's report

Follow Jason Grilli on Twitter @GrillCheese49.

STUDS: Patrick Corbin (Lawyers, Guns & Money) struck out 4, allowed 1 run, earned the win in 6.1 innings and drove in a run. Buster Posey (Manwaring a Muumuu) had a 2-run homer and an RBI single. Brian McCann (Misfits, disabled list) had 3 hits, including a 2-run homer, and 3 RBIs.

DUDS: Jason Grilli (Going Going Gonzo) allowed 1 run and took the loss in 0.1 inning. Paul Goldschmidt (Testosteraun Braun) went 0 for 3 and was caught stealing.

Head-to-head scores

Testosteraun Braun 104, Fresh Fish 52
Manwaring a Muumuu 92, Misfits 82
Pitch You Blockhead 76, Rookies 67
Arbitration Losers 88, Going Going Gonzo 64
Lawyers, Guns & Money 68, Silver State Sagebrushers 48

Week 6: Wednesday's report

You can't spell "Dexter" without a couple of E's.

STUDS: Paul Goldschmidt (Testosteraun Braun) hit a 2-run homer and a solo homer. Jordan Zimmermann (Testosteraun Braun) allowed 1 run and struck out 7 in a 7-inning win. Mike Minor (Manwaring a Muumuu) allowed 1 run and struck out 7 in a 7-inning win. Carlos Gomez (Rookies) tripled, doubled and singled twice.

DUDS: Dexter Fowler (Silver State Sagebrushers) went 0 for 3 and made 2 errors. Jean Segura (Going Going Gonzo) went 0 for 4 with a strikeout and committed an error. Rafael Betancourt (Rookies) allowed 1 run and took the loss while striking out 1 in 1 inning. John Buck (Rookies) went 0 for 4 with 2 strikeouts and committed an error.

Head-to-head scores

Testosteraun Braun 91, Fresh Fish 50
Manwaring a Muumuu 79, Misfits 67
Pitch You Blockhead 69, Rookies 60
Arbitration Losers 82, Going Going Gonzo 62
Lawyers, Guns & Money 41, Silver State Sagebrushers 39

Week 6: Tuesday's report

Matt Harvey had a bloody nose and unhittable stuff,
but he settled for a 21-point no-decision.

STUDS: Matt Harvey (Manwaring a Muumuu) was an infield hit — and a Mets run — away from a perfect game. He struck out 12 in 9 scoreless innings and didn't get a decision. Travis Wood (Pitch You Blockhead) struck out 8 and allowed 1 run in a 6.2-inning victory. Shin-Soo Choo (Pitch You Blockhead) hit 2 solo homers. Andrew McCutchen (Lawyers, Guns & Money) doubled, had 3 singles, stole a base, scored a run and drove in 1. Chase Utley (Misfits) homered, singled twice, drove in 2 runs and scored 2.

DUDS: Craig Kimbrel (Lawyers, Guns & Money) allowed 2 solo homers and took the loss while striking out 2 in 0.2 inning. Brandon League (Fresh Fish) allowed 2 runs and took the loss while striking out 2 in 1 inning.

TRANSACTIONS: Manwaring a Muumuu and Lawyers, Guns & Money have made a trade. Manwaring a Muumuu gives up SS Jimmy Rollins, OF Jason Kubel and P Ross Detwiler, and the "Warring Zevons" give up SS Ian Desmond and P Wandy Rodriguez. Lineup changes will take effect for Wednesday's games. Lawyers, Guns & Money releases 1B Matt Adams (who was on the DL); Rollins goes in Desmond's spot; Kubel goes in the spot of Carlos Quentin, who moves to the bench; and Detwiler goes to the bench in Rodriguez's spot. For Manwaring a Muumuu, Desmond goes in for Rollins; Domonic Brown goes in Kubel's spot; and Rodriguez goes to the bench.

NOTE: Tuesday's Nationals-Tigers game was rained out and will be made up Thursday.

Head-to-head scores

Testosteraun Braun 46, Fresh Fish 33
Manwaring a Muumuu 46, Misfits 46
Pitch You Blockhead 58, Rookies 51
Arbitration Losers 45, Going Going Gonzo 41
Lawyers, Guns & Money 30, Silver State Sagebrushers 27

Week 6: Monday's report

We can only hope that Andrelton Simmons' nickname in
the Atlanta clubhouse is "Gene."

STUDS: Paul Goldschmidt (Testosteraun Braun) homered, had 3 singles and drove in 3 runs. Andrelton Simmons (Testosteraun Braun) homered twice, singled and drove in 4 runs. Cliff Lee (Arbitration Losers) struck out 6 and allowed 2 runs in 8 innings while picking up the victory; he also singled. Trevor Cahill (Going Going Gonzo) hit a 2-run triple, scored a run, picked up the win, struck out 2 and allowed 2 runs in 7 innings.

DUDS: Placido Polanco (Testosteraun Braun) went 0 for 3 and made an error in his Testosteraun Braun debut. B.J. Upton (Going Going Gonzo) went 0 for 4 with 4 strikeouts.

Head-to-head scores

Testosteraun Braun 32, Fresh Fish 15
Misfits 14, Manwaring a Muumuu 10
Rookies 30, Pitch You Blockhead 2
Arbitration Losers 28, Going Going Gonzo 24
Silver State Sagebrushers 11, Lawyers, Guns & Money 5

Week 6 Transactions and Lineups

Trade

Our first FBLG trade of the season: Fresh Fish acquire OF Garrett Jones from Going Going Gonzo in exchange for SS Jean Segura.

Players acquired

Testosteraun Braun sign 3B Placido Polanco (May move #1).

Arbitration Losers sign 2B Darwin Barney (May move #1).

Lawyers Guns and Money sign OF Marcell Ozuna (May move #2).

Fresh Fish sign SS Adeiny Hechavarria (May move #1).

Players released

3B Steve Lombardozzi

OF Ben Revere

2B Mark Ellis

Lineup changes

Testosteraun Braun: Bench SP Marco Estrada; activate 3B Placido Polanco and SP Shawn Marcum.

Arbitration Losers: Bench OF Angel Pagan, 2B Donovan Solano and SP Carlos Villanueva; place 2B Neil Walker on disabled list; activate 2B Darwin Barney, OF Gerardo Parra and SP Ricky Nolasco.

Silver State Sagebrushers: No changes.

Going Going Gonzo: Bench SS Ruben Tejada and 2B Dan Uggla; move Martin Prado from 3B to 2B; activate SS Jean Segura, OF B.J. Upton and 3B Nolan Arenado.

Lawyers Guns and Money: Bench OF Jayson Werth, SP Wandy Rodriguez and 1B Ike Davis; activate OF Marcell Ozuna, SP Tim Hudson and 1B Yuniesky Betancourt.

Pitch You Blockhead: Bench SP Edwin Jackson; activate SP Kris Medlen.

Rookies: Bench SP Stephen Strasburg; activate SP Paul Maholm.

Manwaring a Muumuu: Bench OF Denard Span; activate OF Michael Cuddyer.

Misfits: Bench OF Jon Jay and SP Roy Halladay; activate OF Marlon Byrd and SP Jonathan Niese.

Fresh Fish: Bench OF Cody Ross; place SP Ted Lilly on disabled list; activate SS Adeiny Hechavarria, OF Garrett Jones and SP Jhoulys Chacin.

The Check Swing: Week 5

This week's theme is surprises and disappointments. We here at the FBLG blog provide a team-by-team rundown of draftees who have beaten expectations in the first five weeks and the guys who have been letdowns — or "kinks," to keep the music theme going.

1. Manwaring a Muumuu (874 points, 4-1): Matt Harvey made an impact last year after his call-up, but he's been remarkable in his sophomore season, posting 102 points in the first 5 weeks. On the flip side, Josh Beckett was drafted to add veteran stability to a young rotation. Instead, the homer-prone righty was released after failing to record a victory for the Dodgers.

The Misfits (Reid's team, not the
Kinks album), second in the FBLG
rankings, face Manwaring a
Muumuu this week.

2. Misfits (862 points, 3-2): It's hard to choose a surprise from this group of established performers, but Jaime Garcia would be the choice. Coming off a shoulder injury, Garcia has looked as good as ever in the early going. On the flip side, Roy Halladay has been mostly terrible this season and is seeing a doctor because of pain in his right shoulder.

3. Testosteraun Braun (852 points, 3-2): Jordan Zimmermann has provided 87 points and looks like a co-ace alongside Madison Bumgarner. Plus, the Nationals are giving him run support this year. On the flip side, Julio Teheran was tabbed by many as a breakout candidate after dominating hitters during the spring. It hasn't worked out that way.

4. Arbitration Losers (819 points, 2-3): Brandon Crawford has scored 65 points. That's more than Jonathan Lucroy, Angel Pagan and Matt Kemp, and it matches Cliff Lee's output. Remarkable. On the flip side, Brandon McCarthy brought his ground-ball tendencies to the National League and seemed like a good bet to win at least 10 games with an ERA under 4.00. Instead, he's already been let go by the Arbitration Losers.

5. Going Going Gonzo (809 points, 2-3): Did anyone expect A.J. Burnett to be this good? He's striking out batters left and right, and he's been racking up the victories — to the tune of 96 points. On the flip side, B.J. Upton has been downright awful. He's been benched for stretches by the Braves and has been on Going Going Gonzo's bench as well.  

6. Pitch You Blockhead (806 points, 3-2): Although he was the third outfielder drafted by PYB, Starling Marte is one of only four FBLG players who have surpassed 100 points (Matt Harvey, Clayton Kershaw and Adam Wainwright are the others). On the flip side, Kris Medlen has pitched well enough to post a 3.38 ERA, but his record is 1-4. That's not what PYB expected from its ace.

7. Lawyers, Guns & Money (779 points, 3-2): Lance Lynn has had a fantastic start, but he was drafted to be this team's ace. The true surprise is Hyun-jin Ryu, who was an unknown commodity after coming to the U.S. from Korea. He's earned 87 points, just 4 fewer than Lynn. On the flip side, Ben Revere has looked awful in his first year in the National League. It didn't take long for the Phillies to drop him from the leadoff spot, and it's hard to steal if you can't get on base.

8. Silver State Sagebrushers (776 points, 1-4): With 84 points, Dexter Fowler has been one of the top players in FBLG, and being atop the Colorado lineup could lead to seasonlong success. On the flip side, although Chad Billingsley's elbow blew up, that wasn't much of a surprise. The real head-scratcher here is another terrible start for Rickie Weeks. Almost a quarter of Weeks' 49 points came in one game this week.

9. Fresh Fish (739 points, 2-3): Jean Segura has been phenomenal for the Brewers, and Fresh Fish has reaped the benefits with Segura replacing the injured Hanley Ramirez. On the flip side, Matt Cain and Miguel Montero have gotten off to slow starts, but Giancarlo Stanton has been truly disappointing. The Miami slugger scored only 31 points before going down with a hamstring injury.

10. Rookies (725 points, 2-3): Baseball pundits' opinions were split on Carlos Gomez before the season. Gomez has proved his doubters wrong, continuing to build on a strong 2012 by scoring 92 points in FBLG. On the flip side, Jason Heyward contributed little before going on the disabled list. His absence has left a major hole in the Rookies' outfield.



Week 5: Sunday's report

Rumor has it Rupert Holmes is working on a remake of his
No. 1 hit from 1979, "Escape (The Pina Colada Song)."
The lyrics of "Escape (The Marco Estrada Song)" go: "If
you like Marco Estrada, and giving up lots of runs. If you
like walking everybody, then we'll have us some fun."

STUDS: Allen Craig (Arbitration Losers) had a double and a triple, scored 1 runs and drove in 4. Matt Holliday (Arbitration Losers) singled, homered, drove in 3 and scored 3 runs. Justin Ruggiano (Fresh Fish) hit a solo homer and a 2-run homer, scored 4 runs and stole a base. Freddie Freeman (Misfits) singled, doubled, homered, scored 2 runs and drove in 3.

DUDS: Marco Estrada (Testosteraun Braun) allowed 8 runs and took the loss while striking out 5 in 3.1 innings. Roy Halladay (Misfits) allowed 9 earned runs and took the loss while striking out 4 in 2.1 innings. Dexter Fowler (Silver State Sagebrushers) went 0 for 5 with 3 strikeouts.

Final head-to-head scores

Testosteraun Braun 183, Lawyers, Guns & Money 166
Manwaring a Muumuu 165, Silver State Sagebrushers 114
Pitch You Blockhead 189, Misfits 158
Rookies 213, Arbitration Losers 151
Going Going Gonzo 179, Fresh Fish 133