Playoffs Week 7: Friday's report

At least one guy on Manwaring a Muumuu showed up this week.

With two days left in the week, Arbitration Losers maintain a 46-point lead in the championship finals against Manwaring a Muumuu. Time is running out for the Muumuu Nine.

Fresh Fish trails by 38 in their attempt to lock up the second spot in the consolation finals. In the event that Fresh Fish loses, they will fall into a tie with the winner of Going Going Gonzo and Lawyers, Guns & Money, which Gonzo currently leads by a single point. In that event, the team that advances to face Testosteraun Braun will be determined by points scored during the playoffs.

STUDS: Jordan Zimmermann (Test. Braun) went the distance, striking out 9 in a 2-hit shutout and scoring a run as the Nationals dominated the Marlins. Matt Adams (Arb. Losers) bounced back from an injury had an 800-foot home run among his 3 hits and 3 RBIs. Aramis Ramirez (Muumuu) had 2 singles, a home run and 5 RBIs. Daniel Murphy had 3 singles, 3 runs an RBI and a stolen base. Matt Carpenter (single, 2 doubles, 2 runs) and Denard Span (single, triple, 2 RBIs) had nice days for PYB. Chris Johnson (Rookies) singled, doubled, homered and drove in 2 runs. David DeJesus (Gonzo) had 3 singles, a double and 2 RBIs, including the game-winning hit.

DUDS: Hunter Pence (Test. Braun) was 0 for 3 with 2 strikeouts and a caught stealing. Pablo Sandoval (PYB) was 0 for 3 with an error. Mat Latos (Muumuu) came up small in the spotlight, allowing 4 earned runs and striking out 1 in a 6-inning no decision. Edward Mujica (Fresh Fish) allowed 2 earned runs in 0.1 innings.

Finals scores

Arbitration Losers 164, Manwaring a Muumuu 118 (series tied at 1)

Third-place series scores

Misfits 155, Pitch You Blockhead 107 (PYB has already won series 2-0)

Consolation scores

Going Going Gonzo 101, Lawyers, Guns & Money 100
Rookies 105, Silver State Sagebrushers 63
Testosteraun Braun 126, Fresh Fish 88

Playoffs Week 7: Thursday's report

Since he's a Giant, we'll put his picture in here, but it won't be flattering. Sorry.

STUDS: Hanley Ramirez (Fresh Fish) had 2 homers, 2 singles, 4 RBIs (and an error) to help the Dodgers top the Diamondbacks and become the first team to clinch a playoff spot. A.J. Ellis (SSS) was a triple shy of the cycle, and his homer was the decisive run for the Dodgers. Gerrit Cole (PYB) became the latest in a long line of pitchers to dominate the Padres, striking out 12 and allowing one run in a 6-inning win. Speaking of teams that often get dominated, Madison Bumgarner (Test. Braun) allowed 1 run in 7 innings and struck out 10 to shut down the Mets.

Martin Prado (single, triple, 2 RBIs) and Matt Holliday (3 singles, 2 runs, 2 RBIs) helped Tim's Arbitration Losers take a 49-point lead in the decisive third game of the championship series over Team Muumuu. Muumuu's only hope, given its sputtering offense, is that it has 4 pitchers scheduled to make starts over the weekend. Will it be enough to overcome the deficit?

DUDS: Ian Kennedy (Gonzo) got shellacked by the Pirates, allowing 6 earned and striking out 2 in a 3.2-inning loss, and helping Gonzo to a minus-2 point day overall. Matt Carpenter (PYB) was 0 for 6 with 2 strikeouts and was picked off first base. Chase Headley (Arb. Losers) was 0 for 4 with a K, 5 men left on base and an error.

Finals scores

Arbitration Losers 140, Manwaring a Muumuu 91 (series tied at 1)

Third-place series scores

Misfits 112, Pitch You Blockhead 84 (PYB has already won series 2-0)

Consolation scores

Lawyers, Guns & Money 83, Going Going Gonzo 77
Rookies 81, Silver State Sagebrushers 48
Testosteraun Braun 76, Fresh Fish 63

Playoffs Week 7: Wednesday's report

STUDS: Adam Wainwright (Misfits) continued the trend of "aces who pitch good and also hit good too," striking out 8 and allowing 3 earned runs in 7.2 innings for a win, and also going 3 for 3 with a double, a run and 2 RBIs. Paul Goldschmidt (Test. Braun) had a 2-run homer, a single and a steal as the Diamondbacks kept the Dodgers from clinching the NL West for at least another day. Charlie Morton (SSS) struck out 9 and allowed one run in 8 innings for a no-decision, as the Pirates bullpen couldn't hold the lead. Jay Bruce (Gonzo) continued his torrid week by showing the good possibilities of extra-inning games: he had 3 doubles and 3 RBIs. Yasiel Puig (LGM) homered and doubled.

Did someone say Fat Albert? Or was it Matt Albers?
Oh, sorry, that was Matt Adams. Hey hey hey!

DUDS: Other Reds showed the bad possibilities of extra-inning games: Brandon Phillips (Fresh Fish) was 0 for 7 with 7 men left on base; not to be outdone, Ryan Ludwick (Fresh Fish) was 0 for 6 with an RBI and 9 left on base. Oh, and this was mostly against the Astros' historically bad bullpen. Sergio Romo (Test. Braun) blew a save (against the Mets, so it's doubly horrible), allowing 2 earned runs in 0.1 innings and taking the loss. Freddie Freeman (Misfits) was 0 for 4 with an error. Matt Adams (Arb. Losers) was 0 for 3 with an error before leaving with an injury, further depleting the Losers and Cardinals at first base.

Finals scores

Arbitration Losers 120, Manwaring a Muumuu 82 (series tied at 1)

Third-place series scores

Misfits 101, Pitch You Blockhead 53 (PYB has already won series 2-0)

Consolation scores

Going Going Gonzo 79, Lawyers, Guns & Money 69
Rookies 53, Silver State Sagebrushers 37
Fresh Fish 48, Testosteraun Braun 42

Playoffs Week 7: Tuesday's report

Holliday! Celebrate! So far, Matt has enjoyed his trip
back to Coors Field, his old stomping grounds.

STUDS: The hits just keep coming for Arbitration Losers, who have a remarkable 100 points this week after just two days. A day after Cliff Lee set the bar impossibly high, rotation-mate Mike Leake merely struck out 6 in 8 shutout innings to continue the Reds'/Arbitration Losers' domination of the Astros. Tim's outfielders Matt Holliday (4 for 4, double, homer, 3 RBIs) and Angel Pagan (3 for 3, triple, homer, 3 RBIs) put up 11 points each. Other teams had guys do well, too. Matt Carpenter (PYB) continued his amazing season, getting 3 hits, 2 RBIs and scoring 3 runs. Carlos Gomez (Rookies) had a homer and 3 RBIs. Jay Bruce (Gonzo) had a grand slam and an RBI single. Chase Utley (Misfits) had a 3-run homer among 3 hits. Zach Greinke (Fish) allowed 2 earned and struck out 5 in 6 innings for the win, also walking and scoring a run. Jim Henderson (Misfits) struck out 2 in a scoreless inning to earn a vulture win.

DUDS: Shortstops Andrelton Simmons (Test. Braun) and Ian Desmond (Muumuu) each committed errors in both games of a doubleheader. At least Desmond had an RBI double; Simmons did nothing much at the plate AND his first error cost the Braves the game. Speaking of that, Craig Kimbrel (LGM) took the loss for the Braves, allowing 2 earned and striking out no one in 0.1 innings. Brandon Crawford (Arb. Losers) didn't get the memo from Tim, apparently, and had a single and an error. Patrick Corbin (LGM) was shelled by the Dodgers, allowing 6 earned runs and striking out 1 in 2 innings. Brian McCann (Misfits) had a single and an error. Jean Segura (Gonzo) was 0 for 4 and was caught stealing.

Finals scores

Arbitration Losers 100, Manwaring a Muumuu 69 (series tied at 1)

Third-place series scores

Misfits 60, Pitch You Blockhead 39 (PYB has already won series 2-0)

Consolation scores

Going Going Gonzo 43, Lawyers, Guns & Money 41
Rookies 41, Silver State Sagebrushers 13
Testosteraun Braun 39, Fresh Fish 33

Playoffs Week 7: Monday's report

Just two weeks to go in the FBLG season, folks. The championship duel between Manwaring a Muumuu and Arbitration Losers heads to its decisive third week, and is already off to a crazy start.

Behind some dynamite starting pitching, Pitch You Blockhead has already wrapped up third place in the head-to-head matchups, with Misfits taking fourth.

In the consolation playoffs, Testosteraun Braun is 4-0 and has clinched a spot in next week's consolation finals. Fresh Fish is 3-1 and can advance with a win this week. Needing a win and some help are 2-2 Going Going Gonzo and Lawyers, Guns & Money, who face each other this week.

Muumuu has wrapped up the overall points title with Arbitration Losers and Misfits in a duel for second. Testosteraun Braun and Lawyers, Guns & Money are still in the running for fourth place. Top four in the overall win prizes, as do the top four in the head-to-head and the consolation champions. So still lots to play for.

OK, to the daily report...

It's one thing when this guy dominates with his left arm.
But it's plain demoralizing when he does it with his bat.

STUDS: Normally when a guy throws a 1-hit shutout with 7 strikeouts and faces the minimum 27 batters, he's the stud of the day. Oh, and let's not forget that he stole a base and scored a run too. AND he did it pitching for an FBLG title-contending team. Despite that effort for Andrew Cashner (Manwaring a Muumuu), the day's best performance was clearly from FBLG championship series foe Cliff Lee (Arbitration Losers). All Lee did was strike out 14 and allow 2 runs in 8 innings, as well as hitting a triple, 2 singles, scoring a run and driving in 4. His 35-point day is the highest individual mark of the season, and came at a key time for Tim. FBLG teammate Johnny Cueto came off the DL to strike out 5 in 5 shutout innings for a win. Zach Cozart (Rookies) had a 2-run homer and a 2-run single. Jay Bruce (Gonzo) had 2 singles, 2 runs, 2 RBIs and a stolen base. Chase Utley (Misfits) had a 3-run homer and finished with 4 RBIs.

DUDS: Bad day to have Pirates in your lineup, as Cashner's performance meant zeroes for Andrew McCutchen (LGM), Justin Morneau (PYB), Russell Martin (PYB), Marlon Byrd (Misfits), Pedro Alvarez (LGM) and Garrett Jones (Fish). Hey, at least they didn't make errors. Norichika Aoki (Gonzo) was 0 for 5 with a whiff and an error. Matt Garza (Gonzo) got hammered by the Rays, allowing 6 earned and striking out 3 in a 4.1-inning loss.

NOTE: The Nationals-Braves game was canceled because of the shooting in D.C. near Nationals Park. The game will be made up as part of a day-night doubleheader Tuesday.

Finals scores

Arbitration Losers 55, Manwaring a Muumuu 40 (series tied at 1)

Third-place series scores

Misfits 15, Pitch You Blockhead 5 (PYB has already won series 2-0)

Consolation scores

Lawyers, Guns & Money 23, Going Going Gonzo 12
Rookies 11, Silver State Sagebrushers 3

Testosteraun Braun 5, Fresh Fish 3

Week 25 Transactions and Lineups

Players acquired

Arbitration Losers sign SP Tanner Roarke (September move #2).

Players released

SP Jose Fernandez

SP Randall Delgado

Lineup changes

Testosteraun Braun: No changes.

Arbitration Losers: Bench 2B Neil Walker; move Martin Prado from 3B to 2B; activate SP Mike Leake, SP Johnny Cueto (from DL) and 3B Chase Headley.

Silver State Sagebrushers: No changes.

Going Going Gonzo: No changes.

Lawyers Guns and Money: Bench 2B Anthony Rendon, SS Willie Bloomquist and SP Dillon Gee; activate 2B Mark Ellis, SS Jimmy Rollins and SP Lance Lynn.

Pitch You Blockhead: Bench SP Tim Lincecum and SP Travis Wood; activate SP Gerrit Cole and SP Dan Haren.

Rookies: No changes.

Manwaring a Muumuu: Bench SP Shelby Miller; activate SP A.J. Burnett.

Misfits: Bench SP Tony Cingrani; activate SP Roy Halladay.

Fresh Fish: No changes.

The Check Swing: Week 24

It's Jon Gruden Week here at FBLG. Yes, it's quite a late-season treat. Let's take a look at each team, and then Coach Jon will provide his baffling, incoherent thoughts.

1. Manwaring a Muumuu (4,296 points): The Muumuu crew got a huge week from Wilson Ramos to stay alive in the battle for the playoff title. Carl Crawford and Aramis Ramirez are dinged, and Buster Posey is riding the pine. Can the pitchers step up in a week full of double starts? Gruden says: This guy, I call this guy "Keith Richards" because he seems to be on his last legs but he keeps plugging along.

2. Misfits (4,066 points): Reid's team went cold at the wrong time and will settle for fourth place in the playoffs. The bigger deal is trying to hold off the Arbitration Losers for second place in the points battle. Somebody wake up Bryce Harper. Gruden says: This guy, I call this guy "Blues Brothers" because he ran out of gas. He'd better hurry if he wants to save that orphanage.

3. Arbitration Losers (4,043 points): Jonathan Lucroy scored negative points 3 times this week, and Neil Walker and Brandon Crawford combined for 9 points. That plus Ricky Nolasco's implosion kept AL from clinching the title. How much will the shutdown of Jose Fernandez hurt? Gruden says: This guy, I call this guy "John Hinckley Jr." because he couldn't finish the job on the leader.

NFL analyst Jon Gruden is here this week to provide his
analysis of FBLG's teams.

4. Testosteraun Braun (3,966 points): Forty-seven points for Hunter Pence? Sixty-three points from Ryan Zimmerman and Jordan Zimmermann? Twenty-nine from Paul Goldschmidt? Look at the Braunies thundering through the consolation round. Gruden says: This guy, I call this guy "Carole King" because it's too late baby, now it's too late.

5. Lawyers, Guns & Money (3,911 points): It's been an interesting year in the LGM infield, and it doesn't appear that Anthony Rizzo, Anthony Rendon, Willie Bloomquist and Pedro Alvarez were the solution to the inconsistency problem. Gruden says: This guy, I call this guy "Melanie Griffith" because he looked good for a while but didn't age well.

6. Pitch You Blockhead (3,825 points): Scott got 101 points from his starting pitchers this week to beat the Misfits and finish in third place in the playoffs. The good news for FBLG is that no one has to face PYB the rest of the way. Gruden says: This guy, I call this guy "George Hamilton" because he's gonna finish in third in the playoffs, and no one has more bronze than George Hamilton.

7. Going Going Gonzo (3,607 points): Jon got 21 points from his starting pitchers and zero from the disgruntled-but-beefy Dan Uggla. At least Gonzo managed to slip past the deadbeat Sagebrushers. Gruden says: This guy, I call this guy "Frank Wren" because he screwed up when he brought in B.J. Upton and Dan Uggla.

8. Rookies (3,580 points): Although they got slaughtered by the Braunies, Henry's guys put together another solid week. The resurgence of the Nationals certainly has helped. Gruden says: This guy, I call this guy "Fredi Gonzalez" because he can't wait for Jason Heyward to return to his lineup.

9. Fresh Fish (3,475 points): Giancarlo Stanton was Rick's only player to score more than 14 points. That says everything you need to know about the Fish in Week 24. Still, the Fish have a chance to advance to the consolation finals. Gruden says: This guy, I call this guy "Joe Morgan" because he's blatantly rooting for the Reds. I can't make a Marlins reference because no one likes the Marlins. 

10. Silver State Sagebrushers (3,374 points): Ninety-eight points? Come on, Sagebrushers. How bad would it have been without Brandon Belt's 29? Gruden says: This guy, I call this guy "Lindsay Lohan" because he's an absolute mess and we've all given up on him. 

Playoffs Week 6: Sunday's report

Wilson Ramos replaced the 2012 MVP
in Muumuu's lineup and responded with
32 points this week.

STUDS: Paul Goldschmidt (TB) had a solo homer, a double, 2 singles and 5 RBIs. Hunter Pence (TB) capped a 47-point week with a 2-run homer and a solo homer. Yadier Molina (LGM) had a solo homer, 3 singles and 3 runs. Wilson Ramos (Muumuu) had a solo homer, 3 singles, 5 RBIs and 2 runs. Dillon Gee (LGM) struck out 8 in 7.1 shutout innings, but in classic Mets fashion, he didn't get a decision.

DUDS: Daniel Murphy (TB) had 2 singles but committed 2 errors. He also got picked off. Andrelton Simmons (TB) went 0 for 4 with an error.

TRANSACTION: PYB benched SS Omar Quintanilla and replaced him with Jordy Mercer.

Finals scores

Manwaring a Muumuu 174, Arbitration Losers 166 (series tied at 1)

Third-place series scores

Pitch You Blockhead 216, Misfits 157 (PYB wins series)

Consolation scores

Lawyers, Guns & Money 166, Fresh Fish 137
Testosteraun Braun 238, Rookies 169
Going Going Gonzo 100, Silver State Sagebrushers 98