Week 20, first round: Friday roundup

Yoenis Cespedes had a nice week on Friday, scoring 22 points at Coors Field.

Another no-hitter by a guy on the
Misfits' bench? Say it ain't so...

Studs: Yoenis Cespedes (Misfits) went 5 for 6 with 3 homers, a double, a steal, 5 runs and 7 RBIs. Mike Fiers (Misfits, bench) no-hit the Dodgers, striking out 10 along the way. Madison Bumgarner (AL) hit his 5th homer of the season, drove in 2, allowed 3 runs and fanned 6 in a 6.1-inning win. A.J. Pollock (CM) went 4 for 5 with 2 steals, a homer, a double and 3 runs. Ryan Howard (Misfits) had 3 doubles, 2 RBIs and a run. Nolan Arenado (PYB) had 2 doubles, a homer, 3 runs and 4 RBIs.  

Duds: Matt Carpenter (AZ) was caught stealing. Bartolo Colon (SE) scored but allowed 7 runs in a no-decision. Kolten Wong (PYB) made an error. 

Transaction: With Matt Harvey not pitching this week, Soler Eclipse moved the aforementioned Colon into the lineup. Whoops.

Scores

Already Zaun 101, Soler Eclipse 97 (winner advances)

Retire 166, Rookies 112 (R21 has advanced)

PYB 119, Misfits 105 (overall, M leads 289-258)

Chateau Marmol 117, Arbitration Losers 108 (overall, AL leads 317-259)

Bryce is Right 107

Fresh Fish 106

Week 20, first round: Thursday roundup

Jerome Williams is sad because he's been a FBLG free agent all season. 

Studs: Charlie Morton (R21) got the win and struck out 8 in 6.2 shutout innings. Jake Arrieta (AZ) got the win and fanned 7 in 6 shutout innings. A.J. Pollock (CM) went 4 for 5 with a double, a steal and 3 RBIs. Freddy Galvis (Rookies) and Chris Coghlan (AL) each tripled, singled, scored twice and drove in 2. 

Dud: Kris Bryant (CM) went 0 for 3 with an error. 

Scores

Already Zaun 77, Soler Eclipse 76 (winner advances)

Retire 140, Rookies 78 (R21 has advanced)

PYB 85, Misfits 54 (overall, M leads 238-224)

Chateau Marmol 88, Arbitration Losers 71 (overall, AL leads 280-230)

Bryce is Right 91

Fresh Fish 87

Week 20, first round: Wednesday roundup

Wednesday was a good day to be named Khris or Kris.

Studs: Khris Davis (Bryce) blasted a 3-run homer and a 2-run homer. Kris Bryant (CM) went 4 for 4 with a 2-run homer, a triple and 2 runs. Stephen Strasburg (FF) allowed an unearned run and struck out 5 in a 7-inning win. Yadier Molina (FF) homered, singled twice and drove in 2. Yangervis Solarte (PYB) was a triple shy of a cycle and drove in 2. 

Duds: Cesar Hernandez (R21) went 0 for 5 with an error. Jon Lester (AL) allowed 7 runs and fanned 4 in a 2.2-inning loss. He allowed 3 homers — including 1 to an American League pitcher.

Transactions: Fresh Fish activate 1B Freddie Freeman from the DL and bench Justin Bour. Arbitration Losers sign Chris Coghlan, put him at 2B, move Anthony Rendon to 3B and place Maikel Franco on the DL. Already Zaun places OF Hunter Pence on the DL and signs Kike Hernandez to replace him.

Scores

Soler Eclipse 59, Already Zaun 50 (winner advances)

Retire 97, Rookies 61 (R21 has advanced)

PYB 85, Misfits 50 (overall, M leads 234-224)

Arbitration Losers 59, Chateau Marmol 58 (overall, AL leads 268-200)

Bryce is Right 76

Fresh Fish 84

Week 20, first round: Tuesday roundup

Jose Reyes is back in the National League? When did this happen?

Studs: Yunel Escobar (FF) homered, singled twice, drove in 4 and scored 4 runs. Ryan Vogelsong (FF) got the win and struck out 5 in 6 shutout innings. Kyle Schwarber hit a 3-run homer and scored 3 runs. Jacob deGrom (R21) allowed 1 run and struck out 6 in a 7.2-inning win. Curtis Granderson (Misfits) hit a pair of 2-run homers. Jose Reyes (SE) went 4 for 5 with a homer, a double and 2 runs. James Shields (PYB) got the win and struck out 7 in 6 shutout innings. 

Duds: Cesar Hernandez (R21) singled twice, drove in a run, was caught stealing and made 2 errors. Quite an eventful day, Cesar! Justin Bour (FF) and Justin Turner (Misfits) each went 0 for 5 with an error. Ben Paulsen (AZ) went 0 for 3 with an error. Adeiny Hechavarria (Misfits) had an RBI single and scored, but he messed it all up by making 2 errors. 

Scores

Soler Eclipse 48, Already Zaun 34 (winner advances)

Retire 79, Rookies 45 (R21 has advanced)

PYB 60, Misfits 44 (overall, M leads 228-199)

Chateau Marmol 26, Arbitration Losers 25 (overall, AL leads 234-168)

Bryce is Right 28

Fresh Fish 44

Week 20, first round: Monday roundup

No, Commish. This is the Iglesias signed by Retire 21.
The full album title was "Hey, ladies! You're pregnant now!"

Stud: No one really, but we'll stretch the requirements and go with Dee Gordon (R21). He singled, doubled, drove in 2, stole a base and scored. 

Dud: Matt Garza (Bryce) allowed 5 runs and struck out 2 in a 5-inning loss. 

Scores

Already Zaun 17, Soler Eclipse 11 (winner advances)

Retire 12, Rookies 10 (R21 has advanced)

Misfits 30, PYB 12 (overall, M leads 214-151)

Arbitration Losers 12, Chateau Marmol 8 (overall, AL leads 221-150)

Bryce is Right 8

Fresh Fish 7

Week 20 (Playoffs Week 2) Transactions and Lineups

Someone help us out. Is this the Iglesias signed by Retire 21 today?

Players acquired

• Retire 21 sign SP Raisel Igelsias (August move #1).
• Misfits sign 2B Chase Utley (August move #2).

Players released

• OF Jeff Francoeur
• SP Aaron Harang

Lineup changes

• Rookies: Bench SP Ian Kennedy; activate SP Shelby Miller.
• Retire 21: Activate SP Raisel Iglesias.
• Misfits: Bench 2B Daniel Murphy, SP Mike Fiers and SP Chase Anderson; activate 2B Chase Utley, SP Cole Hamels and SP Kyle Hendricks.
• Soler Eclipse: None.
• Pitch You Blockhead: None.
• The Bryce is Right: Bench 3B Jake Lamb; activate 3B Todd Frazier.
• Chateau Marmol: Bench SP Joe Ross and SP Brett Anderson; activate SP Mat Latos and SP Jaime Garcia.
• Arbitration Losers: Bench SP Jon Gray and 1B Ryan Zimmerman; move Brandon Belt from OF to 1B; activate SP Mike Leake (from DL) and OF Stephen Piscotty.
• Already Zaun: Place OF Randal Grichuk on DL; activate OF Ben Paulsen.
• Fresh Fish: Place SP David Phelps on DL; activate SP Ryan Vogelsong.

The Check Swing: Week 19

This man tried to sabotage Retire 21's playoff run, but it wasn't meant to be.

1. Already Zaun (3,495 points, last week 1): The Zaunies put up 189 points but couldn't close the door on Soler Eclipse, which made a late charge to win the week. Everyone was in double figures except Troy Tulowitzki, who scored 9 points. AZ will simply have to beat SE next week to win this first-round matchup. 

2. Retire 21 (3,359 points, last week 2): Despite a pair of minus-2 starts from Aaron Harang, Ray's team put up 198 points and finished off the Rookies. The Fightin' Clementes will just collect points next week while they await their second-round opponent in Week 20. 

3. Arbitration Losers (3,231 points, last week 4): In a first-round battle of Giants fans, Tim came out ahead in Week 18 thanks to a 60-point eruption from Madison Bumgarner. That helped make up for an awful week for Tim's Nationals: Ryan Zimmerman (8), Jayson Werth (7) and Anthony Rendon (3). 

4. Pitch You Blockhead (3,200 points, last week 3): Scott's team dug itself a 45-point hole in its first-round matchup with the Misfits with a lousy effort this week. Forty of the 139 points came from ace Zack Greinke, but most of PYB disappointed. At least new addition David Peralta proved his worth with 18 points. 

5. Chateau Marmol (3,097 points, last week 5): It's not looking good for Matt's team, which trails AL by 67 points after the first of two weeks. CM got 27 points from its starting pitchers (including a pair of Nationals), and 23 of that came from Jon Niese. On the bright side, A.J. Pollock scored 32 points. 

6. Soler Eclipse (3,089 points, last week 6): Starting pitching gave Adam's team a huge boost in SE's first-round duel with the Zaunies: Matt Harvey (28), Patrick Corbin (20), John Lackey (20) and Francisco Liriano (16) came up big. Gerardo Parra led the hitters with 26 points.

7. Rookies (3,041 points, last week 7): Henry's team got bounced to the consolation round, but a 170-point week is nothing to sniff at. Ian Kennedy scored 24 points to lead the team, and Cameron Maybin and D.J. LeMahieu each added 19. 

8. Misfits (3,029 points, last week 8): Reid's team might be on its way to bumping PYB from the playoffs, and Matt Kemp would be a major reason why. Kemp hit for a cycle and posted a 39 for the week. Kenley Jansen scored 22 points, as well. 

9. The Bryce is Right (2,975 points, last week 9): Hey, a Dexter Fowler sighting! The outfielder led Bill's team with 22 points. On the other hand, Lucas Duda (1), Wilson Ramos (2) and Gerrit Cole (5) disappointed. 

10. Fresh Fish (2,780 points, last week 10): Not that it matters, but Johnny Cueto scored 38 points to lead Rick's team. Too bad David Phelps got hurt and Drew Storen is apparently terrible now. 

Week 19, first round: Sunday roundup

Oh, just a routine 35-point outing for Madison Bumgarner. No big deal. 

Studs: Madison Bumgarner (AL) did it all for the Giants, blasting a solo homer and an RBI double, striking out 14 and shutting out the Nationals. Zack Greinke (PYB) homered, allowed 1 run and struck out 8 in a 7-inning win. Gerardo Parra (SE) went 5 for 6 with 3 runs, 3 RBIs, a homer and a double. Aramis Ramirez (SE) went 4 for 5 with a double, a run and 3 RBIs. Taylor Jungmann (Misfits) singled, scored, got the win and struck out 9 in 6.1 innings. Jason Heyward (CM) hit a solo homer and a 2-run homer. Ryan Braun (AZ) hit a grand slam and drove in a run with a groundout. 

Duds: Kolten Wong (PYB) went 0 for 4 with 2 errors. Derek Norris (SE) singled and erred. Aaron Harang (R21) allowed 6 runs and fanned 2 in a 4.2-inning loss. 

Scores

Soler Eclipse 200, Already Zaun 189

Retire 198, Rookies 170 (R21 clinches first-round win)

Misfits 184, PYB 139

Arbitration Losers 209, Chateau Marmol 142

Bryce is Right 145

Fresh Fish 167

Week 19, first round: Saturday roundup

This was the only time all day Gio Gonzalez put the ball exactly where he intended to.

Studs: Patrick Corbin (SE) got the win and struck out 8 in 6.2 shutout innings. John Lackey (SE) singled twice, drove in a run, struck out 6 and allowed 2 runs in an 8.1-inning win. Matt Duffy (Bryce) doubled twice, scored twice and drove in 4. Johnny Cueto (FF) allowed 1 run and fanned 4 in an 8-inning win. 

Duds: Gio Gonzalez (Rookies) allowed 6 runs and struck out 1 in a 2.2-inning loss. He did single, though. Chris Owings (Bryce) drove in a run but made an error. 

Scores

Already Zaun 162, Soler Eclipse 158

Retire 172, Rookies 150 

Misfits 137, PYB 112

Arbitration Losers 168, Chateau Marmol 124

Bryce is Right 142

Fresh Fish 149