Week 2: Saturday's Roundup

Eric Thames is slugging .912 this year. That's good, right? It sure sounds good.

Studs: Starling Marte (CB) homered, drove in a run with a single, scored twice, stole a base and walked. Addison Russell (M) tripled, doubled, drove in 3 and scored a run. Eric Thames (PYB) homered twice, scored 3 runs and walked. Jacob deGrom (PYB) struck out 13 and allowed 2 runs in what would have been a 7-inning win if the Mets bullpen hadn't Metsed it up. Kris Bryant (PM) hit a 2-run homer and a solo homer. Yasiel Puig (AL) went 3 for 3 with a homer, a steal, a walk and 4 RBIs. 

Dud: It's not often we'll put a player on this list after he scores more than 10 points, but Carlos Martinez (AL) managed to walk 8 guys in a 5.1-inning loss. We're willing to overlook his 11 Ks and stick him with the Dud label. 

Week 2: Friday's Roundup

Only 1 of these men made our Studs list. The other one is a moody weirdo. 

Studs: Clayton Kershaw (CB) struck out 8 and allowed only 1 run in an 8.1-inning victory in which he outdueled former rotation-mate Zack Greinke. Johnny Cueto (PM) struck out 6 and allowed 2 runs in a 7-inning win. 

Duds: Tyler Anderson (PM) fanned 1 and allowed 4 runs in a 4-inning loss. Asdrubal Cabrera (FF) went 0 for 5 with an error. Charlie Blackmon (BM) went 1 for 4 with 2 Ks and an error. Joe Panik (LGM) went 0 for 4 with an error. 

Week 2: Thursday's Roundup

The only thing more amazin' than Travis d'Arnaud's 14.5-point performance was the fact that
d'Arnaud managed to play 16 innings without getting hurt. 

Studs: Travis d'Arnaud (FF) went 4 for 6 with a 3-run triple, the game-winning solo homer, 3 runs and a walk. Yoenis Cespedes (Q) hit a pair of solo homers that went a combined 7,000 feet (estimated) and walked twice. 

Dud: Starling Marte (CB) went 0 for 3 with 2 Ks, walked and was caught stealing.

Week 2: Wednesday's Roundup

Giancarlo Stanton, renaissance man.

Studs: Maikel Franco (BM) homered, singled and drove in 4 runs. Jose Peraza (PM) singled twice, doubled, drove in 2 runs, scored a run and stole a base. Stephen Piscotty (M) was a triple shy of the cycle and drove in 5 runs. Giancarlo Stanton (M) homered twice and drove in 4 runs. Brandon McCarthy (M) struck out 4 in 6 shutout winnings to beat the Cubs. Eugenio Suarez (CB) doubled, singled twice and drove in 3.

Duds: Adrian Gonzalez (M), Anthony Rendon (FF) and Willson Contreras (LGM) each singled and made an error. Dansby Swanson (R) singled, but was caught stealing and made an error. Trevor Story (LGM) walked and erred. AJ Ramos (LGM) struck out one and allowed a run to take the loss. 

Week 2: Tuesday's Roundup

Yoenis Cespedes + crappy Phillies pitchers = plenty of souvenir baseballs for fans in the outfield seats. 

Studs: Yoenis Cespedes (Q) went 4 for 6 with 3 homers, a double and 5 RBIs. Gio Gonzalez (BM) allowed 1 earned run and fanned 6 in a 7-inning win. Jake Lamb (LGM) tripled, singled, drove in 3 and walked twice. Travis d'Arnaud (FF) was a triple short of a cycle, walked and drove in 3. Daniel Murphy (FF) went 4 for 5 with two doubles, a home run, 2 runs scored and 5 RBIs. Asdrubal Cabrera (FF) went 4 for 6 with a double, a homer, 2 RBIs and 3 runs. Christian Yelich (PYB) went 3 for 4 with 3 runs scored, an RBI and a stolen base. We don't usually highlight bench players, but Marcell Ozuna (LGM) hit a 3-run homer, a 2-run homer and a sac fly; he also walked. 

Duds: We like to poke fun at Aledmys Diaz (CB), and this is why: The dude homered and singled but totaled only 1 point because he made a pair of errors. Ian Desmond would be so proud. Speaking of guys who can't throw worth a damn, Ryan Zimmerman (PM) went 1 for 5 with an error. 

Week 2: Monday's Roundup

Wil Myers, picking up where he left off last season, posted a beefy 22 on Monday. 

Studs: Wil Myers (BM) hit for the cycle in Colorado, driving in 2 and scoring twice. Adam Eaton (BM) went 3 for 4 with a double, a walk, 3 RBIs and 2 runs. Bryce Harper (LGM) went 4 for 4 with 2 walks, 3 RBIs and 2 runs. Matt Moore (FF) allowed 1 earned run and struck out 5 in an 8-inning win. Jay Bruce (AL) went 3 for 3 with 2 homers, a walk, 3 RBIs and 3 runs.

Duds: Adam Wainwright (FF) allowed 5 earned runs, fanned 3 and scattered (ahem) 11 hits in a 4-inning loss. Anthony Rendon (FF) went 0 for 6 with an RBI, 2 Ks and an error. Daniel Murphy (FF) went 1 for 6 with an error. Cesar Hernandez (PM) went 1 for 4 with a walk and an error. Cameron Rupp (PYB) went 0 for 3 with an RBI, a walk and an error. Yasiel Puig (AL) went 0 for 3 with a walk, 2 Ks and an error. Willson Contreras (LGM) went 1 for 4 with a catcher's interference error. 

Week 1: The Check Swing

Paul Goldschmidt was the top-scoring position player in FBLG in Week 1.
He's by far the best performer in FBLG with "SCHMIDT" in his name. 

Because of ESPN's delays in finalizing our scores, The Check Swing will appear on Monday nights this season. Please direct your complaints to Chris Berman at BloviatingPusbag@espn.com. We're also going to stop posting matchup scores with the daily blogs since they'll be woefully inaccurate. Anyway, let's take a look at the first week of the FLBG season.

1. Lawyers Guns and Money (202.3 points, 1-0): Matt's team had 5 players score at least 20 points, and everyone but A.J. Ramos (7) and Zach Davies (-0.7) reached double figures. You'll go a long way getting 150 points from your hitters. Jake Lamb (25) was the high man for the Fightin' Zevons.

2. Bodysuit Man (200.5 points, 1-0): A big week from Noah Syndergaard (33) and hot bats led to a big score for Adam's Family. Wil Myers (21), Freddy Galvis (20.5), Adam Eaton (20.5) and Adam Duvall (20.5) — seriously, did Adam draft ALL the Adams? — paced the offense.

3. Clemente’s Bucs (196.5 points, 1-0): Ray's team was a 4-headed monster in the opening frame: J.T. Realmuto (26), Stephen Strasburg (25), Clayton Kershaw (24) and Aledmys Diaz (23) did most of the damage. Surprisingly, the low scorers were Kenley Jansen (5) and Andrew McCutchen (5).

4. Arbitration Losers (195 points, 1-0): Julio Teheran hasn't allowed a run in 13 innings but also hasn't gotten a win because LOL Barves. Paul Goldschmidt was typical Goldy, scoring 29.5 points, helping Tim make up for a -0.3 performance from Mark Melancon.

5. Quirkin’ For a Livin’ (189.7 points, 0-1): A team with Corey Seager, Trea Turner and Yoenis Cespedes was led in Week 1 scoring by ... Brandon Belt (28.5) and Greg Holland (22), the last pick of the draft. On the other hand, Mike Foltynewicz (-0.3) was laughable for the commissioners.

6. Project Mayhem (182.7 points, 0-1): Bill's team was great on the mound (86.7 points) but just meh at the plate (96). Kris Bryant and Kyle Schwarber combined for 38 points, but Jedd Gyorko posted only 7 because Mike Matheny hasn't gotten the memo that Jhonny Peralta is terrible.

"Bad news, Zach. You're the Dud of the Week in FBLG."
"No way! Straily was way worse."
"Yeah, but Monaghan cut your ass already."

7. The Misfits (164.8 points, 0-1): Jered Weaver (0) and Joe Ross (DNP) were a drag on Reid's pitching staff in a 31.7-point loss. Madison Bumgarner (23) was his usual self, and Justin Turner (22.5) and Addison Russell (21.5) were the offensive standouts.

8. Pitch! You Blockhead (162.3 points, 0-1): Scott's team is going with a Rockies theme, apparently. Mark Reynolds (27) and Nolan Arenado (23.5) were the offensive standouts, but the pitching was awfully Colorado-esque, too. PYB scored only 39.3 points on the hill.

9. The Rookies (160.8 points, 1-0): Doesn't it always seem like the two lowest-scoring teams of the week face each other and one of them gets a cheap win? This week it was Henry's team, which got nice performances from Zack Greinke (23.7) and Gerardo Parra (20).

10. Fresh Fish (156.3 points, 0-1): How did Rick lose when he got 36 points from Jake Arrieta? Well, he got a combined 7.3 points from his other 4 pitchers, led by a barf-worthy -4.7 from Dan Straily. (It's Koehler time, Rick.) Anthony Rendon (4) and Travis d'Arnaud (6) didn't help, either.

Week 1: Sunday's Roundup

It is just us, or does Noah Syndergaard's hair get longer
each time he takes the mound? 

Studs: Freddie Freeman (R) went 4 for 5 with 2 home runs, 2 RBIs, 3 runs and a stolen base. Jake Arrieta (FF) allowed 3 runs and fanned 10 in a 7-inning win. Charlie Blackmon (BM) went 2 for 5 with a homer, 3 RBIs and 2 runs. Noah Syndergaard (BM) allowed 1 run and struck out 9 in a 7-inning win. Johnny Cueto (PM) allowed allowed 2 runs and fanned 7 in a 7-inning win. Starling Marte (CB) went 4 for 5 with a home run, 2 RBIs and 2 runs.

Duds: Jonathan Villar (PYB) went 0 for 4 with 3 Ks and an error. Trevor Story (LGM) went 0 for 3 with 2 Ks, a walk and an error. J.T. Realmuto (CB) went 1 for 4 with an error and was caught stealing.

Scores

Note: ESPN is still slow at calculating errors, so these won't actually be the final numbers. Why does it take until the next day for errors to be considered? Thanks, ESPN. Update: Scores now final. Thanks, ESPN.

Arbitration Losers 195, Quirkin’ For a Livin’ 189.7
Lawyers Guns and Money 202.3, Project Mayhem 182.7
The Rookies 160.8, Fresh Fish 156.3
Clemente’s Bucs 196.5, The Misfits 164.8
Bodysuit Man 200.5, Pitch! You Blockhead 162.3