Finals Week 2: Thursday Roundup

Suck it, Cardinals fans.

STUDS: Tommy Pham (PM) tripled, singled twice, scored twice and drove in 2. Scooter Gennett (FF) homered, doubled and drove in 4. Max Scherzer (FF) struck out 13 and allowed 3 runs in a 7-inning no-decision.

DUDS: None.

Finals Week 2: Wednesday Roundup

It looks like Jesus Aguilar is watching a homer fly away, but he's actually planning his next trip to the Piggly Wiggly.

Laugh it up, fuzzball.

STUDS: Walker Buehler (M) continues to look like a future ace, allowing 0 earned runs and striking out 12 in a 6-inning no-decision. Robbie Ray (BM) continues to look like a jackass, pitching great in the last month of the season after 5 months of stinkers. He allowed 0 runs and struck out 8 in a 6-inning win. I hope his beard falls off. Zach Eflin (AL) struck out 9 in 5 shutout innings to earn the win. Tommy Pham (PM) had 2 solo homers and a single. Jesus Aguilar (SG) homered, singled and drove in 4. Chris Archer (CB) struck out 8 and allowed a run in a 7-inning win. Freddie Freeman (R) homered, singled twice, walked, stole a base and drove in 3.

DUDS: Justin Turner (AL) makes the list for the second consecutive day, walking and making an error. Cole Hamels (AL) allowed 7 runs and struck out 4 in a 6-inning loss. Cesar Hernandez (CB) walked and erred. Kris Bryant (CB) went 0-fer with an error.

Finals Week 2: Tuesday Roundup

We're 95% sure that ESPN credited Yadier Molina with Paul DeJong's big night.

STUDS: Paul DeJong (BM) homered, singled, scored twice and drove in 3. Stephen Strasburg (FDD) struck out 11 and allowed 2 runs in a 6-inning win.

DUDS: Only all-star third basemen allowed on this list today. Justin Turner (AL) singled and erred. Nolan Arenado (PM) went 0-fer and made 2 errors.

HE'S DONE THIS TWO STARTS IN A ROW:

Maybe Stephen Strasburg is doing this on purpose? https://t.co/RsvN4ojYsF pic.twitter.com/FYPnp9nsRL

— Deadspin (@Deadspin) September 19, 2018

Finals Week 2: Monday Roundup

Maybe the Reds should just start walking Christian Yelich.

STUDS: Well, he did it again. Christian Yelich (M) helped Reid extend his lead in the championship finals with his second cycle of the season - both against the poor Reds. Yelich drove in 4 runs and posted a 23 for the day with the cycle bonus. Max Muncy (M) had a 3-run homer, 2 walks and 2 runs. Starlin Castro (BM) homered, doubled, walked and drove in 3. Anthony Rendon (PYB) homered, singled twice, scored twice and drove in 2. Michael Conforto (PYB) was a triple shy of the cycle and drove in 6. Hyun-Jin Ryu (PM) tossed a gem, striking out 5 in 7 shutout innings to beat the Rockies. Kyle Hendricks (CB) struck out 8 and allowed a run in an 8.2-inning win.

DUDS: Jon Gray (BM) came up real short for Adam in the finals, posting a minus-6 by allowing 6 runs and striking out 1 in a 2-inning loss. Mike Foltynewicz (PYB) struck out 2 and allowed 6 runs in a 4.2-inning loss. Eeeeeeugenio Suarez (R) brought back some fond memories by going 0-fer with 2 errors.

WE'RE NOT SURE, BUT THAT MIGHT BE BAD LOCATION:

Max Muncy pounded a first-pitch 87 MPH slider that hung in the zone, launching it 104 MPH off the bat. The Dodgers' lead extends to 6-0 with nobody out in the 3rd. pic.twitter.com/WipdNqD1HB

— Positive Residual (@presidual) September 18, 2018

Finals Week 1: The Check Swing

Among the many other fun races to watch down the stretch, it's a pretty epic year for
Rookie of the Year between Ronald Acuna and Juan Soto.

We fully expect this year's champion owner to react like this...

Two weeks remain in this baseball season, if you can believe that.

After the first week of our finals matchup, Reid's Misfits have a 175.5-145.2 lead on Adam's BodySuit Man. It all comes down to this week in that matchup.

In the battle for overall lead, Fasano Don't Dance retains a ~100-point lead on Project Mayhem, with Pitch You Blockhead lurking ~40 points behind in third. The final money position looks like it's coming down to The Misfits and Arbitration Losers, currently separated by a single point. Stable Geniuses remain in striking distance, too.

The scoreboard

1. Fasano Don't Dance (4344.4 points, last week 1)

2. Project Mayhem (4249.5 points, last week 2)

3. Pitch You Blockhead (4205 points, last week 3)

4. The Misfits (4130.5 points, last week 4)

5. Arbitration Losers (4129.7 points, last week 5)

6. Stable Geniuses (4076.2 points, last week 6)

7. Fresh Fish (3950 points, last week 7)

8. BodySuit Man (3877.6 points, last week 8)

9. Clemente's Bucs (3870.2 points, last week 9)

10. The Rookies (3813.6 points, last week 10)

... and the loser to react like this.

Hitting leaders after Week 23

1. Christian Yelich (M) 471
2. Paul Goldschmidt (CB) 456
3. Trevor Story (M) 449.5
4. Freddie Freeman (R) 446
5. Bryce Harper (AL) 445

Pitching leaders after Week 23

1. Max Scherzer (FF) 489.7
2. Jacob deGrom (FDD) 426
3. Aaron Nola (PM) 407.7
4. Patrick Corbin (FF) 393
5. Zack Greinke (R) 352.3

Finals Week 1: Sunday Roundup

Since the all-star break, Trevor Williams is 6-2 with a 1.19 ERA and a 1.005 WHIP.

We're 75% convinced the Dbacks kept Brad Boxberger around just for this.

STUDS: Anthony Rendon (PYB) homered, singled twice, walked, scored twice and drove in 2. Corey Dickerson (AL) had 2 doubles, a single, 2 runs and an RBI. Bryce Harper (AL) homered, singled, walked twice, scored 3 runs and drove in 2. Jacob deGrom (FDD) - go figure - earned no-decision, allowing 3 runs and striking out 12 in 7 innings. Trevor Williams (R) kept rolling, striking out 7 in 6 shutout innings to earn the win.

HONORARY STUD: By not posting a negative number - he scored 2! - Brad Boxberger (SG) earns a spot here. Way to go, Brad!

DUDS: Addison Russell (PM) walked, scored, erred, and erred again. Sean Newcomb (SG) allowed 5 runs and struck out 3 in 3 innings to lose.

CHAMPIONSHIP MATCHUP 
After week 1 of 2

• No. 4 The Misfits 175.5, No. 7 BodySuit Man 145.2

Finals Week 1: Saturday Roundup

Using Google Translate, we have learned that Yasiel Puig has been reported to Human Resources 5 times in less than 24 hours. Puig has posted 25 points in the past 2 games on the Fresh Fish's bench. On Saturday, he hit 3 homers and drove in 7.

More errors than hits,
if we're being honest.

STUDS: Cody Bellinger (SG) homered, singled twice, drove in 6, scored 3 runs and walked. Juan Soto (PM) singled, walked 3 times, stole 3 bases, drove in a run and scored twice. Jon Lester (AL) got the win and struck out 9 in 7 shutout innings.

DUDS: Zack Godley (FDD) walked everybody, struck out 1 and allowed 4 runs in a 3.2-inning loss. Steven Souza (BM) walked and erred. John Gant (BM) struck out 4 and allowed 6 runs in a 4.1-inning loss.

Finals Week 1: Friday Roundup

Walker Buehler apparently pitched on "Nonsensically Patterned Vest Night" at the ballpark.

We don't have a photo of the error Wil Myers committed
Friday, so this will have to do.

STUDS: Noah Syndergaard (BM) got the win and struck out 6 Red Sox in 7 shutout innings. Walker Buehler (M) was even better, earning a W and fanning 9 Cardinals in 8 shutout innings. Ronald Acuña (FDD) was a homer short of a cycle, tacked on a second single for good measure, scored twice and drove in 2. Rhys Hoskins (CB) hit a 2-run homer, singled and scored twice.

DUDS: San Diego "third baseman" Wil Myers (FF) walked and erred. Kris Bryant (CB) also walked and erred. Eugenio Suarez (R) singled, walked and erred.