Week 18: Thursday Roundup

The man on the left just had one of the hardest-hit home runs since Statcast began tracking data in 2015. See below.

STUDS: Ian Happ (PM) infuriated Rich by homering, singling and driving in 4. Nick Castellanos (HG) had 2 solo homers, a single, a walk and 3 runs. Aristides Aquino (R) homered, doubled and drove in 3. Brian Anderson (WLB) had 2 homers, a single and 3 RBIs. Madison Bumgarner (AL) tossed 7 shutout innings with 3 strikeouts for a win.

DUDS: Dallas Keuchel (YA) allowed 8 runs and struck out 4 in a 3.2-inning loss.

118.3 mph off the bat... again, PUNISHED!#BornToBaseball pic.twitter.com/GEhp7wui68

— Cincinnati Reds (@Reds) August 9, 2019

Week 18: Wednesday Roundup

Ozzie Albies is crushing everything right now.

STUDS: Zac Gallen (HG) enjoyed his Arizona debut, striking out 6 in 5 shutout innings to earn the win. Ozzie Albies (R) had 2 solo homers, 2 singles and 3 runs. Max Fried (R) struck out 10 and allowed 3 runs in a 5.1-inning win. Michael Conforto (WLB) homered twice, walked, drove in 3 and scored 3 runs. Jose Quintana (WLB) struck out 7 and allowed 1 run in a 7-inning win. Steven Matz (WLB) struck out 7 and allowed 2 runs in a 6.2-inning win. Jack Flaherty (M) struck out 10 in 7 shutout innings before his bullpen (see below) blew the game. Keston Hiura (FF) had 2 homers, a double, 3 runs, 3 RBIs... and an error.

DUDS: JT Realmuto (PM) walked and erred. Carlos Martinez (HG) struck out 1 but allowed the game-winning hit to take the loss and blow the save. Trevor Williams (CB) struck out 1 and allowed 6-earned runs in a 5-inning loss. Jean Segura (YA) singled, walked and erred.

Week 18: Tuesday Roundup

That feeling when you really, really like a pitch. Of course, this pitch was thrown by a middle infielder, so...
By the way, this is your MLB RBI leader.

STUDS: Dinelson Lamet (CB) struck out 12 in 7 shutout innings to beat the hapless Mariners. Ozzie Albies (R) had a triple, 3 singles, 3 runs, a steal and 2 RBIs. Eduardo Escobar (R) homered, singled, walked, scored twice and drove in 3. Zack Wheeler (R) tossed 8 shutout innings with 5 strikeouts for the win. Ronald Acuna, Jr. (WLB) had a homer, 2 singles, a walk, a steal, 2 RBIs and 4 runs. Tucker Barnhart (LCL) had 2 solo homers, a walk and 3 runs scored. Freddie Freeman (LCL) homered, singled, scored twice and drove in 4. Clayton Kershaw (FF) struck out 9 and allowed a run in a 7-inning win.

DUDS: Jon Lester (LCL) allowed 10 earned runs and struck out 6 in a 4-inning loss.

Week 18: Monday Roundup

Do you know how the Reds got Luis Castillo? The Marlins traded him in 2017... for Dan Straily.
We'd like to blame Derek Jeter, but Jeter wasn't in charge quite yet.

STUDS: Christian Yelich (HG) had 2 solo homers and 2 singles. Nick Castellanos (HG) was a triple shy of a cycle, scored twice and drove in 2. Michael Conforto (WLB) homered, singled, walked twice, scored twice and drove in 3. Javier Baez (AL) homered twice, walked, and drove in 3. Bryan Reynolds (AL) was a triple shy of a cycle and scored twice. Amed Rosario (FF) homered, singled twice, stole a base and scored 3 runs. Jacob deGrom (FF) struck out 8 and allowed 2 runs in a 7-inning win. Luis Castillo (FF) allowed 2 runs and struck out 13 in a 7-inning win.

DUDS: Carson Kelly (CB) singled and made 2 errors. Garrett Cooper (CB) erred. Adam Frazier (R) walked and erred. Dario Agrazal (LCL) gave up 5 runs and struck out 1 in a 5-inning loss. Michael Wacha (M) allowed 6 runs and struck out 3 in a 3.2-inning loss. Keston Hiura (FF) erred.

The Check Swing: Week 17

How bad was Josh Hader's week? He struck out 1 batter in 1.2 innings, allowed 3 runs, blew a save and went 0-2. On the bright side, he did pick up a save and didn't say anything racist on Twitter.

We're keeping things simple this week because life is hard and time is short. Or is it the other way around? Whatever. The commissioners are exhausted from replacing their injured pitchers (Deka) and signing/cutting hitters for no good reason like Jerry DiPoto (Rich).

We have one week left till the playoffs, and the division races are far from settled. Heck, the best record in FBLG is only 10-7 (shared by four teams).

We're going to miss this weirdo in the National League.

1. Clemente's Bucs (3445.7, 10-7, last week 1): Ray picked up a win with a rotation of Zach Eflin, Dinelson Lamet and Trevor Williams — to go along with Stephen Strasburg's -0.3 for the week. Look out for the Buccos in the playoffs. TOP DOG: Starling Marte with 30 points.

2. The Rookies (3410.9 points, 10-7, last week 3): With Robbie Ray, Patrick Corbin and Zack Wheeler leading the way, Henry looks poised to make noise in the postseason. Oh, did we mention Nolan Arenado, Cody Bellinger and Eduardo Escobar? TOP DOG: Bellinger with 25.5 points.

3. Yari's Autonomics (3381, 8-9, last week 2): Hold up. Zack Greinke is with the Astros, but Dallas Keuchel isn't? And Yasiel Puig is in Cleveland? Adam's team is harder to follow than Dennis Miller's stand-up routine. TOP DOG: Robinson Cano with 24.5 points (player's health no longer valid).

4. When the Ledee Breaks (3316.2, 9-8, last week 5): Matt used an rotation of Caleb Smith, Joey Lucchesi, Drew Smyly and Jose Quintana to pick up a win. Jealous of all those lefties, the commishes are tempted to propose a complete pitching-staff swap. Except Hector Neris; you can keep him. TOP DOGS: Trevor Story and Michael Conforto with 23 points.

5. Hassey's Girl (3302.5, 10-7, last week 4): Hyun-Jin Ryu, German Marquez and Craig Kimbrel got hurt for the commishes in Week 17, turning the team's strength into a pretty big concern. At least they can always count on Christian Yelich and ... nope, just Christian Yelich. TOP DOG: Aaron Nola with 21 points.

Bryan Reynolds, who was acquired in the Andrew
McCutchen trade, is the first impact outfielder to
come up through the San Francisco system since ... ???

6. Arbitration Losers (3235.2, 10-7, last week 7): Madison Bumgarner and Kirby Yates combined for 2.7 points, and Tim still posted 222.7 for the week. Every hitter homered except for Adam Eaton, and Sonny Gray looks like an ace again. TOP DOG: Bryan Reynolds with 25.5 points.

7. Project Mayhem (3163.8, 9-8, last week 8): As much as we'd like to poke fun at Maikel "Generalissimo" Franco for getting sent down to wherever the hell the Phillies' Triple-A team is, we'll focus instead on Ketel freaking Marte entering the top 5 in hitting points. Good grief. TOP DOG: Walker Buehler with 28 points.

8. Fresh Fish (3160.8, 9-8, last week 6): Rick's pitchers outscored his hitters 69.3-68. Our expert analysis is: that sucks. We're calling out Keston Hiura (-1), Marcell Ozuna (1.5), Brian McCann (3.5), Kris Bryant (5), Austin Riley (6) and Alex Verdugo (8). TOP DOG: Chris Paddack with 18.3 points.

9. Lumber Co Lumber (3078.8, 7-10, last week 9): When Corey Seager scores 8, Willson Contreras scores 5, Jon Lester scores 3, Kenta Maeda scores 2.7 and Josh Hader scores -4.3, you know it's going to be a tough week for John's team. TOP DOG: Freddie Freeman with 23 points.

10. The Misfits (2773.5, 3-14, last week 10): Noah Syndergaard, Jon Gray and Jack Flaherty teamed up to lead Reid's team past the commishes for its 3rd win of the year. Getting 85.3 pitching points will do that. Will Smith's 2 homers and 3 doubles helped, too. TOP DOG: Syndergaard with 32.3 points.

Batting leaders after Week 17

1. Christian Yelich (HG) 402
2. Cody Bellinger (R) 398
3. Freddie Freeman (LCL) 382.5
4. Ronald Acuña Jr. (WLB) 373
5. Ketel Marte (PM) 366.5

Pitching leaders after Week 17

1. Max Scherzer (YA) 317.3
2. Stephen Strasburg (CB) 315.3
3. Trevor Bauer (M) 301.3
4. Aaron Nola (HG) 292.3
5. Patrick Corbin (R) 281.7

Week 17: Sunday Roundup

Ever notice how pictures of baseball fights and walkoff celebrations are basically the same?

STUDS: AJ Pollock (M) homered, doubled, scored twice and drove in 2. Adam Jones (M) had 2 doubles, a single, a run and 4 RBIs. Nolan Arendao (R) had 2 solo homers. Ketel Marte (PM) had a homer, 2 singles, a steal and 2 runs. Robinson Cano (YA) had 2 doubles, a single, 2 runs and an RBI... before hurting himself and heading to the IL. Because Mets, of course. Max Muncy (CB) had a homer, 2 doubles, a single, 3 runs and 3 RBIs. Eric Hosmer (CB) homered and drove in 5 runs. Jeff McNeil (CB) homered, doubled, walked, drove in 2 and scored 4 runs. Jason Heyward (LCL) homered, tripled, scored twice and drove in 3. Tanner Roark (LCL) struck out 6 and allowed a run in a win for his new team, the A's. Trevor Story (WLB) homered, doubled, walked twice, scored twice and drove in 2.

DUD: Kirby Yates (AL) allowed an earned run in 0.2 innings to blow the save and take the loss.

Week 17: Saturday Roundup

It would have taken a lot to bump Eduardo Escobar and his 14.5 points out of the "stud of the day" spot, but Walker Buehler managed to do it pretty easily. 

STUDS: Eduardo Escobar (R) homered twice, singled, drove in 7 and walked. Luke Jackson (R) pitched 1 inning, struck out the side and got the win. Ketel Marte (PM) tripled, singled, scored 3 runs and walked twice. Walker Buehler (PM) struck out 15 and allowed 1 run in a complete-game win against the Padres. Bryan Reynolds (AL) doubled, singled 3 times, scored 3 runs and walked. Anthony Rendon (YA) homered, singled, drove in 4 and walked. Starling Marte (CB) homered, singled twice, drove in 3 and stole 2 bases. Ozzie Albies (R) tripled, singled, scored twice, walked and stole 2 bases.

DUDS: Jean Segura (YA) committed an error and was caught stealing. Stephen Strasburg (CB) struck out 7 but allowed 9 runs in a 4.2-inning loss. Corey Seager (LCL) committed an error.

Week 17: Friday Roundup

Colin Moran keeps an angry Joey Votto from attacking Commissioner Rich, who has been saying all season that Votto isn't worth a damn anymore. 

STUDS: Joey Votto (AL) homered, singled, drove in 3, scored twice, walked and stole a base. Javier Baez (AL) homered, doubled twice, drove in 3, scored twice and stole a base. Ryan McMahon (HG) homered, singled twice, drove in 2 and scored twice. Starling Marte (CB) homered, singled, drove in 3 and scored twice.

DUDS: Keston Hiura (FF) singled, erred twice and was caught stealing. Yikes. Wilson Ramos (HG) drove in a run and erred. Maikel Franco (PM) singled and erred.