Saturday, September 20, 2014

Playoffs Week 7: Friday's Roundup

Michael Cuddyer drove in more runs than the Reds have
scored all month.*
* This probably isn't true.
Studs: Clayton Kershaw (FF) just insists on making this list every five days. He won his 20th game, striking out 9 and allowing 3 runs in a 5-inning win. Matt Kemp (FF) hit a 3-run homer, singled and scored twice. Yasiel Puig (RMH) hit a 3-run homer, doubled and scored twice. Zack Wheeler (DZ) got the win and struck out 7 in 6 shutout innings. Michael Cuddyer (AL) hit a grand slam and a pair of doubles. He scored 3 times and drove in 7. John Lackey (Misfits) struck out 5 and allowed 1 run in a 7.2-inning win. 

Duds: Aramis Ramirez (Rookies) and Pablo Sandoval (AL) each went 0 for 4 with an error. Carlos Gomez (RR) was caught stealing. 

Championship series (top 3-week total wins)

Misfits 180 (446), Fresh Fish 110 (497)

Third-place series (top 3-week total wins)

Tanana in the Tailpipe 131 (489), Ryan's Rangers 68 (407)

Consolation matchups

Danger Zaun 134, Rocky Mountain High 99
Arbitration Losers 159, E-3 61
Pitch You Blockhead 113, Rookies 55

Friday, September 19, 2014

Playoffs Week 7: Thursday's Roundup

The Rockies audition new outfielders. Said Brandon Barnes,
"He's already better than Stubbs."
Studs: Wilin Rosario (Misfits) hit a game-winning, 600-foot, 2-run homer in going 4 for 5 with a double and 3 RBIs. Michael Cuddyer (AL) was a triple short of the cycle and scored 3 runs. Gerrit Cole (AL) struck out 7 and allowed 2 runs in a 7-inning win. 

Duds: Addison Reed (Rookies) posted his second minus-4 in as many days. At least he got two outs before blowing the game this time. Adrian Gonzalez (DZ) went 1 for 5 with an error. 

Transactions: Ryan's Rangers moved OF Angel Pagan to the bench and added Rhymer Liriano. RR also benched 3B Nolan Arenado, moved Anthony Rendon to 3B, moved Javier Baez to 2B and activated SS Adeiny Hechavarria. Also, a day late, Pitch You Blockhead put 3B Martin Prado on the DL and activated Yangervis Solarte.

Championship series (top 3-week total wins)

Misfits 132 (398), Fresh Fish 81 (468)

Third-place series (top 3-week total wins)

Tanana in the Tailpipe 126 (484), Ryan's Rangers 54 (394)

Consolation matchups

Danger Zaun 104, Rocky Mountain High 74
Arbitration Losers 133, E-3 45
Pitch You Blockhead 88, Rookies 38

Wednesday, September 17, 2014

Playoffs Week 7: Wednesday's Roundup

Carlos Frias allowed 10 hits and 8 runs in 0.2 inning and took the
loss. That would be worth minus-10 in FBLG. The only outs
Frias got were on a caught stealing and a botched squeeze bunt.
Studs: Jeff Samardzija (PYB) fanned 10 in 8 scoreless innings. Ike Davis (Rookies) homered, doubled, scored twice and drove in 3. Alex Wood (Misfits) dominated the Nationals' JV team, striking out 8 and allowing 1 run in a 6-inning win. Justin Morneau (Tanana) was a triple short of the cycle, drove in 6 and scored twice. Adam Wainwright (Tanana) singled and struck out 7 in a shutout of the Brewers. Cole Hamels (Tanana) struck out 9 and allowed 1 run in a 7-inning win. 

Duds: Russell Martin (RMH) singled and erred. Pablo Sandoval (AL) scored a run and made an error. Addison Reed (Rookies) got one out, gave up 2 runs and took the loss. 

Championship series (top 3-week total wins)

Misfits 112 (378), Fresh Fish 75 (462)

Third-place series (top 3-week total wins)

Tanana in the Tailpipe 105 (463), Ryan's Rangers 37 (376)

Consolation matchups

Danger Zaun 96, Rocky Mountain High 56
Arbitration Losers 102, E-3 39
Pitch You Blockhead 69, Rookies 28

Tuesday, September 16, 2014

Playoffs Week 7: Tuesday's Roundup

One of the pitchers in the Reds-Cubs game posted
30 points, and it wasn't Johnny Cueto.
Studs: Bartolo Colon (FF) scattered a dozen doughnuts — er, hits — and miraculously gave up only 1 run while fanning 7 in a 7.2-inning win. Tanner Roark (Misfits) singled and got the win while striking out 4 in 7 shutout innings. Jake Arrieta (AL) threw a 1-hitter and fanned 13. He also doubled and scored. Corey Dickerson (DZ) homered, tripled, drove in 4 and scored twice. Ian Desmond (DZ) hit a 2-run homer, doubled and scored twice. 

Duds: Ryan Howard (E-3) went 0 for 3 with an error. Anthony Rendon (RR) and Billy Hamilton (DZ) were caught stealing. 

Championship series (top 3-week total wins)

Fresh Fish 64 (451), Misfits 59 (325)

Third-place series (top 3-week total wins)

Tanana in the Tailpipe 37 (395), Ryan's Rangers 19 (358)

Consolation matchups

Danger Zaun 93, Rocky Mountain High 52
Arbitration Losers 86, E-3 30
Pitch You Blockhead 32, Rookies 21

Playoffs Week 7: Monday's Roundup

Hair-band enthusiast Jacob deGrom tied a
major-league record by striking out the first
8 batters of the game. Bonus points if you
knew the record was set by Astros legend
Jim Deshaies. 
Studs: Danger Zaun pitchers Andrew Cashner (21 points), Stephen Strasburg (19) and Alfredo Simon (10) combined for 23 innings, 17 Ks, zero runs allowed and 2 wins — way to not support your pitcher, Reds. Strasburg also had an RBI single. Jacob deGrom (AL) struck out 13 and allowed 3 runs in a 7-run no-decision — as usual, the Mets bullpen totally Metted it up. Wade Miley (AL) singled, scored and fanned 4 while allowing 1 run in a 7-inning win. Mark Trumbo (FF) hit a grand slam and an RBI single. 

Dud: The Associated Press writer who typed this with a straight face: "Despite squandering a two-run lead, deGrom was in line to win before Miami scored three in the eighth against New York's best relievers. Jeurys Familia (2-5) gave up four straight hits, and (Jeff) Mathis delivered a two-out single off closer Jenrry Mejia."

Championship series (top 3-week total wins)

Fresh Fish 32 (419), Misfits 20 (286)

Third-place series (top 3-week total wins)

Tanana in the Tailpipe 14 (372), Ryan's Rangers 5 (344)

Consolation matchups

Danger Zaun 69, Rocky Mountain High 19
Arbitration Losers 44, E-3 10
Rookies 18, Pitch You Blockhead 13

Monday, September 15, 2014

Week 25 (Playoffs, Week 7) Transactions and Lineups


Players acquired

Fresh Fish sign OF Mark Trumbo (September move #1).

Ryan's Rangers sign 1B Tommy Medica (September move #1).

Misfits sign 3B Juan Uribe (September move #3).

Danger Zaun sign SP Alfredo Simon (September move #2).

Players released

2B Aaron Hill

OF Oscar Taveras

OF Giancarlo Stanton

3B Chris Johnson

SP Tim Hudson

OF Ender Inciarte

3B David Wright

Lineup changes

E-3: Bench SP Yovani Gallardo; activate SP A.J. Burnett.

Fresh Fish: Bench SP Hyun-Jin Ryu; activate SP Bartolo Colon and OF Mark Trumbo.

Rookies: none.

Rocky Mountain High: none.

Pitch You Blockhead: Bench SP Mike Minor; activate SP Ryan Vogelsong.

Tanana in the Tailpipe: Bench SP Odrisamer Despaigne and Jon Niese; activate SP Tyson Ross and Cole Hamels.

Ryan's Rangers: Bench SP Gio Gonzalez; activate SP Julio Teheran.

Misfits: Bench SP Michael Wacha; activate SP John Lackey and 3B Juan Uribe.

Arbitration Losers: none.

Danger Zaun: Bench SP Mike Fiers; activate SP Alfredo Simon.


Sunday, September 14, 2014

Playoffs Week 6: The Check Swing

1. Fresh Fish (4,200 points): Injuries to Hyun-Jin Ryu and Giancarlo Stanton didn't stop Rick's team from putting up an 189-point week. Of course, those 41 points from Clayton Kershaw certainly helped. The Fish have a 121-point lead with one week left in the championship series and a 71-point lead in the overall points race.

2. Danger Zaun (4,129 points): This team's 141-point week impressed no one, but the Zaunies still have a chance to play for the consolation title. The overall points title isn't out of reach, but slumping players such as Corey Dickerson and Kolten Wong will need to hit a little better.  

3. Ryan's Rangers (3,981 points): A big week got Bill's team back within 19 points of the gritty Tailpipers in the battle for third place in the playoffs. They're also competing for third place in the points race; this one could go down to the wire. 

"You lollygag your way down to seventh place!"
4. Tanana in the Tailpipe (3,947 points): Shelby Miller made two starts and scored 35 points. Odrisamer Despaigne made two starts and scored zero. That's the fantasy biz. As previously mentioned, Matt's team is dueling the Rangers in a couple of ways — stay tuned.

5t. Arbitration Losers (3,920 points): Tim's team endured a tough, 3-point loss to a shorthanded Rocky Mountain High squad. We're pointing the finger at Wade Miley (-3) and Santiago Casilla (0) for the Losers coming up short. 

5t. Pitch You Blockhead (3,920 points, up one spot): Scott's team pummeled Danger Zaun to improve to 4-0 in the consolation round and clinch a spot in the consolation finals. Marcell Ozuna led the way with a 26-point performance. 

7. E-3 (3,878 points, down one spot): It wasn't that long ago these guys were in first place in the points race. What the heck happened? We're going to blame David Wright, Miguel Montero, Curtis Granderson, Jason Hammel ... aw, heck. Everyone but Johnny Cueto. 

8. Misfits (3,788 points): There's barely enough room in this blog to note all of Reid's players who failed to reach 10 points this week. But let's try: Michael Wacha (-1), Daniel Murphy (2), Chris Johnson (3), Charlie Blackmon (4), Jorge Soler (5),Wilin Rosario (6), Tanner Roark (8) and Hunter Pence (8). Ugh.

9. Rocky Mountain High (3,658 points): Carl Crawford had a 29-point eruption, and Russell Martin scored 23. That's a pretty good recipe for success, and it helped Jon's team take down the Arbitration Losers. 

10. Rookies (3,570 points): Jordan Zimmermann and Doug Fister combined for 60 of the Rookies' 127 points this week. Henry's seven Braves combined for 38. 

Playoffs Week 6: Sunday's Roundup

Jonathan Papelbon loves pitching in Philadelphia.
Studs: Clayton Kershaw (FF) singled and improved to 19-3 by striking out 9 and allowing 2 runs in an 8-inning win. Jordan Zimmermann (Rookies) got the win and struck out 5 in 6.2 shutout innings. Matt Garza (RMH) scored a run and fanned 6 while allowing 1 run in a 6-inning run. Neil Walker (PYB) was a triple short of the cycle, drove in 2 and scored twice. 

Duds: Jonathan Papelbon (Tanana) allowed 4 runs, blew the save and took the loss in a brutal inning. Mike Minor (PYB) allowed 5 runs and struck out only 1 in a 4.2-inning loss. Cory Spangenberg (E-3) drove in a run but made an error. 

Championship series (top 3-week total wins)

Fresh Fish 189 (387), Misfits 114 (266)

Third-place series (top 3-week total wins)

Ryan's Rangers 192 (339), Tanana in the Tailpipe 163 (358)

Consolation matchups

Pitch You Blockhead 187, Danger Zaun 141
E-3 135, Rookies 127
Rocky Mountain High 162, Arbitration Losers 159


Playoffs Week 6: Saturday's Roundup

Zack Greinke did enough with his bat alone to make the Studs.
Studs: Matt Kemp (FF) had 2 doubles, a single, 3 RBIs and 2 runs. Zack Greinke (PYB) homered, doubled, drove in 2 and scored twice. Oh, I almost forgot: In his day job as a pitcher, he got the win and fanned 5 in 6 shutout innings. Hanley Ramirez (PYB) had a double, 3 singles, 2 RBIs and a run. Ian Desmond (DZ) doubled, singled twice, stole 2 bases, drove in 3 and scored twice — and it wouldn't be a Desmond game if he didn't throw in an error for good measure. Shelby Miller (Tanana) had an RBI double, scored, struck out 5 and allowed 1 run in a 6-inning win. 

Duds: Travis d'Arnaud (DZ) went 0-fer and threw a ball into left field. Zack Wheeler (DZ) gave up 6 runs in a 4-inning loss. Justin Upton (Rookies) went 0 for 4 with 2 whiffs and an error. Neil Walker (PYB) scored a run and made an error. 

Championship series (top 3-week total wins)

Fresh Fish 141 (339), Misfits 112 (264)

Third-place series (top 3-week total wins)

Ryan's Rangers 174 (321), Tanana in the Tailpipe 145 (340)

Consolation matchups

Pitch You Blockhead 154, Danger Zaun 125
Rookies 107, E-3 99
Arbitration Losers 136, Rocky Mountain High 136