In-N-Out Week 11

During the same weekend which celebrated the US Open's 113th go around the 4th installment of the Swing and Swim finds itself in peril. Perhaps I shouldn't be shocked. It wasn't long ago Ward and Myself would provide a endless spread of food and unlimited beverages with the promise of non-stop football action all day to any interested party. Time and time again the day would result in Ward, Lee and myself playing NCAA football and a endless supply of leftovers. Countless invites to the Headquarters for brews and banter, parties, league meetings, and countless other social gatherings garner limited to no response. If you build it they will come may work in Iowa but the sentiment sure doesn't apply in the 64/60. Last week the 64/60 was set to host a "friendly", a little pre-curser to the Swing & Swim. While the turnout was expected to be sparse, Bopp's off again on again when something cool is happening relationship was on this past weekend, the LEX crew still had fatherly duties, Senior McClung was fattening the 401K and Todd Del Ray was a mere 1K+ miles away. Despite this I still expected enough to get a 4 on 4, 5 on 5, maybe a 3 on 3, anything to loosen the old hamstrings and get some cuts in prior to the 13th. Five, 5, cinco that was it. From a 12 Team league with at least a handful of "cousins" we get 5. While one may be the lonliest number there ever was when your looking for a game 5 isn't far behind. Five gets you a taste of what could be only to smack you in the face when the 6th doesn't show up. So in typical 64/60 fashion we adjusted on the fly. Gone was the hopes of diving catches, splitter and cutters, and the chance to make 5-42 a distant memory. Welcome the first 64/60 HR derby. Much like the ML version the event left something to be desired. Pool play filled the dead time as each head turned in hopes the next car was the 6th man. Jr. took the top spot in pool play. While I'm ashamed to even type this out of appreciation for showing up his achievement should be noted. 11 was his total the exact equal of myself 4, Jesse 3, Nate 2 and Matthew 2 combined. I attribute the clubhouse lead to a combination of pre-event batting practice and familiarity to Matthew. Once all hope of the 6th man vanished we decided to do the typical H2H playoff format. Rice bested Ward 1-0 in Round 1. I bested Matthew 1-0 in quadruple sudden death. Nate won the semi's 1 nile and JR took the honors with a 2-1 win in the championship. For those in attendance if the score or results for that matter aren't accurate I apologize.

So here we are 24 days or so away from the July 13th date for the Swing and Swim. The magic number is 8. 8 would get us enough for a 4 on 4 best of 5 Championship. The hopeless optimistic would call for 12 and a 4 on 4 round robin tournament. Regardless the mandatory number is 8. Now one would think 3 more shouldn't be a problem. Here's the issue do to scheduling issues the event is locked in for the 13th. Gone will be Mr. Rice and Brandon McClung. Both will be sipping beverages on a sandy beach, McClungs non-alcoholic of course, without a care in the world. The better third of the McClung trio, Matthew, could be following suit. Thus leaving myself and Mr. Ward who's all but a sure thing given the potential move to HotLanta which could make another voyage into the 41129 difficult. I'll be here, just like always. So we've got 1. The LEX crew should be represented at minimum Hob-Knob but I've got a good feeling about Scooter so let's call it 2.5. I sure hope we can get to 8. It's always been an enjoyable day in the 64/60 calendar. Over the next week or so I'll have a good idea and will know for certain by the first of July if the Swing and Swim can make it to that 4th installment.

* I will get the 64/60 Fantasy Football League registered this week. I will communicate the sending of invites via text. If anyone has any scoring or league setup ideas please let me know. I'll set the cost at $40 with league winner during the regular season getting $80 and the playoff winner getting $400. The draft will be at some point in August likely the 2nd or last weekend of the month. If anyone has any scheduling conflicts please let me know and I'll try my best to work around them.


Weekly Recap

Maniac 10 vs. HGH+ 2. Finally the bleeding stops for the 64/60's reigning HR Champion. After a blazing start 6 consecutive defeats found the Maniacs clinging to respectability having used every bit of cushion created, from the 34-11 mark, over the first month of the season. It was a solid across the board week for the Maniacs who performed well enough on offense to contend week in and week out. The pitching performance was the biggest news coming out of the week in my opinion. Finally this unit produced respectable numbers, taking 5 of 6. The Maniacs now must face it's biggest obstacle of the season, life. Gone is the limited social calendar and the seemingly endless amounts of time to devoted to the 64/60. Now my friend you must face the calling of the Oceans breeze, a endless supply of scantily clad women and the hope against hope that one of these women/girls is looking for a summer fling with a awkward teenager whom has a fantasy baseball app on their phone. For HGH+ it is certainly a little setback after a respectable month long stretch that found the HGH+ back in playoff contention. Perhaps I may be overlooking a week but it certainly was the worst offensive output over the last month to two months as the AVG came in at .230 with a OPS south of .700 in addition to a Run/RBI total of 62. As if falling to Jr. in a head to head matchup isn't enough combining this defeat with a Head to Head victory for Jr. in HR derby could be too much for Nate to handle. No doubt someone will be hitting the bottle a little harder this week. Somewhere Smooth Dave is disappointed.

Tops: SV- HGH 9, QS- Maniac 8, ERA 2.65
Bottoms: SB- Maniac 0, AVG- 230 HGH
MVP: Chris Davis .308/3/3/8/0/1.131


BCFP 9 vs. PED 2. Typically a defeat of Bopp would mean something to me. Truth be told it just doesn't feel all that special. Perhaps my moral has been effected by the lack of participation in the Wiffle Ball friendly. Perhaps it's the uncertainty of the upcoming Swing and Swim. Or perhaps just maybe this once fierce rivalry is becoming a one-sided matchup ending with me more than often getting the better of it. While Bopp may have a 2-1-1 advantage over me the last two seasons all he has to show for it is a runner up last season. Meanwhile over the course of the last four seasons I have two titles and a runner up finish to speak of. It's been a long time since Bopp one that deadlocked championship game in the 64/60's first season. The fact of it is simple until Bopp can produce more hardware this in season contest will mean much more to him than they do to me. Never the less I accept this win in honor of all those 7 and 8 year old kids who Chris embarrassed and belittled as a 12 year old playing Minor League.

Tops: HR- BCFP 15, AVG- PED 295, OPS- BCFP .842, RBI- PED 52
Bottoms: NA
MVP: Adam Dunn .389/4/6/8/0/1.510



Walls 9 vs. 41129 3. The streak continues for the 64/60's hottest team. Four straight victories combined with a free fall of sorts by the Free Hat has the Champ within 3 games of the top spot. After only one win in the first two months of the season things are finally starting to fall into place for the Walls. CarGo is producing like a Top 5 player. Stanton is healthy and finally showing signs of life. The pitching is making it's case for the best within the 64/60. Generally speaking no team over the past month has had more overall balance then the Walls. Now if we can only get Landon more into the 64/60 social scene. I sure know a appearance along with former Co-Owner Barker at Swing and Swim could make the difference on if the event lives or dies. For Seal Team 41129 the rejuvenation into contention took a setback in Week 2. Ev Lemaster promised a turnaround for the ages with a new name to christen the rebirth. Personally I feel it was nothing more than a marketing ploy to boost lagging merchandise sales. Regardless of the reason I feel strongly it's a guarantee even Ev Lemaster can't keep. While the offense doesn't overwhelm me given the number of very talented players I can easily see it contending Week in and Week out. The pitching however is a different story. Cain and Weaver make a solid foundation but after that I have more questions then answers. I want to be wrong. I've said on numerous occasions the 64/60 is better when Lemaster is in fold. I can't pinpoint the problem but I can certainly tell that there has been some disconnect between Butch and the present version of the squad from the 41129.

Tops: WHIP- Walls .89, K/9- Walls 9.77
Bottoms: SV- 41129 0, ERA- 41129 5.87
MVP: CarGo .476/3/6/8/1/1.617


T.E.D. 6 vs. Takeover 4. It goes without saying that there is a Top and a Bottom of every league. Typically the team at the top has been the most consistent from Week 1 through seasons end. That team is one when you look at the schedule you know that a victory likely won't come easy. Throughout the history of the 64/60 it would seem the Bottom team has been just the opposite. A team that either through inactivity, ineffectiveness, or both has become a push over. A team that you just can't afford to lose to. While the season is still young and the injury bug isn't done feasting, it sure feels like the Takeover is going to be the 2013 version. At this moment the final five games feature teams among the Top 8 in the standings it's very likely a playoff spot will be decided solely on the score of their matchup with the Takeover. While the pitching certainly could use some help, their enough overall talent on the roster to make a real contender from this group. If nothing else I just hope the final 8 weeks provides it's competition with a level playing field and a full roster. The victory makes it two straight and if Lou Brown taught us anything it's that one more will make a streak. The pitching is really starting to show it's teeth and while the offense is still a work in progress the rehab of Reyes could provide the Deathsquad with another Top 15 type who can carry a offense from Week to Week.

Tops: K- T.E.D. 68
Bottoms: Runs- Takeover 24, AVG- T.E.D. .230, OPS- T.E.D. .636, K- Takeover 35, QS- Takeover 2
MVP: Sterling Marte .455/1/5/1/3/1.227



9irons 6 vs. Stars 6. The two elder-statesmen of the 64/60 squared off and it's only fitting that neither could finish the job. I have praised Mike the entire season. I like his roster, his attention to detail is solid, and for as much grief as I give him he does a fine job with roster management. Meanwhile GRC3 has become everything I loathe in a fantasy owner. Draft day is a scheduling conflict not a National Holiday. Roster moves are few and far between and on a 4 hour time framed schedule. Decision are not based on details but merely random thoughts. Much like the NCAA brackets filled out based on colors or Mascot names. But here we are 11 Weeks, the halfway point, and GRC3 is a mere 7 games out of first and 10.5 better than the Stars. Richard hasn't always been this way. The uninterested, mail it in tactics started maybe a year ago. Before that Richard was on top of his game. Active each and every day often calling for advice. Let's face it anyone who calls me for advice has the right idea. Much like Luke Skywalker, I see good in my family while other have lost all hope. Luke belief was rewarded as in death Vader helped in the demise of a rival. Perhaps Richard will rebound enough to make the playoffs and pick up a few W's ousting the likes of a Bowe or Bopp along the way. Only time will tell. For McClung I don't know if his approach will be rewarded. He doesn't have the equity of a strong start like Richard. Sometimes you can tweak, tweak, tweak, and have little to show for it. Like many other teams the pitching is very suspect. Enough so it's difficult for the Stars to overcome there offensive weaknesses week in and week out. The easiest way to look at your team is do you feel even decent about your ability to get 3 stats in both offense and pitching. If the answer is yes then you have something. If the answer is no then you will likely have to rely on over production by one side in combination with favorable matchups and a little bit of luck. The 9irons have benefited from those intangibles the Stars have not, even if they've done it closer to the book.

Tops: NA
Bottoms: RBI- Stars 28, WHIP- Stars 1.47
MVP: Chris Sale 1QS 14K 0.00/.75/15.75


Mashers 6 vs. Hats 6. They came into the week deadlocked at the top. The Free Hat the 64/60's top team for the last month + and the decisive darlings of the Power Rankings since it's inception. Solid across the board with only two weaknesses in my opinion SB and SV yet plenty of production around the roster to mask them. Unlike years past Todd has yet to went dark, perhaps the islands have given him peace and happiness of the mind. The Scrote Mahsers a offensive force to be reckoned with. Tops statistically in the 64/60 yet a pitching staff only a mother could love, and not because she wanted to but because of the moral obligation she felt. Winners of four straight a 31-13 mark over that stretch make them the hottest team within the 64/60. It's only fitting we live the week deadlocked at the top of the standings. Oddly enough the script played out exactly as you would expect. The recent offensive struggles of the Hats continued losing 5 of 6, while the Mashers produced poorly on the rubber losing 5 of 6. Ultimately I expect the Hat's to rebound this offense has to many elite players to suffer for long stretches, and the pitching, while not up to the same level, is still a upper half unit within the league. As for the Mashers there status as the leagues top unit will be short lived. The offense, active ownership, and smart ownership decisions will carry this team to the playoffs but I just don't know in it's current state how this pitching could string together 3-4 quality weeks. I'm sure Jesse has his pulse on the waiver wire as well as the trading blocks. He's as good as it gets in finding not only the right deal but the better than right price. If Jesse can manage to upgrade his rotation then this week 11 preview could match the race for the top spot at seasons end. As a owner chasing these squads I say keep at it boys. Two good weeks away from the top spot.

Tops: Runs- Mashers 49
Bottoms: HR- Hat 3, SV- Mashers 0, K/9- Mashers 5.14
MVP: Carlos Gomez .333/1/7/6/1/1.037




Power Rankings

Rank Offense Pitching Total

1. Free Hat 55.5 51 106.5
2. HGH+ 53.5 34 87.5
3. Mashers 60 26.5 86.5
3. Walls 36.5 50 86.5
4. Maniac 43 43 86
5. Emanski 28 56.5 84.5
6. Stars 42.5 36.5 79
7. 9irons 35.5 38.5 74
8. BCFP 20 50.5 70.5
9. PED 26 40 66
10. Takeover 39.5 15.5 55
11. 41129 28 26 54




Pickup Of The Week

Bartolo Colon- Marshall Maniacs. No folks this isn't a typo. A McClung actually won this award. While it may be the first time this season, and generally speaking a very rare feat, I assure you it has happened. In Jr's case he likely had trophies made to celebrate the occasion. Colon isn't flashy and with a weight north of 250 combined with his laughable K rate it's really hard to "buy In". It's time we embrace Colon for what he has become, which would be a control specialist who plays to his ballpark. Over the last three seasons when Colon has been healthy he's been effective. While his advance metrics wouldn't project a Top 100 overall player his #'s thus far have. As I've said on numerous occasions these types of seasons happen all the time with Pitchers. Anyone recall how many rosters RA Dickey was on last season? While Colon's low K totals will prevent him from reaching the upper echelon of SP options if managed properly Colon could easily equal the value of a Top 150-200 overall player from this point forward. The question would be can Brandon resist the charm of the next Michael Wacha hitting the Waiver Wire and hold put on Colon? I somehow doubt it.


Head Scratcher Of The Week

B'Ville Stars drop Brandon Moss for Jose Iglesias. I really didn't want to ruin the McClung's positive Mojo. After Brandon had started to rebuild the family name, Mike had to go back to the old McClung ways. Just a note I really wanted to give the honors to Mr. Rice who committed the Drop Player-Cliam from Waiver transaction with Michael Pineda. I just couldn't pull the trigger given the McClung track record with this award. Cosmetically speaking I suppose I get it. While I don't know Iglesias slash line at heart I do know his AVG is around or above .400. He has performed unexpectedly well at the plate in a brief starting role while Middlebrooks was on the DL. Here's the issue. Every Iglesias scouting report says the same thing. Glove is elite yet the bat is such a liability he's likely nothing more than a Utility player. Middlebrooks returns and what do you know Iglesias returns to his Utility role. Utility Players don't belong on 12 team mixed leagues unless they offer a plus skill. The AVG may read .400 but in reality you should be expecting south of .230 with little pop and limited SB potential. AL Only worth, perhaps, 64/60 H2H 12 Team mixer not so much. While Moss has struggled with AVG he does have 12 HR and is on pace for nearly 30. Sure he's part of the A's rotational Left/Right platoons this will ultimately be a good thing. The limiting exposure to lefties will have minimal impact on his HR totals while it should allow Moss to hit North of .255 over the course of the season. While I believe Moss to be a Top 200 player (currently ranked 191) the issue has more to do with the selection of Iglesias over Moss, than the dropping of Moss.