As of this publishing the pending Wiffle Ball event is just that. Should the event take place it is not serving as the Official Swing and Swim. The Swing and Swim will still take place on July 13th. The pending event is nothing more than a sandlot style pickup game where I rebuild my confidence from last years epic failure, Ev Lemaster attempts to rebuild his pitching image, the best McClung is still Juniors Jr, and Chris still wishes the ball was rubber. From those I have spoken with it would seem this Saturday would work best. I will get with everyone who may attend, get a potential head count, and set a estimated start time. Be on the lookout for that communication by Thursday.
Game Recaps
Walls Of Jericho 12 vs, BC PED 0. Anyone who humiliates Chris in such a mannner deserves full name recognition in the recap. Just goes to show how volatile the 64/60 standings are at this point in the season. Walls of Jericho had a mere two wins heading into the week. One Bopp smack around later and a share of 3rd place in the standings. It's been an odd year so far for the Walls. Had perhaps the second best group of returning keepers heading into the season but only CarGo has returned any type of value thus far. Before last weeks offensive explosion it had been the Pitching that has made the Walls the best weekly bet for .500 baseball within the 64/60, with only Week 2's 4-7 setback the only result more than two games under .500 all season. For Bopp that magical season of all going wrong continues. As if having both Braun and McCutchen as keepers only to see both outside the Top 25 and in Braun's case the Top 50 wasn't enough. How about a injury riddled season for Han-Ram. A overall offense among the leagues worst. And of course the lingering cloud of potential suspension for Mr. Bug eye himself becoming more and more possible by the day. Everyone and I mean everyone has one of those seasons when things just don't work out. 2013 is that season for the Teen Dream and let me just say all is right with the world.
Tops: SB 12 Walls, SV 9 Walls, K/9 10.57 Walls
Bottoms: ERA 5.74 PED, QS 3 PED
MVP: Samardzija 2QS 19 1.76/.98/11.15
Free Hats 9 vs. The Takeover 3. It's one thing to have back to back Wins over the likes of the Maniacs and the PED's, but to expect to go toe to toe for 7 days against RTW is simply too much. While the 0-6 start isn't who the Takeover is anymore the bright lights of the big stage proved too much this week. It's encouraging seeing the ownership of the Takeover stepping up sometimes all it takes is a little nuddging by the fans to renew focus. While this team has certainly had it's share of struggles this season I look at the roster and see know reason at all a 13 game deficit can't be made up. That tie in Week 6, only non W on the season for RTW, sure looks like a distant memory. 25-11 edge over the last three weeks and the recipe doesn't seem to change. Plus offensive production to go along with some of the best overall pitching weeks within the league. No fanalytical breakdown needed but when you play in a 6x6 H2H league and both your Offense and your pitching ranks among the leagues best your gonna win a fair share of games. The Free Hats aren't without concern. Starting the Week in a 0-2 defecit isn't ideal (SB and SV), the injury concerns of Harper, and the unwillingesss to move Beltre for marginal players to yours truly, all come to mind. Fact is I'm digging deep trying to find anyway that RTW will not become the first 64/60 Owner to hold both titles at the same time thus etching his name in the 64/60 record books FORE**EV**ER.
Tops: QS 9 Free
Bottoms: K/9 6.06 Takeover
MVP: Latos 2QS 14 2.19/1.14/10.22
HGH+ 9 vs. Blasters 3. Winners of 3 out of 4 the HGH+ have risen from the depths of the 64/60 standings to a mere game out of the coveted 6th spot. Perhaps the team is finally starting to believe in what the Power Rankings have been trying to tell them for a month. Let's not take the love of the HGH+ to unreasonable levels, like every other 64/60 team (outside of the Hats) they have evident flaws. Look no further than the 5.15 ERA that happened to be good enough for the W this week. Not breaking news but typically thats not enough. Funny how a teams makeup can change after in just over a quarter of the season. The major concern coming into the season was of course the offense. While I can't recall an exact quote I'm sure I mocked it numerous times prior to opening day and into the early parts of the season. But in Fantasy it's amazing a how much value is in a Top 5-10 player such as Goldschmidt. The loss of Verlander has really hurt the pitching as was to be expected but the recent buliding of a closer heavy roster combined with the expected production of Bumgarner and Kershaw it would seem the HGH+ is only a respectable arm or two away, perhaps a CC Sabathia, from becoming complete. Four straight non-winning weeks has the Blasters falling farther and farther in the standings. Yet even after this month long struggle they find themselves only 7.5 games out of a playoff spot. Nothing more than a Bowe handing Bopp ass kicking week. It doesn't take a Buck Voderheide speech to tell you how underperforming the Blasters have been this season. While I was the first to mock Ev's claims regarding his rotation even I didn't suspect the leagues worst production by far. While the loss of Scherzer doesn't help his case for improvement perhaps standard statistical correcetions along with the addition of Lester will at least lead to a league avergae production. Offensively the callup of Puig, the potential of Profar remaining in the majors along with the pending callup of Myers if nothing else should renew ownership excitement. Though one does have to wonder what the hell is going on with Ev, seeing the name Puig on the Bench just doesn't seem right.
Tops: NA
Bottoms: Runs 35 Blasters, RBI 28 Blasters
MVP: Doumit .300/3/5/11/0/1.077
Scroter Mashers 8 vs. Emanski 3. Perhaps no team has been more under the radar this season than the Scrote Mashers. The roster doesn't overwhelm me, therefore my opinion is the gospel so it shouldn't you either. The Power Rankings have been neutral on them nearly all season. Yet here they are winners of 3 straight and 7 out of 9 games this season. Their biggest setback all year a 3-9 loss in Week 1. So what gives. Is it the ownership? While Jesse certainly doesn't owe 2 years child support he's also not exactly Jim Walsh (not the offensive mind behing the West Coast offense but America's idealistic TV father of the 90's and 00's from the hit Fox Drama 90210). Currently 4 Red Lettered players (3DL, 1NA) are in the starting lineup. Perhaps its an incredible amount of over producing players? Maybe to some degree but for every Carlos Gomez you have two Ben Zobrist or Michael Bourne's. The rotations ace is Lance Lynn and perhaps more telling than that would be the #3 in Dan Haren. The point being I don't know how the Mashers have gotten to where they are today and truth be told it doesn't even matter. My only question would be given the aforementioned concerns does the Mashers have the staying power? JR was feeling good early on. Anyone recall any of those "This league is mine" post claiming league domination? If you don't recall very early on in this Marshall Maniac growing process I warned the young one to simmer down. The Chris Davis's types who were outkicking their coverage week after week would eventually come back to earth. Can't recall the exact quote but I proclaimed Jr to be a middle of the road team who would battle for a playoff spot. 5 straight losses later and the Maniacs are in 5th place 2 games out of 4th and 5 games out of 7th. Sounds pretty middle of the road to me. Sure I may have been wrong on Chris Davis but the rest of the overproducing bunch has come down to earth. Now don't get discouraged Brandon, I know truthful words sometimes hurt especially when they come from those you admire. There are enough pieces here to keep this thing in contention, offensive depth, better than league average pitching to name a few. You simply just need to find a plan that works for you then implement it. Quit being so spur of the moment and reactionary. And for Christ sakes every SP call up is not a future Cy Young winner.
Tops: Runs 62 Mashers, HR 19 Mashers, RBI 61 Mashers, SB 12 Mashers, OPS .897 Mashers, ERA 2.31 Mashers, WHIP .99 Mashers
Bottoms: K 43 Mashers
MVP: Davis .481/4/10/6/0/1.463
9irons 7 vs. Emanski 5. Talk about injustice. No matchup epitomizes how unfair Fantasy can be. GRC3 could tell you more about some new to the lot 2010 Chevy Malibu then he could about his own MI. His roster reads as a Fantasy For Dummies on not what to do. Chase Utley DL, Ryan Raburn MI, Carlos Pena UTIL, Axford, Marmol, Wade Davis all active and accounted for. In case the memo wasn't sent out we are participating in a 12-Team Mixed League with no roster lockout rules and a Waiver Wire with plenty of better alternative options. Yet her GRC3 sits in 4th place, 12 games better than Bill Fenney. The same Bill Fenney who works his roster day in and day out. The same Bill Fenney who replaces injured players, adjust his lineup as he sees fit, and the same Bill Fenney who has the nerve to drop a player who simply doesn't belong on a roster in this format even though the process may take 40 seconds from his day. Sure Fenney could be more active in trade negotiations. Sure Fenney is hindered by the lack of a smartphone and the long hours "bringing home the bread", that being said JR does have a smartphone and works limited hours and you see what happens there so perhaps Fenney is policing himself. However here Fenney sits 11th place in the standings and 8 games out of 6th. Still early, still not fair. GRC3 your name is on the 64/60 Champions Trophy it's about time you find yourself again.
Tops: AVG .309 9irons
Bottoms: RBI 28 Emanski, AVG .225 Emanski, SV 0 9irons
MVP: Brown .444/7/8/13/2/1.779
BCFP 5 vs. Stars 5. Nothing much to talk about here. Two terrible offenses going H2H with the Stars getting the 5-0-1 edge while the BCFP pitching was solid once again bettering Senior 5-0-1 for the deadlock. While I could boast once more about my recent run of success and my return to relevance why should I. We all know every eyeball in the 64/60 looks for my results after their own. Sure I'm still in 6th place, sure I have a 3-0-1 mark over the last 4 and a 4-1-1 mark over the last 6. No big deal. For the Stars it's simply another lackluster effort over the last seven weeks. A 2-4-1 mark simply won't cut it within the 64/60. Statistically speaking McClung has been fine. Neither unit stands out as much above AVG but if we've learned anything in regards to the standings that shouldn't stop the Stars from contending. In my opinion the biggest issue facing Senior is plain and simple stubbornness. Perhaps it's his advanced age is to blame. Countless times this season I have reached out to Senior, prepared to give him the proverbial farm, often times willing to cheat myself to provide another contender for the betterment of the league. Yet he gives me nothing. No text response, no instant acceptance of the deal. It simply just stays there until I manually go in a Cancel it. Just to prove my point I sent a BJ Upton straight up for Prince Fielder request last week and got nothing. If that doesn't scream inactive owner I don't know what does. That's okay Senior, fear not, I'm not the type to hold grudges more request will come your way. Perhaps next time you'll be more mindful of what gem is yours for the taking.
Tops: K 79 BCFP
Bottoms: HR 6 BCFP, OPS .619 BCFP
MVP: Wainwright 2 QS 15 2.12/1.18/7.94
Power Rankings Offense Pitching Total
1. Free Hat 58.5 53 111.5
2. Secrote 55.5 31 86.5
2. HGH 54.5 32 86.5
3. Emanski 31 51.5 82.5
4. Maniacs 37 44.5 81.5
5. Walls 30 51 81
5. Stars 44 37 81
6. 9irons 39 38.5 77.5
7. BCFP 16 50 66
8. PED 27 38 65
9. Takeover 41.5 16 57.5
10. Blasters 29 25.5 54.5
TOPS: Runs-Hat, HR-Hat, RBI-Hat & HGH, SB-Scrote, AVG-Takeover, OPS-Hat, SV-BCFP, K-Hat, ERA-Hat, WHIP-Walls, K/9-Walls, QS-Hat
Bottoms: Runs-9irons, HR-Takeover & Emanski, RBI-Takeover, SB-HAT, AVG-PED, OPS-BCFP, SV-Hat & 9irons, K-Takeover, ERA-Blasters, WHIP-Stars, K/9-HGH+, QS-PED
Head Scrathcer Of The Week
BCFP drop Travis Wood for Vinnie Pestano. While I like Travis Wood I feel ultimately he is a mid to high 3 ERA type with minimal K potential. Should that be the truth he is more a matchup option moving forward. Initially I felt Perez's injury would require a somewhat lengthy DL stint given the timing of it. While to the best of my knowledge the Indians haven't announced a rehab plan it is looking as more of a short DL stint for Perez. Combine the potentially short stay in the closers role and the what have you done for me lately mentality of many 64/60 owners Wood likely would have had more value in trade negotiations than netting Pestano off the list of Free Agents.
Pickup Of The Week
Free Hats add Nick Franklin of Waivers for $9 in FAAB. For the record I would not consider myself to be a Franklin believer. I quickly nabbed him after the call up, on name alone, and looked at his track record before placing him back of waivers. He's had a very good 2013 flashing decent power with above AVG speed. If you go back over his minor league career however that power is only marginal, the speed isn't elite, and he's likely a good bet for a AVG below .260. Having said all of this the idea of adding players is to make your team better. Anyone seen the list of suspects the Free Hats have turned to at MI this season. Nick Punto tells you all you need to know. Even if my forecast is correct your looking at a 10HR 15SB player which would be an upgrade for Todd. Should I be off and the real Franklin is closer to what we have seen at Tacoma then your looking at a watered down version of Jason Kipnis and a good bet to finish Top 15 at MI.
Trade Evaluations
*Lemaster Blasters send Max Scherzer, Brett Lawrie, and Will Middlebrooks to PEDophiles for Desmond Jennings, Will Myers, Jose Veras and Travis Wood. My first reaction was a landslide in favor of Butchie. Perhaps the red letters next to Lawrie and Middlebrooks clouded my judgemnet. I then reassesed and gave Bopp a rather decisive advantage. As time has passed I find myself suprisingly neutral on the deal and break it down as follows: Scherzer is the clear cut best player in the deal with Jennings the clear cut 2nd. The "winner" of this deal will be decided on who has the biggest impact moving forward among Myers, Lawrie and Middlebrooks and by how much. I'm not sold on Myers being a plus fantasy option his first several seasons, Lawrie has the best fantasy potential but he seems to be the type that will lack consistency and 2013 would seem to be a blah year, Middlebrooks has the least upside of the trio but would be my bet to be the most consistent option. The addition of Veras did add a much needed closer to the Blasters roster but I would have to think Lemaster could have asked for a better option without nixxing the deal on Bopp's end. Wood as a throw in looks better for someone who determines value based on the now and Owned % rather than perceived future earnings.
Bottom Line: The trade improves the PED's more than the Blasters who's already league worst pitching loses it's lone reliable SP thus far.
*Lemaster Blasters send Craig Kimbrel to HGH+ for Jon Lester. The 64/60 is a better place when Ev is letting the deals fly. He swore 2013 would be more of a buttoned down year but ineffectiveness has forced his hand. Honestly I'm suprised it's took this long. Kimbrel was the top Closing option coming into the 2013 season. While he hasn't been the #1 option thus far owners are not disappointed in their returns. Lester owners are happy as well. Coming off two consecutive less than stellar seasons Lester was one of those "upside" picks that worked out. The Anti-Lincecum if you will. This is another trade I remain fairly neutral on. Typically speaking I'll take the 200+ innings of ACE caliber over the 55 or so from the Closer. After two down seasons however is that what Lester is moving forward? A FIP of 3.31 in combination of slightly improved control suggest yes. For Kimbrel his value is in K potential primarily in a above replacement level terms. For example he may reach 100 K's in 60 innings while another closer such as Rivera may hit 60. 40+ K's isn't chump change. However that advantage matters more in a standard Roto league than H2H. While Kimbrel may on occasion give you a decent starters worth of K's in a given week it isn't a total you can rely on from week to week.
Bottom Line: While generally speaking I prefer Lester HGH+ improved his team more with the deal. Lester doesn't negate the loss of Scherzer while Kimbrel now gives the HGH+ 4 closers to join Kershaw and Bumgarner in the rotation. That's a rather solid formula for good ratio totals.
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