Newsletter for games through 7/25

COMMENTS: Facing an arduous losing streak, Mark Chen faced the adversity with good humor and circulated an email last week about the ’88 Orioles, who lost 21 straight to start the season.  The ASFBL crew snapped the streak at 14 games, beating Boston 4-0 on the 19th with 3+ innings out of Kevin Gregg…The Phillies are threatening to put the NL East away with a 4-2 week combined with a tough week for the Braves…The Astros added to their league-leading WOR total with a 4-2 week combined with 3-7 run by the actual disAstros…Arizona was the hottest team in the NL, posting a 6-1 record…Boston posted another winning week and still lost ground to the Yankees, who had the only perfect week in the league…Boston was the only division leader who didn’t gain ground this week…Johnny Cueto is the only ASFBL starter with an ERA under 2.00…In a life-imitating-ASFBL chapter, Dontrelle Willis has returned to the majors and posted a 3.71 ERA after tearing up the ASFBL as a AAA pitcher.

TRADE DEADLINE IS THE LINEUP DEADLINE NEXT WEEK.  Last chance to make your moves!

FEATS AND FAILURES:

Jeff Niemann of TBR had 13 strikeouts against NYY on 7/18/2011
Bud Norris of HOU had 11 strikeouts against WAS on 7/19/2011
Wesley Wright of HOU had 13 strikeouts against WAS on 7/20/2011
Matt Hague of PIT had 6 RBI against STL on 7/22/2011
Jai Miller of OAK struck out 5 times against NYY on 7/22/2011
Anibal Sanchez of CIN had 12 strikeouts against ATL on 7/23/2011
Eric Hosmer of KCR robbed 3 hits against TBR on 7/23/2011
Matt Treanor of KCR struck out 4 times against TBR on 7/24/2011

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Newsletter for games through 7-17-2011

BEST TRADE EVER:  In case you missed the email, “John McDonald trades Jeremy Moore of AAA Salt Lake City to Jeremy Moore (of Salt Lake City) for John McDonald.”

TRADE DEADLINE: This year’s ASFBL trading deadline will be the lineup deadline on Tuesday, August 2.  All trades after that must go through waivers.

COMMENTS: Cleveland burst from the pack with a 4-0 record to get an early 2nd-half jump on the AL central…The Twins did the same thing from the back of the pack, announcing that they may have something to say about the race before it’s all over…Atlanta inched closer in the NL East…The Giants posted the only 4-0 record in the NL and are threatening to run away with both the NL West and the home field advantage…With Houston +23 WOR at the break, it’s time to ask about the all-time record.  Adam Symonds’ mark is +45 WOR, accomplished with the 2004 Arizona team, so Andy needs to match his first-half WOR pace to have a shot.  It will be fun to watch…However, +22.5 WOR is the lowest figure to ever finish below 1st in the WOR standings, so he looks good there…Berkman and Bautista each have a shot at 60 HR in the ASFBL…Three of the top 8 RBI guys play for Boston…The ASFBL has 8 pitchers with 12 wins; the MLB has 4…On the other hand, the ASFBL only has 5 guys with 20 saves so far, and the MLB has 17…

FEATS AND FAILURES:

Justin Verlander of DET had 12 strikeouts against CWS on 7/15/2011
Wesley Wright of HOU had 12 strikeouts against PIT on 7/15/2011
Neil Walker of PIT had 5 hits against HOU on 7/15/2011
Neil Walker of PIT robbed 3 hits against HOU on 7/15/2011
Mark Trumbo of LAA struck out 5 times against OAK on 7/16/2011
Carlos Quentin of LAA struck out 4 times against OAK on 7/16/2011
Hank Conger of LAA struck out 4 times against OAK on 7/16/2011
Mark Ellis of OAK struck out 4 times against LAA on 7/16/2011
Kevin Kouzmanoff of OAK struck out 4 times against LAA on 7/16/2011
Ryan Howard of CWS struck out 4 times against DET on 7/16/2011
Johnny Damon of PHI struck out 4 times against NYM on 7/16/2011
Lance Berkman of STL had 6 RBI against CIN on 7/17/2011
David Freese of STL struck out 4 times against CIN on 7/17/2011
Jason Repko of MIN struck out 4 times against KCR on 7/17/2011

Newsletter for games through 7/10/2011

COMMENTS: Houston charged into the all-star break with a 6-1 push, best in the NL, while claiming first place in the NL Central…Boston was the big mover in the AL, gaining ground with a7-0 week even as the Yankees went 5-2…Houston has a commanding +22 WOR…The WhiteSox gained a game back in the AL central, meaning the Tribe lead the division by only a half a game at the break…The Giants stumbled a bit, posting a losing week, but still have the largest divisional lead at the midpoint…The top 4 offenses in the league in runs scored (Boston, SF, Texas, Houston) all lead their divisions…Philly and Atlanta rank 1st and 3rd in ASFBL team fantasy pitching, bad news for the rest of the NL East…No joke: Kevin Youkilis had 20 RBI last week; makes you wonder who was left on base for David Ortiz, who had 10…Kelly Johnson of Arizona knocked in 8 last week while striking out 8 times; Josh Reddick of Boston had 11 RBI and 11 K….Jacoby Ellsbury of SF stole 8 bases…Cliff Lee had 17 shutout innings in fantasy last week…The Angels have the best team defense; Texas is 30th…should make an interesting run in the AL West…

FEATS AND FAILURES:

Tommy Hanson of ATL had 12 strikeouts against COL on 7/4/2011
Dan Haren of LAA had 12 strikeouts against DET on 7/4/2011
Justin Verlander of DET had 14 strikeouts against LAA on 7/4/2011
Scott Baker of MIN had 14 strikeouts against TBR on 7/5/2011
Tsuyoshi Nishioka of MIN struck out 4 times against TBR on 7/6/2011
Cody Ransom of ARI struck out 4 times against MIL on 7/6/2011
Brian McCann of ATL had 6 RBI against COL on 7/6/2011
Robinson Cano of NYY hit 3 home runs against TBR on 7/7/2011
Carlos Peguero of SEA struck out 4 times against LAA on 7/8/2011
Randy Flores of SDP had 13 strikeouts against LAD on 7/9/2011
Clint Barmes of TBR robbed 3 hits against NYY on 7/10/2011
J.J. Hardy of BAL struck out 4 times against BOS on 7/10/2011
Colby Lewis of TEX had 12 strikeouts against OAK on 7/10/2011
Kurt Suzuki of OAK struck out 4 times against TEX on 7/10/2011

Newsletter for games through 7-3

This is being composed outdoors at 4:30pm swim lesson in 90 degree weather….which means it will be brief.

NOTABLE:   The fantasy Pirates are streaking, just like their real-life equivalent…which might put 5 contenders in the NL East…the NL West beat up on everyone, with 4 of 5 teams posting winning records…The Yankees continue to charge in the AL East…KC is in 4th in the AL central, but has the best WOR in the division…Mike Gortenburg sent around an email about a terrific showing from CC Sabathia, who used only 101 pitches to get through 11.67 innings; David Robertson pitched the last 1/3rd of the 12th inning and got the win…Detroit went 2-4 but took the lead in the AL Central…The west may be best; 7 of 9 teams in the 2 western divisions have plus-WOR figures, compared to only 2 of 10 in the eastern divisions…

FEATS AND FAILURES:

• Skip Schumaker of STL had 6 RBI against BAL on 6/28/2011
• Paul Konerko of SFG struck out 4 times against CHC on 6/28/2011
• Matt Kemp of LAD had 6 RBI against MIN on 6/28/2011
• Randy Flores of SDP had 11 strikeouts against KCR on 6/28/2011
• Justin Verlander of DET had 10 strikeouts against NYM on 6/29/2011
• Brandon Beachy of ATL had 10 strikeouts against BAL on 7/1/2011
• Hiroki Kuroda of LAD had 10 strikeouts against LAA on 7/1/2011
• Kevin Youkilis of BOS struck out 4 times against HOU on 7/2/2011
• Jacoby Ellsbury of SFG stole 4 bases against DET on 7/3/2011
• Dontrelle Willis of CIN had 10 strikeouts against CLE on 7/3/2011
• Elliot Johnson of TBR hit for the cycle against STL on 7/3/2011