Newsletter for games through 9-27-17

COMMENTARY: Since he’s enabled my laziness, I now more or less wait for Andy Somers to distribute an update about the state of the pennant races…but I did notice these things: Cubs picked up 2 and 1/2 games this week and moved in front of Milwaukee…Dodgers flexed their muscles and went 6-1, and are now a full game ahead of Milwaukee for the last wildcard spot…Diamondbacks and Rockies each went 5-1, demonstrating their ongoing prowess, and the Rockies are second in their division but only half a game back of the Nationals for second best team in the National League…top of the AL East went bananas, but none moreso than the Yankees who went 6-0 and are dead tied with the Tigers for the AL wildcard spot(s)…Boston and Seattle lurk dangerously close…the WOR leaders are largely composed of teams that have collapsed in real life, but it’s awesome to see how Cincy, Philly, and the Chisox are all top-5 WOR teams because the owners stuck with it and have clubs that are much better than the actual rosters…Indians have the blessing and curse of being the hottest real team; you’re gonna win a lot, but it’s almost impossible to make WOR headway…Tribe matched the Tiger 5 wins this week but with one less loss, picking up a half game, and going into the lase week with a 5 game advantage in the central…Houston has clinched in the west, but Seattle is contending and the Oakland team is in positive WOR territory…Corey Kluber — now of the ASFBL Colorado club — tops the league with 20 wins…three of the top six ASFBL win leaders are in the AL East…Ervin Santana leads the ASFBL with an obscene 287 innings (206 in real-life)…MLB leader has 214…Padres have milked 217 innings out of Jhoulys Chacin, which is an accomplishment unto itself…Top 3 MLB ERA leaders are Kershaw, Kluber, and Scherzer…Top 3 ASFBL ERA leaders are Kershaw, Kluber, and Scherzer…Top 6 ASFBL OPS leaders are all still with their original teams…

ONE WEEK TO GO!  LAST REGULAR SEASON LINEUP IS DUE NEXT WEEK!

FEATS AND FAILURES:

Justin Verlander of DET had 10 strikeouts against OAK on 9/18/2017
Robbie Ray of ARI had 12 strikeouts against SDP on 9/18/2017
Chris Marrero of SFG robbed 3 hits against COL on 9/19/2017
Drew Pomeranz of BOS had 11 strikeouts against BAL on 9/19/2017
Jose Ramirez of CLE had 6 RBI against LAA on 9/19/2017
Justin Smoak of TOR robbed 3 hits against KCR on 9/19/2017
Gary Sanchez of NYY struck out 4 times against MIN on 9/19/2017
Zack Greinke of ARI had 11 strikeouts against SDP on 9/20/2017
Danny Salazar of CLE had 10 strikeouts against LAA on 9/21/2017
MIN and DET played 13.5 innings on 9/21/2017
Kevin Pillar of TOR robbed 3 hits against KCR on 9/21/2017
Corey Kluber of COL had 12 strikeouts against SDP on 9/22/2017
Garrett Richards of LAA had 11 strikeouts against HOU on 9/22/2017
Ian Kinsler of DET robbed 3 hits against MIN on 9/22/2017
Matt Olson of OAK robbed 4 hits against TEX on 9/22/2017
Gio Gonzalez of STL had 10 strikeouts against PIT on 9/22/2017
Clayton Kershaw of LAD had 11 strikeouts against SFG on 9/23/2017
Martin Maldonado of LAA struck out 4 times against HOU on 9/23/2017
Chris Archer of TBR had 10 strikeouts against BAL on 9/24/2017
Manny Pina of MIL struck out 4 times against CHC on 9/24/2017

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Sept 17 addendum (courtesy Andy Somers)

Arizona clinched playoff berth this week.  Houston clinched AL West this week.  Washington clinched NL East last week.

Magic numbers below 10:

Arizona, magic number 6 to clinch NL West

Colorado, magic number 6 to clinch a wild card spot

Baltimore, magic number 5 to clinch AL East

Cleveland,magic number 9 to clinch AL Central, magic number 7 to clinch a playoff spot

Eliminated from playoff contention:

NL: Miami, Pittsburgh, St. Louis, San DIego, San Francisco

AL: Texas

 

Newsletter for games through 9-17-17

APOLOGIES: Sorry for the lateness; the Wednesday that were my open days in the spring are evidently NOT my open days in the fall.

FREE WAIVER LEADERS: Since they now can’t be used (waivers don’t cost anything the last 2 weeks’ worth of lineups), we can see who ended the season with the most.  This is some combination of “team with the most injured players” and “owner most content to let it ride.”  The winners are: Texas, 18 (truly staggering), Giants 13, Tampa Bay, Miami, and the Mets (all eastern seaboard teams) tied at 12, St. Louis 11, Pittsburgh 10.  I note that Texas’ totals would be two full teams’ worth of players.

FEATS AND FAILURES:

Rougned Odor of TEX struck out 4 times against SEA on 9/11/2017
Aaron Judge of NYY struck out 4 times against TBR on 9/11/2017
Sal Romano of CIN had 11 strikeouts against STL on 9/12/2017
CIN and STL played 13.5 innings on 9/12/2017
Garrett Richards of LAA had 10 strikeouts against HOU on 9/12/2017
Jonathan Villar of MIL struck out 4 times against PIT on 9/12/2017
Luis Castillo of CIN had 14 strikeouts against STL on 9/13/2017
Justin Verlander of DET had 13 strikeouts against CLE on 9/13/2017
Roberto Perez of CLE struck out 4 times against DET on 9/13/2017
Marcell Ozuna of MIA robbed 3 hits against PHI on 9/14/2017
Andrew Albers of ATL had 10 strikeouts against WAS on 9/14/2017
Zack Greinke of ARI had 11 strikeouts against SFG on 9/15/2017
Phil Ervin of CIN struck out 4 times against PIT on 9/15/2017
CWS and DET played 15.5 innings on 9/15/2017
Randal Grichuk of STL struck out 4 times against CHC on 9/15/2017
Rich Hill of LAD had 10 strikeouts against WAS on 9/15/2017
Chris Sale of BOS had 12 strikeouts against TBR on 9/15/2017
Trevor Plouffe of STL struck out 4 times against CHC on 9/16/2017
J.D. Martinez of DET hit 4 home runs against CWS on 9/16/2017
Elvis Andrus of TEX struck out 4 times against LAA on 9/17/2017
Caleb Joseph of BAL struck out 4 times against NYY on 9/17/2017
Yasiel Puig of LAD had 6 RBI against WAS on 9/17/2017
Corey Kluber of COL had 15 strikeouts against SDP on 9/17/2017
Cory Spangenberg of SDP struck out 4 times against COL on 9/17/2017
Sal Romano of CIN had 10 strikeouts against PIT on 9/17/2017
Kyle Seager of TOR robbed 3 hits against MIN on 9/17/2017
TOR and MIN played 13.5 innings on 9/17/2017
Alcides Escobar of SEA had 5 hits against HOU on 9/17/2017

Newsletter for games through 9-13-17

COMMENTARY

The Reds made a serious move this week, and the Reds, Cubs, and Dodgers have 77, 78, and 79 respectively…the Braves roared forward with a 6-1 record and have inserted themselves into the wild card race…it would take another couple 6-1 records, but this is baseball and anything can happen…as witnessed by the actual Cleveland Indians and Los Angeles Dodgers…speaking of which, the Indians mimicked the actual club (plus 1 loss), and re-took first place in the AL central…Twins, Bosox, Mariners and A’s all posted winning records…Philly matched Atlanta with 6 wins…and that included a 4-game sweep of the Nationals, who even after that stumble have the best record in the ASFBL…they allowed 3 runs in the last 27 innings of that series…Cards and Pirates also took up the challenge to be spoilers last week…Pittsburgh helped the Brewers out by taking 3 of 4 from the Cubs…Houston, Arizona, and Washington are the 3 teams who have amassed 90 wins so far…Please note that Sal Romano of the Reds accounted for 19 strikeouts on 9/6…he fanned 15 opponents, and struck out 4 times himself….

PLAYOFF NOTES  (Courtesy of Andy Somers)

Washington clinched NL East this week (Occurred on 9/6, with Atlanta loss and Washington win on same day)

Houston magic number is 2 to clinch AL West

Arizona magic number is 6 to clinch a playoff spot

No other magic numbers at 10 or less.

Wildcard standings showing all teams at 6 GB or less….

FEATS AND FAILURES

Jose Berrios of MIN had 13 strikeouts against TBR on 9/4/2017
Chris Sale of BOS had 10 strikeouts against TOR on 9/4/2017
Charlie Blackmon of COL had 9 RBI against SFG on 9/4/2017
MIL and CIN played 13.5 innings on 9/4/2017
Tyler Moore of MIA struck out 5 times against WAS on 9/5/2017
Jose Taveras of PHI had 10 strikeouts against NYM on 9/6/2017
Gio Gonzalez of STL had 13 strikeouts against SDP on 9/6/2017
Wilmer Difo of OAK struck out 4 times against LAA on 9/6/2017
Sal Romano of CIN had 15 strikeouts against MIL on 9/6/2017
Sal Romano of CIN struck out 4 times against MIL on 9/6/2017
Odubel Herrera of PHI had 5 hits against WAS on 9/7/2017
Corey Kluber of COL had 11 strikeouts against LAD on 9/7/2017
SFG and CWS played 13.5 innings on 9/8/2017
Clayton Kershaw of LAD had 12 strikeouts against COL on 9/8/2017
Robbie Ray of ARI had 12 strikeouts against SDP on 9/8/2017
Carlos Gonzalez of TOR robbed 3 hits against DET on 9/8/2017
Lucas Giolito of CWS had 10 strikeouts against SFG on 9/9/2017
MIA and ATL played 18.5 innings on 9/10/2017
Jacob deGrom of SEA had 10 strikeouts against LAA on 9/10/2017
Chad Green of NYY had 10 strikeouts against TEX on 9/10/2017
Shin-Soo Choo of TEX struck out 4 times against NYY on 9/10/2017
Robinson Cano of NYM robbed 3 hits against CIN on 9/10/2017

Newsletter for games through 9-3-2017

MY THANKS to you all.  EVERY single lineup submitted this week was accurate, which is really important given then obviously late start I got on all of this.  And thanks for your patience, since not one of you got in touch to hurry me up.  I really appreciate it!

COMMENTS: JD Martinez who, for those of you without any access to a highlight show, hit 4 homers in a game last night, is 8th in the ASFBL in home runs….Judge and Bellinger still lead their respective leagues…John Kephart’s Dodgers were 5-1 this week, a mark Dave Roberts would gladly trade for…Chris Taylor’s .520 batting average surely had something to do with that…Cubs and Reds went on a collective 11-2 rampage this week and each are almost as close to the Brewers for first in the central as they are to the Dodgers for the last wildcard spot…Baltimore might actually have found some breathing room (though not much) in the AL East…Cleveland got back 2 more games in the AL Central…Toronto put together a winning week and is +3 WOR….Angels went 4-2 as Houston had another very solid week to establish itself as the class of the AL…Charlie Blackmon of the Rockies is unexpectedly leading the league in RBI…Nolan Arenado of the ASFBL Giants is 4th in the league in runs scored…has there ever been any game more pre-determined by the name of the starting pitcher than when Matt Harvey took the mound in Houston’s first game back after the hurricane?…in case you missed it, he gave up 8 runs in 2 innings…phenom Rhys Hoskins had 5 HR for the Phils last week, most in the ASFBL…I got up at 6am this morning and haven’t really sat down until now, but I still think my day was shorter than the Red Sox-Blue Jays 19-inning marathon on Tuesday…

FEATS AND FAILURES:

Justin Verlander of DET had 10 strikeouts against COL on 8/28/2017
Jeff Samardzija of WAS had 13 strikeouts against MIA on 8/28/2017
Josh Donaldson of SEA had 6 RBI against BAL on 8/29/2017
Freddie Freeman of ATL robbed 3 hits against PHI on 8/29/2017
Chris Sale of BOS had 11 strikeouts against TOR on 8/30/2017
Jacob deGrom of SEA had 11 strikeouts against BAL on 8/30/2017
Trey Mancini of BAL struck out 5 times against SEA on 8/30/2017
Adam Jones of BAL struck out 5 times against SEA on 8/30/2017
Chris Davis of BAL struck out 4 times against SEA on 8/30/2017
SEA and BAL played 15.5 innings on 8/30/2017
Avisail Garcia of CWS had 6 RBI against MIN on 8/31/2017
Tyler Mahle of CIN had 11 strikeouts against NYM on 8/31/2017
TEX and HOU played 13.5 innings on 8/31/2017
Masahiro Tanaka of SEA had 10 strikeouts against OAK on 9/1/2017
Khris Davis of OAK struck out 4 times against SEA on 9/1/2017
OAK and SEA played 13.5 innings on 9/1/2017
Sal Romano of CIN had 11 strikeouts against PIT on 9/1/2017
Francisco Lindor of CLE struck out 4 times against DET on 9/2/2017
Clayton Kershaw of LAD had 10 strikeouts against SDP on 9/3/2017
Allen Cordoba of SDP struck out 4 times against LAD on 9/3/2017
Nick Williams of PHI struck out 5 times against MIA on 9/3/2017
Carlos Carrasco of HOU had 10 strikeouts against NYM on 9/3/2017
Derek Norris of TBR struck out 4 times against CWS on 9/3/2017