Saxmania
06-16-02, 05:02 PM
Fairly comfortable this week, with no match-up within 50 points of a reversal. Form teams keep winning, with the exception of the top of the table clash between the Wolverines and the Bears, in which the Bears’ win streak came to an end – however, they maintain their place at the top. As you were, then. Interesting near-symmetry in the Mantle Division too.
Ruth Division: 31-20
Mantle Division: 25-26
DiMaggio Division: 21-31
Results
FP Balloon Knots lost to German Gold Gloves by 220 – 282 points
Babe’s Piano Playaz lost to Junior’s Bashers by 252 – 342 points
Bambino’s Ghost defeated Italian Ice by 326 – 178 points
Bad News Bears lost to Michigan Wolverines by 264 – 340 points
Saxmania’s Swingers lost to Buckeye Bombers by 190 – 275 points
Lords of Flatbush defeated YankeesRule2002 by 342 – 228 points
Cunning Linguists defeated YRMbombers2002 by 284 – 196 points
Team of the Week: Junior’s Bashers/Lords of Flatbush (342 points each)
Luckiest team of the week: Buckeye Bombers (won with 275 points)
Unluckiest team of the week: Bad News Bears (lost with 264 points)
Match-up of the week: FP Balloon Knots v/ German Gold Gloves (62 points' difference in the result)
Standings
Ruth Division
Lords of Flatbush (8-2; 311.7 point average)
West Haven Yankees (8-2; 308.5)
Cunning Linguists (8-2; 241.3)
YankeesRule2002 (4-6; 253.6)
YRMbombers2002 (3-7; 245.7)
DiMaggio Division
Michigan Wolverines (9-2; 310 point average)
Junior’s Bashers (6-5; 297.9)
Buckeye Bombers (3-7; 237.8)
German Gold Gloves (2-8; 258.5)
Italian Ice (1-9; 221.2)
Mantle Division
Bad News Bears (7-3; 263.6 point average)
Bambino’s Ghost (6-4; 267.4)
Saxmania’s Swingers (5-5; 260.2)
Babe’s Piano Playaz (4-6; 277.6)
FP Balloon Knots (3-8; 255.4)
Match Reports
Wolverines whiff way to win; rotation blows it for Bears
Four powerful outings for Wolverines’ ace Randy Johnson and young gun A.J. Burnett lifted Michigan to their sixth consecutive win, tying the league record, and the second in a row against a division leader. The Big Unit fooled 21 batters, despite allowing almost as many on base, and found one win, while Burnett was just as effective, with a complete game and sixteen strikeouts. Hitting was consistent throughout the lineup – every player collected at least two extra-base hits, and got on base at least six times. Solidifying their lead over Junior’s Bashers, the Wolverines next fly to Blighty for a meeting with the slumping Swingers.
The Bad News Bears saw their cushion at the head of the Mantle Division halved, as their rotation failed to provide them with quality starts. Roy Halladay and Kevin Appier each allowed ten hits in their solo starts, with Eric Milton the only innings-eater, throwing nine one-run innings. Kelvim Escobar in the pen also came back to earth, although he did pick up another win and a save. Adam Dunn was a stabilizing influence on the line-up, driving in seven and walking seven times while hitting three out. However, Troy Glaus, David Ortiz, and Bobby Estellela put together couldn’t equal his feats, leaving the Bears short of their second 300-point week again. The Italian Ice are their next roadblock in the road to the Mantle Division pennant.
Konerko and Young power Lords ahead while Rulers rue power outage
Five homeruns from the ChiSox’s first baseman, coupled with ten ribbies and twelve base hits for Texas second baseman Michael Young, saw the Flatbu................es back to the head of the Ruth Division, taking advantage of the West Haven Yankees’ bye week. Ramon Ortiz threw a complete game, messy though it was, and two wins for Wade Miller, plus a nice start from David Wells, added up to a third consecutive 300-plus week for the Lords. After last week’s disappointing end to their win streak against an overwhelming Michigan team, the Lords are back in the groove, and holding off West Haven on points average. The YRMbombers2002 are up next.
The Rulers’ hitters were to blame this week – no player garnered more than three extra-base hits, while half the lineup only got one. From a roster featuring Jason Giambi, Bret Boone, and Gary Sheffield, this week’s results were somewhat surprising. Jose Mesa aside, the pitchers failed to reach the required levels to compensate, with only the benched Brian Lawrence providing an outright excellent start for his team. The Rulers are now forced to face the other heavy-hitter in the Ruth Division, coming up against West Haven in Week 11.
Ghosts chasing with Lieber and Wickman but Ice abandoned by Soriano
Back within a game of the division leaders, the former table-topping Ghosts are back with a vengeance from their bye week. Jon Lieber supplied much of their impetus, with two victories coming from fifteen pitched innings, one of them the result of a complete game. Bob Wickman wasn’t needed for that one, but still came up big for the Bambino, saving two in four innings of work, striking out seven on the way. The rest of the staff were all effective, and four long balls from Derrek Lee closed the deal, although the lineup as a whole did not feature the same kind of quality as their pitching staff displayed. A tough matchup next week, as the high-scoring Bashers play host to the Ghost who, this week, had the most.
The Ice could be forgiven for wondering whether Alfonso Soriano forgot to turn up this week. The former fulcrum of the Italian lineup managed just five singles and a stolen base in Week 11, supplying none of the power he had previously been flaunting at second base. Javy Lopez began to find his range, driving in seven, while Derek Jeter swiped five, but the rest of the hitters couldn’t build momentum. Nor could the starters – Jeff D’Amico, Mike Hampton, and Estaban Loiaza (twice) all made their excuses and left early. The stellar relievers – three saves each for Smoltz and Hoffman – have every right to feel aggrieved, as their efforts have been in vain for the much of the season. Perhaps next week, the Bears will see the Ice support their outstanding relievers better.
M & M again – Moyer and Mulder superlative as Linguists turn Bombers Green
Pick up two complete game shutouts – both wins – and you can pretty much take the rest of the week off in this league, or so it seems. The Linguists’ hitters nearly did, but the rest of the pitching staff pulled them through to send their team within half a game of the division lead. Moyer was the tidier of the two aces, allowing five baserunners, while Mulder let thirteen reach, but still kept them off home plate. Two more wins from the bullpen (plus three saves and no runs allowed), coupled with workmanlike outings for Washburn and Johnson, was enough to let the Linguists ignore an anonymous week from their hitters. Only thirteen extra-base hits all week came from the lineup, while no-one went yard more than once or drove in more than four. The hitters may be given additional training while the pitchers take a well-earned rest during the Week 11 break for the high-flying Linguists.
The YRMbombers appear to have learned their lesson from earlier in the season. Shawn Green’s 9 homerun week was wasted for the Bombers a few weeks ago as he spent the week riding the pine in fantasy-land. This week, he slammed six (while, bizarrely, only walking twice – when will pitchers learn?) and drove in nine, for a grand total of 45 points. Sadly, this couldn’t lift the Bombers to the necessary heights, as none of the starters dominated, and only one picked up a win, with the other coming from a more effective bullpen. The rest of the hitters were also lethargic, only Ichiro! looking like he is operating near his full potential. Another tough Ruth Division matchup next week for the YRMbombers, as the Lords welcome them in.
The Germans are coming! Inning eaters earn Gloves second win, ‘Fick!’ say Knots
After weeks of close-run defeats and matchups with division leaders, the Gold Gloves finally began to work their way up the DiMaggio Division this week as they put away the FP Balloon Knots thanks to some hard-working starters. Only Woody Williams got the win, but only Omar Daal crashed out early, meaning that the Gloves found points from almost every start. Byung-Hyun Kim continues to be a positive influence, skidding five scoreless innings through with two saves and eight whiffs. Carlos Beltran flexed his muscles, Vinny Castilla stretched his legs, and Mike Piazza went for six strolls as the Gloves’ hitters finally began to put points together all at once. The burgeoning Gloves’ revival faces a big obstacle next week, however, as the Playaz open their doors.
‘Who can save us now?’ ask the Knots, and the answer comes back, ‘Fick!’. The Detroit hitter smacked three big flies and seven ribbies, plus ten more hits, leading his otherwise indifferent lineup. Helton and Ordonez added some quality, but the rest need to pick it up – Todd Walker and Daryle Ward only managed one hit each all week. Greg Maddux was uncharacteristically sloppy as the Knots’ ace, allowing nineteen baserunners in two starts, and the struggles of Randy Wolf and Carlos Hernandez made the rotation’s back end appear weak. The suddenly hot Buckeye Bombers will be no pushovers next week.
Bashers click as they play catch-up, Playaz a poor imitation
An intriguing tactical matchup this week, as two teams stocked with starters clashed after one of them had seen things go very wrong in Week 10. However, one of the Bashers’ long men turned it around dramatically this week, Joel Piniero throwing nine scoreless innings for the win, while Bartolo Colon and Joe Kennedy were also excellent. Paul Byrd continues to struggle in the pen, however, while Ben Sheets was also less than effective. Added power this week came from Slammin’ Sammy, with four going out of the park, while only Ramon Hernandez failed to hit at least one out. The evolution of fantasy baseball tactics will continue against Bambino’s Ghost next week.
The Playaz have a familiar look about them, with one start each for their relievers producing only mediocre results – one win, eight earned runs, and only eleven-plus innings thrown. Jason Jennings was tidy, Kenny Rogers less so, and failure to keep their teams in the game cost several starters the win. Barry Bonds would have traded his eleven walks for another few homers, and so would the Playaz, as both Bonds and Berkman were relatively quite this week. Better work from Larry Walker couldn’t compensate, leaving the Playaz falling behind in the Mantle Division. Time to get back in the game against the Germans in Week 11.
Prognosis good for Buckeyes, Swingers fading fast
Two teams going opposite ways kept it that way in Week 10, as the Buckeye Bombers built on their previous week recovery, and the Swingers continued to drop from the Mantle Division pennant race. Tim Hudson worked around fourteen hits to allow just two runs in two starts, grabbing a win and twelve ‘K’s. Billy Wagner appears to be re-finding his form, and Miguel Tejada’s push for membership of the elite shortstops’ club only helped the Bombers. Jim Thome’s power faded, but only because he wasn’t pitched two (7 walks), and Pokey Reese drove in nine from the utility spot. The Buckeye’s hot streak must overcome the Balloon Knots next week if they are to make a late charge in the DiMaggio Division.
Three straight losses for the Swingers leaves them clawing at the leaders in the Mantle Division. This week’s performance, their weakest to date, was sabotaged by Rick Reed’s eleven earned runs and Steve Spark’s horror show, though Troy Percival and Barry Zito attempted valiantly to keep things together. Steve Finley was the lone bright spot in the lineup, with eight RBIs, but a DL of Edmonds, Nevin, and M. Ramirez leaves the Swingers wondering whether to re-brand themselves as the Singlers. Only four hitters picked up extra-base hits at all during Week 11. Out of the frying pan, into the fire next week, as the Wolverines bare their teeth in anticipation.
Fixtures
Week 12, June 16th:
German Gold Gloves v Babe’s Piano Playaz
Junior’s Bashers v Bambino’s Ghost
Italian Ice v Bad News Bears
Michigan Wolverines v Saxmania’s Swingers
Buckeye Bombers v FP Balloon Knots
YankeesRule2002 v West Haven Yankees
YRMbombers2002 v Lords of Flatbush
Notes
Well, as the last traces of Sax Selig’s pennant hopes slip beneath the waves, I go out to find a new way to get a power rush. Arbitrarily, I feel like contracting a few teams. Let me see my fixture list . . .
My franchise record project is approximately two-thirds done, and I hope to offer it for download soon. Drinking in the Big Smoke next weekend, so you may be left in the lurch for a few hours. Cry me a river, Yanks. You can actually watch baseball while you wait. I hate you.
Be seeing you,
Saxmania
Ruth Division: 31-20
Mantle Division: 25-26
DiMaggio Division: 21-31
Results
FP Balloon Knots lost to German Gold Gloves by 220 – 282 points
Babe’s Piano Playaz lost to Junior’s Bashers by 252 – 342 points
Bambino’s Ghost defeated Italian Ice by 326 – 178 points
Bad News Bears lost to Michigan Wolverines by 264 – 340 points
Saxmania’s Swingers lost to Buckeye Bombers by 190 – 275 points
Lords of Flatbush defeated YankeesRule2002 by 342 – 228 points
Cunning Linguists defeated YRMbombers2002 by 284 – 196 points
Team of the Week: Junior’s Bashers/Lords of Flatbush (342 points each)
Luckiest team of the week: Buckeye Bombers (won with 275 points)
Unluckiest team of the week: Bad News Bears (lost with 264 points)
Match-up of the week: FP Balloon Knots v/ German Gold Gloves (62 points' difference in the result)
Standings
Ruth Division
Lords of Flatbush (8-2; 311.7 point average)
West Haven Yankees (8-2; 308.5)
Cunning Linguists (8-2; 241.3)
YankeesRule2002 (4-6; 253.6)
YRMbombers2002 (3-7; 245.7)
DiMaggio Division
Michigan Wolverines (9-2; 310 point average)
Junior’s Bashers (6-5; 297.9)
Buckeye Bombers (3-7; 237.8)
German Gold Gloves (2-8; 258.5)
Italian Ice (1-9; 221.2)
Mantle Division
Bad News Bears (7-3; 263.6 point average)
Bambino’s Ghost (6-4; 267.4)
Saxmania’s Swingers (5-5; 260.2)
Babe’s Piano Playaz (4-6; 277.6)
FP Balloon Knots (3-8; 255.4)
Match Reports
Wolverines whiff way to win; rotation blows it for Bears
Four powerful outings for Wolverines’ ace Randy Johnson and young gun A.J. Burnett lifted Michigan to their sixth consecutive win, tying the league record, and the second in a row against a division leader. The Big Unit fooled 21 batters, despite allowing almost as many on base, and found one win, while Burnett was just as effective, with a complete game and sixteen strikeouts. Hitting was consistent throughout the lineup – every player collected at least two extra-base hits, and got on base at least six times. Solidifying their lead over Junior’s Bashers, the Wolverines next fly to Blighty for a meeting with the slumping Swingers.
The Bad News Bears saw their cushion at the head of the Mantle Division halved, as their rotation failed to provide them with quality starts. Roy Halladay and Kevin Appier each allowed ten hits in their solo starts, with Eric Milton the only innings-eater, throwing nine one-run innings. Kelvim Escobar in the pen also came back to earth, although he did pick up another win and a save. Adam Dunn was a stabilizing influence on the line-up, driving in seven and walking seven times while hitting three out. However, Troy Glaus, David Ortiz, and Bobby Estellela put together couldn’t equal his feats, leaving the Bears short of their second 300-point week again. The Italian Ice are their next roadblock in the road to the Mantle Division pennant.
Konerko and Young power Lords ahead while Rulers rue power outage
Five homeruns from the ChiSox’s first baseman, coupled with ten ribbies and twelve base hits for Texas second baseman Michael Young, saw the Flatbu................es back to the head of the Ruth Division, taking advantage of the West Haven Yankees’ bye week. Ramon Ortiz threw a complete game, messy though it was, and two wins for Wade Miller, plus a nice start from David Wells, added up to a third consecutive 300-plus week for the Lords. After last week’s disappointing end to their win streak against an overwhelming Michigan team, the Lords are back in the groove, and holding off West Haven on points average. The YRMbombers2002 are up next.
The Rulers’ hitters were to blame this week – no player garnered more than three extra-base hits, while half the lineup only got one. From a roster featuring Jason Giambi, Bret Boone, and Gary Sheffield, this week’s results were somewhat surprising. Jose Mesa aside, the pitchers failed to reach the required levels to compensate, with only the benched Brian Lawrence providing an outright excellent start for his team. The Rulers are now forced to face the other heavy-hitter in the Ruth Division, coming up against West Haven in Week 11.
Ghosts chasing with Lieber and Wickman but Ice abandoned by Soriano
Back within a game of the division leaders, the former table-topping Ghosts are back with a vengeance from their bye week. Jon Lieber supplied much of their impetus, with two victories coming from fifteen pitched innings, one of them the result of a complete game. Bob Wickman wasn’t needed for that one, but still came up big for the Bambino, saving two in four innings of work, striking out seven on the way. The rest of the staff were all effective, and four long balls from Derrek Lee closed the deal, although the lineup as a whole did not feature the same kind of quality as their pitching staff displayed. A tough matchup next week, as the high-scoring Bashers play host to the Ghost who, this week, had the most.
The Ice could be forgiven for wondering whether Alfonso Soriano forgot to turn up this week. The former fulcrum of the Italian lineup managed just five singles and a stolen base in Week 11, supplying none of the power he had previously been flaunting at second base. Javy Lopez began to find his range, driving in seven, while Derek Jeter swiped five, but the rest of the hitters couldn’t build momentum. Nor could the starters – Jeff D’Amico, Mike Hampton, and Estaban Loiaza (twice) all made their excuses and left early. The stellar relievers – three saves each for Smoltz and Hoffman – have every right to feel aggrieved, as their efforts have been in vain for the much of the season. Perhaps next week, the Bears will see the Ice support their outstanding relievers better.
M & M again – Moyer and Mulder superlative as Linguists turn Bombers Green
Pick up two complete game shutouts – both wins – and you can pretty much take the rest of the week off in this league, or so it seems. The Linguists’ hitters nearly did, but the rest of the pitching staff pulled them through to send their team within half a game of the division lead. Moyer was the tidier of the two aces, allowing five baserunners, while Mulder let thirteen reach, but still kept them off home plate. Two more wins from the bullpen (plus three saves and no runs allowed), coupled with workmanlike outings for Washburn and Johnson, was enough to let the Linguists ignore an anonymous week from their hitters. Only thirteen extra-base hits all week came from the lineup, while no-one went yard more than once or drove in more than four. The hitters may be given additional training while the pitchers take a well-earned rest during the Week 11 break for the high-flying Linguists.
The YRMbombers appear to have learned their lesson from earlier in the season. Shawn Green’s 9 homerun week was wasted for the Bombers a few weeks ago as he spent the week riding the pine in fantasy-land. This week, he slammed six (while, bizarrely, only walking twice – when will pitchers learn?) and drove in nine, for a grand total of 45 points. Sadly, this couldn’t lift the Bombers to the necessary heights, as none of the starters dominated, and only one picked up a win, with the other coming from a more effective bullpen. The rest of the hitters were also lethargic, only Ichiro! looking like he is operating near his full potential. Another tough Ruth Division matchup next week for the YRMbombers, as the Lords welcome them in.
The Germans are coming! Inning eaters earn Gloves second win, ‘Fick!’ say Knots
After weeks of close-run defeats and matchups with division leaders, the Gold Gloves finally began to work their way up the DiMaggio Division this week as they put away the FP Balloon Knots thanks to some hard-working starters. Only Woody Williams got the win, but only Omar Daal crashed out early, meaning that the Gloves found points from almost every start. Byung-Hyun Kim continues to be a positive influence, skidding five scoreless innings through with two saves and eight whiffs. Carlos Beltran flexed his muscles, Vinny Castilla stretched his legs, and Mike Piazza went for six strolls as the Gloves’ hitters finally began to put points together all at once. The burgeoning Gloves’ revival faces a big obstacle next week, however, as the Playaz open their doors.
‘Who can save us now?’ ask the Knots, and the answer comes back, ‘Fick!’. The Detroit hitter smacked three big flies and seven ribbies, plus ten more hits, leading his otherwise indifferent lineup. Helton and Ordonez added some quality, but the rest need to pick it up – Todd Walker and Daryle Ward only managed one hit each all week. Greg Maddux was uncharacteristically sloppy as the Knots’ ace, allowing nineteen baserunners in two starts, and the struggles of Randy Wolf and Carlos Hernandez made the rotation’s back end appear weak. The suddenly hot Buckeye Bombers will be no pushovers next week.
Bashers click as they play catch-up, Playaz a poor imitation
An intriguing tactical matchup this week, as two teams stocked with starters clashed after one of them had seen things go very wrong in Week 10. However, one of the Bashers’ long men turned it around dramatically this week, Joel Piniero throwing nine scoreless innings for the win, while Bartolo Colon and Joe Kennedy were also excellent. Paul Byrd continues to struggle in the pen, however, while Ben Sheets was also less than effective. Added power this week came from Slammin’ Sammy, with four going out of the park, while only Ramon Hernandez failed to hit at least one out. The evolution of fantasy baseball tactics will continue against Bambino’s Ghost next week.
The Playaz have a familiar look about them, with one start each for their relievers producing only mediocre results – one win, eight earned runs, and only eleven-plus innings thrown. Jason Jennings was tidy, Kenny Rogers less so, and failure to keep their teams in the game cost several starters the win. Barry Bonds would have traded his eleven walks for another few homers, and so would the Playaz, as both Bonds and Berkman were relatively quite this week. Better work from Larry Walker couldn’t compensate, leaving the Playaz falling behind in the Mantle Division. Time to get back in the game against the Germans in Week 11.
Prognosis good for Buckeyes, Swingers fading fast
Two teams going opposite ways kept it that way in Week 10, as the Buckeye Bombers built on their previous week recovery, and the Swingers continued to drop from the Mantle Division pennant race. Tim Hudson worked around fourteen hits to allow just two runs in two starts, grabbing a win and twelve ‘K’s. Billy Wagner appears to be re-finding his form, and Miguel Tejada’s push for membership of the elite shortstops’ club only helped the Bombers. Jim Thome’s power faded, but only because he wasn’t pitched two (7 walks), and Pokey Reese drove in nine from the utility spot. The Buckeye’s hot streak must overcome the Balloon Knots next week if they are to make a late charge in the DiMaggio Division.
Three straight losses for the Swingers leaves them clawing at the leaders in the Mantle Division. This week’s performance, their weakest to date, was sabotaged by Rick Reed’s eleven earned runs and Steve Spark’s horror show, though Troy Percival and Barry Zito attempted valiantly to keep things together. Steve Finley was the lone bright spot in the lineup, with eight RBIs, but a DL of Edmonds, Nevin, and M. Ramirez leaves the Swingers wondering whether to re-brand themselves as the Singlers. Only four hitters picked up extra-base hits at all during Week 11. Out of the frying pan, into the fire next week, as the Wolverines bare their teeth in anticipation.
Fixtures
Week 12, June 16th:
German Gold Gloves v Babe’s Piano Playaz
Junior’s Bashers v Bambino’s Ghost
Italian Ice v Bad News Bears
Michigan Wolverines v Saxmania’s Swingers
Buckeye Bombers v FP Balloon Knots
YankeesRule2002 v West Haven Yankees
YRMbombers2002 v Lords of Flatbush
Notes
Well, as the last traces of Sax Selig’s pennant hopes slip beneath the waves, I go out to find a new way to get a power rush. Arbitrarily, I feel like contracting a few teams. Let me see my fixture list . . .
My franchise record project is approximately two-thirds done, and I hope to offer it for download soon. Drinking in the Big Smoke next weekend, so you may be left in the lurch for a few hours. Cry me a river, Yanks. You can actually watch baseball while you wait. I hate you.
Be seeing you,
Saxmania