Saxmania
08-18-02, 06:29 PM
Well, it’s all getting completely exciting now. The Mantle Division can be won by any one of the five teams going into the final week, as, with the right results, the end standings could be that every team ends up on an 8-10 record. How’s THAT for a close finish? Oh, and some stuff happened in the other division. You know.
Results
Cunning Linguists defeated West Haven Yankees by 384 – 254 points
YRMbombers2002 lost toYankeesRule2002 by 195 – 276 points
Michigan Wolverines defeated German Gold Gloves by 348 – 247 points
Buckeye Bombers defeated Italian Ice by 324 – 297 points
Bambino’s Ghost lost to Saxmania’s Swingers by 151 – 296 points
Bad News Bears lost to Babe’s Piano Playaz by 286 – 334 points
Standings
Ruth Division
Lords of Flatbush (14-3; 313.1 point average)
Cunning Linguists (13-4; 286.8)
West Haven Yankees (10-7; 285.6)
YankeesRule2002 (8-10; 261.3)
YRMbombers2002 (4-13; 241.3)
DiMaggio Division
Michigan Wolverines (14-3; 310.5 point average)
Junior’s Bashers (11-6; 304.6)
German Gold Gloves (7-10; 282.5)
Buckeye Bombers (6-11; 257.2)
Italian Ice (2-16; 234.7)
Mantle Division
Bad News Bears (8-9; 269.9 point average)
Bambino’s Ghost (8-9; 262.5)
Babe’s Piano Playaz (270.3)
FP Balloon Knots (7-10; 276.1)
Saxmania’s Swingers (7-10; 263.5)
Match Reports
The Bad News Bears continued their worrying slump in late-season form by losing to the Babe’s Piano Playaz, leaving the Bears hanging perilously to the top of the division table. For the Playaz’ part, they fought their way back into contention for the postseason, with Barry Bonds taking 13 free passes over the week, while Mike Mussina led the rotation with a pair of wins. Additional quality starts from Vincente Padilla and Russ Ortiz rounded off the regular season for the Playaz, who now must wait to learn their fate over the next seven days.
The Bears put in a credible effort, but again failed to break the 300 barrier, with Eric Milton’s injury doing damage to a rotation that only won once in his absence. Despite good starts from Chuck Finley and Roy Halladay, they emerged with only one win in four starts, while hitting slumps from Adam Dunn and Shawn Wooten didn’t help matters. But if the Bears defeat the Swingers next week, then they will at least get a shot at postseason play.
Meanwhile, across the Atlantic, the division-leading Ghosts stumbled badly, amassing only 151 points as they attempted to guarantee September baseball for themselves. One win and no saves from the pitchers, and only 17 extra-base hits from the hitters, resulted in by far the lowest score of the Ghost’s season, while three position players failed to record a single RBI. But a win next week against the Balloon Knots would still see the Ghosts through to at least a one-game playoff.
The Swingers, on the other hand, remain at the foot of the division standings, but still have the faintest glimpse of postseason playing time. If they and the Balloon Knots win next week, then a five-way playoff will be required, with every team on an 8-10 record for the season. Alex Rodriguez’s power hitting, slamming 5 homers, with Steve Finley adding three, meant that the Swingers leave themselves in with a shout, and if Reed and Zito can replicate their Week 20 performances, then nothing is out of the question. But a win against the Bears next week is vital in this cause.
Elsewhere, the Cunning Linguists extended their winning streak to nine games, refusing to be shaken off the pursuit of the Lords of Flatbush. If the Linguists can beat the Lords next week, then a playoff for the pennant will be necessary, although both teams will advance to the postseason no matter what. This week’s win over West Haven owes much to the hitting of Bernie Williams and Scott Rolen, while five wins and four saves from the pitching staff also went down well. West Haven will blame Josh Fogg (2 GS 21 H 10 ER) for their woes, while Roger Clemens was an untidy winner too.
In the same division, the YankeesRule2002 wrapped up their season with a comfortable defeat of the YRMbombers2002. It’s been an up-and-down season for the Rulers, who have claimed some impressive victories, but find themselves with a record slightly under .500 at the end of it. The rotation did almost all the work for them, with Buehlre, Ishii, and Penny all dominant, while the batters exhibited less exertion. The Bombers found good starts from Cory Lidle and Jason Jennings, but Matt Clement and Antonio Alfonseca struggled, and the hitters couldn’t fill the gap in points. One last chance for the Bombers to go out on a high note, as West Haven represent their final match.
Finally, the DiMaggio Division saw the Wolverines pull still further away from the back, with a steamroller effort over the Gloves. The Michigan 1-2-3 starters all excelled, with run support from Jeff Kent and Albert Pujols. The Gloves are faltering after a strong mid-season, and need more hitting from superstars Mike Piazza and Ken Griffey, Jr. than they received. The Buckeye Bombers finished off the Italian Ice’s season, finding enough to make the Ice’s decent week all for nought. Jim Thome and Jose Valentin both went deep thrice, with a two-hitter from Joe Mays the fulcrum of a powerful rotation. The Ice closed out their year on a high, ending with their highest score of all, but sadly Mo Vaughn, Kenny Lofton, and James Baldwin handicapped their efforts to find a third win.
Fixtures - Week 21 Aug. 18th:
West Haven Yankees v YRMbombers2002
Lords of Flatbush v Cunning Linguists
German Gold Gloves v Buckeye Bombers
Junior’s Bashers v Michigan Wolverines
Saxmania’s Swingers v Bad News Bears
FP Balloon Knots v Bambino’s Ghost
Notes
Okay. Here’s the deal.
If the Bears win and the Ghosts lose next week, then the Bears win the pennant. If the Ghosts win and the Bears lose, then the Ghosts win the pennant. If both of them win, there’ll be a playoff between the two next week for the pennant. If both of them lose, there’ll be a five-way, I said FIVE-WAY tie for the pennant, and we’ll have to have a five-team playoff.
Oh, and if the Linguists beat the Lords next week, there'll be a one-game playoff in that division to find out who won the pennant, and who got the Wild Card.
Man, I’m beginning to like this job.
Be seeing you,
Saxmania
Results
Cunning Linguists defeated West Haven Yankees by 384 – 254 points
YRMbombers2002 lost toYankeesRule2002 by 195 – 276 points
Michigan Wolverines defeated German Gold Gloves by 348 – 247 points
Buckeye Bombers defeated Italian Ice by 324 – 297 points
Bambino’s Ghost lost to Saxmania’s Swingers by 151 – 296 points
Bad News Bears lost to Babe’s Piano Playaz by 286 – 334 points
Standings
Ruth Division
Lords of Flatbush (14-3; 313.1 point average)
Cunning Linguists (13-4; 286.8)
West Haven Yankees (10-7; 285.6)
YankeesRule2002 (8-10; 261.3)
YRMbombers2002 (4-13; 241.3)
DiMaggio Division
Michigan Wolverines (14-3; 310.5 point average)
Junior’s Bashers (11-6; 304.6)
German Gold Gloves (7-10; 282.5)
Buckeye Bombers (6-11; 257.2)
Italian Ice (2-16; 234.7)
Mantle Division
Bad News Bears (8-9; 269.9 point average)
Bambino’s Ghost (8-9; 262.5)
Babe’s Piano Playaz (270.3)
FP Balloon Knots (7-10; 276.1)
Saxmania’s Swingers (7-10; 263.5)
Match Reports
The Bad News Bears continued their worrying slump in late-season form by losing to the Babe’s Piano Playaz, leaving the Bears hanging perilously to the top of the division table. For the Playaz’ part, they fought their way back into contention for the postseason, with Barry Bonds taking 13 free passes over the week, while Mike Mussina led the rotation with a pair of wins. Additional quality starts from Vincente Padilla and Russ Ortiz rounded off the regular season for the Playaz, who now must wait to learn their fate over the next seven days.
The Bears put in a credible effort, but again failed to break the 300 barrier, with Eric Milton’s injury doing damage to a rotation that only won once in his absence. Despite good starts from Chuck Finley and Roy Halladay, they emerged with only one win in four starts, while hitting slumps from Adam Dunn and Shawn Wooten didn’t help matters. But if the Bears defeat the Swingers next week, then they will at least get a shot at postseason play.
Meanwhile, across the Atlantic, the division-leading Ghosts stumbled badly, amassing only 151 points as they attempted to guarantee September baseball for themselves. One win and no saves from the pitchers, and only 17 extra-base hits from the hitters, resulted in by far the lowest score of the Ghost’s season, while three position players failed to record a single RBI. But a win next week against the Balloon Knots would still see the Ghosts through to at least a one-game playoff.
The Swingers, on the other hand, remain at the foot of the division standings, but still have the faintest glimpse of postseason playing time. If they and the Balloon Knots win next week, then a five-way playoff will be required, with every team on an 8-10 record for the season. Alex Rodriguez’s power hitting, slamming 5 homers, with Steve Finley adding three, meant that the Swingers leave themselves in with a shout, and if Reed and Zito can replicate their Week 20 performances, then nothing is out of the question. But a win against the Bears next week is vital in this cause.
Elsewhere, the Cunning Linguists extended their winning streak to nine games, refusing to be shaken off the pursuit of the Lords of Flatbush. If the Linguists can beat the Lords next week, then a playoff for the pennant will be necessary, although both teams will advance to the postseason no matter what. This week’s win over West Haven owes much to the hitting of Bernie Williams and Scott Rolen, while five wins and four saves from the pitching staff also went down well. West Haven will blame Josh Fogg (2 GS 21 H 10 ER) for their woes, while Roger Clemens was an untidy winner too.
In the same division, the YankeesRule2002 wrapped up their season with a comfortable defeat of the YRMbombers2002. It’s been an up-and-down season for the Rulers, who have claimed some impressive victories, but find themselves with a record slightly under .500 at the end of it. The rotation did almost all the work for them, with Buehlre, Ishii, and Penny all dominant, while the batters exhibited less exertion. The Bombers found good starts from Cory Lidle and Jason Jennings, but Matt Clement and Antonio Alfonseca struggled, and the hitters couldn’t fill the gap in points. One last chance for the Bombers to go out on a high note, as West Haven represent their final match.
Finally, the DiMaggio Division saw the Wolverines pull still further away from the back, with a steamroller effort over the Gloves. The Michigan 1-2-3 starters all excelled, with run support from Jeff Kent and Albert Pujols. The Gloves are faltering after a strong mid-season, and need more hitting from superstars Mike Piazza and Ken Griffey, Jr. than they received. The Buckeye Bombers finished off the Italian Ice’s season, finding enough to make the Ice’s decent week all for nought. Jim Thome and Jose Valentin both went deep thrice, with a two-hitter from Joe Mays the fulcrum of a powerful rotation. The Ice closed out their year on a high, ending with their highest score of all, but sadly Mo Vaughn, Kenny Lofton, and James Baldwin handicapped their efforts to find a third win.
Fixtures - Week 21 Aug. 18th:
West Haven Yankees v YRMbombers2002
Lords of Flatbush v Cunning Linguists
German Gold Gloves v Buckeye Bombers
Junior’s Bashers v Michigan Wolverines
Saxmania’s Swingers v Bad News Bears
FP Balloon Knots v Bambino’s Ghost
Notes
Okay. Here’s the deal.
If the Bears win and the Ghosts lose next week, then the Bears win the pennant. If the Ghosts win and the Bears lose, then the Ghosts win the pennant. If both of them win, there’ll be a playoff between the two next week for the pennant. If both of them lose, there’ll be a five-way, I said FIVE-WAY tie for the pennant, and we’ll have to have a five-team playoff.
Oh, and if the Linguists beat the Lords next week, there'll be a one-game playoff in that division to find out who won the pennant, and who got the Wild Card.
Man, I’m beginning to like this job.
Be seeing you,
Saxmania