AL Season, Lou Marson Make Debut

That’s right, the AL Season is officially underway friends. Torto and I took advantage of the beautiful day, mild buzzes, and some post-draft adrenaline and played the first series of the AL season Sunday afternoon. Here’s the report:

Game 1: Guthrie @ Verlander

This game played out like we forgot the AL had started. Pedroia struck first for Keith in the bottom of the 1st with a solo homerun. The run was answered in the top of the 3rd by the hard-hitting Adrian Beltre. Beyond that, we had ourselves a fast-moving, well-pitched game, finally decided by a 2-run Elvis Andrus bases-clearing double off Verlander in the top of the 9th.

Torto Wins 3-1

Game 2: Pinero @ Lester

This was more what we were looking for – a good old-fashioned AL runfest. Torto managed five runs, highlighted by Beltre’s second HR of the year, a two-run job by Paully Konerko and a flurry of thieving baserunners (Pierre 2, Andrus, Granderson). It was not enough to offset the game by #1 overall pick Josh “The Hammer” Hamilton, however, who finished with four RBI’s and fell a double short of the cycle.

Keith Wins 8-5

Game 3: Vargas @ Carmona

Another tight game started well for Torto with Hudson knocking in Barton following his two out triple in the top of the 2nd. Back-and-forth this one went, with Keith scoring a run in the bottom of the 4th, Torto answering back in the top of the 5th for a one-run lead, and Keith coming back with two more in the bottom of the 5th. It would stay that way until the top of the 9th, when Torto brought in pinch-hitter Manny Ramirez to face closer Andrew Bailey with two on. It was not to be, though, as Bailey escaped with his second save in the series.

Keith Wins 3-2

Take a Look at Your Gall Durn Texas Rangers!!

Arlington, TX - Whoo-hoo!! We got ourselves a hell of a team down here in Texas this year, boys. You like power? We got ourselves Josh Hamilton, All American badass and a bunch of other big-cocked boppers. Is it speed you like? We got ourselves a Jap that’s been slapping the Goddam ball around ballparks and causing havoc on the bases for prit-near 20 years. You want pitchers with attitude? That boy Verlander will plunk you in the back so hard your momma will feel it.

Take a look at our club this year, you panty-wearing Yankees. I guarantee, you come down here to Texas, you’re gonna know you’re in our house….

OF
Josh Hamilton
Ichiro
Corey Patterson
Delmon Young
Jeff Francour

C
Victor Martinez
Lou Marson

1b
Lance Berkman
Carlos Pena

2B
Dustin Pedroia
Adam Rosales

SS
JJ Hardy
Erick Aybar

3B
Danny Valencia

SP
Justin Verlander
Jon Lester
Fausto Carmona
Max Scherzer
Phil Hughes

Bullpen
Andrew Bailey
Jason Frasor
David Robertson
Alexi Ogando
Matt Capps
Robinson Tejada

Minors
Joba
Dice-K
Johnny Damon
Jeff Mathis

2010 NL Season - Playoff update, Car-Go MVP rebuttle, etc.



Will Zimmerman get the call and be announced league MVP?

In all the excitement and hoopla surrounding the now completed 2010 AL draft, some NL regular season stuff got accomplished as well.  Spence whipped Goldy 3-0 (see his post below).  But before that, Goldy gave Carlo's limping team a kick down the stairs as well, taking all 3 at the Crowne Plaza hotel bar.

What does that mean for playoffs?  It means Fish, Torto, and Spence are IN as the #1, 2, and 3 seeds respectively.  It also means that Mario still has an outside shot at getting in as the #4 seed over Nick.  Mar has 14 wins and 9 games left.  That means he needs to win 7 of his last 9 to get in.  With 6 remaining against Carlo, and 3 vs. Spence - it is still in the realm of possibility.

Now on to more important matters, namely the ridiculous plug of Carlos Gonzalez as the NL season MVP.  It's nice that Nick is excited about his players, and Car-Go is a dynamic athlete to be sure, but the true MVP crown is probably best handed to my Marlin's own, Ryan Zimmerman.  A stellar defender, Zimmerman finished the regular season 1/1000th of a point behind Car-Go in BA, but has more HRs (8) and leads the league in RBI (39).  All that on a highly competitive team, that finished only a game out of first in the regular season.  Case closed.

***FYI*** Spencer currently has Carlo's cards, and the current rotation is 2-3-4 (Kershaw-Arroyo-Dempster)for the next series, and 5-1-2 for the final (Nolasco-Lincecum-Kershaw).***

Rockwell in Playoffs, Sweeps Goldy.

(Goldy's playoff chances ended in a harsh way last night)

Some post AL draft PTP went down between Goldy and myself, with playoff impications at stake. Here is the skinny:

Spencer sweeps Goldy 3-0

Game 1 (2-0) W-Jaime Garcia, L - Cole Hamels, S - Heath Bell HR - Rolen

Game 2 (8-3) W - Derek Lowe, L - Hernandez HR - Ryan Braun, Rick Weeks, Brian McCann

Game 3 ( 5-1) W - Josh Johnson, L - Jonathon Sanchez HR - Ryan Howard (Grand Slam)

SPENCER NOW SECURES THE 3rd SEED in the Playoffs.

YOUKILIS, A-ROD, LEE HIGHLIGHT 2011 SCARLET STOCKINGS

(A sign of things to come for opposing pitchers from Captain Kevin Youkilis.)

OREGON, WI - Being five years removed from his only World Series Championship, Scarlet Stockings

General Manager Spencer Rockwell had a simple goal going into the 2011 AL PTP Fantasy Draft.

" Draft the best player available", Rockwell said early Sunday morning as he shoved a McDonalds Bacon Egg & Cheese Bagel into his mouth.

"I can't control who drafts whom, and now we have Fish auto-drafting for Mario, that's another monkey wrench in the mix", he added. I will draft the best players available that meet our team's needs in that particular round." " If a sick closers card is available early, I may reach for him", he chimed in, referring to reliver Joaquin Benoit.

Rockwell had prided himself for years a superb defensive drafter and by the sound of it, defense is once again the main priority. "Of course we will empasize defense with the AL players.", he quirped. "Defense is down across the board defensively in the AL, this makes having a solid defense behind our staff that much more important.

2011 SCRANTON WILKES-BARRE SCARLET STOCKINGS

C-Alex Avila

C-Benji Molina

1B - Mark Texiera

2B - Brian "Bip" Roberts

SS - Yunel Escobar

SS - Derek Jeter

3B - An A-Bomb for A-Rod

OF - Austin Jackson

OF - Nick Markakis

OF - Adam Jones

DH - Kevin Youkilis

OF - BJ Upton

UTIL - Nicky Punto

SP - Clifford Lee

SP - Clayford Buchholz

SP - Matthew Garza

SP - Daniel Haren

SP - Jeffery Neiman

SP - Edwin Jackson

SP - Brett Cecil

RP - Matt Guerrier

RP - Scott Downs

RP - Jason Berkken

RP - Christoph Perez

RP - Joaquin Benoit

FATTY FATTY 2x4!!!

(Does this Picture hit close to home Torto?!?!) Just kidding. No forearm shivers at the Mokeski or Gravy Bowl, please....)

As I have only six games left to play I will update you on some stats fellas. Keep in mind I am still have to input a few series, so these stats are through 30 games only.

AVE

Andres Torres .362 (37-102)

I-ROD .339 (21-62)

J-Bruce .320 (32-100)

HR

Scott Rolen (5)

J-Bruce (5)

RBI

J-Bruce (21)

Jew Braun (17)

Ry. Howard (17)

Scott Rolen (17)

SB

Andres Torres (8)

Humberto Quintero (1) on a Strikeout Hit & Run!

Wins

Brett Meyers (6-0)

Saves

Heath Bell (10)

ERA

Josh Johnson (3.57)

Brett Meyers (3.97)

SO

Josh Johnson (52) in 45.1 IP

Team Batting AVE .276 (251-911)

Team ERA (3.79) in 233 IP (98 ER)

Starter ERA (4.52) in 175.1 IP

Bullpen ERA ( 1.71) in 57.2 IP

Tidbits

* John Venters in striking out hitters at a 16.6k/9IP rate (24K in 13IP)

*Three pitchers have sub 1.00 ERAs. Heath Bell (0.79), 11.1 IP, Tim Stauffer (0.55) 16.1IP, Tak Saito (0.81) 11IP

*Spencer's catchers are batting .340 (34-100) on the year. HUMBERTO QUINTERO!!!!!!!!

See three of you in the playoffs.

Ladies and Gentlemen: I present your 2011 NL PTP MVP

CARGO! CARGO! CARGO!

So, I wrapped up my 2011 PTP Season over the weekend and despite being under .500, I am likely the fourth seed in the playoffs. Here are some stat updates for you, including Carlos Gonzalez' record-setting numbers.

AVG:
C. Gonzalez, .365 (in 178 abs)
Omar Infante, .320 (in 147 abs)
Logan Morrision, .305 (in 118 abs)

HR:
Prince Fielder, 8 (Prinsky Platoon had 14 hrs)
Hinske, 6 (in only 31 ABS!)
D.Wright, 6

RBI:
Ethier, 32
Wright, 30
Prince, 27

SB:
Cargo, 5

ERA:
Ian Kennedy, 3.92
Tommy Hanson, 4.20

WINS:
Padilla, 5

K's:
Strassy, 61
Oswalt, 55
T. Hanson, 49
Padilla, 49

SAVES:
Luke Gregerson, 7
Strassy, 3

NL Season Playoff Picture - Part Deux (and draft order update)

Standings are updated, and presumed correct unless someone tells me otherwise.  Since Sunday, we have firmly established 2 playoff seeds, with 2 more to come.

By going 5 and 1 yesterday, Fish earned yet another regular season title, edging my Marlins out by 1 game.  I blame Carlo's inept team.  And so is our established #1 seed for the playoffs.  Congrats to you sir!  That also locks me in as the firm #2 seed, as Spencer cannot reach my 28 wins, and I have the tiebreak against him. 

Spence is in control of his own destiny, and needs to win just 2 games to formally clinch a playoff spot.  Nick finished his season strong, and just needs Mario and Carlo to lose 3 of their remaining 9 games to clinch. 

So if things remain as they are right now, the draft order would be as follows (with picks 6 and 7 locked in place):

1. Keith
2. Goldy
3. Mario
4. Nick
5. Spencer
6. Torto
7. Fish

***Stat Leaderboard update needed***
My current best stats are up now on the board.  I've changed the minimum IP and ABs required to qualify to reflect where we are in the season, so some of your guys you haven't updated in a while have dropped off.  Get me your up to date qualifiers, and when the season is over we'll have a vote for Season MVP and Cy Young.

NL Season Playoff Picture - Clarity thru W-L tracking

Another playoff team clinched this week, with Fish taking 5 of 6 from Spencer on Monday.  Because the 4 teams most closely trailing 1st and 2nd place all have games against each other, only 2 of the 4 can potentially get enough total wins to get to 24 wins where Fish currently sits.  SO - that appears to lock up a spot for Fish's squad, and he has a solid chance to take the 1-seed if he can win 4 of his last 6 games.

Carlo, Mar, Spence, Nick and even Ben all have a chance to get in on those last 2 playoff slots, but it could be very tight down the stretch, given that many games remaining are between these teams.  Tiebreakers could become key, which if I recall go first to overall H2H record, and if a 3-3 tie there, total runs in the series.  So hang on to those scoresheets, since not all the series have been documented on the site here.

Ready to Play out the String

Fellas, as we reach the home stretch of the 2010 NL season, it looks like the Goldy Padres are not going to make the playoffs. However, I do have 6 games left against Spencer, and 3 against Carlo, Nick, and Fish. For the rest of June work has slowed to a normal pace and I now have my nights and weekends free. I would love to knock out these games before the AL draft. Let me know when and where you guys would like to play. I have softball on Tuesdays and Thursdays, but am pretty clear outside of that. Good day gentlemen.