Which teams in the BaseballGB Fantasy League were able to squeeze the last few bits of production from players now sitting out the rest of the season in the aftermath of the Biogenesis scandal? Read on to find out.
|
R |
HR |
RBI |
SB |
AVG |
OPS |
W |
SV |
K |
HLD |
ERA |
WHIP |
Score |
|
| Richie’s RBI’s | 18 | 2 | 17 | 3 | .233 | .589 | 0 | 2 | 16 | 3 | 6.66 | 1.60 | 2 |
| Norwich No II | 28 | 12 | 37 | 2 | .299 | .924 | 4 | 8 | 80 | 0 | 2.44 | 1.05 | 10 |
The second-placed Norwich No II had an impressive Week 17, winning their match-up against Richie’s RBI’s 10-2. The RBI’s were able to take one offensive category and one pitching category, with Daniel Murphy and Starling Marte combining to win stolen bases and Joel Peralta and Jose Veras securing Holds. Otherwise it was success all the way for No II. Their formidable pitching staff keeps on coming up with the goods, most notably of late in Jose Fernandez, Julio Teheran and Kenley Jansen. On offence, Chris Davis and Nelson Cruz both provided three homers apiece, although Cruz has now been dropped from the roster following his drug suspension.
|
R |
HR |
RBI |
SB |
AVG |
OPS |
W |
SV |
K |
HLD |
ERA |
WHIP |
Score |
|
| NE Riverkings | 33 | 7 | 29 | 1 | .211 | .623 | 3 | 2 | 43 | 0 | 3.12 | 1.10 | 5 |
| SWAT* | 30 | 5 | 26 | 2 | .257 | .694 | 3 | 6 | 39 | 1 | 3.12 | 1.21 | 5 |
Norwich were able to close within six games of the league-leading SWAT as they were held to a 5-5 draw by NE Riverkings. Jason Heyward amassed 12 runs and 7 RBI on the week for the Riverkings, whilst Atlanta Braves teammate Freddie Freeman contributed 2 homers, 9 runs and 8 RBI respectively. Jim Johnson, Mariano Rivera and Casey Janssen combined for six saves for SWAT and Paul Goldschmidt launched three longballs, whilst Everth Cabrera swiped his 37th and final stolen base of the season before beginning his 50-day suspension.
|
R |
HR |
RBI |
SB |
AVG |
OPS |
W |
SV |
K |
HLD |
ERA |
WHIP |
Score |
|
| The Cheddar Chasers | 32 | 4 | 26 | 4 | .302 | .878 | 4 | 2 | 64 | 0 | 2.67 | 1.14 | 5 |
| Orpington Isotopes | 40 | 8 | 36 | 5 | .308 | .871 | 3 | 6 | 41 | 1 | 3.59 | 1.27 | 7 |
In the BGB writers clash of the week, Mark George’s Isotopes got the better of my Chasers 7-5. Elvis Andrus and Andrew McCutchen provided the speed for the Isotopes, combining for five stole bases, and Mark Trumbo had a boom or bust week, going deep three times but collecting only two other hits all week. My Chasers were helped out by two impressive showings on Sunday from A.J. Burnett and Derek Holland, with the pair combing for 34 K’s over the week, but there wasn’t much else in the way of good news, particularly with Yadier Molina landing on the Disabled List and the rumours of a move for Alex Rios (and potential increase in runs and RBI) failing to materialize before the non-waiver deadline.
|
R |
HR |
RBI |
SB |
AVG |
OPS |
W |
SV |
K |
HLD |
ERA |
WHIP |
Score |
|
| Iron Men | 29 | 2 | 24 | 10 | .304 | .754 | 4 | 4 | 67 | 0 | 2.59 | 1.15 | 6 |
| Batteries Essential | 28 | 6 | 27 | 6 | .298 | .798 | 4 | 4 | 41 | 0 | 3.88 | 1.45 | 3 |
Iron Men captured a 6-3 win over Batteries Essential and the most eye-catching category was stolen bases, which Iron Men won by hitting double figures thanks to a combination of base thievery by Jose Altuve, Michael Bourn, Matt Holliday and Eric Hosmer. The Batteries got a couple of homers from Torii Hunter, but lost Mets David Wright and Bobby Parnell to the DL, joining Albert Pujols on the Batteries’ injured list. Lance Lynn, Madison Bumgarner and C.J. Wilson added 42 strike-outs and Max Scherzer won yet another game as the Iron Men took the match-up.
|
R |
HR |
RBI |
SB |
AVG |
OPS |
W |
SV |
K |
HLD |
ERA |
WHIP |
Score |
|
| Weston-Super-Sox | 17 | 4 | 17 | 1 | .189 | .530 | 6 | 1 | 53 | 0 | 3.00 | 1.24 | 4 |
| Cardiff Redsox | 26 | 4 | 18 | 3 | .210 | .631 | 4 | 2 | 32 | 0 | 3.96 | 1.34 | 6 |
Cardiff Red Sox dominated the offensive categories on their way to a 6-4 victory over Weston-Super-Sox. The Super-Sox were able to win a draw on the home run category, but the other five offensive marks all went Cardiff’s way with Home Run Derby winner Yoenis Cespedes having a strong week and Carlos Gomez endorsing the saying that speed never goes into a slump, swiping three stolen bases despite struggling at the plate. Weston made a game of it by winning four pitching categories, led by Ervin Santana’s two wins and Ian Kennedy getting a win on his debut for the San Diego Padres against his first MLB team, the New York Yankees.
|
R |
HR |
RBI |
SB |
AVG |
OPS |
W |
SV |
K |
HLD |
ERA |
WHIP |
Score |
|
| The Wright Stuff | 31 | 11 | 40 | 9 | .251 | .789 | 2 | 3 | 47 | 2 | 5.29 | 1.51 | 6 |
| Beck ‘Nams (GB) | 24 | 6 | 25 | 2 | .262 | .722 | 4 | 2 | 55 | 2 | 1.46 | 1.14 | 5 |
Finally, the Wright Stuff edged a close match-up against Beck’Nams 6-5. Much like the NE Riverkings, the Wright Stuff benefited from impressive weeks by two Atlanta Braves hitters, Brian McCann and Justin Upton in this case, while the team stole 10 bases with Ian Desmond leading the way with 4. Beck’Nams received three homers from Anthony Rizzo and a good week from Shane Victorino, but it was the pitching that rescued most of the points from the match-up. Francisco Liriano has proved to be an inspired pick-up in MLB by the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Beck’Nams can take credit too for snapping him up and receiving a good return.
Week 18 match-ups
The Wright Stuff (8th) v SWAT* (1st)
Batteries Essential (6th) v Norwich No II (2nd)
Orpington Isotopes (3rd) v Weston-Super-Sox (5th)
Iron Men (4th) v Cardiff Redsox (10th)
Richie’s RBI’s (12th) v Beck ‘Nams (7th)
Cheddar Chasers (11th) v NE Riverkings (9th)
