Welcome to our weekly round-up of the BaseballGB Fantasy League competition.  This is a mixed Head-2-Head league involving BGB writers and readers. 

There are fourteen teams who pair up in different combinations each week, making for seven match-ups in any given week. The teams battle over twelve statistical categories, gaining one point for each category they win.  All the points are carried over into the season league table at the end of the weekly match-ups. The top six teams with the most points at the end of the fantasy season will go on to the playoffs during the last three weeks of September. 

SWAT were the victors in the inaugural BGB Fantasy League last year.  Will they retain their title in 2010, or will a new champion emerge?

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The race for the lead in the BaseballGB fantasy league is really heating up. JJ was leading the way, but how have last week’s matchups affected the standings?  
 
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Â	R	HR	RBI	SB	AVG	OPS	W	SV	K	HLD	ERA	WHIP	Score
The Wright Stuff	34	11	41	3	0.260	0.780	4	3	44	0	3.09	1.14	8
Beck ‘Nams (GB)	26	2	21	9	0.289	0.768	2	2	44	3	3.27	1.18	3

 
Leaders Beck ‘Nams were handed an 8-3 defeat by the Stuff after a “Sunday collapse” in JJ’s words. New boy Dunn teamed up with Wright and Carlos Lee to provide the offense while Hamels and Slowey led the pitching staff. Peavy added a win, so the Stuff have to be happy with the trade made last week. Theriot, Rivera and Konerko gave JJ some offense, but despite Carpenter’s excellent week the only pitching category won was holds thanks to Fernando Rodney.

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Â	R	HR	RBI	SB	AVG	OPS	W	SV	K	HLD	ERA	WHIP	Score
Iron Men	39	9	33	2	0.288	0.801	5	5	40	0	3.86	1.55	6
New Spaniards	36	7	35	4	0.301	0.884	3	0	22	2	5.97	1.36	6

 
Iron Men couldn’t fully cash in on a tough week for Beck ‘Nams, but closed in after a 6-6 tie with the Spaniards. The pitching staff of Liriano, Axford and Wilson helped Iron Men take four categories, while the Spaniards had plenty of offense from Cano, Coghlan and Gardner.

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Â	R	HR	RBI	SB	AVG	OPS	W	SV	K	HLD	ERA	WHIP	Score
Pretzel Vendors	23	2	21	2	0.233	0.658	6	3	65	0	3.34	1.20	2
SWAT*	26	5	28	3	0.268	0.751	1	4	36	0	2.73	1.12	9

 
SWAT are on a charge as last year’s champions picked up a 9-2 win over the Vendors thanks to a clean sweep of offensive categories. Zimmerman and Markakis were SWAT’s top hitters whilke Gallardo and Kershaw formed a very strong 1-2 punch at the top of the rotation. Uribe, Hinske and Choo were the top hitters for the Vendors, who otherwise struggled with the bats, but at least they had outstanding pitching from Lilly and some guy called Strasburg.

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Â	R	HR	RBI	SB	AVG	OPS	W	SV	K	HLD	ERA	WHIP	Score
The Cheddar Chasers	29	10	19	6	0.294	0.876	4	1	46	4	5.55	1.60	8
Borders Bats	26	4	19	3	0.228	0.670	2	4	30	0	4.14	1.35	3

 
Matt’s Chasers hit their way to an 8-3 win over the Bats, with Reyes and Adrian Gonzalez providing a lot of offense, while Kazmir had a two-win week. The Bats’ bullpen was strong while Cliff Lee put up more strong numbers.

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Â	R	HR	RBI	SB	AVG	OPS	W	SV	K	HLD	ERA	WHIP	Score
stevenston angels	38	5	27	5	0.338	0.902	1	1	30	0	5.02	1.41	5
Orpington Isotopes	32	10	25	4	0.259	0.816	6	4	57	0	3.07	1.17	6

 
My Isotopes just got the better of the Angels – the only win over a team of that name a Dodger fan could enjoy this week! New boy Reynolds had a great first week, but despite his efforts and help from Prado and Soto, the Angels took five out of six offensive categories thanks to Michael Young, BJ Upton and Teixeira. My pitchers had a strong week, led by Haren, Niemann, Cain and Oswalt, taking five out of six categories.

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Â	R	HR	RBI	SB	AVG	OPS	W	SV	K	HLD	ERA	WHIP	Score
Bonestalkers	29	3	23	4	0.288	0.806	2	5	36	3	2.92	1.24	5
Boston Rogue Waves	27	6	27	6	0.246	0.750	4	2	51	3	4.14	1.18	6

 
The Waves edged past Bonestalkers 6-5, sharing the offensive categories but nicking the pitching categories 3-2. Hanely, Kelly Johnson and Hunter were the Waves’ top hitters, while Colby Lewis was the star pitcher. Longoria, Scutaro, DeJesus and Matsui all had good weeks for Bonestalkers, with Richard and the bullpen putting up strong saves and ERA stats.

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Â	R	HR	RBI	SB	AVG	OPS	W	SV	K	HLD	ERA	WHIP	Score
Weston-Super-Sox	31	7	31	4	0.276	0.794	3	1	70	0	3.79	1.33	5
Grip it n Rip It	29	8	31	6	0.318	0.924	1	1	15	0	4.57	1.43	4

 
Last, but not least, is a win for the Sox who edged past Rip it 5-4. The Sox took just one offensive category with Beltre the top hitter, but it was the pitching staff which really made the difference. Led by Grienke and Floyd the Sox pitching staff took four out of six categories, racking up a very impressive 70 strikeouts on the way. Rip It had fantastic weeks from Hamilton and Phillips.

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Rounding things up
 
The results mean we have a tie at the top, with Beck ‘Nams and Iron Men on identical records. Matt’s Chasers are just two games back, overtaking my Isotopes, with the Stuff and Sox just half a game further back.
 
There is now a five game gap to 7th and 8th, where the Waves and Rip It are level, with the Vendors, Spaniards and SWAT close behind. The Angels and Bonestalkers are tied at 13 games back, with the Bats at the foot of the standings.
 
The fixtures see Iron Men take on my Isotopes, while Beck ‘Nams face SWAT, the Chasers are against the Spaniards and the Stuff taking on the Bats. The Sox play the Vendors, the Waves face the Angels and Bonestalkers are pitted against Rip It.