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?

We have another tie at the top of the BaseballGB fantasy league, but which two teams are leading the way? 

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	R	HR	RBI	SB	AVG	OPS	W	SV	K	HLD	ERA	WHIP	Score
Weston-Super-Sox	21	8	22	3	0.219	0.663	4	3	36	1	4.13	1.38	6
Beck ‘Nams (GB)	23	5	21	10	0.285	0.737	2	2	54	2	5.18	1.57	6

We begin with a matchup between last week’s leader, JJ’s Beck ‘Nams, and the Sox, who have been in good form for a while. The two teams could not be separated, as the Sox had better pitching but were out-hit by Beck ‘Nams. Carlos Gonzalez had a four-homer week for the Sox but hit for a low average, while Rafael Soriano, Wolf and Floyd were the pick of the pitchers. Pujols and Podsednik were Beck ‘Nams best hitters, with Verlander, Arroyo and Johnson’s good work undone by some rough weeks elsewhere on the staff.

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	R	HR	RBI	SB	AVG	OPS	W	SV	K	HLD	ERA	WHIP	Score
The Wright Stuff	27	4	20	3	0.306	0.807	5	5	66	1	1.7	1	7
Orpington Isotopes	30	6	30	2	0.301	0.847	1	5	64	0	2.84	1.23	4

The Stuff took advantage of a tie for JJ, moving into joint top spot by defeating my Isotopes 7-4. My hitters won four out of six categories thanks to Cabrera and Prado, but the Stuff’s pitching staff took five out of six categories thanks to the newly acquired Hanson (beating me in the waiver queue!), Latos and the hard-throwing lefties Kuo and Wagner. Aside from a lack of wins, my pitching stats weren’t too bad, but if the Stuff’s ERA and WHIP are going to be this stingy every week JJ has a tough battle to stay at the top.

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	R	HR	RBI	SB	AVG	OPS	W	SV	K	HLD	ERA	WHIP	Score
The Cheddar Chasers	19	4	11	3	0.231	0.639	2	7	33	0	7.36	1.45	1
Boston Rogue Waves	34	11	39	3	0.281	0.844	4	4	46	0	4.47	1.25	9

The Waves marked the 4th of July with some of their own fireworks, picking up a 9-1 win against the Chasers. Hanley, Hunter, Huff and Votto provided plenty of power with Felix, Lester, Bell and Papelbon leading the pitching staff. Prince Fielder and a five-save week for Dotel were the highlights of the Chasers’ week.

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	R	HR	RBI	SB	AVG	OPS	W	SV	K	HLD	ERA	WHIP	Score
Bonestalkers	25	3	22	3	0.259	0.688	2	1	31	2	2.7	1.03	1
SWAT*	31	6	27	3	0.282	0.733	4	5	19	2	2.19	0.93	9

SWAT needed to pick up a big win to stay in the hunt for the playoffs, and got just that with a 9-1 victory against Bonestalkers. Rolen, Sean Rodriguez and Erick Aybar were SWAT’s leading hitters, while Soria and Capps were stars out of the bullpen. Bay and Longoria were Bonestalkers’ best hitters, and they had some great pitching from Wells and Richard.

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	R	HR	RBI	SB	AVG	OPS	W	SV	K	HLD	ERA	WHIP	Score
Iron Men	27	6	38	4	0.258	0.707	5	3	49	1	3.19	1.33	6
Grip it n Rip It	27	7	22	3	0.276	0.82	2	4	20	1	4.15	1.38	4

Iron Men picked up a 6-4 win against Rip It thanks to the pitching staff, which won four categories. Wainwright was the star pitcher, while Vlad had some big games against the Angels earlier in the week. The red-hot Furcal, Baker and Bailey were Rip It’s top performers.

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	R	HR	RBI	SB	AVG	OPS	W	SV	K	HLD	ERA	WHIP	Score
stevenston angels	24	2	23	2	0.217	0.616	3	3	54	0	3.74	1.26	4
Pretzel Vendors	26	6	28	4	0.244	0.718	3	1	39	0	4.76	1.51	6

The Vendors got the better of the Angels 6-4 by sweeping the offensive categories. Morneau and Bourn led the way, although the Vendors will have to use the DL with Choo expected to be out for a few months. Nolasco and Lackey led the Angels’ pitching staff.

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	R	HR	RBI	SB	AVG	OPS	W	SV	K	HLD	ERA	WHIP	Score
Borders Bats	23	5	21	4	0.277	0.763	1	3	20	0	1.21	0.99	5
New Spaniards	32	8	20	5	0.244	0.78	1	2	22	2	4.6	1.36	6

We end with the basement battle, as the Spaniards edged past the Bats 6-5, taking four offensive categories thanks to Coghlan, Gardner and Swisher. Torres, Kemp and Weaver were the Bats’ top players, although they are left with injured players Victor Martinez and Ludwick in their starting lineup. Time to use the DL.

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Rounding things up

As mentioned, Beck ‘Nams and the Stuff are tied at the top, 4.5 games ahead of the Chasers, with Iron Men just half a game further back. The Sox are in fifth, ahead of the Vendors, while that big win for the Waves sees them overatke my slumping Isotopes. Rip It have SWAT closing in on them. The Angels drop to 11th, just ahead of the Spaniards who overtake Bonestalkers. The Bats are still at the cellar.

This week’s fixtures:

Beck ‘Nams v Spaniards
Stuff v Waves
Chasers v Rip It
Iron Men v Vendors
Sox v Bonestalkers
Isotopes v Bats
SWAT v Angels

Just a reminder that the 20 inning minimum limit will not be in effect during the week beginning July 12 due to the All Star Game affecting the usual MLB schedule. But if you bench all of your pitchers you won’t win any pitching categories! The usual 20 inning minimum will come back for the week beginning July 19.