Week 16 Re-Hashed

By: Smokin' Joe Chasek

What do you get when you combine 4 extra days of games, 7 more transactions per team, 2 draws and one controversial trade?  Week 16, of course!

TEAM		BATTERS							PITCHERS							TOTAL
NAME		R	HR	RBI	SB	OBP	SLG		IP	QS	SV	ERA	WHIP	K/9		SCORE
Fightin' Vizquels (78-108-6)		43	5	34	9	.3248	.3273		74.0	7	6	3.770	1.351	7.054		0-12-0
Bowling Overhand (124-55-13)		70	13	63	11	.3379	.4264		111.0	10	8	2.351	0.955	9.730		12-0

Is this the team Bowling Overhand is trying to assemble?

So, apparently there was a trade between Bowling Overhand and the Deathvalley Demons last week and it caused some controversy or something.  In the meantime, both teams were in action on the field as well as off it.  In a rematch of Week 7, the Bowlers took on the Fightin’ Vizquels.  Unfortunately for the Vizquels, the rematch was even more lopsided than the original encounter.  Most of the categories got out of hand early on, but it looked as if steals and on-base percentage might be ripe for the taking until late surges decided those categories as well.  While Bowling Overhand continues to march toward the postseason, the Vizquels’ hopes look to be all but dashed.  It might take a miracle for them to get back into the race, but for the time being, they’re still alive.

MVP:  Felix Hernandez (2 GS, 2 QS, 14 IP, 0.64 ERA, 0.79 WHIP, 12.21 K/9).  King Felix’s unreal run continues, as he’s now managed to string together 13 consecutive starts with at least 7 IP and 2 ER or less.

LVP: Matt Garza/Jake Peavy (4 GS 20.2 IP, 6.10 ERA, 1.40 WHIP, 7.40 K/9).  It’s hard to fault any one position player for their performance, as most of them were just unimpressive as opposed to actually being bad.  These two pitchers, however, ended up really costing their team by turning in one stinker apiece and taking away the Vizquels’ chance to be competitive in any of the pitching categories.

TEAM		BATTERS							PITCHERS							TOTAL
NAME		R	HR	RBI	SB	OBP	SLG		IP	QS	SV	ERA	WHIP	K/9		SCORE
Royal Rooters (59-123-10)		48	7	33	7	.3495	.4503		61.2	1	7	4.816	1.297	8.903		3-8-1
Cleveland Wahoos (89-94-9)		54	12	60	8	.3044	.3987		98.2	8	7	2.736	1.166	8.757		8-3-1

Nick Swisher is really excited at the prospect of joining the Wahoos!

In the week’s second matchup, the Royal Rooters met the Cleveland Wahoos, both hoping to right the ship after some recent struggles.  The Rooters managed to keep a number of categories close, particularly steals, saves, WHIP and K/9, but in the end, the best they could manage in any of them was a tie in saves.  While it seems clear where the Rooters go from here, the Wahoos’ fortunes are still very much in doubt.  Despite being 5 games under .500, they find themselves with a realistic shot to make the postseason.  With a little luck, continued health, and more weeks like this one, the teams currently in playoff position could soon be seeing the boys from Cleveland in their rear-view mirrors.

MVP: Madison Bumgarner (2 GS, 14 IP, 2 QS, 0.64 ERA, 0.79 WHIP, 8.39 K/9).  The Giants’ ace continued his strong 2014 campaign, putting up a line that rivaled any of the top hurlers.

LVP: Cliff Lee (2 GS, 10.2 IP, 0 QS, 7.59 ERA, 2.25 WHIP, 5.91 K/9).  A tough week for the one-time AL Cy Young award winner coming off a DL stint for a sore elbow, hopefully the former ace can find his footing down the backstretch.

TEAM		BATTERS							PITCHERS							TOTAL
NAME		R	HR	RBI	SB	OBP	SLG		IP	QS	SV	ERA	WHIP	K/9		SCORE
The Evil Empire (73-108-11)		62	19	64	6	.3200	.4412		87.1	6	11	2.679	1.214	8.141		6-6-0
Team No Idea (85-97-10)		74	17	69	9	.3346	.4451		82.0	3	7	6.256	1.561	9.329		6-6-0

This is what it looks like when teams tie because they both bring it across the board…

The first of two epic matchups for the week saw the Evil Empire take on Team No Idea.  While both teams had a week that would have beaten or at least strongly challenged most of the rest of the league, the result of this slugfest wasn’t what either team was looking for, as the game ended up in a tie.  Looking at each team’s recent results, I suppose maybe we should have seen the end result coming, as each team has essentially been treading water (or maybe slightly worse) for weeks now.  Unfortunately, each team finds itself near the bottom of the standings, likely left to position themselves for the consolation roto.

MVP: Bonus MVP alert!  One for each team due to my indecision (and the fact that outside of ERA this was really a competitive matchup).

Empire: Rick Porcello (2 GS, 14 IP, 2 QS, 1.93 ERA, 0.71 WHIP, 7.07 K/9).  Porcello just keeps rolling along, providing piles of quality innings (and starts), and anchoring a staff that kind of straddles the line between the Bowling Overhand and Danger Zone strategies.

No Idea: Austin Jackson (.408 OBP, .587 SLG, 8 R, 1 HR, 8 RBI, 1 SB).  No one was a better poster boy for No Idea’s offensive blitz than Jackson, who provided quality numbers in every single offensive category.

LVP: Mark Buehrle (2 GS, 9 IP, 0 QS, 11.00 ERA, 2.33 WHIP, 7.00 K/9).  Buehrle’s week was, however, emblematic of the No Idea pitching effort this week, as just one quality start might have allowed them a chance to steal an additional pitching category and claim the victory.

TEAM		BATTERS							PITCHERS							TOTAL
NAME		R	HR	RBI	SB	OBP	SLG		IP	QS	SV	ERA	WHIP	K/9		SCORE
DL All Stars (98-86-8)		37	5	50	5	.3050	.3296		94.0	13	4	2.489	1.096	9.191		6-6-0
Deathvalley Demons (87-98-7)		50	12	42	8	.3333	.3808		79.0	5	7	4.443	1.241	8.658		6-6-0

… and this is what it looks like when the tie is because each team is failing at half their categories

The week’s second tie (but not its second epic matchup) involved the DL All Stars and the Deathvalley Demons.  In a matchup where one category would have made all the difference in the world, no category was really very competitive.  The All Stars must be hoping this is simply a speed bump along their road to the postseason after their recent strong showing. The Demons, however, have found less success in recent weeks and could have used a win here as a springboard to a possible playoff run.

MVP: Chris Sale (2 GS, 2 QS, 15 IP, 0.60 IP, 1.00 WHIP, 12.00 K/9) and Aaron Hill (.457 OBP, .677 SLG, 7 R, 1 HR, 4 RBI, 1 SB).  As in the previous matchup, these two players really exemplified their teams’ efforts.

LVP: Nathan Eovaldi (2 GS, 0 QS, 11 IP, 10.64 ERA, 1.64 WHIP, 5.73 K/9) and Casey Janssen (4.1 IP, 2 SV, 10.38 ERA, 2.08 WHIP, 4.15 K/9).  Probably the two players who cost their team the most, without the atrocious performances each turned in, the Demons might have been able to swing at least one (and maybe three) categories their way.

TEAM		BATTERS							PITCHERS							TOTAL
NAME		R	HR	RBI	SB	OBP	SLG		IP	QS	SV	ERA	WHIP	K/9		SCORE
Yakety Sax (117-67-8)		71	24	68	7	.3681	.5054		89.2	8	10	2.509	1.149	10.138		9-3-0
Danger Zone (107-81-4)		56	22	61	9	.2968	.4468		135.0	14	1	3.067	1.163	7.267		3-9-0

 

The American League Race (you’ll just have to imagine the music.)

Finally, perhaps the most important matchup of the week.  Danger Zone needed a strong performance to pad their lead in the playoff race and avoid losing too much ground to Bowling Overhand in the National League.  In the meantime, Yakety Sax found themselves with an opportunity to increase the distance between themselves and the DL All Stars.  Despite strong performances by both teams, only one could  go away satisfied, and Benny Hill’s favorite fantasy baseball team would be the one.  Danger Zone’s high-risk, high-reward pitching strategy, while still effective, failed to capture any categories beyond IP and QS, while what would have been an offensive avalanche in most matchups was buried behind what might have been a record performance by the Sackers (Elias hadn’t gotten back to the league offices yet with the research at press time).  For now, both teams’ prospects are bright, with Yakety Sax enjoying a healthy lead in the American League and Danger Zone still firmly holding on to the first wildcard spot.

MVP: Carlos Santana (.529 OBP, .951 SLG, 9 R, 6 HR, 13 RBI, 1 SB).  THIS is the Carlos Santana the baseball world has been waiting on all season.  Just a monster week, one that should probably worry the hell out of the rest of the league.

LVP: J.D. Martinez (.179 OBP, .185 SLG, 1 R, 0 HR, 1 RBI).  On the other hand, one has to wonder if this is the real J.D. Martinez.  Not a good way to follow the blazing month and a half that followed his insertion to the starting lineup.

Standings

Standings

American League
1.	Yakety Sax		117-67-8
2.	DL All Stars		98-86-8
3.	Fightin' Vizquels		78-108-6
4.	The Evil Empire		73-108-11
5.	Royal Rooters		59-123-10
National League
1.	Bowling Overhand		124-55-13
2.	Danger Zone		107-81-4
3.	Cleveland Wahoos		89-94-9
4.	Deathvalley Demons		87-98-7
5.	Team No Idea		85-97-10

It's coming down to it now for teams to find a way into the post-season. The Wahoos are the only contenders that moved int he right direction this week, and were helped out by some less-than impressive performances from Danger Zone and the DLA. 9 games in the few remaining weeks is probably a big ask, but not completely out of the realm of possibility.

Trophies

Kind of an auspicious week for trophies, with four gold sombreros and one of the rare platinum hats being handed out and relatively few stand-out performances besides Kershaw's Walter Johnson (which are almost becoming ho-hum at this point.) 

Tiger Blood: Bowling Overhand
The Sandman: Kenley Jansen, Zach Britton, Craig Kimbrel, Joe Nathan, Jake McGee
El Sombrero de Oro: Giancarlo Stanton, Adeiny Hechavarria, Danny Santana, Chris Carter
Chicago Colts: Bowling Overhand
Louisville Colonels: Fightin' Vizquels
Walter Johnson: Clayton Kershaw
Gehrig: Brandon Moss
El Sombrero de Platino: Carlos Gonzalez, 

Poll of the Week:

Poll of the Week #13: Don't call it a comeback edition
We're into the final stretch before the playoffs. Which of the teams currently outside of the top four do you think has the best chance of making the cut? 

0%
Fightin' Vizquels? (0 votes)

 33%
Cleveland Wahoos? (2 votes)

 67%
Deathvalley Demons?* (4 votes)

0%
No Idea? (0 votes)

0%
Those two losers from Blacksburg? (0 votes)

You voted on Jul 16
Total Votes: 6  (One per Owner)