Maybe I should give up reporting anything for the AL as I am most generally wrong, but here we go anyways. I am late also with this, so maybe I have a better chance at getting it right.
#4 Toronto Blue Jays vs #1 Durham Bulls
Blue Jays steal game 1 but will it propel them to win the series? The odds makers say it won't, but this could be the upset special.
#6 Boston Red Sox vs #2 Syracuse Sycamores
Boston took game 1 in a heated division rivalry. Syracuse had time to rest and prepare. I really think Boston is the better team but Syracuse didn't get here by chance. I pick Boston however.
#5 Cincinnati Reds vs #1 Florida Marlins
Game 1 saw the Red Machine with from Marlins pitching and stadium, or was it the heat? The Reds are good but Ivan and the Marlins are much better.
#6 Texas Rangers vs #2 Pittsburgh Pirates
Rangers win game 1! Not sure the Pirates are good enough to hold up under the Texas attack even with the very sound pitching. First they must figure out how to beat the Texas tandems and that isn't an easy chore. Odds are with the Rangers in an upset.
Thursday, May 6, 2010
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
GM of the Season - AL
northerngaul - Toronto Blue Jays
AL North champs
12 win improvement
hatton98 - Syracuse Sycamores
AL East champs
8 win improvement
vegasbombers - Austin Fightin' Armadillos
Wild Card
10 win improvement
thomas36is - Helena Hot Pockets
AL West champs
10 win improvement
soxfan121 - Durham Bulls
AL South champs
AL North champs
12 win improvement
hatton98 - Syracuse Sycamores
AL East champs
8 win improvement
vegasbombers - Austin Fightin' Armadillos
Wild Card
10 win improvement
thomas36is - Helena Hot Pockets
AL West champs
10 win improvement
soxfan121 - Durham Bulls
AL South champs
GM of the Season - NL
chase39 - Pittsburgh Pirates
NL North champs
Same record as last season
erffdogg - Cincinnati Reds
Wild Card
24 win improvement
sdhizzle - Florida Marlins
NL West champs
10 win improvement
tahorn07 - Texas Rangers
Wild Card
14 win improvement
jsholmes - Salem Super Sequoias
15 win improvement
NL North champs
Same record as last season
erffdogg - Cincinnati Reds
Wild Card
24 win improvement
sdhizzle - Florida Marlins
NL West champs
10 win improvement
tahorn07 - Texas Rangers
Wild Card
14 win improvement
jsholmes - Salem Super Sequoias
15 win improvement
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
Wahoo Warrior Report
Losing out by 1 win that could have came from anywhere the final week was absolutely hard to swallow. But it happens all the time. The last three against Philly was even worse, a 1-0 shutout and two that went extra innings and fell short.
I had two teams in Cleveland and both lost a playoff spot on the last day of the season both by tie-breakers. The other team I couldn't win a division game at all (9-21) and my thoughts on that is utterly ludicrous with an 87 win team.
Comparing the two teams is relatively easy, they sort of look like night and day though. Both are very defensively sound, both have good pitching (the other world the pitching is much better IMO) but hitting is somewhat different. However, comparing the final stats, they are almost identical except in the SB department. If that is the case, then simmy (IMO) is set to make Cleveland a very difficult place to win no matter what and if it is close at the end, they will lose or make it as close as possible. I am dropping that team BTW because it can't be moved, it has won 268 games the last three seasons but has 1 title and playoff appearance to show for it.
Enough of the BS....Time for the real stuff
Since I had the best defense in the NL and second overall in fewest errors, the best plus/minus ratio at 123/4 (123 is a new record and the 4 ties a record) and the fewest unearned runs at 31. Teams didn't run well either as Black Bart snuck in to capture the GG at cather along with Gio in RF for his third straight GG. Defense was not the problem.
The pitching staff is actually rated third overall though the defense has a lot to do with that IMO. 20 blown saves may seem high, but only 12 actually resulted in losses.
The beginning of the season was rough because I couldn't get a lineup together that would work. Also I started the season 0-9 in 1-run games and 0-7 in extra inning games, the two were actually related as both were counted the same. After that we were 24-14 in 1-run games and 7-3 in extra inning affairs. Only one of the extra inning losses was not a 1-run game. Some of the extra inning games came one right after another at one point and demolished my pitching staff for a few games that didn't help either, a string of unhelpful losses. Losing Matt Pierce and Trace Wallace to the DL at the same time hurt also.
Did the trade of Roy Little and Johnny Zeile hurt or help the pitching staff? The answer to that could be tough. Little is a good pitcher, but late in the season had a history of fading. Zeile was not a pitcher that could do well in Cleveland. Cy Bruske and Mickey Frazier strengthened a weak pen. My thoughts are that I waited too long to trade for Zachrey Jerzembeck. I should have traded for him the moment that Pierce went down with his injury. Of course I didn't expect Wallace to go down soon after that. Even then I hee-hawed around it too long. Actually I was looking at another player and couldn't decide whether or not they would go for a trade. I really wanted a vet, so Zachrey was the answer, that one really didn't pan out so well but didn't hurt as I was hoping he would hit lefties better.
The roster is pretty much set for next season and will be much better if we have a good rollover and spring. The off-season will probably see us looking for a starting pitcher and maybe more help for the pen. Either, neither or both will come via FA. We have one player we are looking to trade for, whether that will happen or not is a big question mark.
Moving to another city is definitely high on the list. However, there is only one city actually available at the moment and I will have the time to think about it some more. It is also a very shunned place but, I call dibs on Baltimore!!!! The defense and offense can get around the park factors I think, just not sure about the pitching. Maybe the off-season will open a different avenue on a new city.
I had two teams in Cleveland and both lost a playoff spot on the last day of the season both by tie-breakers. The other team I couldn't win a division game at all (9-21) and my thoughts on that is utterly ludicrous with an 87 win team.
Comparing the two teams is relatively easy, they sort of look like night and day though. Both are very defensively sound, both have good pitching (the other world the pitching is much better IMO) but hitting is somewhat different. However, comparing the final stats, they are almost identical except in the SB department. If that is the case, then simmy (IMO) is set to make Cleveland a very difficult place to win no matter what and if it is close at the end, they will lose or make it as close as possible. I am dropping that team BTW because it can't be moved, it has won 268 games the last three seasons but has 1 title and playoff appearance to show for it.
Enough of the BS....Time for the real stuff
Since I had the best defense in the NL and second overall in fewest errors, the best plus/minus ratio at 123/4 (123 is a new record and the 4 ties a record) and the fewest unearned runs at 31. Teams didn't run well either as Black Bart snuck in to capture the GG at cather along with Gio in RF for his third straight GG. Defense was not the problem.
The pitching staff is actually rated third overall though the defense has a lot to do with that IMO. 20 blown saves may seem high, but only 12 actually resulted in losses.
The beginning of the season was rough because I couldn't get a lineup together that would work. Also I started the season 0-9 in 1-run games and 0-7 in extra inning games, the two were actually related as both were counted the same. After that we were 24-14 in 1-run games and 7-3 in extra inning affairs. Only one of the extra inning losses was not a 1-run game. Some of the extra inning games came one right after another at one point and demolished my pitching staff for a few games that didn't help either, a string of unhelpful losses. Losing Matt Pierce and Trace Wallace to the DL at the same time hurt also.
Did the trade of Roy Little and Johnny Zeile hurt or help the pitching staff? The answer to that could be tough. Little is a good pitcher, but late in the season had a history of fading. Zeile was not a pitcher that could do well in Cleveland. Cy Bruske and Mickey Frazier strengthened a weak pen. My thoughts are that I waited too long to trade for Zachrey Jerzembeck. I should have traded for him the moment that Pierce went down with his injury. Of course I didn't expect Wallace to go down soon after that. Even then I hee-hawed around it too long. Actually I was looking at another player and couldn't decide whether or not they would go for a trade. I really wanted a vet, so Zachrey was the answer, that one really didn't pan out so well but didn't hurt as I was hoping he would hit lefties better.
The roster is pretty much set for next season and will be much better if we have a good rollover and spring. The off-season will probably see us looking for a starting pitcher and maybe more help for the pen. Either, neither or both will come via FA. We have one player we are looking to trade for, whether that will happen or not is a big question mark.
Moving to another city is definitely high on the list. However, there is only one city actually available at the moment and I will have the time to think about it some more. It is also a very shunned place but, I call dibs on Baltimore!!!! The defense and offense can get around the park factors I think, just not sure about the pitching. Maybe the off-season will open a different avenue on a new city.
Sunday, May 2, 2010
Playoff Predictions
#4 Toronto Blue Jays vs #5 Austin Fightin' Armadillos
The odds are with Austin if they garner a split in the first two games. The series could easily go 5 games.
#3 Helena Hot Pockets vs #6 Boston Red Sox
The Red Sox handled the Hot Pockets with oven mitts during the season. However they haven't faced each other in a long time, well before the microwave was turned on. The odds are with the Hot Pockets to win in 4 games.
#4 Colorado Rockies vs #5 Cincinnati Reds
The odds are with the Reds in 4. Colorado didn't play well against Cincy at all.
#3 Atlanta Braves vs #6 Texas Rangers
The odds are with a Texas in a high scoring rout even. The only thing the Braves really have is hitting, I don't think it will be enough to outscore the Texas attack.
The odds are with Austin if they garner a split in the first two games. The series could easily go 5 games.
#3 Helena Hot Pockets vs #6 Boston Red Sox
The Red Sox handled the Hot Pockets with oven mitts during the season. However they haven't faced each other in a long time, well before the microwave was turned on. The odds are with the Hot Pockets to win in 4 games.
#4 Colorado Rockies vs #5 Cincinnati Reds
The odds are with the Reds in 4. Colorado didn't play well against Cincy at all.
#3 Atlanta Braves vs #6 Texas Rangers
The odds are with a Texas in a high scoring rout even. The only thing the Braves really have is hitting, I don't think it will be enough to outscore the Texas attack.
A Lot Rides on the Final Game for Several
This is the way I see it if I counted right.
The NL
#1 Florida Marlins
#2 Pittsburgh Pirates
#3 Cleveland Indians/Atlanta Braves - Cleveland in with a win or Atlanta loss
#4 Colorado Rockies/Salem Super Sequoias - Colorado in with a win or Salem loss
#5 Cincinnati Reds
#6 Texas Rangers
The AL
#1 Durham Bulls
#2 Syracuse Sycamores
#3 Toronto Blue Jays/Helena Hot Pockets - Helena with a win and Toronto loss
#4 Toronto Blue Jays/Helena Hot Pockets
#5 Austin Fightin' Armadillos
#6 Boston Red Sox
For the #1 draft pick next year
Milwaukee Brewers/Arizona Diamondbacks/Washington D.C. Senators - Not sure who will have the #1 pick if all three end with identical records.
#4 and #5 pick will be between the New York Mets and Tampa Bay Rays.
#6 Detroit Tigers
#7 and #8 pick will be between the Chicago Cubs and St. Louis Cardinals
#9 and #10 pick will between the Dover Dung Beetles and Omaha Lancers
The NL
#1 Florida Marlins
#2 Pittsburgh Pirates
#3 Cleveland Indians/Atlanta Braves - Cleveland in with a win or Atlanta loss
#4 Colorado Rockies/Salem Super Sequoias - Colorado in with a win or Salem loss
#5 Cincinnati Reds
#6 Texas Rangers
The AL
#1 Durham Bulls
#2 Syracuse Sycamores
#3 Toronto Blue Jays/Helena Hot Pockets - Helena with a win and Toronto loss
#4 Toronto Blue Jays/Helena Hot Pockets
#5 Austin Fightin' Armadillos
#6 Boston Red Sox
For the #1 draft pick next year
Milwaukee Brewers/Arizona Diamondbacks/Washington D.C. Senators - Not sure who will have the #1 pick if all three end with identical records.
#4 and #5 pick will be between the New York Mets and Tampa Bay Rays.
#6 Detroit Tigers
#7 and #8 pick will be between the Chicago Cubs and St. Louis Cardinals
#9 and #10 pick will between the Dover Dung Beetles and Omaha Lancers
Thursday, April 29, 2010
With 10 To Go
I'll have the Super Dog, fries and a large Miller Draft please! Excitin' for some isn't it? With 10 games to go in the NL, the fate of 5 teams hang in the balance and 2 very good teams are going to be watching from the sidelines once again. The AL is not as complicated as the NL but at least 1 very good team will be watching from the sidelines.
NL North
The Pittsburgh Pirates can claim the title outright with a win or a Cincy loss and the #2 seed. Oh, it will happen BTW.
NL East
The Cleveland Indians has a 5 game lead over Atlanta and 6 games over the Phillies. Both Atlanta and Philly find themselves in a predicament though. Philly gets the unnerving consequences of a 4 game home series with Pittsburgh, Atlanta goes for a 4 game set in St Louis while Cleveland goes to Texas for 4. Both must sweep and hope Cleveland gets swept to have a chance at the division title before the last 6 games.
NL South
The Florida Marlins has claimed the title already and probably the #1 seed.
NL West
The Colorado Rockies have a slim 3 game lead over Salem who got back in the race after taking 3 and almost 4 from Pittsburgh, while the Rockies floundered around losing 4 in Cleveland. Salem has a 4 game home series with the Brewers while Colorado could be in jeopardy with a 4 game home series with Cincy. This one could get quite interesting before it is over.
The Wild Cards
The Cincinnati Reds should end up with the #5 seed easily enough, although they have a tough 10 game road trip with the Rockies, Pirates and Cubs.
The Texas Rangers have it tough as they face the Indians followed by the Marlins at home then 3 games at St Louis.
The Atlanta Braves are in St Louis for a 4 game set then 3 at Cleveland before going home to face the dangerous Mets.
The Philadelphia Phillies have a 4 game set at home with the somewhat slumping Pirates then those dangerous Mets before traveling to Cleveland for the finale.
AL North
As reported earlier, the Blue Jays and Twins will probably decide the outcome of the division title with the final out of the season in Twinkieland. Toronto has a 4 game series in Las Vegas while the Twinkies travel to Boston.
AL East
The Syracuse Sycamores have a 7 game lead over Boston that seems pretty safe but.... With a 4 game series at Durham things could get a little tricky. Boston is at home against the Twinkies in a must win situation.
AL South
The Durham Bulls have claimed the division title, their third in four years. They have yet to claim the #1 seed but can probably do so by at least splitting the series or better with Syracuse.
AL West
The Helena Hot Pockets jumped in front with an 11 game win streak. With a 7 game lead and a 4 game series with Dover things are looking good. It looks even better with Las Vegas in a must win situation at home against Toronto.
The Wild Cards
The Minnesota Twins is in the first runner up spot today, tomorrow that could change with the fight going on in the North.
Both the Austin Fightin' Armadillos and Boston Red Sox are tied for the final slot and both could wind up with the final wild card slots.
Boston could put the Twins to bed in their series while solidifying their claim before facing Dover and traveling to Syracuse. Austin has a 4 game home series with Detroit followed by 3 on the road with Durham and Tampa Bay.
Las Vegas is 5 back while facing Toronto for 4 at home, then off to Omaha and back home to face Helena, their chances look pretty slim.
NL North
The Pittsburgh Pirates can claim the title outright with a win or a Cincy loss and the #2 seed. Oh, it will happen BTW.
NL East
The Cleveland Indians has a 5 game lead over Atlanta and 6 games over the Phillies. Both Atlanta and Philly find themselves in a predicament though. Philly gets the unnerving consequences of a 4 game home series with Pittsburgh, Atlanta goes for a 4 game set in St Louis while Cleveland goes to Texas for 4. Both must sweep and hope Cleveland gets swept to have a chance at the division title before the last 6 games.
NL South
The Florida Marlins has claimed the title already and probably the #1 seed.
NL West
The Colorado Rockies have a slim 3 game lead over Salem who got back in the race after taking 3 and almost 4 from Pittsburgh, while the Rockies floundered around losing 4 in Cleveland. Salem has a 4 game home series with the Brewers while Colorado could be in jeopardy with a 4 game home series with Cincy. This one could get quite interesting before it is over.
The Wild Cards
The Cincinnati Reds should end up with the #5 seed easily enough, although they have a tough 10 game road trip with the Rockies, Pirates and Cubs.
The Texas Rangers have it tough as they face the Indians followed by the Marlins at home then 3 games at St Louis.
The Atlanta Braves are in St Louis for a 4 game set then 3 at Cleveland before going home to face the dangerous Mets.
The Philadelphia Phillies have a 4 game set at home with the somewhat slumping Pirates then those dangerous Mets before traveling to Cleveland for the finale.
AL North
As reported earlier, the Blue Jays and Twins will probably decide the outcome of the division title with the final out of the season in Twinkieland. Toronto has a 4 game series in Las Vegas while the Twinkies travel to Boston.
AL East
The Syracuse Sycamores have a 7 game lead over Boston that seems pretty safe but.... With a 4 game series at Durham things could get a little tricky. Boston is at home against the Twinkies in a must win situation.
AL South
The Durham Bulls have claimed the division title, their third in four years. They have yet to claim the #1 seed but can probably do so by at least splitting the series or better with Syracuse.
AL West
The Helena Hot Pockets jumped in front with an 11 game win streak. With a 7 game lead and a 4 game series with Dover things are looking good. It looks even better with Las Vegas in a must win situation at home against Toronto.
The Wild Cards
The Minnesota Twins is in the first runner up spot today, tomorrow that could change with the fight going on in the North.
Both the Austin Fightin' Armadillos and Boston Red Sox are tied for the final slot and both could wind up with the final wild card slots.
Boston could put the Twins to bed in their series while solidifying their claim before facing Dover and traveling to Syracuse. Austin has a 4 game home series with Detroit followed by 3 on the road with Durham and Tampa Bay.
Las Vegas is 5 back while facing Toronto for 4 at home, then off to Omaha and back home to face Helena, their chances look pretty slim.
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