(Author's note: A special thanks goes out to the Nerdery Sports Bureau, led by statistician gurus Chuck Bowman and Jason Backus. These guys have WAY too much time on their hands, but they've helped me expedite this email. So if you have a stat question, consult the Nerdery!)
Welcome back Dirt-Dogs to the 1/6th of the way through the season Fantasy Review Spectacular! Or, as the say on ESPN Deportes, NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NOOOOOOOOOOOO - Revision Beisbol Fantasia Espectacularrrrr! Was that a little bit racist? Probably, but remember, you probably laughed just a little bit at that. Come on... admit it!
Let's talk about some events that took place in MLB this week. For starters, our caps off this week to Cards fans everywhere for the tragic loss of pitcher Josh Hancock. You never like to hear things like this happen, especially to someone so young.
Okay, back to the fun MLB news. Certain abnormalities are taking place in MLB right now that are very interesting. For starters, the Yankees have dropped 5 of their last 6 to the Boston Red Sox. This has left even me scratching my head about what's going on in the AL East, Sox fan that I am. The ramifications of these past two weekend may affect your team. There's been talk on New York's WFAN that long-time manager Joe Torre may be fired, and that several Yankees may be sent down to the minors as early as today. There are some possible long-term ramifications for your team here. So if you have Yankees, particularly younger Yankees or recently injured Yankees, keep an eye on them! Also, another interesting MLB tidbit from last week came from Rockies rookie shortstop Troy Tulowitzky, who turned an UNASSISTED triple play on Sunday. That's only happened 13 times in the history of baseball!! If you haven't seen the Sports Center highlights yet, drop your laptop right now... leave work, stop talking to your loved one, and get to a TV... RIGHT NOW!
GAME 4 RECAP
Three big come-from-behind wins last week! In Michigan, We Want a Touchdown overcame the Knights of Darkness in the FINAL HOURS of the week with a score of 7-5. Out in Ye Olde New England, the WickedGreen Monstahs rallied over the Pink Roos, defeating them 6-4. In Chicagoland, Carroll the Younger and his Hoot's Howitzers pulled off their first victory of the season with a walk-off performance over the Midland Loons, 6-5. New York hegemon Tiger Bandwagon held on for a 7-4 victory over the Philly Cheesesteaks. The Pawtucket Red Sox of Providence and Boston-based Mike Made Me Do This decided to call it a draw with a score of 6-6. And, this week's blowouts can be spelled with one word: Backus. The Rockford Margaritas pummeled the Triple Diamond D's 8-4 and the Rockford Stingrays blew out the Gnorthside-Chicago Gnome Gnorth Gninjas 8-3.
NOTABLE STATS
Runs: Stingrays I (46)
HR: Stingrays I (12)
RBI: Gnome Gnorth Gninjas (44)
SB: Mike Made Me Do This, We Want A Touchdown! (10)
E: Pink Roos, Gnome Gnorth Gninjas (1)
AVG: Stingrays I (.351)
W: Stingrays I, Margaritas, Pawtucket Red Sox, Philly Cheesesteaks (4)
S: Stingrays I (8)
HR: Knights of Darkness (0)
K: Mike Made Me Do This (61)
ERA: Wicked Green Monsters (1.74)
WHIP: Pawtucket Red Sox ( 1.07)
GAME 5 PREVIEW
WickedGreen Monstahs (2-2) @ Knights of Darkness (1-2-1)
Both of these teams had critical games last week! The Monstahs climbed back from a near humiliating defeat at the hands of the Roos last week, and thanks to an outstanding pitching performance by the Monstah's relivers (ERA 1.75, 5 Saves) the Monstahs scraped together enough of an offense on Thursday, Friday and Saturday to come back from 2-9 deficit on Wednesday to pull off a 6-4 victory. The Knights, however, had the exact opposite fate, losing on the last day of their series, featuring a solid offensive punch that was not strong enough to hold out over the Footballers. This looks to be a classic pitching vs. batting matchup. The Monstahs take in a pitching squad that's had an ERA under 2.75 for the past three games, while the Knights produce offense where the Monstahs are the weakest: stolen bases and RBIs. I can't really say who will win this one, because that would be biased...
Philly Cheesesteaks (1-3) @ Pink Roos (1-3)
Here are two teams that desperately want the bloodbath in the East to be over, each suffering tough losses last week. The Cheeseteaks were bludgeoned by the Tigers, despite the poor performance by the Tigers pitching squad. The Roos are still rubbing their eyes in disbelief over how the Monstahs managed to catch-up, and worse yet, overtake them in the final three days of the week. But, that's baseball. Sometimes, you think you're taking a routine ground ball up the first base line and it goes through your glove, forcing you to hang your head in shame and flee to Iowa where you can't be chased down by guys named Sully from Southie... as you are blamed for 68 years of futility ... when it wasn't your fault anyway that the game got tied on a wild pitch anyway. (Hold on, tearing up...) Ahem, like they say, there's no crying in baseball. The Roos were an offensive explosion the first part of last week and have a solid, yet not perfect rotation. If the Roos can muster the same kind of offensive umph seen last Monday, they should dry their tears, and continue the woes of the team from Philly.
Pawtucket Red Sox (1-2-1) @ Tiger Bandwagon (3-1)
Okay, where do I start on this one... hmmm... let me think. How about the 10.80 ERA by Tiger/Yankee reliever Mariano Rivera? As you can imagine, smiling with glee over here. But I'm not quite sure who to throw my support behind here this week. Do I support the PawSox, who knocked my girlfriend out of the top three, or the Tigers, whose oppression on the East is keeping me near the basement. Sorry hon, when in doubt, gotta say GO SOX! Right now, the Tigers look unstoppable. Their offense and pitching staff remains healthy and productive. And despit ethe trouble, they've been having in their relief core (and the fact that the SOX GOT MARIANO'S NUMBAH), they should have enough weapons to beat the Sox in just about any stat. That is, unless Dice-K has a lights-out performance on Thursday. That could, in effect, change eveything for the PawSox.
Loons (2-2) @ We Want a Touchdown! (4-0)
Looks like we have another Bowman subdivison match up this week, which isn't too hard considering there are four Bowmnas in this league to begin with, but hey... it's always interesting. This week is particularly interesting in that this Bowman match up features two very solid, very respectable teams in the top tier that have gone above and beyond in proving me wrong at the start of this season. I've said it before and I'll say it again. The Loons have a very National League approach to the game, winning by amassing consistent talent and using different approaches to win. In Week 1, the Loons won using pitching. In Week 3 they won with some impressive offense and did so again in Week 4, losing only on the final day. The 'Footballers, proving that inexperience doesn't necessarily mean a lack of excellence, have been winning games by keeping them very close, edging out their opponents in categories, sometimes coming from behind to win like last week against the Knights. This is the mathcup of the week here folks. Both of these teams are for real and this game will tell which has a better strategy and more luck: Bowman the Elder, or Bowman the Youngest.
Margaritas (3-1) @ Hoot's Howitzers (1-3)
The Margarita's have been mopping up competition in the West, following thier only loss at the hands of the Anti-Mikes from the East in Week 1. The Margaritas drafted well and it shows, but in order to stay ahead of the Stingrays (whose GM is likely sitting on the couch accross from her as she's reading this) and keep the pressure on the surprising 'Footballers, the Margaritas are going to have to continue their streak against the Howitzers. Sadly, it shouldn't be too difficult. I warned my brother he cursed himself by drafting Johnny Damon. He brought this upon himself. I have no sympathy for him... well maybe just a little. The Hows have definitely struggled in the start of the season, but had their most promising performance of the season against the strong Midland Loons. Their pitching is heating up! With a ERA of 2.38, an impressive 54 strikeouts, and a WHIP of about 1.2, they are no longer dwelling in the basement.
Stingrays (2-2) @ Dirty Diamond D's (1-3)
The Stingrays have crawled back into the top tier of teams with a core that's now begining to cement offensively and defensively. The Triple D's however, had difficulty producing power numbers the last two games. The numbers on this game can be a real crapshoot. But look for high offensive numbers from the Rays, and better pitching stats from them too. But hey, I've been wrong before... well... often, actually.
Gnome Gnorth Gninjas (1-2-1) @ Mike Made Me Do This (3-0-1)
The Anti-Mikes have been great at producing one thing in this league more than any other team so far: ties. They are so good in fact that they managed to pull off a tie in the actual game last week. The Anti-Mike's picked up the unexpectedly brilliant Hideki Okajima, the newly appointed Boston set-up man, which helped add some umph to her strikeouts and bring down her overall ERA. This, among other factors, give the Anti-Mikes a potentially stronger pitching squad going into Monday. The Gninjas actually had an excellent offensive performance last week... they just had to go up against the absolutely SICK numbers posted by the Stingrays. If the Gninja's keep up those kind of numbers, it will spell trouble for the Anti-Mikes. I'm going to refrain from saying anything else... cause I don't want to be exiled to the couch.
DIVISION STATS
Hoaggie-Grinder Division (Record, Games Back)
1. Tiger Bandwagon (3-1) --
2. Mike Made Me Do This (2-1-1) 0.5
3. WickedGreen Monstahs (2-2) 1.0
4. Pawtucket Red Sox (1-2-1) 1.5
5. Philly Cheesesteaks (1-3) 2.0
6. Pink Roos (1-3) 2.0
Deep Dish Division
1) We Want a Touchdown (4-0) --
2) Margaritas (3-1) 1.0
3) Stingrays (2-2) 2.0
4) Loons (2-2) 2.0
5) Knights of Darkness (1-2-1) 2.5
6) Gnome Gnorth Gninjas (1-2-1) 2.5
7) Hoot's Howitzers (1-3) 3.0
8) Triple Diamond D's (1-3) 3.0
Monday, April 30, 2007
Wednesday, April 25, 2007
Game 4 (April 23 - 29, 2007)
Okay, I am a fair man. When I get things wrong, I stand corrected. So here goes... yes, We Want a Touchdown is the real deal. There! I've said it. The 'Footballers... are in first place...I was so wrong about this team and its capabilities that I contemplated taking a nose dive of the Zakim Bridge this morning. But then I reconsidered after the RED SOX SWEPT THE YANKEES this weekend! For those of you paying attention, the Red Sox on Sunday night became the fifth team in the history of Major League Baseball to hit four consecutive home runs, and it happened on 10 pitches. Am I a gloating Red Sox fan? Absolutely. The real question is, why aren't you gloating with me???
GAME 3 RECAP
Sadly, in the fantasy world, New York beat Boston, as the WickedGreen Monstahs offense fizzled out in the closing days of the contest, resulting in a 6-5 victory by the Tiger Bandwagon. The Pawtucket Red Sox of Providence pulled of their first victory of the young season, edging the Philly Cheesesteaks 7-5. A similar match played out in the west with the Knights besting the Howitzers 7-4. The 'Footballers dominated the pink Roos with a solid 8-4 victory, bested only by a routing of the Gninjas by the Margaritas with a score of 8-3. The Loons continued their solid pace by defeating the Triple D's 5-4. And finally, Stingrays can admit victory, with their come-from-behind, last minute win over Mike Made Me Do This, 5-4. Game 3 featured many close matchups, and was without question, the closest week of the season thus far. Just look at the notable stats and how many records were shared this week!
NOTABLE STATS
Most Runs: Pawtucket Red Sox, Margaritas (42)
Most HRs: Pawtucket Red Sox (12)
Most RBIs: Margaritas (47)
Most Stolen Bases: We Want a Touchdown, Gnome Gnorth Gninjas (10)
Fewest Es: Loons, Dirty Diamond D's, Gnome Gnorth Gninjas (0)
Highest Avg: Tiger Bandwagon (.331)
Most Wins: Pawtucket Red Sox, We Want a Touchdown (5)
Most Saves: Margaritas, WickedGreen Monstahs, We Want a Touchdown (6)
Most Ks: Stingrays (65!!!)
Lowest ERA: Philly Cheesesteaks (1.82)
Lowest WHIP: Margaritas (1.01)
GAME 4 PREVIEW
WickedGreen Monstahs (1-2) @ Pink Roos (1-2)
This week begins with another Boston-Providence match up, with the Monstahs traveling to see the Roos. The Roos pitching has suffered of late, with a high ERA and high Home Run count. But the Roos have enough of an offense to counter the lackluster AAA batting the Monstahs have been sporting this past week. If the Roos can sport a little better from the mound, look for them to rally against the Monstahs... unless the Monstahs suddenly get hot.
Philly Cheesesteaks (1-2) @ Tiger Bandwagon (2-1)
With the first loss of the Anti-Mikes last week, the Tigers are well on their way to becoming the Eastern hegemon. The Cheeseteaks had a very rough outting last week, in spite of their excellent pitching performance. This looks to be a pitching duel! And, watch out Mr. Belsky... Chien Ming Wang comes back from the DL to pitch for the Cheesesteaks this week!
Pawtucket Red Sox (1-2) @ Mike Made Me Do This (2-1)
The record-tying 4 consecutive home runs by the Boston Red Sox proved huge for the Pawtucket Red Sox of Providence as they achieved their first victory of the season in Game 3. The Anti-Mikes however, are coming off their first (and very tough) loss. The PawSox tied for a bunch of offensive records last week and their pitching looks to be in good shape. The Anti-Mikes have been an offensive stat producing machine all season. If their pitching can hold out long enough, they could keep the pressure on their competition from New York.
Knights of Darkness (1-1-1) @ We Want a Touchdown! (3-0)
The Footballers pulled off another resounding win last week, but did so with one of the weaker pitching performances of the week (6.59 ERA, 1.74 WHIP). This was not enough however to weigh them down, as they still pulled enough wins, saves, and offensive stats to win convincingly. This will likely continue next week, especially if their ERA can improve. The Knights, on the other hand have pulled off the trifecta with a win, loss, and a tie. And, coming off their first win, the Knights won just as convincingly, but managed to do so by winning the exact opposite stats than We Want a Touchdown. This one will likely be a close call, probably bouncing 6-5, 6-6 for most of the week.
Loons (2-1) @ Hoot's Howitzers (0-3)
The Loons continue to manufacture wins in true National League style fashion, amassing a list of players and making it into a stat producing machine. This week they take on the league's Washington Nationals, the Howitzers, who continue to narrowly lose most of the stat categories. This may be the Howitzers' week, however. They're hungry and not as easy as they seem.
Margaritas (2-1) @ Dirty Diamond D's (1-2)
The Triple D's close loss last week sent them lower in the division, but with a team ERA averaging under 4.00 since the second week, there's a good chance that they have the pitching necessary to remain competitive throughout the week. The Margaritas are truly on a roll, with a routing of the Knights last week and they are one of the most well-rounded teams in this league. The Margaritas will continue to nip on the heels of the Footballers, perhaps catching them this week in the West.
Stingrays I (1-2) @ Gnome Gnorth Gninjas (1-1-1)
Anyone else find it ironic that after dubbing the 'Rays the "Yankees" of the league that they, like the actual New York Yankees, feature a sub-500 record? Not that I actually wanted to curse the Rays such, but they have been struggling of late, that is until last week, when the 'Rays pulled off their first win. The 'Rays record 19 moves seem, at least for the moment, to have stopped the bleeding, just in time to take on a beat-up Gninjas franchise with three pitchers on the DL. The better offense is likely to win the day in this matchup.
DIVISION STANDINGS
Hoaggie-Grinder League (Team, Record, Games Back)
1. Mike Made Me Do This (2-1, --)
2. Tiger Bandwagon (2-1, --)
3. Pawtucket Red Sox (1-2, 1.0)
4. WickedGreen Monstahs (1-2, 1.0)
5. Philly Cheesesteaks (1-2, 1.0)
6. Pink Roos (1-2, 1.0)
Deep Dish League
1. We Want a Touchdown (3-0, --)
2. Margaritas (2-1, 1.0)
3. Loons (2-1, 1.0)
4. Knights of Darkness (1-1-1, 1.5)
5. Gnome Gnorth Gninjas (1-1-1, 1.5)
6. Dirty Diamond D's (1-2, 2.0)
7. Stingrays I (1-2, 2.0)
8. Hoot's Howitzers (0-3, 3.0)
GAME 3 RECAP
Sadly, in the fantasy world, New York beat Boston, as the WickedGreen Monstahs offense fizzled out in the closing days of the contest, resulting in a 6-5 victory by the Tiger Bandwagon. The Pawtucket Red Sox of Providence pulled of their first victory of the young season, edging the Philly Cheesesteaks 7-5. A similar match played out in the west with the Knights besting the Howitzers 7-4. The 'Footballers dominated the pink Roos with a solid 8-4 victory, bested only by a routing of the Gninjas by the Margaritas with a score of 8-3. The Loons continued their solid pace by defeating the Triple D's 5-4. And finally, Stingrays can admit victory, with their come-from-behind, last minute win over Mike Made Me Do This, 5-4. Game 3 featured many close matchups, and was without question, the closest week of the season thus far. Just look at the notable stats and how many records were shared this week!
NOTABLE STATS
Most Runs: Pawtucket Red Sox, Margaritas (42)
Most HRs: Pawtucket Red Sox (12)
Most RBIs: Margaritas (47)
Most Stolen Bases: We Want a Touchdown, Gnome Gnorth Gninjas (10)
Fewest Es: Loons, Dirty Diamond D's, Gnome Gnorth Gninjas (0)
Highest Avg: Tiger Bandwagon (.331)
Most Wins: Pawtucket Red Sox, We Want a Touchdown (5)
Most Saves: Margaritas, WickedGreen Monstahs, We Want a Touchdown (6)
Most Ks: Stingrays (65!!!)
Lowest ERA: Philly Cheesesteaks (1.82)
Lowest WHIP: Margaritas (1.01)
GAME 4 PREVIEW
WickedGreen Monstahs (1-2) @ Pink Roos (1-2)
This week begins with another Boston-Providence match up, with the Monstahs traveling to see the Roos. The Roos pitching has suffered of late, with a high ERA and high Home Run count. But the Roos have enough of an offense to counter the lackluster AAA batting the Monstahs have been sporting this past week. If the Roos can sport a little better from the mound, look for them to rally against the Monstahs... unless the Monstahs suddenly get hot.
Philly Cheesesteaks (1-2) @ Tiger Bandwagon (2-1)
With the first loss of the Anti-Mikes last week, the Tigers are well on their way to becoming the Eastern hegemon. The Cheeseteaks had a very rough outting last week, in spite of their excellent pitching performance. This looks to be a pitching duel! And, watch out Mr. Belsky... Chien Ming Wang comes back from the DL to pitch for the Cheesesteaks this week!
Pawtucket Red Sox (1-2) @ Mike Made Me Do This (2-1)
The record-tying 4 consecutive home runs by the Boston Red Sox proved huge for the Pawtucket Red Sox of Providence as they achieved their first victory of the season in Game 3. The Anti-Mikes however, are coming off their first (and very tough) loss. The PawSox tied for a bunch of offensive records last week and their pitching looks to be in good shape. The Anti-Mikes have been an offensive stat producing machine all season. If their pitching can hold out long enough, they could keep the pressure on their competition from New York.
Knights of Darkness (1-1-1) @ We Want a Touchdown! (3-0)
The Footballers pulled off another resounding win last week, but did so with one of the weaker pitching performances of the week (6.59 ERA, 1.74 WHIP). This was not enough however to weigh them down, as they still pulled enough wins, saves, and offensive stats to win convincingly. This will likely continue next week, especially if their ERA can improve. The Knights, on the other hand have pulled off the trifecta with a win, loss, and a tie. And, coming off their first win, the Knights won just as convincingly, but managed to do so by winning the exact opposite stats than We Want a Touchdown. This one will likely be a close call, probably bouncing 6-5, 6-6 for most of the week.
Loons (2-1) @ Hoot's Howitzers (0-3)
The Loons continue to manufacture wins in true National League style fashion, amassing a list of players and making it into a stat producing machine. This week they take on the league's Washington Nationals, the Howitzers, who continue to narrowly lose most of the stat categories. This may be the Howitzers' week, however. They're hungry and not as easy as they seem.
Margaritas (2-1) @ Dirty Diamond D's (1-2)
The Triple D's close loss last week sent them lower in the division, but with a team ERA averaging under 4.00 since the second week, there's a good chance that they have the pitching necessary to remain competitive throughout the week. The Margaritas are truly on a roll, with a routing of the Knights last week and they are one of the most well-rounded teams in this league. The Margaritas will continue to nip on the heels of the Footballers, perhaps catching them this week in the West.
Stingrays I (1-2) @ Gnome Gnorth Gninjas (1-1-1)
Anyone else find it ironic that after dubbing the 'Rays the "Yankees" of the league that they, like the actual New York Yankees, feature a sub-500 record? Not that I actually wanted to curse the Rays such, but they have been struggling of late, that is until last week, when the 'Rays pulled off their first win. The 'Rays record 19 moves seem, at least for the moment, to have stopped the bleeding, just in time to take on a beat-up Gninjas franchise with three pitchers on the DL. The better offense is likely to win the day in this matchup.
DIVISION STANDINGS
Hoaggie-Grinder League (Team, Record, Games Back)
1. Mike Made Me Do This (2-1, --)
2. Tiger Bandwagon (2-1, --)
3. Pawtucket Red Sox (1-2, 1.0)
4. WickedGreen Monstahs (1-2, 1.0)
5. Philly Cheesesteaks (1-2, 1.0)
6. Pink Roos (1-2, 1.0)
Deep Dish League
1. We Want a Touchdown (3-0, --)
2. Margaritas (2-1, 1.0)
3. Loons (2-1, 1.0)
4. Knights of Darkness (1-1-1, 1.5)
5. Gnome Gnorth Gninjas (1-1-1, 1.5)
6. Dirty Diamond D's (1-2, 2.0)
7. Stingrays I (1-2, 2.0)
8. Hoot's Howitzers (0-3, 3.0)
Thursday, April 19, 2007
Game 3 (April 16 - April 22, 2007)
(Author's Note: Sorry all for the three day delay in this email. Things have been busy around here and Monday was a holiday in Massachusetts. This thing has been sitting on my desktop about 80% completed for the last three days! I've also been looking for an alternative form of delivery, as the Yahoo emails seem to be getting picked up by people's spam blockers, and Yahoo's character limit. So here goes nothing. As they say, better late than never!)
Happy Patriot's Day everyone and greetings from the soggy northeast! No doubt the Hoaggie-Grinder Division has had an interesting two days as 6 MLB postponments sent fantasy-leaguers into a frenzied panic. For those of you living in the Northeast, keep your chins up. Friday's forecast calls for unseasonably warm temperatures... and sunshine!
GAME TWO RECAP
Another week for the underdogs? The Monstahs rebounded and upended the PawSox with a wild pitching battle 7-5. The Anti-Mikes BLEW OUT the Cheesesteaks 7-1, propelling the Anti-Mikes into first place. The 'Footballers edged out the Tiger Bandwagon for a second consecutive upset 6-5. The Howitzers rallied for a 6-4 win over the Roos. Proving that father may not know best, the Gninjas boasted a 6-4 lead. The Triple D's emasculated (ever so slightly) the Knights in another 6-4 matchup. And lastly, the Margarita's proved yet again that the female is truly the dealier sex, handing the pre-season favorite Stingrays another humiliatingly close defeat of 6-5 (sorry Jas.)
NOTABLE STATS
Most Runs: Pawtucket Red Sox (28)
Most RBIs: Knights of Darkness (29)
Most HRs: Knights of Darkness (9)
Most SB: Mike Made Me Do This (9)
Highest Avg: Tiger Bandwagon, WickedGreen Monstahs (.289)
Fewest Es: Pink Roos, WickedGreen Monstahs (1)
Most Ws: WickedGreen Monstahs, Stingrays (7)
Most Saves: Stingrays (7)
Most Ks: Stingrays (51)
Fewest Pitcher HRs: We Want a Touchdown (0)
Lowest ERA: Margaritas (1.83)
Lowest WHIP: Pawtucket Red Sox (1.01)
GAME 3 MATCHUPS
WickedGreen Monstahs (1-1) @ Tiger Bandwagon (1-1)
Boston. New York. The pinnacle of baseball. These two were once roommates, now they are mortal enemies locked in deadly fantasy combat. Does this match matter? No, because Mike's girlfriend is kicking both their asses in the division :)
Philly Cheesesteaks (1-1) @ Pawtucket Red Sox (0-2)
It's been a tough two weeks for both of these teams, one plagued by the DL and the other plagued by under performance. Watch the PawSox to launch forward in their matchup with a superior pitching staff that would have won almost any other game last week.
Pink Roos (1-1) @ We Want a Touchdown (2-0)
I stand corrected and dumbfounded, the 'Footballers have shocked the West by edging out both the #1 and #2 preseason favorites. But are they for real? They will face a test against a solid Roos team led by a catcher with a .476 average.
Knights of Darkness (0-1-1) @ Hoot's Howitzers (1-1)
The Knights have yet to pull off a victory, but have lost by only small margins. Will this be the week for the Knights? Not if my brother has anything to say about it...
Loons (1-1) @ Dirty Diamond D's (1-1)
The Loons suffered a tough loss last week in the waning innings, while the Triple D's pulled off their first victory last week. These are two very well rounded teams, with both earning points in offense and pitching last week. The stats edge slightly toward the Loons, if their rotation can keep up their solid performance. ((Post-email update: HOLY CRAP! Look at the Loon's offense through Tuesday!))
Margaritas (1-1) @ Gnome Gnorth Gninjas (1-0-1)
The Gninjas pulled off a surprise squeaker last week when the Loons pitching collapsed late in the week. The Margaritas have improved significantly from Game 1 and had stats that would have wiped out the majority of the teams last week. (Note added since original draft: She had Mark Buehrle on her squad who pitched a no hitter last night. Memo to the Gninjas... OUCH)
Stingrays (0-2) @ Mike Made Me Do This (2-0)
You have a very interesting interleague matchup here. The Anti-Mike's are in first place in the league, with two very solid offensive performances. The Stingrays, while 0-2, actually picked up several records last week. Can the Rays pitching beat the Anti-Mike's offense in Week 3? I have to put my money on Mike Made Me Do This... for several understandable reasons I won't go into here.
DIVISION STANDINGS
Ties broken by Yahoo Standings
Hoaggie-Grinder Division (City, Record, Games Back)
1. Mike Made Me Do This - Boston (2-0, -- GB)
2. Tiger Bandwagon - New York (1-1, 1.0 GB)
3. WickedGreen Monstahs - Boston (1-1, 1.0 GB)
4. Pink Roos - Providence (1-1, 1.0 GB)
5. Philly Cheesesteaks - Philadelphia (1-1, 1.0 GB)
6. Pawtucket Red Sox - Providence (0-2, 2.0 GB)
Deep Dish Division
1. We Want a Touchdown - East Lansing (2-0, -- GB)
2. Gnome Gnorth Gninjas - Chicago (1-0-1, 0.5 GB)
3. Dirty Diamond D's - Chicago (1-1, 1.0 GB)
4. Margaritas - Rockford (1-1, 1.0 GB)
5. Loons - Midland (1-1, 1.0 GB)
6. Stingrays I - Rockford (1-1, 1.0 GB)
7. Knights of Darkness - Detroit (0-1-1, 1.5 GB)
8. Hoot's Howitzers - Chicago (0-2, 2.0 GB)
Good luck,
Commish
Happy Patriot's Day everyone and greetings from the soggy northeast! No doubt the Hoaggie-Grinder Division has had an interesting two days as 6 MLB postponments sent fantasy-leaguers into a frenzied panic. For those of you living in the Northeast, keep your chins up. Friday's forecast calls for unseasonably warm temperatures... and sunshine!
GAME TWO RECAP
Another week for the underdogs? The Monstahs rebounded and upended the PawSox with a wild pitching battle 7-5. The Anti-Mikes BLEW OUT the Cheesesteaks 7-1, propelling the Anti-Mikes into first place. The 'Footballers edged out the Tiger Bandwagon for a second consecutive upset 6-5. The Howitzers rallied for a 6-4 win over the Roos. Proving that father may not know best, the Gninjas boasted a 6-4 lead. The Triple D's emasculated (ever so slightly) the Knights in another 6-4 matchup. And lastly, the Margarita's proved yet again that the female is truly the dealier sex, handing the pre-season favorite Stingrays another humiliatingly close defeat of 6-5 (sorry Jas.)
NOTABLE STATS
Most Runs: Pawtucket Red Sox (28)
Most RBIs: Knights of Darkness (29)
Most HRs: Knights of Darkness (9)
Most SB: Mike Made Me Do This (9)
Highest Avg: Tiger Bandwagon, WickedGreen Monstahs (.289)
Fewest Es: Pink Roos, WickedGreen Monstahs (1)
Most Ws: WickedGreen Monstahs, Stingrays (7)
Most Saves: Stingrays (7)
Most Ks: Stingrays (51)
Fewest Pitcher HRs: We Want a Touchdown (0)
Lowest ERA: Margaritas (1.83)
Lowest WHIP: Pawtucket Red Sox (1.01)
GAME 3 MATCHUPS
WickedGreen Monstahs (1-1) @ Tiger Bandwagon (1-1)
Boston. New York. The pinnacle of baseball. These two were once roommates, now they are mortal enemies locked in deadly fantasy combat. Does this match matter? No, because Mike's girlfriend is kicking both their asses in the division :)
Philly Cheesesteaks (1-1) @ Pawtucket Red Sox (0-2)
It's been a tough two weeks for both of these teams, one plagued by the DL and the other plagued by under performance. Watch the PawSox to launch forward in their matchup with a superior pitching staff that would have won almost any other game last week.
Pink Roos (1-1) @ We Want a Touchdown (2-0)
I stand corrected and dumbfounded, the 'Footballers have shocked the West by edging out both the #1 and #2 preseason favorites. But are they for real? They will face a test against a solid Roos team led by a catcher with a .476 average.
Knights of Darkness (0-1-1) @ Hoot's Howitzers (1-1)
The Knights have yet to pull off a victory, but have lost by only small margins. Will this be the week for the Knights? Not if my brother has anything to say about it...
Loons (1-1) @ Dirty Diamond D's (1-1)
The Loons suffered a tough loss last week in the waning innings, while the Triple D's pulled off their first victory last week. These are two very well rounded teams, with both earning points in offense and pitching last week. The stats edge slightly toward the Loons, if their rotation can keep up their solid performance. ((Post-email update: HOLY CRAP! Look at the Loon's offense through Tuesday!))
Margaritas (1-1) @ Gnome Gnorth Gninjas (1-0-1)
The Gninjas pulled off a surprise squeaker last week when the Loons pitching collapsed late in the week. The Margaritas have improved significantly from Game 1 and had stats that would have wiped out the majority of the teams last week. (Note added since original draft: She had Mark Buehrle on her squad who pitched a no hitter last night. Memo to the Gninjas... OUCH)
Stingrays (0-2) @ Mike Made Me Do This (2-0)
You have a very interesting interleague matchup here. The Anti-Mike's are in first place in the league, with two very solid offensive performances. The Stingrays, while 0-2, actually picked up several records last week. Can the Rays pitching beat the Anti-Mike's offense in Week 3? I have to put my money on Mike Made Me Do This... for several understandable reasons I won't go into here.
DIVISION STANDINGS
Ties broken by Yahoo Standings
Hoaggie-Grinder Division (City, Record, Games Back)
1. Mike Made Me Do This - Boston (2-0, -- GB)
2. Tiger Bandwagon - New York (1-1, 1.0 GB)
3. WickedGreen Monstahs - Boston (1-1, 1.0 GB)
4. Pink Roos - Providence (1-1, 1.0 GB)
5. Philly Cheesesteaks - Philadelphia (1-1, 1.0 GB)
6. Pawtucket Red Sox - Providence (0-2, 2.0 GB)
Deep Dish Division
1. We Want a Touchdown - East Lansing (2-0, -- GB)
2. Gnome Gnorth Gninjas - Chicago (1-0-1, 0.5 GB)
3. Dirty Diamond D's - Chicago (1-1, 1.0 GB)
4. Margaritas - Rockford (1-1, 1.0 GB)
5. Loons - Midland (1-1, 1.0 GB)
6. Stingrays I - Rockford (1-1, 1.0 GB)
7. Knights of Darkness - Detroit (0-1-1, 1.5 GB)
8. Hoot's Howitzers - Chicago (0-2, 2.0 GB)
Good luck,
Commish
Tuesday, April 10, 2007
Game 2 (April 9 - April 15, 2007)
It seems as though my projections at the beginning of the year have been proven completely wrong. Sure enough, The Bandwagon and the Anti-Mikes did as well as expected, but as often the case of baseball, there were a lot of upsets last week, not the least of which was the pummeling of both Carroll brothers, sending them to the bottom of the league. There's no doubt in my mind that Bowman family Patriarch, Bob Bowman is a very happy Papa right now, as neither he nor any one of his sons lost last week! Surely a spit in the eye of the Commish!
Here's the recap folks: The Cheeseteaks slathered the Monstahs 7-4 with a terrible pitching performance by the Monstahs. The 'Footballers upset the PawSox 6-4. The Tiger Bandwagon turned the Howitzers into roadkill by a score of 8-2. The Pink Roos edged the Triple D's 5-4 in walk-off fashion. The Gnome Gnorth Gninjas and the Knights of Darkness tied each other 6-6. Mike Made Me Do This is glad I made her do it with her score upending the Margaritas 6-5. And, with the UPSET OF THE WEEK - The Midland Loons edged out the preseason favorite Stingrays by a score of 6-5.
NOTABLE STATS:
Most Runs: Mike Made Me Do This (33), Stingrays I (33)
Most Ks: WickedGreen Monstahs (53)
Most HRs: Margaritas (9), Mike Made Me Do This (9)
Most RBIs: Loons (34)
Most Stoeln Bases: We Want a Touchdown (7)
Lowest ERA: Loons (1.81)
Lowest WHIP: Tiger Bandwagon (1.00)
GAME TWO MATCHUPS
WickedGreen Monstahs (0-1) @ Pawtucket Red Sox (0-1)
Last week was not an easy one for either the Monstahs or the PawSox,as they lost both of their games despite having respectable stats. The PawSox will bring with them excellent pitching, led by phenom Daisuke Matsuzaka. The Monstahs plan to bring a little more offense this time around, but will their rotation doom them as they did last week?
Philly Cheesesteaks (1-0) @ Mike Made Me Do This (1-0)
The Anti-Mike's had a very impressive offense last week, with 33 Runs, 9 HRs, 30 RBI, and a batting average over .300. And like the other matchup above, Bowman brings decent pitching to this duel, with a very impressive ERA of 2.17. In the race to nip on Tiger Bandwagon's heels, both of these teams are well in it. But, both teams are plagued by the DL disease.
Tiger Bandwagon (1-0) @ We Want a Touchdown (1-0)
One word: Bloodbath.
Pink Roos (1-0) @ Hoot's Howitzers (0-1)
The Pink Roos pulled off the win last week with only a plurality of points. And the Howitzer's took last week's worst pummeling. The Roos are well rounded. The Howitzers, however, had significantly better pitching stats than the Roos did last week. So, quite frankly, this one is up in the air. Good luck!
Knights of Darkness (0-0-1) @ Dirty Diamond D's (0-1)
I'll admit, I tried to think of something clever to write here. But quite frankly, like some of the others, I have no idea who will win here. Let's think about this logically. Who'd be more PO'd, the guy who tied or the gal who barely lost? I will leave it up the peanut gallery to decide this.
Loons (1-0) @ Gnome Gnorth Gninjas (0-0-1)
"Together we shall rule the galaxy as father and son..." Father knows best, nuff said and quite frankly he showed me up big time last week, so I'm just going to leave it at that.
Margaritas (0-1) @ Stingrays (0-1)
This will be the first (and technically only) matchup of a married couple in the league. Can a marriage survive a fantasy baseball game? Both of the Backus' lost their games last weekend to teams they *should* have beaten. But being close only counts in horseshoes. The Stingrays have been actively dumping players in the last few days to stop the bleeding, while the Margaritas look a little more solid. I really don't know who to support here, and apparently, my analysis sucks ass. So... um... if you're betting, bet on a tie.
DIVISION STANDINGS:
Hoagie-Grinder League (Record, Games Back)
1. Tiger Bandwagon (1-0, --)
2. Philly Cheesesteaks (1-0, --)
3. Mike Made Me Do This (1-0, --)
4. Pink Roos (1-0, --)
5. Pawtucket Red Sox (0-1, 1.0)
6. WickedGreen Monstahs (0-1, 1.0)
Deep Dish League
1. We Want a Touchdown (1-0, --)
2. Loons (1-0, --)
3. Knights of Darkness (0-0-1, 0.5)
4. Gnome Gnorth Gninjas (0-0-1, 0.5)
5. Stingrays I (0-1-0, 1.0)
6. Dirty Diamond D's (0-1-0, 1.0)
7. Margaritas (0-1-0, 1.0)
8. Hoot's Howitzers (0-1-0, 1.0)
Here's the recap folks: The Cheeseteaks slathered the Monstahs 7-4 with a terrible pitching performance by the Monstahs. The 'Footballers upset the PawSox 6-4. The Tiger Bandwagon turned the Howitzers into roadkill by a score of 8-2. The Pink Roos edged the Triple D's 5-4 in walk-off fashion. The Gnome Gnorth Gninjas and the Knights of Darkness tied each other 6-6. Mike Made Me Do This is glad I made her do it with her score upending the Margaritas 6-5. And, with the UPSET OF THE WEEK - The Midland Loons edged out the preseason favorite Stingrays by a score of 6-5.
NOTABLE STATS:
Most Runs: Mike Made Me Do This (33), Stingrays I (33)
Most Ks: WickedGreen Monstahs (53)
Most HRs: Margaritas (9), Mike Made Me Do This (9)
Most RBIs: Loons (34)
Most Stoeln Bases: We Want a Touchdown (7)
Lowest ERA: Loons (1.81)
Lowest WHIP: Tiger Bandwagon (1.00)
GAME TWO MATCHUPS
WickedGreen Monstahs (0-1) @ Pawtucket Red Sox (0-1)
Last week was not an easy one for either the Monstahs or the PawSox,as they lost both of their games despite having respectable stats. The PawSox will bring with them excellent pitching, led by phenom Daisuke Matsuzaka. The Monstahs plan to bring a little more offense this time around, but will their rotation doom them as they did last week?
Philly Cheesesteaks (1-0) @ Mike Made Me Do This (1-0)
The Anti-Mike's had a very impressive offense last week, with 33 Runs, 9 HRs, 30 RBI, and a batting average over .300. And like the other matchup above, Bowman brings decent pitching to this duel, with a very impressive ERA of 2.17. In the race to nip on Tiger Bandwagon's heels, both of these teams are well in it. But, both teams are plagued by the DL disease.
Tiger Bandwagon (1-0) @ We Want a Touchdown (1-0)
One word: Bloodbath.
Pink Roos (1-0) @ Hoot's Howitzers (0-1)
The Pink Roos pulled off the win last week with only a plurality of points. And the Howitzer's took last week's worst pummeling. The Roos are well rounded. The Howitzers, however, had significantly better pitching stats than the Roos did last week. So, quite frankly, this one is up in the air. Good luck!
Knights of Darkness (0-0-1) @ Dirty Diamond D's (0-1)
I'll admit, I tried to think of something clever to write here. But quite frankly, like some of the others, I have no idea who will win here. Let's think about this logically. Who'd be more PO'd, the guy who tied or the gal who barely lost? I will leave it up the peanut gallery to decide this.
Loons (1-0) @ Gnome Gnorth Gninjas (0-0-1)
"Together we shall rule the galaxy as father and son..." Father knows best, nuff said and quite frankly he showed me up big time last week, so I'm just going to leave it at that.
Margaritas (0-1) @ Stingrays (0-1)
This will be the first (and technically only) matchup of a married couple in the league. Can a marriage survive a fantasy baseball game? Both of the Backus' lost their games last weekend to teams they *should* have beaten. But being close only counts in horseshoes. The Stingrays have been actively dumping players in the last few days to stop the bleeding, while the Margaritas look a little more solid. I really don't know who to support here, and apparently, my analysis sucks ass. So... um... if you're betting, bet on a tie.
DIVISION STANDINGS:
Hoagie-Grinder League (Record, Games Back)
1. Tiger Bandwagon (1-0, --)
2. Philly Cheesesteaks (1-0, --)
3. Mike Made Me Do This (1-0, --)
4. Pink Roos (1-0, --)
5. Pawtucket Red Sox (0-1, 1.0)
6. WickedGreen Monstahs (0-1, 1.0)
Deep Dish League
1. We Want a Touchdown (1-0, --)
2. Loons (1-0, --)
3. Knights of Darkness (0-0-1, 0.5)
4. Gnome Gnorth Gninjas (0-0-1, 0.5)
5. Stingrays I (0-1-0, 1.0)
6. Dirty Diamond D's (0-1-0, 1.0)
7. Margaritas (0-1-0, 1.0)
8. Hoot's Howitzers (0-1-0, 1.0)
Fantasy Hockey Drafting Rules
As was proposed, the Fantasy Hockey league will become a keeper league. This means that you get to keep some of your players from this past year's team. The rules on who you can keep, what you can do with the players, and what will happen with the draft next year will be posted here. Despite my bombastic attitude during the season, I do not want to make these decisions unilaterally so please comment on the proposed rules below:
1) Each existing team will be allowed to keep two (2) players from their current team and no more. There are no restrictions on what positions those two players can be. The final deadline to decide who will be kept will occur sometime after the Stanley Cup Finals but before our own expansion draft (see rule 2 below). These chosen players will be referred to as "Franchise Players."
2) At a later to be determined date (preceding the full fantasy draft), any new player who wishes to join our Fantasy Hockey League The Main Event will be allowed to participate in the "Expansion Draft." The Expansion Draft order will be randomly determined before the event. The event will be held offline, with participants posting their choices to a specifically enabled blog entry (this will allow everyone to see the draft picks quickly). The players eligible in the Expansion Draft will be any current NHL player who was not chosen as a franchise player. Each team participating in the expansion draft will be allowed two choices; one in round one and one in round two. Players selected in this expansion draft will also become "Franchise Players."
3) Once the expansion draft has been conducted, the order for the full draft will be posted. The draft order will be expansion teams followed by the teams from last season. For the first draft round, the expansion teams' order will be opposite what it was in the expansion draft; the returning teams' order will be opposite their final rankings (as seen here). Second round will reverse that order, with each successive round alternating (this is how Yahoo set up their drafts). The draft itself will most likely held offline through this blog. The decision about that will be made later in a separate post.
4) Once everyone has their Franchise Players and their draft positions, any of those can be traded as the owner sees fit. This means draft positions are up for trade as are franchise players. Whatever you think you want to do. The final trade will still go through the commissioner. Trades of this kind can be set up at any point but will not be made official until the draft order is established.
5) Proposed Changes to the Scoring System: There have been no calls to remove any stats used this past year, but a few adds have been suggested. Blocked shots (if Yahoo keeps track of them) could be added to give more weight to the defenders. Games Started could be added for goalies as an incentive to play goalies above and beyond the minimum. Shots-on-goal would reward tenacious players, though it may cripple anyone from the Sabres. The final scoring changes will be decided before the main draft is held.
6) Personnel Changes: It has also been suggested that a few more starter slots be added to the game (thus expanding the number of players on each team). Any suggestions on if and how many players should be added will be welcome.
Hopefully that's enough for now. Please Comment :)
1) Each existing team will be allowed to keep two (2) players from their current team and no more. There are no restrictions on what positions those two players can be. The final deadline to decide who will be kept will occur sometime after the Stanley Cup Finals but before our own expansion draft (see rule 2 below). These chosen players will be referred to as "Franchise Players."
2) At a later to be determined date (preceding the full fantasy draft), any new player who wishes to join our Fantasy Hockey League The Main Event will be allowed to participate in the "Expansion Draft." The Expansion Draft order will be randomly determined before the event. The event will be held offline, with participants posting their choices to a specifically enabled blog entry (this will allow everyone to see the draft picks quickly). The players eligible in the Expansion Draft will be any current NHL player who was not chosen as a franchise player. Each team participating in the expansion draft will be allowed two choices; one in round one and one in round two. Players selected in this expansion draft will also become "Franchise Players."
3) Once the expansion draft has been conducted, the order for the full draft will be posted. The draft order will be expansion teams followed by the teams from last season. For the first draft round, the expansion teams' order will be opposite what it was in the expansion draft; the returning teams' order will be opposite their final rankings (as seen here). Second round will reverse that order, with each successive round alternating (this is how Yahoo set up their drafts). The draft itself will most likely held offline through this blog. The decision about that will be made later in a separate post.
4) Once everyone has their Franchise Players and their draft positions, any of those can be traded as the owner sees fit. This means draft positions are up for trade as are franchise players. Whatever you think you want to do. The final trade will still go through the commissioner. Trades of this kind can be set up at any point but will not be made official until the draft order is established.
5) Proposed Changes to the Scoring System: There have been no calls to remove any stats used this past year, but a few adds have been suggested. Blocked shots (if Yahoo keeps track of them) could be added to give more weight to the defenders. Games Started could be added for goalies as an incentive to play goalies above and beyond the minimum. Shots-on-goal would reward tenacious players, though it may cripple anyone from the Sabres. The final scoring changes will be decided before the main draft is held.
6) Personnel Changes: It has also been suggested that a few more starter slots be added to the game (thus expanding the number of players on each team). Any suggestions on if and how many players should be added will be welcome.
Hopefully that's enough for now. Please Comment :)
Monday, April 9, 2007
Final Results - Nocturne's Killers Slaughter Competition
Final Standings in 2006-2007 Fantasy Hockey League "The Main Event" are as follows:
1. Nocturne's Killers (Stephen, East Lansing)
2. Thunder Bay (Andrew, Mason)
3. AmIGone (Charles, Norristown)
4. Ice Kinkajous (Nick, Farmington Hills)
5. Mighty Taco (Doug, Chicago)
6. Bombers (Bob, Midland)
7. Wicked Pissahs (Mike, Boston)
8. Windy City Matrix (Jen, Chicago)
9. chiefs (Jeff, Buffalo)
10. DaZ (Derek, Jackson)
After three grueling weeks of fantasy hockey playoffs, the results are finally in: Half of the teams had already dusted off their golf clubs and forgot to show up for the final two weeks. The other half put in their finest games yet, creating a series of rather lopsided victories.
chiefs pulled off their most important win of the season to keep off the bottom of the heap, defeating DaZ 7-3. Offense was the key to this victory with the chiefs doubling DaZ in penalty minutes and trouncing them in assists (13 point margin) and face-offs won (119 point margin)! The only silver lining for DaZ with this outcome is the high draft picks available next year. The chiefs, of course, will have a similar draft position and hope to continue their comeback next year.
Wicked Pissahs, disappointed at being left out of the big dance, vented their frustrations on Windy City Matrix, pounding them for a 9-2 victory. The only categories conceded were assists and power play points. Superb play from all involved gave the Pissahs their much deserved victory. The Pissahs hope to turn this final victory into momentum for next season. As for the Matrices, their experience gained over the course of the season moved them above the bottom and bodes well for their continued growth.
The Bombers and Mighty Taco were both idle this last week, having finished their series in the previous week. Both hope to prove that this years success was not a fluke with a strong comeback next year. Also, neither is willing to settle for the losing position in the Bowman league two years in a row. Expect big changes from these two.
AmIGone managed to save their season by beating Ice Kinkajous for third place overall. The 8-3 victory was assisted by good showings early on by their goalies, but ultimately cemented by a superb performance by the skaters. AmIGone dominated in plus-minus numbers (registering +30 in the first week alone) by a margin of 22 and in face-offs by a margin of 120. This was the closest of any of the final week matchups by far. Both teams look poised for next year to make a run at the finals.
Finally, in the matchup everyone was watching, Thunder Bay succumbed to Nocturne's Killers 8-2. In final quotes from the Bay, the manager Andrew expressed these feelings to Stephen, the manager of the Killers: "Congrats mate. I'll be gunnin' for you next year." At the other podium, the Killers couldn't contain their emotion, "Woohoo! I won as the big underdog!!" In a phone interview, the Killer's manager was quick to point out that his team went from fighting DaZ for the final playoff spot to winning it all, against all odds. (He also pointed out that DaZ failed to win another game, obviously demoralized by a superior force.) The Killers have set the bar for the league and look to be on everyone's radar next season. Once again, Congratulations to Nocturne's Killers!
Good Night and Good Luck.
1. Nocturne's Killers (Stephen, East Lansing)
2. Thunder Bay (Andrew, Mason)
3. AmIGone (Charles, Norristown)
4. Ice Kinkajous (Nick, Farmington Hills)
5. Mighty Taco (Doug, Chicago)
6. Bombers (Bob, Midland)
7. Wicked Pissahs (Mike, Boston)
8. Windy City Matrix (Jen, Chicago)
9. chiefs (Jeff, Buffalo)
10. DaZ (Derek, Jackson)
After three grueling weeks of fantasy hockey playoffs, the results are finally in: Half of the teams had already dusted off their golf clubs and forgot to show up for the final two weeks. The other half put in their finest games yet, creating a series of rather lopsided victories.
chiefs pulled off their most important win of the season to keep off the bottom of the heap, defeating DaZ 7-3. Offense was the key to this victory with the chiefs doubling DaZ in penalty minutes and trouncing them in assists (13 point margin) and face-offs won (119 point margin)! The only silver lining for DaZ with this outcome is the high draft picks available next year. The chiefs, of course, will have a similar draft position and hope to continue their comeback next year.
Wicked Pissahs, disappointed at being left out of the big dance, vented their frustrations on Windy City Matrix, pounding them for a 9-2 victory. The only categories conceded were assists and power play points. Superb play from all involved gave the Pissahs their much deserved victory. The Pissahs hope to turn this final victory into momentum for next season. As for the Matrices, their experience gained over the course of the season moved them above the bottom and bodes well for their continued growth.
The Bombers and Mighty Taco were both idle this last week, having finished their series in the previous week. Both hope to prove that this years success was not a fluke with a strong comeback next year. Also, neither is willing to settle for the losing position in the Bowman league two years in a row. Expect big changes from these two.
AmIGone managed to save their season by beating Ice Kinkajous for third place overall. The 8-3 victory was assisted by good showings early on by their goalies, but ultimately cemented by a superb performance by the skaters. AmIGone dominated in plus-minus numbers (registering +30 in the first week alone) by a margin of 22 and in face-offs by a margin of 120. This was the closest of any of the final week matchups by far. Both teams look poised for next year to make a run at the finals.
Finally, in the matchup everyone was watching, Thunder Bay succumbed to Nocturne's Killers 8-2. In final quotes from the Bay, the manager Andrew expressed these feelings to Stephen, the manager of the Killers: "Congrats mate. I'll be gunnin' for you next year." At the other podium, the Killers couldn't contain their emotion, "Woohoo! I won as the big underdog!!" In a phone interview, the Killer's manager was quick to point out that his team went from fighting DaZ for the final playoff spot to winning it all, against all odds. (He also pointed out that DaZ failed to win another game, obviously demoralized by a superior force.) The Killers have set the bar for the league and look to be on everyone's radar next season. Once again, Congratulations to Nocturne's Killers!
Good Night and Good Luck.
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