Well, here they are. A strange, injury/steroids-riddled year without much drama. I have an idea for a simple structural change I think will improve the competitiveness of league I'll run by people over the off season. If I get enough positive feedback I'll present it for a vote at draft.
Take care and happy playoffs, everyone! (Go Rays!)
1)(1) Green Sox (Vic): Gonzalez (HR) 22; Dunn (HR) 34; Cabrera (RBI) 137 [68.5] = 124.5
Cabrera again can't be beat (except by Cabrera, right Mark?). Even a steroids bust and an slightly under performing Dunn couldn't stop this squad. Congrats!
2)(3) In-Stiches (Bonnie): Fielder (HR) 25; Davis (HR) 53; Hamilton (RBI) 79 [39.5] = 117.5
Big week at the end moves Bonnie up. Davis almost makes up for Hamilton. A great season for these guys ...
3(2) Maddoning Crowd (Rob): Encarnacion (HR) 36; Freeman (HR) 23; Encarnacion (RBI) 104 [52] = 111
Encarnacion doing nothing the last 2 weeks costs this squad second and maybe even the whole thing. A slightly disappointing finish for a team that could have taken it all.
4)(4) Sharks (Mark): Cabrera (HR) 44; Beltre (HR) 30; Utley (RBI) 69 [34.5] = 108.5
Big finish almost pushed these guys into the top three. Never the less, a nice comeback after the Braun debacle.
5)(5) Garvey's Army (Steve): Puig (HR) 19; Hamilton (HR) 21; Fielder (RBI) 106 [53] = 93
This team got Hamiltoned: an even average year from him and they are top three or higher. Still, not a terrible inaugural season for the man from the great yellow north ...
6)(6) Steroids Error (Eric & Laurel): Butler (HR) 15; Cespedes (HR) 26; Gonzalez (RBI) 100 [50] = 91
Death by (lack of) home runs. That's all there is to it.
7(7) Bushmills League (Kevin): Longoria (HR) 32; Bruce (HR) 30; Ethier (RBI) 52 [26] = 88
Not quite enough anywhere here. Especially RBIs. Still, at least there was no Jason Bay around this time ...
8)(8) Wassailing Piscators (Bill): DL Pujols (HR) 17; DL Heywood (HR) 13; DL Pujols (RBI) 64 [32] = 62
The fat lady has sung - aria after aria. Somwhere in the misty distance a lone bugle is playing taps ...
AWARDS PRESENTATION
This squad led from the start to the finish. A well-deserved award, if there ever was one ...
The Lead Sombrero (A.K.A. The Jason Bay Award) - Eric & Laurel
This goes to the owner(s) who made the worst draft choice. I was temped to split the award between the Josh Hamilton victims, but, except for the injury risk, he looked like a very good pick back in April. I also considered the Heyward and Stanton choices, but they were so badly derailed by injuries that they really couldn't be evaluated in any fair sense. Cespedes, though, was unproven, a big-time risk. Though his numbers weren't horrible, Eric & Laurel could have easily picked up a bigger banger in that slot and maybe moved up two or three places in the standings. These two drafted with their hearts instead of their heads, which always will put a owner in the running for this award. So congrats to the Eco-Twins! Eric, you have now won this two years in a row - and by the transitive marriage property so has Laurel ( did anyone say annulment?). Maybe next year you two can figure out some way to draft Philip Rivers for HRs ...
This award is for best mid-season replacement choice. This one goes to Steve for his Puig leap of faith. The P-Man came up too late in the season to help Steve in the standings much, but it was a gutty move to pick up this young semi-malcontent - and it warmed the heart of everyone here at the league office. Congratulations, Steve - year one for you and you've already got a trophy (albeit an imaginary one).
FINANCES
For everyone but Kevin and Steve I will collect at Thanksgiving (I'll send out a reminder notice when the date gets closer). Since we have a bigger pot this year I think we should have a 2nd place pay out. (Sorry, Vic, but this is an executive decision - you still get more than the winner did last year).
Vic: +$80.00
Bonnie: +$25.00
Rob: - $5.00
Mark: - $10.00
Steve: - $15.00
Eric: - $20.00
Kevin: - $25.00
Bill - $30.00
Take care and happy playoffs, everyone! (Go Rays!)
1)(1) Green Sox (Vic): Gonzalez (HR) 22; Dunn (HR) 34; Cabrera (RBI) 137 [68.5] = 124.5
Cabrera again can't be beat (except by Cabrera, right Mark?). Even a steroids bust and an slightly under performing Dunn couldn't stop this squad. Congrats!
2)(3) In-Stiches (Bonnie): Fielder (HR) 25; Davis (HR) 53; Hamilton (RBI) 79 [39.5] = 117.5
Big week at the end moves Bonnie up. Davis almost makes up for Hamilton. A great season for these guys ...
3(2) Maddoning Crowd (Rob): Encarnacion (HR) 36; Freeman (HR) 23; Encarnacion (RBI) 104 [52] = 111
Encarnacion doing nothing the last 2 weeks costs this squad second and maybe even the whole thing. A slightly disappointing finish for a team that could have taken it all.
4)(4) Sharks (Mark): Cabrera (HR) 44; Beltre (HR) 30; Utley (RBI) 69 [34.5] = 108.5
Big finish almost pushed these guys into the top three. Never the less, a nice comeback after the Braun debacle.
5)(5) Garvey's Army (Steve): Puig (HR) 19; Hamilton (HR) 21; Fielder (RBI) 106 [53] = 93
This team got Hamiltoned: an even average year from him and they are top three or higher. Still, not a terrible inaugural season for the man from the great yellow north ...
6)(6) Steroids Error (Eric & Laurel): Butler (HR) 15; Cespedes (HR) 26; Gonzalez (RBI) 100 [50] = 91
Death by (lack of) home runs. That's all there is to it.
7(7) Bushmills League (Kevin): Longoria (HR) 32; Bruce (HR) 30; Ethier (RBI) 52 [26] = 88
Not quite enough anywhere here. Especially RBIs. Still, at least there was no Jason Bay around this time ...
8)(8) Wassailing Piscators (Bill): DL Pujols (HR) 17; DL Heywood (HR) 13; DL Pujols (RBI) 64 [32] = 62
The fat lady has sung - aria after aria. Somwhere in the misty distance a lone bugle is playing taps ...
AWARDS PRESENTATION
Victor Zahn Jr. Memorial Championship Trophy -Vic
This squad led from the start to the finish. A well-deserved award, if there ever was one ...
This goes to the owner(s) who made the worst draft choice. I was temped to split the award between the Josh Hamilton victims, but, except for the injury risk, he looked like a very good pick back in April. I also considered the Heyward and Stanton choices, but they were so badly derailed by injuries that they really couldn't be evaluated in any fair sense. Cespedes, though, was unproven, a big-time risk. Though his numbers weren't horrible, Eric & Laurel could have easily picked up a bigger banger in that slot and maybe moved up two or three places in the standings. These two drafted with their hearts instead of their heads, which always will put a owner in the running for this award. So congrats to the Eco-Twins! Eric, you have now won this two years in a row - and by the transitive marriage property so has Laurel ( did anyone say annulment?). Maybe next year you two can figure out some way to draft Philip Rivers for HRs ...
The Mike Trout Award -Steve
This award is for best mid-season replacement choice. This one goes to Steve for his Puig leap of faith. The P-Man came up too late in the season to help Steve in the standings much, but it was a gutty move to pick up this young semi-malcontent - and it warmed the heart of everyone here at the league office. Congratulations, Steve - year one for you and you've already got a trophy (albeit an imaginary one).
FINANCES
For everyone but Kevin and Steve I will collect at Thanksgiving (I'll send out a reminder notice when the date gets closer). Since we have a bigger pot this year I think we should have a 2nd place pay out. (Sorry, Vic, but this is an executive decision - you still get more than the winner did last year).
Vic: +$80.00
Bonnie: +$25.00
Rob: - $5.00
Mark: - $10.00
Steve: - $15.00
Eric: - $20.00
Kevin: - $25.00
Bill - $30.00
