Author's Note: Monday's scoring corrections are still pending.
Finals Recap
#2 AbsolutDomination beats #1 The Duda Abides: 384.50 - 376.17
Ooooof! This one came down to the wire and it was reaaaaally close. Dugan was down big all week, but he had 5 starters on Sunday, making an improbable comeback sound not so impossible. The key to Dugan's comeback attempt laid within the NL Central Division race. The Reds. Johnny Cueto, and Aroldis Chapman needed to win (and pick up the save) against the Pirates, thereby making the Cardinals the division winners. Then, the Cardinals would scratch Wainwright and all their hitters, sending a AAA lineup and a bunch of crappy bullpen arms against Josh Collmenter and the Arizona Diamondbacks. And that is exactly what happened: Cueto went 8 strong, picked up the win, and Chapman cleared up for the save, striking out 3 in the process. Collmenter delivered on his part, pitching a gem: 8 IP, 1 ER, only 3 baserunners.
However, Arizona's offensive ineptitude costed Dugan dearly. Five St Louis relievers combined for the 2-hit shutout, giving Collmenter the incredibly tough 1-0 loss and costing Dugan the title. A really tough break, in what seemed like a foregone conclusion at around 4:30 pm ET. The clutch swing of the matchup, however, belonged to...
Finals MVP: Adrián González
A super-clutch 3-run HR in his last at-bat of the season proved to be the game-winner. El Titán homered in his last two games, reaching base safely in all 4 of his plate appearances and totaling 18 points despite exiting before the 5th inning in both contests.
3rd Place Match
#3 AntarcticanAmericans beats #5 Good Will Bunting: 390.83 - 373.50
Jon faced a similar situation as Dugan: down big with 5 pitchers left. However, this comeback was not meant to be either, as Jon's hitting abandoned him the last day: 3/18 with only 2.50 points. Doug had left the door open with some anti-clutch hitting of his own: 2/23 for 3 points. In the end, Zack Greinke's quality start and Zach Britton's save provided the winning margin.
Greinke wins the best player award for this matchup with 41.50 pts. Danny Duffy's -8 points in a must-win game for the Royals will haunt Jon throughout the offseason as the former champion finishes out of the money.
Final Standings
1. AbsolutDomination
2. The Duda Abides
3. AntarcticanAmericans
4. Good Will Bunting
5. Walker Texas Rangers
6. Schweddy Balls
7. Home Grown Hitters
8. MVPuig
9. Honey Nut Ichiros
10. Wain's World
11. Gas House Gorillas
12. Limp Noodles
Thanks to everyone for participating and staying active till the end. I'll be back later in the week to give season awards to the best and the worst.
Sunday, September 28, 2014
Monday, September 22, 2014
California Penal League - Week 24 Review
And we are down to two! Last week of the baseball season!
Semifinals Recap
#1 The Duda Abides dispatches #5 Good Will Bunting: 360.83 to 309.83
The champion is no more! This year we will crown a new champion, after #1 seed Dugan had no trouble beating defending king-of-the-castle Jon A. by a comfortable margin. As has been the case all year, Dugan relied on a strong lineup composed of above-average hitters, highlighted by breakout player of the year candidate Corey Dickerson's 31 points. In the end, Dugan's batters contributed 190 points, versus only 125 for Jon's. Good Will Bunting's futility was exemplified by Nolan Arenado, who didn't play at all this week, and now has been shutdown for the remainder of the season with signs of pneumonia. You could say that Jon has coughed up the opportunity to repeat. See what I did there?
#2 AbsolutDomination crushes #3 AntarcticanAmericans: 406.67 to 327.33
For the second straight year, Doug came into the semifinals with the best team in the league on paper. for the second straight year, he'll be playing for 3rd place money. Carlos Gomez, knowing that he was playing against a Brewers fan, decided to only score 6 points. None of his pitchers scored more than 30 points, despite having two starters pitch twice. Meanwhile, Jake Arrieta threw an absolute gem, a one-hit, 13 K complete game shutout of the Reds... and Michael Cuddyer homered in three straight games, including a 17.5 point effort on Friday night. This one was never in doubt. I don't think Doug cares much about this because he won the 87-person football picks pool this week, which will cover up for what he might've made had he played in the finals. You win some, you lose some.
Skip this if you don't care about football, betting, or both. Doug went an absurd 13-2 against the spread yesterday, with the only losses being Houston at the Giants and Denver at Seattle. Now, I also had Denver in that game, getting 4.5 points in the Super Bowl rematch. How absurd was that final drive, though? Think about it... the only way Seattle can still win against the spread is if Denver converts the 2 points, they go to overtime, and Seattle scores a TD to win it. Which will only happen if they get the ball first, because they would totally settle for a FG if such a score wins the game. And that's exactly what happens. Where was Seattle's D in that final drive though? Denver ran that out-and-up play twice for like 168 yards and there was nobody within 15 yards of the receiver.
Finals Preview
#1 The Duda Abides vs. #2 AbsolutDomination:
Dugan dominated the regular season series, winning both matchups. He had 200 more points than me, has an absurd lineup, and FIVE two-start pitchers this week. Oh yeah, and my catcher has both strep throat and a kidney stone. So... how can I win? I don't know. It'll probably take a repeat of last week's hitting performance, which might be asking too much of a team that hadn't clicked all year. My team won't be hitting 10 home runs again.
Key Matchup:
D. Holland, J. Samardzija, and J. Peavy vs. W.Y. Chen.
What? What does that even mean, you might be asking... well, I made a roster move to pick up Peavy as a two-start pitcher and decided to go all-in on Monday. If I don't race to a significant lead today, I'm giving up on this matchup altogether. After today, Dugan has 11 projected starts to 7 of mine, and that doesn't account for the fact I already used one of my three roster moves.
Key Matchup #2:
Joey Bats vs. The Artist Formerly Known As E5
Only cause they are teammates and two of my favorite nicknames in all of sports... right up there with "He Hate Me" and Jake "Daylight come and you gotta" Delhomme.
Prediction:
Normally, I'm all about the reverse jinxes, even when I secretly believe I have a chance. This week, though, I am pretty sure that I'm not going to win. In fact, Dugan: where do you want me to mail the check for $525?
3rd Place Match
#3 AntarcticanAmericans vs. #5 Good Will Bunting:
Doug and Jon still have to play for $150. That's a pretty good night out, so still worth playing hard for. Not important enough for me to do a complete breakdown of the matchup. though. My money is on Doug in this one. Too much Miggy, too much Trout, too much Cruz, too much Brantley. His once amazing pitching is no more, though, and two-start weeks for Chris Sale and Felix Hernandez can swing this to Jon's side.
Actually, I'm changing my prediction just to jinx Jon... Allen wins it behind sterling efforts of his two aces.
Consolation Bracket
Ryan finishes in 5th place, after beating Ralph by a ton. Pearse has finished in 11th place, meaning that our newcomer Drew is now our Sack-o Drew. Go watch the League if you don't get that reference, you're missing out. Kyle and Bill play this week for 7th place and Mike and Jon S. play for 9th place... seriously, why even... anyway...
I'll be back next week to officially crown Dugan as champion and find out who finished in the money. See you then!
Semifinals Recap
#1 The Duda Abides dispatches #5 Good Will Bunting: 360.83 to 309.83
The champion is no more! This year we will crown a new champion, after #1 seed Dugan had no trouble beating defending king-of-the-castle Jon A. by a comfortable margin. As has been the case all year, Dugan relied on a strong lineup composed of above-average hitters, highlighted by breakout player of the year candidate Corey Dickerson's 31 points. In the end, Dugan's batters contributed 190 points, versus only 125 for Jon's. Good Will Bunting's futility was exemplified by Nolan Arenado, who didn't play at all this week, and now has been shutdown for the remainder of the season with signs of pneumonia. You could say that Jon has coughed up the opportunity to repeat. See what I did there?
#2 AbsolutDomination crushes #3 AntarcticanAmericans: 406.67 to 327.33
For the second straight year, Doug came into the semifinals with the best team in the league on paper. for the second straight year, he'll be playing for 3rd place money. Carlos Gomez, knowing that he was playing against a Brewers fan, decided to only score 6 points. None of his pitchers scored more than 30 points, despite having two starters pitch twice. Meanwhile, Jake Arrieta threw an absolute gem, a one-hit, 13 K complete game shutout of the Reds... and Michael Cuddyer homered in three straight games, including a 17.5 point effort on Friday night. This one was never in doubt. I don't think Doug cares much about this because he won the 87-person football picks pool this week, which will cover up for what he might've made had he played in the finals. You win some, you lose some.
Skip this if you don't care about football, betting, or both. Doug went an absurd 13-2 against the spread yesterday, with the only losses being Houston at the Giants and Denver at Seattle. Now, I also had Denver in that game, getting 4.5 points in the Super Bowl rematch. How absurd was that final drive, though? Think about it... the only way Seattle can still win against the spread is if Denver converts the 2 points, they go to overtime, and Seattle scores a TD to win it. Which will only happen if they get the ball first, because they would totally settle for a FG if such a score wins the game. And that's exactly what happens. Where was Seattle's D in that final drive though? Denver ran that out-and-up play twice for like 168 yards and there was nobody within 15 yards of the receiver.
Finals Preview
#1 The Duda Abides vs. #2 AbsolutDomination:
Dugan dominated the regular season series, winning both matchups. He had 200 more points than me, has an absurd lineup, and FIVE two-start pitchers this week. Oh yeah, and my catcher has both strep throat and a kidney stone. So... how can I win? I don't know. It'll probably take a repeat of last week's hitting performance, which might be asking too much of a team that hadn't clicked all year. My team won't be hitting 10 home runs again.
Key Matchup:
D. Holland, J. Samardzija, and J. Peavy vs. W.Y. Chen.
What? What does that even mean, you might be asking... well, I made a roster move to pick up Peavy as a two-start pitcher and decided to go all-in on Monday. If I don't race to a significant lead today, I'm giving up on this matchup altogether. After today, Dugan has 11 projected starts to 7 of mine, and that doesn't account for the fact I already used one of my three roster moves.
Key Matchup #2:
Joey Bats vs. The Artist Formerly Known As E5
Only cause they are teammates and two of my favorite nicknames in all of sports... right up there with "He Hate Me" and Jake "Daylight come and you gotta" Delhomme.
Prediction:
Normally, I'm all about the reverse jinxes, even when I secretly believe I have a chance. This week, though, I am pretty sure that I'm not going to win. In fact, Dugan: where do you want me to mail the check for $525?
3rd Place Match
#3 AntarcticanAmericans vs. #5 Good Will Bunting:
Doug and Jon still have to play for $150. That's a pretty good night out, so still worth playing hard for. Not important enough for me to do a complete breakdown of the matchup. though. My money is on Doug in this one. Too much Miggy, too much Trout, too much Cruz, too much Brantley. His once amazing pitching is no more, though, and two-start weeks for Chris Sale and Felix Hernandez can swing this to Jon's side.
Actually, I'm changing my prediction just to jinx Jon... Allen wins it behind sterling efforts of his two aces.
Consolation Bracket
Ryan finishes in 5th place, after beating Ralph by a ton. Pearse has finished in 11th place, meaning that our newcomer Drew is now our Sack-o Drew. Go watch the League if you don't get that reference, you're missing out. Kyle and Bill play this week for 7th place and Mike and Jon S. play for 9th place... seriously, why even... anyway...
I'll be back next week to officially crown Dugan as champion and find out who finished in the money. See you then!
Monday, September 15, 2014
California Penal League - Week 23
Hey everyone! Look, baseball is still going on!!! I've watched exactly 0 innings since football season started, but that's going to have to change as we are down to the final four teams. Without further ado.
Quarterfinals Recap
#3 AntarcticanAmericans squeezes by #6 Schweddy Balls: 318.83 to 304.43
Our first quarterfinal was a tight one, as Doug sneaks by Ralph by a meager 14.4 points. In fact, it looked like Ralph might have a chance to take this one, but Hector Santiago's disastrous start at home against the Astros spelled his doom. Santiago only pitched 2 innings, enough to allow 10 baserunners to reach, 3 of them to score, and pick up the loss. Ralph only needed 10 points from this start, and instead got -10. Doug survives as sets up a classic matchup against Luis.
#5 Good Will Bunting upsets #4 Walker Texas Rangers: 345.33 to 310.50
Jon A. rides strong performances from Chris Sale (31 points) and Matt Holliday (31.50) in a matchup that was never in doubt. A steady performance highlighted by 4 players scoring 30 or more points. As for Ryan, this is the second year in a row that he loses in the quarterfinal as the higher seed. Is some kind of trend developing here? Or is just pure coincidence? I guess we'll find out next year. Then again, Anthony Rizzo and Dustin Pedroia combined for -0.50 pts. Can't win when your two best hitters no-show.
Semifinals Preview
#1 The Duda Abides vs. #5 Good Will Bunting:
Dugan dominated the regular season series, winning both matchup, including that mythical Week 6 shellacking: 440 to 178. Our regular season champion relied on strong, power hitting from David Ortiz, a bounceback campaign from Ian Kinsler and a 20/20 season from Brian Dozier to lead the way. There's also Lucroy, Ryan Braun, The Artist Formerly Know as E5, and Hanley. This is a scary team when it comes to hitting. However, the MVP is one Mr. Johnny Cueto. The Reds ace has been just that, currently 3rd in total pitching points, only behind Cy Kershaw (Clayton Young?) and ...
... King Felix Hernandez. He of the 18-8 record with 225 strikeouts in 219 innings. He of the microscopic 0.92 WHIP. Let's just say this is definitely not that same GWB team that got walloped early this year. A resurgent Matt Holliday leads the way, and new addition Kennys Vargas has provided an offensive spark. The loss of Paul Goldschmidt earlier in the year is a big blow to GWB's aspirations, as he is replaced in the lineup by Casey McGehee (!!!). The strength of this team lies in the bullpen, where power arms Kenley Jansen and Craig Kimbrel dominated all year long. The recent Braves slump must worry Coach Allen, but a 6-game homestand against the Nats and Mets could do wonders for him. And don't forget about Felix's AL Cy Young competition, Chris Sale, his 1.99 ERA, and equally microscopic 0.92 WHIP.
Key Matchup:
Felix Hernandez (@LAA) against Johnny Cueto (@CHC, @STL?)
King Felix travels to Anaheim, where he owns the Angels. Meanwhile, Cueto faces Jake Arrieta Tuesday and could be in line for a Sunday start if given normal rest. This is the key to victory for both teams.
Prediction:
Dugan was unable to use the bye week to set up his starting rotation, deciding to wait until Monday morning to make 2 moves, meaning his down to only 1 left for the remainder of the week. If he had done those moves at any point last week, he could've had all 3 moves to work with. This may come back to haunt him, and what should've been a comfortable victory might turn into a huge upset. The Cubs clubber the Reds at Wrigley early in the week and Jon streams late to make the finals for the 2nd straight year.
#2 AbsolutDomination vs. #3 AntarcticanAmericans:
This are equally tight in the other side of the bracket, as myself and Doug will face-off with another final spot on the line. Doug dominated in the total points scored department, outpacing his nearest competitor by 400 points. His team was the only one to surpass the 8,000 point mark. However, some bad luck and poorly timed cold streaks left him in 3rd place. The season series finished 1-1, with me taking the first matchup and Doug getting revenge later in the year.
My team relies on Clayton Kershaw and Max Scherzer to provide the fireworks. Midseason acquisition Joey Bats provides the home runs, and Josh Donaldson the flair. I mean, look at that hair. Meanwhile, Doug's team relies on Miggy and Trout, that deadly 1-2 punch. Add Michael Brantley and Nelson Cruz to the mix, and AA boasts of having 4 of the top 10 hitters in points scored. The loss of Melky Cabrera, another top 25 hitter, will be huge as well.
Key Matchup:
H. Street, J. McGee, and D. Storen vs. F. Rodriguez, Z. Britton, M. Melancon. and G. Perkins
If one of the two teams can get a decisive edge in the closer battle, it'll go a long way in deciding who advances to the final.
Prediction:
Given the difference in talent between these two teams, as evidenced by the 500 point gap in points scored during the year, Doug is the clear favorite to advance. Anything else would be shocking. Expect some aggressive streaming from the two most active add/droppers of this league. Hopefully, this won't turn into a blowout but I just don't see how my team can compete, especially in hitting. If Scherzer struggles tonight in Minnesota, it's over before it even gets started.
Consolation Bracket
Oh and quick mention of our consolation bracket! Mike beat Pearse and Shidler beat Drew. Wait, what??? Mike won??? He's not going to finish last???? Nooooo!!!! What happened???
It'll be #7 Kyle vs #12 Mike and #8 Bill vs #10 Jon S. in the semifinals of the consolation bracket. Pearse and Drew will duke it out for 11th place, a.k.a the Sacko Bowl.
Quarterfinals Recap
#3 AntarcticanAmericans squeezes by #6 Schweddy Balls: 318.83 to 304.43
Our first quarterfinal was a tight one, as Doug sneaks by Ralph by a meager 14.4 points. In fact, it looked like Ralph might have a chance to take this one, but Hector Santiago's disastrous start at home against the Astros spelled his doom. Santiago only pitched 2 innings, enough to allow 10 baserunners to reach, 3 of them to score, and pick up the loss. Ralph only needed 10 points from this start, and instead got -10. Doug survives as sets up a classic matchup against Luis.
#5 Good Will Bunting upsets #4 Walker Texas Rangers: 345.33 to 310.50
Jon A. rides strong performances from Chris Sale (31 points) and Matt Holliday (31.50) in a matchup that was never in doubt. A steady performance highlighted by 4 players scoring 30 or more points. As for Ryan, this is the second year in a row that he loses in the quarterfinal as the higher seed. Is some kind of trend developing here? Or is just pure coincidence? I guess we'll find out next year. Then again, Anthony Rizzo and Dustin Pedroia combined for -0.50 pts. Can't win when your two best hitters no-show.
Semifinals Preview
#1 The Duda Abides vs. #5 Good Will Bunting:
Dugan dominated the regular season series, winning both matchup, including that mythical Week 6 shellacking: 440 to 178. Our regular season champion relied on strong, power hitting from David Ortiz, a bounceback campaign from Ian Kinsler and a 20/20 season from Brian Dozier to lead the way. There's also Lucroy, Ryan Braun, The Artist Formerly Know as E5, and Hanley. This is a scary team when it comes to hitting. However, the MVP is one Mr. Johnny Cueto. The Reds ace has been just that, currently 3rd in total pitching points, only behind Cy Kershaw (Clayton Young?) and ...
... King Felix Hernandez. He of the 18-8 record with 225 strikeouts in 219 innings. He of the microscopic 0.92 WHIP. Let's just say this is definitely not that same GWB team that got walloped early this year. A resurgent Matt Holliday leads the way, and new addition Kennys Vargas has provided an offensive spark. The loss of Paul Goldschmidt earlier in the year is a big blow to GWB's aspirations, as he is replaced in the lineup by Casey McGehee (!!!). The strength of this team lies in the bullpen, where power arms Kenley Jansen and Craig Kimbrel dominated all year long. The recent Braves slump must worry Coach Allen, but a 6-game homestand against the Nats and Mets could do wonders for him. And don't forget about Felix's AL Cy Young competition, Chris Sale, his 1.99 ERA, and equally microscopic 0.92 WHIP.
Key Matchup:
Felix Hernandez (@LAA) against Johnny Cueto (@CHC, @STL?)
King Felix travels to Anaheim, where he owns the Angels. Meanwhile, Cueto faces Jake Arrieta Tuesday and could be in line for a Sunday start if given normal rest. This is the key to victory for both teams.
Prediction:
Dugan was unable to use the bye week to set up his starting rotation, deciding to wait until Monday morning to make 2 moves, meaning his down to only 1 left for the remainder of the week. If he had done those moves at any point last week, he could've had all 3 moves to work with. This may come back to haunt him, and what should've been a comfortable victory might turn into a huge upset. The Cubs clubber the Reds at Wrigley early in the week and Jon streams late to make the finals for the 2nd straight year.
#2 AbsolutDomination vs. #3 AntarcticanAmericans:
This are equally tight in the other side of the bracket, as myself and Doug will face-off with another final spot on the line. Doug dominated in the total points scored department, outpacing his nearest competitor by 400 points. His team was the only one to surpass the 8,000 point mark. However, some bad luck and poorly timed cold streaks left him in 3rd place. The season series finished 1-1, with me taking the first matchup and Doug getting revenge later in the year.
My team relies on Clayton Kershaw and Max Scherzer to provide the fireworks. Midseason acquisition Joey Bats provides the home runs, and Josh Donaldson the flair. I mean, look at that hair. Meanwhile, Doug's team relies on Miggy and Trout, that deadly 1-2 punch. Add Michael Brantley and Nelson Cruz to the mix, and AA boasts of having 4 of the top 10 hitters in points scored. The loss of Melky Cabrera, another top 25 hitter, will be huge as well.
Key Matchup:
H. Street, J. McGee, and D. Storen vs. F. Rodriguez, Z. Britton, M. Melancon. and G. Perkins
If one of the two teams can get a decisive edge in the closer battle, it'll go a long way in deciding who advances to the final.
Prediction:
Given the difference in talent between these two teams, as evidenced by the 500 point gap in points scored during the year, Doug is the clear favorite to advance. Anything else would be shocking. Expect some aggressive streaming from the two most active add/droppers of this league. Hopefully, this won't turn into a blowout but I just don't see how my team can compete, especially in hitting. If Scherzer struggles tonight in Minnesota, it's over before it even gets started.
Consolation Bracket
Oh and quick mention of our consolation bracket! Mike beat Pearse and Shidler beat Drew. Wait, what??? Mike won??? He's not going to finish last???? Nooooo!!!! What happened???
It'll be #7 Kyle vs #12 Mike and #8 Bill vs #10 Jon S. in the semifinals of the consolation bracket. Pearse and Drew will duke it out for 11th place, a.k.a the Sacko Bowl.
Come back next week to find out who'll play in the final (and who will play for the 3rd place money).... and who finished last!
Keep enjoying your football! How about them Irish.
Keep enjoying your football! How about them Irish.
Monday, September 1, 2014
California Penal League - Week 21 Review
I'm back from my wedding/honeymoon! Ready to discuss some baseball, before we all forget it exists because the NFL starts in 3 days.
Week 21 Recap
Congratulations to our Regular Season Champion, The Duda Abides. A vicious comeback against Kyle gave Dugan a most-deserved title. Johnny Cueto and Aroldis Chapman combined for the 2658th time this season to get the win/save. Technically, I can still catch him in W-L record, but the point difference is too large to overcome.
The battle for 2nd place (and the bye!) is still ongoing. Doug needs to beat Kyle and wait for Drew to beat me. Any other result and I finish 2nd.
Congratulations also to Allen, who now has that 5th seed all locked up. Since Ryan locked up the 4th seed a long time ago, we know for a fact that one of our playoff match-ups will be Walker Texas Rangers vs. Good Will Bunting.
The last playoff spot is the most interesting of all. Kyle is in pole position: win and he is in. The problem is that he's facing the highest scoring team in the league this year: Doug. Meanwhile, both Bill and Ralph are waiting for Kyle to lose to take over 6th. Bill has a 46 point lead over Ralph, which gives him a slight edge in the potential tiebreak. Ralph is playing Mike, while Bill is playing Jon A....
The last piece of congratulations go to Soltys, who has now clinched last place for the 2nd consecutive year. Well done, sir.
Playoff Scenario Summary
#1 Seed: Kevin D.
#2 Seed: Luis/Doug
#3 Seed: Doug/Luis
Week 21 Recap
Congratulations to our Regular Season Champion, The Duda Abides. A vicious comeback against Kyle gave Dugan a most-deserved title. Johnny Cueto and Aroldis Chapman combined for the 2658th time this season to get the win/save. Technically, I can still catch him in W-L record, but the point difference is too large to overcome.
The battle for 2nd place (and the bye!) is still ongoing. Doug needs to beat Kyle and wait for Drew to beat me. Any other result and I finish 2nd.
Congratulations also to Allen, who now has that 5th seed all locked up. Since Ryan locked up the 4th seed a long time ago, we know for a fact that one of our playoff match-ups will be Walker Texas Rangers vs. Good Will Bunting.
The last playoff spot is the most interesting of all. Kyle is in pole position: win and he is in. The problem is that he's facing the highest scoring team in the league this year: Doug. Meanwhile, both Bill and Ralph are waiting for Kyle to lose to take over 6th. Bill has a 46 point lead over Ralph, which gives him a slight edge in the potential tiebreak. Ralph is playing Mike, while Bill is playing Jon A....
The last piece of congratulations go to Soltys, who has now clinched last place for the 2nd consecutive year. Well done, sir.
Playoff Scenario Summary
#1 Seed: Kevin D.
#2 Seed: Luis/Doug
#3 Seed: Doug/Luis
#4 Seed: Ryan
#5 Seed: Jon A.
#6 Seed: Kyle/Bill/Ralph
#5 Seed: Jon A.
#6 Seed: Kyle/Bill/Ralph
Week 22 Preview
#1 Dugan vs. #4 Kyle: Nothing to see here.
#2 Luis vs. #11 Drew: Luis win clinches the #2 seed.
#3 Doug vs. #6 Kyle: Must win for both teams. One to try and get the bye week. The other needs this one to make the playoffs.
#4 Jon A. vs. #7 Bill: Allen has nothing to play for. Bill can make the playoffs with a win.
#8 Ralph vs. #12 Mike: This is the opponent you want if you need a win to make the playoffs.
#9 Pearse vs. #10 Jon S.: Pillow-fight of the week.
Next week, come back to find out who made the playoffs. Also, I'll be giving out some Regular Season awards to the best and the worst of the fantasy baseball year.
Enjoy your football!
Next week, come back to find out who made the playoffs. Also, I'll be giving out some Regular Season awards to the best and the worst of the fantasy baseball year.
Enjoy your football!
Monday, August 11, 2014
California Penal League - Week 18 Review
Last update for a couple of weeks because yours truly is getting married. And the future wifey probably won't appreciate it if I spend time writing blog posts about fantasy baseball. Don't worry though, I'll make sure to keep you updated of playoff scenarios, and the like.
Week 18 Recap
We have a new leader, as Dugan has taken over first place. Doug couldn't do much against Jon A., who exploded to the tune of 410 points. The loss drops him to 3rd place, a game behind Dugan and myself. Dugan gets 1st place based on his current advantage in total points.
Despite the loss, Ryan has secured a playoff spot thanks to Ralph's loss. Congrats! Virtually locked in into the #4 seed.
Allen's win, coupled with Kyle's victory and Ralph's loss, means that Kyle and Jon now have a two game lead for the final playoff spots. This battle will be key as one of these two will end up having to face the loser of the three-way battle at the very top. That's a matchup everyone would want to avoid.
Somehow, someway, nobody is eliminated from the playoffs. 4 games separate 5th place from 12th place, with 4 games remaining. Yet....
Mike and Drew showed that they belong in the basement, as they combined for less points this week than Allen scored on his own. Shame on you. Especially Mike. After finishing dead last the past season, he traded all his good players for potential keepers... and managed to finish last again. Terrible managing.
Playoff Outlook
With 4 games left, we can start looking at the teams battling for playoff position, and check to see how who has the toughest road left. I took each team's remaining schedule and assigned points based on current standings. For example, if you play the current #2 seed, that's 11 points to your SoS. If you play the #12 seed, that's 1 point. The larger the number, the tougher your schedule, the worst off you are. Without further ado:
Week 18 Recap
We have a new leader, as Dugan has taken over first place. Doug couldn't do much against Jon A., who exploded to the tune of 410 points. The loss drops him to 3rd place, a game behind Dugan and myself. Dugan gets 1st place based on his current advantage in total points.
Despite the loss, Ryan has secured a playoff spot thanks to Ralph's loss. Congrats! Virtually locked in into the #4 seed.
Allen's win, coupled with Kyle's victory and Ralph's loss, means that Kyle and Jon now have a two game lead for the final playoff spots. This battle will be key as one of these two will end up having to face the loser of the three-way battle at the very top. That's a matchup everyone would want to avoid.
Somehow, someway, nobody is eliminated from the playoffs. 4 games separate 5th place from 12th place, with 4 games remaining. Yet....
Mike and Drew showed that they belong in the basement, as they combined for less points this week than Allen scored on his own. Shame on you. Especially Mike. After finishing dead last the past season, he traded all his good players for potential keepers... and managed to finish last again. Terrible managing.
Playoff Outlook
With 4 games left, we can start looking at the teams battling for playoff position, and check to see how who has the toughest road left. I took each team's remaining schedule and assigned points based on current standings. For example, if you play the current #2 seed, that's 11 points to your SoS. If you play the #12 seed, that's 1 point. The larger the number, the tougher your schedule, the worst off you are. Without further ado:
| Team | Week 19 | Week 20 | Week 21 | Week 22 | Total |
| Drew | 12 | 6 | 10 | 11 | 39 |
| Kyle | 8 | 4 | 12 | 10 | 34 |
| Jon S. | 10 | 7 | 9 | 3 | 29 |
| Dugan | 2 | 10 | 7 | 9 | 28 |
| Bill | 6 | 11 | 1 | 8 | 26 |
| Doug | 4 | 12 | 2 | 7 | 25 |
| Ryan | 1 | 8 | 4 | 12 | 25 |
| Jon A. | 7 | 9 | 3 | 5 | 24 |
| Pearse | 11 | 1 | 8 | 4 | 24 |
| Mike | 9 | 3 | 5 | 6 | 23 |
| Ralph | 5 | 2 | 11 | 1 | 19 |
| Luis | 3 | 5 | 6 | 2 | 16 |
The maximum possible rating is 42. The minimum is 10, There are some really interesting things here, but let's focus on the outliers.
1) Ralph has a really good shot at making the playoffs!
Look at that SoS! The second lowest, with 3 easy matchups and 1 really hard one. He should go at least 3-1 and maybe even 4-0 if he can pull off the upset! Compare that with Kyle, who has the second toughest remaining slate, with games against Dugan and Doug to close out the season, as well as a matchup with Jon A. this week. This could get really interesting.
2) If I don't win the regular season, then it'd be a complete choke job.
And I'll change my team name to AbsolutChokeJob, just like that time 2 years ago in the fantasy football league when I started 6-1 and missed the playoffs.
3) Mike, if you finish last, you are truly the worst fantasy player of all time.
Look at poor Drew's schedule. I feel so bad, I'm not even going to make fun of him.
Lucky or Unlucky?
Today's second special feature looks at how lucky or unlucky teams have been. We can do that by looking at their average points scored and average points allowed, and see how does measure up against the rest of the league.
| Team | Pt Diff | O-Rank | D-Rank | Comment |
| Dugan | 1028.84 | 2 | 1 | Lucky! |
| Doug | 886.33 | 1 | 7 | |
| Luis | 572.3 | 3 | 5 | |
| Ryan | 322.5 | 4 | 4 | |
| Kyle | 19.67 | 8 | 2 | Lucky! |
| Bill | -5.65 | 7 | 3 | |
| Jon A. | -66 | 5 | 9 | Little Unlucky! |
| Jon S. | -255.35 | 9 | 6 | |
| Pearse | -430.01 | 10 | 8 | |
| Ralph | -521.48 | 6 | 12 | Very Unlucky! |
| Drew | -720.83 | 11 | 11 | Bad and Unlucky! |
| Mike | -830.32 | 12 | 10 | Plain Bad! |
Now, what we see here has some correlation to the schedule. It should normalize quite a bit by the end of the season, when everyone has played each other twice. We can still draw some conclusions:
- Dugan has allowed the least amount of points, meaning that he has benefited from some bad weeks by opponents.
- Kyle is in a similar situation, having only the 8th most points scored, but sitting in 6th place thanks to some really lucky matchups (like winning with 275 points last week).
- Ralph has been super unlucky, scoring the 6th most amount of points but just get walloped by everybody else.
Week 19 Preview
#1 Dugan vs. #11 Drew: Snowball's chance in hell.
#2 Luis vs. #10 Pearse: Nothing to see here.
#3 Doug vs. #9 Shidler: Have you seen Shide's team? DL United.
#4 Ryan vs. #12 Mike S.: The top 4 playing the bottom 4. Who would've thunk it? But that means that...
#5 Jon A. vs. #6 Kyle: Winner is one huge step closer to the playoffs.
#7 Ralph vs. #8 Bill: Winner stays alive. Loser goes home.
Monday, August 4, 2014
California Penal League - Week 17 Review
After a two-week break due to me being lazy, I'm back recapping some of the most interesting action of a fantasy baseball league in early August. Cut me some slack, don't have a ton to work with here.
Week 17 Recap
We begin at the top, where the top 3 teams won and clinched playoff spots. Congratulations to Doug, Dugan, and yours truly, who have secured a spot in the final 6 with 5 weeks to go. Doug dispatched Soltys effortlessly, Dugan crushed his buddy Jon A., and I won a pillow-fight against Kyle. At 13-4, it looks to be a tight race to the finish. I think I have the advantage in terms of remaining schedule, but I'm also 3rd in points. Doug and Dugan play each other Week 20, presumably for the regular season title.
Trailing not too far behind is Ryan at 12-5, although he's severely lacking in the points category. One more win and he will also clinch a playoff spot, while remaining in contention for one of the coveted bye spots.
The playoff race has two clear front-runners and a bunch of teams chasing after them. Both Jon A. and Kyle are tied for 5th place at 8-9 after losses to the top teams this past week. Trailing behind them is Ralph at 7-10, even though he has 115 more points than Kyle, meaning he would win that tiebreaker. A cluster of 6-11 teams still holds on to playoff hopes: Bill, Jon S. and Drew. These are probably sellers, not buyers.
Bringing up the rear are Pearse and Mike. Mike returns to his familiar 12th spot for the 2nd straight year. No takers for Tulo yet? No one is going to buy a busted car.
Awards
Hitter of the Week - Brett Gardner (AntarcticanAmericans): 48 pts
5 Home Runs! Five! I know most were in Texas, but still. He OWNS Darvish. Three doubles, three singles, and more walks than strikeouts. Insane.
Goat of the Week, Hitter Edition - Carlos Gonzalez (Formerly of AbsolutDomination, now of MVPuig): 1 pt
I'm tired of giving this award to Chris Davis (-0.50 pts) so let's try someone different. Come on up CarGo! 1/15 this week, with only 1 point. I traded him away for Yoenis Cespedes (before the trade to Boston) cause I got tired of his brittleness. What is it about Colorado sluggers (Tulo, Cuddy, CarGo) that makes them so brittle? Either way, enjoy Kyle!
Pitcher of the Week - Greg Holland (Schweddy Balls): 49 pts
Holland picked up 4 saves this week, only allowed 2 baserunners and struckout 6. That's good for the overall lead league in total points for Week 17.
By the way, let's address the issue brought up by Dugan about RP being worthless in this format...
- Did you know that 8 of the top 25 pitchers in total points are closers?
- Did you know that 2 of them actually started off as set-up men? Z. Britton (7 holds) and Melancon (14 holds).
- Did you know that 2 full-time set-up men are in the top 50 in total points for pitchers? Belances (17 holds, 98 K's) and Tony Watson (25 holds).
Bottom line, if we reduce the points / IP by 0.5, then the top 50 are going to be all relievers and a few elite starters. So we need to adjust accordingly.
Goat of the Week, Pitcher Edition - C.J. Wilson (Schweddy Balls): -10.33 pts
Wilson only lasted 1 1/3 innings against the Rays. He got tagged for 6 hits and 6 runs, striking out 2. Picked up the loss. Honorable mention to Adam Wainwright, who got abused by my Brew Crew to the tune of 7 earned in 5 and a third.
Week 18 Preview
#1 Doug vs. #5 Jon A.: Allen probably didn't have a chance before Goldy got hurt. Now, he's gonna get owned.
#2 Dugan vs. #9 Jon S.: The Jons are not going to have a good week. Time to sell, Shide.
#3 Luis vs. #4 Ryan: Matchup of the week. I need this to keep pace with the leaders. Ryan needs the win to clinch a playoff spot and have any hope of finishing in the top 2.
#6 Kyle vs. #12 Mike S.: Golden opportunity for Kyle to take sole possession of 5th and avoid one of the Big 3 in the playoffs.
#7 Ralph vs. #11 Pearse: Ralph could take over one of the playoff spots if a series of results (and points) go his way.
#8 Bill vs. #10 Drew: Pillowfight of the Week!!!! Sell! Sell! Sell!
Have a happy "football is back, even if it's preseason" week!
Week 17 Recap
We begin at the top, where the top 3 teams won and clinched playoff spots. Congratulations to Doug, Dugan, and yours truly, who have secured a spot in the final 6 with 5 weeks to go. Doug dispatched Soltys effortlessly, Dugan crushed his buddy Jon A., and I won a pillow-fight against Kyle. At 13-4, it looks to be a tight race to the finish. I think I have the advantage in terms of remaining schedule, but I'm also 3rd in points. Doug and Dugan play each other Week 20, presumably for the regular season title.
Trailing not too far behind is Ryan at 12-5, although he's severely lacking in the points category. One more win and he will also clinch a playoff spot, while remaining in contention for one of the coveted bye spots.
The playoff race has two clear front-runners and a bunch of teams chasing after them. Both Jon A. and Kyle are tied for 5th place at 8-9 after losses to the top teams this past week. Trailing behind them is Ralph at 7-10, even though he has 115 more points than Kyle, meaning he would win that tiebreaker. A cluster of 6-11 teams still holds on to playoff hopes: Bill, Jon S. and Drew. These are probably sellers, not buyers.
Bringing up the rear are Pearse and Mike. Mike returns to his familiar 12th spot for the 2nd straight year. No takers for Tulo yet? No one is going to buy a busted car.
Awards
Hitter of the Week - Brett Gardner (AntarcticanAmericans): 48 pts
5 Home Runs! Five! I know most were in Texas, but still. He OWNS Darvish. Three doubles, three singles, and more walks than strikeouts. Insane.
Goat of the Week, Hitter Edition - Carlos Gonzalez (Formerly of AbsolutDomination, now of MVPuig): 1 pt
I'm tired of giving this award to Chris Davis (-0.50 pts) so let's try someone different. Come on up CarGo! 1/15 this week, with only 1 point. I traded him away for Yoenis Cespedes (before the trade to Boston) cause I got tired of his brittleness. What is it about Colorado sluggers (Tulo, Cuddy, CarGo) that makes them so brittle? Either way, enjoy Kyle!
Pitcher of the Week - Greg Holland (Schweddy Balls): 49 pts
Holland picked up 4 saves this week, only allowed 2 baserunners and struckout 6. That's good for the overall lead league in total points for Week 17.
By the way, let's address the issue brought up by Dugan about RP being worthless in this format...
- Did you know that 8 of the top 25 pitchers in total points are closers?
- Did you know that 2 of them actually started off as set-up men? Z. Britton (7 holds) and Melancon (14 holds).
- Did you know that 2 full-time set-up men are in the top 50 in total points for pitchers? Belances (17 holds, 98 K's) and Tony Watson (25 holds).
Bottom line, if we reduce the points / IP by 0.5, then the top 50 are going to be all relievers and a few elite starters. So we need to adjust accordingly.
Goat of the Week, Pitcher Edition - C.J. Wilson (Schweddy Balls): -10.33 pts
Wilson only lasted 1 1/3 innings against the Rays. He got tagged for 6 hits and 6 runs, striking out 2. Picked up the loss. Honorable mention to Adam Wainwright, who got abused by my Brew Crew to the tune of 7 earned in 5 and a third.
Week 18 Preview
#1 Doug vs. #5 Jon A.: Allen probably didn't have a chance before Goldy got hurt. Now, he's gonna get owned.
#2 Dugan vs. #9 Jon S.: The Jons are not going to have a good week. Time to sell, Shide.
#3 Luis vs. #4 Ryan: Matchup of the week. I need this to keep pace with the leaders. Ryan needs the win to clinch a playoff spot and have any hope of finishing in the top 2.
#6 Kyle vs. #12 Mike S.: Golden opportunity for Kyle to take sole possession of 5th and avoid one of the Big 3 in the playoffs.
#7 Ralph vs. #11 Pearse: Ralph could take over one of the playoff spots if a series of results (and points) go his way.
#8 Bill vs. #10 Drew: Pillowfight of the Week!!!! Sell! Sell! Sell!
Have a happy "football is back, even if it's preseason" week!
Wednesday, July 9, 2014
World Cup 2014 - Semifinals Preview: Argentina vs. The Netherlands
The only way the Argentina vs. the Netherlands game even compares to what we witnessed yesterday: Messi and Robben brawl it out, hockey-style. I got Messi as a favorite because Robben will probably dive the moment Messi swings at him. Anyway...
Your Mandatory "No love lost between these two teams" Video
The 1978 final would've been a solid choice, but these two teams have met more recently than that. We go back to 1998, when Argentina and the Netherlands met in the Quarterfinals. The final score was 2-1 to the Dutch, and it gave us a sublime moment of skill.
Uniforms
Argentina's albiceleste vs. the Netherlands' oranje. This is as good as it gets when talking about soccer jerseys. The advantage goes to the Dutch, only because Adidas screwed up the shorts, going with white instead of the classic black. Else, it would've been a tie.
Three Burning Questions
1. Who replaces Angel di Maria's endless running?
Sadly, nobody. Di Maria was a unique player in this system, very similar to what Neymar gave Brazil. The difference here is that Argentina still has Messi and Higuain. Brazil had Fred and Hulk. Ugh.
2. Will Robben turn right?
No. He's the left-handed version of Derek Zoolander. Dude always cuts left. Always.
3. How many goals will the Dutch score in counterattacks after Argentina loses possession?
The over/under is 2.5, and I think it's over. I'm dead serious. Argentina is going to dominate possession, Dutch defenders are going to swarm Messi, and eventually they will win the ball back and boot it forward where Robben is going to outrace DeMichelis and Mascherano, a.k.a. Slow and Slower.
Argentina will win if...
... Messi scores a hattrick, because I don't think a brace is going to be enough.
The Netherlands will win if...
... they don't screw up. They are the clear favorites and Argentina's style suits them to perfection.
The Final Score
Argentina 1 - The Netherlands 3. I think this is another case of the South American team getting all emotional at the beginning, then getting hit with European indifference. The Netherlands score early, counterattack late, Messi gets a meaningless goal at the end, and a 1974 final rematch is setup.
Your Mandatory "No love lost between these two teams" Video
The 1978 final would've been a solid choice, but these two teams have met more recently than that. We go back to 1998, when Argentina and the Netherlands met in the Quarterfinals. The final score was 2-1 to the Dutch, and it gave us a sublime moment of skill.
Uniforms
Argentina's albiceleste vs. the Netherlands' oranje. This is as good as it gets when talking about soccer jerseys. The advantage goes to the Dutch, only because Adidas screwed up the shorts, going with white instead of the classic black. Else, it would've been a tie.
Three Burning Questions
1. Who replaces Angel di Maria's endless running?
Sadly, nobody. Di Maria was a unique player in this system, very similar to what Neymar gave Brazil. The difference here is that Argentina still has Messi and Higuain. Brazil had Fred and Hulk. Ugh.
2. Will Robben turn right?
No. He's the left-handed version of Derek Zoolander. Dude always cuts left. Always.
3. How many goals will the Dutch score in counterattacks after Argentina loses possession?
The over/under is 2.5, and I think it's over. I'm dead serious. Argentina is going to dominate possession, Dutch defenders are going to swarm Messi, and eventually they will win the ball back and boot it forward where Robben is going to outrace DeMichelis and Mascherano, a.k.a. Slow and Slower.
Argentina will win if...
... Messi scores a hattrick, because I don't think a brace is going to be enough.
The Netherlands will win if...
... they don't screw up. They are the clear favorites and Argentina's style suits them to perfection.
The Final Score
Argentina 1 - The Netherlands 3. I think this is another case of the South American team getting all emotional at the beginning, then getting hit with European indifference. The Netherlands score early, counterattack late, Messi gets a meaningless goal at the end, and a 1974 final rematch is setup.
Monday, July 7, 2014
World Cup 2014 - Semifinals Preview: Brazil vs. Germany
And we're down to our Final Four! All of them are heavyweights, and all of them have a legit change of winning.
Up first we have Brazil... the host, the penta-champion, the scratch, la canarinha, la verde-amarela... facing off against Germany, Die Mannschaft, DAS UBER FUßBALL MACHINEN. This is the Germans' 4th straight semifinals after finishing 2nd, 3rd, and 3rd in the last 3 World Cups. Unbelievable... and then you remember West Germany made 3 straight finals: '82, '86, and '90. Incredible. Tune in at 4 pm Eastern for this Goliath vs. Goliath match-up, live from Belo Horizonte (ESPN in the US).
Your Mandatory "No love lost between these two teams" Video
Shockingly, Brazil and Germany have only played each other once at the World Cup. The scenario was the 2002 Final in Yokohama, and it doubled as the crowning moment for one Ronaldo Luíz Nazário de Lima. Enjoy!
Uniforms
I'd rather see the blue shorts or blue socks, instead of this year's all-white version. Germany's away jerseys are an atrocity. Decided advantage, verde-amarela.
Three Burning Questions
1. Neymar is out. Yeah. :( Who will step up and fill the massive hole?
The natural choice to replace injured star Neymar in the Starting XI is amazingly-named Chelsea winger Willian. However, the creative responsibility will fall squarely on the shoulders of another Chelsea player: Oscar. The task for Germany is pretty simple: cut-off Oscar from the run of play and watch as Hulk, Willian, and Fred run around like chickens with their heads cut-off. In Fred's case, I'm pretty sure he didn't have a head to begin with. He's awful.
2. Will Klose dare break Ronaldo's scoring record in Brazilian soil?
Sadly, I think the answer is no. The German attack did not play with the same coherence and intensity that characterizes them in the match against France. I expect Gotze to be back in the lineup, with Müller moving to the center-forward position. The rest of the line-up should remain unchanged from the team that professionally dispatched la France. Klose will only get his chance if Germany is down late and they decide to bomb the Brazilian penalty area with crosses. Schürrle is the preferred substitute option anyway.
3. What will be stronger? Brazilian emotion or Germany's apathetic approach?
Normally, I'd say that the key to beat Brazil is to prevent them from scoring in the first 20 minutes. They really feed off the emotion of the crowd. We saw what happened in the quarterfinals against Colombia. However, if there's a team that is equipped to survive an early Brazilian strike is this German team. They've seen it all. They will not panic and they will find a way.
Brazil will win if...
... Fred scores. Because if Fred scores, you know that things are DEFINITELY going Brazil's way.
Germany will win if...
... the match is played. After all, "Football is a simple game. 22 men chase a ball for 90 minutes and at the end, the Germans always win."
The Final Score
Brazil 1 (4) - Germany 1 (3). Because it couldn't be any other way. Not only do Brazil reach the final of their own tournament, but they do it while beating the Germans at what they do best, penalty kicks. By the way, I think Brazil scores early (that clown Fred will probably use his knee or something) and Germany ties it late.
Up first we have Brazil... the host, the penta-champion, the scratch, la canarinha, la verde-amarela... facing off against Germany, Die Mannschaft, DAS UBER FUßBALL MACHINEN. This is the Germans' 4th straight semifinals after finishing 2nd, 3rd, and 3rd in the last 3 World Cups. Unbelievable... and then you remember West Germany made 3 straight finals: '82, '86, and '90. Incredible. Tune in at 4 pm Eastern for this Goliath vs. Goliath match-up, live from Belo Horizonte (ESPN in the US).
Your Mandatory "No love lost between these two teams" Video
Shockingly, Brazil and Germany have only played each other once at the World Cup. The scenario was the 2002 Final in Yokohama, and it doubled as the crowning moment for one Ronaldo Luíz Nazário de Lima. Enjoy!
Uniforms
I'd rather see the blue shorts or blue socks, instead of this year's all-white version. Germany's away jerseys are an atrocity. Decided advantage, verde-amarela.
Three Burning Questions
1. Neymar is out. Yeah. :( Who will step up and fill the massive hole?
The natural choice to replace injured star Neymar in the Starting XI is amazingly-named Chelsea winger Willian. However, the creative responsibility will fall squarely on the shoulders of another Chelsea player: Oscar. The task for Germany is pretty simple: cut-off Oscar from the run of play and watch as Hulk, Willian, and Fred run around like chickens with their heads cut-off. In Fred's case, I'm pretty sure he didn't have a head to begin with. He's awful.
2. Will Klose dare break Ronaldo's scoring record in Brazilian soil?
Sadly, I think the answer is no. The German attack did not play with the same coherence and intensity that characterizes them in the match against France. I expect Gotze to be back in the lineup, with Müller moving to the center-forward position. The rest of the line-up should remain unchanged from the team that professionally dispatched la France. Klose will only get his chance if Germany is down late and they decide to bomb the Brazilian penalty area with crosses. Schürrle is the preferred substitute option anyway.
3. What will be stronger? Brazilian emotion or Germany's apathetic approach?
Normally, I'd say that the key to beat Brazil is to prevent them from scoring in the first 20 minutes. They really feed off the emotion of the crowd. We saw what happened in the quarterfinals against Colombia. However, if there's a team that is equipped to survive an early Brazilian strike is this German team. They've seen it all. They will not panic and they will find a way.
Brazil will win if...
... Fred scores. Because if Fred scores, you know that things are DEFINITELY going Brazil's way.
Germany will win if...
... the match is played. After all, "Football is a simple game. 22 men chase a ball for 90 minutes and at the end, the Germans always win."
The Final Score
Brazil 1 (4) - Germany 1 (3). Because it couldn't be any other way. Not only do Brazil reach the final of their own tournament, but they do it while beating the Germans at what they do best, penalty kicks. By the way, I think Brazil scores early (that clown Fred will probably use his knee or something) and Germany ties it late.
California Penal League - Week 14 Review
Welcome back! This is your weekly fantasy baseball newsletter, featuring highlights and lowlights, upsets and beatdowns, flames and lames. Let's start with the two exciting match-ups decided on Sunday night.
Week 14 Recap
We start with the upset of the week, where Bill took down (former) league leader Doug despite Doug's late rally. Down 5 points heading into Sunday Night, Doug had Miguel Cabrera while Bill had Joe Nathan left. Cabrera couldn't deliver, as David Price and the Rays limited him to a sac fly in 4 at-bats. Nathan would add insult upon injury by coming in and adding 3 unneeded points. Bill, who once upon a time was 0-5, takes down the favorite and moves to 6-8, tied for 5th.
Another incredible match-up decided on Sunday Night featured Kyle's comeback against poor Pearse. Now, this is when things get interesting because Kyle had no players left going into Sunday night. Remember this fact: Kyle had no one left who could score points! Meanwhile Pearse had Rick Porcello and a 1 point lead! Bench Porcello and you have win... Start Porcello, lose 4.67 points, and now you're 2-12. Wow. Let this be a lesson to everybody: there's no such thing as over-managing your team.
We had one more upset, as Ralph beats Dugan to remain in the coveted 6th and last playoff spot. Dugan misses an opportunity to cut Doug's lead in the race for the bye week. Jon A. beat Mike in the 5-8 teams match-up. We reached to Mr. Mike for comments this morning: "I'm getting close to throwing in the towel", he said, so there you have it. Jon A. remains in 5th place. Ryan had no trouble destroying Drew and I did the same with Jon S.
Now let's hand out some fake silverware...
Awards
Hitter of the Week - Jayson Werth (Home Grown Hitters): 39 pts
Low scoring week for hitters overall, as Werth takes home weekly honors. 3 home runs, 2 steals, 2 walks and 2 strikeouts. They key, as always, try not to strikeout too much.
Goat of the Week, Hitter Edition - Chris Davis (Honey Nut Ichiros): -0.50 pts
I hate to pick on a single player week after week, but The Artist Formerly Known as Crush Davis was awful again. 2/23 with a single ribby and 11 strikeouts. Awful.
Pitcher of the Week - Garrett Richards (AbsolutDomination): 56.67 pts
Richards let all MLB pitchers in strikeouts this week with 20, punching out 9 Pale Sox and 11 'stros in his two starts. Only 11 baserunners allowed in 15.1 innings, while averaging a 97.3 MPH fastball. Kid's good.
Goat of the Week, Pitcher Edition - Kyle Gibson (Honey Nut Ichiros): -9.50 pts
Gibson got rocked by the Yankees, giving up 6 runs (5 earned) in 2 innings of work. Zero strikeouts didn't help matters. I promise it is not "Pick on Mike" week. Nobody else was this atrocious.
Week 15 Preview
#1 Luis vs. #3 Dugan: Matchup of the Week. Dugan has the upper hand based on number of pitchers with 2-game starts this week.
#2 Doug vs. #6 Ralph: Will Ralph make it two upsets in a row? Or will Doug right the ship?
#4 Ryan vs. #12 Pearse: Ryan is the forgotten man in the race for the top. He's currently on two games out of 1st place and 4 games ahead of 5th place.
#5 Jon A. vs. #11 Drew: If Drew wins, these two teams will be tied again. Crazy.
#7 Bill vs. #8 Kyle: Huge matchup in the playoff race. Neither team can afford to lose.
#9 Jon S. vs. #10 Mike: Pillowfight of the Week!!!!
Enjoy your last week of baseball before the All-Star Break!
Week 14 Recap
We start with the upset of the week, where Bill took down (former) league leader Doug despite Doug's late rally. Down 5 points heading into Sunday Night, Doug had Miguel Cabrera while Bill had Joe Nathan left. Cabrera couldn't deliver, as David Price and the Rays limited him to a sac fly in 4 at-bats. Nathan would add insult upon injury by coming in and adding 3 unneeded points. Bill, who once upon a time was 0-5, takes down the favorite and moves to 6-8, tied for 5th.
Another incredible match-up decided on Sunday Night featured Kyle's comeback against poor Pearse. Now, this is when things get interesting because Kyle had no players left going into Sunday night. Remember this fact: Kyle had no one left who could score points! Meanwhile Pearse had Rick Porcello and a 1 point lead! Bench Porcello and you have win... Start Porcello, lose 4.67 points, and now you're 2-12. Wow. Let this be a lesson to everybody: there's no such thing as over-managing your team.
We had one more upset, as Ralph beats Dugan to remain in the coveted 6th and last playoff spot. Dugan misses an opportunity to cut Doug's lead in the race for the bye week. Jon A. beat Mike in the 5-8 teams match-up. We reached to Mr. Mike for comments this morning: "I'm getting close to throwing in the towel", he said, so there you have it. Jon A. remains in 5th place. Ryan had no trouble destroying Drew and I did the same with Jon S.
Now let's hand out some fake silverware...
Awards
Hitter of the Week - Jayson Werth (Home Grown Hitters): 39 pts
Low scoring week for hitters overall, as Werth takes home weekly honors. 3 home runs, 2 steals, 2 walks and 2 strikeouts. They key, as always, try not to strikeout too much.
Goat of the Week, Hitter Edition - Chris Davis (Honey Nut Ichiros): -0.50 pts
I hate to pick on a single player week after week, but The Artist Formerly Known as Crush Davis was awful again. 2/23 with a single ribby and 11 strikeouts. Awful.
Pitcher of the Week - Garrett Richards (AbsolutDomination): 56.67 pts
Richards let all MLB pitchers in strikeouts this week with 20, punching out 9 Pale Sox and 11 'stros in his two starts. Only 11 baserunners allowed in 15.1 innings, while averaging a 97.3 MPH fastball. Kid's good.
Goat of the Week, Pitcher Edition - Kyle Gibson (Honey Nut Ichiros): -9.50 pts
Gibson got rocked by the Yankees, giving up 6 runs (5 earned) in 2 innings of work. Zero strikeouts didn't help matters. I promise it is not "Pick on Mike" week. Nobody else was this atrocious.
Week 15 Preview
#1 Luis vs. #3 Dugan: Matchup of the Week. Dugan has the upper hand based on number of pitchers with 2-game starts this week.
#2 Doug vs. #6 Ralph: Will Ralph make it two upsets in a row? Or will Doug right the ship?
#4 Ryan vs. #12 Pearse: Ryan is the forgotten man in the race for the top. He's currently on two games out of 1st place and 4 games ahead of 5th place.
#5 Jon A. vs. #11 Drew: If Drew wins, these two teams will be tied again. Crazy.
#7 Bill vs. #8 Kyle: Huge matchup in the playoff race. Neither team can afford to lose.
#9 Jon S. vs. #10 Mike: Pillowfight of the Week!!!!
Enjoy your last week of baseball before the All-Star Break!
Saturday, July 5, 2014
World Cup 2014 - Quarterfinals Preview: Argentina vs. Belgium
What was supposed to be a great display of attacking football turned out to be a great display of how to attack footballers. My bitterness with the Spanish ref will continue. Meanwhile, there's two more semifinal spots up for grabs. First up, it's Argentina and Belgium in Brasilia, at noon Eastern Time.
Your Mandatory "No love lost between these two teams" Video
The last time Belgium made the Semifinals of the World Cup, they got Maradona'd. I'm sure they don't want to get Messi'd this time around.
Uniforms
Another of Adidas' ridiculousness. An Argentinian team in all white looks so unnatural. Belgium, on the other hand, look mighty sharp in their red uniforms. Advantage, Red Devils.
Three Burning Questions
1. Can Axel Witsel handle Lionel Messi?
This Belgium team is like an upgraded version of Switzerland. They are very physical, organized, and have an excellent GK and back four. The key matchup, though, will be Axel Witsel vs. Lionel Messi. Normally, it takes more than one player to control Messi. However, the Zenit St. Petersburg man might be tasked with stopping "the Flea" all on his own. At the very least, he already won the hair competition.
2. Will Lukaku make an impact in the game?
One of the main reasons why Belgium is in the quarterfinals is the inspired play of Romelu Lukaku, who came into the Round of 16 match against the USA at the beginning of extra-time . His powerful run created the first goal, while adding a 2nd a few minutes later. However, don't be surprised if Belgium manager Marc Wilmots elects to start teenager Origi again and let Lukaku run at tired defenders in the 2nd half. We will definitely see the Chelsea/Everton man at some point.
3. Will Gonzalo Higuain do something productive? Anything at all?
We know Messi can't do it all on it's own. Argentina knows it too. The loss of Sergio "Kun" Aguero was a devastating blow to a team that has not being able to jell up front. Argentina has scored 7 goals at this World Cup, split up like this: 4 by Messi, an own goal, a Marcos Rojo goal on a corner-kick, and di Maria's well taken shot at the end of the Switzerland match... after an amazing run by Messi. Higuain needs to show up. The Napoli striker has been MIA so far and Argentina needs him to score if they hope to make the Semis, much less win the whole thing.
Argentina will win if...
... they score first. Once they have a goal, Belgium will open up and the space will be there for Messi and Angel di Maria to make their trademark lightning runs. A quick 2nd goal would then follow.
Belgium will win if...
... the score is 0-0 after 60 minutes. Argentina will grow more and more desperate as their attacks get stuffed by a very good Belgian defense. This is the time when Hazard & Co. capitalize on a quick counter.
The Final Score
Argentina 0 - Belgium 1. This is the end of the road for Messi & Co. Switzerland was not able to capitalize on the weaknesses Argentina showed at the back, but Belgium definitely have the firepower to do so and will do so. Expect Axel Witsel to chase Messi around, not letting him breath. An Eden Hazard goal wins it for the Red Devils. Fellaini's afro lives to fight another day.
Your Mandatory "No love lost between these two teams" Video
The last time Belgium made the Semifinals of the World Cup, they got Maradona'd. I'm sure they don't want to get Messi'd this time around.
Uniforms
Another of Adidas' ridiculousness. An Argentinian team in all white looks so unnatural. Belgium, on the other hand, look mighty sharp in their red uniforms. Advantage, Red Devils.
Three Burning Questions
1. Can Axel Witsel handle Lionel Messi?
This Belgium team is like an upgraded version of Switzerland. They are very physical, organized, and have an excellent GK and back four. The key matchup, though, will be Axel Witsel vs. Lionel Messi. Normally, it takes more than one player to control Messi. However, the Zenit St. Petersburg man might be tasked with stopping "the Flea" all on his own. At the very least, he already won the hair competition.
2. Will Lukaku make an impact in the game?
One of the main reasons why Belgium is in the quarterfinals is the inspired play of Romelu Lukaku, who came into the Round of 16 match against the USA at the beginning of extra-time . His powerful run created the first goal, while adding a 2nd a few minutes later. However, don't be surprised if Belgium manager Marc Wilmots elects to start teenager Origi again and let Lukaku run at tired defenders in the 2nd half. We will definitely see the Chelsea/Everton man at some point.
3. Will Gonzalo Higuain do something productive? Anything at all?
We know Messi can't do it all on it's own. Argentina knows it too. The loss of Sergio "Kun" Aguero was a devastating blow to a team that has not being able to jell up front. Argentina has scored 7 goals at this World Cup, split up like this: 4 by Messi, an own goal, a Marcos Rojo goal on a corner-kick, and di Maria's well taken shot at the end of the Switzerland match... after an amazing run by Messi. Higuain needs to show up. The Napoli striker has been MIA so far and Argentina needs him to score if they hope to make the Semis, much less win the whole thing.
Argentina will win if...
... they score first. Once they have a goal, Belgium will open up and the space will be there for Messi and Angel di Maria to make their trademark lightning runs. A quick 2nd goal would then follow.
Belgium will win if...
... the score is 0-0 after 60 minutes. Argentina will grow more and more desperate as their attacks get stuffed by a very good Belgian defense. This is the time when Hazard & Co. capitalize on a quick counter.
The Final Score
Argentina 0 - Belgium 1. This is the end of the road for Messi & Co. Switzerland was not able to capitalize on the weaknesses Argentina showed at the back, but Belgium definitely have the firepower to do so and will do so. Expect Axel Witsel to chase Messi around, not letting him breath. An Eden Hazard goal wins it for the Red Devils. Fellaini's afro lives to fight another day.
Friday, July 4, 2014
World Cup 2014 - Quarterfinals Preview: Brazil vs. Colombia
It's Samba vs. Cumbia. Friday, July 4th, in Fortaleza. 4 pm Eastern kickoff time.
Your Mandatory "No love lost between these two teams" Video
Once upon a time, Brazil beat Colombia 9-0. That's the worst loss in Colombian history.
Uniforms
In this battle of Yellow vs. Yellow, Brazil gets the edge due to home-field advantage. The Colombian away red jerseys are nothing to write home about.
Three Burning Questions
1. When did Brazil turn into England?
If you watched any of the Brazil vs. Chile match, you must have noticed that, at some point during the course of the game, Brazil decided to just boot the ball up-field and pray for the best. Considering the quality of their strikers (more on that coming up), this is not a strategy that suits them very well. Brazil is at its best when Neymar and Oscar are dictating play, with overlapping runs by Marcelo and Dani Alves. They need to get back to the basics if they plan on reaching the Semifinals.
2. Jackson or Ibarbo for Colombia?
The only lineup decision that Colombian manager José Pekerman has to make is a tactical one. Does he choose Jackson Martinez and play a 4-4-2 with Teo Gutierrez in a shadow striker position? Or does he select Victor Ibarbo instead and play a 4-2-3-1, with Teo playing the sole striker role? As mentioned above, Colombia should find space behind Brazil's aggressive fullbacks and must be able to exploit it in order to win. If it were up to me, Ibarbo would be the choice.
3. Will fatigue play a role in the heat and humidity of Fortaleza?
Almost all of the Brazilian Starting XI has played 390 minutes: 4 full matches plus 30 minutes of extra time. Luiz Gustavo, Neymar, Oscar, Dani Alves, and Marcelo have all ran more than 40 kms already! On the other hand, none of the Colombian starters have played all 90 minutes in each of the 4 matches. James Rodriguez leads all Colombians with 36 km traveled, yet he didn't play the first half of the match against Japan and was subbed out at the end of the Round of 16 match against Uruguay.
It doesn't seem like it'll be a particularly hot day in Fortaleza (72F), but the humidity should be around 70%. If the match goes to extra time, Colombia should have fresher legs. If you consider Neymar's nagging calf injury, I would be willing to bet that Brazil goes all out to win in 90 minutes.
Brazil will win if...
... either of their completely inept strikers, Fred or Jo, scores. They are both so bad you wonder why they don't just grab somebody off the beach and give him the #9 jersey. I think the current version of Ronaldo, R9, would be an upgrade over Fred.
Colombia will win if...
... the match goes to extra time. As mentioned above, Brazilian players have had to play a lot more than their Colombian counterparts. Jose Pekerman has done an excellent job rotating the squad and all players are close to full fitness. They should be able to grab a late winner by outrunning a very tired Brazilian back four that might get caught in transition.
The Final Score
Brazil 2 - Colombia 1. Brazil wins it after Zapata or Yepes loses a ball trying to play out of the back and Neymar capitalizes. I've been picking against Colombia all tournament and I'm not going to change my strategy now.
Your Mandatory "No love lost between these two teams" Video
Once upon a time, Brazil beat Colombia 9-0. That's the worst loss in Colombian history.
Uniforms
In this battle of Yellow vs. Yellow, Brazil gets the edge due to home-field advantage. The Colombian away red jerseys are nothing to write home about.
Three Burning Questions
1. When did Brazil turn into England?
If you watched any of the Brazil vs. Chile match, you must have noticed that, at some point during the course of the game, Brazil decided to just boot the ball up-field and pray for the best. Considering the quality of their strikers (more on that coming up), this is not a strategy that suits them very well. Brazil is at its best when Neymar and Oscar are dictating play, with overlapping runs by Marcelo and Dani Alves. They need to get back to the basics if they plan on reaching the Semifinals.
2. Jackson or Ibarbo for Colombia?
The only lineup decision that Colombian manager José Pekerman has to make is a tactical one. Does he choose Jackson Martinez and play a 4-4-2 with Teo Gutierrez in a shadow striker position? Or does he select Victor Ibarbo instead and play a 4-2-3-1, with Teo playing the sole striker role? As mentioned above, Colombia should find space behind Brazil's aggressive fullbacks and must be able to exploit it in order to win. If it were up to me, Ibarbo would be the choice.
3. Will fatigue play a role in the heat and humidity of Fortaleza?
Almost all of the Brazilian Starting XI has played 390 minutes: 4 full matches plus 30 minutes of extra time. Luiz Gustavo, Neymar, Oscar, Dani Alves, and Marcelo have all ran more than 40 kms already! On the other hand, none of the Colombian starters have played all 90 minutes in each of the 4 matches. James Rodriguez leads all Colombians with 36 km traveled, yet he didn't play the first half of the match against Japan and was subbed out at the end of the Round of 16 match against Uruguay.
It doesn't seem like it'll be a particularly hot day in Fortaleza (72F), but the humidity should be around 70%. If the match goes to extra time, Colombia should have fresher legs. If you consider Neymar's nagging calf injury, I would be willing to bet that Brazil goes all out to win in 90 minutes.
Brazil will win if...
... either of their completely inept strikers, Fred or Jo, scores. They are both so bad you wonder why they don't just grab somebody off the beach and give him the #9 jersey. I think the current version of Ronaldo, R9, would be an upgrade over Fred.
Colombia will win if...
... the match goes to extra time. As mentioned above, Brazilian players have had to play a lot more than their Colombian counterparts. Jose Pekerman has done an excellent job rotating the squad and all players are close to full fitness. They should be able to grab a late winner by outrunning a very tired Brazilian back four that might get caught in transition.
The Final Score
Brazil 2 - Colombia 1. Brazil wins it after Zapata or Yepes loses a ball trying to play out of the back and Neymar capitalizes. I've been picking against Colombia all tournament and I'm not going to change my strategy now.
Thursday, July 3, 2014
World Cup 2014 - Quarterfinals Preview: Germany vs. France
The World Cup Quarterfinals kick off with France vs. Germany this Friday at the Maracana in Rio. The match is scheduled for noon, Eastern Time.
Your Mandatory "No love lost between these two teams" Video
That one time that German keeper sent that French striker to the hospital during a World Cup semifinal....
Uniforms
I give the advantage to France, only because a German uniform without the black shorts is a disgrace. Seriously, Adidas. You and I have issues that need to be worked out.
Three Burning Questions
1. Who will play Right Back for Die Mannschaft?
The injury to Mustafi will force German manager Joachim Low to make a lineup change: 1) he can move Höwedes to the right, Boateng to the left, and reinsert Mats Hummels into the lineup, or 2) he can move Phillip Lahm to his familiar right back position, and play Schweinsteiger/Khedira/Kroos in the middle, with Özil and Götze in more advanced positions behind Müller.
2. Will Griezmann be in the Starting XI for Les Bleus?
The Real Sociedad winger was key in opening up the Nigerian defense, winning the corner that led to Paul Pogba's goal and then provoking the own goal that sealed the match. Olivier Giroud got the start in the Round of 16 match but did not play well, and that's an understatement. Benzema is a better player when playing as a true #9, which he can do with Griezmann playing out wide.
3. Which goalkeeper will make the game-changing save?
Manuel Neuer is widely acclaimed as one of the world's best GKs, but this discussion is not as clear-cut as you might think. Hugo Lloris is really good, even if he has not been tested much in this tournament. Once you go deep into the knockout rounds, having a World Class goalkeeper can make all the difference. See: Howard, Tim. I think Lloris will come up big during the 2nd half.
Germany will win if...
...if Özil plays at a superstar level. The Arsenal midfielder was atrocious during most of the match against Algeria, even if he did score what turned out to be the game-winning goal at the end of extra time. If he can connect with the other midfielders and feed decent balls to Müller, Germany will advance.
France will win if...
... Benzema and/or Valbuena can get in one-on-one situations against another key Arsenal man, Per Mertesacker. Mertesacker has been under scrutiny due to his lack of speed, which GK/Libero Manuel Neuer has had to make up for with his daring play.
The Final Score
France 2 - Germany 1. Germany may have more individual talent but France has looked like the better team so far. A late Benzema strike off a quick counter sends the Mannschaft home.
Your Mandatory "No love lost between these two teams" Video
That one time that German keeper sent that French striker to the hospital during a World Cup semifinal....
Uniforms
I give the advantage to France, only because a German uniform without the black shorts is a disgrace. Seriously, Adidas. You and I have issues that need to be worked out.
Three Burning Questions
1. Who will play Right Back for Die Mannschaft?
The injury to Mustafi will force German manager Joachim Low to make a lineup change: 1) he can move Höwedes to the right, Boateng to the left, and reinsert Mats Hummels into the lineup, or 2) he can move Phillip Lahm to his familiar right back position, and play Schweinsteiger/Khedira/Kroos in the middle, with Özil and Götze in more advanced positions behind Müller.
2. Will Griezmann be in the Starting XI for Les Bleus?
The Real Sociedad winger was key in opening up the Nigerian defense, winning the corner that led to Paul Pogba's goal and then provoking the own goal that sealed the match. Olivier Giroud got the start in the Round of 16 match but did not play well, and that's an understatement. Benzema is a better player when playing as a true #9, which he can do with Griezmann playing out wide.
3. Which goalkeeper will make the game-changing save?
Manuel Neuer is widely acclaimed as one of the world's best GKs, but this discussion is not as clear-cut as you might think. Hugo Lloris is really good, even if he has not been tested much in this tournament. Once you go deep into the knockout rounds, having a World Class goalkeeper can make all the difference. See: Howard, Tim. I think Lloris will come up big during the 2nd half.
Germany will win if...
...if Özil plays at a superstar level. The Arsenal midfielder was atrocious during most of the match against Algeria, even if he did score what turned out to be the game-winning goal at the end of extra time. If he can connect with the other midfielders and feed decent balls to Müller, Germany will advance.
France will win if...
... Benzema and/or Valbuena can get in one-on-one situations against another key Arsenal man, Per Mertesacker. Mertesacker has been under scrutiny due to his lack of speed, which GK/Libero Manuel Neuer has had to make up for with his daring play.
The Final Score
France 2 - Germany 1. Germany may have more individual talent but France has looked like the better team so far. A late Benzema strike off a quick counter sends the Mannschaft home.
Tuesday, July 1, 2014
World Cup 2014 - Round of 16, Day 4
We've had 6 really good matches so far in this Round of 16. The only match where it never felt like the result was in doubt was Colombia - Uruguay. Nigeria gave France a run for its money (as predicted here!) and Algeria hung around till the bitter end against Germany (definitely not as predicted here!). Germany missed too many chances and looked very... un-German-like. But let's move on to today's matches. Here are the predictions for today, July 1st, 2014.
Argentina vs. Switzerland
Is it possible to feel bad for who has been the Best Player in the World for the last 5 years? Messi just can't catch a break. The narrative coming into the tournament was that Messi just didn't play at the same level for his National Team as he did for his club, Barcelona. 1 World Cup goal in his first 8 matches, plus two quarterfinal exits, seemed to back that claim.
Fast forward back to the present: game-winner against Bosnia & Herzegovina, 91st minute winner against Iran, and a brace against Nigeria. But now the narrative has flipped. Argentina has won all those matches by one goal, and haven't played like the world-beaters we were expecting. The media now cries about the team suffering from "Messidependencia": the believe that the team plays worse because they are all looking for Messi at all times instead of focusing on building strong team play.
The Swiss, on the other hand, come into this match after beating Ecuador with a last-second goal, getting shellacked by the French, and destroying an overmatched Honduras. Very soft group, probably even softer than Argentina's. I think they will concede possession to Argentina and try to get them on the counter.
I see a tight game with a late Argentina winner. This trend developing during Argentina matches does not look promising, so a Swiss upset is not unthinkable. The loss of Kun Aguero and the very disappointing performances of Higuain are worrysome, but I think Angel di Maria shines in this one.
Prediction:
Argentina 2 - Switzerland 1
USA vs. Belgium
The Belgians are in a similar boat to Argentina. They topped their group while winning all 3 matches by one goal, coming from behind in a win against Algeria before edging past Russia and South Korea. A lot was and is still expected from this Belgium team. They are young and skillful, but the lack of experience has showed.
This United States team is the polar opposite, vastly outperforming expectations. Uncle Sam has played inspiredly, surviving the group of death with a win against Ghana, a draw against Portugal, and a narrow loss to Germany. The Americans get Jozy Altidore back for this match, which will allow Dempsey to drop back into his preferred attacking midfielder position. Jozy probably can't play all 90 minutes but his presence will be a definite boost.
As every other Round of 16 match in this World Cup so far, I expect a nailbiter that won't be decided until the very end. A potential penalty kick shoot-out featuring Thibault Courtois and Tim Howard is must-watch TV. That's right, I'm predicting a draw, and most importantly:
I BELIEVE THAT WE WILL WIN!!!!!
Prediction:
USA 1 (4) - Belgium 1 (3)
Argentina vs. Switzerland
Is it possible to feel bad for who has been the Best Player in the World for the last 5 years? Messi just can't catch a break. The narrative coming into the tournament was that Messi just didn't play at the same level for his National Team as he did for his club, Barcelona. 1 World Cup goal in his first 8 matches, plus two quarterfinal exits, seemed to back that claim.
Fast forward back to the present: game-winner against Bosnia & Herzegovina, 91st minute winner against Iran, and a brace against Nigeria. But now the narrative has flipped. Argentina has won all those matches by one goal, and haven't played like the world-beaters we were expecting. The media now cries about the team suffering from "Messidependencia": the believe that the team plays worse because they are all looking for Messi at all times instead of focusing on building strong team play.
The Swiss, on the other hand, come into this match after beating Ecuador with a last-second goal, getting shellacked by the French, and destroying an overmatched Honduras. Very soft group, probably even softer than Argentina's. I think they will concede possession to Argentina and try to get them on the counter.
I see a tight game with a late Argentina winner. This trend developing during Argentina matches does not look promising, so a Swiss upset is not unthinkable. The loss of Kun Aguero and the very disappointing performances of Higuain are worrysome, but I think Angel di Maria shines in this one.
Prediction:
Argentina 2 - Switzerland 1
USA vs. Belgium
The Belgians are in a similar boat to Argentina. They topped their group while winning all 3 matches by one goal, coming from behind in a win against Algeria before edging past Russia and South Korea. A lot was and is still expected from this Belgium team. They are young and skillful, but the lack of experience has showed.
This United States team is the polar opposite, vastly outperforming expectations. Uncle Sam has played inspiredly, surviving the group of death with a win against Ghana, a draw against Portugal, and a narrow loss to Germany. The Americans get Jozy Altidore back for this match, which will allow Dempsey to drop back into his preferred attacking midfielder position. Jozy probably can't play all 90 minutes but his presence will be a definite boost.
As every other Round of 16 match in this World Cup so far, I expect a nailbiter that won't be decided until the very end. A potential penalty kick shoot-out featuring Thibault Courtois and Tim Howard is must-watch TV. That's right, I'm predicting a draw, and most importantly:
I BELIEVE THAT WE WILL WIN!!!!!
Prediction:
USA 1 (4) - Belgium 1 (3)
Monday, June 30, 2014
World Cup Predictions - So far, so ehh
I had been posting all my predictions for the World Cup matches on Facebook. Here's a summary of those predictions, along with the actual score to those side. I'm counting them as a prognosticating WIN (W) if I got the result right (the team I picked won or if I picked a draw) and I got the spirit of the prediction right. For example, Brazil beat Cameroon 4-1. I had predicted a 3-0 Brazil win. Brazil won by 3 goals, easy. That counts as a prognosticating win for me. My game. My rules.
Spoiler Alert: I've gotten 4 results exactly right so far. I'm terrible at this.
Group Stage:
Brazil 3 - Croatia 0... 3-1 W
Mexico 2 - Cameroon 0... 1-0 W
Spain 1 - Netherlands 0... 1-5 L
Chile 4 - Australia 1... 3-2 L
Colombia 1 - Greece 0... 3-0 L
Uruguay 1 - Costa Rica 1.... 1-3 L
England 0 - Italy 1... 1-2 L
Japan 2 - Ivory Coast 1... 1-2 L
Ecuador 1 - Switzerland 1... 1-2 L
France 3 - Honduras 0... 3-0 W!!!
Argentina 4 - Bosnia 2... 2-1 L
Germany 2 - Portugal 1... 4-0 L
Iran 0 - Nigeria 0... 0-0 W!!!
USA 1 - Ghana 2... 2-1 L
Belgium 4 - Algeria 0... 2-1 L
Brasil 2 - Mexico 2... 0-0 L
Russia 2 - Korea 1... 1-1 L
Netherlands 3 - Australia 1... 3-2 W
Spain 2 - Chile 0.... 0-2 L
Croatia 2 - Cameroon 1... 4-0 L
Colombia 1 - Ivory Coast 1... 2-1 L
England 2 - Uruguay 0... 0-2 L
Greece 1 - Japan 2... 0-0 L
Italy 2 - Costa Rica 0... 0-1 L
France 2 - Switzerland 1... 5-2 L
Ecuador 2 - Honduras 0... 2-1 W
Argentina 3 - Iran 0... 1-0 L
Germany 2 - Ghana 1... 2-2 L
Nigeria 1 - Bosnia 2.... 1-0 L
Belgium 2 - Russia 1... 1-0 L
Korea 1 - Algeria 0... 2-4 L
USA 0 - Portugal 2... 2-2 L
Chile 1 - Netherlands 3... 0-2 W
Spain 4 - Australia 0... 3-0 W
Mexico 1 - Croatia 1... 3-1 L
Brazil 3 - Cameroon 0... 4-1 W
Uruguay 1 - Italy 1... 1-0 L
Costa Rica 0 - England 1... 0-0 L
Ivory Coast 2 - Greece 0... 1-2 L
Japan 2 - Colombia 1... 1-4 L
(No predictions for Groups E and F's last set of matches)
USA 1 - Germany 1... 0-1 L
Portugal 3 - Ghana 1... 2-1 W
Korea 1 - Belgium 3... 0-1 :L
Algeria 1 - Russia 0... 1-1 L
Round of 16:
No predictions for Brazil - Chile and Colombia - Uruguay. Too scared to type.
Mexico 1 - Netherlands 2... 1-2 W!!!
Costa Rica 1 - Greece 0... 1-1 L
Spoiler Alert: I've gotten 4 results exactly right so far. I'm terrible at this.
Group Stage:
Brazil 3 - Croatia 0... 3-1 W
Mexico 2 - Cameroon 0... 1-0 W
Spain 1 - Netherlands 0... 1-5 L
Chile 4 - Australia 1... 3-2 L
Colombia 1 - Greece 0... 3-0 L
Uruguay 1 - Costa Rica 1.... 1-3 L
England 0 - Italy 1... 1-2 L
Japan 2 - Ivory Coast 1... 1-2 L
Ecuador 1 - Switzerland 1... 1-2 L
France 3 - Honduras 0... 3-0 W!!!
Argentina 4 - Bosnia 2... 2-1 L
Germany 2 - Portugal 1... 4-0 L
Iran 0 - Nigeria 0... 0-0 W!!!
USA 1 - Ghana 2... 2-1 L
Belgium 4 - Algeria 0... 2-1 L
Brasil 2 - Mexico 2... 0-0 L
Russia 2 - Korea 1... 1-1 L
Netherlands 3 - Australia 1... 3-2 W
Spain 2 - Chile 0.... 0-2 L
Croatia 2 - Cameroon 1... 4-0 L
Colombia 1 - Ivory Coast 1... 2-1 L
England 2 - Uruguay 0... 0-2 L
Greece 1 - Japan 2... 0-0 L
Italy 2 - Costa Rica 0... 0-1 L
France 2 - Switzerland 1... 5-2 L
Ecuador 2 - Honduras 0... 2-1 W
Argentina 3 - Iran 0... 1-0 L
Germany 2 - Ghana 1... 2-2 L
Nigeria 1 - Bosnia 2.... 1-0 L
Belgium 2 - Russia 1... 1-0 L
Korea 1 - Algeria 0... 2-4 L
USA 0 - Portugal 2... 2-2 L
Chile 1 - Netherlands 3... 0-2 W
Spain 4 - Australia 0... 3-0 W
Mexico 1 - Croatia 1... 3-1 L
Brazil 3 - Cameroon 0... 4-1 W
Uruguay 1 - Italy 1... 1-0 L
Costa Rica 0 - England 1... 0-0 L
Ivory Coast 2 - Greece 0... 1-2 L
Japan 2 - Colombia 1... 1-4 L
(No predictions for Groups E and F's last set of matches)
USA 1 - Germany 1... 0-1 L
Portugal 3 - Ghana 1... 2-1 W
Korea 1 - Belgium 3... 0-1 :L
Algeria 1 - Russia 0... 1-1 L
Round of 16:
No predictions for Brazil - Chile and Colombia - Uruguay. Too scared to type.
Mexico 1 - Netherlands 2... 1-2 W!!!
Costa Rica 1 - Greece 0... 1-1 L
World Cup 2014 - Round of 16, Day 3
Here are your predictions for today, June 30th, 2014.
France vs. Nigeria
I don't think there's a more physically imposing squad than the Nigerians in this tournament. This is most exemplified by their striker, Emmanuel Emenike. The matchup between him and Mamadou Sakho will be one to watch. However, the draw did not do them any favors as they have to face a French team that put on the most impressive display of football in this World Cup, while racing to a 5-0 lead against the Swiss.
I think this will be a tight game where France prevails, but not without a few scares along the way. This is a Nigerian team that gave Argentina fits, overpowered the Bosnians, yet couldn't solve Iran. A late goal makes the scoreline look better for France, but Nigeria will definitely hang around.
Prediction:
France 3 - Nigeria 1
(UPDATE: Sakho is out with an injury. Real Madrid's Varane gets the start.)
Germany vs. Algeria
I just mentioned before that I didn't think there was a more physically imposing squad in the tournament than Nigeria. Well, if that's true, then Algeria is not a distant 2nd. We tend to stereotype African teams as fast and powerful. They will try to beat you with their God-given attributes, not with skill. This team plays right into that stereotype. They overpowered South Korea in their group match, gave Belgium all it could handle, and exerted its will against the Russians during the 2nd half of their match.
All of that said, you can't bet against DAS UBER FUßBALL MACHINEN. Too much skill, too much quality, and Germany NEVER loses before the Quarterfinals. They win comfortably, and look for Müller to score again, maybe even a brace. This would be the upset of the tournament if Algeria were to find a way to keep this close.
Prediction:
Germany 4 - Algeria 0
France vs. Nigeria
I don't think there's a more physically imposing squad than the Nigerians in this tournament. This is most exemplified by their striker, Emmanuel Emenike. The matchup between him and Mamadou Sakho will be one to watch. However, the draw did not do them any favors as they have to face a French team that put on the most impressive display of football in this World Cup, while racing to a 5-0 lead against the Swiss.
I think this will be a tight game where France prevails, but not without a few scares along the way. This is a Nigerian team that gave Argentina fits, overpowered the Bosnians, yet couldn't solve Iran. A late goal makes the scoreline look better for France, but Nigeria will definitely hang around.
Prediction:
France 3 - Nigeria 1
(UPDATE: Sakho is out with an injury. Real Madrid's Varane gets the start.)
Germany vs. Algeria
I just mentioned before that I didn't think there was a more physically imposing squad in the tournament than Nigeria. Well, if that's true, then Algeria is not a distant 2nd. We tend to stereotype African teams as fast and powerful. They will try to beat you with their God-given attributes, not with skill. This team plays right into that stereotype. They overpowered South Korea in their group match, gave Belgium all it could handle, and exerted its will against the Russians during the 2nd half of their match.
All of that said, you can't bet against DAS UBER FUßBALL MACHINEN. Too much skill, too much quality, and Germany NEVER loses before the Quarterfinals. They win comfortably, and look for Müller to score again, maybe even a brace. This would be the upset of the tournament if Algeria were to find a way to keep this close.
Prediction:
Germany 4 - Algeria 0
California Penal League - Week 13 Review
Week 13 Recap
Week 13 Awards
After the last out of Sunday Night Baseball was recorded last night at approximately 5:23 am or something, John Lackey was officially credited with a very mediocre win. This win is only significant because it gave Limp Noodles a 4 pt victory over the Honey Nut Ichiros (get a better team name already), 256-251. Normally, this pillow fight would go unnoticed... yawn. However, I'm leading this column with this item because it meant that both Drew and Mike would have identical 5-8 records on the year. This would also be a non-story, if not for the fact that they are 2 of 7 (SEVEN!!) teams with a 5-8 record. That's absurd and unheard of. More than half the teams in this league, after 13 match-ups, have the same (crappy) record.
Now, where it gets interesting is in that those teams currently occupy spots 5 to 11. That means that two of them (Jon A. and Ralph) are currently IN THE PLAYOFFS. The tiebreaker, as you know, is points scored. There's a 300 point gap between 5th place and 11th place, which means that not all 5-8 records were created equal.
Things are pretty tight at the top as well, where Doug currently leads the way at 11-2 after obliterating Bill. Another 450 point performance from Doug has him 300 points clear of 2nd place in the Total Points department. I'm 2nd, Kevin is 3rd, and Ryan comes in at 4th. It will be a tight race to the finish to see who can secure the Regular Season title and the two coveted bye-week spots.
Let's give out some awards.
Hitter of the Week - Jose Abreu (Gas House Gorillas): 37 pts
The Cuban import continued his trailblazing run of conquest, as he homered 4 more times (vs. only 2 strikeouts). Dude is a star. It's not helping Pearse tho, who is glued to the basement with a 2-11 record.
Honorable Mention - Ryan Braun (The Duda Abides): 31 pts
I'm mentioning Braun because he is the only guy I could find that had a non-zero in every single category. This past week Braun scored a run, hit singles, doubles, a triple, a home run, drove in runners, stole a base, got caught stealing, got hit by a pitch, walked and struck out. From now on, we're calling that a Braunie.
Goat of the Week, Hitting Edition - Xander Bogaerts (Honey Nut Ichiros): -2.50 pts
If you're looking for a reason why Mike lost this week, look no further than the X-man. 1/18, a single, no walks, 7 strikeouts. Ugh. Painful.
Pitcher of the Week - Clayton Kershaw (AbsolutDomination): 60 pts
It's been a while since somebody put up 60 in one week. Kershaw got there thanks to two dominant starts, striking out 21 in 15 innings, versus only 2 walks and no runs allowed. High degree of difficulty too, facing a red-hot Royals team in KC and the always dangerous Cards at home.
Pitching Performance of the Week - Tim Lincecum (Formerly of AntarcticanAmericans): 41.50 pts
As you already know, Lincecum threw his 2nd career no hitter, and his 2nd career no-hitter against the Padres. The final line: 9 IP, 1 W, 1 QS, 1 BB, 0 H, 0 ER, 6 K's, 1 NH. Very economical from Lincecum, who finished the game with 107 pitchers. Then Doug cut him. Sad.
Goat of the Week, Pitching Edition - Stephen Strasburg (Wain's World): -6.17 pts
Strasburg has not looked like himself recently. 3 really good starts have been followed by 3 mediocre ones, with the latest occurrence being a loss to the Brew Crew in Milwaukee. 7 ER in 4 and 2/3rds, while only striking out 2. He'll look to turn it around against Colorado at home tomorrow.
And now on to what's on tap for this week...
Week 14 Preview
#1 Doug vs. #8 Bill: Look for the Antarctican Express to keep on rolling this week.
#2 Luis vs. #9 Jon S: Ditto here, although I have been less dominant in recent weeks.
#3 Kevin D. vs. #6 Ralph: Another lopsided matchup on paper. We'll see what happens.
#4 Ryan vs. #11 Drewseph: Seriously, are any of these 5-8 teams playing each other?
#5 Jon A. vs #10 Mike: There we go! And of course it'd be this old rivalry. Playoff spot vs Basement dweller with the same record. Gotta love it.
#7 Kyle vs. #12 Pearse: Pillowfight of the week!!!
Have a wonderful week and come back next Monday for another recap!
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