Quarter season update

The interesting thing about being a quarter into the season is that now you can look at your players’ statistics and times it all by about four (actually 4.2 because we’re just under a quarter ways through the season). Then you got a projection for the whole year.

This last week saw the breakthrough emergence of the Bay State Bombers. After weeks of being in second place, the Bombers have shown their dominance on the pitching end and their hitting has remained consistent. The Dingle Berries and the Sting have started to climb a little towards the 2nd tier of teams and are both ready to make their moves. Oaklyn’s team has gotten their ERA well under 5.00 and are starting to score runs and hit homers.

Through the quarter mark, I’ve got a little “subjective” listing of team mvp’s, team goats, and team surprise players…


Bay State Bombers:

Team MVP: It’s got to be Jim Thome. That guy looks like the guy who used to play for Cleveland with Manny, Alomar, and the rest of those guys. He’ll hit at least 40 homers this year.

Team Goat: Bartolo Colon. It’s hard to just drop the current cy young winner but he’s got injury problems, weight problems, run-support problems… Hey, a cy young pitcher is supposed to be a fantasy ace.

Surprise player: Corey Patterson. If I were the Cubs, I’d rather have him than Pierre right now.

Shrewsbury Rounders:

Team MVP: Brandon Webb. Yes! This guy is pitching his heart out this year. Look at that ERA, that WHIP, and those 6 wins. He’s always had potential. This year he could compete for Cy Young.

Team Goat: Jorge Cantu. It was either Lidge (with his crazy ERA) or Cantu and I chose Cantu because he can’t help the team where he is right now. Besides, he’s supposed to be a 100 rbi guy.

Surprise player: Nomar. Okay, who besides me thought that Nomar was done as a solid fantasy player? Nomar is hitting a solid .341 and plays 3 positions… nice.

Hilo Firebirds:

Team MVP: Jose Valverde. With all the problems on the Firebird’s pitching staff, Valverde has remained the one constant. 12 saves, one win, nice ERA and WHIP. Thank you my friend.

Team Goat: Randy Johnson. He deserves to be demoted to Columbus.

Surprise player: Kevin Mench. It’s all in the shoes….

Dingle Berries

Team MVP: Lance Berkman. He has 1B/OF eligibility and wonderful power numbers.

Team Goat: Chris Reitsma. Over 6.00 ERA and still closing for the Braves???

Surprise player: Felipe Lopez. 16 steals and counting!!! Unreal! He’s got more steals than Pierre or Crawford!

Haymarket Baked Beans

Team MVP: Jon Papelbon. Enough said.

Team Goat: Ben Sheets. He teases with a couple good games, then has some bad games, then goes on the DL again…

Surprise players: Tom Glavine/Mike Mussina (tie) Wow! Talk about being young again!


Florida Sting

Team MVP: Pedro Martinez (the one steadying force on that pitching staff)

Team Goat: Injuries (look how many!). So many key injuries on this team. Hard to really pick a goat with all those injuries.

Surprise player: Dan Uggla. Good player…weird name… hehehe…

Upstate NY K9s

Team MVP: This may surprise some of you but I’m going with Scott Kazmir. He’s really looking like one of the best lefties in the majors today. Six wins on that TB team is pretty impressive.

Team Goat: Dontrelle Willis. What a big difference from last year!

Surprise player: Prince Fielder. I thought all he would provide is power. He hits for average pretty well, to my surprise.

NO.1 Dawgs:

Team MVP: Albert Pujols. Best hitting stats in baseball.

Team Goat: Marcus Giles. Poor stats for a stud 2nd baseman. Hopefully he’ll turn it around.
Surprise player: Rafael Soriano. Very nice stats for a middle relief guy.

Crazy Carl’s Therapist:

Team MVP: Curt Schilling. Although his ERA is a little high, he’s been a pretty steady winner this season. He will win over 15 games.

Team Goat: Felix Hernandez. All the hype, so little in return. I love his ability, but I can’t figure out why he’s struggling so much this year.

Surprise player: Bronson Arroyo. Wow! What a season! Hopefully he can keep it up.

Oaklyn Oddballs:

Team MVP: Nick Swisher. The star of Moneyball finally lives up to potential! I love this guy, and he’s got 1B/OF eligibility too.

Team Goat: Roger Clemens. He’s taking up a spot and he can’t seem to make up his mind if he wants to come back or not.

Surprise player: Brian McCann. One of the best hitting catchers in the league right now.