Predicate Fantasy Baseball, Week Seven

Sorry for the slow posting of the recap, but Your Commissioner had a heart attack upon learning that he won in the last week, and is still recovering.

Yes indeed, the Devils managed to pull off a win this past week, knocking off the Plutocrats 8-5. It wasn't a huge win, but if you had Your Commissioner's record, you'd take what you could get. This week finally justified Your Commissioner's stupid decisions to not simply drop Ken Griffey Jr and bench Brian Giles - the two combined for 15 hits and 17 RBI's. Two amazing Scott Kazmir pitching performances sealed the deal.

Around the rest of the league, it was a tight week. Only The Show was able to earn an overpowering win at 10-4, leading with excellent pitching and aided by good if not great hitting, yet still enough to put together a beat-down of The Mind Killer.

The trade-happy Middletown Mediocres were able to put down the scrappy Monkey Grinders 8-5, notching heavy wins in hits and innings pitched, despite losing narrowly in total number of wins and saves. The Dodgers' winning streak contributed to both teams in the form of utility infielders, but in the end the greater contributor was the Mediocres' Nomar Garciaparra, narrowly beating out the Grinders Jeff Kent.

The Infield Flies also continued their winning streak, overcoming the Hooligans 8-5, leaving them tied for first place with the Mediocres. Unless Albert Pujols breaks a leg or something, the Flies seem to have the talent in place to be contenders throughout the season and an excellent candidate to end up in the Predicate Pennant World Series Championship Thingie.

In a very tight race, the Sparkly Knee Sox narrowly overcame the Headbangers. Once again sheer volume of pitching proved not enough, as Sox pitchers racked up 68 innings yet not enough wins or saves to win or even tie either category. Offensively, two thirds of the Headbanger outfield came through with being able to get things started if not necessarily connect with men on base, with 22 hits by Matt Holliday and Torii Hunter, which may help explain the 'banger win in runs scored but not runs batted in. For that Sox win a lot of the credit must go to shortstop Micheal Young (as well as outfielder Carlos Beltran and Designated Hitter Travis Hafner), who each racked up 7 RBIs during the week.

Finally, the Cubs and the Suicide Squeezes were evenly matched this week. Tight races in strikeouts per 9 innings, slugging percentage, and walks & hits given up per inning were traded off throughout the week, ending up in a 6-6 tie. Once again, however, Jason Bay was an outstanding performer for the Squeezes, with 3 homers, 8 hits, and 11 RBIs.

Next week? Barry Bonds plays the finesse game and manages to play the inturn, sneaking around the guard to not only draw to the button but freeze the other rock. Oh, wait. No. Next week is more baseball.