Commish's Corner

Playoffs Round #3

Connection WIN!!!!!!!!!!

Scott Rose and Chris Coffman's Connection team defeat Bill Phillips' Blackjacks team 4-1 to win the 2002 UAL Fantasy Baseball Championship. This year's league championship is the 2nd in a row for the Connection, and 3rd in the last 4 years. Can you say Dynasty?????

Thanks to everyone for yet another great season. I appreciate everyone's patience this summer as the Commish to the time to get married and travel all over the world. It was a long summer, but probably the most competitive league I have been involved in in a long time. I hope everyone will be back next year for another great season, and I will address a few things in the off season to help improve league even more for 2003.

Here is a look at how the Championship was decided:

Connection 4 Blackjacks 1
Scott/Chris start the week off right with a 57-48 win M-Th. Klesko was huge during the week with a 15, and the ever steady Pujols added 10. The Blackjacks hung tough during the week, but the OF's underachieved a little with just a combined 12 points. No fear for Bill, as his team has battled back from behind all year and throughout the playoffs. Friday was the crucial game of the series. The Connection get 11 points from Pujols to lead the team to a 27 point game. The Blackjacks get another solid pitching performance from Houston with 9, and post a score of 27. We have a tie!!!! The Connection, by virtue of their late season sizzling performance, are the home team and get the win on the 1/2 point tiebreaker. The Connection have the Blackjacks right were they want them. The time is now for the Blackjacks to step up and roll off 3 in a row, something they did in round one to the Stingrays. The Connection post another solid game of 28 on Saturday, led yet again by Pujols with 9. Can Bill find the way to battle back??? Unfortunately for the Blackjack faithful, the answer was no. The Blackjacks could only manage to put up 14 points, and the series is over. The CONNECTION WIN!!!!! In Sunday's irrelivant game, the Blackjacks manage to get a win 27-14, so the sweep is no to be for the Connection. Scott/Chris put up back-to-back league championships, as they really battled throughout the year. Consider the fact the after week six, Scott/Chris' team was in last place in the D Division, with just 13 team points (one more than the overall league low), the team really made it ALL the way back to even make the playoffs. That in itself was a major accomplishment! The team continued to thrive through the playoffs and provided to be to much for their opponents. Pujols and Nomar were the studs for the team. Those two consistently performed all year long, both taking a individual sidepot along the way. The key for the Connection was their OF's. Their OF's had struggled mightily in the early season, but as they finally heated up the team went a roll that would not be stopped. Another fine season for Scott/Chris as they go for the three peat in 2003! Bill's Blackjacks had probably the most exciting finish to the season that a team could have. In the final weeks, the Blackjacks were in a serious dogfight for the B Division title. They lost out on that, but thanks to a final week sweep, combined with the Oysters getting swept the final week, they made the playoffs. Then the team went down 0-2 to the Stingrays in round one, but battled back to win 3-2. Then they went off against the X-Men in round two, the "easiest" week the team had in the last 6 weeks of the season. An exciting ride for the Blackjacks, they just came up a little short in the end. Vladi and Mr. Viagra were the consistent leaders of the team throughout the year, and come playoff time. A second place finish combined with the wild finish had to make it memorable for Bill. Good job!

Week #21 Awards:

Player of the Week: Pujols, Connection 30 Points
Albert continues to lead the way for the Connection, posting games of 10-11-9 to help the Connection repeat as league champs.

Pitching Staff of the Week: Houston, Blackjacks 33 Points
The Blackjacks staff was quite good down the stretch, and the final week was no different. Unfortunately it was not enough.

Thanks again to everyone for their help this season and I look forward to another great year in 2003. Until March '03.........I am outta here!

The Commish