Week #17
AS we head into the final week of regular season play, only two teams have clinched their division, while the remaining playoff spots are all up for grabs. The Hummers and Death have clinched their respective divisions in the C/D Conference, while just 3 teams have been mathematically eliminated from playoff contention. Here is where teams stand going into the exciting week #18 division games finish:
A Division
The Blackjacks hold a 1 point lead over the Contributors, meaning their head to
head showdown week #18 will be for the division title. The Stingrays need any
combination of two wins or two losses by the Rebels and they are in as a
Wildcard. The X-Men are out of the race.
B Division
The Rebels free fall from the top continues as they now sit 2 points behind the
Destroyers. These two teams have taken turns going through long losing streaks
but it is the Destroyers who control their own destiny going into the final
week. The Rebels need to take care of the Redbirds while the Destroyers match up
against the Oysters. The Redbirds have a chance, but must sweep the Rebels and
hope the Oysters do the same, and need a top 6, and.....well, lets just say it
is a long shot at best.
C/D Divisions
The Hummers and Death are the Division winners. After that, it gets very
interesting. The Cobras and Clippers hold the top two wildcard spots with 51 and
49 points respectively. But just behind is the Vipers and Connection with 48
each, and the Barracudas with 47. Just 4 points separates these 5 teams fighting
for 2 playoff spots. Interestingly enough, four of the teams face off in week
#18, with the Clippers being the lone team not battling a wildcard race
counterpart. The Clippers get the Death, while the Cobras/Vipers and
Connection/Barracudas go at it head to head. This finish will be one for the
ages I am guessing, as everyone is trying to take care of business on the field
while keeping one eye on the out of town scoreboard. Good luck to the 5 teams
involved!
Here is a brief look at the games from week #17:
Stingrays 4 Rebels 1
The Stingrays just about wrap up a playoff
spot with the near sweep of the Rebels. $-Rod led the way for the 'Rays as he
tied the season high for player points in a week with 44. Amazingly enough he
was one of two players with 44 this week, leaving the sidepot a three way tie
for the year. The huge week also propelled the leagues top pick to a comfortable
lead in the sidepot at SS. The Commish and Nomar were looking for two years in a
row over the top pick in the draft, but it appears $-Rod has reclaimed his
rightful spot back at the top of the SS position. Chris/Bob.......well, I hope
these two gentleman wore their parachutes. It is a complete nosedive for the
Rebels as they have managed to win just ONE POINT in the last THREE WEEKS! Wow,
that will surely make your head spin as a owner!
X-Men
4 Oysters 1
Two teams out of the playoffs and the X-Men
get a win thanks to a monster week from Mr. Viagra, who posts a 44 point
week as well to make it a three way split on the sidepot. Palmiero goes off for
games of 17-8-12-7 as the X-Men continue to be the team that is certainly the
hard luck non-playoff team of the year.
Destroyers 4 Contributors 1
Steve/Frank finally get their Destroyers
back on track in a crucial matchup as they win 4 games and get a top 8 finish to
pull two points ahead in their division. Helton and Giles had nice offensive
weeks, while Montreal pitching had a big 38 point week. Another week like this
and the B Division is the Destroyers. McSwain's Contributors had a golden
opportunity to move ahead of the Blackjacks, but couldn't capitalize leaving it
up to the final week head to head showdown. OF's Wilson and Beltran remain hot
as they led the team with 23 and 24 respectively.
Redbirds 3 Blackjacks 2
Larry/Tim finally get the big week from
their Redbirds as they post their season high week of 179. While it is probably
to little to late, it certainly had to feel good to finally see your team
perform like they knew they could. Every infielder had 20+ for the Redbirds
which is always a nice start, to go along with solid weeks from the OF and
Pitching staff. Bill's team had chance to pull ahead of the Contributors,
but the Blackjacks just a caught a hot team at the wrong time this week. No time
to dwell on this disappointing week for the Blackjacks, as the have the
Contributors up next in the battle for the division crown.
Death
4 Barracudas 1
The Death wrap up the C Division with a near
sweep of the Barracudas. Nothing fancy for the Death as it always seems to be
for the Commish, but the Death continue to have the second best point total in
the league despite a mediocre scoring average. Bert/Pam/Jesse continue the up
and down season as they needed a big week but couldn't score much points leaving
themselves in the #5 spot in the 5 team wildcard race. The 'Cudas have the
Connection up next and could still make the playoffs with a solid week and a
little help.
Hummers 4 Clippers 1
The Hummers have the D Division wrapped up
and just trying to stay healthy. A big weekday game by Cobras.....err, Hummers
3B Mueller with 24 to set the early pace for the team. Cobras......err, Hummers
OF Sosa also helped out with a 23 point week. Err.....nice trade! Mike/Harry
have the league low this week, at a time they could not afford to fall apart.
The Clippers now have a fight for their playoff lives as they match up against
the Death in week 18, and they can only hope to put this dismal week behind them
and secure a playoff spot.
Victory 3 Vipers 2
Alford's lowly Victory team throws a wrench
into Rogan's playoff plans as the Victory win three games that the Vipers
desperately needed. Not a great scoring wise for the Victory (never is), but
they get the 3 wins. The Vipers are just 1 point back of the Clippers and have
the Cobras up next. It is do or die time for the Vipers.
Connection 4 Cobras 1
Here they come, here comes the defending
champs! Scott/Chris continue their late season push towards the playoffs as they
get a crucial 4 wins over the Cobras. The Connection had 6 players with 20+ as
they post the 2nd high score in the league this week. One more week to go, it is
hard to bet against the defending champs as they seem to do this every year.
Maze/Sturken's team picked the wrong week to go in the tank. While everyone else
in the wildcard race was losing, they could have wrapped up a playoff spot this
week. Instead, they post 96 points, only win 1 point, and now are left in
a battle with the Vipers as well as 5 other teams. The Cobras need to turn it
around rather quickly, or it will yet another disappointing finish for the Cobra
faithful.
Week
#17 Awards:
Player of the Week:
$-Rod, Stingrays & Mr. Viagra, X-Men 44 Points
Both players stake their claim on the season high honors as they tie the
previous high game set by Glaus back in week #8.
Pitching
Staff of the Week: Montreal, Destroyers 38
Points
Clutch performance by the Destroyers pitching staff as they help the team win 4
and take back the division lead with just one week to go.
Good luck to everyone in week #18. I am outta here!
The
Commish
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