Week 19: The Top Tier Pulls Away
Year to Date Power Ranks
|
||||||||
TOTAL
|
HITTING
|
PITCHING
|
||||||
1
|
Dean
|
4.07
|
1
|
Dean
|
2.75
|
1
|
Michael
|
3.50
|
2
|
Michael
|
4.07
|
2
|
Max
|
3.00
|
2
|
Arthur
|
4.33
|
3
|
Max
|
4.21
|
3
|
Dave
|
3.75
|
3
|
Brian/Josh
|
4.50
|
4
|
Dave
|
4.43
|
4
|
Michael
|
4.50
|
4
|
Paul
|
4.83
|
5
|
Paul
|
5.29
|
5
|
Paul
|
5.63
|
5
|
Cory
|
5.00
|
6
|
Arthur
|
5.64
|
6
|
Keith
|
6.13
|
6
|
Dave
|
5.33
|
7
|
Cory
|
6.43
|
7
|
Matt
|
6.38
|
7
|
Dean
|
5.83
|
8
|
Matt
|
6.43
|
8
|
Arthur
|
6.63
|
8
|
Max
|
5.83
|
9
|
Brian/Josh
|
6.57
|
9
|
Cory
|
7.50
|
9
|
Matt
|
6.50
|
10
|
Keith
|
7.07
|
10
|
Brian/Josh
|
8.13
|
10
|
Keith
|
8.33
|
For the first time all year, the top 4 in the Power Ranks now matches the top 4 in the Yahoo Standings. Paul put forward a dud of a week at the worst possible time, losing to his playoff competitor Dave in blistering fashion. Paul took a turn down the power ranks and just hasn’t been able to jump into the top tier despite his steady climb up since Week 5. Dave actually lost some Power Ranks ground on the week, only putting up 14 Home Runs and a 277 AVG while most of the top tier was balling out with .300 Averages and 20+ HRs, but it was enough to put him back into the driver’s seat for a playoff berth. Mission Accomplished.
The other big mover of the week was Arthur. Coming through in the clutch with an enormous win over Max that ended up tighter than it was looking most of the second half of the week, Arthur kept his playoff hopes alive with a big win. This matchup exemplified the state of both MLB and our fantasy league; both of these offenses lit up the scoreboard while pitching became a war of attrition. Max and Arthur combined for 39 Home Runs, over 200 Runs plus RBIs and a Slugging Percentage near .600 while both teams had ERAs over 4.4 and WHIPs over 1.4. Max didn’t even try to keep up with Arthur’s pitching volume, really committing to his punting volume strategy. This questionable strategy now has him on the brink of playoff elimination with 3 weeks to go.
Michael and Dean held serve against Matt and Keith respectively through some huge offensive numbers and enough pitching to get the job done. The big story for these top two teams in the power rankings is injuries. In a three day span Michael lost three of his best players while Dean’s injured players have just been unable to get healthy. With three weeks to go how these injured players bounce back or pack it in for the year will have a major role in these teams’ playoff goals.
Finally, BJ beat Cory. These teams are now prepping for the Bourbon Street Championship but BJ put up a 2.75 ERA last week so that is something to be proud of these days.
--
As promised, let’s check out the stretch run schedules for the four teams fighting for the final two playoff spots: Dave, Max, Paul, Arthur.
Manager
|
Yahoo Standings Games Back of 4th
Place
|
Power Rank
|
Dave
|
+4
|
4.43
|
Max
|
--
|
4.21
|
Paul
|
5
|
5.29
|
Arthur
|
7
|
5.64
|
Remaining Schedule (and their
associated Power Rank)
Manager
|
Week 20
|
Week 21
|
Week 22
|
Avg
Power Rank Remaining
|
Dave
|
Cory (6.43)
|
BJ
(6.57)
|
Arthur
(5.64)
|
6.21
|
Max
|
Dean (4.07)
|
Michael (4.07)
|
Matt (6.43)
|
4.86
|
Paul
|
Arthur (5.64)
|
Dean (4.07)
|
Michael (4.07)
|
4.59
|
Arthur
|
Paul
(5.29)
|
Cory (6.43)
|
Dave
(4.43)
|
5.38
|
Based on the head start he has on the field and the relatively easy remaining schedule, Dave has a very strong chance to make the playoffs and hold the 3 seed where he currently resides. The 4 seed is likely going to be a photo finish. Max has a talent edge on the field but he and Paul have a very difficult schedule to play down ths stretch whereas Arthur is starting from behind but plays a somewhat easier schedule that Max and Paul. Another factor in this analysis to consider is that Michael and Dean have turned their eyes to the playoffs. Dean has been starting an injured Craig Kimbrel for over a week now (though he just came back yesterday) and Michael hasn’t streamed a pitcher since late week 18 and likely won’t until close to the playoffs. With the top two teams in evaluation and talent-acquisition mode instead of win-now mode, it gives an opportunity to their opponents the next three weeks to out-volume them to win a few categories. Or. Michael and Dean could manipulate their matchups to try to knock their most feared opponents down a peg so they don’t have to face them in week 1 of the playoffs…if they are confident in predicting which team will be the most difficult to face (sneak peak, they aren’t).
3 weeks left, finish strong.
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