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Post Gameday Points XI
The
2003 Playoff Race (I capitalize because it needs to be) became just a
tad clearer after Sunday's games. The only thing finalized was that the
Playerz will NOT be involved. In fact, they finished the season 14-20,
and in last place, which, if you remember my predictions
from a few weeks back, was exactly how I said they would
finish. Whaddya know?
That
having been said, the games Sunday were, for the second straight gameday,
top notch. The biggest scoring discrepency was 7-4 in the Horsemen/Whites
doubleheader. Wiffolution beat the Playerz 6-3, but that was thanks to
a walk-off bomb in the 7th by Matt Plummer, meaning the game was actually
much closer than the score indicates. The rest of the games? 2-1, 3-1,
4-3, 3-1. This is all due mainly to complete parity in the league, or
at least way more than the league is accustomed to.
And
on the topic of parity, we head to the playoff race, which is tighter
than any in years past. The Road Warriors, as most know, are already in,
but many don't realize that when the Holy Whites lost Game 1 of the doubleheader,
the Warriors clinched the BYE to the finals. So the final two spots will
be decided after Saturday's games on the 30th.
The
Whites have a doubleheader against the Horsemen again, and if they want
to play in September, they'd better not get swept again. Sources tell
me Eric Christensen will be there for some, if not all, of the games,
which may hurt the Horsemen's chances. These games will be at The Sac.
Across
town, Wiffolution takes on the Road Warriors in what could be the biggest
games of their team's history. They could possibly afford to go 2-1 and
make the playoffs, depending on what happens over at The Sac, but you
know they'll be looking for a 3-0 day, which means they'll have to sweep
the lethal Warriors. While a couple months ago, many would laugh at that
aspiration, with Matt Plummer playing the way he is, anything's possible.
The fact that this kid hit two walk-off homeruns immediately after giving
up one to start the day off speaks volumes about how important he is to
this team.
All
I know is, if the Warriors end up facing either Wiffolution or the Horsemen
in the finals, the league has a chance to see the first-ever 4 on 4 championship
game. Mike Walsh has formally said his season is as good as over with
the tendinitis on his throwing arm. What was previously thought of, in
late-July, early-August, as a "3-4 week injury" has now been
upgraded to "no way will I be able to play, even at the end of the
playoffs." This all means that unless Pat Plummer lays an egg this
coming Saturday, Mike Walsh will finish with the worst batter rating in
the league. If you said this would happen back in 2001, when Walsh hit
.355 with 33 homeruns, you'd be laughed out of the building.
| Current
Rookie Standings |
| Name |
Brnk |
Prnk |
Ornk |
| 1.
Curtis Henning |
5 |
5 |
1 |
| 2.
Matt Plummer |
10 |
7 |
2 |
| 3.
Bill Rozak |
1 |
20 |
3 |
| 4.
Matt Smith |
14 |
8 |
4 |
| 5.
Pat Plummer |
20 |
4 |
5 |
| 6.
Tavis Beynon |
16 |
13 |
6 |
| 7.
John Robins |
19 |
16 |
7 |
Brnk
= Batting Rank (overall)
Prnk = Pitching Rank (overall)
ORnk = Overall Rank (rookies)
Ornk determined by summing both Brnk and Prnk. In the event
of a tie, player with more ABs is given priority. |
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No
lead changes in the Rookie Standings, and no changes anywhere on the list
as players only picked up or dropped a point or two total. Curtis Henning
and Matt Plummer remain the only two to have duel top-10 ranks, and it
looks like they are the only two who have a shot at staying there. Pat
Plummer is the only other rookie who will be playing on Saturday, and
it's unlikely he'll hit well enough to move from 20th to 10th in batting.
Bill
Rozak's bat was absolutely deadly this year, and he's being rewarded.
He joined the season late, but early enough to eventually qualify for
the percentage awards. By current rules, players have to be at half of
the team's gamedays to qualify for things like leaders, records, etc.
This past Sunday saw Bill attend his sixth gameday, giving him enough
to qualify. What this means is that the league has a new record holder
for both OB% and Batting Average. His 29 homeruns also leads the league,
but it's not likely he'll be leading after Saturday's games.
Of
course, it's not an OFFICIAL record until all the games have been played,
but it's unlikely that Joey will be able to get his batting average up
above .465 in one gameday. In order to do so, and assuming he gets roughly
18 ABs, he needs to pick up 12 hits. I'm not saying Joey is incapable
of going 12-18, but he's going to be facing Carmichael, Deatrick, and
the Road Warriors. In other words, five talented pitchers. He can take
solace though in knowing he can go 0-18 and still have an average over
.400. Just don't expect him to pass .465. When he gets his final AB, and
he's still not there, THEN the record is official. Now, it's simply assumed.
And I don't feel uncomfortable saying that NO ONE is going to go near
the .564 mark.
Oddly
enugh, as good as an offensive season Bill put together, it's not (rating-wise)
the BEST EVER season. Back in 1999, Carmichael was in another world, hitting
41 homeruns in 140 ABs and finishing with a slugging percentage of 1.336.
Give Bill 140 ABs at his current pace, and he would have finished with
"only" 36 homeruns. Still, since most of us have short memories,
this offensive outburst by Rozak will be more remembered...for now.
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