And as the LOCKHORNS story in week 22 concludes, they start week 23 with the new pick-up of the Red Birds Rick Ankiel, and he explodes for a 7 RBI, 22 NPL point game on Thursday in his first appearance for Lockhorn Nation. Ankiel’s comeback story has made him into a modern day ROY HOBBS!!
Harv has only two moves left to cover the final three Wednesdays. Can he work some more of his free agent magic?
Taking a quick trip to the bottom of the standings, we have two teams in the 69’ERS and H-BOMBS who are playing out the September string. These two teams are close enough to each other that they can still flip-flop 9th and 10th. And as baseball is coming to the end of the season we find the Bombers packing to move out of the War Room, and the “War Lords” of NFL fantasy are moving in.
After the big double shut-out day by the ROCK CATS a week ago, the BIG TRAIN has regrouped and is back with a somewhat tenuous lead of 50+ points as of this writing. The Train has been very happy to get the bats of Chase Utley and Hunter Pence back, while the Cats finally got to replace Iron Man Scott Rolen with a power threat in Troy Glaus. And the Cats are starting to wonder how much gas Barry Bonds has left in the tank?
The OWLS are suddenly trying to hold off the fast rising Lockhorns and they have 11 SP’s scheduled to start for this Period # 23, as opposed to 8 for the Horns.
The KOOPERSTOWN KIDS are engaged in an extremely tight race for 5th place right now as only 57 points stand between 5th (Kids), 6th (Dogs) and 7th (Slammers). Remember the old saying of… “You can never have enough Devil Rays.” Well, maybe there’s some truth to that if they’re hitters…. Over the last 14 days the two top NPL hitters are D-Rays and Kids in Carlos Pena and BJ Upton.
Those BULLDOGS of Tony and Eddie almost had 25 bonus points as Scott Baker came close to tossing a No-No, but he did get the Complete Game Shut-Out. Crazy times when you bring back Pedro Martinez and drop Roger Clemens…. In fact, a lot of big names sent to the free agent pool this week, as it’s time to get every point as opposed to long term gain from a so-called superstar.
Speaking of big names and injuries, the PITTSBURGH O’s have a tough call on this young catching star……
If there is any team that can be described as “on the bubble” it may be the Big O’s… 138 points out of the money is still close enough with 24 days left. Especially when you have Complete Game Shut-Out pitchers like the O’s do.
And yes, as the “Current Quote” on the right panel from the owner of the ALABAMA SLAMMERS is a standard staple of Sin City; it doesn’t stay in Vegas when there are NPL cameras on the job…… Al is in Las Vegas with two buddies from work…. Must be long lines for the rest rooms in those casinos, huh?
Well, I can also report that there have been no sightings (yet) of Al and his posse at the location pictured below……..
Is Period # 23 which we are just starting, a make or break week for the Slammers and O’s, both of whom are on the outskirts of the money? Both those teams have a league high 13 Starts scheduled for this period, a chance to gain ground for sure…
Good luck this week and I’m back minding the store on Wednesday
- - Kommish.
