The races are not necessarily close at this time, as the Bulldogs show no signs of taking their foot off the gas, their lead once again close to an amazing 400 points. The Lockhorns continue to challenge the Rock Cats for 2nd place. Currently 64 points back, which is down from 123 points just one week ago. And the Owls appear to be stranded on some 4th place desert island. 201 back of 3rd, but 220 points in front of the 5th place Big Train.
The Train got a little bit of breathing room this week and currently lead a trio of teams trying to catch up to the Caboose as the O’s (78 pts) Vulcans & 69’ers (both 93 pts behind) are all within striking distance.
The Kids and H-Bombs are just trying to catch the pack and the Bombers did have a nice start to week #11 as J-Schom’s boy Tommy Hanson looked good, and just up from the minors and H-Bomb claimed Ricky Nolasco goes CG-W on Thursday.
Owner News – Congrats to Eddie Dubis as Eddie Junior got hitched this past Saturday and I understand all went well, even with Fast Eddie being laid up with the bad wheel.
A trip through the standings……
A trip through the standings……
Hey – do you realize that ex-Pirate Jason Bay has 63 Ribbies?? Yep, he’s a BULLDOG! The Dogs this week claimed Luke Hochevar of Kansas City who was the #1 overall pick in the 2006 MLB draft of college and high school players. If you’re wondering about the Bucco’s, they took Brad Lincoln as #4 overall that year. At least things sound like they’re looking up for him. And Zack Greinke has shown that he is actually human!! But maybe not this guy……. Although it’s just 160 At Bats, Joltin’ Joe is hitting an amazing .425 with 13 round-trippers.
The ROCK CATS finally got on the board with not one, but two Complete Games. The Cats were the last NPL team to score in that category and one was even a Shut-Out for Tim Lincecum. RC’s surge to the top of the Pitching Wins category, now with 50. Cats dropped Felipe Lopez at 2B although he was hitting .301 but the pop in the bat wasn’t big.
If there is an under the radar pitcher this year it may be the LOCKHORNS Matt Cain who is 9-1 with 3 CG’s and a 2.39 ERA. The last couple of years Cain was a hard luck pitcher who couldn’t seem to buy a win. Just ask the Dawgs, they’ll tell ya…. Horns nab Cody Ross for the OF this week. In 2008 Ross may have had the quietest 22 HR season ever.
Speaking of Complete Games, does it seem that there are more happening in 2009? This week alone we had 10 CG and 5 Shutouts. The Horns had 3 of those 10 CG’s and the Vulcs had 2 of the 5 Shutouts.
Those 4th place OWLS had a tough break this week when all announcements concerning Roy Halladay on Wednesday - stated he would be placed on the DL on Thursday.
The Doc is 10-1 on the season. So that development would be enough to make most owners have this type of reaction……
But the head Owl remained calm. Then we also learned that the Vulcans Erik Bedard was a late Wednesday night DL and early Thursday the 2nd ranked NPL hitter - Raul Ibanez of the Cats went on. As the Raven said earlier on Wednesday in regards to the DL which just misses our deadline of 9 PM Wednesday…. “It happens to everyone throughout the year.”
Hey – did you realize that big Prince Fielder has 64 Ribbies???? Yep, he’s a BIG TRAIN slugger. The Train is hanging tough in 5th place despite having 4 SP’s on the DL, including the Ace Brandon Webb. Interesting that the Pirates happen to be in Colorado this week, isn’t it? Home of the Big Train’s still stalking stalker.
“I will not be ignored.” - - - ALEX FORREST.
The PITTSBURGH O’s have a hard luck pitcher this year in Paul Maholm. 14 starts and 4 Wins but has deserved more. The Closer Matt Capps however has done just fine, thank you! And when you talk about Pitt O’s closers, there may be one at the College World Series that is just destined to be a Pittsburgh O. Have you seen the Freshman Closer for LSU? He has 16 saves, a 2.17 ERA and in 45 IP he has 63 K’s and only 4 BB. His name…….
MATTY OTT
Yep, I can see him being Capps’ successor with the O’s.
And you may have noted that the Pirates made 50 draft choices this year. Minor trivia here – 5 of the 50 have the first name of Zachary. Including picks in the 4th and 6th rounds – that one named Zach von Rosenburg. Soon to be dubbed ZVB?
If you want a good site for in-depth analysis of every single pick of the Pirates, here is a link for a site from a Pirates minor league / draft expert - guru named Wilber Miller. When you click on the players name you see the analysis.
One of the first waiver wire claims in 2009 that was a hot commodity that everyone wanted was Adam Lind of Toronto who was grabbed by the VULCANS back on April 15th. He hasn’t disappointed as he is the 17th ranked hitter in NPL points and leads the A.L. in Doubles with 22. On Sunday the V’s had two Complete Game Shutouts which meant a 153 point day.
The 69’ERS Robby Cano hit a lofty .458 for period #10. And the Niners Ichiro leads MLB in Singles with 69. Of course he’s batting .348 to lead the A.L. Piff is probably wondering what to do with Daisuke Matsuzaka these days.
Gee, the hype has sort of left that guy as he has a Wangesque like ERA of 7.55 and if you follow the WHIP stat, it is 2.10 as opponents are hitting .372 against him. Yikes!!
The H-BOMBS have tough luck with injuries to the highly touted outfield but one bright spot has been RP Brian Fuentes who leads the A.L in saves with 18. Maybe it’s an Angels thing, as their former closer K-Rod was usually the A.L. Saves leader.
The H-BOMBS have tough luck with injuries to the highly touted outfield but one bright spot has been RP Brian Fuentes who leads the A.L in saves with 18. Maybe it’s an Angels thing, as their former closer K-Rod was usually the A.L. Saves leader.
And the KOOPERSTOWN KIDS have a weekend experience to share as it was cool to watch game 7 of the Stanley Cup Finals on the Club Level of PNC Park when the Bucs were taking on the Tigers and we were at PNC again on Sunday when the Pens and the Cup were honored.
And you may remember that was the Turn Back the Clock Game – 1909, so the ball park treated it like it was 1909. Meaning an old fashioned scoreboard on the jumbo-tron for the whole game and no 7th inning stretch or in-game entertainment whatsoever. Now I thought this was going to really neat and I looked forward to this atmosphere of what it was like in the good ‘ole days. Except something happened along the way…….. Much to my embarrassment, I have to admit I was bored in between innings. I actually missed my Box of Mystery, my Pierogi Races,
and the pitch count on the auxiliary scoreboard. And Damn it, I wanted my Hot Dog Launch!!
I guess the modern day gimmicks have ruined me!! And on that note, enjoy upcoming Period #11. Gotta go find some Pirates Q and A.
