RK Possums (7-7-1) vs. KG Capital City Goofballs (7-8)

After a series of shocking results last week, each team hoped for a return to normal this week.  The two top performers were the Possums and Goofballs.  Rick was near the top of all categories for the week, especially on pitching.  However, Kevin was even better on the mound.  This led to a close match that was one RBI away from being a tie.

Each team’s pitching was superb.  No Possums pitcher allowed more than 3 earned runs for the week.  The team piled up strikeouts up and down the roster.  However, the Goofballs were even better.  Aaron Civale was masterful, with 14.0 IP and a single earned run with 9 strikeouts.  Other lesser names like Justin Steele and Ryan Yarbrough were solid, allowing just a single earned run each.  The Goofballs were able to win three categories, but Rick had better strikeout rates and saves.

On offense, the Goofballs weren’t able to keep pace.  Bo Bichette had a big week with 1 1.239 OPS but just one home run.  The Possums countered with a huge week from Christian Walker, who had 2 home runs and a 1.141 OPS.  Seven different players had a home run, and Rick was able to comfortably win OPS and home runs.  Kevin took steals, but Rick managed to get one more steal and tie RBIs.  Two steals came on Sunday, one each from Adolis Garcia and Fernando Tatis Jr.  The Possums were also able to win RBI for the day by a 5-3 margin over Kevin.  This was enough for a narrow 5-4-1 win.  Either team could have taken this one, but the Possums came out on top this time.

LK Armadillos (12-3) vs. CP Kraken (4-10-1)

After suffering their second loss to the Wolf Spiders, and just their third loss of the season, the Armadillos rallied to ease fears of a mid-season fade.  They led the league in all offensive categories, except for steals where they were tied for second.  However, the Kraken refused to go quietly and were second in every category except for steals!  Larry had good production up and down the lineup, but the standout was Jose Ramirez.  He had a vintage week with 4 home runs, 7 RBI, 6 runs, a steal, and a 1.287 OPS.  Pete Alonso also dialed back the clock with a monster 4 home runs 12 RBI and 1.196 OPS week.  Chas McCormick and 9 RBI and a 1.105 OPS, and Ha-Seong Kim added three steals.

This would be enough to guarantee a win most weeks, but Chris responded with his own powerful stats.  Matt Olson had 3 home runs, 8 RBI and a 1.223 OPS.  Alex Bregman, Yordan Alvarez, and Elly De La Cruz all had OPS’s over 1.000.  Sadly, this wasn’t enough to overcome the Armadillos’ onslaught, and Larry’s team went up 5-0.  

Any hopes the Kraken had for a tie were quickly dashed.  Baily Ober allowed 6 earned runs in just 4 IP, and Aaron Nola allowed 5 in 4.2 IP.  These subpar starts ruined the Kraken’s rate stats.  They also reduced the team’s inning pitched and suppressed strikeout totals.  The Armadillo had a nice two-start week from Christopher Sanchez, who allowed just 2 earned runs in 12.0 IP with 11 strikeouts.  The Kraken stole saves, but it wasn’t enough.  The Armadillos earned an emphatic 9-1 victory for the week.  The win rights the ship after a rough patch for the squad.  They remain in first place by two games.  The Kraken fall further in the depths but can take pride in a solid offensive showing that will hopefully prove to be a harbinger of better things in the future!

KK Wolf Spiders (10-5) vs. CM Skyline Sluggers (5-10)

Looking to keep pace with the Armadillos were the Wolf Spiders!  Kyle’s squad is the only team with a realistic chance to win the title, and with the dominant showing from Larry’s team, they needed a good week.  The team’s pitching was quite good and was behind only the Possums and Goofballs in total performance.  Justin Verlander delivered two good starts with just 1 earned run and 11 strikeouts.  Sandy Alcantara also had a great start with a complete game and 7 strikeouts.  David Bednar added two saves, and the defending champs swept all five pitching categories.

Neither team had great production on offense.  The Wolf Spiders led the league with 7 steals, thanks to a whopping 5 from Ronald Acuna Jr.  Austin Riley stayed hot for another week with 2 homers, and White Merrifield added 2 home runs, 7 RBI, and a steal.  The Skyline Sluggers had a few good results, too.  Christian Yelich continued to show good form with 2 home runs and a steal.  In total 7 players had a home run.  Hunter Renfroe led the way with 2 home runs and a monster 1.644 OPS.  Charlie was able to capture OPS and RBI, but Kyle’s strong pitching was enough to earn a 6-2-2 win.

JK Hares (7-7-1) vs. HP PhoeGnomes (6-8-1)

The week’s final match saw the Hares face the PhoeGnomes.  No one is sure how the Hares keep winning when they are near the bottom of every offensive category, but somehow, they find a way.  This week was no different.  They were fortunate in that the PhoeGnomes suffered some of the worst offensive totals in the league.  The Hare’s best player was Max Muncy, who had 3 home runs and 7 RBI.  However, he only had 4 hits, meaning he had just one other hit besides the home runs!  Matt Chapman added a pair of home runs and some walks.  Jarren Durran added 2 steals.  Heather managed to win home runs, but her overall offensive performance was dismal.  Lane Thomas and Nolan Arenado combined to go just 5/47.  Their blended OPS is somewhere near 0.350.  This allowed the Hares to win four categories despite a pretty bad showing of their own.

On pitching neither team distinguished themselves.  The Hares had better counting stats thanks to… you guessed it… Spencer Strider who had 10 strikeouts in 6.1 IP.  Zach Wheeler added 11 in just 6.2 IP.  Neither team had good rate stats, but the Hares were a shade better than the PhoeGnomes and went on to a comfortable 8-2 win.

Players of the Week

This week’s best player was Pete Alonso.  His power has been down for much of the season, and he could prove to be a key weapon for the Armadillos if he can get going again.  The best pitcher was Justin Verlander, who helped the Wolf Spiders keep pace with the leaders.

Next Week

The biggest match next week sees the Possums try to derail the Armadillos.  Rick has a team that can put together big numbers, and they would love to help bring down the leaders.  The Wolf Spiders face the last-place Kraken, but Chris’s team has proven it has too much pride to give up.  The Hares and Goofballs meet, and there is no way to predict what might happen when these two streaky teams meet.  Finally, the PhoeGnomes will take on the Skyline Sluggers, and a battle to reach the middle of the pack.

KK Wolf Spiders (9-5) vs. LK Armadillos (12-2)

With only ten weeks left in the season, the Armadillos entered the week with a chance to extend their lead on the rest of the league.  With every other team hovering near 0.500, only the Wolf Spiders boasted a record that could challenge Larry’s team’s lead.  Even with their winning record, the Wolf Spiders were three games behind the leaders.  However, they have two head-to-head matches left, and Kyle knew he could still threaten to win back-to-back titles.  With everything on the line, could the Wolf Spiders respond?  Could they handle the pressure of a must-win situation?  Or would the Armadillos all but seal the title?

Kyle answered the call in emphatic fashion, earning a dominant 9-1 win that was never in doubt.  His offense led the way and finished second in home runs, tied for second in RBI, and third in runs.  One player was crucial to the effort and saved Kyle’s season:  Austin Riley.  When his team needed him, he delivered one of the biggest stat lines of any player this season.  Riley had 6 home runs, 9 runs, and an incredible 16 RBI in just 25 at-bats.  His OPS was 1.640.  His production alone was ~35% of the Wolf Spiders’ team totals for counting stats.  Other players like Orlando Arcia and Bryan De La Cruz had nice weeks, but Riley stood alone, willing his team to victory in every category except steals.

On the pitching side, the Wolf Spiders were serviceable.  However, their totals weren’t strong enough to run away with the week on their own.  Unfortunately for the Armadillos, their old bugaboo surfaced again with a series of pitching meltdowns.  The staff produced league-worst ERA and WHIP totals that are near season highs for any team.  The shameful list includes a 7 ER, 4.0 IP start from Tarik Skubal.  Braxton Garret added 6 ER in just 3.0 IP.  Ranger Suarez allowed 4 in just 5.0 IP.  While the ERA and WHIP were bad enough, the low innings totals also suppressed strikeouts and IP.  This gave Kyle an easy path to victory where he swept all five pitching categories.

With this win, the Wolf Spiders are just two games behind the Armadillos and appear to have momentum.  The Armadillo’s pitching has always been a weak point, and it cost them at the worst possible time.  Still, they remain the favorites until these troubling results become a pattern.  Kyle has proven that his team has the determination needed to push for a second title.   He has also beaten the Armadillos twice, meaning he can’t lose a tie-breaker.  (The Goofballs are the only other team to have beaten the Armadillos, with the Hares having two extremely close calls.)

CP Kraken (3-10-1) vs. KG Capital City Goofballs (7-7)

While the Wolf Spiders were busy saving their season, the Kraken were busy posting the best overall stats for the week.  They led the league in home runs, RBI, and OPS by a wide margin.  They were tied for the top in steals, and tied for second in runs.  Give players had OPS’s over 1.000, led by Juan Soto with 3 home runs and 9 RBI.  Josh Naylor was even better with 3 home runs and 10 RBI.  Kyle Tucker and Bryson Stott each had 3 steals.  The Goofballs were solid on offense as well, and enjoyed a remarkable week from Freddie Freeman.  He had 3 home runs, 7 RBI, 13 runs, and an unimaginable 1.833 OPS.  This allowed Kevin to take runs, but Chris dominated the other four categories. 

The Kraken differentiated themselves on pitching.  They posted the second best overall stats in the league to the Hares.  There were no major standouts but everyone was efficient and piled up strikeouts.  Aaron Nola was probably the best of the group in two starts over 14.1 IP and 13 strikeouts.  Alexis Diaz added 3 saves.  The Goofballs countered with good weeks from Raisel Iglesias and Devin Williams.  However, they suffered from a series of poor starts with small IP totals.  Logan Webb was a disaster, allowing 9 ER in 8.1 IP.  Other starts like Aaron Civale did well, but couldn’t throw enough innings.  This gave Chris a clear path to victory after his strong offensive showing.  The Kraken earned a win, and with it hope to improve the draft lotter chances.  The loss is a difficult one for the Goofballs, who had hoped to make a run.  However, they are still in the hunt for third place with plenty of time left in the year.

HP PhoeGnomes (6-7-1) vs. RK Possums (6-7-1)

The week’s third match paired two teams with a chance to get back to 0.500 facing off.  The Possums and PhoeGnomes both fought hard, but it was Rick who came out on top and moved back up in the standings. 

The PhoeGnomes were the better offensive team with a big week from Vladimir Guerrero Jr.  He had 3 home runs, and paired with Nolan Arenado’s 12 RBI to build some solid counting stats.  The team also had five players with OPS’s over 1.000.  Despite these strong showings, the team had a strange lack of runs and the steals total was low.  This gave Rick an opportunity, and he responded to win both categories.  Christian Walker added 6 runs, and Luis Robert Jr. and Francisco Lindor had a total of 5 steals.  This was enough to win two critical categories.

On pitching, neither team had great stats.  The PhoeGnomes managed to finish second in the league in strikeouts, but the Possums had the better ERA and WHIP.  Felix Bautista’s 3 saves were enough to win their category on their own for Rick.  Luis Castillo also represented the Possums well with a nice 11 strikeouts in just 6.0 IP.  Michael Lorenzen also had a nice start with no earned runs in 7.0 IP, but with just 3 strikeouts.  The PhoeGnomes had a disastrous week from Lucas Giolito, who allowed 8 earned runs in 8.2 IP.  (I feel like I have written this sentence once or twice a season for the last 9 years.)  Giolito and Jesus Luzardo combined for 29 strikeouts, but Rick’s better rate stats were enough to earn four categories and the win.

CM Skyline Sluggers (5-9) vs. JK Hares (7-7-1)

The week’s final match saw the Skyline Sluggers meet the Hares.  Charlie’s team has been relatively hot lately, and hoped to keep on track versus the inconsistent Hares.  Things went well on offense for Charlie, with Shohei Ohtani posting a 1.479 OPS with 2 home runs.  Masataka Yoshida and Javier Baez each had a pair of steals.  Rafael Devers and Christian Yelich also had nice weeks with OPS’s over 1.000 but limited home run totals.  This would hurt the squad as it allowed the Hares to take RBI with 40.  Max Muncy was the key contributor with 3 home runs and 10 RBI for the Hares.  Jeff’s team didn’t post terrible offensive numbers, but were only able to take one category.

Pitching was a different story.  Charlie posted the third best overall stats in the league, led by a nice week from Yu Darvish.  However, the Hares were on a different level and posted the best stats in the league by far.  Three pitchers had 10 or more strikeouts in single starts, and a fourth had 9.  Spencer Strider once again led the way with 13 in just 6.0 IP.  Corbin Burnes and George Kirby threw 15 IP with 20 strikeouts, 0 earned runs, 6 hits, and just 1 walk.  Kirby’s control is insane – he has just 11 walks in 119.2 IP with 103 strikeouts.  Thanks to two non-terrible spot starts from Tyler Anderson and MacKenzie Gore, the Hares swept all five categories and earned the win.

Players of the Week

This weeks’ best players are the Hare’s Austin Riley, who saved Kyle’s season.  Burnes and Kirby are the pitchers of the week thanks to their dominant outings.

Next Week

After a week of shocking results, the standings are in absolute chaos.  The Armadillos are on top with a two game lead over the Wolf Spiders.  The Possums and Hares are somehow tied for 3^rd with just 7-7-1 records.  The Goofballs are right behind with a 7-8 record.  After that, the PhoeGnomes, Sluggers, and Kraken are all in the mix.  It’s impossible to tell where things will end up.

This week, the Kraken hope to keep things rolling and defeat their most bitter rival, the Armadillos.  Kyle will try to build further momentum against the Skyline Sluggers.  The Possums and Goofballs meet in a battle for 3^rd place.  Finally, the PhoeGnomes will look to stay out of the bottom tier of the league versus the unpredictable Hares.

The long Week #14 came to a close with several close contests.  Many favourites earned victories while other teams managed to surprise.  The question looms, though – can anyone challenge the Armadillos in the second half?

CP Kraken (3-9-1) vs. HP PhoeGnomes (5-7-1)

The week’s most spirited matchup saw the PhoeGnomes best the Kraken.  In a week of miserable pitching across the league, Heather was able to put up great numbers.  The PhoeGnomes easily led the league in ERA and WHIP.  Her ERA was a full run better than the next closest team.  Her standout performer was Kyle Bradish who threw 13.1 IP and had 13 strikeouts and no earned runs.  Jordan Romano was also superb with 6 strikeouts and 3 saves.  Jesus Lazardo also had two great starts, and the PhoeGnomes edged the Kraken in strikeouts and IP.  However, Chris was able to tie saves thanks to a nice week from Alexis Diaz.

This pitching advantage was enough for Heather to hold out on offense as well.  The PhoeGnomes managed to tie for 3^rd in hoe runs and were second in RBI.  Nolan Arenado and Bobby Witt Jr. each had 4 home runs, totalled 19 RBI, and Witt had 4 steals.  The Kraken tried their best and tied for the lead with 10 steals.  They also posted the 3^rd best OPS in the league.  Unfortunately for Chris, Cody Bellinger was the only player with 3+ home runs.  Quite a few others had good OPS, but the top-end home run power was absent.  Chris was competitive on offense and won 3 categories, but it wasn’t enough to dig the team out of the pitching hole.  Heather earned a hard-fought win and is now just one game below 0.500 on the season.

RK Possums (6-7) vs. JK Hares (6-7)

The Hares and Possums met with both teams suffering through difficult seasons.  However, each team brought their best to All-Star Week and posted strong numbers.  The two teams ended with a rare 5-5 tie with each team sweeping a set of categories.

The Possums easily had the best offense in the league for the week.  They led every category except steals.  Two players were key:  Manny Machado and Adolis Garcia.  After starting the year hot, Garcia had cooled until this week, when he unleashed 4 home runs, 13 RBI, 12 runs, and a 1.100 OPS in 40 at-bats.  Incredibly, this wasn’t even the best showing on the team, as Machado tallied 6 home runs, 15 RBI, 11 runs, and had a 1.343 OPS in 37 at-bats.  This is a truly remarkable showing for both players.  For their part, the Hares had 9 players with a home run, and big weeks from J.D. Martinez and Max Muncy.  However, none of it was enough to keep pace with the Possums’ enormous production.

The battle continued in pitching.  The Hares led the league in both IP and strikeouts.  Spencer Strider and Corbin Burnes combined for 40 strikeouts in 4 starts.  Dylan Cease and Zach Wheeler added 14 each as well.  The pitchers allowed a lot of runs, so the Hares’ ERA wasn’t great, but the team did enough to easily win the counting stats.  The Possums were betrayed by their starters, and lost ERA and WHIP after a strong Sunday from the Hares.  The teams finished with a 5-5 tie that is frustrating for both.  Still, a tie is probably the most fair outcome given that both teams performed well enough to win against most of the other teams in the league.

KG Capital City Goofballs (6-7) vs. KK Wolf Spiders (9-4)

The Goofballs made a statement that the Armadillos were not going to run away from them without a fight in a sharp victory over the Wolf Spiders.  Kevin’s team posted good offensive numbers, but finally found some answers on the pitching side and had positive contributions there as well.

Freddie Freeman had a nice week for the Goofballs, managing 3 home runs and a 1.231 OPS, albeit over only 26 at-bats.  He paired with Francisco Alvarez, who added another 3 home runs and a 1.204 OPS.  This was enough to sweep four categories (the Goofballs ceded steals), and take a strong lead into the pitching battle.

Normally this is where the Goofballs can run into trouble, but this week the starters produced at a high level.  They were second to only the Hares in IP and K, and were in the top 2 or 3 for ERA and WHIP.  Logan Webb dominated with 21 strikeouts versus only 2 ER in 15.2 IP.  Devin Williams and Freddy Peralta each had 10 strikeouts.  Note that Williams is a reliever who had an incredible 5 saves!  Kyle had a good week from Gerrit Cole, but Dane Dunning and others were shaky.  The team posted pretty good overall stats, but it wasn’t enough to overcome the Goofball’s numbers.  This gave Kevin a quality win, and puts Kyle 3 games behind the Armadillos.  This is a tough loss for Kyle, who will have to try to bounce back next week.  The Goofballs are determined to make a run, and might be active on the trade market.

LK Armadillos (11-2) vs. CM Skyline Sluggers (5-8)

The week’s final match saw the Skyline Sluggers fall to the Armadillos.  However, the match was closer than the score might indicate.  Things look promising for Charlie on offense.  They were second in home runs to the Possums, and had great RBI and runs totals.  Their OPS was also second only to the Possums!  Anthony Santander, Christian Yelich, Joey Meneses, Sean Murphy, and Rafael Devers each had at least 3 home runs.  Five players had OPS’s above 1.000 with at least 20 at-bats.  Up and down the line-up the team posted great runs and RBI numbers.  However, the Armadillos were able to capture steals without too much trouble and snuck in a tie in runs thanks to a whopping 10 from Mookie Betts!  However, this still left Charlie with a 3-2 lead.

The Armadillos struck back in pitching.  They easily won saves 6-0.  They then relied on a series of solid if not spectacular starts to product the league’s second best ERA and WHIP.  They were also efficient and took IP and strikeouts.  Joe Musgrove was the best starter with 18 strikeouts in 12.0 IP and just 1 earned run.  Braxton Garrett had a bizarre week in which he struck out 14 over 15.1 IP but allowed 10 earned runs.  This kept the teams pitching from being elite.  However, it was more than enough to earn a 5-0 category sweep and take another victory for the year.

The question becomes – can anyone mount a charge against the Armadillos?  Can any team keep pace at this point.  The Sluggers had been red-hot going into the battle, and it wasn’t enough.  What will it take?

Players of the Week

The best pitchers for the week were the four Hares who combined for 68 strikeouts among them.  The best hitter was definitely Manny Machado!

Next Week

The season rolls on with the third and final full rotation beginning today.  This is back to a regular week with 8 starts only.  The most important match of the week sees the Armadillos and Wolf Spiders face off.  For Kyle to have a realistic chance at a repeat, he must win this match.  The Hares and Sluggers meet in a battle of teams looking to stay in the middle of the pack.  The Goofballs will try to stay hot against the Kraken.  Finally, the Possums and PhoeGnomes will each try to move back to 0.500 in their clash.

Happy 4^th of July all! This recap written by yours truly – the 2021 League Champion! Pictured below – my favorite fireworks scene from a movie – when the kids from the Sandlot played their only night game under a sky lit up by fireworks!

Skyline Sluggers (4-8) vs. Possums (6-6)

With 24 weeks worth of matchups for the season, this past week signaled the beginning of the second half for the league.  Charlie took his Sluggers up against the Possums in what turned out to be one of the tighter matchups of the week.

On offense, the Sluggers were led by Shohei Ohtani who was 7-21 with 7 runs, 4 hr, 5 rbi and  a 1.462 OPS.  It wasn’t just a one man wrecking crew though, as Charlie had 4 other players with 10+ plate appearances that also posted an OPS over 1.000 The Possums offense was led by offseason trade acquisition Luis Robert, who hit 3 homers and stole 4 bases with an 1.165 OPS. Rick also had 4 other players with multiple HR weeks which gave him that category, and he nipped Charlie on SB 6-5 because of the aforementioned Robert. Those were the only 2 offensive categories Rick won however, as the consistency across the board from the Sluggers offense gave them narrow victories in Runs and RBI, with a significant advantage in OPS despite being outhomered  16-13 for the week.

When it comes to pitching, Charlie’s starters carried the week for him. He only had one starter who gave up multiple runs and he won the rate stats relatively easily as Rick had to endure rough outings from multiple starters. The Possums took innings and saves, but the advantage in IP did not include an advantage in K’s, as the Sluggers took that category on the strength of 3 double digit K performances from his SP, including that guy Ohtani (he’s good at baseball). Sluggers take the pitching categories 3-2 and the week 6-4.

Hares (5-7) vs. Kraken (3-8-1)

League veterans Jeff and Chris did battle this past week in the only matchup featuring two below .500 teams. Both teams came into the week struggling and desperate for a victory. The Hares came into the matchup on a 4 game losing streak and the last place Kraken had posted a disappointing 2-5-1 record over their last 8 weeks.

The Hares pitching registered a dominant performance this week, posting a league low 2.42 ERA and 0.79 WHIP. Dylan Cease had two solid outings and Jeff got very good single starts from Burnes, Bieber, Kirby, and Strider (that sounds like a law firm). Chris got a great week from Reid Detmers, who struck out 19 in 13 innings of work with a 2.08 ERA and 0.69 WHIP, but his beloved Astros let him down, as Cristian Javier and Hunter Brown combined to give up a combined 9 ER and 18 H over only 8 IP.  The Kraken were able to take IP for the week, but that was it for him on that side, as the Hares took K’s as well as saves behind a 3 save week from Ryan Pressly.

With a solid 4-1 advantage in pitching, the Hares needed only to tread water on the hitting side to take the week and end their losing streak. Jeff didn’t really get any standout performances from any hitters beyond Eloy Jimenez’s 2 HR/8 RBI/1.075 OPS week. The Hares hit a league low 7 HR and notched just 34 RBI for the week. The Kraken easily outpaced the Hares in both those categories, as they were led by Matt Olson and Kyle Tucker who combined for 5 HR and 17 RBI for the week while each posting an OPS over 1.200. Jeff was able to keep OPS close, but Chris took that category narrowly as well.

Going into Sunday, the Kraken held a slim 1 run advantage with the two clubs being tied in steals. Michael Harris II turned out to be the difference maker, as his stolen base and run scored (one of five runs scored by the Hares on Sunday) gave Jeff both runs and steals by the narrowest of margins. The Hares end their slide and take the week 6-4 while the Kraken are still looking for answers.

Wolf Spiders (8-4) vs. PhoeGnomes (5-6-1)

Defending Champ Kyle went into Week 13 as one of only two teams in the league with a winning record (more on that other team in just a bit) while Heather was looking to get herself level at 6-6-1.

On offense, both teams and strong weeks in the power department. A trio of Phoegnomes had 3 HR weeks, with Altuve, Ezequiel Duran, and Nick Castellanos combining for 9 HR and 21 RBI. Kyle got an absolute monster week from Ronald Acuna, Jr. who registered a 1.916 OPS,  9 runs scored, 5 HR, 7 RBI, and 4 steals. Spencer Steer also made his presence felt for the Wolf Spiders registering 3 HR 7 RBI and a 1.388 OPS. The two clubs split HR and RBI, with Kyle taking runs scored and steals, and Heather notching a narrow victory in OPS, giving Kyle a 3-2 lead on the hitting side.

Both teams posted relatively strong pitching performances. Rotation stalwarts Zac Gallen and Shane McClanahan had surprisingly disappointing weeks for the Wolf Spiders, but that was offset by 12 innings of shutout ball thrown by the apparently ageless Justin Verlander, as Kyle’s squad posted a 3.04 ERA and 1.07 WHIP overall. The PhoeGnomes couldn’t match either ratio, as a poor performance by Mackenzie Gore (2.2 IP, 6 H, 7 ER) spoiled most of the otherwise solid work done by Heather’s pitching staff this week, as they were able to gain the advantage over the Wolf Spiders in Innings and K’s. The bullpens were going to be the difference here. Heather got a save apiece from both Jordan Romano and Kenley Jansen, but it wasn’t enough to take the category as Kyle picked up a pair of saves from Camilo Doval and one save from David Bednar to take the category 3-2, giving Kyle a 6-4 victory overall for the week.

Armadillos (11-1) vs. U-Haul Trucks (5-7)

*Cracks knuckles*

I don’t know about anyone else, but I am SICK and TIRED of the Armadillos running roughshod over the rest of the league this year. I honestly don’t even like armadillos in real life. Like what do they even think they are? Are they an anteater? Are they a snail? Are they a porcupine? Come on armadillos, pick a lane!

The last time I ever rooted for an Armadillo was when the fictional ones from Texas St. were playing ironman football led by Paul Blake at QB,  Andre Crimm at DT, Manumana the slender at OT, and Lucy Draper at K.

But I digress…

Larry’s squad entered the week on an 11 week winning streak putting himself in great position to hang up another championship banner at Armadillo HQ. Sensing a desperate time and with the season hanging in the balance, the Goofballs decided to temporarily change the name of the franchise (without league approval) in hopes of stopping the apparently unstoppable Armadillos.

With regard to hitting for the week, it was very much a back and forth matchup in every category except steals, which Larry tends to win by like 50,000 every week. The Armadillos tried to lean heavily on Julio Rodriguez, Mookie Betts, and Jose Ramirez, as they played the matchups at mostly every other position this week, starting a total of 21 different players on offense. Larry got 4 HRs and 17 RBI from the aforementioned trio. The U-Haul Trucks did not do much offensively for the 2^nd week in a row, but a strong Sunday performance in HR (3) and OPS (.876) gave them two hitting categories for the week, while a late HR by Pete Alonso gave Armadillos the advantage in RBIs, to go along with their relatively easy victories in SB and runs scored.

All Larry had to do was hold serve against the Goofballs weak pitching staff and they’d be well on their way to a 12^th straight victory.

Oops.

The ‘Dillos had a nightmarish outing from Eury Perez (0.1 IP, 6 ER, 7 H) and relatively poor starts from Yusei Kikuchi and Logan Gilbert, leading them to post the worst numbers in the league in ERA and WHIP this week. Larry also didn’t get much volume from his usually stellar bullpen, as Emmanuel Clase and Josh Hader combined for only 2.1 IP and 1 save for the week.

The U-Haul Trucks have struggled immensely on the bump for the season, but this week was a different story. Jordan Montgomery was dominant in two starts, tossing 13.1 IP while striking out 12 and posting a 0.68 ERA and 0.90 WHIP. Devin Williams anchored the Trucks bullpen posting 4 saves and 4 scoreless innings. All the Goofballs staff had to do on Sunday to sweep the pitching categories was avoid multiple major blowups, and they did just that, sparing any drama. Trucks win the pitching categories 5-0 and the week 7-3, giving their Owner and GM a great 42^nd birthday present and hopefully providing some hope to the rest of the league that the Armadillos can be beaten.

This Week:

The sizzling hot Skyline Sluggers, winners of 3 in a row, will look to put the Armadillos on a streak of the losing variety. Kyle and his Wolf Spiders, who’ve won 6 of their last 7 face a Goofballs squad that has won 4 of their last 5. Rick and Jeff take identical 6-7 records into their matchup, with both hoping to get to .500, and Heather takes the PhoeGnomes into battle against Chris’ Kraken, in a battle to determine who will be sleeping on the couch at their house next week (just kidding, we know Chris will be sleeping on the couch no matter the result).

Everyone have a wonderful holiday and be safe tonight!!