IL 1/3 of the season. Races taking shape

[Pat]

The majority of my roster is cold, or has been cold (just coming off) for the better part of 5-6 sims.

Sounds like they are due for a good sim.

[umd]

Sounds like they are due for a good sim.

I've been saying that since August haha.

[Pat]

I've been saying that since August haha.

It can happen. I went 24-31 in July-August. Then followed that up with 11-1 to start September.

But maybe you're right...you should just start playing for next year.

[umd]

It can happen. I went 24-31 in July-August. Then followed that up with 11-1 to start September.

But maybe you're right...you should just start playing for next year.

There's a difference between giving up and not having things go your way. We'll play it out, but I don't have much confidence in the sims lately no matter what switches/match-ups I adjust. This game is fickle.

[Pat]

There's a difference between giving up and not having things go your way. We'll play it out, but I don't have much confidence in the sims lately no matter what switches/match-ups I adjust. This game is fickle.

Take it with a grain of salt...from a rival...

But your team is a bit flawed...or at least top heavy in certain areas. You have arguably one of the best rotation, closer and defenses in baseball. The rest of the bullpen is above average. However your lineup leaves a lot to be desired.

Turney is declining and for a guy who is "high" in loyalty and "low" in greed, the one year contract he is on doesn't help his production. He's not motivated by a potentially free-agency period and probably hits better when he is locked up to a multi-year deal.

Saucedo is north of 30, and while I don't think he is starting his "decline," he is a "very low" work ethic guy with "high greed." I don't think it's a coincidence that after being a .800+ OPS guy for his career, that he has hit .720 OPS in the two seasons since signing $85M deal. I think he is also hurt by not having legit protection in either lineup.

Your infielders rank 4th, 15th and 14th at their respective positions. Ingle mashes at home, but on the road...combined with the "hitting" of Jimenez and Kroeker, your infield doesn't produce much at the plate.

Cash is solid. However, Dimaggio, Bryan, Roark, Brown and Garza have combined for 1000 ABs from guys who probably shouldn't be starting for contenders. Jimmy Jones is having a down year that is just unfortunate. Him and Pat Ladd were two of the best hitters in baseball a year ago and neither is producing. Plus, your team has no speed.

Not that there is an exact winning formula...but like you said, over the past 5-6 sims, your team hasn't been hitting. It doesn't matter how good your pitching is, when your last 21 loses you have scored: 2, 2, 1, 0, 0, 2, 5, 2, 1, 3, 0, 1, 3, 1, 2, 1, 1, 2, 0, 4, 0.

But who knows...that rotation is so dominant, maybe you will start winning those low scoring affairs.

[umd]

I agree to an extent, but the fact they have all gone cold - every hitter, is a little bit much even for me with the way the game is rolling the dice. 21 losses is a bit extreme, even for my line-up.

This isn't a championship caliber team - but I knew that when we struggled to score runs all summer. Now I'm just hoping things start to even out so I can make the playoffs and hopefully trends/AI reset in the playoffs.

[Pat]

I think if you get in, you have as good a shot as any team because pitching usually wins out in playoffs.

[Carlos]

I think if you get in, you have as good a shot as any team because pitching usually wins out in playoffs.

My guys don't want to hear that.

sent from my mobile device

[Pat]

Final Week!

Washington - 86-70 (playoff% 92.6)
Death Valley - 85-71 (73.3)
Baltimore - 84-72 (33.6)
Davenport - 81-75 (.4)
Carolina - 81-75 (.2)

Carolina and Davenport are both huge long shots. With the same record, and four games back of the Wild Card lead, they would likely need to go 6-0 this week, and get some help from Baltimore/Death Valley/Washington. They finish the season against one another, with Carolina visiting Davenport.

Baltimore is just two games back of the Wild Card. This week they host Philadelphia and then go on the road to face Batavia. Matt has already said he will be resting players during this final week so those last three games could be cupcakes for the Bulldogs.

Death Valley is in the Wild Card lead and just one game back of the Stout. They travel to Washington for a three-game series that will likely decide the division and have a huge effect on the Wild Card race. Death Valley then has a home stand against Seattle, who has quietly had a .500 month in September.

Washington is one game up in the Stout, and like mentioned above hosts Death Valley then hosts Morgantown who just had a winning week against Baltimore and Death Valley.

PREDICTIONS:

Spoiler

Carolina goes 3-0 in their final homestand against a Windy City team, that like Batavia, is probably resting starters in this final week.
Davenport goes 3-0 at Los Alamos, who has lost nine straight games.
Baltimore goes 2-1 vs. Philadelphia, losing the third game 5-4 in the 16th inning.
Death Valley goes 2-1 at Washington, losing the third game when the Bats rough up former legend Troy Hanback to 10 runs in four innings.
Washington goes 1-2, see above.

Updated Standings:
Washington - 87-72
Death Valley - 87-72
Baltimore - 86-73
Davenport - 84-75
Carolina - 84-75

Davenport takes two of three from Carolina at home, where they are a .538 team, while Carolina is .410 on the road.
Baltimore sweeps Batavia's bench players.
Death Valley sweeps the homestand against Seattle.
Washington wins two of three, losing in a shutout pitched by Chang-weon Kahng.

Updated Standings:
Death Valley - 90-72
Washington - 89-73
Baltimore - 89-73
Davenport - 86-76
Carolina - 85-77

Death Valley wins the Stout and will open the ILDS on the road against Batavia.
Washington and Baltimore tie for the IL Wild Card and will play a one game playoff in Baltimore where the Bulldog's batters get a huge boost.
Carolina finishes with a worse record than last year while Davenport has only their 2nd winning season since 1995.

Baltimore defeats Washington 12-4 in a game that Terumota Chiba, Ron Wessell and Kokoro Fujii combine for all 12 RBI, with Delandis screaming "karma's a bitch!" I however find solace in the one-game playoff loss because I was right about Baltimore's LH hitters.

[Delandis]

I wouldn't scream.

[Carlos]

If Denver played the Brewmasters against Baltimore, would we technically have 7 home games?

sent from my mobile device

[funclown]

The two best teams in the IL are awfully quiet. Maybe , just maybe they will come out flat come playoff time?

[Delandis]

[QUOTE=Carlos;225183]If Denver played the Brewmasters against Baltimore, would we technically have 7 home games?

sent from my mobile device[/QUOTE

Nope. We are the only lefty friendly park in the BLB. Everybody else wins on their own merit oh of awesome players.

[Carlos]

[QUOTE=Delandis;225188]

If Denver played the Brewmasters against Baltimore, would we technically have 7 home games?

sent from my mobile device[/QUOTE

Nope. We are the only lefty friendly park in the BLB. Everybody else wins on their own merit oh of awesome players.

Haha. I just mean because I have 6 big lefthanded bats in my line up.

sent from my mobile device

[Delandis]

WC has been quiet. I think Batavia vs DVS would be interesting. WC looks like they make it out of the IL this year.