Runner-up League

[ArrylT]

Well my team won thanks in part to several mult-run HRs, and a strong relief performance by Mahay.

Just for the record though, the WC is Great Unwashed, I won my division (Central).

[Detroit-Tigers]

What I meant to say is the better team always loses :(

grats BTW :evil:

[Great Unwashed]

Congrats to AT and condolences to DT, who had a good team. Right now I'm happy that the WC always wins. 8)

[ArrylT]

So are we all, when we are the Wild Card ... just as we are usually annoyed at the WC when our league leading team (usually with 95-110 wins) knocks us off. Not sure what the percentages are currently, but I do know someone did a survey a while back, and the WC won the Championship about 25-30% of the time.

[Detroit-Tigers]

and 25-30% is probably less than it should, as it is probably the least talented team, but seems to have the highest chance to win.

[ArrylT]

A 5 game series is about 1/30th of a 162 game season.

The 10 win difference between an 85 win & a 95 win team in a 5 game series is a mere 1/3rd of a win. Good playoff strategy & a bit of luck will balance that out in my opinion.

In my other Finals, the WC team had the 2nd best record in the league with 89 wins (I was third with 88 in a different division), and probably would had won 90+ games if the owner hadnt rested his squad down the stretch.

[ArrylT]

Well as it turns out, this is one league where the WC does not win, as my Ottawa Praetorians won tonight to clinch the Finals 4-1. Scored early, and my cheapie middle relievers along with Cordero bent but did not break. :)

[ArrylT]

[b:6679d56820]Awards:[/b:6679d56820]

MVP - Jim Edmonds

Was tempted to give it to Cota :wink: but went with Edmonds who led the team in RBI and was second only to JD Drew in Runs. His health was key to our success as he played in 172 straight games (including playoffs) without missing any time for injuries (remember he can go down for 15). HAL agreed with me and gave him League MVP. :)

Playoff MVP - Jim Edmonds

Edmonds got the nod over Dunn & Beltre as his 2 run HR in Game V set the tone.

Cy Young - Jaret Wright

Led the staff in Wins, ERA & WHIP, 2nd in K's & IP

Playoff Cy Young - Jaret Wright

Despite 2 no-decisions Wright pitched well enough to keep my team in both games he started, and we went 1-1 despite 2 blown saves.

Relief - Ron Mahay

Cordero saved 39, but Mahays ironman performance helped keep some of the load off the cheap pen.

Playoff Relief - Francisco Cordero

Cordero gets the award due to his 4 saves, including the key Game V save. Mahay would have gotten it if it were not for a couple of blown hold/saves.

Surprise - Humberto Cota

I've gotten nice production from Cota as the RH part of a Catching Platoon but never did I think an error (forgetting to bench Cota vs. LHP) would cause the best Cota season I have ever had. Would have been happy with 35-40 HR & 80 RBI, so 57 HR & 111 was indeed a pleasant surprise

Playoff Surprise - Edgar Martinez & Robert Hammock

Martinez & Hammock took over for Burnitz & Cota respectively, and both performed admirably, getting a couple of key hits.

Disappointment - Jeromy Burnitz

Had an underproductive year and then missed the whole Playoffs.

Playoff Disappointment - JD Drew & Ryan Freel

It is hard to win games if your key OBP cogs do not produce and both got on base less than 30%.

[Great Unwashed]

Well done, Arryl. Until next time!