TSN 9277 - 2001 League Chat Thread!

[ArtemusRex]

With a 15 game injury to Polanco and the number of good teams in this league, I thought for sure I was looking at a bad week. But instead of making big moves and generally panicing, I decided with a series of smaller moves and some moves I was already looking to do anyway would result in enough to compansate his loss. Even with a recent downturn, I was still a game out of first in my division and 3 games out from the best team in the league.

1. First off was getting rid of non-performing non-everyday players. Crede at 3b was obvious as he couldn't handle his role as backup and would really hurt the team as a starter. The other two drops were harder but would have probably in the works ever without Polanco's injury. JKolak knows that Marte and Speier have been since I started playing Strat in January (my first team was a 2001 team oddly enough). In fact they are such a staple of my 2001 strategy that they might as well be incorporated into my team's logo. But both were doing only okay and weren't doing that well at home. Speier was in fact getting the 2nd hightest amount of innings and with a 5.50 ERA is not what I'm looking for in a primary role that Hal was using him for.

2. It also should be mentioned at this point that dropping them wouldn't have been possible if Jeff Nelson hadn't started to play like a $5 million reliever. But over the last 10-14 days he has dropped his ERA from 7.5 to 3.5. Part of that is due to dropping him to set up man and picking up Billy Koch as cheap closer. Oddly enough, Choate and Nelson still picked up the majority of the saves. Thanks Hal.

3. Picked up Ramon Hernandez for a song for 2b and 3b backup. Of course he has been my 3basemen over Polanco's injury.

4. Tweaking the lineups. Obviously Hernandez is no number 2 in the lineup so Abreu was moved to number two from five and Lo Duca was moved from six to three. (Lo Duca's move would probably never be done in the 2006 game as Catchers are almost always injury-2's or worse.) It seems to have worked because with the loss of a bat (Hernandez is still only a .200 hitter and will probably move to seven and move Ordonez to fifth for the remaining 5 games) our offense has actually increased. Its worked so well that Polanco will probably move into the fifth position once he returns.

5. Switched to per game starters as Hal ignores my rotation since Kile is my only star pitcher. This has only served him to get alot more innings but not any more wins. I'll probably pitch him on three days rest but only when he is on the road since he is not quite as unstoppable at home.

6. Added a cheap starting pitcher that pitches better against LHB for appearances at home. This will give the other pitchers a chance to stay in their rotation. If he works out I may move Gagne down as a long reliever.

7. Changed my manager's strategy when it comes to going to the bullpen as quickly. Hal has been pulling my starters way too soon in most cases and while this might be okay for Gagne and Abbot, not so much for Kile and Sabathia. I've already seen both of the latter get move wins. This also counters the need to pick up more relievers as the starters will stay in longer and Nelson can work the end of games instead of middle relief. Closers are still at maximum even though Koch has few saves.

[ArrylT]

League remains pretty intriguing - with 7 teams within 2 games of each other at the top of the standings.

[ArtemusRex]

Standings: TSN_9277

EAST W L PCT GB HOME ROAD RS RA
East Coast Hart Foundation 44 37 .543 - 22-11 22-26 496 431
Pittsburgh Chipped Ham 44 37 .543 - 25-14 19-23 482 443
Ft. Wayne hitters 36 45 .444 8 10-20 26-25 397 470
UpState Cowboys 35 46 .432 9 18-18 17-28 388 442

CENTRAL W L PCT GB HOME ROAD RS RA
Dothan Post 12 46 35 .568 - 23-16 23-19 336 367
usual suspects 45 36 .556 1 28-17 17-19 671 586
Richmond Miners XIII 38 43 .469 8 21-21 17-22 565 538
AZ dusters 30 51 .370 16 15-21 15-30 371 561

WEST W L PCT GB HOME ROAD RS RA
Windy City Players 46 35 .568 - 27-18 19-17 455 407
Ottawa Kismet 45 36 .556 1 29-19 16-17 463 402
Carolina Devil Rays 44 37 .543 2 25-23 19-14 404 344
Tonasket Tigers III 33 48 .407 13 18-27 15-21 392 429

[ArtemusRex]

I feel like the Swordman Indigo Montoya from the Princess Bride movie right now. How so you ask. There was that scene where he was dueling the man who at that point in the movie was the Dread Pirate Roberts. It was a duel of two swordsmen of unequaled talent whose outcome wouldn't be known for sometime to come. But Indigo had a smile on his face. Why is that pondered Roberts. Because I know something you don't know, "I'm not left-handed!" :P

Just like the master swordman in that tale, I know something that the co-leader in our division and the five other teams within 2 games of us don't. Here it is. My record at home is 22-11 while my road record on the road is a barely water treading 22-26. Thats what I know. I'm within two games of the best record in the league and I haven't even played most of my games at home yet. In fact, after I finish my 3 games tonight I will have 18 straight home games. No wonder I'm smiling.

Of course the next part of that well known tale is that Roberts soon revealed that he wasn't left-handed either :P and on went the stalemate. Just like that I know that my division mate has a similar record at home with similar to play. But his isn't is a row. Hopefully (finger-crossed) I don't suffer an injury during this time. :cry:

Like the 49er says to the donkey, we'll see how this pans out. :roll:

This is Artemus.

[ArrylT]

Yeah it will be interesting to see how the 2nd half plays out - since the East division has more home games, and the West has more road games. Of course there are 2 teams in the East with lousy home records, and 3 teams in the West with .500+ records on the road.

[ArrylT]

Well it has taken some doing but the top teams have spread out some what - but there is only an 7 game difference between the #1 team and the team in 7th place overall. Only 4 teams below .500

[ArtemusRex]

Well, I come to you after my 18 game home stand at 9-9. So much for that. To keep in vain of my previous post, it looks like you are all left handed too!

Upon further investigation of the standings, its not like the pack is spreading out, its more that the Usual Suspects are pulling away. The West is being led w/ 56 wins and the East and Wildcards are at 55 wins. But don't look now, but JKolak's Richmond Miners have caught up to the pack @ 52 wins and over .500! Inconceivable! Indeed.

Alexx

[LARRYLANG]

Man, I am barely staying with you guys....What a season...My pitching is keeping me in it. Don't know if it'll be enough

[ArrylT]

Two very key road trips coming up - 12 games against the Central division, then a 6 game homestand followed by another 12 game roadtrip, vs. the East. How the West does on these trips will likely shape the WC race, and determine who will be the favourite to come out of the West as division champ.

[ArrylT]

Well I certainly wasn't expecting to sweep the usual suspects at home - but I'll definitely take it! :)