NLD XXIII

[joethejet]

Warrior,

Yeah, the ratings say you're pretty good. You're the favorite in the Central according to the ratings. :)

Jet

[joethejet]

So, a little clarification on the nld.jpg link. You need to copy and paste to see it. It will show you what parks you're better in and which you're weak in.

In the column above your name, you want it to be red. That means you're better than that team in your home park. Across, you want to be green. That means you're better in that road park.

If there is no color, you're even.

In the column to the far right at the top, those are your average rating in the parks. This isn't, however, adjusted for how many games you play in each park so it's a little misleading. BUT, if you're in yellow, you're above average, the pink is below average.

As might be expected, Petco has the lowest overall average rating. The best ratings are in US Cell.

The lowest team rating is AT in Fenway. The Highest is Burgundy in US Cell.

Jeep has the biggest disadvantage at home versus AT.

Burgundy has the biggest road advantage also versus AT.

Warrior has the highest average road advantage with C2 and Jeep very close behind.

Burgundy should have the best home advantage. Jeep isn't too far back.

[Jeepdriver]

I've got 8 greens out of 11 and 7 reds, so that puts me in pretty good shape I guess.

Big series with you tonight Joe, unfortunately for me Arod is out 2 games.

I haven't mentioned it cause I don't normally gripe with injuries because everyone has them...but this is the 5th time Arod has been hurt, and this will be 30 games missed for him, almost 1/3 of my games. For a 1 inj. roll that's a bit ridiculous. How I've fared w/o him has to be luck because my offense really needs him in the middle at all times.

[superflymacdaddyjuice]

Thanks for the ratings joe as always. i am working way too much these days to pay full attention. (just ask dave)

it appears as though covering my pitchers with petco was a mistake because it hampers my offense too much?

[joethejet]

Smoke, Well, just looking at the ratings, I would say that the other teams are just better than yours not really dependent on the park. It seems that you're better in pitcher's parks however. Obviously your O rating is held down by the park and you're middle of the pack. You should hit better on the road of course. OTOH, your pitching is average even in that park so, had you chosen a hitters park you prolly would have sunk to the bottom or close to it.

You hit RHP pretty darn well, not quite as good v LHP. With 100 mil teams, they all have a lot of talent. Your D is average, your SPs aren't. Your pen is good and looks like the guys you want are pitching m ost of the IP.

Yeah, your team would certainly hit better in a HR park as you have a lot of BPHRs, particularly v LHP.

[b:5cb9b0b141]Jeep[/b:5cb9b0b141] we took advantage of your injury last night holding you to 9 runs got some luck there I'm sure. Won the last one in 10 innings for example. Speaking of injuries, I'm playing Big M tonight. He's got 4 injuries for the first two games (and 2 for the last one) and has only a 4 player bench so he'll be playing someone in the OF that can't play the position. Hopefully we can take advantage of that!

Jet

[bigmahon]

Hey gang, I've been away so haven't been able to chime in lately. 8-)

Joe, thanks for the ratings! Your hard work on behalf of our informed enjoyment is always appreciated!

A few possible reasons why my team is "overperforming" which the ratings may not capture:

1) [b:69617958bb]Very few blown saves[/b:69617958bb] - 7 to be exact, which is significantly below the league average of 13.5. True, I've had fewer save opportunities due to the pitching preferences I'm using, but the bottom line is wins, and my record when leading after 6 innings is VERY good. Rivera sure doesn't hurt. :wink:

2) [b:69617958bb]Scherzer[/b:69617958bb] - Man, he has been good for the money. I don't have him starting any games, and nor do I have him listed in any of the bullpen preferences. But HAL is using him, and he is getting it done. EXCELLENT value.

3) [b:69617958bb]Defense[/b:69617958bb] - Fewest stolen bases against and most double plays turned have surely helped. I know I'm not ranked as the #1 defense, but on balance my unit is helping me far more than they are hurting.

4) [b:69617958bb]Ryan Howard[/b:69617958bb] - he's been a MONSTER for me, winning several games on his own. Amazingly, nobody wanted him in the draft, and I got him very late. Presumably, his rating isn't good. Good thing his performance is. :lol:

Plenty of time to fold, but I don't think so. Strong at home, and strong against the division, I like my chances.

big

[joethejet]

Hey Big M,

Throw in Mussina and Maholm into that mix too. I know you're in a lesser hitting park than mine, but those guys are pitching pretty dang well for you.

Course you have some guys that aren't doing all that well too.

We just can't seem to get untracked. I think we used up our luck in the last two NLDs. :(

Still time to get into the WC mix, but we'll have to start winning more series, especially with the WC contenders. After that lousy stretch we'd won four series until playing Big M last night. Gotta keep that going. Our Team ERA has dropped under 5 so maybe things are starting to turn a little. I know the pitching isn't this bad.

[Jeepdriver]

Feel a little better today. Joe, couldn't comment yesterday...had to get another night under my belt after that sweep. Feeling better now.

Big, I like my chances, too. Is the WC coming from the East? Looks good right now, but things can change in a hurry. For some reason my NLD teams have a history of good first halves and terrible second halves. Hope that's not the case this time.

[joethejet]

Anyone out there? Well, the WC race has tightened up as it usually does in the NLD and even the West isn't the runaway it was there for awhile.

Per usual, there are 9 teams within 4 games of the playoffs with 33 to play. The biggest lead is C2 in the West, up by 5. He must have just finished a lont roadie because he's nails at home!

Jet

[joethejet]

<begin rant>

Ugh, this team is just ticking me off! :( The pitching just isn't THIS F'ING AWFUL. No way all these guys should be this bad at the same time. Lowe has finally come back to at least acceptable for the NLD (4.5) but Volquez, Sampson, Rowland all 5.5 or above 6? That's just stupid. Even Harden has been hittable of late and he's seen his ERA baloon to 3.75, the same as Sheets and Mussina. Johnson and Carrasco both > 4 from the pen? Really?

Batting averages. Lowe .300 v lhb, Volquez 324/268, Smith 309/239, Sampson 310/272. Johnson > 300 v lHBGeez, you guys always rolling on your own cards here or what?

Ok, So I'm in a hitter's park, shouldn't the hitters be hitting?

Uh, no.
McCann 246 with 19 HR
Davis 267/29 (HRs are good I'll give you)
Roberts 260 339 OB
GLAUS .183 with a .290 OB and 20 HR????? REally in these parks? I guess I should have traded him to you Silver!
Damon 253/320
Hamilton only recently has gotten his slugging > .500
Gerut .258 with 26 HR (remember his home park is Petco)
Nady here's the one guys that's been decent 287 with 34 HR

What a bunch of under achievers. :( The only guy who you could say is better than expected is Nady and that's not by all that much.

That's not going to cut it in the NLD. :roll:

<end of rant>

Jet