The 2012 Strat-O-Master League Chat Room

Thursday, 11-07-14:

Thanks FALCON29 for the injury statistics information. You must be in a really good mood after sweeping the Zorros last night without even having to use David Ortiz.

There is a lot going on in the Strat-O-Master League. So here we go.

LAST NIGHT:

In the featured series, Havana topped misslonlyhearts 2 games to 1. The 1st place Cigaros increased their mammoth lead in the West to 7 games. nate's west dropped into a tie for 2nd place in the East - 2 games out.

Pollard flexed its muscles and stomped NKP 3 games to none. The "Roos" now occupy 1st place in the East all by themselves - 2 games up. The "Z's" are on the verge of being knocked out, as they are now in a 3 way tie for 2nd place in the West - a hefty 7 games behind the leader.

Ballwin took all 3 from 5th Avenue. The 3rd place Gators are now 5 games back in the Central. The last place Green Team is a distant 9 out in the East.

Eastbound disposed of BOSTON with a 3 game sweep. The Down are tied for 2nd in the East - 2 games out. The 2nd place BEES are 4 games behind in the Central.

OTHER ITEMS OF INTEREST FROM LAST NIGHT:

In game 3 of their series, Small Ball and ARIZONA combined for a total of 13 home runs - 4 for the Wonders and 9 for the DESERT. Small Ball won 13-12.

With 1 out in the bottom of the 9th, Todd Frazier hit a 2 run bomb giving Eastbound a 4 to 3 victory over BOSTON in game 2 of their series.

Pollard's Rick Dempster picked up victory number 12 against 4 losses.

Kris Medlin of Ballwin was a winner making him 14-8.

Eastbound's Clayton Kershaw won and is now 14-10.

Arnolis Chapman of Ballwin saved 2 games taking over the league lead with 32.

Pollard's Adam Laroche homered to up his league leading total to 44.

PAYING DIVIDENDS:

Havana's Stephen Strasburg - recently acquired in a trade with ARIZONA - pitched the Cigaros to a 1-0 victory last night giving up 0 runs on 7 hits in 6.2 innings of work.

misslonlyhearts' Matt Catt - picked up in a recent trade with the District - pitched a complete game last night giving up 1 run on 7 hits in a 16 to 1 win.

Eastbound recently signed free agent Jay Bruce. In 191 at bats with BOSTON, Bruce hit .152. In 35 at bats for the Down, he's hitting .400.

Eastbound also signed free agent Mark Teixeira. Batting 169 times for NKP, Texeira hit .207 with 7 home runs and 19 RBI. In 35 at bats for the Down, he's hitting .343 with 5 home runs and 11 RBI.

Perhaps we should change edub1969's status from "master strategist" to "strat-o-genius".

THAT'S REMARKABLE:

Pollard plays in a stadium where ballpark home runs are 1 to 19 for both righties and lefties. In their 3 game sweep of NKP, the Kangaroos hit 10 home runs to the Zorros none - including 2 by their 2nd baseman Neil Walker (in 1 game no less). Pollard won the last 2 games of the series scoring a total of 9 runs on 10 hits to NKP's 1 run on 15 hits. That's remarkable. So much so that I had to recheck FALCON29's roster to make sure Strat-O-Matic didn't mistakenly insert the 1954 Cleveland Indians' pitching staff onto it.

TONIGHT'S FEATURED MATCH UP:

Two heavyweights clash in a Strat-O-Master League mega-series. The 1st place Havana Cigaros of the West Division host the 1st place Pollard Kangaroos from the East Division. The Cigaros are 63-54 while the Kangaroos are a league best 64-53. Both teams have powerful offenses and have played well for an extended period of time. Havana holds the series edge 6 games to 3. I think this may be the most significant set of games thus far in the season. May the best team win.

"This series has little significance to Havana, but means everything to Pollard. Havana is focused on winning the division game tonight against ARIZONA. However, getting swept by any team, especially at home, rubs me the wrong way. This series was a fluke, so we don't feel the need to make any significant adjustments to our strategy against Pollard. Good series played by Pollard".... ~~ Coach Fidel Castro

Now if you could only bring yourself to believe that, Mr. Tongue.
What I really want to know is, who's Rick Dempster?

Well Falcon29, I didn't really think the computer was gonna let Kiroda, Estrada, and Bucholz dominate your team AGAIN since it likes to "even things out" sometimes, but I gave it a shot, and it proceeded to pile on hitting your card numbers while ripping me off a few times, especially when LHP Seddon came in while my computer manager left all my vulnerable left-handed batters in the game, not to mention Game 118 in the bottom of the fifth...

Saturday, 11-08-14:

Wow! 79 percent of the Strat-O-Master League's inaugural season is over. And no one has quit. Teams with good, average and not so good records are still active in both the free agent and trade markets as they try to finalize their rosters for the stretch run.

Only 3 of 12 teams are 7 or more games out of 1st place. That means the other 9 teams are either in 1st place or two series sweeps away from being on top. Our recruiting inducement for the Strat-O-Master League read as follows: "Open to all master strategists who fear not to play in a highly competitive league with the stars of 2012." I think we found the quality owners we were looking for.

LAST NIGHT:

In the premier series of the season thus far, Pollard unwrapped the Cigaros and strewed their exposed tobacco all over Havana's home park. Sweeping the series 3 games to none, the 1st place Kangaroos have the best record in the league at 67-53 - putting them 3 games up in the East. The Cigaros still sit comfortably on top in the West - 5 games ahead.

Ballwin swept ARIZONA. The 2nd place Gators are now within 2 games of 1st in the Central. The DESERT dropped to last place in the West - 7 games out.

Small Ball is "wondering" what happened as they were swept by 5th Avenue. The Wonders still hold 1st place in the Central by 2 games. The 4th place Green Team is 9 out in the East.

OTHER HIGHLIGHTS FROM LAST NIGHT:

Seldom used Shane Victorino led the District to a 4-3 come from behind win in game 2 of their series with Eastbound. Victorino smashed a 1 out double scoring 2 runs to cap off a 3 run rally in the bottom of the 9th giving the Arsenal a walk off win.

misslonlyhearts' Yovani Gallardo struck out 14 batters in his 6.1 innings of work against NKP.

After starting the season at 5-15, Mat Latos of the District has won 4 of his last 5.

In their 2 games to 1 series win, BOSTON held Pittsburg to a total of 3 runs.

In their series sweep, Ballwin held ARIZONA to just 6 runs.

Small Ball scored only 6 runs in losing 3 to 5th Avenue.

Mike Fiers of Pollard is now 14-6 for the year.

5th Avenue's Jonathon Niese won improving his record to 11-5.

Arnolis Chapman of Ballwin earned his 33rd save of the season.

Pollard's Adam Laroche slugged 2 bombs giving him 46 to date.

TRANSACTIONS:

Eastbound and Down traded outfielder Jason Heyward (8.25M) and pitcher Max Scherzer (2.78M) to the District Arsenal in exchange for outfielder Austin Jackson (9.28M) and Iwakuma Hisashi (1.61M).

The Havana Cigaors picked up free agent 1st baseman Kendrys Morales (4.03M).

HAVANA'S PAYBACK:

The Cigaros got swept by Pollard last night, but not without doing some long term damage of their own. The Kangaroos lost outfielder Jose Bautista for 10 games and outfielder Giancarlo Stanton for 15 games to injuries. Earlier this year, Havana knocked out David Ortiz for 15 games. The "Roos" went 7-8 during his absence.

SPEAKING OF INJURIES:

It was nice to see someone provide information concerning the league other than me. FALCON29 did a good job in researching and transcribing the injury data to this forum. I appreciate his effort, as do the other members I'm sure. We welcome everyone to participate in the forum. You don't have to write a book like I do everyday. Anything relative to your team or the league will do. I know at times some interesting things happen during the play of these games. Make a note and share them with us.

Upon reviewing FALCON29's injury data, I noted the following;

Pollard is second in games lost to injuries with 128. They are in 1st place in the East.

Eastbound is third in games lost with 121. They are in 2nd place in the East.

Ballwin is fourth in games lost with 107. They are in 2nd place in the Central.

I guess it's true - injuries are no excuse.

Lastly, I think FALCON29 jinxed his team and mine. After writing his piece on injuries last night, the Zorros sustained 3 injuries - including one to Joey Votto who was injured for 9th time this season. The Kangaroos had 2 players go down.

TONIGHT'S FEATURED MATCH UPS:

Pollard - who has swept its last two series - travels to Small Ball - who was swept last night. Both teams are in 1st place - the Kangaroos in the East and the Wonders in the Central. Small Ball is one of only two teams that have a plus .500 winning percentage against Pollard.

Two second place teams battle it out. Ballwin - 2 games out of 1st in the Central - go to Eastbound - who are 3 out in the East.

Will Pollard help Ballwin by beating Small Ball? Or will Small Ball help Eastbound by beating Pollard? 1st place in one of those divisions may change hands tonight.

Considering that Bautista and Stanton are batting .192 combined, their absence might actually strengthen the Roos.

Sunday, 11-09-14:

I think I'll pass on writing about Strat-O-Master League news tonight. I need to recover from that "shock" buster trade between Pittsburg and Havana. Perhaps, as a courtesy to his league mates, src5104 will tell us in this forum what motivated him to make an apparent unbalanced trade. I've dealt with the Pittsburg owner before. I'm sure there's a good explanation.

The only thing unbalanced about that trade was the prices of the players. There should be more questions about the computer manager logic than there are about the business side of baseball, akw8913.

Also, how did Austin Jackson get a DOUBLE in the Top of the 1st on a bpSI 1-7 to CF in Game 125 ?? When am I gonna get breaks like these?

Monday, 11-10-14:

LAST NIGHT:

Havana swept Eastbound. The 1st place Cigaros are 6 games up in the West. The Down are tied for 2nd in the East - 4 games back.

In a match up between the Central Division's top two teams, Small Ball's hold on 1st place dwindled to just 1 game as they lost 2 of 3 to Ballwin. The Wonders have gone 6-12 in their last 18 games. The Gators have won 10 of their last 13. And don't forget about BOSTON - a very good team lurking on the horizon - as they are only 3 games from the top spot. This division should be fun to watch down the stretch.

In a major Central Division upset, the District swept BOSTON. The last place Arsenal are 16 out. The 3rd place BEES are now 3 games behind the leader.

OTHER HIGHLIGHTS FROM LAST NIGHT:

In game 1 of their series, Edwin Encarnacion belted a lead off home run in the bottom of the 12th inning giving Havana a 4-3 walk off win over Eastbound. The Cigaros' relief ace tandem of Fernando Rodney and Craig Kimbrel worked 6 consecutive scoreless innings in the game allowing only 2 hits - striking out 9 - and walking none.

"BIZARRE" BUSTER TRADE:

I was hoping we would get an explanation from src5104 concerning his thought processes in making that horrendous trade with Havana. But we did not. So we can only speculate. I have a credible theory as to what happened that I prefer not to share.

I can say this from experience. In making an earlier blockbuster trade with the Pittsburg owner, I found him to be very knowledgeable in his evaluation of talent and a hard bargainer. Our trade involved the exchange of 2 players from each team. The salary differential of the traded players was 1.48 million dollars in his favor. In src5104's trade with Havana, 3 players from each team were moved. The salary differential in that trade was 14.74 million dollars in favor of the Cigaros. The Pittsburg owner's roster moves since the trade tend to further substantiate the ludicrousness of the deal.

However, what's done is done. We must move on. We have a good group of people here. Everyone is entitled to a mistake. Hopefully there was no unethical intent. There are 36 more games to play. Let's play them as hard as we played the first 126 and see what happens.

RESPONSE TO GOLDEN TONGUE'S INQUIRIES FROM THIS MORNING:

Regarding your inquiry concerning Austin Jackson's double: If you go to "Strat-O-Matic Baseball Online" - click on "Garcia's Blog" - click again on "Frequently Asked Questions" and scroll down to question number 9 - you'll be informed how Austin Jackson got a double on that roll.

Regarding your inquiry about when the breaks will start going your way: I think it started yesterday when the Pittsburg owner - src5104 - gave you an early Christmas present in the form of that so called trade.

TONIGHT'S FEATURED MATCH UPS:

In a huge inter-division face off, 2nd place Eastbound is on the road to play 1st place Pollard. The Kangaroos have the best record in the league at 70-56 and are 4 games ahead of the Down. However, Pollard's team is riddled with injuries to high priced players, while Eastbound has none. It should be a good one.

In a West versus Central contest, 1st place Havana travels to 2nd place Ballwin. The Cigaros are 6 up. The Gators are 1 back.

akw8931 CONVENIENTLY forgot to mention that Pittsburgh won 2 of 3 games against the #1 team in the league Pollard after the trade. Also, NKP's payroll is still significantly higher than Havana's...