BONUS BLOG: Week 18 Preview

INTRO

This is it!  Lots left to decide here as there are still 13 of the 15 final positions that have yet to be determined.  Unfortunately, due to some crazy weather we are very unlikely have many positions decided this week.  By my calculations (snicker) we could have as many as 11 spots waiting on the results of two make up games!  Mind you, it would take some pretty funky stuff to happen in week 18 for that to occur; but one never knows!

Before we go any further, I would like to make a request for playoff correspondents again this year.  It worked out great last year and it relieves me from being stretched all over the place.  Your commitment would be to send me the score of your game and a highlight.  No more than 2-3 sentences.  If you want to do more, that's great, but not expected.  The real key here is that I need this within a 1/2 hour so of the 8:15 game finishing so I can get everything put together so its ready for morning.  Ideally, this will work best if you have a Blackberry or pretty i-phone.  Texting from a cell phone will work for me because it forwards to my e-mail, but it might be a little tedious for you. 

If you're game, click the link and flip me an email.  One person per team on a first come, first in basis.  Please help me keep everyone else up to date.  Thanks.  LINK

STANDINGS
UNOFFICIAL

Note:  The order of the bottom row has been reversed from previous editions.  It always "should" have been this way, but I didn't catch the error until it was pointed out to me yesterday (thanks!)

August 26 - Rusty Rebels win means they can finish no lower than 13th.
August 26 - Hot Tub Woody's loss means they can not finish above 4th. 

PREVIEW

Beer Bros. Vs. Dodge City Rounders:  Sure, Dodge City has known their position for a couple of weeks, but I think Al & Ed have finally got their pitching rotation nicely set and everyone's aches and pains are taken care of.  The Beer Bros. are playing for either 13th or 14th place.  Don't make the mistake of thinking that either of these teams are a soft touch.  Dodge City has lost heart breaker after heart breaker this season and the Beer Bros. have been in the top 3 in runs scored all year. 

Hurtin' Units Vs. Wild:  The suddenly hot Hurtin' Units, (winners of 4 of their last 6) play the slightly scuffling Wild.  The Units have their sights set on 9th place after turning around from a brutal middle part of the season.  They are in control of their destiny on this.  Wild are relieved to get the "all clear" on starting short stop, astronaut and neuro surgeon, Chuck Cragg.  A win here keeps them in the hunt for 2nd overall. 

Dislocated Joints Vs. Brew Jays:  A win here would keep the dream for a 9th place finish alive for the Joints.  For that to happen they'd need to win their last 3 games AND get help, but it's not impossible.  The Brew Jays who are .500 in their last 6 games will be playing their final game of the season.  They can still finish 3rd with a win and a lot of help.  However a loss in this game would mean the best they could finish is 7th.

Lucky Stiffs Vs. Torn Ligaments:  It'll probably rain.  It seems like the Stiffs are the only ones with games left and they have plenty!  Three to be precise.  A win will guarantee a top 4 finish.  A loss would make things very interesting, but still too many possibilities to consider.  The Torn Ligaments have had a great second half and Radar and Andy Gee are hitting the cover off the ball.  And their parade up the standings has continued.  The Ligs can still finish in the top 5, but will need to win this last game on their schedule and get help.  If they lose they will finish 8th. 

Rusty Rebels Vs. Grisslies:  This should be fun.  Both teams are smokin' hot having won six of their last seven.  Hugh Armstrong is hitting around .900 over that stretch and the Rebels are scary because they're starting to "believe" (see last year's Dodge City Rounders for a recent example).  The Grisslies were having fun when they started the season 1-3 and are still having fun in the 14-5 run since.  A win for the Rebels keeps them alive for 10th place after a remarkable turnaround.  A loss would mean they finish no higher than 12th.  For the Grisslies, a win would mean nothing worse than a 3rd place finish and loss still assures a top 4 finish. 

Dusty Cleats Vs. Banshees:  The Cleats probably wouldn't mind a win, but they probably aren't really bent either.  The Banshees will assure themselves of a finish no worse than 11th if they win this one.  A loss means that they can finish as low as 13th.  The Banshees are .500 over their last 6 games and still have two games left to feel like they are getting on a playoff roll!

Dislocated Joints Vs. Dog Catchers:  The Joints second game of the week, its too tough to figure out what they'll need by this one.  The Dog Catchers will be playing their final game of the season.  A loss could drop them into the conversation for 8th place, but a win could keep them in the hunt for 3rd, depending on what other teams do. 

Beer Bros. Vs. Lucky Stiffs:  Second games...who knows.  More on it later in the week.

Red Dogs Vs. Dusty Cleats:  The Red Dogs seem to be alternating good weeks and "not so good" weeks.  Sadly for the Cleats, this is good week cycle.  A win here could vault the Red Dogs into 9th, at least for a while.  A loss has them finishing be 10th and 13th. 

Wild Vs. Hot Tub Woody's:  Again, second game for the Wild.  The Hot Tub Woody's have had the biggest turn around of any team in the league.  13-6 after an 0-4 start is pretty amazing.  There are a lot variables here still and we'll know better by game time, but they can still finish between 4th and 8th.