STATS - Week XII

INTRO 

This was a close week!

 

Only one 2-0 team this week.  Only one 0-2 team.  The average difference score in games this week was 3.8 runs.  We had some ridiculously high scores, but every 7th inning mattered.  All in all, some pretty damned good ball with some notable exceptions. 

• With all due respect to the Sliders and Brew Jays who feature some the league's better players, can anyone catch the friggin' ball???  33-30.  Yes there were some walks.  Yes there were some good hits.  But the errors!  Frig.
• On the topic of bad ball.  The Cleats faced the Dog Catchers Tuesday.  The Cleats finally had Brian Richards and Winston Gayle healthy and in the line up together and the Catchers were coming off a couple of losses.  With the game 8-2 for the Dog Catchers in the 3rd inning, yours truly came to the plate with 1 out and the bases loaded and a chance to bring the Cleats back to chipping away distance.  Three pitches later Randy Hipkin struck me out without the bat never leaving my shoulder.  Frig.  
• Special note to the scorer (Karen Turner), I wasn't quite hurting enough, the notations on the score card were a nice dagger (in a fun way). 
• Oh, the Cleats weren't my ONLY bases loaded failure this week.  I had a chance to break the game against the Woody's open when I flew out meekly to right.  Frig.
• While we're on the topic of 'me', I also waved in Cam Clark who was thrown out at the plate when I saw a soft throw from the outfield.  I wasn't counting on the cut off man throwing a no look strike to the plate.  Yes there were no out.  Yes it was a bad call.  Frig.

I could go on with more examples of crappy play, but I'd only be hi-lighting myself. 

 

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Subs

I've been kind of sore since last week's tumble so I told Rob I didn't want to sub.  Also, Dave Fleming has had to back away from subbing and just hobble for his own squad because of a healing knee. 

So what happened?

Tuesday I subbed for the Dusty Cleats.
Wednesday I subbed for Gruesome Devils.
Wednesday Dave subbed for the Blues Brothers. 

In both cases for me, when I was called I said no.  I got calls later saying there were no other "B" players available and it would mean getting an "A" or a "C" which would screw up the intended balance of our sub process.  So I played. 

Dave was a late pick up as there was an unexpected 'no show' for the Blues Brother. 

My request is this.....if you can sub, PLEASE LET ROB KNOW!!!  You can get him at Robert.Farah@Sympatico.ca

I keep hearing that people get sick of seeing the same subs.  I get that.  I'm sure after this week the Cleats are sick of seeing me.  I get that too.  Please folks.  Save the Cleats and sign up to sub.    

QUICK NOTES:

• Avoiding rain continues to be the norm!  We're now at 41 days without a rain out     
• We lost another 6 players in the 'hit in every game' competition this week.  There are now only 23 left.       
• And the run in every game list remains unchanged from last week. 

TEAMS

Who's hot, who's okay, who's Hurtin' (and it ain't the Units).  

Dodge City Rounders 2-0

For the 3rd week running the Rounders are on the who's hot list.  This time with a 1-0 record.  Scott Mason was the big hitter in the win going 5/6 with 5 runs scored.  Also having a big night was Gord Robertson who was 4/5 with a run and thwarted a potential rally with a perfect strike to 3rd to get the runner in a cloud of dust.

Grisslies 2-0

Joining Dodge for a 3rd consecutive week are the Grisslies who had to play up this week in getting a 1 run victory against the 2nd place Woody's followed by a 1 run victory against the (tied) 2nd place Tap Master.  Dan Routledge and Micah Williams led the way going 8/10 on the week and Dan also scored 6 runs.  The Grisslies moved from 6th to 4th with their wins and get set to take on the Sliders in their only game next week.   

Hurtin' Units 2-1

Two wins gets you in the hot column.  A great week for the Hurtin' Units as they bested both brother teams (Beer and Blues) while dropping their middle game to the Sliders.  Dwayne Comer was an incredible 12/12 in the three games and Dave McGovern had 6 runs over that stretch.  The Units are now only 2 points behind the Cleats and 3 points behind the Jays.  Up next are the Hot Tub Woody's.

Brew Jays 1-0

The Jays coming into the week were tied for second last in the ability to score with the fewest amount of hits (the quick strike offense stat).  They were also dead last in the league in runs scored.  However they had the 4th best defense.  So which team was the most unlikely to win a 33-30 game?  Ya, but the did.  Rod Duggan and Chuck Vanya were both 6/6 in the game and Duggan, Jim Smith and Mark Doyle all scored 5 on the night.  The Brew Jays will try to get the defense back on track but keep the offense flying when they meet the Draft Kings on Tuesday.

Rusty Rebels 1-0

The Rebels won a close 3 run decision against the Sons Of Pitches this week which saw them climb 3 games over .500 for the 1st time this season and into a tie for 6th place.  The Rusty Rebels are 6-1 over their last seven games and are as hot as anyone in the league.  The big bats in this one were provided by Victor Dermot and Martin Ranby who each went 4/5 with Dermot also scoring four times.  Up next, the Rebs will try to break there standings tie with the Blues Brothers. 

Dog Catchers 1-0

After their 7-2-1 start to the season and tearing the cover off of the ball, the Dog Catchers were looking somewhat normal in going 3-3-1 over the previous 6 games coming into this game against the Dusty Cleats.  The Catchers used a combination of timely hitting and great defense and pitching to dominate throughout and escape with a 14-4 win.  Brett Mabee and Laurier Plante were both 4/5 in the victory and Plante and Steve Lahey each scored 3 times.  The top of the standings are crowded and the Dog Catchers and Tap Masters will face off next week in a critical game for both. 

     

Gruesome Devils 1-1

About as even a week as you could possibly have.  The Devils scored 33 and gave up 33 in splitting their games with the Dodge City Rounders (loss) and the Blues Brothers (win).  Steve Porter and Mark Kolen were both 7/9 over the two games and Kolsen and Robin Dickson each scored 4 runs.  The Devils will aim to pull within two points of the Beer Brothers when they match up on Tuesday night.

Tap Masters 1-1

Splitting the week and having a +/- of (0) says a lot about this teams ability to score and defend.  They're a balanced squad.  They took out the Draft Kings 17-16 and fell to the Grisslies in the last game of the week 25-24.  There were some good offensive numbers in the week but Scott Peters 9/10 with 8 runs scored stands alone.  The Tap Masters are one of two teams with a 2 game week next week and they'll have an opportunity to make noise against the Dog Catchers and Gruesome Devils. 

Sliders 1-1

After being on the wrong end of a 33-30 game, the Sliders rebounded nicely against the Hurtin' Units to prevail 20-12.  Leading the charge this week was Kevin Moon's 10 for 11.  Kevin also scored 9 runs on the week!  The Sliders will try to stay in the win column when they face the Grisslies on Tuesday.  This will be the second meeting for the clubs with the Sliders winning the first game 19-8.
 

 

Draft Kings 0-1

One run decisions are good for teams that intentions of making runs in the playoffs.  The Draft Kings are now 3-2 in those games after dropping a tough one to the Tap Masters 17-16.  Stike's 5/5 night with 3 runs led the way in this game.  Next week the Draft Kings will try to rebound against the suddenly hard hitting Brew Jays as they try to return to over .500. 

Hot Tub Woody's 0-1

The Hot Tubbers were 3-2 in their last 5 coming into this one with huge wins and close losses.  This game against the Grisslies was more of the same as they dropped an 11-10 decision.  One of the Woody's best attributes is that their offense can be led by a different guy every night and on this evening it was Tito Presenza's 4/4 with 4 runs scored that stuck out.  Next up for the Woody's are the resurgent Hurtin' Units who are 3-3 in their last six. 

Sons Of Pitches 0-1

The Sons Of Pitches lost by 3 to the Rusty Rebels which left them in a 4 way tie for 8th place and right at the .500 mark.  In a year where anything could happen and probably will, the middle of the pack is where most everyone is and is good launching point for a playoff run.  Vince Basacchi and Jamie Allan were both 4/4 in this game and they both scored twice.  All 11 players scored at least a run in the game in a very balanced attack.  The Sons Of Pitches have to wait until next Thursday to play again when they'll play the Dodge City Rounders.

Dusty Cleats 0-1

The Cleats are still missing key players due to injuries and that coupled in terrible play by their sub resulted in a 14-4 defeat at the hands of the Dog Catchers.  Tom Hollmann's 3/4 night and Winston Gayles two runs provided the majority of the offense.  The Cleats will face the Brew Jays next week in a game that will see one of the teams maintain hope for a middle of the pack finish.

Beer Bros. 0-1

The Beer Bros. were the second team this week to be victimized by the last place Hurtin' Units who seem to be improving at the right time.  The loss left the Beer Bros. a game under .500 and in a 4 way tie for 8th place.  There was a lot of offense in this one but Jon Hardy and Terry Doucet's 5/5 nights were the best lines.  Doucet would also plate 4 runs. 

 

Blues Brothers 0-2

The Blues Brothers have been near the top of the standings all season but were dealt a 2 loss week while only losing 6 runs to the plus minus.  They dropped a close defensive game to the Units 11-10 and then had bats but not quite enough defense in falling to the Gruesome Devils 20-15.  Mike Douglas was 9/10 on the week and Bob McCullough and Tom Ball both scored 5 runs.  Up next are the 9-6 Rusty Rebels who they are tied with.  

 

The Beer Cup

 

 

The Beer Cup was retained by the Grisslies this week. Twice.  Both times by only a single run.  It'll be up to the Beer Bros. (specifically Gord Dol) to see if our antics have been worthy of a $50.00 to HTK.  Click HERE to read about previous works of wonder by other teams.

The Beer Cup is in its 2nd year.  Last years champs, the Dodge City Rounders retained the Beer Cup to start the season and defended it twice by beating the Blues Brothers and the Brew Jays.  The Sons Of Pitches then defeated Dodge to take it over before losing it to the Rusty Rebels.  The Rebels were defeated by the Tap Masters.  The Tap Masters, who waited for a year to play for the cup were only able to retain it for a single game as they fell to the Beer Bros. The resilient Beer Bros. beat the 1st place Hot Tub Woody's to become the second team to retain the cup. However, their ownership wouldn't last the week as they fell to the Blues Brothers.  The Blues Brothers would then  defend against the Tap Masters and most recently by beating the 1st place Dog Catchers!  But it wouldn't last.  They fell to last years champs the Draft Kings. The Draft Kings enjoyed a title defense against the Sliders before the Grisslies wrestled it away from them.  The Grisslies then held off the Hot Tub Woody's by a run and fought back to steal a game from the Tap Masters by one to retain the cup. 

The holders of the Beer Cup at the end of the season receive both the cup and its inherant adulation and 12 beer tickets at the banquet.

Next week the Grisslies will try to defend against the Sliders on Tuesday.   
   

Teams that have held the Beer Cup (8)

• Dodge City Rounders
• Sons Of Pitches
• Rusty Rebels
• Tap Masters
• Beer Bros.
• Blues Brothers
• Draft Kings
• Grisslies

Teams that have defended the Beer Cup (5)

• Dodge City Rounders (2)
• Beer Bros. (1)
• Blues Brothers (2)
• Draft Kings (1)
• Grisslies (2)

Teams that have Played a Beer Cup Game (10)

• Dodge City Rounders (3)
• Blues Brothers (4)
• Brew Jays
• Sons Of Pitches (2)
• Rusty Rebels (2)
• Tap Masters (4)
• Beer Bros.
• Hot Tub Woody's (2)
• Dog Catchers
• Draft Kings (3)
• Sliders
• Grisslies (3)

Teams that have yet to play for the Cup(3)

• Gruesome Devils.
• Dusty Cleats
• Hurtin' Units

Key Week 13 Match-Ups.

Grisslies Vs. Sliders - The Beer Cup on the line
Dog Catchers Vs. Tap Masters - The winner will tie Dodge for 1st place in points.  The loser could find themselves in 5th place by week's end. 
Rusty Rebels Vs. Blues Brothers - The Rebels are clicking and could find their way into the top 6.  The Brothers need a bounce back from last weeks close losses. 
Brew Jays Vs. Cleats - A games between #13 and #14 being key?  The loser faces the possibility of getting passed by the Units.  The winner has a very legit shot at a top 10 finish. 

STATS
TEAM

CLOSED:  Each teams record over the first 11 games of the season. 

And here is the 2nd half of the season standings.  Of the teams that have played 6 games, the Grisslies and Rounders are on fire to start the 2nd half.  The Rusty Rebels are right there with games in hand.  The Hurtin' Units have forgotten their 1st half and are nicely positioned in the middle of the pack. 

A huge jump from 2.16 to 1.88 for the Beer Bros. this week, all the other quick strike offenses remained about the same. 

And here is your max potential page.  The Rounders are in control of their own destiny with 5 to play, but one slip brings the Dog Catchers, Tap Masters and Woody's into the mix.  The Tap Masters Vs. Dog Catchers game next week is not crucial for both. 

 

The Power Rankings see the top 3 unchanged and the Grisslies making a to spot jump to 4th for the biggest gain of the week.  The Blues Brothers dropped two position to 6th. 

 Baseball standings.  The Rounders and Grisslies haven't tasted defeat in 6 games, it might be interesting if both can keep it up for when they meet on August 19th. 

Your traditional standings, also found at www.tottenhamoldtimers.ca The Rusty Rebels at 3 games over .500 yet a -29 are an anomaly we don't see to often.  They got thrashed in their first few games and since then have been playing competitive and close ball. 

 The Dog Catchers are still over the magic .700 mark

So let me preface this stat by saying that it applies to very few teams.  The only way you can improve on it is to lose.  No one is trying to lose so its pointless, right?  Not really.  Its applicable to teams like the Blues Brothers and especially the Tap Masters who are NEVER shelled.  Its also relevant to teams like the Sons Of Pitches, Dusty Cleats and Brew Jays who are for the most part, playing consistently close games and just coming out on the wrong side of the equation. 

 Everyone know how this works?  3 points for a 10+ run win; -3 points for a 10+ run loss.  The rest is pretty intuitive.  There's a big drop off after the Tap Masters and Dog Catchers. 

INDIVIDUAL

The top 10 hitters is a pretty impressive field.  It is incredibly hard to gain ground as the at bats pile up and right now, baring a collapse of epic proportions to the leaders, I think the winner will come from the top 5.  If Skip, for example were to go 5/5 in his next game, that would put him at .824.  with 5 games remaining.  If he continues to do that his avg goes up by less and less each time as the ABs increase.  Same is true for everyone.  AND he'd need all 5 above him to stumble and come back to him. 

Could it happen?  Yep. 

Will it?  Lahey, Cragg, Niederhuber, Foerster and Candy all folding?  I wouldn't bet on it. 

CLOSED:  Congrats Skip!

CLOSED:  Congrats Rick!

Some of these folks will disappear if they don't get the ABs to qualify but I'll leave 'em in while there's still an opportunity.  Surprised with the current 6 game unbeaten streaks that there's no Grisslie and only one Dodge City Rounder on the list.  And in case you haven't figured it out, Moon is on friggin FIRE!

Lahey could tie or pass the 2012 leaders this week as could Pendlebury and Plante.  With 5 games left Steve needs 3.21 runs per game to pass Doucet.  Doable?

CLOSED:  Congrats Skip!

CLOSED:  Congrats to Laurier Plante and Steve Lahey.

Look at Adrian Barry running with the big kids!  Way to go.  The bad news for everyone on the list is that Kevin Moon has 3 games left and everyone else has one.  One of the top guys is going to have to throw up a big number in their last game to hold off Moon. 

This is kind of interesting.  .035 back is a lot, but Chuck's limited at bats work in his favour.  Still a lot to make up and fantastic rookie averages overall.  

Nyers, Hager, maybe Plante.  A battle to the finish.  All Sophomores are over .500

No one is catching Lahey.  But eight 3rd year players over .700???  17 of them over .600????  Wow, this is the mother lode. 

Adrian Barry is on the cusp of joining legends like Lepa, Doucet and Young.  Keep swinging. 

This is usually different from the average leaders because people tend to miss games.  Its normally littered with guys like Anicete and Adrian who are consistent and don't miss.  Not this year, the leaders rarely miss. 

BOBBY V!!!!!!  Go Dog Go!  Dancey is close on his heals followed by Steve DeLand.  Steve has improved his average by .178 points.  Doug DeLand has improved by .146.  There's a difference of .032 points.  The winner gets to be "The Good DeLand for 2015"