In the 2009 Season Preview I wrote in May, I made the statement that I liked all the teams in the Office Space League and I said, “I truly believe the sixth-ranked team could finish first.”
Well, that preseason sixth-ranked team was Team Suck.
Mr. Boyer has Team Suck in third place and competing for a playoff spot.
With the All-Star Break around the bend, I figured I’d take a look at the teams in the league and make my comments.
Starting with Team Suck, he has received a much-needed boost from his pitching. Zach Greinke and Matt Cain are having career years and many complete-game shutouts have earned Team Suck extra wins each week. Josh Beckett and Carlos Zambrano also have helped this pitching staff post a 4.09 ERA for Team Suck.
A pair of first basemen, Prince Fielder and Kevin Youkilis, have been the offensive sparkplugs for Team Suck.
Manny Ramirez was a big help in getting Team Suck into first place early in the season, but soon after his suspension, the Suck started to drop. Manny is back now and we’ll have to see if Team Suck is, too.
Heading into July 7, Team Suck is 139-123-50 and 22 1/2 games back from first. He holds an eight-game lead on the Backward Ks.
The Evening News was in first for a while before the Jammers went on a tear, going 45-14-13 in the last three weeks to take a 12 1/2-game lead in the Office Space League.
At 148-112-52, the Evening News has done it mostly with quality pitching.
Roy Halladay has been the best pitcher in fantasy — outside of Greinke’s amazing early season run. Halladay has a 10-2 record with a 2.79 ERA. The Evening News also has Wandy Rodriguez (3.21, 7-6), Yovani Gallardo (2.75, 8-5) and Johann Santana (3.29, 9-7).
Santana was stellar to start the season, but has recently fallen apart. I expect him to turn things around for himself, however, the wins will not come so easily with that lineup. He’ll get many more no-decisions and a few more 1-0, 2-0 losses.
Leading the League with a 160-99-53 record, the Slammers have benefited from so-so pitching and quality offensive numbers.
Looking at one of the better pitching staffs on paper in May, the Slammers was quickly scrambling to reorganize.
Gavin Floyd did not pan out whatsoever. Rich Harden has not been worthy of his second-round pick and Jake Peavy is on the DL. That leaves Cole Hamels and CC Sabathia, who have both been disappointing.
Randy Wells, Rick Porcello, Dallas Braden and Aaron Cook, all free-agent pickups have been leading this staff.
The bullpen has led the Slammers to a second-best 51 saves and the offense filled with .300 hitters has been the reason the Slammers is in first place. The Slammers fields a lineup with .300 hitters at every position except first base, where James Loney is batting .280.
In the Ron Burgundy League, the Sex Panthers, slated to finish third, have a 9 1/2-game lead. And this comes with just a so-so record over the last six weeks. Since May 25, the Sex Panthers are 64-60-20.
Despite those struggles, no one in the division is really making a move on the Panthers as the Office Space League has made the most of Interleague play, thus far.
The Sex Panthers lead the league in runs scored (508) and batting average (.294). The offense has been the key to their cozy home at the top of the Ron Burgundy League. Albert Pujols leads the way with a .336 average, 82 RBIs and 31 homers.
To think, Albert Pujols in 2008 — our first year in this 12-team format — was selected eighth overall by the Sex Panthers. He was chosen behind —and in this order — A-Rod, David Wright, Matt Holliday, Jimmy Rollins, Chase Utley, Ryan Howard and Hanley Ramirez.
(Also noteworthy cause I saw it while researching that last tid-bit of info: Tim Lincecum was selected in the 13th round, 146th overall by Graybill’s Generals.)
Also led by Jason Bartlett (.358), Shane Victorino (.304), Freddy Sanchez (.316), and A.J. Pierzynski (.302), the Sex Panthers are second in the league in triples (22) and homers (132). She’s third in RBIs with 470.
Pitching has been a problem, but she has had some solid outings from Derek Lowe, Josh Johnson and Andy Pettitte. Johnson has been the ace of this staff at 7-1 with a 2.76 ERA.
The Panthers have an abundance of quality hitters and it might be worth her while to try and deal one of her big hitters for a quality pitcher. That or she’ll have to hope one or two of her starters step up because she’ll need that to remain in first place and make a run in the playoffs.
The Gamblers were in fifth place for a long time. Then, A-Rod and Joe Mauer came back from injuries. And like that, the Gamblers were in business.
Currently in second place after a 12-9-3 win last week, the Gamblers are 143-132-37.
Mauer has been ridiculous since his return, batting .389 with 14 homers and 45 RBIs. A-Rod also has 14 homers and 43 RBIs since his return. He’s batting significantly lower at .244, but I do expect that to go up drastically in the next couple months.
Working alongside Ryan Braun (.326) and two Cubbies, Ryan Theriot and Derek Lee who are both batting in the .280s, the Gamblers have a potent offense. That offense also includes a couple of surprises in Miguel Tejada (.326, 43 RBIs) and a quality free-agent pickup in Russell Branyan (20 HRs), the Gamblers have a quality group of batters.
The Gamblers’ pitching also has been tough to beat with Dan Haren (2.16, 8-5), Johnny Cueto (2.69, 8-4), Tim Wakefield (4.30, 10-3) and Joe Saunders (4.44, 8-5). Ubaldo Jimenez also has been good with 10 quality starts and a 3.86 ERA, but he’s just 6-8 on the season.
Closing out the top three in the Ron Burgundy League are the N.J. Bombers.
Offense has been the key for the Bombers. With several homers coming Morneau, Longoria, Helton, Kinsler, Young, Ross, Blake and Shoo-Choo, the Bombers have been able to dominate several offensive categories throughout the season.
Pitching, on the other hand, has been a problem.
Brandon Webb has been missing on the DL all season, and Scott Kazmir and Joba Chamberlain might as well be missing.
Jered Weaver has been the only quality starter with an 8-3 record and a 3.10 ERA.
Dolph’s Destroyers (24 1/2 games out) and The Stankinator (27 1/2 games out) are still in contention for the Wild Card. In fourth place, the Destroyers are 8 games out of a playoff spot.
There is an 8-game cushion in the Office Space League as well as the Backward Ks sit 30 1/2 games out. Graybill’s Generals are 33 games out and the Drunken Taxis Drivers, at 55 games out, may be shopping for next year.
The Bad News Bears (41 1/2 games out) are in the same position in the Ron Burgundy League.
Well, that preseason sixth-ranked team was Team Suck.
Mr. Boyer has Team Suck in third place and competing for a playoff spot.
With the All-Star Break around the bend, I figured I’d take a look at the teams in the league and make my comments.
Starting with Team Suck, he has received a much-needed boost from his pitching. Zach Greinke and Matt Cain are having career years and many complete-game shutouts have earned Team Suck extra wins each week. Josh Beckett and Carlos Zambrano also have helped this pitching staff post a 4.09 ERA for Team Suck.
A pair of first basemen, Prince Fielder and Kevin Youkilis, have been the offensive sparkplugs for Team Suck.
Manny Ramirez was a big help in getting Team Suck into first place early in the season, but soon after his suspension, the Suck started to drop. Manny is back now and we’ll have to see if Team Suck is, too.
Heading into July 7, Team Suck is 139-123-50 and 22 1/2 games back from first. He holds an eight-game lead on the Backward Ks.
The Evening News was in first for a while before the Jammers went on a tear, going 45-14-13 in the last three weeks to take a 12 1/2-game lead in the Office Space League.
At 148-112-52, the Evening News has done it mostly with quality pitching.
Roy Halladay has been the best pitcher in fantasy — outside of Greinke’s amazing early season run. Halladay has a 10-2 record with a 2.79 ERA. The Evening News also has Wandy Rodriguez (3.21, 7-6), Yovani Gallardo (2.75, 8-5) and Johann Santana (3.29, 9-7).
Santana was stellar to start the season, but has recently fallen apart. I expect him to turn things around for himself, however, the wins will not come so easily with that lineup. He’ll get many more no-decisions and a few more 1-0, 2-0 losses.
Leading the League with a 160-99-53 record, the Slammers have benefited from so-so pitching and quality offensive numbers.
Looking at one of the better pitching staffs on paper in May, the Slammers was quickly scrambling to reorganize.
Gavin Floyd did not pan out whatsoever. Rich Harden has not been worthy of his second-round pick and Jake Peavy is on the DL. That leaves Cole Hamels and CC Sabathia, who have both been disappointing.
Randy Wells, Rick Porcello, Dallas Braden and Aaron Cook, all free-agent pickups have been leading this staff.
The bullpen has led the Slammers to a second-best 51 saves and the offense filled with .300 hitters has been the reason the Slammers is in first place. The Slammers fields a lineup with .300 hitters at every position except first base, where James Loney is batting .280.
In the Ron Burgundy League, the Sex Panthers, slated to finish third, have a 9 1/2-game lead. And this comes with just a so-so record over the last six weeks. Since May 25, the Sex Panthers are 64-60-20.
Despite those struggles, no one in the division is really making a move on the Panthers as the Office Space League has made the most of Interleague play, thus far.
The Sex Panthers lead the league in runs scored (508) and batting average (.294). The offense has been the key to their cozy home at the top of the Ron Burgundy League. Albert Pujols leads the way with a .336 average, 82 RBIs and 31 homers.
To think, Albert Pujols in 2008 — our first year in this 12-team format — was selected eighth overall by the Sex Panthers. He was chosen behind —and in this order — A-Rod, David Wright, Matt Holliday, Jimmy Rollins, Chase Utley, Ryan Howard and Hanley Ramirez.
(Also noteworthy cause I saw it while researching that last tid-bit of info: Tim Lincecum was selected in the 13th round, 146th overall by Graybill’s Generals.)
Also led by Jason Bartlett (.358), Shane Victorino (.304), Freddy Sanchez (.316), and A.J. Pierzynski (.302), the Sex Panthers are second in the league in triples (22) and homers (132). She’s third in RBIs with 470.
Pitching has been a problem, but she has had some solid outings from Derek Lowe, Josh Johnson and Andy Pettitte. Johnson has been the ace of this staff at 7-1 with a 2.76 ERA.
The Panthers have an abundance of quality hitters and it might be worth her while to try and deal one of her big hitters for a quality pitcher. That or she’ll have to hope one or two of her starters step up because she’ll need that to remain in first place and make a run in the playoffs.
The Gamblers were in fifth place for a long time. Then, A-Rod and Joe Mauer came back from injuries. And like that, the Gamblers were in business.
Currently in second place after a 12-9-3 win last week, the Gamblers are 143-132-37.
Mauer has been ridiculous since his return, batting .389 with 14 homers and 45 RBIs. A-Rod also has 14 homers and 43 RBIs since his return. He’s batting significantly lower at .244, but I do expect that to go up drastically in the next couple months.
Working alongside Ryan Braun (.326) and two Cubbies, Ryan Theriot and Derek Lee who are both batting in the .280s, the Gamblers have a potent offense. That offense also includes a couple of surprises in Miguel Tejada (.326, 43 RBIs) and a quality free-agent pickup in Russell Branyan (20 HRs), the Gamblers have a quality group of batters.
The Gamblers’ pitching also has been tough to beat with Dan Haren (2.16, 8-5), Johnny Cueto (2.69, 8-4), Tim Wakefield (4.30, 10-3) and Joe Saunders (4.44, 8-5). Ubaldo Jimenez also has been good with 10 quality starts and a 3.86 ERA, but he’s just 6-8 on the season.
Closing out the top three in the Ron Burgundy League are the N.J. Bombers.
Offense has been the key for the Bombers. With several homers coming Morneau, Longoria, Helton, Kinsler, Young, Ross, Blake and Shoo-Choo, the Bombers have been able to dominate several offensive categories throughout the season.
Pitching, on the other hand, has been a problem.
Brandon Webb has been missing on the DL all season, and Scott Kazmir and Joba Chamberlain might as well be missing.
Jered Weaver has been the only quality starter with an 8-3 record and a 3.10 ERA.
Dolph’s Destroyers (24 1/2 games out) and The Stankinator (27 1/2 games out) are still in contention for the Wild Card. In fourth place, the Destroyers are 8 games out of a playoff spot.
There is an 8-game cushion in the Office Space League as well as the Backward Ks sit 30 1/2 games out. Graybill’s Generals are 33 games out and the Drunken Taxis Drivers, at 55 games out, may be shopping for next year.
The Bad News Bears (41 1/2 games out) are in the same position in the Ron Burgundy League.
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