Extra Innings. Two words that can make or break a fantasy team, particularly on a Sunday in a weekly H2H league. Chances abound for relievers to come in and pitch those 2 scoreless innings with 3 or 4 strikeouts (hello Mike Gonzalez & Joel Zumaya), or pick up that unexpected win (Joe Smith, Royce Ring, Aquilino Lopez). On the hitting side, there is the opportunity for a hitter to salvage something from the day (see Miggy Cabrera - hitless until what proved to be the game-winning double in the 15th) or make a bad day even worse by going 0-7 (Edgar Renteria, I'm looking at you).
All these extra at bats and innings pitched can also make a huge difference in the world of fantasy baseball, as this week certainly proved, at least in the H2HWS battle between 2nd-placed New Hampshire Goats and 3rd-placed London Knights...
Week 14 Results
- London Knights 7-4 New Hampshire Goats
- Barcelona Reds 8-3 Peitudas
- Felixstowe Fury 5-7 Psydney Psychos
- Lower Saxony Tigers 7-5 Hamburger Blaufinken
- North York Blues 6-5 Northampton Squirrels
- LA Thrashers 7-5 Brisbane Bikkies
- Manzen Marlins 8-3 Edinburgh Dukes
Standings
| Rank | Team | W-L-T | Pct | GB | Last Week | Pos Change | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | L.A. Thrashers | 99-56-13 | .628 | - | 7-5-0 | - | ||
| 2. | London Knights | 83-65-20 | .554 | 12.5 | 7-4-1 | +1 | ||
| 3. | New Hampshire Goats | 84-67-17 | .551 | 13 | 4-7-1 | -1 | ||
| 4. | North York Blues | 84-71-13 | .539 | 15 | 6-5-1 | - | ||
| 5. | Lower Saxony Tigers | 82-71-15 | .533 | 16 | 7-5-0 | - | ||
| 6. | Manzen Marlins | 79-74-15 | .515 | 19 | 8-3-1 | +3 | ||
| 7. | Northampton Squirels | 83-78-7 | .515 | 19 | 5-6-1 | -1 | ||
| 8. | Peitudas | 74-77-17 | .491 | 23 | 3-8-1 | -1 | ||
| 9. | Edinburgh Dukes | 78-81-9 | .491 | 23 | 3-8-1 | -1 | ||
| 10. | Psydney Psychos | 72-80-16 | .476 | 25.5 | 7-5-0 | - | ||
| 11. | Hamburger Blaufinken | 68-83-17 | .455 | 29 | 5-7-0 | - | ||
| 12. | BRISBANE BIKKIES | 70-88-10 | .446 | 30.5 | 5-7-0 | - | ||
| 13. | Felixstowe Fury | 64-90-14 | .423 | 34.5 | 5-7-0 | - | ||
| 14. | Barcelona Reds | 60-99-9 | .384 | 41 | 8-3-1 | - |
Significant Moves
The London Knights were involved in several moves this week, as various issues developed with their 4th OF. Having picked up David DeJesus, only for him to pick up an injury, the Knights dropped him only to find him back in the team quicker than expected. This was followed by the dropping of Jeff Francouer, a huge under-performer; the Knights' patience wearing out the day before the Braves sent him down to Double A. His replacement, Elijah Dukes lasted only a couple of days before picking up a huge injury, so DeJesus ended up back on the team, joined by the hot-hitting Andre Ethier, as another OF on the Knights' team, Milton Bradley, picked up his latest injury in Sunday's game. Phew!
There were other teams involved in moves this week as well! New Hampshire Goats claimed Troy Tulowitzki off waivers, shortly before his self-inflicted injury, subsequently dropping Rafael Furcal (out until at least September) to reclaim Stephen Drew (dropped in the claim for Tulo!) The Goats had a similar SS experience to the one the Knights had with their OF!
Elsewhere, North York released Pedro Martinez to pick up Grant Balfour, who may well have a more significant role for Tampa Bay with Percival's latest injury. Another waiver claim was used by Brisbane Bikkies to pick up Howie Kendrick, dropped by Psydney after their recent trade for Kelly Johnson. Other interesting moves saw LA Thrashers give up on Justin Upton whilst taking a chance on Chris Davis, Brisbane bid farewell to Randy Johnson, and Manzen Marlins pick up the incredibly hot JJ Hardy - incredible, too, that he was still available as recently as July 5th!
Waffle
The big top-of-the-table clash between New Hampshire and London lived up to its billing in an eventful week. London took an early lead, only for New Hampshire to storm back strongly midweek to head into the weekend with an 8-4 lead, helped by current MVP Ian Kinsler. The Knights' bats came alive on Saturday, however, putting up a strong .323/1.013 outing to bring the scores close - 6-5 in favour of the Goats. With RBIs tied and several other categories close, the Sunday games would be crucial. With no starters going for either team, the bats would hold the key to the result.
The Knights got off to a great start, with both Brian Roberts & Carlos Beltran hitting homers and stealing 2 bases each. That turned a 5-3 SB deficit into a 7-5 lead, as well as increasing the HR lead and getting OPS much closer to the Goats'. New Hampshire countered with a bases-clearing double from Nate McLouth, allowing them to move 1 RBI into the lead. With Mark Teixiera picking up 3 RBIs for the Knights, they sneaked back into the lead, but Billy Wagner had a chance to tie the saves category for New Hampshire. Mixed feelings there for this Mets fan - fortunately, the Mets still won even after the blown save! The final score ended 7-4 to London, with OPS tied and most categories decided by narrow margins; the teams switch places with the Knights looking strong, having won 7 of the last 8 match-ups.
That defeat for New Hampshire allowed LA to stretch their lead yet again, as they won a very tight affair against Brisbane, 7-5. It could easily have been a defeat, as the Thrashers won AVG by 3 points and WHIP by 1...but nevertheless, they now hold a 12.5 game lead. Elsewhere, Psydney won for the second week in a row, but they will be disappointed to have only beaten Felixstowe 7-5, having led by wider margins earlier in the week. Manzen were the biggest movers, climbing into the playoff zone with an 8-3 win over the fading Edinburgh Dukes. Also fading are Peitudas, thumped 8-3 by cellar dwellars Barcelona. Two teams vieing for the playoffs fought out a close game, North York taking it 6-5 over Northampton, whilst Lower Saxony held off Hamburger 7-5 in the all-German match-up.
Having beaten three close rivals in the last three weeks, London now take on Barcelona in what should be an easier match-up, if the table is to be believed. Barcelona have had three heavy defeats after their last three victories...so I'll be hoping that trend continues...but whatever happens, it won't be easy!
Elsewhere, none of the top 6 meet one another this week, so they all have a chance to try and pull away by beating lower-ranked opposition. Peitudas have a chance to stop the rot as they face 13th-placed Felixstowe - a good win here could lift them back into the top 6. It's much tougher for another team in a bit of a slump - Edinburgh Dukes have to take on high-flying New Hampshire. And the latest team attempting to derail the LA Thrashers are Northampton Squirrels - go England!
"pick up the incredibly hot JJ Hardy - incredible, too, that he was still available as recently as July 5th!"
As I am/was the owner in several public leagues of one idiot Troy T (reminds me of John Tudor a few years back and a certain fan (cooling that is) and "NL Only", I was !!!!shocked!!!! to look at my possible fill-in choices while Tulo recovered and fine JJ heading the list in so many leagues, I might add that a few of these same leagues found a certain KC SS dropped this morning, timing is everything you know, and JJ was not available to them.