Now that the boring stuff is over with (the inital posting, I dont have much to post and it always seems so dry...oh well), I can open up now and give more opinions.
Ill update this monthly (unless some major happens) untill the Trading Deadline, then Ill go bi-weekly/weekly/daily depending on how tight the race is (and if Im in it).
April
| American League Standings |
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| Team | W | L | PCT | GB | Pyt.Rec | Diff | | Home | Away | XInn | 1Run | M# | Streak | Last10 | | Baltimore | 13 | 11 | .542 | - | 13-11 | 0 | | 8-3 | 5-8 | 1-0 | 5-6 | 139 | L3 | 3-7 | | Boston | 13 | 11 | .542 | - | 12-12 | 1 | | 7-5 | 6-6 | 1-1 | 3-3 | 139 | W1 | 6-4 | | Toronto | 11 | 13 | .458 | 2.0 | 13-11 | -2 | | 6-8 | 5-5 | 0-2 | 2-5 | - | L1 | 4-6 | | New York (A) | 9 | 15 | .375 | 4.0 | 12-12 | -3 | | 6-10 | 3-5 | 0-0 | 3-5 | - | W3 | 5-5 | | Tampa Bay | 8 | 17 | .320 | 5.5 | 9-16 | -1 | | 5-6 | 3-11 | 0-0 | 3-3 | - | L2 | 4-6 |
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| Team | W | L | PCT | GB | Pyt.Rec | Diff | | Home | Away | XInn | 1Run | M# | Streak | Last10 | | Detroit | 15 | 9 | .625 | - | 15-9 | 0 | | 6-5 | 9-4 | 2-1 | 3-2 | 138 | W3 | 7-3 | | Cleveland | 14 | 10 | .583 | 1.0 | 15-9 | -1 | | 5-6 | 9-4 | 0-1 | 3-3 | - | W2 | 8-2 | | Minnesota | 12 | 12 | .500 | 3.0 | 12-12 | 0 | | 5-5 | 7-7 | 2-1 | 5-5 | - | L2 | 3-7 | | Chicago (A) | 9 | 15 | .375 | 6.0 | 11-13 | -2 | | 3-7 | 6-8 | 0-2 | 4-6 | - | L2 | 5-5 | | Kansas City | 9 | 15 | .375 | 6.0 | 7-17 | 2 | | 4-10 | 5-5 | 1-1 | 2-1 | - | L5 | 3-7 |
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| Team | W | L | PCT | GB | Pyt.Rec | Diff | | Home | Away | XInn | 1Run | M# | Streak | Last10 | | Oakland | 17 | 8 | .680 | - | 14-11 | 3 | | 9-5 | 8-3 | 0-1 | 4-3 | 136 | W4 | 8-2 | | Texas | 14 | 10 | .583 | 2.5 | 14-10 | 0 | | 7-6 | 7-4 | 0-0 | 2-0 | - | W2 | 8-2 | | Seattle | 13 | 11 | .542 | 3.5 | 13-11 | 0 | | 6-5 | 7-6 | 2-1 | 3-4 | - | L1 | 3-7 | | Los Angeles (A) | 12 | 12 | .500 | 4.5 | 12-12 | 0 | | 5-6 | 7-6 | 3-1 | 6-2 | - | W1 | 3-7 |
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| National League Standings |
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| Team | W | L | PCT | GB | Pyt.Rec | Diff | | Home | Away | XInn | 1Run | M# | Streak | Last10 | | Philadelphia | 18 | 6 | .750 | - | 14-10 | 4 | | 10-2 | 8-4 | 0-0 | 8-1 | 136 | W2 | 8-2 | | Washington | 15 | 9 | .625 | 3.0 | 15-9 | 0 | | 10-4 | 5-5 | 1-1 | 2-3 | - | W1 | 8-2 | | Atlanta | 14 | 10 | .583 | 4.0 | 14-10 | 0 | | 7-5 | 7-5 | 2-0 | 2-2 | - | L1 | 6-4 | | New York (N) | 9 | 15 | .375 | 9.0 | 9-15 | 0 | | 4-7 | 5-8 | 0-2 | 1-2 | - | L2 | 4-6 | | Florida | 6 | 18 | .250 | 12.0 | 9-15 | -3 | | 5-7 | 1-11 | 0-0 | 0-3 | - | L10 | 0-10 |
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| Team | W | L | PCT | GB | Pyt.Rec | Diff | | Home | Away | XInn | 1Run | M# | Streak | Last10 | | Chicago (N) | 15 | 8 | .652 | - | 14-9 | 1 | | 6-4 | 9-4 | 0-0 | 6-4 | 140 | W2 | 6-4 | | Cincinnati | 14 | 8 | .636 | .5 | 15-7 | -1 | | 8-5 | 6-3 | 1-0 | 3-4 | - | W3 | 7-3 | | Houston | 15 | 9 | .625 | .5 | 14-10 | 1 | | 8-4 | 7-5 | 2-3 | 7-3 | - | W3 | 7-3 | | St. Louis | 12 | 11 | .522 | 3.0 | 12-11 | 0 | | 5-5 | 7-6 | 1-1 | 3-3 | - | L3 | 5-5 | | Milwaukee | 10 | 14 | .417 | 5.5 | 11-13 | -1 | | 5-7 | 5-7 | 1-3 | 2-6 | - | L1 | 3-7 | | Pittsburgh | 7 | 16 | .304 | 8.0 | 7-16 | 0 | | 2-9 | 5-7 | 2-2 | 1-4 | - | W1 | 4-6 |
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| Team | W | L | PCT | GB | Pyt.Rec | Diff | | Home | Away | XInn | 1Run | M# | Streak | Last10 | | San Diego | 14 | 10 | .583 | - | 16-8 | -2 | | 8-4 | 6-6 | 1-0 | 3-3 | 137 | W1 | 8-2 | | San Francisco | 11 | 12 | .478 | 2.5 | 9-14 | 2 | | 7-6 | 4-6 | 1-0 | 4-0 | - | L1 | 4-6 | | Colorado | 11 | 13 | .458 | 3.0 | 10-14 | 1 | | 6-4 | 5-9 | 4-1 | 4-3 | - | L1 | 4-6 | | Los Angeles (N) | 9 | 14 | .391 | 4.5 | 10-13 | -1 | | 6-8 | 3-6 | 0-4 | 1-6 | - | L3 | 3-7 | | Arizona | 8 | 15 | .348 | 5.5 | 8-15 | 0 | | 2-8 | 6-7 | 1-0 | 2-2 | - | W1 | 3-7 |
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Im in first, but nothing really noteworthy in the standings, pretty standard looking all around.
Players of the month were:
Vlad Guerrero-Angels
Todd Sears-Padre (Who??)
Jeremy Bonderman-Tigers
Pedro Martinez-Mets
Pedro was 2-1 with a 0.75 ERA....how are you only 2-1 with that kinda ERA?? Talk about a lack of run support eh?
Now to the Tigers....
All together we had a pretty good month. The young guys are hitting the cover off the ball, Granderson has moved up to the leadoff slot, hitting .300 with a .355 OBP, 3HRs, 7 doubles and a triple. Chris Shelton is really hitting, .344/.429/.556 including 3 bombs and 10 doubles. Carlos Guillen is hitting well, 7HRs for the month and an OBP near .400. Brandon Inge is hitting .320 with 5 dongs plus a .365ish OBP.
Its also apparent that Omar Infante is a better player than Placido Polanco. Polanco is off to a slow start, and Infante has become a starter (I usually put him at 2nd or short and shift Guillen or Polanco to 3rd, Inge to C/1B/OF and bench someone....). Omar has 10 RBI already, a .340ish OBP and slugging about .400, while hititng .315 or so. Polanco is hitting in the .240s with a sub .300 OBP%. But the big reason I know he's better, is the team comparison screen (Polanco is usually the loser, while if I put Infante their, he's the winner).
But the real news hitting wise, Albert Pujols....and his .145 BA and .240 OBP.... he has just 1 HR and 7 doubles.....what? His scouting report is still glowing and he's the most sought after player in the trade screen, so Im assuming this is some sort of fluke. Likewise, Ivan Rodriugez has a sub .200 OBP (hitting like .110).....yikes.
I made two transactions as well, picked up a familar face off the waiver wire, Carlos Pena (yes, the man I traded for Pujols with Mags), which gives me some options. I also picked up Shea Hillenbrand for depth.
Now that I have Pena, I can move Shelton (who has a "4" rated arm) too catcher and trade Pudge, I could also package in Polanco...I have a decision to make. Pudge's ratings are also slipping (You can tell by looking at his scouting report, especially if I toggle him to DH....he's still an above average catcher).
Pitching wise, Bonderman has been amazing, 1.56 ERA, 5-0 leads the AL in K's, Wins and ERA. He's only given up more than 1 run iin a game once in 6 starts and has 46 innings pitched already (thats nearly 8 innings a start). The rest of the starteres have been .500 or so, Verlander has a 2.7ish ERA and is 3-0, but has been shaky control wise, Maroth has been pretty bad in 2 starts, and good the other 2, A.J. Burnett is 2-2 with a 3.98 ERA.
Nate Robertson was injured for 4 weeks, Ryan Dreee is taking his place. Strangely enough, Ryan Drese is actually my 2nd most sought after pitcher on the trade screen and has a glowing scouting report (premier pitcher ect...).
The bullpen has been shaky, Ty Howington has been ROCKED, just hammered....Farnsworth has been very shaky, though he has 6 saves (2 were .1 innings) he has 6 walks in 10 innings and 8 Ks....just shaky. Urbina is 2-2 already, and has had some great outings....and been hit pretty hard twice.
Dave Riske and Jamie Walker have been good. Riske has a 1.50 ERA (though, nothing to support it, K/BB K/9IP ect arn't great). Jamie Walker has a 0.00 ERA, but he is a LOOGY, so its not exactly a reliable sample.
Its far to early to make any moves with the bullpen though. However, I will be dealing pudge (his value can only go down).
I can make this deal, and talent/value wise, I would in a heart beat. But Im not sure if Im ripping the CPU or not.
I get Barry Zito, Dave Newhan, Adam Loewen
(Last years Cy Young, big time FA signee in Zito, legit ace. Newhan would be my UTI IF to replace Polanco, Loewen is th best pitching prospect in baseball.
I give Ryan Drese, Placido Polanco, Ivan Rodriguez, Marcus Thames and 7 mil.
Drese is apparently a legit #1 or #2...great scouting report, sought after in trades, Polanco is a good 2B, Pudge is still an above average C, Thames is a UTI OF.
I mean, it seems fairly even, Polanco is better than Newhan, Thames may be able to start for them, Drese is supposed to be a good starter, and Pudge is still effective (or so Im assuming). Cash why its pretty even (I take on some salary).
Would it be taking advantage of the CPU to do this? Trading difficulty is very difficult, and I cant see ratings....any input at all would be appreciated