September 15, 2014

Dan McCloskey remains in the lead with just two weeks of baseball left in the 2014 season. Jim Kushner trails by a point but tops Dan by 8 HBPs, while Michael Orobona sits one point behind Jim in third.

Dan and Jim owe much of their success to two picks: Giancarlo Stanton (NL HR) and Chris Sale (AL ERA). This two-point pad seems secure, barring at least two disastrous late-September starts by Sale. Jason Salavon (who also picked Stanton for NL HR) could conceivably make a title run if Adam Wainwright takes NL wins over Clayton Kershaw, but Jason would still need two HBPs to catch Dan.

Can Kushner catch our leading McCloskey? Greg Holland’s sore triceps probably protected Dan’s Achilles heel in the AL saves race, but Jim may find hope in another pitching category: NL strikeouts. Johnny Cueto is within 3 Ks of longtime leader Stephen Strasburg, with three starts potentially remaining for each ace. Jim ties Dan in category points and wins by HBP tiebreaker if Cueto passes Strasburg.

Looks like we might come down to the wire this year… Back next Monday!

-Dan and Jud

September 8, 2014

Dan McCloskey moves into first after two weeks in second, with Jim Kushner and Jason Salavon close behind. Dan’s current score is identical to last week’s, but Jim and seven others lost a point when idle closer Greg Holland was passed by Fernando Rodney in AL saves. The Royal reliever is still day-to-day.

Michael Orobona landed a unique pick point over the weekend with Mike Trout for AL RBI. Trout leads a tight category race, with the top five players (including Miguel Cabrera) separated by just four runs batted in. The NL RBI title also warrants attention after yesterday’s performance by Adrian Gonzalez (2 HR, 6 RBI)…

See you next Monday!

-Dan and Jud

September 1, 2014

Jim Kushner remains on top in our first September update of the 2014 MLB Predictions Pool, with Dan McCloskey trailing by 9 HBPs. Jeff Gatland and Michael Orobona are both strong in the tiebreaker column but sit two category points behind Jim and Dan.

Chris Sale did indeed take the AL ERA lead last Sunday against the Yankees in a somewhat shaky no-decision effort (6IP, 4R, 0ER), giving leaders Jim and Dan point #6. Five other entrants lost a point when Adam Wainwright failed a second straight bid for his sixteenth win… The Cardinal ace went 2-4 with a 5.17 ERA for the month, surrendering almost as many runs in August as in May, June, and July combined.

Enjoy your Labor Day!

-Dan and Jud

August 24, 2014

Jim Kushner assumes the lead this week, becoming our fourth different update leader in five weeks. Jud Ehrbar, Dan McCloskey, and Jason Salavon follow Jim in a three-way tie for second.

Jim and Dan can distance themselves even further from the pack with a strong performance by Chris Sale in the Bronxthis afternoon. If the White Sox lefty goes eight innings with less than two earned runs (or at least three innings with no earned runs), then Sale takes the ALERA lead and Jim/Dan grab an extra point. Jim also pads his HBP lead with any plunks by Saletoday.

See you next time…

-Dan and Jud

August 18, 2014

Jason Salavon takes a turn atop the pool this week, followed by Daltry/Lovejoy and Jim Kushner. Four different contestants have held a lead since last Monday: the aforementioned three entrants and Jud Ehrbar.

Daltry/Lovejoy took a hit on Friday when Troy Tulowitzki became officially ineligible for NL BA honors; Tulo’s season-ending hip surgery was performed successfully on Friday as well.

Our next update should go out on Sunday the 24^th. See you then…

-Dan and Jud

August 11, 2014

Daltry/Lovejoy reign supreme for the second consecutive update, with Jeff Gatland and Jim Kushner sitting in second and third. D/L are the first this season to lead an update with more than five points, as well as the first to hold a lead greater than one point. The dynamic duo has now topped 12 of our 16 updates.

Dalt/Love and Jeff scored a key point this week for NL RBI in the form of Adrian Gonzalez. Perhaps not coincidentally, they also currently own the only unique picks in the pool (D/L with Troy Tulowitzki in NL BA, Jeff with David Price in AL IP).

Jeff Gatland is also part of our HBP “big three,” along with Stephen Craig and Mark Watzke. Each lead the pool with 55 tiebreaker points, with all four of their HBP picks in double digits (Choo-11, Marte-12, Masterson-13*, Morton-19). Jeff, Stephen, and Mark are nearly on pace to reach Jon Pauley’s 2008 mark of 71 HBP in a single season (A-Rod-14, Utley-27, D.Cabrera-18, Owings-12).

* Justin Masterson had 11 hit batsmen for Clevelandthis year, and currently has 2 with St. Louis.

See you next week…

-Dan and Jud

August 4, 2014

Daltry/Lovejoy are back in business, leading the MLB Predictions Pool in our first August update. D/L remain at five points while sixteen other entrants lost one in ALruns (Trout). Jim Kushner has sole possession of second place, with Dan McCloskey and Jason Salavon tied for third.

We emerged unscathed from the trade deadline, with no major picks potentially ineligible due to changes of league. Remember that HBP tiebreaker points continue to accumulate regardless of AL/NL switches (ex. Justin Masterson CLE to STL)…

However, Paul Goldschmidt’s hand injury over the weekend will certainly affect some scores. The D-back slugger was a strong candidate in the NL runs and RBI categories; his return in 2014 is doubtful.

See you next week…

-Dan and Jud