Actually, the results sort of prove my point. You got unexpected career years out of Arroyo, Haren and Contreras, and Liriano has been a flat out stud. Those guys are the reason you're in first place, not your hitters (although they help). As for Rook's team -- Webb and Smoltz are the current #2 and #3 overall ranked SPs, and Harang and Kazmir have been excellent as well. You need good pitching to win this league and you both have it. You guys came up with some great late round pitching gems that worked out well for you.
Also, look how well my team has done. My hitters are weak as hell; my outfield is arguably the weakest in the league, and my 2nd, 3rd and 4th rounders have been complete busts. Yet, three SP studs (Halladay, Schilling, Schmidt) and my above average relievers have kept me competitive.
I guess you can spin the results that way. But Haren's performance this season is very similar to his performance last season, and Contreras has continued his performance from the 2nd half of last year when he finally "got it" in terms of pitching in the bigs. Neither was a surprise. Arroyo was, but it's kind of like sifting for gold - I went through alot of Kerry Woods and Joe Blantons and Taylor Buchholzes and Matt Cains to go along with the surprise of Arroyo (who's sucked since the break). Law of averages says you'll find one eventually - look at guys like Verlander, Wang, Jennings, Rogers, Arroyo, etc. who went undrafted. And then guys who were drafted very late who perform well. Seems like every year there are diamonds in the rough at SP due to volatility at that position, whereas position players are more predictable. And I'm still laughing about Prior.
Attempted to set a lineup for this week but none posted - here's what I'd submitted earlier. 1B-Hafner,Travis, CLE 2B-Roberts,Brian, BAL 3B-Glaus,Troy, TOR SS-Furcal,Rafael, LA C-Barrett,Michael, CHC OF-Alou,Moises, SF OF-Jones,Andruw, ATL OF-Bay,Jason, PIT OF-Ramirez,Manny, BOS SP-Maine,John, NYM SP-Arroyo,Bronson, CIN SP-Contreras,Jose A., CWS SP-Haren,Dan, OAK SP-Clemens,Roger, HOU RP-Hoffman,Trevor, SD RP-Isringhausen,Jason, STL UI-Helton,Todd, COL
I had the same problem as Sam and just realized it. i set my lineup yesterday morning and nothing showed up: This is what it should have been (not that it matters). 1B-Ortiz,David, BOS 2B-Sanchez,Freddy, PIT 3B-Lowell,Mike, BOS SS-Young,Michael, TEX C-Lo Duca,Paul, NYM OF-Cameron,Mike, SD OF-Drew,J.D., LA OF-Berkman,Lance, HOU OF-Soriano,Alfonso, WAS SP-Padilla,Vicente, TEX SP-Lidle,Cory, NYY SP-Capuano,Chris, MIL RP-Rodney,Fernando, DET RP-Ryan,B.J., TOR UI-Howard,Ryan, PHI
just got up can someone set this line-up 1B-Johnson,Nick, WAS UI-Hillenbrand,Shea,SF 2B-Cantu,Jorge L., TB 3B-Encarnacion,Edwin, CIN OF-Figgins,Chone,ANA SS-Hall,Bill E., MIL C-Willingham,Josh, FLA OF-Damon,Johnny, NYY OF-Dunn,Adam, CIN OF-Sizemore,Grady, CLE SP-Billingsley,Chad,LA SP-Duke,Zach, PIT SP-Santana,Johan, MIN RP-Ray,Ken, ATL RP-Benitez,Armando, SF RP-Lidge,Brad, HOU
Smeg, you are out of reliever games. You hit exactly 130 last week, which is the limit. No soup for you!
Here are the updated totals (taken from main page of league site): Game limits are 155 SP games and 130 RP games. Pitching Games Used (through Game 39) Rook: 125 SP, 116 RP Finn: 127 SP, 124 RP Jent: 132 SP, 122 RP DHor: 121 SP, 107 RP SamC: 128 SP, 109 RP Fade: 123 SP, 120 RP -PSJ: 133 SP, 113 RP Smeg: 127 SP, 130 RP LHFn: 134 SP, 121 RP Cast: 130 SP, 102 RP
Bob -- Just a heads up that you have just one RP game left. Pitching Games Used (through Game 40) Rook: 128 SP, 117 RP Finn: 128 SP, 129 RP Jent: 136 SP, 123 RP DHor: 125 SP, 109 RP SamC: 132 SP, 112 RP Fade: 129 SP, 122 RP -PSJ: 136 SP, 115 RP Smeg: 129 SP, 130 RP LHFn: 137 SP, 123 RP Cast: 134 SP, 104 RP
Game limits are 155 SP games and 130 RP games. Pitching Games Used (through Game 41) Rook: 129 SP, 120 RP Finn: 133 SP, 130 RP Jent: 137 SP, 124 RP DHor: 128 SP, 112 RP SamC: 136 SP, 114 RP Fade: 134 SP, 123 RP -PSJ: 139 SP, 118 RP Smeg: 132 SP, 130 RP LHFn: 141 SP, 125 RP Cast: 137 SP, 106 RP Remember, no SP/RP game limits for the playoffs so use them up now.
Now that I'm competing for last place... Can I get this lineup? 1B-Fielder,Prince, MIL 2B-Utley,Chase, PHI 3B-Atkins,Garrett, COL SS-Cabrera,Orlando, ANA C-Lopez,Javy, BOS OF-Francoeur,Jeff, ATL OF-Feliz,Pedro, SF OF-Beltran,Carlos, NYM OF-Burrell,Pat, PHI OF-Wells,Vernon, TOR SP-Johnson,Josh,FLA SP-Penny,Brad,LA SP-Zito,Barry,OAK SP-Myers,Brett,PHI RP-Nathan,Joe, MIN I WILL draft according to league scoring next year. Oh yes. I will.
Fade, You really want to take it to me, threw all your pitchers at me - saving up those appearances all year for this, huh? Should I take that personally, or as a compliment? Don't worry, I returned the favor and threw a few back at ya...........
Well, my original plan to cut back earlier in the year and save my SP games for when Mark Prior and Rich Harden came back healthy didn't exactly work out as planned. As a result, I'm forced to start a large number of borderline waiver-wire guys to make up the difference. That, and I just really wanted to smack you down (although I think it will be a close finish).
