Second Gear

From Commisioner Jim

DATE: 13 June 2004

FROM: Jim Lowder

TO: League Owners

RE: ROTO STANDINGS THROUGH 6/13

I’m not going to be able to generate new files next weekend, before I leave for the Origins game industry convention, so I thought I’d kick these out now. In fact, this might be the last report before the All Star break, a month from now; if I can manage, I’ll generate a report right at the start of July, but I’ll have to see what time I can find. Generating these reports takes me a few hours, so I have to consider my schedule.

Note that the point tallies—especially those for pitchers—are very volatile when checked ever couple of weeks, as we are doing here. A bad start or two and you’ve lost thirty points from where you were just ten days ago. Keep this in mind when viewing your spreadsheet.

The latest rosters/draft pool file is also ready, though the rosters will be in flux in the coming week, with lots of DL-related movement. I’ll definitely get a new roster out by the 21st, once all the likely DL moves have been made.

Here are the current standings:

The number after the team name is the team’s previous ranking.

The HR/HRa stat is home runs your team has hit and home runs your pitching staff has allowed.

The Red Sox point increase includes the correction of spreadsheet errors inherited from the former Commish, who had copied a couple lines into the player “add” columns for the Sox sheet without making certain the number carried through to the subtotals. There was also a stat line error that substantially overstated the pitcher subtract. All together, those spreadsheet corrections totaled 75 to 100 points, so the actual gains this time by the Sox are in line with everyone else’s, around 420.

On a related topic, I have now checked everyone’s sheets to make certain columns all tally. Should anyone spot anything on a sheet they want checked, or to check themselves, let me know. I pull the numbers from baseballweekly.com and keep the sheets used to generate each report. Adds and cuts are now done on the day the move is announced to the list, which will prevent the stat line problem that popped up with the Sox pitching move.

Commish’s Notes:

The Red Sox’ solid pace is due in part to the aforementioned sheet corrections, plus lots of money spent on replacements for the sucking void that was Jose Contreras and some very fortunate pick-ups to replace DLed or traded players—Youkilis and Figgins, in particular, have been nice additions so far. (By the by, I’ve revised my earlier prediction about the Sox falling out of first place right away. To keep with the Red Sox tradition, they surely have to maintain the lead all the way up until the last report, when they will fall back by a small number of points. That is, after all, the Red Sox way.)

The Astros chug along, despite injuries to Klesko and Erstad, and lingering DL stints for Pettitte and Telemaco. As with the Sox, they’ve benefited from picking up solid players (like DaVanon and Womack) to fill in. The Phils are closing in on them, though, and the Astros will have to pick up the pace to maintain their position in the standings.

Discounting the spreadsheet correction for the Red Sox, the Phillies make the biggest overall point gain this time, and take a lead in the home run derby, too. Given the general good health of their position players, they are looking very good to make a run for second place or even the overall lead by the All Star break. Their pitching is something of a weakness, but when your guys are clubbing the ball like the Phils, even mediocre pitching will suffice. And this from the team that was chosen 7th in the draft.

Only the injuries to Delgado and Anderson have kept the Cards from closing the gap even more than they have. Once the Cards are firing on all pistons, look out. (On an unrelated note, the Commish is accepting donations for the Roger Clemens Sniper Fund.)

The Braves manage a modest number of points this time, even though four roster spots (those filled by Giles, LaRoche, Matheny, and Peavy) earned no points this time, thanks to long injuries and subsequent owner indifference. Will the Braves be able to close the gap once they’re at full strength? The strategy worked last year for Eck, but the gap is getting awfully large and the Cubs and Angels are not all that far behind them.

Several of the Cubs’ spots have been fallow (Sosa, Hudson, and until recently Woodward); they’ve generated no points since last time, which explains the team’s modest gains. Still, they’ve managed to squeak past the Mariners, moving up a spot to 6th place, and should have all their roster players back—and maybe Nixon, too—within the week.

The Mariners sink back a spot, though several recent roster moves look to pay off in the future and help them get back into the chase. The pitching remains a big concern, though the bats could do with some life, too. The team’s pitchers have given up ten more home runs than the batters have belted. Ouch.

The Angels gain between 75 and 90 points on the Mariners, Cubs, and Braves. With Polanco and Giambi back, and the owner again making moves to fill in the gaps, they’re showing life once more.

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