2010 FINAL STANDINGS

It's official! Jud Ehrbar becomes the sixth different person to win the pool in our six year history. How's that for parity? Jud's record-breaking performance of nine correct picks earns him a record-breaking grand prize of $460.

Thanks to everyone for playing! It was another fun year, and also one in which our collective average of 5.5 correct picks per participant shattered the previous record of 3.8, established in 2006. We look forward to everyone returning next year, and hopefully adding a couple more entrants to bring the pot to the $500 mark.

Happy postseason everyone!

October 3, 2010

October 2, 2010

Friday night was a rough night for Dave. Jered Weaver notched four strikeouts, just enough to overtake Felix Hernandez for the AL lead. So, unless Seattle changes their mind (unlikely) about shutting down Hernandez, that point is lost. Also, the Yankees were rained out, and now will play a doubleheader with the Red Sox starting at 4pm today. It's highly unlikely that Jeter and A-Rod will play in both games.

Technically, Dave now stands in fourth place, but he's still the only one with a shot at beating Jud. He needs two of the following three things to happen to be victorious:

• Albert Pujols loses the NL RBI crown (Carlos Gonzalez still trails by one).
• Alex Rodriguez wins or ties for the AL RBI crown (he stands three behind Miguel Cabrera).
• Derek Jeter wins or ties for the AL runs lead (he's one behind Cabrera and Mark Teixeira).

Of course, this means Dave is rooting hard for Gonzalez, Jeter and A-Rod for the remainder of this weekend. $460 is on the line.

October 1, 2010

Heading into the season's final weekend, the pool's standings give the appearance of a wide-open battle for the top spot. Unfortunately, looks can be deceiving, as there doesn't seem to be a realistic scenario that would involve anyone but Jud or David finishing in first.

In a somewhat unprecedented move, I'm going to handicap the categories that are still in question and make a prediction as to the final outcome of this year's pool. Considering my (Dan's) performance in the pool over the course of the last six years, you should probably choose to take these prognostications with a grain of salt.

Between our two top contenders, it basically comes down to the following four statistical categories:

AL RBI: With Miguel Cabrera out for the season, and leading a red-hot Alex Rodriguez (26 RBI in 22 September games) by just three in this category, it's looking like David has a chance to grab another point. Prediction: A-Rod rests one of the Yankees' final three games and comes up short of the league lead.

AL Runs: Cabrera is tied with Mark Teixeira for the league lead, but they're only one ahead of Derek Jeter, another development that could benefit Mr. Jones. Prediction: One D.J. comes through for another.

AL Strikeouts: Felix Hernandez leads Jered Weaver by three, but Hernandez has been shut down for the season and Weaver pitches tonight. Jones really needs King Felix to hang on to this category. Prediction: Weaver grabs the lead with four or more Ks, costing David a much-needed point in the standings.

NL RBI: Albert Pujols leads Carlos Gonzalez by one. As far as I can tell, both players should be in the lineup all weekend. Prediction: Pujols hangs on to the top spot, which in turn helps Jud hang on to win the pool.

September 27, 2010

September 25, 2010

Jud falls out of first place, by just a three HBP margin, as Albert Pujols falls one RBI behind Carlos Gonzalez. Meanwhile, Sid Harris takes exception to the idea that someone could break his record for correct picks. With just over a week to go in the season, three participants are tied with a pool record eight correct categories. But, as things stand right now, David Jones's HBP total gives him a tenuous hold on the top spot.

There are still quite a few categories to watch, but two players in particular whose performance will have a major impact on the pool's outcome are Albert Pujols and Felix Hernandez. Put simply, Dave needs Hernandez to maintain his AL strikeout margin over Jered Weaver, and Jud needs Pujols to reclaim his NL RBI lead. Sid's chances are a little more of a long-shot at this point.

September 19, 2010

With just two weeks to go in the year, Jud is making a run at the pool record for number of correct picks in a season, a mark established when Sid Harris recorded eight in our inaugural season of 2005. However, that's not to say he has this thing wrapped up, as David Jones trails him by only one category and six other participants are just two back.

As always, the tiebreaker category looks to play a significant role in the pool's outcome, as all six of those in places 3-8 trail both Jud and David by at least four HBP, making the deficit a little harder for them to overcome. David, although trailing by one category, holds a three HBP advantage over Jud, so he'll probably only need to tie for the top spot to take this year's prize.

September 12, 2010

Jud grabs the lead back from David, by virtue of 3 RBI by Albert Pujols in the Cards' tough loss to Atlanta yesterday. Former champs Jon Pauley and Sid Harris still lurk with 7 correct picks, along with pool vet Steve Craig.

On the AL side, Felix Hernández recovered his strikeout lead and maintained his league-best ERA, despite yielding seven runs (four earned) to the Angels in 6 1/3 IP.

Still lots of categories up for grabs... check http://mlbpool.blogspot.com/ for pool standings during the week.

-Dan & Jud
 
 

September 11, 2010

September 6, 2010

David Jones reclaims the top spot as the AL strikeout seesaw tips back to Felix Hernández. David and Jud are the only entrants in our top ten with 40+ HBP...

The AL runs race looks pretty exciting, with the top four (Teixeira, Crawford, Jeter, Cabrera) all pool picks and separated by only 5 runs. On the NL side, the Triple Crown dreams of Albert Pujols are in serious jeopardy as his mini-slump continues (6 for 35, 4 RBI in last 10 games).

Starting pitching's all about Felix and CC, Halladay and Wainwright at this point, although Lincecum could still scrape together another strikeout title. NL saves is showing some separation, as the Padres continue to plummet.

We'll send updates every weekend until late September, when we'll email more frequently. Our blogsite at http://mlbpool.blogspot.com/ is the best bet for the latest pool standings and other news.

Good luck!!!

-Dan & Jud

September 5, 2010

September 2, 2010

August 29, 2010

It seems as though there have been plenty of pool participants in the past who've counted entirely too much on Albert Pujols's dominance of NL batting categories. Well, this would have been the year to do so, as Pujols not only leads in HR, RBI and runs, but he's in the running for the batting title as well. The primary beneficiary of Albert's tremendous 2010 is Jon Pauley, as he's the only one to pick Pujols in all three categories he's leading.

August 27, 2010

August 25, 2010

August 22, 2010

Ryan Howard missed almost three weeks due to injury, but he's still only six RBI behind Albert Pujols for the NL lead. Of course, there's a lot more that could happen with over a month remaining in the season, but the Pujols-Howard RBI race figures to have a major impact on the pool outcome.

With Jud Ehrbar capturing a solid lead in our standings this week, his hold on the top spot would be significantly impacted by a Howard run on the RBI crown. All else remaining equal, John Agnello would be the primary beneficiary of such a development, as this would vault him past Jud by just a few HBP.

August 18, 2010

August 15, 2010

Quite a few new developments this week, including Alex Rodriguez taking over the AL RBI lead and a new unique pick—Ali Armstrong's selection of Adam Wainwright for NL ERA—but the big pool story is Aaron Smith.

Last Saturday, Aaron sat in 22nd place out of 23. Then, his unique pick of Joakim Soria for AL saves moved in and out of the money during the week. Meanwhile, Wainwright continued his torrid second half, notching his 17th win, tying Ubaldo Jimenez for the NL lead. But, both of these developments didn't come together until today's standings, resulting in 8th place in the pool for Smith.

John Agnello's quest to repeat continues, as he takes over first place by a few HBP over Jud Ehrbar, who very briefly held the top spot uncontested last Sunday.

August 14, 2010

August 13, 2010