Da Techguy's (no longer backup) Blog

On my first regular Sunday off in almost forever I thought I’d take the time to update you on the two Dynasty Leagues I am currently running as both seasons are nearing their end.

1997

The 2nd season of our 80 game once a week short league has seven weeks to go. With no wild cards in this league it’s all down to winning divisions and 3 of the four are still very much in play. Because of the structure of the league ( 2 games series vs opposite league, 3 game series vs opposite division and 4 game series within divisions) and the fact that the final three series are all in division there is the potential of as much as a 12 game shift in the last 3 weeks.

Led By Tony Gwynn who is threatening .400 (.395) and leading the majors in hits and the AL in OBP while 3rd in the league in RBI the Yanks are dominating with the best record by far helped by Andres Galarraga who leads the majors in RBI, Todd Jones who leads the majors in saves, Workhorse Andy Pettitte who leads the majors in fewest HR per 9 innings despite being 6th in Innings and Todd Stottlemyre 2nd in the AL in ERA & 4th in Avg against behind teammate Dustin Hermanson who is 3rd in the AL while 5th in k’s per 9 inn. Realistically only the Indians are still in play whose cause has not been helped by Eric Gunderson leading the AL in blown saves despite the efforts of Jeff Blauser getting on base and Matt Stairs knocking them out and driving them in.

In the wild wild AL west only Toronto is on the way out. Seattle leads Thanks to Ken Griffey Jr. 31 HR 13 more than anyone else in the majors and Randy Johnson carrying them on their backs (1st in Majors in K/9 tied for 1st in wins 2nd in K’s overall, innings pitched & avg against, with help from Alex Rodriguez (4th in AL hits). Unlike today’s White Sox these guys are only one game away in the loss column with Jeff Shaw providing the saves while Frank Thomas the big hurt provides the offense with Mike Cameron getting on base ahead of him and J. T Snow Slugging along. Meanwhile the Twins are still in striking distance thanks to Pedro Martinez who leads in all the categories that Johnson is 2nd in and Chuck Knobloch who has been a stolen base and runs machine. Billy Wagner helps out with 11 saves 2nd in both AL & Majors but his three blown saves haven’t helped.

Atlanta maintains a 3 game lead thanks to Greg Maddux, Rick Reed and Francisco Cordova all in the top 10 in ERA in the majors and Mariano Rivera who has saved 10 while blowing only one while Larry Walker (NL batting & Slugging lead) Tino Martinez (2nd NL slugging) provide the offense. Cincinnati with a below avg pitching stall and wracked by injury are kept alive by the return of Rickey Henderson and Lance Johnson from the DL. Pittsburgh recent 7-3 run has given them hope but the real story is last years World Series runner up Florida who despite Mark McGuire leading the league in HR, Barry Bonds leading the majors in walks and triples and Curt Schilling & Keven Brown both being top 4 in NL ERA and 1 & 2 in NL inning pitched can’t seem to get a break

The bad news is the NL west has four teams under .500 the good news is that there is only 5 game separating the 1st and last place teams meaning that likely all four teams will be in the thick of it till the end. St. Louis has Ray Lankford and Vinnie Castilla (2nd in NL HR) and David Cone keeping them up. LA counters with Ismael Valdez 1st in the NL in avg against, WHIP & ERA carrying the team on his back. San Diego (Kenny Loftin & Billy Ripkin) and Houston (Craig Biggio , Brady Anderson ) both have stars helping them out but alas for SD while Hoffman leads the league in saves he is 2nd in Blown saves while Antonio Osuna has been even worse saving seven while blowing six most in the majors.

1972

In the 1972 league there is a lot less mystery in terms of division leaders but because of the three wild card spots in each league it’s still interesting.

The only question left for the Yankees is will they get home field advantage over the Giants if they get to the World Series. Their return to the Polo Grounds with their short left and right field has given Bobby Murcer, Reggie Smith and rookie John Maybury a grand slugging boost while Terry Forster has been light out leading the majors in saves. California led by Tommy John (1st in ERA) had the 1st wild card for a while but a 2-8 skid has hurt along with Tom Bradley (2nd in Losses). They currently have the 2nd wild card but is close enough to get the 1st and the bye or drop to 3rd. With 16 to go they still need 6 more wins to secure that playoff birth so they need Manny Mota and Jose Cardenal to heat up. Cleveland seemed totally out of it but the aforementioned crash of California and Minnesota and a 6-4 run has kept them alive. Kansas City’s Bert Blyleven led the majors in innings and the AL in strikeouts and vet Frank Robinson put up a good fight in a losing cause while Baltimore had three players (Don Baylor, Amos Otis and Rick Auerbach) in the top 10 of stolen bases

Milwaukee returns to the playoffs thanks to a bounce back season from Pete Rose, and exceptional season from Ron Fairly and spectacular pitching from Ken Holtzman and last year’s Cy Young winner Don Wilson with Ken Sanders returning to save 20. Boston’s 8-2 run propelled them from the 3rd wildcard to the first led by Carl Yastrzemski whose return to Fenway has him leading the AL in batting (.330) and tied with Pete Rose for the MLB lead in OBP while rookie Carlton Fisk is doubling up a storm. Minnesota has been crashing and burning but still has Nate Colbert and his 33 HR keeping them going. Their 3 game series vs Cleveland will be critical. Oakland’s surprise sweep of Milwaukee has kept them technically alive with some help from Jim Brewer and Roy White while Washington hopes have maybe one more week left unless Mike Epstein and workhorse Jim Kaat and Richie Scheinblum (91 runs 182 hits) can pull off a miracle

The surging New York Daytraders (Mets) have gone 25-7 in their last 32 games (.781) to roar into 1st place with starting Pitchers Phil Niekro (21 wins), Tom Seaver (20 wins) and Steve Carlton (22 wins) and the group(1, 2 & 3 in NL inning pitched add to that big years from Willie Stargell, Leron Lee, Dick Allen and Willie Mays who is constantly walked to get on base for them they’re on their way to a return to the playoffs but despite a change in managers Atlanta who is even in the loss column led by likely MVP Billy Williams along with Catfish Hunter (23 wins 2nd in MLB) and Fergie Jenkins aren’t giving up that division lead that they’ve held most of the year without a fight. Meanwhile the big Red Machine of Cincinnati with Johnny Bench, Joe Morgan and Bobby Tolan are only 5 1/2 out of first while 5 up for the last wild card. The St. Louis Cardinals led by Bob Gibson (21 Wins 1st in MLB in HR/9) and Matty Alou (.330 avg) and closer Darold Knowles (23 saves) have no intention of going quietly. Philly might be out of this this year, but with Joe Torrie being joined by rookies Greg Luzinski and a young 3rd baseman named Schmidt are sure to be a threat in 73

The 1970 World Champion Giants are one win away from clinching the NL Beta with 24 game winner Jim Palme 2nd in the NL in ERA 1.98 leading the way and Dock Ellis 2.01 ERA right behind him Meanwhile Bobby Bonds (90 runs 102 RBI 30 SB) is seeing a ton of pitchers as rookie Darryl Evans (123 BB 1st in MLB) and Veteran Harmon Killebrew (90 BB) keep the fear of God in pitchers along with a powerful rookie named Dave Kingman. Gaylord Perry of the Pirates leads the Majors in ERA and has 22 wins to go with it while bullpen ace Mike Marshall has chalked up 23 saves along with a still dangerous Hank Aaron (29 HR 98 walks ) all are conspiring to keep the 2nd wild card spot in the Bucks hands and are certainly in range of that #1 wild card spot. The young Montreal Team are a game from elimination but pitcher Baylor Moore who leads the majors in K/9 (11.72) and Lou Brock (52 sb 1st in majors & .326 avg) and closer Tug McGraw (31 saves) made it a fight. The Cubs can look back at Steve Brawn .333 avg 3rd in NL and Pitcher Mike Paul while last years Series winner the LA Dodgers combo of Don Sutton (3rd in WHIP) and Nolan Ryan (1st in Majors in avg against .165 & 2nd in K/9 11.19 are unlikely to stay down for long.

If you are interested in joining either league we currently have one opening in 1997 and people joining the waiting list for 1972 are welcome. If we get 4 people on the list we’ll expand.