Here’s how the standings sit at the end of Week 13. One week more and we’ll know exactly how the playoff picture shakes out–although, admittedly, the AL’s slate is set, with the only question being what teams go where.

NL West
Tampa Bay Devil Rays (x) 5-8
Washington Nationals (e) 4-9
New York Giants (e) 3-10
Crazy Cubs (e) 2-11

NL Central
Baltimore Bombers 10-3
Albuquerque Tapirs 10-3
Seattle Mariners 9-4
New York Yankees (e) 4-9

NL East
Anaheim Angels 10-3
Montreal Marlins 9-4
St. Louis Cardinals (e) 7-6
Atlanta Braves (e) 5-8

NL Wild Card
Albuquerque Tapirs 10-3
Seattle Mariners 9-4

AL West
Blue Blue Jays (x) 6-7
Oakland Orioles (e) 5-8
Super-Duper Wombats (e) 4-9
Super-Duper Melonheads (e) 4-9

AL Central
Crazy Indians (x) 10-3
Colorado Rockies (e) 8-5
Pittsburgh Pirates (e) 6-7
Mighty Tigers (e) 4-9

AL East
Philadelphia Athletics (p) 10-3
Boston Red Sox (p) 9-4
Arizona Diamondbacks (e) 6-7
Minnesota Monsters (e) 5-8

AL Wild Card
Boston Red Sox 9-4 (p)

e=eliminated, x=clinched division, p=clinched playoff spot

I got absolutely no sleep last night, sucked at doing vocal retakes this morning, and have a band rehearsal in the evening that I’m totally unprepared for. That sounds like the perfect mood to be in for the recap!

Albuquerque Tapirs 16, Baltimore Bombers 6

After being upset by the Mariners last week, the Tapirs needed a win to keep themselves on top in the playoff race, especially since the Bombers had widened the gap between the two teams by winning against the Yankees to notch a one-game lead and guarantee themselves the tiebreaker against the Tapirs. At Sandy Flats, they did just that, as while the Bombers catcher was able to keep the kleptomaniac Tapirs from taking many bases (until he took the mound, at least), the Tapirs had a good day at the plate, notching 23 hits and scoring 14 runs, while the Bombers were held to only 10 hits and 6 runs. With this result and the Mariners win against the Yankees, the AL Central continues to refuse to clear up, as any of the three teams can win the division with the right results, and it’s very plausible that either the Tapirs or the Bombers might find themselves out of the playoffs despite managing a season with double-digit wins.

Player of the game: Barry Bonds went 4-for-5 with two singles, a double, and a home run, tallying 2 RBIs and scoring twice.

Crazy Indians 12, Mighty Tigers 5

Coming off an upset of the Rockies, the Tigers were looking to continue that magic against the Indians. Unfortunately for them, they found themselves overwhelmed, as offensively they were only able to score six runs on fourteen hits while allowing a run on defense. As for the Indians, they had a bit of a down day offensively, as they only managed ten runs and were held to fourteen hits; however, at Steele Stadium, this was easily enough for them to take the win. This win clinched them a playoff berth, and when the Rockies lost later in the week, the Indians clinched the division. At this point, the Indians will nab the #1 seed with a win against Colorado next week, and will fall to the #2 seed with a loss. The Tigers are still eliminated from playoff contention.

Player of the game: Petra Chekov went 2-for-3 with 2 homers, barraging the Tigers with 5 RBIs.

Anaheim Angels 8, Atlanta Braves 4

This game was mostly irrelevant to both teams; for the Angels, it didn’t matter whether they won or lost, as the winner of the Angels-Marlins game would take the NL East, while the Braves were already eliminated and had nothing to gain by winning. Still, both teams went out and played, with the Braves scoring eight runs offensively off of thirteen hits and a walk but giving up five on defense, while the Angels came out and scored nine runs off of seventeen hits and a walk while giving up one run on the other side of the ball. The Braves remain eliminated, while the Angels will face off against the Marlins in a game for the division. There’s trouble on the horizon for the Angels, though; while they were absolute monsters in the middle of the season, recently they’ve fallen back to earth, with four straight weeks of scores below fourteen. To make matters worse for them, this downward trend reached its nadir this week, as their score of 8 is their worst output since Week 2, and they’re facing off against another one of the few defenses in the league that has kept them in single digits in the Marlins; it would not be surprising to see Montreal defeat Anaheim and take the division, and it’s completely possible that when all is said and done the Angels will fail to take the wild card slot and miss the playoffs entirely.

Player of the game: Troy Glaus went 4-for-4 with two singles, a double, and a triple, contributing 3 RBIs to the Angels’ score (although he only crossed the plate once himself).

Boston Red Sox 6, Minnesota Monsters -1

The Red Sox had their worst game of the year, with a season-low 15 hits and only 5 runs scored off of those hits (also their lowest tally on the season). It didn’t matter, though, as the Monsters also had one of their worst games this season, losing 4-3 while managing only eight hits and giving up seven. Since the Rockies lost later this week, the Red Sox have now clinched a playoff berth, and can clinch the #1 seed with a win and Indians loss, the #2 seed if both they and the Indians win, or the wild card with a loss. Meanwhile, Minnesota is still eliminated.

Player of the game: Jackie Robinson went 3-for-3 with a single and two doubles, knocking in two of Boston’s five runs and scoring once himself.

Blue Blue Jays 20, Super-Duper Melonheads 1

This game was vital to both teams; a win for the Blue Jays would put them in the driver’s seat and give them a chance to clinch the NL West this week, while the Melonheads needed a win just to stay alive. Unfortunately for their playoff hopes, the Melonheads failed to show up, only managing 9 hits and 4 runs while giving up three runs of their own. Since the Blue Jays were the away team, they’d need to win by two runs to take the game; instead, they pounded the Melonheads with 34 hits and a walk on their way to scoring 25 runs, an output so massive that it didn’t even matter that they gave up five runs on defense. The Melonheads were eliminated, and when the Orioles lost later in the week, the Blue Jays clinched the division title. With a meaningless game upcoming and the Blue Jays sitting at 6-7, it’s completely possible that the AL West might be represented by a below .500 team this season.

Player of the game: Chico Pappas was a force to be reckoned with, going 5-for-6 with three singles and two home runs, stealing a base, and making an error–okay, that last one’s not so great, but the rest of it is. Nobody was on base for him to bat in, admittedly, but that’s not his fault, as he had the best game of anyone on the Blue Jays.

Montreal Marlins 18, St. Louis Cardinals 7

With the Angels win eliminating them from the playoffs, the Cardinals didn’t have anything to play for in this game, while the Marlins needed to win in order to stay alive in the division race. As has become customary in the second half of the season, the Cardinals defense was once again overwhelmed as the Marlins scored 15 runs at home off of 24 hits, while their offense wasn’t able to do enough to overcome their opponents. In this case, St. Louis had a better day than usual offensively, as they managed seven runs on twenty hits, but when all was said and done they just didn’t have the firepower to overcome their opponents. The Marlins remain in the division race, while the Cardinals are still eliminated.

Player of the game: Henri Deschenes went 3-for-4 with two homers and a double for 6 RBIs and a score every time he got on base.

Philadelphia Athletics 24, Arizona Diamondbacks 4

The Athletics were looking to keep their lead in the AL East and stay within striking distance of the Indians, while the Diamondbacks were only playing for pride. Unfortunately for the snakes, it seems pride wasn’t much of a motivator, as they were only able to muster nine hits and four runs at home in a 4-0 shutout. As for the Athletics, they gave up three runs on defense but more than made up for it by smacking 38 hits and scoring 27 runs. When all was said and done, the Athletics clinched a playoff berth, remained in first place in the NL East by one game due to the Red Sox win, and stand only behind the Indians in the race for the first seed on the head-to-head tiebreaker. The Diamondbacks are still eliminated.

Player of the game: Achmed Khan went 4-for-6 with a single, a double, and two home runs, managing 7 RBIs and scoring thrice himself.

Super-Duper Wombats 10, Oakland Orioles 7

This was a must-win game for the Orioles, as if they lost it would mean the Blue Jays clinched the division. They lost anyway, as while they were able to muster 16 hits they couldn’t turn enough of them into runs in a 6-0 home shutout. The Wombats didn’t have a fantastic day either, but by scoring ten runs on nineteen hits they were strong enough (and efficient enough) to make their way past the Orioles and eliminate them from the playoffs. The Wombats themselves were eliminated from the playoffs earlier in the week with the Blue Jays win, and with this loss the Orioles also find themselves out of contention.

Player of the game: Claudia Villarta went 4-for-4 with three doubles and a single, managing two RBIs and scoring once herself.

Washington Nationals 15, Crazy Cubs 12

This was an elimination game for both of these teams, as despite having abominable records through eleven games they were both in contention due to the poor performance of the NL West. Both teams had improved in recent weeks, the Nationals due to improvement on the part of Jarod Johnson and the Cubs due to new ownership, and both teams were looking to make their case for the NL West title. The Cubs came out strongly, managing 20 hits and 7 home runs as they scored 14 times; unfortunately, their poor defense also allowed 4 runs, knocking down their score quite a bit. The Nationals also had a strong game, getting nine more hits but scoring only two more times, but since they also only allowed a single run, this meant that the Nationals ended up taking the game. In the end, the result didn’t matter, as the Devil Rays beat the Giants and eliminated both teams from playoff contention.

Player of the game: Diana Hayes went 4-for-5 with three singles and a double, scoring thrice and managing 4 RBIs while striking out once and providing the Nationals only error.

Seattle Mariners 8, New York Yankees 7

The Mariners needed a win to stay in the playoff race, but this week they had a surprisingly underwhelming performance as for the first time since Week 9 they were held to single digits. This wasn’t due to poor batting, as might be expected; Seattle put up a perfectly respectable 11 runs on 19 hits. Unfortunately, they also allowed three runs, keeping their score down, while at home the Yankees had their best game since Week 2 and their second-best home game of the season outside of opening week, scoring six runs off of fifteen hits and pitching a shutout. This still wasn’t enough for the Yankees to overcome the Mariners, and with the Tapirs beating the Bombers at the start of the week Seattle remains in the division race and the wild card race with a vital game against the Bombers coming up. The Yankees are still eliminated from playoff contention.

Player of the game: Shawn Green went 4-for-4 with two singles and two home runs, scoring thrice and batting in four runners.

Tampa Bay Devil Rays 10, New York Giants 3

The stakes in this game were simple: if the Devil Rays win, they clinch the division. If the Giants win, everyone else is still alive. (Well, as long as you don’t take into account that the Nationals already beat the Cubs and eliminated them from contention earlier in the week.) The Giants came out swinging, scoring 6 runs off of 11 hits. Unfortunately, Luanne Lui had a poor day on the mound, allowing 9 hits and letting 4 runs across. Meanwhile, the Devil Rays somehow won 14-4. Tampa Bay clinches the NL West with the win, while the New York Giants, Washington Nationals, and Crazy Cubs are all eliminated from playoff contention.

Player of the game: Maryilyn McDonnell went 2-for-3 with a triple and a home run that combined for 5 RBIs while scoring twice herself.

Pittsburgh Pirates 13, Colorado Rockies 8

The Rockies needed to win to keep themselves in contention for the playoffs. Instead, they lost after what mbless1415 referred to as a very frustrating game where Colorado left plenty of opportunities on the table. The Pirates didn’t have any such trouble, as they garnered 23 hits and 2 walks on their way to a 16-3 road win which was enough to get them past the Rockies. With this result, the Red Sox clinch a playoff berth, the Indians clinch the division, and the teams in the AL playoffs are set, with only the specific seeding left to determine. Also, the Rockies and Pirates are both eliminated from playoff contention.

Player of the game: Alex Rodriguez went 5-for-5 with two singles, a double, and two home runs. He scored every time he came up to bat and notched 5 RBIs.

Playoff Picture

National League:
#1 Anaheim Angels 10-3
#2 Baltimore Bombers 10-3
#3 Tampa Bay Devil Rays 5-8 (clinched #3 seed)
#4 Albuquerque Tapirs 10-3
IN THE HUNT
#5 Seattle Mariners 9-4
#6 Montreal Marlins 9-4

American League:
#1 Crazy Indians 10-3 (clinched top two seed)
#2 Philadelphia Athletics 10-3 (clinched playoff berth)
#3 Blue Blue Jays 6-7 (clinched #3 seed)
#4 Boston Red Sox 9-4 (clinched playoff berth)

We’re heading into the final weeks of the season, when all the teams come home to their divisions to find out who gets into the playoffs. There are only eight seeds for 24 teams, so I’d like to put the standings at the top of the post, just to make the stakes a little bit clearer. Without further ado, here’s how the league looks at the end of Week 12.

NL West
Tampa Bay Devil Rays———–4-8
New York Giants——————-3-9 
Washington Nationals————3-9
Crazy Cubs————————2-10

NL Central
Baltimore Bombers————–10-2
Albuquerque Tapirs—————9-3
Seattle Mariners——————-8-4
New York Yankees (e)———–4-8

NL East
Anaheim Angels——————-9-3
Montreal Marlins——————-8-4
St. Louis Cardinals—————-7-5
Atlanta Braves (e)—————–5-7

NL Wild Card
Albuquerque Tapirs—————9-3
Seattle Mariners——————-8-4
Montreal Marlins——————-8-4

AL West
Blue Blue Jays———————5-7
Oakland Orioles——————-5-7
Super-Duper Wombats———-4-8
Super-Duper Melonheads——4-8

AL Central
Crazy Indians———————-9-3
Colorado Rockies—————–8-4
Pittsburgh Pirates (e)————5-7
Mighty Tigers (e)——————4-8

AL East
Philadelphia Athletics————9-3
Boston Red Sox——————-8-4
Arizona Diamondbacks (e)—–6-6
Minnesota Monsters (e)———5-7

AL Wild Card
Boston Red Sox——————-8-4
Colorado Rockies—————–8-4

Guide: e=eliminated, x=clinched division, p=clinched playoff spot

Now let’s see how this week’s slate of games went.

Super-Duper Melonheads 10, Oakland Orioles 5

The Melonheads were in the most precarious position of all the AL West teams, needing to win out and have several results fall their way just to have a chance at the division title. The Orioles, meanwhile, were in the best position, leading the division and with a good chance to make it to the playoffs. Things changed in this game, however, when Oakland put up a weak score of 6-2, managing only 10 hits at Sandy Flats (although four of them were homers). The Melonheads did better, as they put twenty-one runners on base on their way to scoring 14 runs, and although the Melonheads gave up four runs in turn, the margin was still easily enough to cover the Orioles game. In the aftermath, the Melonheads stay alive in the playoff race, while Oakland is now behind the Blue Jays after the Blue Jays won later in the week.

Player of the game: Fabienne Callahan went 2-for-4 for the Melonheads, with a double and a home run. The consequences of her hitting? She managed 5 RBIs and scored once herself. This week, she wasn’t just fabulous; she was…super-duper.

Boston Red Sox 15, Arizona Diamondbacks 12

There were three teams that had very important stakes in this game. The Boston Red Sox needed a win to keep pace in the division and the wild card race. The Arizona Diamondbacks needed a win just to stay in the race. And the Minnesota Monsters needed Arizona to win just to keep their meagre hopes of making the playoffs alive. In their game, Arizona smacked the ball around plenty, as they managed 24 hits and 2 walks; unfortunately for them, they had trouble getting across the plate, as they were only able to produce 13 runs and allowed one of their own. Meanwhile, Boston had only a slightly better game, as they allowed a run as well but scored 14 runs off of only 20 hits. In the end, the Red Sox won, and eliminated both the Diamondbacks and Monsters from the playoffs while keeping pace with the Athletics and staying in contention for the division title.

Player of the game: Zena Fromme went 4-for-4 with a single, a double, and two home runs. Combined, this meant 6 RBIs and her crossing the plate thrice. In this instance, I think we can conclusively say that Zena…was a warrior princess.

Baltimore Bombers 9, New York Yankees 3

After a tough loss against the Angels, the Bombers were looking to bounce back against the already-eliminated Yankees and keep their leading position in the playoff chase. At home, they did just that, constantly getting people on base (although they did have trouble scoring). Baltimore got 20 hits, albeit on 32 at-bats (suggesting several fielders’ choices), and managed to keep getting people across the plate, finishing the day with 8 runs at home. New York also had a decent day at the plate, scoring 6 runs off of 15 hits and 2 walks, but this wouldn’t have been enough for them to keep up even before the three runs they gave up are factored in. At the end of the day, the Bombers remained in first place in the NL Central and the NL overall and returned to a one-game lead over the Tapirs when the Mariners upset Albuquerque later in the week.

Player of the game: Sarah Maxwell of the Bombers went 4-for-4 with two singles, a double, and the game’s only triple, finishing with a team-leading 3 RBIs and crossing the plate once herself. Ernie’s parents may own the property, but this week Steele Stadium was truly…Maxwell’s house.

Seattle Mariners 16, Albuquerque Tapirs 7

In what was a surprising result and would’ve been the biggest upset of the week were it not for the Tigers defeating the Rockies later, Seattle upset Albuquerque in a game they needed to win to keep their playoff hopes alive. For the Tapirs, it was a disappointing day, as in a long day at the plate they put several runners on base but failed to knock many of them in, leaving the bases loaded in two separate innings, with the most notable part of their game being that they managed a perfect game spread out over two separate pitchers. Meanwhile, the Mariners had a much more pleasant and immensely more efficient day, scoring 14 runs off of 18 hits and 2 walks and steamrolling their opposition as they marched to an easy victory, sweeping the Tapirs and handing Albuquerque the majority of its losses this season. Because of this result, the playoff picture in the NL is now a lot muddier, especially in the NL Central. The Mariners had to sweep their final division series to have a chance at the division title, but winning this game also means they’re guaranteed to hold the head-to-head tiebreaker against the Tapirs no matter what happens, which could be very important in the wild card race; depending on how the final weeks play out, the Tapirs or Bombers (or both) could find themselves on the outside looking in despite looking like virtual locks just two weeks ago.

Player of the game: Davy Marian went 2-for-3 with a single, a homer, and a walk. The reason he’s the player of the game? He managed 4 RBIs and scored every time he got on base. Plus, his name is really appropriate…for a Mariner.

Pittsburgh Pirates 7.2, Crazy Indians 7

This game was unusual, not because of anything that happened (well, that too), but because it was one of the games this year that was simulstreamed. Both crazyei8hts and Jyknight had some knowledge of how the other was doing, and it made this affair an interesting one, with the game decided in the final inning–literally! Early on, neither team did much, as only one run was scored in the first two innings by either team (the Indians). However, this changed in the bottom of the third, as Jyknight went on a five-run rally to give the Pirates a large lead heading into the fourth. Crazyei8hts responded in the top of the fourth in his game with an even larger rally, smashing in eight runs off of a few homers, and the Indians led with a combined score of 9-5. While the AI Pirates managed to get two runs in the bottom of the fourth, and Jyknight managed to get a run in the bottom of the fifth, the Indians still held a 7-6 lead as the sixth started. Despite allowing two runners to get on base in the top of the sixth, Jyknight’s Pirates held strong, and finished the game with a 6-0 score, giving them a 7.2 result after the sixth inning bonus was applied. The Indians would need another run to win, and they got it by smacking a solo shot over the left field fence. They then loaded the bases in the top of the sixth, but an unfortunate grounder led to an inning-ending double play and a power-up for the AI Pirates, with the margin of the game being a single run. Although the Indians managed to get the first out, with Kimmy Eckman at the plate crazyei8hts got squirrely, knowing he couldn’t let anybody on base or else the AI would pull out a power up. He threw three straight pitches low and inside; the first was a right hook that Kimmy let go by, the second a Slo-mo super pitch that she swung at early, and the third a Fireball that just missed the plate. Both super pitches were single-use drops, and since crazyei8hts didn’t trust his Elevator, he went back to the right hook, again low and inside. Unfortunately for him, Kimmy was ready, and with a mighty wallop she sent the ball screaming down the left-field line and over the fence to win the game for the Pirates at her home field. The Indians finished with a very efficient 13-hit, 1-walk day that they used to score 10 runs, while the Pirates had a less-efficient but still effective 14-hit day that they turned into 6 runs, with the major difference being that the Pirates managed a shutout while the Indians gave up three. Postgame, crazyei8hts said “Cheryl Reynolds picked a bad time to have her worst game of the season,” while Jyknight commented “Proud of the relief pitchers…really held it down. And not enough good things to say about Kimmy…kid has heart.” The Indians retain control of the division and the #1 seed, but are tied with the A’s for that seed and have it based on a head-to-head tiebreaker and also remain only a game up on the Rockies after the Tigers upset them later in the week.

Player of the game: Let’s be honest, with such a spectacular ending we should really name the AI’s version of Kimmy Eckman the player of the game. Instead of doing that, let’s point out that Sammy Sosa did an amazing job in a losing effort for the Indians, going 3-for-3 with a double and two home runs, scoring every time he came up to the plate and producing 3 RBIs. In summation, Sosa was many things, but what he was not…was so-so.

Philadelphia Athletics 13, Minnesota Monsters 3

The Monsters already knew they were eliminated going into this game, while the Athletics wanted a win both to keep their lead over the Red Sox in the division and to pull into a virtual tie with the Indians for the #1 seed (held by the Indians on a head-to-head tiebreaker). Philadelphia didn’t have their best game ever this season, although it’s in line with much of their post-All Star Break production; they only managed 12 runs, and did so off of 20 hits, four of which were home runs, while giving up a run of their own. As for Minnesota, they haven’t been the same since aesnop left; although jlund24 had a fantastic game as a temporary substitute, BootyHunter hasn’t been able to capture the same magic, and Minnesota has struggled in the back half of the season with no wins since Week 7. That trend continued here, as although the Monsters were able to produce six runs off of 17 hits and a walk, they also gave up three runs, finishing with a run differential of three. With this result, Minnesota remains eliminated, while Philadelphia remains atop the NL East and pulls into a tie with the Indians.

Player of the game: Achmed Khan was one of four Athletics to notch a home run, and he did this on a day where he went 3-for-4 with a single, a double, said home run, 5 RBIs, and two plate crossings from himself. His only gaffe was a strikeout, and even that didn’t have much impact. Change his name this week, because to Minnesota, Achmed is really…Genghis.

Blue Blue Jays 13, Super-Duper Wombats 8

In this game, a red-hot Blue Jays team on the search for playoff position came up against a visiting Wombats team that despite starting the year 1-6 had ridden a surge to stand at 4-7 and be tied with the Blue Jays. While they’d done well to take those wins, the Wombats hadn’t done much to improve their steady output and had mostly beaten up on weaker opponents; meanwhile, the Blue Jays had scored over 20 in their last three games, all at home, going 2-1 in that span. While this game was a bit of a letdown for KiiiiiiiiiiiiiiS, who only managed to score 12 on 19 hits and 2 walks in his fourth game in a row, the Wombats had an even more disappointing outing, as they scored 10 and allowed 2. The Blue Jays walk away with the win, and consequently the Wombats are all but eliminated as they head into Week 13, needing every single remaining AL West game to fall their way just to make it a tiebreaker game; meanwhile, with the Orioles loss at the start of the week, the Blue Jays are now the most likely team to take the division.

Player of the game: Chico Pappas went 3-for-4 with a single and two home runs that tallied 4 RBIs and 2 runs scored. He did make an error in the field, but I’d have to say that this week…Chico was the Wombats daddy.

Anaheim Angels 13, St. Louis Cardinals 5

Stakes were high in this important NL East matchup. For the Angels, this was a chance to assert themselves, to return to where they started slow and show how much they’d grown. And also to help solidify their position atop the division. For the Cardinals, this was a game they needed to win, as they’d fallen from being 6-1 and tied for the league lead at the All-Star break to being 7-4 and behind several other teams in the playoff race; in addition, a loss would effectively circumscribe most of their paths to winning the NL East and put them even farther back in the wild card race. Unfortunately for St. Louis, they didn’t have the best game possible; while defensively they were solid as usual, with Mr. Clanky throwing 10 strikeouts in a shutout game, offensively they failed to produce the runs needed to keep up with the Angels, who despite having some trouble with the Cardinals staunch defense still managed to score 12 runs off of 21 hits while only allowing a single run themselves. This result meant that Anaheim stands on top of the division with their only real competitors being the Marlins, while the Cardinals are now 7-5 and barely clinging to playoff life with no chance at the wild card and only a very narrow path to the division title (which is still possible for them to claim).

Player of the game: Chipper Jones went 3-for-3 with two singles and a double, batting in two runs and scoring twice himself. He also snagged a walk, and his efforts were one factor in why takenotes011 finished the game feeling quite…Chipper.

Washington Nationals 20, Tampa Bay Devil Rays 5

The stakes were high in this one; the Nationals needed a win to keep themselves alive, while the Devil Rays needed a win just to stop their 7-game skid and reassert their position on top of the NL West (a position they’ve held since Week 2). The Nationals were in a new home, and any hope that this might help the Devil Rays was bolstered by the fact that for four innings the Nationals were only able to put up 4 runs. This would’ve only been good enough for a close loss were it not for the little matter that in the first inning the Nationals absolutely exploded for 13 runs as they definitively planted themselves in the District of Colombia. In the end, Washington managed 17 runs on 26 hits and 3 walks in a 17-0 shutout, while Tampa Bay lagged behind, only scoring 6 and allowing one across. This leaves the entire division alive, but Tampa Bay can still clinch the third seed next week if they manage to beat the Giants.

Player of the game: The most interesting thing about the Expos? They hit nothing but singles. And by that, I mean nothing but singles; they had 26 hits, and none of them sent a runner past first. Add in that six different players had 2 RBIs (another player had three, and the remaining two had one), everybody scored at least once but no more than thrice, and there were no stolen bases, and well, it’s hard to choose an MVP on the offensive side. Defensively, though, pitcher Angela Delvecchio threw a 4-strikeout, 34-pitch shutout, dispatching the Devil Rays quickly and fairly efficiently even if she did allow 6 hits, and in doing so helped to keep her team’s playoff hopes alive. Plus, on the offensive side of the ball she went 3-for-4 and draw a walk while batting in 2 runs and scoring three times herself. In this game, Angela became…National news.

Montreal Marlins 21, Atlanta Braves 2

The Marlins had come on strong since the All-Star Break, and this game was no exception, as Montreal had their strongest home game this season. While the Braves had another disappointing game, scoring only 4 runs on 11 hits and 7 walks while allowing 2 runs of their own, the Marlins positively exploded, putting up 19 runs off of 23 hits and a walk while only allowing a single run to cross the plate. The result was unsurprising, and with the Cardinals loss the Marlins slide into second place in the division, with a one-game deficit against Anaheim and a game against the Angels still in the works; in addition, the Tapirs loss keeps the wild card in play for them, although the Bombers win does make it a bit of a longer shot for Montreal.

Player of the game: Henri Deschenes went 5-for-5 with three singles, a double, and a home run. He had 2 RBIs and scored four times. Plus, as the starting pitcher, he went five innings, threw to 16 batters, got three strikeouts, and only allowed two hits and a single run. Even if he plays for the most French team in the league, this week…Henri was a king.

Mighty Tigers 16, Colorado Rockies 6

With the Indians being upset by the Pirates, the Rockies were in prime position to close in on them and improve their playoff chances. Unfortunately for Colorado, Ozzy Osbourne had other plans, as despite being eliminated he’s been very good for the Tigers offense. This day was the first time that he stepped up his defensive game, though, pitching a shutout with two pitchers despite allowing 8 hits, and scoring 14 runs at home off of 18 hits in an incredibly efficient day. This was way too much for Colorado, who had one of their weaker outings with Since Colorado wasn’t bailed out by their AI defense, they’re still a game behind the Indians, but more importantly, with the Red Sox beating the Diamondbacks, Boston has now taken the lead in the wild-card race off of their head-to-head tiebreaker against the Rockies, leaving Colorado temporarily (and perhaps permanently) out of the playoffs with just two games to go.

Player of the game: Sonja Hagen of the Tigers went 4-for-4 with two singles, a double, and a home run. She batted in two runs and scored every time she got up to the plate. I guess you could say this game was one of…Hagen’s Dias.

Crazy Cubs 3, New York Giants -2

This game was important for three teams. For the Cubs, a win here would keep them in the NL West race. For the Nationals, a Cubs win here would keep them in the NL West race. And for the Giants, a win here would allow them to catch up to the Devil Rays in the NL West race and give them a better chance of making the playoffs. Unfortunately for New York, they weren’t up to the task, as they fell to the Cubs AI for the second time this season. The first time around, they still won, as MarcoMcGwire forfeited; this time, it seemed as though a forfeit might be their savior again. However, a new coach was brought in when it became evident that EclipsedxShadow wasn’t going to show up, and this coach brought along a new game plan. Taking a tip from their partners in craziness the Indians, whose coach believes that everyone moves at the same speed after hitting a home run, Vissery brought along a PA system and a copy of Parliament’s “Tear the Roof off the Sucker”, knowing that the inherent funkiness of the track would cause everyone to get down, thereby destroying both teams stamina and allowing his power hitters to work their magic. This concept didn’t work exactly as planned, as the Cubs only smacked two dingers, but it didn’t matter, as the Cubs outscored their competition 11-3. Even with the five-run penalty applied (and possibly applied incorrectly; Vissery actually managed to get the game in before the deadline, and the result was only held up due to the league wanting to make sure that the Cubs previous coach wouldn’t return and submit a score of his own), this still meant that the Cubs came out with a win against the AI and therefore a win overall. This keeps the Cubs and Expos in the playoff hunt, and means that their game against each other next week is meaningful, as the loser will be eliminated; the question then becomes whether Jarod Johnson can emulate Sir Nose D’voidoffunk and keep his team from dancing, or whether they too will give in to the power of FUNK.

Player of the game: Alexis Weis went 3-for-3 with a single, a double, a home run, and the game’s only walk. She scored twice and had a team-leading 4 RBIs. While she did have an unimpressive outing on the mound in relief, going in for a single inning and throwing 20 pitches while allowing three hits and two runs to score, this doesn’t change that she had an overall good day, and when the Cubs needed her, Alexis really was…wise.

Atlanta Braves 4, New York Yankees 2

Both of these teams were on the verge of elimination entering this game, with the loser guaranteed to be knocked out of the playoffs. This meant that this game was a necessary win for both teams. While the Yankees had a comparatively uneventful game, winning 3-1 at Eckman Acres in a game where the Braves committed 6 errors, the Braves had what was arguably the most interesting game of the year.

It all started when Nodakkian decided to use Todd Xavier as his starting pitcher. Normally Todd is a solid enough pitcher, and his speed allows him to gobble up infield grounders, but this week the Yankees AI flat-out refused to hit the ball in that manner. While Nodakkian hoped to get 4 innings out of his starter, eventually he had to give up on Todd when the Yankees got their 11th run. Randy Johnson came in, and started pitching very well in relief, but while the Braves offense did its best, when the 6th inning started they were trailing by 5. On the mound, Randy managed to avoid giving up any runs, but in the bottom of the inning, the Braves ended up with runners on first and third and two outs, still trailing by five.

Enter Lance Lambert, who smashed a homer to reduce the deficit to two. Then Zenon Estrada, who hit a homer to make it a one-run game. Then Mikey Thomas, who hit a third homer to tie it up. (Incidentally, this was also the second time this trio went back-to-back-to-back in this game, as they performed the same feat in the first inning.) While the Braves were unable to make it four in a row and couldn’t win the game here, this sent the game to extra innings, tied at 11.

The game stayed tied until the eighth, when Todd Xavier took the mound in relief of a tired Randy Johnson and gave up a run. Randy returned to the mound after that, and in the bottom of the eighth the Braves managed to score again on a sequence where Lance Lambert almost hit a game-tying homer and Zenon Estrada singled him in. The game could’ve ended there, with Mikey Thomas almost bashing another homer, but instead his long hit was caught at the wall for the third out.

Randy Johnson stayed on the mound for the next two innings, and the Braves continued to not give up any runs. Still, eventually the game had to end, and in the top of the 10th the Braves loaded the bases with no outs. Zenon Estrada then stepped up to the plate and smashed a grand slam that barely got over the right-field hedges to not only end the game, but also give the Braves the win at a time where they needed to get at least two runs across (not that Nodakkian was aware of this).

As a consequence of this game, the Yankees are eliminated from playoff contention. While the Braves hoped to keep their playoff chances alive, they were already eliminated from the wild card race due to having lost to the Bombers, Tapirs, and Mariners earlier in the year, and were subsequently eliminated from the NL East by wins from the Angels and Marlins.

Player of the game: Two Braves deserve the nod. Zenon Estrada had the best game at the plate (although Lance Lambert also did amazingly), going 6-for-6 with two singles, a double, and 3 homers including the game-winning grand slam, along the way batting in seven runs. On the other side of the game, Randy Johnson took over for an embattled Todd Xavier on a day when the Yankees were raking, and faced exactly the same number of batters (26) while getting twice as many outs (20), not walking anybody (Xavier had two walks), allowing only six hits (Xavier allowed 16), throwing 9 strikeouts, and completely shutting down the Yankees AI in order to allow the Braves to come back and win.

Oakland Orioles 14, Minnesota Monsters -1

Oakland hoped to extend their lead in the AL West to two by winning this game, while the Monsters wanted to snap their losing streak and keep their dreams of making the playoffs reasonably possible. The Orioles did their job, putting up 17 runs on the road off of 21 hits and a walk, and although they allowed 3 runs this still got them a respectable score of 14 on the day. As for the Monsters, they suffered their first AI defeat of the year and the first one for a team in the AL this season (if forfeits are excluded). Minnesota was only able to manage 5 hits, no walks, and no stolen bases, as BootyHunter struck out eight times and only scored a single run while allowing the Orioles to score twice. This marks a low point for the Monsters, and quite a skid for a team that started the season with a 50-run game (still the highest score so far this year). In the aftermath, Minnesota’s playoff hopes hang by a thread, requiring almost every matchup in the AL East for the rest of the season to break their way. Things are rosier for the Orioles, as this win keeps them atop the AL West, but wins from the Wombats and Blue Jays keep them from extending their lead further.

Player of the game: The Orioles’ Joella Minotti went 4-for-4 with a pair of singles, a double, and a home run. She ended up crossing home every time she got up to bat and also batted in two runs.

Anaheim Angels 10, Baltimore Bombers 6

In a game that was must-win for the Angels in order to keep control of the NL East and that was important for the Bombers in terms of staying the undisputed top dogs in the NL, both AIs came out strongly, with the Bombers held to a post-Week 3 low of 6 runs (equaling their previous week’s output against the Cardinals) and the Angels held to a post-Week 2 low of 10 runs. The Bombers were able to muster 5 more baserunners in this outing, adding 3 hits and 2 walks (15 total hits, 2 walks) but like last week failed to get any hits longer than a double and were also only able to steal one base (as opposed to last week’s 6). As for the Angels, they only had three more hits and no walks–but those three extra hits were all home runs. At the end of the day, the Bombers remain on top of the NL Central and with the best record in the NL, but have to deal with ending their season a tough division that has come on strongly since the start of the season, while with the Cardinals losing the Angels have a one-game lead in their division and a chance to eliminate the Cardinals from contention completely next week.

Player of the game: Julie Dunkel went 4-for-4 at the plate for the Angels, with two singles, a double, and a home run, tallying two RBIs and scoring thrice herself. On the mound, she allowed six hits but no runs and struck out two batters on only 38 pitches. After the game, she went off to feed the pigeons.

New York Giants 4, St. Louis Cardinals 2

Heading into the All-Star Break, the Cardinals were one of two teams in the NL to have suffered only one loss. Although there were questions about their offensive production, their strong AI had held up well for the most part (the exception being a game against the Angels), and unlike the other initially reputable AIs hadn’t played most of its games against the NL West. Unfortunately for the Cardinals, their schedule got tougher coming out of the All-Star Break, as they had games against the wild card-leading Tapirs, West-leading Devil Rays, and Central-leading Bombers. They went 1-2 over the course of these three games, raising questions about their ability to compete with the big boys and ending up just barely out of the immediate playoffs. A game against a Giants team that hadn’t won since Week 3 promised some respite, but instead New York produced an upset. While neither of the teams did amazingly, the Giants found were able to get 13 hits against Mr. Clanky that they turned into 4 runs despite never getting more than a double, while the Cardinals struggled defensively, with Mr. Clanky giving up 14 hits and 4 runs in a narrow 5-4 victory (although the robot did manage to get 11 strikeouts, pushing him over the 100 mark for the season with three games still to go). In the end, the Giants made up a game on the Devil Rays heading into the home stretch, while the Cardinals fall back a game in both the wild card and NL East races due to wins from the Tapirs and Angels. For the Giants, this is great news, as they have a chance to catch or even surpass the Devil Rays if they can at least match the Devil Rays record and beat them in Week 13, while for the Cardinals this makes their Week 12 game against the Angels enormous, as a win will give them a shot at the playoffs while a loss will eliminate them from contention.

Player of the game: Luanne Lui was instrumental in the Giants win. Although she only went 2-for-3 with no RBIs and both her hits were singles, her speed allowed her to steal three bases and she scored two of the Giants four runs. Plus, on the mound, she pitched a 4-hit, 7-strikeout complete game shutout. Postgame, she gave Teddy a big hug and credited him with helping her decide which pitches to throw.

Super-Duper Wombats 14, Mighty Tigers 5

With the Orioles winning in the second game submitted this week, the Wombats needed a win to keep pace in the AL West. Fortunately, they were playing the unsteady Tigers, who have veered between great offense and mediocre offense with a side of not-that-fantastic defense on their side of the game. The Tigers actually had one of their better weeks defensively since Ozzy took over, only allowing 2 runs although they gave up 10 hits, but offensively they were below average, managing to score just seven runs on 18 hits. The Wombats had a much better day, snagging a shutout despite also allowing 10 hits and scoring 12 runs in a 19-hit game that was bolstered by 4 home runs. In the end, the Wombats easily walked away with the win, and stay only a game behind the Orioles in the division chase.

Player of the game: Ichiro went 4-for-4 with four singles, scoring thrice and knocking in a run. Sure, it’s not as flashy as being a cleanup batter, but cleanup batters need runners on base to be at their most effective. Just ask Vladimir Guerrero, his teammate on the Wombats, who had 2 solo shots and nothing else.

Colorado Rockies 19, Super-Duper Melonheads 12

After a surprising upset of the Red Sox by the Orioles last week, the playoff picture was much impacted, with the Rockies once again tied for the wild card slot with the Red Sox (Red Sox hold tiebreaker) and the Orioles having a one-game lead in their division. Both teams wanted to win this week to strengthen their playoff chances, but only one could. The Melonheads performed reasonably well, as they got 18 runners on base (15 hits, 3 walks) and knocked 11 of them in, but by allowing a run their total run differential went from +11 to +10, and with the home bonus proration they scored a +12; not fantastic, but not too shabby. Unfortunately for them, the Rockies had one of their best games all year, as Colorado managed 27 hits and a walk on their way to a 19-0 shellacking (notably, the Rockies used two pitchers, each of whom allowed only one hit and each threw only one pitch outside the strike zone). In the end, the Rockies ran away with the game, and with the Red Sox losing again when they had a bad day against the Blue Jays and the Orioles beating the Monsters the Rockies now have a one-game lead in the wild card race while the Melonheads sit two games behind the Orioles for the AL West division title with a game between the two coming up next week.

Player of the game: The Rockies’ Timmy Unger went 5-for-5. Four of these hits were singles, but the other hit was a homer. On top of this, he managed 4 RBIs (second-highest on the team this week) and scored four times himself (team leader). He was also one of only three Rockies to steal a base.

Montreal Marlins 9, Montreal Expos 5

The final out-of-division game for these two teams was the Battle of Montreal. Hopes were that it would be more interesting than the Battle for New York that took place earlier this season; while it wasn’t exactly the most interesting game, at least neither team lost to the AI outright, showing that the Expos are likely over their early-season woes. The Marlins managed a 9-0 shutout, setting the bar reasonably high but still reachable for the Expos; however, the Expos failed to adequately rebound from their forfeit to the Mariners, only garnering 6 runs off of 15 singles and 5 walks and allowing a pair of runs on defense. In the aftermath, the Marlins stay in both the wild card and NL East races, while the Expos have been forced to leave Montreal. The Montreal Expos have changed their name to the Nationals and relocated to Washington, D.C, and because the Giants beat the Cardinals require both a win against the Devil Rays and a win from the Cubs in Week 12 just to stay alive in the playoff race.

Player of the game: Since the Marlins statistics were destroyed in a fire (it’s a long story involving Vince Neil, seventeen plates of ribs, a hotel matchbook, and an ambulance), we’re going to name as the player of the game…Augustus St. Cloud. No, he didn’t pay me off. Really, he didn’t. I’ve always had this awesome Les Paul. He didn’t pay me off! No more questions!

Arizona Diamondbacks 15, Crazy Indians 15 (Home Decision)

The closest game this week occurred at the Paveway, in a tight match between the Diamondbacks and the Indians. While the Indians had led the AL all year and were the last undefeated team remaining, the Diamondbacks had rebounded after starting 0-3 to manage a 5-5 record upon playing the rest of the league (they had actually managed a winning record by Week 10, but a loss to the Rockies dropped them back to .500). The Indians put up a fairly good performance, scoring 19 runs off of 26 hits, while the Diamondbacks also did well, managing to score 15 runs off of only 17 hits and a walk in a very efficient game where they smacked an amazing 6 home runs. If the offensive side was all that mattered, the prorated home bonus wouldn’t have been quite enough for the Diamondbacks, getting them up to 18 runs against the Indians 19. However, both defenses gave up a few runs themselves, with Yurya allowing 3 runners to cross the plate and crazyei8hts allowing four. This left the teams tied at 15, and since the home team wins, the Diamondbacks took the game on a home team decision that both keeps them alive in the playoff race and gets them back up to a winning record. As for the Indians, they enter the final three division games with only a 1-game lead on the Rockies.

Player of the game: Sheila Basanti went 3-for-3 for the Diamondbacks, with two of those hits being home runs and the other one being a double. Not only did she end up scoring every time she came up to bat, but she smacked in an astonishing 7(!) RBIs. After the game, the team went out for soft pretzels, and they were delicious; she got hers with jalapeños.

Blue Blue Jays 21, Boston Red Sox 8

The Blue Jays entered this game trying to keep pace in the AL West race, while the Red Sox were trying to ensure that they could keep control of the wild card seed. In the end, though, only one could win, and the Red Sox fell for the second week in a row. The Blue Jays accomplished this feat with a very good day on offense, as they managed 27 hits and a walk on their way to scoring 20 runs, although they did give up 3 on defense. Meanwhile, gmchappe had his worst showing of the year; although he managed to get 19 hits and a walk, his team was held to a single stolen base from Jackie Robinson, and while Boston did get 11 runs off of these 20 runners, they likewise gave up three runs. In the end, the combination of a good day from KiiiiiiiiiiiiiiS and a bad day from Boston meant that the Red Sox fell out of the playoffs completely and now trail the Rockies by a game while the Blue Jays remain only a game out of the division lead due to the Orioles winning. It’s not all bad news for the Red Sox, though; since the Athletics lost, the Red Sox are also only one game out of the division title, and stand a reasonable chance of claiming it if they can beat the Athletics in the final game of their season.

Player of the game: La papa is Spanish for potato, and this week Chico Pappas was definitely mashing taters for the Blue Jays, going 5-for-5 with a single, two doubles, and two homers on his way to 4 RBIs and 3 runs scored. He was also one of four players who stole one base (nobody else managed to steal any).

Seattle Mariners 17, Tampa Bay Devil Rays 10

This was a must-win game for both these teams. For the Mariners, a win would keep them in both the wild card race and the AL Central race–a necessity, given that the Bombers and Tapirs share their division. For the Devil Rays, a win would keep them two games up on the Giants. Both these teams came to play, as the Devil Rays put up one of their best performances yet, managing to score 9 runs on 12 hits and 2 walks while pitching a shutout. This wasn’t enough to take down Seattle, though, as elchrisblanco posted 29 hits that turned into 17 runs in a shutout away game. Consequently, the Mariners remain two games back in both the wild card and the division and the intent to make the last few games matter, while Tampa Bay is now only one game ahead of the New York Giants as they enter the final division series. This could be important; while the Nationals likely won’t manage to edge out the Devil Rays for a playoff berth at this point, they could still play spoiler, and if the Giants can manage a couple of wins, they could very well sneak in as the NL West champions.

Player of the game: Davy Marian came to play! Not only was he the only member of the team to avoid being out, he was the only one to hit any homers, as he posted a 5-for-5 statline of 3 singles and 2 home runs for 4 RBIs and 4 runs scored. The only blemish on the day was an error he made in the field, but with an offensive statline like that, he’s easily forgiven.

Pittsburgh Pirates 12, Philadelphia Athletics 4

The Pirates were already eliminated when they came into this game, but like any good coach Jyknight wants his kids to go out and play as hard as they can. This week, they did just that; although pitcher Brad Radke allowed 4 runs and only threw 3 strikeouts, the offense combined for 20 hits (including five home runs) on their way to scoring 14 runs in total. Meanwhile, the Athletics had a surprisingly small game, putting up only four runs off of seven hits and a walk. In the end, the Athletics took the loss, but due to other losses across the league they remain in first place in the AL East and with a good chance of taking the second seed in the AL playoffs; in fact, because the Indians lost, they remain only a game behind of the first seed and hold the head-to-head tiebreaker for playoff positioning against them.

Player of the game: Although the Pirates performed well, nobody stood out in particular, so this week the award goes to the losing team’s pitcher, Amanda Hellerman. Although she didn’t do too well at the plate, going 0-for-1 with a walk, she did pitch a perfect game, and that’s always an accomplishment worthy of celebration.

Albuquerque Tapirs 27, Crazy Cubs 8

After MarcoMcGwire’s departure from the league, the Cubs were left coachless for Week 10, but at the start of Week 11 a newbie stepped in to take the reins and led the Cubs to their best showing on the year, scoring 10 runs (previous high: 7) and notching a run differential of 8 (previous high: 5). They did this by getting 10 runs off 17 hits, with all but two of their players getting two hits or more, and by not giving up too many runs (4 in total) despite their weak defense. Unfortunately for them, they ran into the red-hot Tapirs, who took advantage of the Cubs weak defense by smacking 38 hits, stealing a season-high 26 bases, and scoring 27 runs. A massive effort would have been needed to drop the Tapirs this week; expecting that from a newcomer playing his first game is just unrealistic. Still, it was a very strong effort from EclipsedxShadow, and although the Cubs need to sweep their final three games as well as have all the other results in the NL West fall their way, the fact remains that they currently look better than they have since early in the season. As for Albuquerque, this win combined with the Bombers loss puts them in a dead heat for the division title, with the Bombers currently holding the tiebreaker, and when combined with the Cardinals loss the Tapirs now have a 2-game lead against all other competitors in the wild card race, with their closest competition likely being the division rival Seattle Mariners, whom they play next week.

Player of the game: Angelique Harding was in rare form this week, managing to notch a 4-for-6 statline with two singles, two doubles, two RBIs, and two runs scored. Of course, that’s not all she did; she also pitched a one-hit shutout where she only faced 18 batters (getting the one runner out on a double player), threw four strikeouts, and only threw one ball outside the strike zone. And if that doesn’t tickle your fancy, well, Ricky Johnson went 6-for-6 (all singles), had 1 RBI, scored four times, and grabbed a team-leading 8 stolen bases.

Montreal Marlins 10, New York Giants 6

The Giants had the second-best game they’ve had so far this season in Week 10, managing to beat the AI by 6 (their previous high was 11 against the Angels, and their best outside of that was a 3-run win). They accomplished this feat by steadily getting on base, getting 19 runners on as they pushed 7 of them across home plate and only gave up one run. The Marlins were too much for them to handle, though, as jibbodahibbo had a very efficient day by scoring 9 runs off of only 12 hits and no walks. Although this wasn’t the best game the Marlins have had so far this season, it was enough to win even without the home bonus and marks their 4th game in a row of double-digit scores. Since the Bombers beat the Cardinals, the Marlins are now a game back of the division lead in the NL East, trailing the Angels and Cardinals with games against each still to come, and they also sit two games back in the wild-card race. As for the Giants, this loss did little to dull their playoff aspirations, as the Devil Rays and Expos both lost, leaving them still two games shy of the division lead in the NL West with 4 games left to play.

Player of the game: Three players homered for the Marlins, and two of them went 3-for-3, both knocking in 3 runs. What separates Anna Goodreau from Yvonne Carter and makes her the player of the game is that she hit a triple and subsequently scored another run.

Albuquerque Tapirs 11, Atlanta Braves -1

The Tapirs visited Eckman Acres this week, and although they scored nine fewer runs than last week, it was still enough to propel them past the Braves, who lost to the AI for the third time this season. The Tapirs had a solid if unspectacular day at the plate, getting 23 runners on base but only hitting 3 extra-base hits, while the Braves posted 12 hits, with four of them going for 2 or more bases including a pair of home runs. However, the real story for the Braves was their defense, as they gave up the same number of hits and one more run, allowing the Tapirs to win so long as they beat the AI, while the story for the Tapirs was the number of bases they stole, as they took advantage of a weak-armed catcher and the incredibly slow Mikey Thomas at third to steal 21 bases and constantly put runners in scoring position despite rarely hitting anything but singles. The Tapirs continue to hold a one-game lead in the wild card race with all the tiebreakers aligned their way, while with this loss the Braves are now on the verge of elimination.

Player of the game: Gail Weinmann of the Tapirs went 4-for-4. In doing so, she not only had the longest hit for the Tapirs (the lone triple of the game), but also stole the most bases (five) and scored more than any other player (thrice). At the postgame ice cream party, she ordered a butterscotch sundae.

Crazy Indians 22, Super-Duper Melonheads 10

The Melonheads were hoping to keep pace in a competitive (if underwhelming) AL West race. Unfortunately, this week they faced the juggernaut Indians, who put up the best game they’ve had away from their home of Steele Stadium. While Frank Thomas had an underwhelming game on the mound for the Indians, allowing 8 hits and 4 runs (while also tossing 8 strikeouts), this was more than made up for by their offensive production, as the Indians had 50 at-bats on which they registered 40 hits for a team batting average of .800. (They also managed three walks, which brings their total number of plate appearances to 53.) Not only were they constantly hitting the ball, they were constantly hitting the ball out, as all but one player (Todd Helton) smashed the ball out of the park (and even that was made up for by Petra Chekov homering twice). The Melonheads didn’t do too poorly themselves, as they managed 21 hits, but 18 of those were singles, they didn’t get a single walk, and while they did knock in 11 runs they also gave up 3 on the mound. With this win, the Indians continue to be frontrunners for the #1 seed in the AL, while the Melonheads are back a game of the AL West lead with another tough opponent in the Rockies on the horizon.

Player of the game: Petra Chekov went 4-for-5 and added a walk to that tally. Plus, she homered twice, becoming the only Indian to hit more than one homer; hit a double, becoming one of three Indians to do so; and had 8 RBIs, more than double the number of any other Indian. Let’s face it: this week, the Melonheads AI was…Petrafied.

Oakland Orioles 18, Boston Red Sox 14

This was a game where almost everyone predicted the Orioles would fall back to their normal, underwhelming output and the Red Sox would cruise to an easy win. That’s not exactly what happened. Instead, while the Red Sox had one of their comparatively weaker performances, only managing to score 14 runs off of 26 hits while allowing two runs (one from each pitcher used), the Orioles were much more efficient, only getting one more hit and a walk but scoring 5 more runs and only allowing 1. This efficiency proved to be the difference, as the Red Sox fell in what was the biggest upset (although not the biggest surprise) of the week. While the Red Sox retain their hold on the wild card, it’s much more tenuous than it was at the end of last week, as they’re tied with Colorado and only winning on a tiebreaker since the Rockies won this week. Meanwhile, since the Melonheads and Wombats both lost, Oakland are now the sole holders of first place in the AL West, leading the division by one game; to make things even better for them, they have the easiest Week 11 matchup of all the AL West teams, as they go against the Minnesota Monsters, who still haven’t quite adjusted to their new coach (or perhaps their coach hasn’t adjusted to them).

Player of the game: In a heroic effort for the losing team, Zena Fromme went 4-for-4 with 3–count ’em, 3–home runs. She also hit a single, but we don’t talk about that. And she had 6 RBIs!

New York Yankees 6, Crazy Cubs 3

Aesnop made a triumphant return to the game this week, taking over for the absent MarcoMcGwire for one game. In order to not make it too hard on the Yankees, Aesnop replaced their avatar with Eeyore (who, incidentally, is one of the most loveable donkeys of all time. OF ALL TIME!) and played the game left-handed. While this wasn’t too much of a struggle, due to the fact that Eeyore is apparently ambidextrous, Aesnop didn’t play as hard as possible, and ended up getting only five runs while allowing three. This was enough for Marco, who as usual had a better day away from La Chancla and managed to rack up 9 runs on 20 hits and a walk at Scrapco. While this performance was dulled somewhat by the fact that the Yankees gave up 3 runs, it was still enough to sneak the Yankees past the Cubs and keep them technically alive for one more week. Despite that, wins by the Bombers, Tapirs, Marlins, and Angels meant that the Yankees didn’t gain any ground, and with only four weeks left in the season they’ll need a miracle to make the playoffs. The Cubs sit in a similar position; while they’ve finally found a new coach, their only chance at the playoffs requires them to win the division. As they currently sit 3 games back of the division lead, EclipsedxShadow would need to win out and have the Devil Rays lose out and have the other results from the Expos and Giants fall the Cubs way in order to make the playoffs.

Player of the game: Wendy Parsons went 2-for-4, hitting a single and a homer. She knocked in 2 runs and crossed the plate twice. She also stole a base and sang MCR at the postgame karaoke session.

Baltimore Bombers 6, St. Louis Cardinals 3

Entering this game, Baltimore was 8-1 while St. Louis was 7-2. Whichever team won this would take possession of the first seed in the NL. To make things even more interesting, both of these teams have reputations as being the strongest AIs in the NL. They certainly lived up to this reputation, as a low-scoring game ensued, with neither team managing to get more than 12 runners on base (12 hits for the Bombers, 10 hits and a walk for the Cardinals). However, while both teams pitched shutouts, the Bombers were more successful at putting together a rally, as they managed to score six runs despite never having a hit longer than a double, while St. Louis was held to 3 runs even though Marsellus Marx hit a home run (one that was admittedly a solo shot). Baltimore was also able to steal plenty, as they got 10 stolen bases while the Cardinals were unable to steal even once. In the aftermath, the Bombers held on to their #1 seed lead of a game, with the closest competition coming from their division rivals the Albuquerque Tapirs (who sit a game back of them with the tiebreakers falling the Bombers way), while the Cardinals were actually knocked out of the playoffs were the season to end today due to the Angels having a head-to-head advantage on them for the NL East and the Tapirs having both a one-game lead and head-to-head tiebreaker in the wild card race.

Player of the game: Trent Sizemore went 4-for-4 (all singles) and scored thrice. In order to do so, he stole 7 bases, providing a majority of the steals for the Bombers, and his plate-crossing abilities ended up being the margin of victory–a margin that was absolutely necessary for the Bombers to win, as they were the road team in this one.

Blue Blue Jays 26, Mighty Tigers 19

The Blue Jays needed a win in the worst way in order to keep pace in the AL West. Despite the Mighty Tigers putting up their best game of the season–yes, even including when GSchlim was still coaching them–the Blue Jays did exactly that, snatching victory with a resounding 23-1 win at home. KiiiiiiiiiiiiiiS sent 46 batters to the plate, and they got on base 29 times (28 hits, 1 walk). When combined with five homers and nine stolen bases, this meant that the Blue Blue Jays were a big blue machine, and while the 22 runs would have been enough for them to win, the extra 4 pushed them ahead handily. Ozzy Osbourne did his best to keep up, and actually got one more runner on base on the same number of plate appearances while scoring as many runs and hitting as many homers. However, the Tigers were let down by three things. Firstly, they only managed to steal one base. Secondly, their defense let up four runs; although this is a better showing than when Ozzy started, defense remains a problem for the Tigers under Ozzy. Thirdly, they were on the road, and therefore didn’t have the home bonus. In the end, the already-eliminated Tigers were unable to play partial spoiler, and the Blue Jays are a game back of the AL West division lead with all the tiebreakers currently in their pocket.

Player of the game: The Blue Jays had Betty Houston on their side, and that made all the difference. She went 4-for-4-for-4-home-runs, and actually managed to get herself across the plate 5 times because at some point the Tigers gave up and decided to just walk her in the hopes that that would keep her in check. She also hit 9 RBIs, which means that even if you subtract the self-scoring RBIs Betty Houston knocked in 5 runners who weren’t Betty Houston. Player of the game? No. I think BETTY HOUSTON is the PLAYER OF THE WEEK.

Seattle Mariners 12, Montreal Expos Forfeit

This game had huge playoff implications for both teams, as coming into the game they were both 2 games behind their closest route to the playoffs. For the Mariners, this meant the wild card, where they’d need to creep ahead of the Albuquerque Tapirs, Montreal Marlins, and either the St. Louis Cardinals or the Anaheim Angels. For the Expos, this meant the AL West race, which is the only race they could still win and which would need them to essentially win three games more than the Tampa Bay Devil Rays over the last five weeks of the season. Seattle made its case for playoff contention with a strong game at Playground Commons, getting 22 hits on their way to scoring 12 runs and shutting out the Expos offensive attack. Meanwhile, after a frustrating outing where his computer may have frozen just when he was starting to get into the groove, Jarod Johnson decided to give up and forfeit for the sake of his sanity. This was good news for the Mariners, who remain in the playoff chase with this win, although they’re still two games back of the wild card due to wins from the Tapirs and Marlins. As for the Expos, they remain in contention due to Tampa Bay’s loss, but they’ll need to be at least two games better (and probably more) than the Devil Rays over the final four weeks of the season.

Player of the game: Sally Dobbs went 3-for-4 with a single and 2 home runs that brought in five runners. She was also seen lecturing everybody else in the locker room about what they could have done better after the game, but the rest of the team was wearing earplugs provided by the coach for that exact situation.

Anaheim Angels 13, Tampa Bay Devil Rays -1

In the last game submitted from the NL, the Angels continued to win and the Devil Rays continued to lose, as Anaheim picked up their fifth win in a row and Tampa Bay fell with their sixth loss in a row. This game was unusual in that the Angels had their worst performance since Week 5, also their last loss, while the Devil Rays fell to their opponents’ AI for also the first time since Week 5. Compounding this is that the Angels AI is considered one of the weaker ones in the game, although takenotes011’s strong play has made up for it in most instances. Here, the Angels scored 16 runs on 26 hits and a walk, but their strong offensive play was stunted somewhat by their defense, which gave up three runs. Particularly of note here is Julie Dunkel, who pitched a complete game but gave up 14 hits while only registering a single strikeout–a performance that actually makes the three runs scored by the Devil Rays AI seem underwhelming. Although Tampa Bay managed to score 3 runs at home, they gave up 4 to the Angels AI, causing coach T-Boz to comment in a postgame press conference that “we just didn’t execute enough…needed to get more hitters on base and we didn’t do that. We take it one game at a time and try to improve on what we failed on last time out.” This win, combined with the Cardinals loss to the Bombers, puts the Angels in the lead in their division race on the head-to-head tiebreaker; while they do have a difficult game against the Bombers next week, the Angels still have a good chance to keep pole position as they head into the final three division games of the year. Meanwhile, although Tampa Bay lost, they didn’t give any ground as every other team in their division lost as well; at this point, the NL West is looking like a race against the clock for every other team, while the Devil Rays are mostly hoping to just stay ahead of the pack for a few more games.

Player of the game: The Angels’ Troy Glaus went 4-for-5 with 2 singles, a triple, and a home run. He also got three RBIs, scored thrice himself, and stole 2 of the 4 bases the Angels were able to take. The moral of this story? Trojans in Glaus houses should beware of Greeks bearing stones.

Pittsburgh Pirates 11, Minnesota Monsters 6

The Pirates may be eliminated from the playoffs, but they can still play spoiler, as they demonstrated aptly by beating the Monsters and dropping them to 5-6 on the season–quite a fall for a team that started 3-0 and was considered nigh-unbeatable. While there are several explanations for this, most notably a midseason coaching change that hasn’t really worked out well, the end result is that Minnesota is now considered a comparatively easy team to beat in the American League. The Pirates accomplished this feat in Week 10, as they put together a fairly solid game, notching 26 hits and a walk. While they had trouble getting players across the plate, only managing to get 12 runs and leaving 15 runners stranded (and putting Kimmy Eckman on the mound to throw one pitch and give up a run), this was still enough to beat Minnesota, as BootyHunter’s squad only managed 9 hits and one walk. The Monsters were efficient with their runners, as they managed to score six (although like the Pirates, they gave up a run), but the sheer lack of offensive action proved to be their downfall. In the end, although Minnesota didn’t fall behind further in the wild card race due to the Red Sox losing earlier in the week, they also didn’t gain any traction, and have a losing record for the first time all season.

Player of the game: This was a true team effort for the Pirates, as nobody stood out too much and everyone contributed. In the end, Brad Radke gets the nod, as he went 2-for-4 (both singles), had 3 RBIs (tied for the team lead), and crossed the plate twice. Also, he pitched a 3-hit, 7-strikeout shutout–although the fact that Kimmy had to come in to throw one pitch and give up a run raises the question of how much of a shutout it actually was.

Colorado Rockies 8, Arizona Diamondbacks 3

After a tough loss to the Red Sox in a must-win game for wild-card supremacy, the Rockies were hoping to bounce back against the Diamondbacks. Arizona, meanwhile, had been on fire since they stopped playing the AL East, posting a 5-1 record against all non-divisional opponents and clawing their way into the wild card race, albeit in a position near the rear. This game was important for both teams, but neither one did quite as well as they wanted. mbless1415 was able to score 10 runs, but only got 19 players on base and didn’t hit any homers while giving up 2 runs defensively. Yurya, meanwhile, fell victim to Colorado’s surprisingly stout defense, which had one of their best days on the year by holding the Diamondbacks to 7 hits and 3 runs (although their pitching staff did give up 5 walks). In the end, the Rockies won a close, low-scoring game, and that combined with the Red Sox loss means they’re only out of the wild card spot on a tiebreaker, while the Diamondbacks remain 2 games out and on the wrong side of all the tiebreakers against the other teams in the wild card race.

Player of the game: Debby Nagasawa of the Rockies went 3-for-4, hitting two doubles and a single while knocking in 2 runs and scoring once herself.

Philadelphia Athletics 11, Super-Duper Wombats 9

After losing a close game to the Indians in Week 9, Philadelphia had the Red Sox nipping at their heels in the race for the AL East crown. While they had a bit of breathing room due to the Red Sox losing earlier this week, the Athletics still could use a clear-cut one-game lead, which they could get by beating the Wombats. Meanwhile, the Wombats were tied for the lead in the AL West (only beaten out by the Orioles command of tiebreakers), and with the Orioles winning against the Red Sox needed a win to keep pace. Although the Wombats had a solid performance, scoring 8 runs off of 14 hits and 3 walks while not allowing any runs, this wasn’t enough to keep up with the Athletics, who despite putting together their worst performance aside from their game against the Orioles still managed to pull out a win by producing an 11-run, 19-hit shutout that got them above the Wombats’ home bonus and gave them their eighth win on the season. When the dust cleared, the Athletics stayed in command of the AL East and the #2 seed, while the Wombats fell back a game to the division-leading Orioles.

Player of the game: Philadelphia’s Achmed Khan may have only gone 2-for-4, but those two hits were a single and a homer that knocked in 5 runs. Also, his band Ham Sandwich is currently on the hunt for a keyboardist. Contact him or Amir if you want to rock out, dude.

Recaps provided by JorgesBankAccount.

Baltimore Bombers 9, New York Giants 3

After barely winning against the NL West leaders last week, the Bombers faced another NL West team, this one sitting in second place in the division. The Bombers had a strong game at home in Week 8, beating the Devil Rays by a score of 10-1 (a score almost negated by the Devil Rays turning in the exact same score), and this week had another 9-run victory, taking the game by a score of 11-2 in a game with very few extra base hits (2 doubles, 2 triples) but very many singles (18 in total). Everyone on the team got at least one hit, and the Bombers had an overall very solid game. The Giants, meanwhile, managed only seven hits, and while they had the same number of extra-base hits as the Bombers (1 double, 2 triples, 1 homer), this still wasn’t enough to give them a bunch of runs, as they only scored 4 on the game. That, combined with them giving up a run in the field, meant that the Bombers walked away with the game.

Player of the game: The Bombers’ Terry Vega went 3-for-4 with 3 singles and 3 RBIs. Not the most accomplished game, sure, but on a day when everyone on the team performed well, the player of the game didn’t need to be a big hero–they just needed to give the Bombers a little push over the line.

Super-Duper Wombats 8, Minnesota Monsters 1

This match had large playoff implications for both teams as they entered. The Monsters needed a win to keep pace in the highly-competitive wild card race, not to mention the AL East, while the Wombats had just pulled off a shocking win in Week 8 to put them in a four-way tie with everyone else in the AL West at 2-6. The Wombats had the advantage here, though, as the Monsters are still adjusting to having a new coach at midseason. Consequently, while the Wombats didn’t put up the best game, managing only 10 hits and a walk at their home field, they were reasonably efficient and brought in 7 runs off of those 11 baserunners. The Monsters, on the other hand, got 9 hits, no walks, and only 3 runs. The problem for the Monsters was twofold: firstly, they weren’t at home, so they didn’t get the home bonus that they would have probably needed to win (and even then, it would’ve been a longshot), and secondly, they also allowed two runs. This meant that the Wombats would have won the match so long as the AI didn’t manage to beat them, and they guaranteed this by pitching a shutout. This win means that the Wombats are still tied for first, and currently sit in second on tiebreakers, behind the Orioles (head-to-head) and ahead of the Melonheads (head-to-head).

Player of the game: Vladimir Guerrero of the Wombats only had one hit on the day, but it was a doozy: a grand-slam homer to decisively shut the door on the Monsters AI.

Anaheim Angels 16, New York Yankees 4

The Yankees have been underwhelming at La Chancla this season, usually scoring no more than two runs. To make matters worse, the best NL games at that field so far this season have come from opposing teams, who can apparently do what the home team cannot. While the Yankees managed to avoid the two-run curse, putting up a 4-0 game, this game itself was not without its drawbacks, as the four runs came off of a grand slam from Gary Allen. The Yankees only got six hits and a walk, and only three players came to the plate more than two times. Meanwhile, the Angels continued their dominant run, notching 17 runs in a 16-run win where everyone got a hit and everyone made at least 5 plate appearances (with the final batter being Julie Dunkel, the leadoff batter for the Angels). In the end, the Angels snagged 27 hits and 4 walks in the most dominant showing at the NL Casa yet and the third double-digit game there (the others coming from the Expos in their Week 7 breakout game [14-4] and the Tapirs in Week 1 [12-0]).

Player of the game: Jose Meisenheimer went 4-for-5 with 3 singles and a double and knocked in a team-leading 6 runs. He may have only scored once himself, but there’s no way Jose doesn’t get the nod for the best player in this game.

Crazy Indians 14.4, Philadelphia Athletics 14

This game might very well decide who gets the #1 seed in the AL. Coming into the game, the Indians and Athletics were tied at 7-1, with the Indians having just suffered their first loss in Week 8 (to the Red Sox) and the Athletics on a 5-game win streak. At Steele Stadium, both teams performed below their season averages in an incredibly close game. The Athletics got a bunch of people to first, notching 27 hits in total, 20 of the singles. The Indians, on the other hand, were more reliant on the long ball, smacking 6 homers as they batted in 12 runs off of 18 hits. In the end, the home bonus was what made the difference, launching the Indians past the Athletics by less than a single run and giving them sole possession of the AL’s #1 seed.

Player of the game: Cheryl Reynolds went 4-for-4 for the Indians, with a double and 3–count ’em, 3–home runs. This meant she batted in fully half of the Indians’ runs, and when you factor in that she ended up crossing the plate every time she came up to bat as well, she comes out as the dominant factor in the Indians success this week.

Super Duper Melonheads 12, Mighty Tigers 7

With the sudden (possibly brief) resurgence of the AL West after the All-Star Break, the Melonheads desperately needed a win to keep pace. Fortunately, they were facing one of the newer members of the league, in as a midseason replacement for GSchlim (who may just be pulling a reverse Michael Jordan and taking his talents to the basketball court): OZZY FREAKING OSBOURNE. Unfortunately, while Ozzy may be the Prince of Darkness, he’s not the king of Backyard Baseball–at least not this year. The Melonheads didn’t have the best game possible, only getting 12 runs off of 21 hits and 2 walks, but it was adequate and enough to beat the Tigers, who despite getting 9 runs off of 13 hits would not have had enough to win and were further undone by their leaky defense, which let up 3 runs. In the end, the Melonheads are in the midst of the AL West division race, while with this loss and the Diamondbacks win the Tigers are now officially the first team eliminated from playoff contention.

Player of the game: While everybody on the Melonheads got a hit, only Jane Davis was able to get four: two singles, a double, and a home run in a 4-for-5 day that included 4 RBIs and a plate crossing. In a postgame interview, she attributed her performance to having a bowl of low-in-fat Chunky Puffs prior to the game. We’re certain that her father’s position in the Chunky Puffs marketing department had nothing whatsoever to do with her endorsement.

Arizona Diamondbacks 29, Blue Blue Jays 20

The Diamondbacks had the highest score this week, which in most cases guarantees a win (ask Aesnop for info on when it doesn’t…or, if you want a less in-depth answer, ask Eauxps). How did they do it? Hitting, hitting, hitting, a few walks, and hitting. In total, the Diamondbacks sent players to the plate 52 times, and while four of them got on with walks, 32 hits provided plenty of contact as the Diamondbacks slapped the ball around Casa de Pablo. Every player but one had 3 hits, and the one who didn’t (Uma Morris) got on base with walks twice. The Blue Jays didn’t do too shabbily themselves, either; while they only managed 23 hits and a single walk, they managed to turn these 24 baserunners into 18 runs (although, unlike Arizona, they also allowed a run on an unimpressive 8-hit, 3 strikeout day from Betty Houston). In the end, the playoff implications for these teams were negative; the difficulty of the wild card race means that the Diamondbacks didn’t really manage to do anything but tread water in the wild card race, while the Blue Jays lost their lead in the division race (one they held on tiebreakers) and now sit a game back of everyone else.

Player of the game: On a day when the Diamondbacks were pretty much unstoppable at the plate, Fred Benson was the biggest star on the field. He went 4-for-5 to hit for the cycle and drew a walk, on the way getting 8 RBIs and crossing the plate himself every time he got on base. The only disappointment is that he’s not a sentient gumball machine with anger issues. Wait. Is that a disappointment?

Montreal Expos 13, Atlanta Braves 9

In a game the Expos desperately needed to win in order to keep their playoff hopes alive, their offense delivered with their third double-digit win in a row. While last week’s performance wasn’t enough against the likes of the Anaheim Angels, this week an 11-run win at Playground Commons carried the Expos past the Braves. While the Expos didn’t do too much in the way of extra-base hits, with only 2 doubles and a homer, they did well at getting on base, snagging 11 runs despite leaving 14 runners stranded (so this game could’ve been even bigger for the Expos). On the other side of the game, the Braves put together their best performance yet, knocking in 9 runs and not allowing any. Despite this, though, they had a comparatively weak day at the plate, only garnering 12 hits and a walk and striking out 9 times on their way to a game that was pretty good but not good enough this week. Incidentally, this is also the first time an NL West team has won since…Week 7, when the Expos got their first win against the Yankees. Before that, the last win from the division was in Week 4, when the Tampa Bay Devil Rays also defeated the Atlanta Braves.

Player of the game: Expos first round pick Pablo Sanchez went 4-for-4 with three singles, their only home run, three RBIs, and three runs scored. Somebody get him that burrito he’s been dreaming of!

St. Louis Cardinals 7, Tampa Bay Devil Rays 1

The Cardinals were in shaky playoff position after a tough loss last week against the Tapirs. Their competition? A Devil Rays team that had been struggling since Week 4 and had recently fallen to a losing record after starting 4-0. The Cardinals needed a win in order to keep their lead in the NL East as well as look to remain viable contenders when they couldn’t completely rely on their AI, but Shrewsberry’s team was up to the task as they provided a 7-0 shutout on 15 hits and a walk. The Devil Rays just couldn’t keep up, in large part because despite scoring 4 they also allowed 3. In the end, the Cardinals stood victorious, and while the Devil Rays retain their 2-game lead in the division thanks to the Giants losing as well, the Expos now have more wins than they do outside the division and are looking to make a late season surge–one that appears more and more plausible by the game despite the odds being firmly against it.

Player of the game: Mr. Clanky threw 10 strikeouts while allowing only 5 hits. He also drew the game’s only walk and batted in a run, but that’s not important; he’s a pitching machine, not a hitting machine. Also, he’s the referee for the BFL.

Oakland Orioles 21, Pittsburgh Pirates 3

The Pirates were facing elimination coming into Week 9, with their playoff hopes hinged entirely on this game. They’d have to put up a strong performance–no, a winning performance–no, the best performance they possibly could in order to keep their season alive. But they didn’t. Instead, they had one of the worst performances of the week, one that was only kept from being the worst in the AL by BootyHunter’s struggles with the Monsters (and BootyHunter has the excuse of it being his second game). Although the Pirates didn’t do much on offense, managing only 6 runs off of 15 hits and 2 walks, the real thing that brought down their score was allowing 3 runs on defense. The Orioles wouldn’t have to do much in order to win, but they did anyway, as they scored 18 in their best home game yet. With the Blue Jays loss, this puts them atop the AL West, while the Pirates became the second team this year to take out their metro cards and board the L train to Elimination Station.

Player of the game: Mavfatha refuses to tell us what happened, citing that it would ruin the magic. Since we want to ruin the magic, the player of the game is someone who does exactly that: the two-headed worm from Samurai Jack. When does the magic begin?

Albuquerque Tapirs 25, Montreal Marlins 22
The second game played at Sandy Flats this week saw the second highest number of runs scored on the week (57 after bonuses; compare to Diamondbacks/Blue Jays, which had 62 after bonuses), the second-closest margin of any game, and a bunch of playoff intrigue to top it all off. Both teams had everyone make at least five plate appearances, only one player (Angelique Harding) failed to record a hit or score a run, and both teams combined for 33 stolen bases. How’d they do it? Well, the Tapirs had a great first inning, then hit single after single and stole a bunch of bases on the tired-out Marlins. The Marlins took a little bit longer to catch on in their game before seeing success with numerous extra-base hits and punishing the exhausted Tapirs in the late innings. In the end, the Marlins scored 1 more run than the Tapirs, but because the Tapirs were at home the home bonus pushed them past the Marlins for their sixth win in a row. This win allows the Tapirs to hold on to their lead in the wild card race while pushing the Marlins into a 2-game deficit in both the wild card and the NL East races.

Player of the game: For the Tapirs, this game was pretty much a team effort, while the Marlins relied more on a few standout players, the most impressive of whom was Perry Marx: 5-for-5, a single, a triple, and 3–count ’em, 3–home runs. From this performance, he tallied 7 RBIs, although the Marlins failed to get him in every time he didn’t hit a homer.

Boston Red Sox 14, Colorado Rockies 7

The penultimate game of the week was the battle between the Red Sox and Rockies for pole position in the wild card race. Whomever won this game was going to have sole possession of the wild card and a much better chance of making the playoffs. The loser? Would be back a game in the wild card race and lose any tiebreaker between themselves and their opponent. Needless to say, this was an incredibly important match, to which gmchappe and mbless1415 reacted by…not quite bringing their A-games. The Red Sox were below average, putting up 14 runs, a tally only one better than their season-low score of 13 (two separate games, 1-1 record). The Rockies had exactly the same experience, scoring one more run than their previous low score (a game they won on a tiebreaker). The difference? The Rockies previous low was 6. The end result is a Red Sox win, first place in the wild card chase, and when the Athletics loss this week is taken into account a tie for the lead in the AL East that they’re losing on a head-to-head tiebreaker with a game against the Athletics still to come.

Player of the game: PJ Shareef went 4-for-5 with two singles, a triple, and a home run on the way to knocking in 2 runs for the Red Sox and scoring four times himself. After the game, he showed us pictures of his pet snake relaxing on a hot rock. Nice.

Seattle Mariners 9, Crazy Cubs F

The Mariners are in a tough division and a tight playoff race, and they need wins to keep up. They wanted to make this happen, so this week they came out blasting at Cement Gardens, slamming 4 homers as they scored 10 runs with only 13 baserunners. While they did allow 3 runs to the Cubs potent offense, the home bonus left them with a 9-run lead, one that would be difficult for the Cubs to overcome as their highest score so far was 5 runs. They didn’t even try, not showing up and eventually registering a forfeit on Tuesday night. This is the Cubs second forfeit of the year and the fourth so far this season (although the Tigers and Monsters both came close in Week 7 when both coaches resigned, and a dual forfeit was on the table), and as MarcoMcGwire hasn’t checked in at all since Valentine’s Day when he submitted his game against the Braves, the Cubs might just be the third team to change coaches.

Player of the game: Tina Herrara went 2-for-2 with a single and a home run, scoring twice, knocking in 2 runs (although one of these was herself crossing the plate), and having the only stolen base of the game. Also, rumor has it that as soon as the forfeit was officially registered, Cement Gardens played Rooster at 100 dB, so that’s pretty cool.

ADDENDUM: What’s with the fields this week?

Here’s an interesting statistic for you: this week, the highest-scoring games all came at either Sandy Flats or Casa de Pablo. This is notable because they have reputations as being some of the toughest defensive parks in the game, in large part because of their slowing effects on both runners and rolling balls. Of the 23 players who played this week, 8 played at one of those two fields, and all but three of them managed to top 20 runs. To put this in perspective, nobody who played at a different ballpark this week managed to break 15. The Diamondbacks scored 29, the Tapirs scored 25, the Marlins scored 22, the Orioles scored 21, and the Blue Jays scored 20. On top of this, the only true dud games came from the Yankees (4 runs, home at La Chancla) and the Pirates (3 runs, visiting Sandy Flats), as the Angels put in another stellar performance by getting 16 runs at La Chancla against the Yankees, meaning that the top 6 games this week all came at either Sandy Flats or Casa de Pablo. On top of that, even the smallest games didn’t come at these fields, as the Devil Rays only managed a one-run win where they scored four times at The Paveway (the Pirates scored six times but allowed three runs, and the Yankees scored 4 times without allowing any) and the Monsters only managed a 1-run win at Scrapco Field where they scored thrice and allowed two runs.

Recaps provided by JorgesBankAccount

Seattle Mariners 7, New York Giants 2

The first game submitted this week saw the Mariners get their fourth win and bring their record up to .500, while the Giants continued a five-game slide. Although the Mariners didn’t have the greatest game possible, it was reasonably efficient, as in a game where 15 players got on base, 8 of them got across home plate–an effort made more significant by the fact that the Mariners didn’t record any homers at Cement Gardens. (Their longest hit on the day was a triple.) Their pitching was decent as well, utilizing two pitchers to hold the Giants to two runs; although Dominic Hoskins allowed six hits and two runs on 16 batters, Mamie Skiumsby came in to relieve him and got the last 8 batters out, along the way throwing three strikeouts. As for New York, they struggled to get much going offensively, managing only 9 hits and a walk. To make matters worse, all but one of their hits was a single (the exception being a Maya Woodruff triple), and on top of that their hits weren’t really strung together so much as spread out, leaving the team to only score 2 runs over the course of the game. While Luanne had a good day on the mound, a tight win like this wasn’t enough to overcome Seattle.

Player of the game: Nobody stood out too much in the Mariners’ win, which was a true team effort. However, it’s worthy of note that Christina Beattie went 3-for-3, had the Mariners’ only triple, scored once, and batted in two other runners.

Albuquerque Tapirs 8, St. Louis Cardinals 1

There were heavy playoff implications on the line in this one. The Cardinals wanted to keep their 2-game buffer against the Angels. The Tapirs were hoping to retain their lead in the wild-card race and perhaps even catch up to the Bombers. Meanwhile, the rest of the league outside of the NL West just wanted the Tapirs to lose, with only the Angels being possibly benefited by a Tapirs win. As with the Cardinals previous games, their AI played a large role in this one, especially when it came to Mr. Clanky, who not only broke the Sandy Flats shutout streak the Tapirs had by smashing a dinger to left in the second inning but also destroyed the Tapirs “wear out the pitcher” strategy with his infinite stamina and laser rocket arm, as the Cardinals only allowed 11 hits and 2 walks. Despite this, the Tapirs still managed to get five runs by the fifth to knock him off the mound and into center and finished with an 8-1 win. While the Cardinals still had a chance, shrewsbury91 ended up having the most frustrating game he’s had so far this season, only managing to score 1 run in a 1-0 victory where St. Louis could only manage 5 hits and the only run came off of a solo shot from Marsellus Marx. (To add insult to injury, six players failed to get on base for the Cardinals, and Mr. Clanky gave up as many hits as the Cardinals got.) This meant that the Tapirs ended up winning despite putting up their worst game since Week 3.

Player of the game: Tapirs All-Star Gwen Sears was one of two players to go 3-for-3 (Olive Haldi was the other), and also one of two players to get 3 RBIs (Ricky Johnson was the other, although oddly enough he went 0-for-3). This included a 2-run homer in the third inning to give the Tapirs a lead that was the deciding factor in the final score.

Baltimore Bombers 11, Tampa Bay Devil Rays 9

In a game that might be a preview of a future playoff match, both teams posted identical scores of 10-1 at Steele Stadium. For the Devil Rays, this meant their best game on the season, beating out their previous high of a run differential of 7 against the Expos at home in Week 3, which they gathered by putting 20 people on base and getting half of them in with a triple and two homers. As for Baltimore, while this score wasn’t a new high (albeit one above their steadily increasing season average), they relied on a steady stream of hits (21 in total), mostly singles, to constantly put pressure on Tampa Bay’s pitchers and push runners across the plate. In the end, the deciding factor was the home bonus (in this case 2 runs) that gave the Bombers the win–and, since the Cardinals lost to the Tapirs, sole possession of the #1 seed. Although the Devil Rays are now on a 4-game losing streak, they still hold a two-game lead in their division due to the Giants loss as well as possession of all tiebreakers (although that may change during their final three in-division matchups).

Player of the game: Peggy Heffernan of the Bombers went 3-for-4 with 2 singles and a homer and stole a couple bases on her way to knocking in 3 runs and crossing the plate twice herself. Also, while in the field, she was prone to randomly shouting “HEY! HEY! LBJ! HOW MANY KIDS DID YOU KILL TODAY!” which…okay, that was never appropriate, but since this is neither the 60s nor a political rally, it warps so far into inappropriateness that it actually becomes funny. Plus, I’m pretty sure it threw a few batters off their stride.

Arizona Diamondbacks 18, Super-Duper Melonheads 13

In the first AL game completed this week, the Melonheads had a very solid outing against the Diamondbacks. Unfortunately, when facing the AL East this year a solid performance is at best a narrow win, even when it comes against the worst team in the division. The Melonheads had a good day at the plate, with everybody making at least four plate appearances and everyone but Fabienne Callahan getting on at least twice. Although the Melonheads left 11 people stranded, this was an improvement over many of their recent performances, which featured reliance on the long ball to get runs (although, with 4 homers, there were plenty of long balls at the Paveway anyway). The Diamondbacks, meanwhile, had slightly fewer hits and as many walks but much more efficiency, not just putting 22 people on base but getting 15 of them across the plate on their way to what would have been a win even without the home bonus. Since leaving the AL East, the Diamondbacks are 4-1 with that one loss coming to the Mighty Tigers, while since leaving the AL West the Melonheads are 1-4 with that one win being a forfeit by the Monsters. Despite this, the Melonheads remain very much alive in the playoff race, only trailing on tiebreakers in the AL West, and a late-season push–or even a late in-division push–could be enough to get them into the playoffs.

Player of the game: Uma Morris went 3-of-4 without hitting a single (2 doubles and a triple). She also knocked in four runs and failed to record an error.

Mighty Tigers 3, Oakland Orioles 2

Entering this week, there were questions about how the Monsters and Tigers would fare under their new coaches (BootyHunger and Ozzman, respectively). While that question was open-ended for the Monsters, there was some idea of how the Tigers would perform as Ozzy had played their week seven game against the Monsters, with jlund24 subbing for the Monsters coach. There, the Tigers put up a decent run differential of 7, and it was expected that they would improve with more time to practice; however, the Tigers were only able to post a run differential of 3 this week. Normally, this would be blamed on poor offense, but that wasn’t the case here as the Tigers scored a perfectly respectable (although not amazing) 8 runs on 12 hits (admittedly with more strikeouts than they would’ve liked). No, the problem for the Tigers was their defense, which gave up 6 runs just as it did against the Monsters. However, the Orioles did even worse, only managing to score four times on four different solo shots while giving up two runs of their own. (In total, they left eight runners stranded.) The difference in this game was the home-field bonus, which gave Ozzman the win in what is the lowest combined score in the AL so far this year.

Player of the game: Jay Green went 3-for-4 with 2 doubles and a homer as he batted in four runs for the Tigers. Ironically, his favorite color is yellow.

Colorado Rockies 13, Minnesota Monsters 3

This was the first game submitted of the two this week that had massive playoff implications for the AL (the other being Indians vs. Red Sox). It was also the first game the Monsters played under their new coach. The Rockies took care of their end; while they didn’t have a spectacular game, and by mbless1415’s admission left several opportunities on the table in the fifth inning (including an unused Undergrounder and a controversial call on a bang-bang play at home that went against them), they still performed fairly well, getting 18 hits on 31 at-bats on their way to scoring 11 runs. Meanwhile, the Monsters struggled in their new coach’s first game, only managing 5 runs while allowing two from the Rockies AI and only managing to notch 9 hits on the day. In the end, the Rockies cruised to victory and a slim lead in the AL wild card race.

Player of the game: Lindsy Felgate went 3-for-4 with a single, a double, a homer, and a walk. She also had 3 RBIs and scored four times. Sorry, Cure fans, but it looks like the award is going to an actual Rockie this week.

Anaheim Angels 24, Montreal Expos 14

Guess who just had the best game in the AL this week? No, besides the Angels. That’s right, the Expos, who started out 0-6, are now…1-7, because they were playing the Angels, and despite putting up the second-best score in the NL this week still lost as the Angels continued to steamroll their competition. Both teams went off at Tin Can Alley, with the Angels garnering 20 runs on 28 hits and a walk and the Expos getting an impressive 17 (although they allowed three of their own) off of 28 hits and four walks. While both teams had good days, the Angels was better, and they’re now one game back of both the wild card and the division lead in the NL East. (The NL East is actually easier for them to take, as they hold the tiebreaker against the currently-leading Cardinals while the Tapirs hold the tiebreaker in the wild card chase.) Even though they lost, the Expos still have hope; since every other team in their division lost, the Expos remain only three games back, and after putting up two good (utterly fantastic when compared with how they started) performances in a row, they’re a dark horse to come back and take the NL West.

Player of the game: Tony Delvecchio went 4-for-4, including a homer and a double, knocked in 5 runs, and scored twice himself. He did at least part of this against his sister, so the sibling rivalry is alive and well in the Delvecchio household.

Montreal Marlins 13, New York Yankees 8

Getting away from La Chancla proved to be good medicine for the Yankees, as they put up their first win of more than 5 runs since Week 2. (4 of those 5 games came at home, with the exception being a Dirt Yards bout against the Giants reasonably difficult AI.) Despite this, however, the Yankees still fell for the third week in a row, as the Marlins seem to have turned the corner and become a force to be reckoned with, first by beating the Cubs last week by 15 on the road and now by beating the Yankees by 11 at home. This win saw La Resistance smacking the ball around, with four home runs by four different players and a total of 13 runs scored. Even allowing 2 runs didn’t do much to dampen the Marlins spirits, as they put together their second complete game in a row. The Yankees, meanwhile, focused mainly on getting on base and then getting home, as although New York only hit one homer, they still sent 9 runs in while putting 17 people on base in what was one of their more efficient outings to date. Although the Yankees are currently at the bottom of the AL Central, they have hope, as they’ve gone through the toughest teams on the schedule and now have some easier games coming up. As for the Marlins, they stay neck-and-neck with the Angels at one game back in the wild-card race–and the next game is against the race-leading Tapirs. If the Marlins manage a win at Sandy Flats, they’ll find themselves leading the race and just needing to maintain pole position.

Player of the game: Marky Dubois almost hit for the cycle. Unfortunately, he only went 3-for-4. Fortunately, the 3 were a homer, a triple, and a double, which combined meant he slapped in a team-leading 6 runs and scored every time he got on base. Now the only question he has to answer is whether he ate crawfish before the game, after the game, or both.

Boston Red Sox 19, Crazy Indians 16

This was the other game this week that had huge implications for the AL playoffs. Coming into the game, both teams were riding long winning streaks; the Red Sox had won their previous 5 games after a 0-2 start, while the Indians had been undefeated so far this year. In the end, both teams ended up with a run differential of 16, which meant that the home bonus would make the difference and give the Red Sox the win. Throughout the game, the Red Sox performed reasonably well, although by gmchappe’s own admission this was largely bolstered by a large late-game rally. The Red Sox were consistently getting on the base paths, however, getting 26 hits on 38 at-bats in their 5 innings and scoring 16 runs despite leaving 10 runners stranded. As for the Indians, their big inning was the first, where they bashed in 8 runs. Despite that auspicious start, the bats went cold in the 2nd and 3rd, and they ended up scoring 10 runs in the final three innings. In the end, the Indians scored 18 runs on 24 plate appearances, but the Red Sox got the win because they needed 3 fewer outs to record 16 runs and didn’t give up any runs while the Indians gave up 2. With this win, the Red Sox move into striking distance of the wild card, held back only by an indirect tiebreaker with the Rockies. The Red Sox and Rockies play next week, and the winner of that game could very well end up taking the wild card race. As for the Indians, this loss moves them into a tie with the Athletics for the #1 seed, making next week’s game between the two also of paramount importance. Also of note is that with this loss, the Indians now have only a one-game lead on the Rockies, which could end up being very important in the AL Central race.

Player of the game: Parker Collum went 3-for-4 for the Red Sox, but those three hits were huge: two homers and a triple to send in 8 runs. In a postgame interview, Parker credited his success at the plate to “early bebop grooves baby.” Bird is the word, Parker C.

Philadelphia Athletics 19, Blue Blue Jays 11

The Athletics continued rolling at home, racking up their 7th win by beating the slumping Blue Jays, who still haven’t won a game since leaving the AL West. Philadelphia managed this feat by scoring 16 runs on 22 hits and a walk, along the way hitting four homers and only striking out twice in a shutout victory. As for the Blue Jays, they had their best game since Week 4 and their third-best game on the season, notching 11 runs on 17 hits and likewise hitting four homers. Unfortunately for the Jays, this was nowhere near a strong enough effort to unseat the Athletics, and Nick Foles continues his reign of terror against the AL. This puts the 7-1 Athletics on a collision course with the 7-1 Indians in a game that may very well decide who ends up with the #1 seed in the AL playoffs, while the Blue Jays still somehow manage to stay atop their division due to the general noncompetitiveness of the other teams in the AL West.

Player of the game: Derek Jeter went 4-for-4 for Philly with 2 singles, a double, and a home run. He scored every time he got on base and batted in 3 runs. Other performances of note: Nomar Garciaparra (3-for-4, 2 doubles, 1 HR, 5 RBIs, 2 runs scored) and Amanda Hellerman (3-for-3, 2 singles, 1 double, 2 RBIs, 2 runs scored; 6 innings pitched, 18 batters faced, 1 hit allowed, 7 strikeouts).

Atlanta Braves 6, Crazy Cubs 1

The Braves have finished their season and are always one of the first teams to submit. The Cubs generally submit late. This suggests that it was a tense week for Nodakkian as he waited to find out whether his team got back to .500 or slipped further behind in the playoff race. As it turns out, he didn’t have to worry, as the Cubs only narrowly managed to win their game, allowing him to squeeze past them. Although the Braves only managed to put 14 runners on base, they were very efficient with them, scoring 8 runs in total. On the flipside, the Cubs offensive focus was tough for them to deal with, as Todd Xavier (subbing in for Randy Johnson) allowed 10 hits and 4 runs while only recording one strikeout. As for the Cubs, they found their offense mostly stymied at Eckman Acres, as despite recording 11 hits they were only able to get 2 runs–their entire offensive production being a two-run homer from Courtney Valentino. Although Kenny Kawaguchi had a good day, recording 9 strikeouts while only giving up one run, a strong defensive stand wasn’t enough for the Cubs to win, and the Braves ended up taking their fourth game on the season.

Player of the game: Atlanta only had five extra-base hits, and only three of those were longer than a double. All three came from the same player with an extremely cool name: Zenon Estrada. He went 3-for-4 with a triple and two homers that knocked in 6 runs and proved to be the difference not only in the game as a whole but also in getting the Braves past the Cubs AI in the first place.

Super-Duper Wombats 17, Pittsburgh Pirates 15

The last game of the week to be submitted, this game was unique. Not because the two players were the last ones to submit; that happened last week, with the whole Tigers-Monsters kerfluffle that resulted in both original coaches dropping out and being replaced with newcomers. No, this game was unique because it was the only one where the home team lost. That’s right, in every other game played this week, the home team won, but in this one the away team ended up taking the prize and avoiding the home sweep. To add to the weirdness of the result, the winner was the Wombats, who hadn’t won a game since Week 1 and who were widely considered possibly the worst team in the AL by virtue of being at the bottom of the AL West. This wasn’t even an instance where the Wombats opponents randomly had a bad game; Wizard finally busted out his magic powers to give the Wombats a 17-run win, complete with 42 plate appearances in total in a 22-hit, 2 walk, 12 stolen base game. Even though the Pirates had a solid showing of their own, with 13 runs off of 21 hits and a walk, it wasn’t enough to keep up with the Wombats. This drops the Pirates to 2-6 and effectively pushes them out of the playoff hunt, as they’re behind in their division by 5 games and out of the wild card by 4 games. As for the Wombats, being part of the AL West has meant that they’re always technically in the playoff chase, but this win puts them in 3rd place in the division–but the division is entirely composed of 2-6 teams. If the Wombats can pull off a win next week against the Monsters and their new coach, they might just find themselves leading the division. Either way, they’re currently in position to make a real playoff push.

Player of the game: The Wombats’ Claudia Villarta went 4-for-5, and 3 of those hits were homers. She ended up with 8 RBIs and 4 runs scored. Also, special mention goes to Vladimir Guerrero, who stole 7 bases all by himself.

Angels 44, Cubs 4

In Week 6, the Cubs continued in the same vein as their last two matchups – 11 hits (12 average in Weeks 4 and 5), three extra-base hits (3.5 average), and four runs (3.5 average). They were able to successfully buck the trend of runs allowed, though, as Kenny Kawaguchi shut out the AI Angels for his first shutout of the season. But the AI Cubs were the opposite of successful in that regard – instead, they were the victims of a slaughterfest by the Angels, as the team truly broke out with the second-highest score of the entire season so far, and the best game yet by a Frontyard League team. The entire team went off, nobody getting on base less than four times, and even with only two triples and two home runs, all the Angels’ singles and doubles, combined with five walks and 23 stolen bases, worked well at Tin Can Alley to demonstrate why that can be such a desirable field. Dunkel and Koppel split pitching duty in a clean shutout to punctuate the Angels’ game, as they hope to break out of their tie for last in the NL East.

Player of the game: The entire team had a big day, but nobody more so that Julie Dunkel, who went 7-for-7 with 3 singles, 3 doubles, a home run, 6 RBI, 7 runs scored, 4 stolen bases, and 3 scoreless innings pitched.

A’s 20, Melonheads 9

A slumping Melonheads team failed to break out of it and regain their earlier form this week. Several undergrounders, as well as two home runs and 6 RBI by Fabienne Callahan, helped them to not totally bomb the game, but five of their players combining to go 3-for-16 put a damper on any rallies they attempted. That left the Athletics free to take care of business as normal, which they proceeded to do. They actually recorded their lowest run and hit + walk totals so far this week, but at 17 and 24 compared to previous lows of 18 and 26, it wasn’t noticeable in the big picture. Nomar Garciaparra had a comparatively bad day with just three singles, but his teammates picked up the slack and everybody got a piece of the action, with the A’s tacking four more home runs on as well as they continue to comfortably lead the league (sans the Indians) in that category. The A’s continue to coast to a likely playoff spot, while the Melonheads’ poor division competition can only help them stay afloat there for so long.

Player of the game: Amir Khan filled the void that Nomar left this week, 4-for-4 with two singles, two home runs, and four runs scored and batted in.

Mariners 6, Braves -2

The Braves had another standard game for them at the plate, with three home runs account for 4 of their 6 runs and Lambert, Estrada, and Thomas continuing to carry the team. But this week, they were unable to control the AI Mariners, as neither Johnson nor Huggins could stop them on the way to a game-winning 8 runs. Meanwhile, the Mariners had a similar game to their recent efforts, but with just five runs and twelve hits, it was a bit muted in comparison. The bottom five players went a collective 2-for-14, which undoubtedly was the biggest cause for their lack of output, but the top four going 10-for-12 with six extra-base hits was enough combined with their AI to carry the team to victory despite Hoskins giving up two runs on the mound. That gives the Mariners hopes of welcoming company to the basement of their division this week, even as the Braves are put in danger of sliding to their own division’s.

Player of the game: Susan Gore went 3-for-3 with a single, double, home run, and two runs scored and batted in.

Bombers 8, Expos 3

After logging their first two runs and first victory against the AI last week, the Expos followed it up with an even stronger performance this week, scoring five runs total. A three-run shot by Mike Piazza helped, and everybody except Billy Jean Blackwood got in on the action as the team set a new high of 13 hits on the game, leaving their improvement clear even if Angela Delvecchio surrendered three runs on the mound. But it wasn’t enough to stand up to the Bombers’ onslaught – seven of their players got two hits or more, and despite just four extra-base hits and 10 left on base, the resulting stream of hits was enough to drive in run after run until the team had locked up both the victory this week, and the sole division lead in the NL Central for at least one more week.

Player of the game: Terry Vega went 3-for-4 with two singles, a double, and two runs scored and batted in.

Cardinals 4, Yankees 1

Stuck at their hated Casa again and facing a strong Cardinals defense, the Yankees suffered badly this week. They got plenty of hits – a total of 14, including four by Jessica Wassersas – but extra bases were few and far between and they were only able to bring two of those runners around to score. Bobby Bulgrien also struggled on the mound, giving up a hit for every batter he struck out and giving up one run to halve the Yankees’ differential. That opened up the opportunity for the Cardinals to return to their early-season form, scoring not a lot, but enough to get the job done. Even though they got three less hits than the Yankees, they still managed to score four more runs, helped greatly by a trio of home runs, and that plus their staunch AI defense gave them the victory despite Mr. Clanky giving up two runs to the AI Yankees. The Yankees drop into a tie for last in the NL Central, while the Cardinals extend their lead in the East to two games.

Player of the game: Marseullus Marx was 2-for-3 with a single, home run, three RBI, and two scored.

Tapirs 19, Giants 2

The Giants’ latest game was squarely average when compared to their other efforts so far this season – 10 hits (average of 9.6 in the first five games) and 2 runs (average of 2.2), although like the Cubs, they were able to buck the runs allowed trend by shutting out the AI Tapirs. Their two runs this week came on a pair of solo shots by McDonnell and Futterman, with nobody else able to circle the bases this week. But if the Giants were hoping for their AI to shut out another team, they were gravely disappointed, as a Tapirs team on a hot streak continued it for their strongest game yet. While Morgan and Harding combined to go 1-for-8, everybody else on the team got on at least three times, and 18 stolen bases set them up perfectly to continue their rallies and leave just four runners on. With home runs by normally weak hitters in Haldi and Johnson, it looks like the Tapirs also benefitted from some powerups. Their latest smackdown moves them into a sole second place, nipping on the Bombers’ heels just one game behind, while the Giants continue to stagnate multiple games behind the Devil Rays.

Player of the game: Gwen Sears went 3-for-4 with two singles, a triple, two runs scored, and a team-leading 5 RBI.

Rockies 6, Orioles 6

Indians 24, Monsters 5

With Monsters coach Aesnop unable to play this week, Eauxps I. Fourgott subbed in for him, and as could be expected, they didn’t have the biggest day under the management of a substitute coach. While Liz Kinghorn went 4-for-4 and Wally Evans smacked a three-run shot to center, it was otherwise slow scoring for the Monsters, and their effort wasn’t helped when Sammy Sosa hit an extremely questionable “home run” off-screen in the left-field corner. That left an easy win for the Indians, but not an uneventful one. Their effort stood out by virtue of the fact that they had a field day smacking it out of the park – hitting an amazing total of 14 home runs on the day! With only 8 other hits, that truly did define their game, and allowed home run legend Crazyei8hts to cement his lead for the most home runs of the season, as with 11 more total than the next-closest team, he’ll be hard to catch for the rest of the season. The Indians also remain standing as the only undefeated team in the league, while the Monsters have now been knocked out of the lead in the AL East for the first time.

Player of the game: Cheryl Reynolds led the slugfest by going 4-for-4 with four solo home runs.

Tigers 16, Diamondbacks 5

Pirates 7, Blue Jays 3

The Blue Jays had one of their roughest games all season this week. While they were able to scrounge up five extra-base hits, they were of limited use when paired with just six singles, and they lost several runs of their lead when the AI Pirates lucked out by having a Crazy Bunt go outside the field but still be counted as in play. Meanwhile, after two very strong games, the Pirates fell back some this week, only scoring an eight runs that they had doubled or better in each of the past two weeks. Making their effort even more frustrating, they got a full 20 hits and one walk, meaning 13 runners were either out on fielder’s choices or left on base. Put in a different perspective, the Pirates achieved nine more hits than the Jays this game, but a mere two more runs. Still, those two runs, combined with giving up three less runs than the Jays, were enough to give them their second win in a row. The Pirates are still in the basement of the AL Central but now have a realistic chance of climbing out of it; meanwhile, with the same record of just 2-4, the Blue Jays manage to still be in a tie for the division lead with the Melonheads and Orioles.

Player of the game: Adam van Doren went 4-for-4 with two each of singles, doubles, runs scored, and RBI.

Marlins 9, Devil Rays 4

One week after getting thrashed by the Yankees AI, the Devil Rays were able to rebound. Dobbs and VanderHoek combined to shut down the AI Marlins, while three singles from Grace Tipton resulted in two runs and led the Rays’s offensive. But the Rays weren’t the only team to recover from an AI loss this week, as the Marlins bounced back and proved that the curse of the AI Devil Rays was broken in an 8-run effort where Esther French pitched a shutout. A team that normally relies on the long ball to do well, the Marlins made it through this game with no home runs at all, and four of their hitters went a combined 3-for-14, but a total 16-for-19 by their other five hitters resulted in several rallies, especially on balls hit to a struggling Dobbs in center field, that drove in quite a few runs and gave the Marlins their third victory of the season. The Devil Rays still have a two-game lead in the West, but if they continue this slide and one of their division rivals heats up, they could see that lead slip away. Meanwhile, the Marlins maintain a tie with the Braves and Angels at the bottom of the East.

Player of the game: A boosted Anna Goodreau continually contributed to the Marlins’ effort, going 4-for-4 with four singles, scoring twice, and batting in three runs.

Red Sox 22, Wombats 9

A struggling Wombats team had another game along the lines of many of their efforts this season, producing a score that was decent but not high. While the team managed to draw an impressive six walks, everybody except Vladimir Guerrero got on either two or three times, and four different players contributed home runs, they still struggled to bring runners home, with 11 of their 22 runners failing to score, and Bosworth had a dud of a game, striking out only one hitter and giving up two runs to cut into their score. The result still would have been enough to beat out several mediocre efforts by AL teams this week, but not the Red Sox. With everybody getting at least two hits, six players getting at least three, and three players getting at least four, it was another smackdown week for Boston. The fact that half of their 28 hits were for extra bases underscored their dominance for the matchup as they continue their reign of terror outside of the AL East. The Sox catch up to the Monsters with this win, as they continue to nip on the A’s heels in the East, while even in their weak division, the Wombats continue to drift in last place with no victories since Opening Week.

Player of the game: Earl Abbott was a true workhorse this week. At the plate he went 5-for-5 with three singles, two doubles, and four runs scored, while on the mound he pitched five-and-a-third scoreless innings.

Diamondbacks 11, Orioles 8

The Orioles had proven weak in their first two games at home, but were able to improve on those efforts this week. While they got a comparable number of hits, a boost in extra-base hits, especially 4 total home runs from Markart, Nevin, and Sturges, allowed them to increase their run total, while Sturges also pitched her first shutout of the season. But after tasting victory last week, the D’Backs weren’t ready to stop yet, and performed just as well this week despite having to contend with Sandy Flats. Their hit and run numbers were almost identical, but the big difference from last week came in the form of six home runs from four players, which seemed to account for the majority of their runs scored. Both teams now sit a 2-3, though thanks to the divisions they’re in, the defeated Orioles’ overall position is still a lot better than the victorious Diamondbacks’.

Player of the game: Uma Morris was 3-for-4 with 3 home runs and 4 RBI.

Yankees 2, Devil Rays -6

The Rays got a taste of their own medicine this week, as they were swept away by the AI Yankees. The inhospitable Casa gave the Rays a hard time stringing the hits together, so they only scored on solo home runs by Wayne and Uchida, while VanderHoek, Franklin, and Dobbs all gave up runs en route to the AI Yankees scoring 7 all-told. Meanwhile, the Yankees had to confront double demons this week, both playing at a home field where they’ve struggled this season and facing off against a Devil Rays AI that had not yet lost a game, and they did struggle at the plate, only recording seven singles and a double. But Bobby Bulgrien held firm in the face of the AI Devil Rays, ultimately successfully shutting them out as the Yankees become the first team this season to defeat them. The Devil Rays thus suffer their first loss of the season, leaving only the Indians undefeated, but maintain a comfortable lead in the NL West, while the Yankees could catch up to the Bombers with a loss by the latter.

Player of the game: Bulgrien not only shut down a heretofore unbeatable team while striking out ten hitters, but also batted in both of the Yankees’ runs with his solitary single.

Cardinals 14, Expos 1

Shortly after we thought that Expos coach Jarod Johnson had left us, he returned and went on to defeat the AI for the first time this season. While Angela Delvecchio wasn’t able to completely shake off the Cardinals, the Expos were still able to squeeze in two runs, including a solo home run by Billy Jean Blackwood, to claim victory over the Cardinals’ AI. But after their initial “breakout” game last week, the Cardinals really opened up and unleashed their power this week, nearly doubling their run total for the season in a dominant performance. Over half the team got on base at least three teams, and while the other players weren’t so successful, the stronger players’ consistency was enough to keep the Cardinals scoring. While there’s a long season to go yet, the Cardinals really showed their ability to compete and solidified their NL East lead with this win.

Player of the game: Jorge Garcia’s consistency was a big part of the Cards’ success, as he went 4-for-4 with two singles, two home runs, and 3 RBI.

Pirates 19, Melonheads 5

The Melonheads had gotten a decent start to the season, but fell hard in this game. Only three players got on base more than once, and almost every hit they did achieve (as well as every run) was from an error or Crazy Bunt as they never really got going – even a lengthy rules discussion as to whether a play was acceptable turned out to be irrelevant as the next hitter turned the third out anyway. On the flip side, the Pirates followed a strong breakout game last week with another good performance this week. With everybody getting on during the game and all but one getting on at least twice, they were able to keep the offensive rolling, and had another exemplary showing of baserunner efficiency, only stranding six while scoring 16. Five home runs, each by a different player, capped off their effort as a strong showing worthy of producing Pittsburgh’s first win of the season.

Player of the game: Brad Radke did it all this week, going two-for-three with a walk, double, (Aluminum Power-granted) home run, and team-leading four RBI, but also facing the minimum number of batters in a one-hit shutout.

Red Sox 13, Tigers 10

With Tigers coach GSchlim unable to play once again, Yurya took over as a substitute coach this week. The result was a decent if unspectacular game. While six of the Tigers’ hitters went a collective 15-for-20, the other three went a collective 0-for-9 to limit their output. Meanwhile, the Red Sox had a weak game by their standards but still a solid one on the whole, with over half the team getting at least three hits apiece and all but one getting at least two. Even a controversial infield fly call couldn’t dampen their spirits by too much. While the result was beatable, it was enough for the Sox to prevail in this game, advancing them to 3-2 and keeping their hopes of playoffs alive even as the Tigers sink to the bottom of their division.

Player of the game: Parker Collum went 3-for-4 with a single and two home runs, batting in 7 of the Red Sox’s 13 runs.

A’s 21, Rockies 17

Going into a tough matchup against the dominant A’s, the Rockies gave it their all this week and had a strong game indeed. Cindy Chang with two hits was the least productive member of the team, everybody else getting at least three hits, and Pimbleton and Felgate each batted in 6 runs en route to a total of 22 for Colorado, but the team struggled on defense late in the game, as the AI A’s strung together a series of powerups to score 5 runs off the team. That proved to be the difference in a close matchup, as the A’s fell off a bit from their peak to the point that the Rockies would’ve won if they’d secured a shutout. It was still a strong game by the A’s though, everybody getting at least two hits and six players getting three or more, and another four home runs punctuated their effort. Both teams continue their hunt for the division title, but the Rockies’ loss kills their chances of catching the Indians this week.

Player of the game: Nomar Garciaparra continued his reign of terror, 4-for-4 with a single, three home runs, 8 RBI, and zero failures to score.

Tapirs 15, Angels 13

Coming off the heels of two strong victories, the Angels were widely expected to take a third this week, and they performed to standard. Koppell had worked off his jitters from last week to pitch four scoreless innings, and seven of the players got at least two hits each to boost the Angels to a third straight game of at least 22 hits and 13 runs after the multiplier, even if they never got any hits bigger than doubles. But an unexpected twist came when an inconsistent Tapirs team came out with an even bigger game to sweep the Angels off their feet. Only Dominique Lowe failed to achieve at least two hits on the game, and a total of five home runs at Tin Can made the difference, allowing the Tapirs to surge ahead and score five more runs than the Angels despite logging three less hits, with an impressively low left on base total of three. The Angels continue to struggle despite good performances, now 2-3 and tied for last in the NL East, while a loss by the Bombers could let the Tapirs catch up to the division lead.

Player of the game: Gwen Sears was the sole Tapir with more than 2 hits on the game, 4-for-4 with a single, a double, two home runs, and 5 RBI while scoring every time she came to the plate.

Mariners 7, Marlins -1

After losing to the Cardinals AI at the Paveway earlier in the season, the Marlins were wary of visiting the similar Cement Gardens, and their concerns proved well-founded. While home runs by Lebeaux and Deschenes helped them to score a little bit, Sally Dobbs clobbered two hits to help the AI Mariners score four runs and defeat the French Fish once again. Meanwhile, the Mariners continued in the vein of their recent games to secure a second win. It was a slightly lower score than their last two, but still close, and they were helped by the fact that half of their fourteen hits were for extra bases. Everybody except Skiumsby got in on the action, and Beattie and Sweet both had perfect days at the plate even though neither scored any runs, the production instead coming from the top of the lineup. Both teams remain at the bottom of their divisions, but the Mariners looked much stronger this week.

Player of the game: Sally Dobbs gets it for her effective harrassment of the Marlins combined with a decent game on the Mariners’ side: 2-for-3 with a double, triple, and two runs scored.

Indians 18, Wombats 11

The Wombats were hoping to break their losing streak and had a decent game with over ten runs scored. Claudia Villarta was on fire going 4-for-4 with four runs scored and three batted in, while reigning Ace Tiffany Bosworth added 9 strikeouts to her total, all as seven of nine players got two hits or more for a solid game. However, the final undefeated team in the league wasn’t ready to lose just yet, and won their fifth straight game despite a record low of just three home runs for the team. Nobody on the Indians even got more than three hits, but 2 or 3 for most of the players and a low LOB total of just five helped them to put up a strong score of 15 before the multiplier all the same. The Indians continue to cruise atop the AL Central, while the Wombats manage to remain just one game back from the division lead despite having only one win.

Player of the game: Petra Chekov went 2-for-3 with a single, home run, and team-leading 4 RBI.

Monsters 11, Blue Jays 7

After two strong games, the Jays tapered off this week against the Monsters, stranding twelve runners as they only managed to score seven. Even though Houston and Hendrix both went 4-for-4, those were all singles, and a speedy Monsters defense helped limit the usefulness of those slow runners on first. A double and home run by Chico Pappas were the only extra-base hits that the Jays could summon all game, and that resulted in a low score. The Monsters were back after forfeiting the week before, and even though their effort fell short of the strength they’ve exhibited at other times, it was still enough for the win. It was a tale of two halves of the team – four players combined to go just 3-for-13 with 0 runs and 1 RBI, but the other five combined to go 13-for-17 with 10 runs and 9 RBI, and the more successful half was able to drag the team to victory. The Monsters maintain a tie for first with the A’s in the AL East, while the Blue Jays’ loss leaves them tied with the Melonheads and Orioles for the lead in the AL West at an unimpressive 2-3.

Player of the game: Wally Evans led the team’s effort by going 4-for-4 with two singles, a double, a triple, and three runs scored.

Braves 5, Giants -5

Much like the Devil Rays, the Giants were a team who were used to beating opponents with their AI, only to have the tables turned on them this week. The AI Braves were too much to handle, scoring five runs on a series of HRs off of Luanne Lui, while holding the Giants scoreless as a hit each for six players was the best they could do. Meanwhile, the Braves rebounded nicely from an AI loss last week, giving up only one run to the AI Giants while scoring six. The top of the lineup did all the work, though, going 13-for-17 with a walk and all the teams runs and RBI while the last five hitters went a collective 3-for-17. Still, a bunch of singles and a pair each of doubles and home runs by that top of the lineup was enough to get the job done. The Braves now stand alone in second place in the NL East, one game behind the Cardinals, while the Giants’ 2-3 record is a more distant second place, 2 games behind the Devil Rays.

Player of the game: Zenon Estrada was 4-for-4 with two singles, a double, a solo home run, and three total runs scored.

Bombers 12, Cubs 2

In the final matchup of the week, the Cubs had another small-scale game. While Keisha Phillips led the team by going 3-for-4 and batting in three runs, the rest of the team only got eight singles and two extra-base hits on the game, and two runs given up by Kenny Kawaguchi further reduced their score. Meanwhile, the Bombers broke out this week with their strongest game yet. Their eleven runs are over half their total from the first four games, and everybody on the team got on base for the first time this season. Seven players getting on at least twice helped out, as did a strong total of 14 stolen bases, and all added up to an easy win for Baltimore. That win maintains Baltimore’s tenuous lead on the NL Central, as they still stand just one game above the Tapirs and Yankees.

Player of the game: Cliff Floyd was the only player on the team to go 4-for-4, with two singles, a double, a triple, and 2 runs scored and batted in.

Yankees 2, Giants 1

After a break from playing in Week 3, the Giants’ fearsome AI came next for the Yankees. Like the other teams to face the Giants, the Yanks struggled to keep the AI under control, giving up a total of six runs. However, they were able to put up their own offensive as well, as six of their players got two hits or more each, including six extra-base hits, providing enough of a push to become the first team to defeat the AI Giants this season. On their end, the Giants got only two hits less than the Yankees, but with a sole double as their only extra-base hit, they weren’t able to use their runners as efficiently, leaving 11 on and scoring 5 less runs than the Yanks. That still would have been enough for the win, but the Yankees AI got in a punch of their own: they scored 2 runs off of Luanne Lui, which was just enough to give New York a narrow victory.

Player of the game: While Jessica Wassersas had the best statline on offense this game, giving up 6 runs on the mound bumps her off. The distinction instead goes to Gary Allen, 2-for-3 with a double, triple and 2 RBI.

Cardinals 5, Cubs 1

After missing Week 3, the Cubs were fortunately back, but the week off didn’t seem to do them any favors. With only eleven hits on the game and nobody on the team getting more than two, their effort was pretty limited, and a pair of solo shots by Weis and Goodfellow was canceled out by Kenny Kawaguchi giving up two runs on the mound, leading to a regression from their Week 2 showing. By contrast, the Cardinals, a 2-1 team that hadn’t yet scored more than 5 runs in a game, had their best game yet this week, scoring 8 against Chicago’s middling defense. They actually achieved the same 16 hits and 5 extra-base hits that they had in last week’s contest, but were able to score 3 more runs this week, showing how their baserunners are getting smarter. Mr. Clanky did give up three runs on the mound, but made up for it by scoring all three times he came up to the plate. This win put St. Louis up to 3-1, with the potential to take the division lead alone if the Braves lost.

Player of the game: Mr. Clanky’s three runs allowed excludes him from consideration, so Jeff Conine gets the nod this week, going 3-for-4 with two singles, a home run, and 2 RBI.

Diamondbacks 16, Wombats 7

A Wombats team that’s been lukewarm since their Opening Week win wasn’t able to regain their momentum this week. While their score of 7 was better than Week 2’s mark of 4, it only came on one more hit and walk than that week’s effort, as while Ichiro, Sexson, and Proutt could get on base regularly, the rest of the team struggled at a collective 4-for-16. Meanwhile, the Diamondbacks relished the opportunity to finally face teams outside the Division of Doom, and took full advantage of it in this game with a strong 14-run performance that was more than enough to blow out the competition. Despite Ichiro behind the plate preventing any stolen bases, the D’Backs prospered, with everybody except Jocinda Smith getting on base at least twice and four players getting on three times. That win pushes the Wombats back to an increasingly bleak 1-3, while the Diamondbacks secure their first win, leaving only the Pirates and Expos winless.

Player of the game: Yankees import Shelia Basante not only got on base every time, but was also helpful in getting her teammates to score. She went 4-for-4 with three singles, a triple, and 3 RBI.

Angels 13, Mariners 7

After their breakout game last week, the Mariners were out to prove that it wasn’t a fluke, and did so convincingly this week. Their 17 hits surpassed their highest previous total by more than half en route to their highest run total yet, with Davy Marian hitting two home runs and driving in 6 to lead the offensive. But the Angels were on a similar mission, and themselves came out in force for the second week in a row, logging 5 more hits and 4 more runs than the Mariners. While Anaheim wasn’t able to get any hits better than doubles, 8 doubles did help their efforts, as did over half the team getting 3 hits or more. Chad Koppel also got his day in the spotlight, as he was able to pitch more than two innings for the first time since winning the Ace Wilson in Season 4. While a bit rusty, giving up 9 hits and 2 runs, he was able to strike out seven and complete the game. Despite being just 2-2 after four weeks, the Angels are increasingly looking like a top threat in the NL, while the Mariners will need to get some more favorable matchups to have a chance at the playoffs.

Player of the game: Troy Glaus led his pro team’s effort, 4-for-4 with a single, three doubles, three runs scored, and 4 RBI.

Marlins 9, Bombers 6

It was largely business as usual for the Bombers this week; while a pair of home runs by Heffernan and Klinker helped them to beat their previous best score by 1, their game was otherwise very similar to their efforts in the first three weeks of play. The big difference this time was in how their opponents performed. Perhaps energized by playing at home for the first time, the Marlins had their best game of the season so far, scoring two more runs than last week despite logging six less hits. They essentially traded eight singles for two home runs, but in this case it worked out well for them, and Perry Marx was the day’s only dud as the rest of the team all contributed. That keeps the Marlins in the running for now in a tight NL East race, while the Bombers were handed their first loss (leaving only the Indians, Monsters, and Devil Rays undefeated) but still sit atop the Central.

Player of the game: Monseuir Deschenes was valuable as always, 3-for-4 with two singles, a home run, and 3 RBI.

Indians 13, Orioles 2

After a pair of strong finishes, the Orioles came crashing down to the sandy earth when they returned to their home field. Just 10 singles and 2 doubles, spread across almost the whole team, couldn’t be converted to many runs at the Flats, and Matessa Sturges gave up four runs on the mound to all but invalidate the runs they did score. Meanwhile, the Indians once again came short of being truly dominant, but kept their flawless record of scoring over 10 runs per game alive and did well enough to remain undefeated after four weeks. While Delgado and Kowalski only got one hit combined, the rest of the team each got at least two to keep the team running strong, even if their 4 home runs are the lowest total yet for a coach best known for his homer prowess.

Player of the game: Cheryl Reynolds went 5-for-5 with a single, double, three home runs, and 5 RBI.

Melonheads 17, Monsters F

The Melonheads’ fourth game was a slow start – multiple double plays turned by the Monsters defense and a general lack of good hitting for the ‘Heads left them tied 3-3 going into the bottom of the fifth, before a massive Under Grounder-fueled rally produced 14 more runs to launch them right back up with a respectable score. That score was still expected to be blown away by the Monsters, though, and initially that’s just what happened, as initial results showed them winning 29-17. However, on review of footage, it was determined that one tactic the Monsters had been using so far this season doesn’t fall under acceptable tactics per the league’s ruleset. Coach Aesnop was offered the chance to let this score stand or replay the Monsters’ side of the game, but decided that he would feel better simply forfeiting the game. That gives the Monsters an unorthodox first loss, while the Melonheads now sit at an arguably undeserved 2-2.

Player of the game: Even though she gave up three runs on the mound, Maria Luna only gave them up on a series of Crazy Bunts and otherwise pitched a flawless game. But she gets the distinction for being the strongest hitter on the team this week, going 4-for-4 with three singles, a home run, and three runs scored and batted in, all without a single Under Grounder use.

Red Sox 30, Pirates 20

After three weeks of fairly low scores, the Pirates finally had their breakout game this week. With 21 runs scored and just five runners left on base, they exhibited exemplary efficiency in this game. 11 total extra-base hits, plus the fact that six of nine hitters recorded at least three hits, showcased just how effectively they played, if observers weren’t clued in by the fact that they scored more than in the first three games combined. Unfortunately for them, the Red Sox had an absolute slaughterfest of a game themselves, as everybody on the team got at least two hits, seven players got at least four, and over a third of their 36 hits were for extra bases. Even with the Pirates’ strong effort, they stood no chance against Boston’s onslaught, and so remain winless after four weeks, even as the Red Sox struggle to keep pace with their tight competition in the AL East.

Player of the game: Zena Fromme went 5-for-6 with two singles, three home runs, and 9 RBI.

Rockies 12, Blue Jays 11

We saw a whole new Blue Jays team in Week Three, and they were hoping to keep up that momentum this week. But while they didn’t fully return to their first two weeks’ performances this time, they also weren’t able to perform as well in this matchup. It was still a strong performance, though, with eight players getting at least two hits, five getting at least three, and Jason Kendall batting in 7 runs as he was a single shy of hitting for the cycle. The Rockies had a similar story, unable to repeat their Week 3 success fully, and on the whole having a less impressive game than the Jays. They weren’t helped by their worst three hitters going a collective 2-for-10, but eight extra-base hits along with a fair helping of singles allowed them to put forward a decent performance nonetheless. In the end, while the Jays finished the game with the higher run total, five runs given up by Betty Houston, combined with the Rockies getting the home team multiplier, set the Jays back enough for the Rockies to just barely sneak out the win, keeping their hopes of competing for the Central title alive while the Blue Jays’s West division is a mess where three teams at 2-2 are tied for the lead.

Player of the game: Former MVP Debby Nagasawa was living up to the title this week, 4-for-4 with two singles, two doubles, and 3 RBI.

Devil Rays 3, Braves -1

The Braves had gotten on a roll recently, but that all came crashing down this week. A quartet of solo home runs – two by Lambert and one each by Estrada and Mikey Thomas – were the only four runs they were able to score all game, while the murderous Devil Rays AI struck once more, scoring 5 runs off of Randy Johnson to advance their record to 4-0. Meanwhile, the Devil Rays weren’t able to find the success that they had last week, and in fact put out their lowest hit total of the season so far, but two home runs amid a smattering of other hits still sufficed to score a few runs and convert them into another win. The result sets the Braves back in a tough NL East race with little room for error, while the Devil Rays sit comfortably atop the West as one of the two remaining undefeated teams.

Player of the game: Holly Franklin, 2-for-3 with a single, home run, and 2 RBI.

A’s 28, Tigers F

Fresh off what may be one of their toughest games of the season, where they narrowly lost to the Monsters, the A’s bounded right back in a merciless bashing of the Tigers. While Amanda Hellerman was “only ” able to get two hits on the game, everybody else got at least three, with over half the team scoring four or more, and of all those hits, there were only two more singles then there were extra-base hits. Garciaparra was at it again, nocking two more home runs and batting in eight runs this week. The result was likely to be a win in any case, which is part of why a Tigers coach GSchlim, pressed for time, chose to forfeit this week. With the Monsters’ earlier forfeit the A’s are now tied for the division lead, and it doesn’t seem like they have any chance of missing the playoffs.

Player of the game: Achmed Khan gets it for hitting for the cycle, with an extra single thrown in for good measure. Not recording a single out this game, he also both scored and batted in four runs.

Tapirs 14, Expos -6

The Expos narrowly missed the cutoff this week, resulting in a five-run penalty, but it didn’t make a difference in this case. While Angela Delvecchio had her best game yet this season, giving up only a single run, the Expos couldn’t get anything going at all against the Tapirs’ AI, getting no-hit at the inhospitable Sandy Flats. The Tapirs’ game was the exact opposite, as they enjoyed a near-total slugfest at their home park. Everybody got on at least once, and eight players at least twice, and with eight extra-base hits, they were able to roll in the runs as well, all leading up to the week’s second-strongest score in the Frontyard League. After two strong games and two weak games, the Tapirs now sit at 2-2, within spitting distance of the division-leading Bombers.

Player of the game: Ricky Johnson went 3-for-4 with a single, double, and home run, batting in 4 runs.

Bombers 4, Yankees 1

A Yankees team on a hot streak cooled down quickly upon returning to Casa de Pablo. The team only got 10 hits total on the game, nothing better than a double, and a good portion of those hits were actually fielder’s choices, leading to them only being able to score 2 runs on the game. Meanwhile, the Bombers stayed consistent, putting up 4 runs for the second game in a row, and that was all they needed to collect the win once again. 13 of their 14 hits were singles with just a solo home run to break up the monotony, but the Bombers were less prone to fielder’s choices and the extra hits helped make the difference in a low-scoring matchup. The win leaves Baltimore alone on top of the NL Central after the initial division series, with a 3-0 record despite tying for the lowest run total in the division.

Player of the game: Cliff Floyd gets the nod, going 3-for-4 with two singles and the solo home run.

Mariners 6, Tapirs 4

The Tapirs struggled in their first home game, only getting 5 hits off of the stalwart Seattle defense. Three of those five hits were home runs, though, allowing them to stay on the scoreboard regardless. But the Mariners had their breakout game this week, their run total of 7 exceeding their first two games’ combined, to claim their first victory. Like the Tapirs, the Mariners didn’t get a lot of hits outside of a trio of home runs, but they were able to get more, eight singles to Albuquerque’s two, and enough of those hitters were driven in to allow them to maintain the lead even when Dominic Hoskins surrendered a run on the mound. This result ties three of the NL Central’s four teams for last place at 1-2, giving the Bombers a strong position indeed to start out.

Player of the game: The seven runs and three home runs on the Mariners were all evenly spread around the team, but Sally Dobbs accomplished the most with her one of each. She didn’t get any other hits on the game, but her home run drove in three runs, enough to make all the difference in this matchup.

Orioles 23, Melonheads 7

After a strong start to the season, the Melonheads came crashing down this week. A weakened Jane Davis couldn’t accomplish very much, Sidney Webber went 0-for-3 after starting the season 8-for-9, nobody except Rosanna Phelps achieved more than two hits, and Maria Luna gave up her first run of the season on a solo shot by Joella Minotti, all leading to a run differential less than half of the team’s first two. By contrast, the Orioles were absolutely on fire this week, as everybody on the team except for Phil Nevin got at least four hits on the game, leading to a complete smackdown. The O’s didn’t just get on base a lot – they got a lot of extra base hits too, with eight doubles, three triples, and a whopping nine home runs helping to drive them in. The blowout victory puts the O’s at the top of the AL West heap, and if they keep on this hot streak then they’ll be the favorites to win the division.

Player of the game: Ken Griffey, Jr. was at the center of a dominant O’s performance. In addition to proving a consistent thorn in the side of the Melonheads’ offense, he went 4-for-6 on the Orioles’ side, with a triple, and three home runs adding up to 8 RBI.

Angels 14, Cardinals 2

The Cardinals came out with their strongest hitting performance yet this game. Everybody got at least one hit, six of nine hitters got at least two, and as a result both the Cards’ hit and run total exceeded what they had achieved in the first two games combined. But despite recording an impressive 13 strikeouts, Mr. Clanky struggled to contain the Angels’ offense the rest of the time, giving up ten hits and four runs to mostly whittle away the Cards’ total. Meanwhile, hungry for a win, the Angels fired on all cylinders on this matchup to also record their best game yet. Other than Jose Meisenheimer and Chad Koppel, who combined for three hits, each player on the Angels recorded at least three, and their 14 total extra-base hits compared to just 5 in the first two games seemed to make the difference in allowing the team to put up a high score – in fact, their run total of 17 is the best score achieved by a Frontyard League team so far this season! That win gets the Angels out of the basement and reins in the Cardinals, leaving the NL East teams all close together as the teams branch out to face those from the other divisions.

Player of the game: Julie Dunkel nets the award despite giving up three runs on the mound – that dubious distinction is outweighed by her 4-for-5 day at the plate, tripling three times, hitting one home run, and scoring all four times while also batting in three runs.

Braves 7, Marlins 7

After a rough second game, the Marlins bounced back in their third outing. They only recorded one less hit in this game than in their first two combined, with every player except Perry Marx getting on at least once, and this week were able to shut out the AI Braves. However, their efficiency wasn’t so good, only scoring 7 runs as 15 runners failed to make it around. The Braves were a total opposite in this regard, only getting 8 hits across the entire game with over half of their players shut out on the game, but scoring all but two of the runners who did get on base. The long ball played a heavy part in their strategy, as half of those hits were home runs, and the combined total was just enough for the multiplier to boost them over the Marlins in the tightest contest of the week. The victory ties the Braves for the division lead, and in a hopeful position given that their run total so far is over double that of their close rivals the Cardinals.

Player of the game: Mikey Thomas went 3-for-3 with a triple, two home runs, and 4 RBI.

Indians 12, Pirates 5

The Pirates played much the same in their third game as they did in the first two. They were solid at getting on base, everybody except Brad Radke getting on at least once, but with their hits mostly consisting of singles their final score was still fairly low. The Indians had their worst game yet this season, actually recording one less total hit than the Pirates in a notable decrease from their first two games, but a total of five home runs from the slugging squad helped them to score more efficiently, only failing to score with 5 runners compared to the Pirates’ 10. That was the big difference in this game, and allowed the Indians to start the season off with a 3-0 record to lead the AL Central, while the Pirates are one of three teams left in the league without a win.

Player of the game: Petra Chekov led the Indians’ efforts by going 3-for-3 with a single, two home runs, and 3 RBI.

Blue Jays 24, Wombats 14

The Jays’ first two scores of the season hadn’t been particularly impressive, but they showed a new side in their first game played away from a sandy field. While attaining four batting powerups was a significant boost to their efforts, they dominated their game nonetheless, as every player got at least two hits, seven players got at least three, and six players got on base at least four times, all adding up to a score that thoroughly trounced their opponent’s effort. For the Wombats’ part, they bounced back fairly well from their crash in Week 2, but didn’t reach the level of their dominance in Opening Week. Everybody on the team got at least one hit, and they had their lowest number of runners fail to score of the season so far, at just six of nineteen, showing that they can still put up a fight as the interdivisional matchups begin. Nevertheless, they’re set back in what could be a tight division race, as the Blue Jays’ win ties them with the Orioles for first place.

Player of the game: Chico Pappas was unstoppable and especially took advantage of the short left-field fence in this game. He went 6-for-6 on the game, with 2 singles, a double, 3 home runs, 5 runs scored, and 8 RBI.

Red Sox 21, Diamondbacks 16

Hoping to get their first win in an unrelenting division, the Diamondbacks put on a truly remarkable display of baserunner efficiency. Everybody got on base at least once, and the team scored 16 runs on the whole – and at the same time managed to have only one runner fail to score the entire game! Four home runs, including three from Sheila Basanti, were undoubtedly helpful in this effort. Unfortunately for the D’Backs, the Red Sox still outdid them – they didn’t reach the same height of efficiency, with eight runners failing to score, but with far more hits, they didn’t need to. The Sox’s effort was boosted by a plethora of extra-base hits, 17 of their 29 hits getting to second base or farther, and with all their players ranging from 2-4 hits, their offensive was rather evenly distributed to help as well. With 6 HRs to Arizona’s 4, the Red Sox outclassed their opponents in every aspect of this game to take their first win of what, with interdivisional matchups on the horizon, they hope to be many.

Player of the game: Pete Wheeler went 4-for-6 with a single, a triple, two home runs, four runs scored, and five RBI.

Monsters 24, Athletics 18

Playing against the second-most dominant team in the league so far, at a home field that doesn’t suit them too well, the Monsters were at their most vulnerable in this game, and the A’s put forth their best effort to beat them. Other than Achmed Khan who had a slump of a game, everybody on the team got at least three hits, and while the team only got one home run compared to 16 in their first two games combined, they still only barely scored lower than they did last week. But it still wasn’t enough to stop the powerhouse Monsters team, even when on their end they put up their weakest performance of the season so far. With everybody except Tom Glass getting on at least twice, though, and the team still scoring 20 runs on the game, it would be a stretch to call this a ‘weak’ game from the Monsters, and their effort was aided by stealing 21 bases off Amir Khan’s weak arm. Their toughest hurdle now overcome, the Monsters sit atop the Division of Doom and appear poised to go to town beating up on the weaker competition from the other divisions.

Player of the game: Ramona Bennett went 4-for-5 with a single, double, two home runs and four runs scored and batted in.

Devil Rays 9, Expos -7

The AI Devil Rays team completed their devastation of the NL West this week with a 6-run smackdown of the Expos. The Expos themselves were able to triple their hit count from their first two games, but with all of those hits coming as singles, they still weren’t able to translate it to run production, and like their division rivals they were unable to stand up to the AI Devil Rays’ offensive. The player-controlled Devil Rays also had a field day this week, putting up their best score so far and exceeding their first two games’ run totals combined. Though they only got a few more hits this week than before and a similar number of extra-base hits, they managed to use their baserunners more efficiently this time, only failing to score with 6 compared to 9 and 8 in the first two weeks. The Devil Rays (and their AI counterparts) are still undefeated and sit atop the NL West, and this stronger performance gives them good prospects as they head out to face the other divisions. Meanwhile, the Expos’ improved performance gives them hope that their breakout game and first win may be coming soon.

Player of the game: Holly Franklin really drove in the runs for Tampa Bay, knocking in 6 of the 10 total runs. She did that on two doubles and a home run, going 3-for-3 on the game.

Rockies 19, Tigers 14

Full stats are unavailable for the Tigers’ side of the matchup, but it is clear that after a rough second week they bounced back to Week 1 form in this game. Unfortunately for them, after a weak opening match and decent second game, the Rockies really came out in full force this week, more than doubling their season hit total and nearly tripling their run total. A change of scenery seemed to help, as this was their first game at their home field and they ramped up their extra-base hits to 16 this game, compared to 4 in the first two games combined. Even with a five-run late penalty, they defeated the Tigers soundly to claim second place in the division. If they keep up this strength, they have the potential to challenge the Indians for the division lead.

Player of the game: Lindsy Felgate hit for the cycle this week, tacking on an extra double as well as she went 5-for-5 on the day. In addition to scoring three runs, she also batted in 9.

Giants -3, Cubs F

The Giants had a rough time of it this week. They were only able to get eight hits, all of them singles, leading to just three runs, and on the mound, Luanne Lui wasn’t able to contain the Cubs’ dynamic offense, giving up five runs and leaving things looking bleak for the Giants. However, they got a reprieve as the Cubs were unable to play this week, and thus forfeited the match. That leaves the Giants’ AI undefeated after three weeks, and gives them the second place position in the division, one game above the Cubs. And some good news: Cubs manager MarcoMcGwire is still around and returned to play in Week 4.

Player of the game: Marilyn McDonnell went 2-for-3 with two singles, a run scored, and an RBI, the best performance of any player on the Giants.