Here we go:
1) 3 points possible.
Let's leave the "best record" question out for a couple rounds. Instead, let's use question #1 on the home run watch because... the Hogs' Mike Trout (33) has finally been caught be the real-life HR leader, the Rum Runners' Kris Davis (34). The ACL's Lindor is 3rd with 27. And there are SEVEN players tied for 4th with 26.
a) For one point: Who will be leading MSB at the end of Round 9 in home runs?
b) Bonus: How many HRs will the player you named have? (2 points for nailing it, 1 if you're one off).
2) 4 points possible.
The Dogs' Justin Turner (.337) leads the league in batting average among qualified players. He is followed closely by the Rum Runners' Nick Markakis (.335). Now, Turner is about to be farmed due to playing time limits (sitting at 99% and will very likely be farmed before the end of Round). Markakis is safe at 50%.
a) For one point: Will Markakis catch Turner in batting average by the end of Round 9 (ties will count)?
b) Bonus: What will the high BA be? (3 points for nailing it, 2 if you're .002 off, 1 if you're .005 off.)
3) 5 points possible.
One last offensive question: Last week we did an EBH question. This week, let's look at Total Bases. One of the best ways to determine a great all-around hitter. The leaderboard shows FIVE players in the 230's after 106 games played:
- Jose Ramirez (Kraken), 239
- Mike Trout (Hogs), 239
- Charlie Blackmon (Dogs), 236
- Mookie Betts (ACLs), 235
- Javier Baez (ACLs), 233
And the Kraken's Scooter Gennett could get hot (223), as well as the ACLs' Francisco Lindor (219). Outside of them, if you want to pick another player for your answer, I'll let you look up the numbers yourself.
a) For 2 points: Which player will be in the lead for Total Bases at the end of Round 9?
b) Bonus: What will the high TB number be? (3 if you nail it, 2 if you're 2 off, 1 if you're 4 off.)
4) 5 points possible.
In the Ford Frick League, one team is going to be really bummed at the end of September, and one team is going to be embarrassingly surprised. The bummed team will be either the Koi or the Miners (assuming the Blues don't crash to the ground, in which case "bummed" will not be the proper term to use). They're tied at 59-47 for the 2nd Wildcard berth. As for the embarrassingly surprised team, that'll come from the Uecker. The Argonauts are in a fire sale, meaning they're not likely to keep the lead in the division for much longer. That means that it is HIGHLY likely a team with a sub-.500 record is going to lead that division before long.
a) For one point: With a 6-game lead, will the Argo's be caught at the end of Round 9?
b) For one point: If you answered "no," how many games ahead will they be?
c) For one point: If you answered "yes," which team will catch them?
d) Bonus: The Argo's have 54 wins going into Round 9. How many wins will the division-leading team have at the end of Round 9? (2 for nailing it, 1 if you're one off.)
5) 10 points possible (but not likely!)
Five qualifying players have only grounded into ONE double play. And the list will probably surprise you. "Speedsters" like Jay Bruce (Madmen) and Max Muncy (Blues) are two of them. Matt Carpenter (Argonauts), Yoan Moncada (Cuttys), and Rougned Odor (Rainiers) round out the rest.
Questions:
- Two points each: Name any number of the 5 players mentioned above you think will ground into at least one double play by the end of Round 9. However, you'll get -1 for every player you name who doesn't GIDP.
6) 4 points possible.
Let's begin highlighting a series between teams. In Round 9, there's no "powerhouse" matchup, but we don't have to do those each time. In fact, in order to get every team involved, let's do 3 or 4 series' each round between now and the end of the season. For Round 9, some of the good match-ups August 7-9 include:
a) The Koi visiting the Kraken
b) The Landlubbers hosting the Miners
c) The Devils are home to the Brewers
d) The Argonauts are guests of the Rougarou
For one point each: Name the winner of the 3-game series for each match-ups.
Points possible for Round 9: 21-31
Good luck!
1a) Davis
b) 38
2a) No
b) .337
3a) Blackmon
b) 255
4a) No
b) 2
c) N/A
d) 60
5) Bruce and Moncada
6a) Kraken
b) Landlubbers
c) Devils
d) Rougarou
1a. K. Davis
1b. 40
2a. Yes
2b. .339
3a. Trout
3b. 269
4a. No
4b. 5
4c. -
4d. 60
5. Bruce, Carpenter
6. Kraken, Landlubbers, Devils, Argonauts
1. Khris Davis 38
2. No, .333
3. Trout, 265
4. No, 1, 61
5.Moncada, Carpenter
6. Kraken, Landlubbers, Devils, Argos
Kyle, I have a clarifying question regarding question #5. When you say "Name any number of players you think will ground into at least one double play by the end of Round 9", I assume you mean of the five players named earlier in the question. If not, I could probably name 100 guys that will ground into a double play. I know it's anal on my part but is my assumption correct and the question only applies to the 5 players previously named?
1a) Khris Davis
1b) 39
2a) Yes
2b) .336
3a) Mike Trout
3b) 243
4a) No
4b) 8
4c) N/A
4d) 58
5) Jay Bruce and Yoan Moncada
6a) Koi
6b) Miners
6c) Devils
6d) Rougarou
Robots predict:
1. Khris Davis - 43
2. No. .335
3. Trout 248
4. a -no
b.-+4
c. -NA
d. -63
5. a. Kraken
Sorry...continuing the Robots predictions:
5. Carpenter and Odor
6. Kraken
Miners
Devils
Argonauts
13 games?
1a Davis
1b 40
2a yes
2b .334
3a Blackmon
3b 270
4a no (they could be caught before the end of the round but back ahead at its end, which complicates 4b&c)
4b 2
4c na
4d 61
5 to further clarify Dan's clarification, you mean one additional GIDP in Rd 9. Carpenter, Muncy
6a Kraken
6b Landlubbers
6c Devils
6d Argonauts
1. Khris Davis 37
2. Yes, 0.336
3. Mike Trout, 268
4. No, 4, 60
5. They all remain at 1
6. Kraken, Landlubbers, Devils, Argos
It does. I'll edit it to make it clearer.
That's correct regarding #5. I think that point is clear enough, no? Not sure how to make that clearer. However, regarding #4, good catch. I made a quick edit there.
1a) Trout
1b) 37
2a) No
2b) .339
3a) Trout
3b) 252
4a) no
4b) 4
4c) n/a
4d) 61
5) Matt Carpenter
6a) Koi
6b) Landlubbers
6c) Debils
6d) Argos
1a Khris Davis
1b 36
2a yes
2b .338
3a Jose Ramirez
3b 276
4a no
4b 5
4d 60
5 Bruce (Everyone should note that carpenter is on leave until the draft is over)
6a Kraken
b Miners
c Devils
d Rougarou
1) 3 points possible.
a) Khris Davis
b) 41
2) 4 points possible.
a) Yes
b) .338
3) 5 points possible.
a) Trout
b) 270
4) 5 points possible.
a) NO
b) Two
c) For one point: If you answered "yes," which team will catch them?
d) 59
5) 10 points possible (but not likely!)
Jay Bruce, Muncy and Odor
6) 4 points possible.
a) Kraken
b) The Landlubbers
c) The Devils
d) Rougarou
1.a. Mike Trout
1.b. 38
2.a. Yes
2.b. .341
3.a. Mike Trout
3.b. 274
4.a. No
4.b. 6
4.d. 62
5. Jay Bruce, Matt Carpenter, Rougned Odor
6.a. Koi
6.b. Miners
6.c. Devils
6.d. Argonauts
1a. Davis
1b. 39
2a. No
2b. .336
3a. Ramirez
3b. 269
4a. No
4b. 5
4c. 60
5a. Odor
6a. Kraken
6b. Landlubbers
6c. Brewers
6d. Argonauts
The Argonauts made a number of trades but still think they have a respectable team and have no intention of giving up 1st place in the Frick.
1a) Davis
b) 38
2a) Yes
b) .330
3a) Trout
b) 272
4a) No
b) 7
c) N/A
d) 61
5) Odor
6a) Koi
b) Miners
c) Devils
d) Rougarou
Answers:
1) K Davis, 42
2) No, .337
3) Jose Ramirez, 286 (he and Trout went on a TEAR in Round 9!) . The 3rd place guy (Jose Baez) is at 262.
4) No, 6, N/A, 62
5) Carpenter and Odor remained at 1 (If you named Carpenter, I didn't dock you since Craig didn't play him during Round 9). Bruce, Muncy, and Moncada all GIDP'd.
6) Koi, Landlubbers, Devils, Argonauts