Hello Baseball Freaks. I can't fully tally the Round 7 scores until I get access to the All-Star Game results, which is coming soon. For now, here are the Round 8 questions so we can get that ball rolling. You have until Monday morning, I'd guess, to get your answers in.
Round 8 features just 11 games, due to the built-in All-Star Break.
1) Let’s start off with a rather pedestrian question compared to the rest… Whenever we have a chance to see a weakness in Ankeny’s team, we should definitely pounce on it, since we’re all getting banged around by the ACLs. That weakness: Closer Felipe Vazuez. For a league-wide leading team, Vazquez sticks out a bit like Kenley Jansen for the 2020 Dodgers. Indeed, he has a shiny 3.40 ERA, but check it out: Hes’ blown 4 saves (out of 17 opps), which isn’t bad if he were pitching for an average team. But then when you consider he’s allowed 41% of inherited runners to score, Jason must be pulling his hair out. Question: Will Vazquez’s IRS be higher than his current .412, or lower at the end of Round 8? 1 point.
2) Which team in YOUR division will have the best 11-game W-L record? Check the schedule and give it your best shot. Ties will count. The points will be 1 point if you choose your current division leading team, 2 points if you choose the 2nd place team, 3 points if you choose the 3rd place team, 4 for the 4th, and 5 for the 5th. If you choose a team that is currently tied, you’ll get points for that tied place. Example: choosing a team tied for 2nd place will get you 2 points.
3) Matchups: There are nothing but 2-game sets throughout Round 8. So here’s what you need to do: Pick a 2-game series in which you believe YOUR team will sweep. Check the schedule, cuz I’m not gonna list every single 2-game matchup here. Just please do me a favor and give me the dates for the series when you type your answer. (Sample answer: “Blues sweep Kraken July 14-15.” Sorry Dan!) Points: If your team has a better record than the team you predict you’re gonna sweep, and you get it right, you get 2 points. If your team has a worse record than the team you predict you’re gonna sweep, you get 4 points. Records based on current records (what they are right now, before Round 8 begins). Choose wisely and cross your fingers.
4) Speaking of 2-game sets, the most intriguing one might be the Miners vs. Rum Runners, July 14-15. I've checked with David and Brent to see if they were anticipating any changes, and for the questions I have, they're all set. For the July 15 game ONLY, here are the questions:
a) It’s RR’s Snell vs. PM’s Quintana. Which pitcher will out-do the other in strikeouts? (1 point)
b) What will be the high K number? (Nail it for 2 points, within one, 1 point)
c)) It’s RR’s Rizzo vs. PM’s Bryant. Which player will have more RBI? (1 point)
d) How many RBI will the lead guy have? (Nail it for 2 points, within one, 1 point)
e) Which team will win the game? (1 point)
f) How many total runs in the game? (Nail it for 2 points, within one, 1 point)
5) Who wants it in the Uecker??? The Honey Badgers have a 2-game lead on the Brewers and a 4- game lead on the Sweets and Argos, and NOBODY is above .500. Who will be on top (ties count) in the Uecker at the end of Round 8?
Honey Badgers (1 point)
Brewers (3 points)
Sweets (5 points)
Argos (5 points)
Good luck!
Kyle, can you please clarify question #3 by defining the timing for "worst record"? Is it at the start of this 11 game set or at the time we start the series we think we'll sweep?
Yes, current records (before Round 8 starts). Good clarification - I'll make it more clear right now.
Here are my round 8 answers (guesses):
1. Lower
2. Madmen
3. Miners, 7/16 & 17
4a. Snell
4b. 8
4c. Rizzo
4d 1
4e. Miners
4f. 11
5. Brewers
1) Higher
2) Blues
3) Blues sweep Kraken July 14-15
4a) Snell
b) 7
c)) Bryant
d) 3
e) Miners
f) 11
5) Brewers
Robots predict:
1. Higher
2. Maniax
3. Robots sweep Knights July 14-15
4. a- Snell
b- 7
c- Bryant
d- 3
e- Rumrunners
f- 7
5. Honey Badgers
1) Lower
2) Chicago Rum Runners
3) 7/20, 7/21 vs Bums
4) Speaking of 2-game sets, the most intriguing one might be the Miners vs. Rum Runners, July 14-15. I've checked with David and Brent to see if they were anticipating any changes, and for the questions I have, they're all set. For the July 15 game ONLY, here are the questions:
a) Snell
b) 7 K's
c)) Rizzo
d) 3
e) Rum Runners
f) 5 runs
5) Honey Badgers
1) Lower
2) ACLs
3) Rougarou sweep Knights July 16-17
4)
a) Snell
b) 7
c)) Rizzo
d) 1
e) Rum Runners
f) 7
5) Brewers (3 points)
1. Lower
2. Kraken
3. Landlubbers sweep Koi July 20-21
4. a) Snell
b) 9
c) Rizzo
d) 2
e) RR
f) 5
5) Brewers
1) Higher
2) Bums
3) Bums sweep Rattlers, July 18-19
4)
a) Snell
b) 8
c)) Rizzo
d) 2
e) Rum Runners
f) 10
5) Brewers
1) Lower
2) Dogs
3) Dogs sweep Rattlers (7/18-7/19)
4a) Snell
4b) 6
4c) Bryant
4d) 2
4e) Rum Runners
4f) 6
5) Honey Badgers
By proxy for David
1) Lower
2) Miners
3) Miners sweep Rattlers (7/22-7/23)
4a) Quintana
4b) 7
4c) Bryant
4d) 3
4e) Miners
4f) 8
5) Honey Badgers
1) lower
2) Rum Runners (I understand the phrasing of the question to mean leading by record, so they're 3rd in division)
3) Hammers sweep Argos (I'm worse by a half game!), July... ah shoot I shut down the other PC alrdy, it was the 3rd or 4th series so July 18/19?
4) Snell, 9, Bryant, 2, RR, 8
5) Brewers
1. Lower
2. ACLs
3. ACLs versus Honey Badgers at home (7/15-16)
4. Snelliza, 8, Bryant, 1, Rum Runners, 5
5. Brewers
Answers:
1) higher (.421)
2) Blues (3), Sweets (3), ACLS (1), Kraken (2)
3) answers unique, obviously
4a) Snell
b) 8
c) both had zero(nobody gets points for this one)
d) 0
e) Miners
f) 5
5) Honey Badgers (by 1 game over the streaking Sweets)