1) Triple Crown Watch Continued: Windy City’s Vlad Guerrero Jr. has nearly non-existent competition for the TC at this point in the season, but Matt Olson at least should be named as the only other player on the top 10 lists in all 3 categories. He's nearly 80 points behind in average and 9 homers back, but... yeah. Let's keep this round's question simple: Jr is ahead in BA by 46 points, homers by 4 (23 jacks to 19 for the second place guy), and now just 1 behind Olson in RBI. Question (worth 2 points): Yes or No, Will he be ahead in all 3 categories at the end of Round 5 (ties count)?
2) Let's do some questions in the qualified-starting-pitcher category of "Are You Kidding Me??"
a) The Miners' Freddy Peralta, the Argos' Jacob deGrom, and the Madmen's Madison Bumgarner all have two things in common: 50+ IPs pitched, and ZERO grounded-into-double-plays. For 2 points, Name just ONE pitcher who gets himself out of that group in this round.
b) Get ready for this one... The Auk's Jake Arrieta has started 11 games. Tied for the most among starting pitchers. But Jake... is the ONLY pitcher... to not yet... pitch a quality start. Question: Yes or No (2 points), Will Jake finally get that QS in Round 5?
c) Only two qualified starters have given up less than 0.5 HRs per 9 innings: The Blues' Alex Cobb (0.1, he's given up just 1 HR in 62.2 IPs) and the ACLs' Drew Rasmussen (0.4, he's given up just 3 HRs in 65 IPs). Choose one of 6 options:
Option 1: Both pitchers stay under 0.5 (2 points if you're correct, -1 of you're incorrect)
Option 2: Both pitchers go over 0.5 (4 points if you're correct, -1 of you're incorrect)
Option 3: Cobb stays under 0.5 (1 point, no penalty)
Option 4: Cobb goes over 0.5 (3 points, no penalty)
Option 5: Rasmussen stays under 0.5 (3 points, no penalty)
Option 6: Rasmussen goes over 0.5 (1 point, no penalty)
(Example of your written answer: "Option 4")
3) Since we gave some love to starting pitchers, let's do the same with qualified hitters, in the same "Are You Kidding Me???" category...
a) The Garden Hammers’ Tony Kemp is shocking the MSB world right now. He's one of those guys with numbers quite a bit higher than his real life numbers this late into the season. And one of those numbers: He has yet to be caught stealing, up against 9 SBs. Question: Will he get caught stealing in round 5? (2 points)
b) One of my favorite stats is when a hitter has less K's than he has walks. 4 qualified hitters fit that bill in MSB currently.
- The Dogs' Luis Arraez (20/17)
- The Rougarou's Yuli Gurriel (26/24)
- The Landlubbers' Matt Olson (37/35)
- The ACLs' Juan Soto (40/35)
Two ways to answer, both earn you 2 points: Either name a player that won't be on that list come the end of Round 5, OR say "None" (meaning they'll all still have more walks than K's).
c) We've picked on the Rum Runners' Patrick Wisdom once before, I believe. Let's do it again. Dude topped 100 K's in Round 4 (101). That's on a pace for 300 K's! He's only at 56% of his playing time, and he's smacked 19 HRs, so I don't believe we need to worry about Brent benching him until around Round 9 or 10. Your challenge: Nail his total number of K's after 5 rounds on the nose for 5 points. If you're within 5 K's, you'll get 2 points.
4) Matchups: We've got some good inter-league 3-game sets coming up June 2-4 on the MSB calendar. Pick the series winners (1 point each), and you're FORCED to call ONE sweep. Get the sweep right, you get an EXTRA 3 points. Get it wrong, and you'll lose 1 point for that matchup.
a) Garden Hammers @ Miners
b) Landlubbers @ Argonauts
c) Rattlers @ Bums
Good luck!
1) Yes
2)
a) Freddy Peralta
b) No
c) Option 4: Cobb goes over 0.5 (3 points, no penalty)
3)
a) No
b) The Landlubbers' Matt Olson (37/35)
c) 123
4)
a) Miners
b) Argonauts
c) Bums - sweep
1) yes
2a) Freddy Peralta
b) no
c) Option 5: Rasmussen stays under 0.5 (3 points, no penalty)
3a) no
b) The Rougarou's Yuli Gurriel (26/24)
c) 121
4a) Miners
b) Argonauts
c) Bums - sweep (hate writing that!)
1) Yes
2)a) Bumgarner, b) Yes, c) Option 3
3) a) No; b) Gurriel; c) 111
4) Minors; Argonauts; Bums (sweep)
1. Yes
2a. Madison Bumgarner
2b. Yes
2c. Option 5
3a. No
3b. Yuli Gurriel
3c. 124 Ks
4a. Miners sweep
4b. Landlubbers
4c. Rattlers
1 Y
2 Peralta, n, option 3
3 n, Olson, 117
4 Hammers, Lubbers sweep, Bums
Robots predict:
1. Yes
2. A Peralta
B. No
C. Option 3
3. A. Yes
B. Olson
C. 178
4. A. Miners
B. Argos
C. Bums (sweep)
1. No
2.
a. Jacob deGrom
b. No
c. Option 5: Rasmussen stays under 0.5 (3 points, no penalty)
3.
a. No
b. Matt Olson
c. 127
4.
a) Miners - sweep
b) Landlubbers
c) Bums
1) No
2a) Madison Bumgarner
c) Option 5: Rasmussen stays under 0.5 (3 points, no penalty)
3a) no
b) The ACL's Juan Soto
c) 121
4a) Garden Hammer
b) Landlubbers
c) Bums - sweep
1) No
2)
a) Jacob deGrom
b) No
c) Option 2
3)
a) No
b) Matt Olson
c) 120
4)
a) Miners - Sweep
b) Landlubbers
c) Bums
1) no
2)
a) deGrom
b) no
c) Option 2: Both pitchers go over 0.5 (4 points if you're correct, -1 of you're incorrect)
3)
a) yes
b) Olson
c) 119
4)
a) Miners
b) Argonauts
c) Bums - sweep
1) No
2 a) MadBum b) No c) Option -6
3 a) No b) Matt Olson off list c) 125 - Ks
4 Winners:
GardenHammers
LandLubbers
Bums with the sweep
1) Yes
2a) Peralta
2b) No
2c) Option 3
3a) No
3b) Arraez
3c) 127
4a) Miners sweep
4b) Argos
4c) Rattlers
GiG is closed.
Darn, I see now that I missed question 2(b). For my own record, my answer would have been NO, Arrieta would not have a QS this cycle.
I’ll count it. Arrieta hasn’t started a game yet in round 5.
All 3 series, from question 4, have a sweep chance in game 3.
Answers (ties count, as always)
1) yes
2a) Bumgarner only
b) no
c) Option 1 = 2 pts, Option 3 = 1 pt, Option 5 = 3 pts
3a) no
b) Gurriel and Arraez
c) 119
4) Miners, Landlubbers (sweep), Bums (sweep)