Due to the ASG, MSB teams will all play just 25 games in July. Brendt ran the last 3-game set, though, running through July 1. So these questions will be based on all games played between July 2 and July 30 (24 games).
Let's start this GIG off with the first through games out of the gate and predict some matchups...
1) We've got some pretty fun 3-game inter-league matchups going on July 2-4.
Options:
For 2 points, pick the team you predict will the series.
If you wish, you may predict up to TWO sweeps, in which you'll get 5 points if the team you pick does indeed sweep. But if the team doesn't sweep, you get ZERO for that matchup. Please type "(sweep)" next to your prediction.
a) 4th place Thunder @ 4th place ACLs
b) 5th place Argos @ 2nd place Rum Runners
c) #8 Miners @ #10 Robots
d) #5 Brewers @ #6 Hammers
e) #1 Bums @ #3 Kraken
f) #10 Sweets @ #8 Rougarou
g) #2 Dogs @ #5 Landlubbers
h) #9 Koi @ #7 Rattlers
i) #3 Auk @ #1 Sea Wolves
j) #7 Yetis @ #9 Madmen
Winners:
Thunder
Rum Runners
Robots sweep
Brewers sweep
Bums
Sweets
Landlubbers sweep
Koi sweep
Auk
Madmen
Let's call July's GIG (from here on out) The "Outlier" GIG. Right around the mid-point of the season, it's always fun to find those near-unbelievable stats that involve a player or team doing something either remarkable, or... not-so-remarkable. I like looking for zeroes, for example. Like a full time hitter that hasn't hit a double yet. Or a well-used reliever without yet recording a decision. So here we go: The rest of our questions are all about outliers...
2) Regarding extra-innings games played, we have TWO outliers. The Miners haven't won an extra inning game yet, and the Robots haven't lost one.
Yes-or-No Questions:
a) The Miners have only played 2 extra inning games so far. (The average for all teams is around 7.) They are 0-2. Will the Miners will get an extra inning win in July? (2 points).
NO
b) The Robots have only played in ONE extra inning game! And they are undefeated! Question: Will the Robots will lose an extra inning game in July? (2 points).
YES
3) The Garden Hammers' Anthony Santander has the most stolen bases without yet being caught (10).
Question: Will some catcher finally gun down this guy in July? (Yes = 3 points, No = 1).
NO
4) It's always rare, 3 months into the season, to see any full time, everyday players have more walks than strikeouts. This year, we have ONE player left standing: The Madmen's Ronald Acuna (35/32). And honorable mention goes to the Dogs' Luis Arraez (23/24).
Yes-or-No Questions:
a) By the end of July's games, will Acuna still have MORE walks than strikeouts? (2 points). If you're desperate for GIG points, you may choose "Tie" for 6 points.
YES
b) Same for Arreaz.
NO
5) Among all qualified hitters (214 PAs), we have just two who have yet to ground into a double play: the Koi's Teoscar Hernandez and the Madmen's MJ Melendez.
True or False Options (2 points for each correct T/F):
a) They'll both get at least one GIDP in July. F
b) Teo will get at least one. T
c) MJ will get at least one. F
d) They'll both stay at zero. F
6) Among all qualifying starting pitchers (69 innings), we have just one undefeated hurler left standing: The Argonauts Sandy Alcantara (7-0, 3.18 ERA). In real life, Sandy had a 4.14 ERA and was 7-12! Somebody check the Argo's locker room for things that don't belong...
Yes-or-No Question: Will Alcantara finally get hit with a loss in July? (2 points).
YES
7) Our last outlier question honors four MSB 2024 qualifying starting pitchers I'll dub as current members of the Anti-Drysdale/Ryan Team (AKA "The Wimp Team"). They are those who have yet to hit a batter. Here is the undesired list:
The Miners' Shane McClanahan NO
The Yetis' Alex Cobb NO
The Bums' Marcus Stroman NO
The Brewers' Logan Allen. NO
As you consider the options below, be aware one thing: It doesn't appear any of these players are in danger of being benched by their managers in July due to playing time issues, but it should be noted that Brandon might bench Logan Allen, sporting a 10.26 ERA after 13 starts! Brandon, all us contenders in the Frick want you to know we think he'll turn it around, and you should keep him in there.
Options (choose ONE):
a) Name just one of these pitchers who you predict will grow a pair and finally hit a batter in July. If correct, you get 2 points.
b) Name multiple players who you think will finally plunk some poor soul. (2 points each, but you get ZERO if any of the players you name remains at zero at the end of July's games.)
c) Choose a slightly safer, less points route and predict ALL 4 will get off "The Wimp Team." (5 points).
d) All of these players will remain on "The Wimp Team." (5 points). TRUE - correct answer
Good luck!
1)
a) ACLs
b) Rum Runners - Sweep
c) Miners
d) Hammers
e) Bums
f) Rougarou
g) Dogs - Sweep
h) Koi
i) Sea Wolves
j) Yetis
2)
a) No
b) Yes
3) Yes
4)
a) yes
b) no
5)
a) True
b) True
c) False
d) True
6) Yes
7)
b) Stroman, McClanahan
a) ACLs
b) Rum Runners
c) Robots
d) Hammers
e) Kraken
f) #10 Sweets
g) #2 Dogs
h) Rattlers
i) Sea Wolves
j) #7 Yetis
2) Regarding extra-innings games played, we have TWO outliers. The Miners haven't won an extra inning game yet, and the Robots haven't lost one.
Yes-or-No Questions:
a) No
b) No
3) YES
4) a) YES
b) NO
5)
a) They'll both get at least one GIDP in July. F
b) Teo will get at least one. T
c) MJ will get at least one.F
d) They'll both stay at zero. F
6) YES
7) a) STROMAN
1)
a) ACLs
b) Argos
c) Miners
d) Brewers
e) Kraken
f) Sweet
g) Dogs
h) Rattlers
i) Sea Wolves
j) Yetis
2)
a) No
b) Yes
3) No
4)
a) No
b) No
5)
a) False
b) False
c) True
d) True
6) Yes
7)
a) Cobb
1)
If you wish, you may predict up to TWO sweeps, in which you'll get 5 points if the team you pick does indeed sweep. But if the team doesn't sweep, you get ZERO for that matchup. Please type "(sweep)" next to your prediction.
a) Thunder
b) Rum Runners
c) Robots
d) Brewers
e) Bums
f) Rougarou
g) Dogs
h) Rattlers
i) Sea Wolves
j) Madmen
2)
a) Will the Miners get an extra inning win in July? No
b) Will the Robots lose an extra inning game in July? No
3) Will some catcher finally gun down this guy in July? Yes
4)
a) By the end of July's games, will Acuna still have MORE walks than strikeouts? Yes
b) Same for Arreaz. No
5)
a) They'll both get at least one GIDP in July. False
b) Teo will get at least one. False
c) MJ will get at least one. True
d) They'll both stay at zero. False
6) Will Alcantara finally get hit with a loss in July? Yes
7)
d) All of these players will remain on "The Wimp Team." (5 points).
1.a. Thunder
b. Argos
c. Miners
d. Brewers
e. Bums
f. Rougarou
g. Dogs
h. Rattlers
i. Sea Wolves
2.a. No. Clearly we aren’t good enough to make it to extra innings.
b. No.
3. Yes
4.a. Tie!
b. Tie!
5.a. F
b. F
c. T
d. F
6. Yes
7. I choose d.
Incidentally, I'm not sure of the difference between 7c and 7d.
Ah, crap. That's because there isn't. I'm gonna fix it and put an email out to other who've already answered to amend their answers if they wish. Thanks for catching that!
Robots predict:
1-a Thunder, b - Argos, c - Miners, d - Brewers, e - Kraken, f - Rougarou, g - Dogs, h - Rattlers, i - Sea Wolves, j - Yetis
2 - a = NO
b - NO
3 - YES
4 - a - YES
b - NO
5 - D
6 - YES
7- A - Stroman
1a) Thunder
b) Rum Runners
c) Miners
d) Brewers
e) Bums
f) Rougarou (sweep)
g) Dogs
h) Koi
i) Sea Wolves
j) Yetis (sweep)
2a) N
b) N
3) Y
4a) N
b) Y (to confirm, Arraez BB>K)
5a) F
b) T
c) F
d) F
6) Y
7b) Cobb, Allen
>this is now 7a) Cobb w/Allen being benched
Sea Wolves Prognostications....
1. Thunder
Rum Runners
Miners
Brewers
Bums
Rougarou
Dogz
Rattlers
Wolves
Yetis
2. a-yes b-yes
3. Yes
4. a-yes b-yes
5. a-true b-true c-true d-false
6. Yes
7. D
1a ACL
b) Runners
c) Robots
d) Brewers
e) Buns
f) Rougarou
g) Dogs
h) Rattlers
i) Wolves (sweep)
j) Yetis
2a0 No b) No
3 Yes
4a) Yes b Tie for Arraez
5a) False
b) False
c) False
d) False
6 Yes lose
7 option a with Stroman
a) Thunder
b) Rum Runners
c) Miners
d) Brewers
e) Bums
f) Sweets
g) Dogs (sweep)
h) Koi
i) Sea Wolves
j) Yetis
2)
a) No
b) Yes
3) Yes
4) It's always rare, 3 months into the season, to see any full time, everyday players have more walks than strikeouts. This year, we have ONE player left standing: The Madmen's Ronald Acuna (35/32). And honorable mention goes to the Dogs' Luis Arraez (23/24).
Yes-or-No Questions:
a) Yes
b) No
5)
a) They'll both get at least one GIDP in July.
6) Yes
7)
c) ALL 4 will get off "The Wimp Team." (5 points).
1)
a) Thunder
b) Runners
c) Miners
d) Hammers
e) Bums
f) Rougarou
g) Dogs
h) Koi
i) Auk
j) Yetis
2)
a) No
b) No
3) Yes
4)
a) Yes
b) No
5)
a) True
b) True
c) True
d) True
6) Yes
7)
d) all stay on
1: Do I get bonus points for predicting a "clean sweep" of the Frick over the KML???
a) Thunder
b) Argos
c) Miners
d) Brewers
e) Bums
f) Sweets
g) Dogs
h) Koi
i) Auk
j) Yetis
2:
a) no
b) no
3: no
4:
a) yes
b) what the hell, let's go for points. Tie!
5: shouldn't this be multiple choice vs T/F?
a) no
b) no
c) yes
d) no
6: yes
7: I was going to say Cobb, but what the flagnar is going on Motor City? Matthew Liberatore has 12 HBP in 27.2 innings!!! At this rate he'll be pushing 20 HBP by the end of the month. So I'll predict this 'Bad Boy' will get at least one more.
1)
a) Thunder
b) Rum Runners
c) Miners
d) Brewers
e) Bums
f) Sweets
g) Dogs
h) Rattlers
i) Auk
j) Madmen
2)
a) No
b) No
3) No
4)
a) Tie
b) No
5)
a) No
b) Yes
c) No
d) No
6) Yes
7)
d) All of these players will remain on "The Wimp Team." (5 points).
Well, I suppose, but 1) that's less point opportunities, and 2) a,b, and c could all be correct. I thought it best to have more point opps.
1a) ACLs
b) Rum Runners
c) Miners
d) Brewers
e) Bums
f) Rougarou
g) Dogs
h) Rattlers
i) Sea Wolves
j) Yetis
2a) No
b) No
3) Yes
4a) No
b) Yes
5a) True
b) True
c) True
d) False
6) Yes
7) All 4 will get off the list
GIG is closed