2018 Showdown League Update

I am officially 9 weeks into my season, that is a full 162 games that I have played out so far. It has been interesting to see all these teams battle it out, with so many close games ,and walk off wins. A team that is 11-16 could easily be 16-11 had a few rolls gone their way and vice versa. Each team still have 21 games left so no division lead is out of reach and anything can happen on the showdown diamond. But the best thing about the start of week 10, is at the end of week 10 will be the All-Star Game, Strike out Contest and Home Run Derby. All the great followers we have here, I need your help in my all star voting. Linked here in the blog post is a spreadsheet for my All-Star voting, if you would like, please vote for who you think the most deserving players are.

All Star Voting
1 player at each position per division
2 starting pitchers and 2 relievers per division
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1JCQb3_T5nVMne7C2oyJpt5I22VhjQmAdePjKVU6TNH4/edit?usp=sharing

Home Run Derby
The home run derby will consist of the top 8 home run hitters after week 10. It will be rolling without a pitchers chart anything that isn't a home run is an out. A walk will count as not swinging at the pitch, and 10 outs will end the players round.

Strike Out Contest
The strike out contest will be the same as the home run derby with the top 8 in total strikeouts after week 10 making the contest. It will be off each pitchers chart and any roll that isn't a strike out will be considered a hit, 10 hits and that players round is over.

Player Voting
Voting for the All Star will run through Wednesday August 21st when I will announce the starter via my twitter account @mlbshowdowncup

Week 9 Update
So like I said I have played 9 weeks of games for every team, so I am going to do a little breakdown for each team, highlighting what has stood out to me about each team, team MVP, a most surprising player ,and a most disappointing player. I am pretty sure all the games remaining for the teams are all against division opponents the rest of the way through the year. So I am going to start with the Gary Sheffield Division:

Skyway Rainiers (17-10)
Tied for best record in the league, the Rainiers have been on a roll behind MVP Candidate Christian Yelich. The Rainiers are 15-6 over their last 21 games, and this hot stretch has pushed them into the top of the division. They have been resilient in their games, never being fully out of games with a solid rotation and bullpen, probably the most dominant closer in the league with Craig Kimbrel.

Team MVP Christian Yelich .480 OB% .426AVG 49 Hs 16 2Bs 8 HRs 6 SB
Most Surprising Mike Clevinger : I knew he would be good but as the team ace he provides 2.62 ERA 1.331 WHIP
Most Disappointing Travis Jankowski, There is no one else doing absolutely terrible like him 7 hits on 99 at bats this season with a .071 batting average


SoCal Lemons (15-12)
The expansion team that has started out hot. They didn't get to participate in the draft but have been playing like they are a team full of all stars. Ace Mike Foltynewicz has been dominant in his starting spots with a 2.02 ERA. On paper the team doesn't jump out at me, but the 7OB lead off hitter has been tremendous all season, with a lot of lead off home runs it feels like all of his home runs have been early in games.

Team MVP Mike Foltynewicz (3-0) 2.02 ERA 0.898 WHIP 49IP 47Ks
Most Surprising Eddie Rosario 7 OB .339 OB% .292AVG 7 HR 21R 14 RBI
Most Disappointing Seunghwan Oh (1-3) 7.20 ERA 20 IP 16 ER

Wisconsin Wolves (14-13)  
The Wolves have been up and down all season and their record reflects it. Their low defense scores have allowed opponents to advance runners when they do get them on base, but the also have the highest scoring offense in the entire league. A power house lineup that has many batters that can end up with any outcome if they get their chart.

Team MVP Bryce Harper .405 OB% 11 HRs 30 RBI .301 AVG
Most Surprising Victor Robles .349 OB% .304 AVG 3 HR 3 triples 4 doubles 5 stolen bases
Most Disappointing Trea Turner .266 OB% .222 AVG only 2 stolen bases, not getting on base in enough stealing situations for ultra fast Turner

Skyway Bandidos (14-13)
The Bandidos floating around .500 are much like the Wolves but they struggle to put runs up on the board when they need them. After their first two starters they struggle to keep the games close as their 3 & 4 starters can't keep their ERA below 7. The team batting is fairly good with all their players having at least 20 hits on the season.

Team MVP Max Muncy .463 OB%  .381 AVG 8 HR 21 RBI
Most Surprising Johan Camargo 8OB .390 OB% .299 AVG 16 RBI 5 HR
Most Disappointing Kirby Yates 2 Blown Saves 5.063 ERA 16 IP 9ER
( Honorable mention Alex Bregman because I expected more out of him even though hes still has high OB% and average i expected more statistics.)

Cobra Chickens (12-15)
Cobra Chickens find their way towards the bottom of the standings while having one of the best pitchers in the league. He started slow but has been an absolute stud since. A few mid season shake ups look to give them the push to the playoffs they are looking for. I expected more out of Aaron Judge like I said earlier with Bregman, hes producing but it feels like he could be doing more for this team.

Team MVP Jacob DeGrom (2-2) 55IP 2.291 ERA 0.836 WHIP
Most Surprising Javy Baez for both a low average and on base percent with still having 8 HRs 3 Triples 5 doubles and 20 RBI
Most Disappointing Julio Teheran (0-6) 7.388 ERA 1.915 WHIP 40.2 IP 33 ER

Bay Bridge Blasters (11-16)
The Blasters have just not been able to score runs to save them. Lowest run total in the league on top of the worst run differential. A team loaded with 10s and 9s seemed promising but their inability to do more than a double makes it hard for them to string big innings together. While also getting out on their own chart a league leading 62 times. Its not all doom and gloom as they have the best bullpen in the league.

Team MVP Jose LeClerc No earner runs is 17 IP and only 1 Hit allowed all season.
Most Surprising Top 3 Bullpen Leclerc, Matt Strahm and Will Smith 63.2 IP 9 Runs allowed 110 Ks
Most Disappointing Corey Kluber (1-6) 4.276 ERA Anthony Rendon 16 Own Chart outs .300 OB%

Chipper Jones Division
Dat Boy X (17-10)
The other best record in the league coming fresh off a 3 game sweep. This team has surprised me with this good of a record, but their high control pitching approach forces opponents to play off the pitchers charts for most of the game. Probably the second best bullpen in the league boasting a  2.368 ERA as a bullpen. The lineup doesn't scare you looking at it, but some low rolls to the 8 OBs and their is a lot of trouble lurking out there with their league leading 41 home runs.

Team MVP Justin Turner .463 OB% .389 AVG 42 H 22 R 10 doubles 4 HR
Most Surprising Jeremy Jeffress 14.1 IP 6 Saves 0.638 ERA 24 K
(Honorable Mention Rick Porcello (5-0))
Most Disappointing  Anthony Rizzo and not because of his play, but 13 Own Chart outs, other than that hes been phenomenal The whole team has been phenomenal in general

Cleveland Titans (15-12)
The Titans have been atop of the standings for a lot of the season behind stud ace Trevor Bauer, who has finally started coming back to earth on his drone. His weird -2 run differential is hard to explain but the last two starters in his rotation show you where he loses big. His lineup makes pitchers mistakes pay and is pretty deep.

Team MVP Trevor Bauer (4-1) 54 IP 98 K 2.33 ERA 1.33 WHIP
Most Surprising Manny Machado .444 OB% .381 AVG 8 HR 11 doubles 23 RBI
Most Disappointing Trevor Story .256 OB% .217 AVG 5 HRS 47 Strikeouts

Acuna Matata (13-14)
The mighty Acunas led by team member Ronald Acuna are floating below .500 but have been over it for most of the season. He has been crushing the ball this season keeping his team afloat. Their most recent series all 3 games were walk off or late inning lead taking. Unfortunately 2 of those games didn't go their way.

Team MVP Chris Sale (3-0) 49.2 IP 106 K 2.378 ERA 1.07 WHIP
Most Surprising Ronald Acuna .455 OB% .391 AVG 7 HR 9 doubles 3 triples 30 RBI
Most Disappointing Adam Ottovino 2 Blown Saves 3 Losses 2.423 ERA

Covington Crush (13-14)
My preseason pick to win their division, things haven't gone quite their way yet. A team that can run on you at will and a nice rotation with a top notch bullpen seemed promising to me. Ace Aaron Nola hasn't gotten the wins from his starts to show it but has put up decent numbers.

Team MVP Jose Ramirez .400 OB% .321 AVG 9 HRs 8 doubles 23 RBI 9 steals
Most Surprising Cole Hamels (6-0) 45.2 IP 15 runs 2.98 ERA  1.57 WHIP
Most Disappointing Michael Brantley .292 OB% .245 AVG 0HR 11 RBI

Fiers Festival (11-16)
The craziest story of the season so far. A amazing rotation with a 3.74 collective ERA that is 10-4 on the season. Followed by the worst bullpen in the league with a 1-12 record and 5.433 ERA. This bullpen just keeps losing games and can't stop the bleeding. In all of that their closer still has 7 saves. their -1 run differential despite being 11-16 shows how close all of their games are.

Team MVP Jon Lester (3-0) 1.941 ERA 1.118 WHIP 51 IP 11runs
Most Surprising Kolten Wong 7 OB .382 OB% .306 AVG 30 Hits
Most Disappointing (Other than the bullpen) Juan Soto 10 OB .283 OB% .209 AVG 1HR

Aurora Anteaters (10-17)
The other expansion team that is going in the other direction. A team full of misfit toys that can't seem to get a break. They have given up the most runs in the league and haven't been able to get the runs across to push it.

Team MVP Yasiel Puig .375 OB% .307 AVG 6 HR 28 RBI
Most Surprising Joey Wendle .449 OB% .393 AVG 10 triples 7 doubles
Most Disappointing Patrick Corbin (1-5) 44.1 IP 5.306 ERA 1.383 WHIP 26 runs

So there you have it, I am so excited to get these last 7 weeks under way and push towards the playoffs. I hope you are all enjoying it as well. If you are more curious about the teams here is the page to our league
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1AVMJ4eqp5NKs3-H_jOqIzJAlJOxymjTxpF2sPqq2KLE/edit?usp=sharing

Here are the season leaders in each stat category

Batting
Home Runs - Bryce Harper 11
RBI - JD Martinez 33
Runs - Christian Yelich 29
Average - Christian Yelich .426
On-Base% - Christian Yelich .480
Stolen Bases - Whit Merrifield 11
Hits - Christian Yelich 49
Doubles - Christian Yelich 16
Triples - Joey Wendle 10

Pitching
Wins - Cole Hamels 6
Saves - Craig Kimbrel 11
Strikeouts - Chris Sale 106
Innings Pitched - Jacob DeGrom 55
ERA - Jon Lester 1.94
WHIP - Jacob DeGrom 0.836

As always for more information feel free to message me on twitter @mlbshowdowncup or email me or post a comment on here.