Week Three Wrap-Up...

Had some managerial changes at Huberts so I've been working constantly. Should quiet down now so I should be able to get this out every week. I've said that before and been wrong.

Township Tomahawks beat Dinkytown Wildcats 3-0 (5-1, 3-2-2, 4-2-1)

The Tomahawks moved into a tie for first place with a complete thrashing of the suddenly reeling Wildcats. Dinkytown had two offensive players go down to injury early in the week but when you are relying on the likes of Macier Izturis and Adam Lind you probably won’t get much sympathy. Township dominated offensively with huge advantages in HRs (7-1), RBIs (29-15) and Runs (29-14). The Tomahawks got huge weeks from two guys at opposite ends of their careers: Albert Pujols (9-25, 3 HR, 7 RBI) and Will Myers (2 HR and 7 RBI). Pitching was a little closer with Dinkytown taking ERA and WHIP, but getting beat mainly because Township got more innings. Jake Peavy didn’t get a win in his two starts, but his 13 Ks and 11.2 IP might have been the difference in the matchup. Mixed was another blowout with the Tomahawks capitalizing on being on the field more for both at-bats and pitching appearances. A comical 9.14-5.50 K/9 win definitely helped as well. It’s a little early to make too much out of it, but these two rivals appear to be going in much different directions.

MVP: Albert Pujols (3 HR, 7 RBI, 5 R, .360)

LVP: Salvador Perez (3-26, 5 K, 1 E)

White Bear Bears beat Twin City Brewers 2-1 (1-6, 4-3, 6-1)

The defending champions got a razor thin victory over the Brewers putting the two teams in a tie for first place. The closest matchup was definitely pitching with White Bear taking it despite losing the all-important ERA and WHIP totals. Greg Holland’s three saves and four pitchers with over 10 K/9 ended up being the difference. Most of the categories were reasonably close in offense, but when team gets 15 extra hits that’s usually going to lead to more counting stats. Twin City didn’t have any huge hitting weeks but Leonys Martin (.400), Alex Rios (.367) and Josh Donaldson (.370) all helped them gain their one win. Donaldson’s four errors did just as much damage the other way, with White Bear taking all but one of the mixed categories. It didn’t take White Bear long to find themselves in their familiar perch atop their division.

MVP: Greg Holland (3 saves in 3 apperances, 6 K in 3 IP)

LVP: Mike Napoli (4/18, 1 RBI, 7 K)

Roesville Raiders beat Hugo Hurt Locker 3-0 (4-3, 6-1, 5-1-1)

Roesville moved into first place with a dominant performance against a struggling Hugo squad. You aren’t going to win many games with an 8.53 ERA and a 1.86 WHIP. A lot of the blame for this can be put on the shoulders of one Jarred Cosart who gave up 7 earned runs and managed to record a single out for a 189.00 ERA. If he could have just managed to allow four less runs and record 17 more outs he would have had a quality start. It likely wouldn’t have mattered either way but the Raiders had a solid pitching week with a 2.56 ERA and 1.19 ERA thanks in large part to thirteen shutout innings from Justin Verlander and Kyle Gibson. Offensively Roesville only hit .246 but nine steals and a one run advantage allowed them to eke out a victory. Former double play combo Ian Kinsler (.350, 7 RBI) and Elvis Andrus (.292, 5 SB) led the way to the surprising victory. Mixed was another blowout with Roesville managing 27 extra at bats but still managed more walks and less strikeouts. The Raiders will try to break the first place tie with a big game against the Township Tomahawks in week four.

MVP: Weak race but I’ll go with Kyle Gibson (1-0, 0 ER in 8 IP)

LVP: Jarred Cosart (7 ER in 0.1 IP, 180.00 ERA, 21.00 WHIP)

Little Falls beat Midway Mets 3-0 (5-2, 4-2-1, 5-2)

Little Falls took the third sweep of the week with a good performance against the last place Midway Mets. The Polaks had a fantastic pitching week with a 1.86 ERA and 1.08 WHIP. Hector Santiago (0.71 ERA, 1.03 WHIP in 12.2 IP) and Max Scherzer (1-0, 9 K in 7 IP, 1.29 ERA, 0.71 WHIP) helped secure the pitching victory. Midway took HR and RBI but still managed to lose the hitting side. Jose Altuve’s four steals, three Polaks hitting over .340 (Longoria, Aoki and Loney), and three Mets hitting below .200 (Gomes, Carter and Lawrie). Little Falls had four more at-bats, one more walk and five less strikeouts to take the mixed matchup. Little Falls finds itself in third place, while Midway is already four games out of a playoff spot.

MVP: Hector Santiago (1 ER in 12.2 IP, 10 K, 0.71 ERA, 1.03 WHIP)

LVP: Chris Carter (1/17, 8 Ks, .059)