BBFL Week 18: Last Call For Trades

Monday, August 09 2004 @ 08:36 AM EDT

Contributed by: Coach

Sunday, August 15 is the deadline for that big deal that will push you over the top, get you into the playoffs or escape relegation.

It was a relatively uneventful week in the standings with no really lopsided scores; good news for those of us who like our positions. My Toronto Walrus beat Garces_not_on_roids 8-4 to remain 9.5 games in front, as second-place AGF defeated the Moscow Rats by the same margin. There were no changes among the next four clubs, all of whom won by 7-5 or 6-5 scores. Baird Brain and the SABR Magicians each moved up a notch.

Although much remains to be decided, it appears we'll be saying goodbye to Jick's Rays, and the Springfield Isotopes are also in trouble, facing a brutal schedule down the stretch including three of the top six teams. One thing we haven't considered in terms of relegation and promotion rules is what happens if an owner drops out of the league. It doesn't seem right to jump someone from the waiting list or even the Leftovers up to the Alomar division. I propose a postseason roll call to ensure that all owners intend to return, and we need to discuss what happens when there's an opening.

  #  Team                       W-L-T       Pct    GB 
  1  Toronto Walrus           129-73-14    .630    -- 
  2  AGF                      121-84-11    .586     9.5 
  3  Mebion Glyndwr           120-88-8     .574    12 
  4  Red Mosquitos            115-93-8     .551    17 
  5  hannibal's cannibals     109-92-15    .539    19.5  
  6  gashouse gorillas        111-96-9     .535    20.5  
  7  Chatsworth Halos         110-100-6    .523    23  
  8  Baird Brain              107-98-11    .521    23.5  
  9  Austin Senators          105-97-14    .519    24 
 10  Horse Field Hammers      107-101-8    .514    25 
 11  Eastern Shore Birds      105-104-7    .502    27.5  
 12  SABR Magicians            99-103-14   .491    30 
 13  Moscow Rats              101-107-8    .486    31 
 14  Billie's Bashers          99-112-5    .470    34.5 
 15  Reykjavik Fish Candy      97-111-8    .468    35 
 16  Garces_not_on_roids       96-115-5    .456    37.5 
 17  K-Town Mashers            91-111-14   .454    38
 18  Thunderbirds              94-115-7    .451    38.5 
 19  Springfield Isotopes      86-118-12   .426    44  
 20  Jick's Rays               59-143-14   .306    70

With four weeks to go, I'm playing the teams in 11th, 13th, 19th and 20th place, with a combination of narrow wins and splits probably good enough to clinch a first-round bye. There's no doubt I've been lucky — in the draft, in strength of schedule and in avoiding catastrophic injuries. My next opponent, the Birds, hit an intimidating .333/.424/.620 this week, but I like my chances to pick up a few pitching points.

While content to stand pat, I can spare a SP, an everyday OF (in descending order of what I'd want in return: Lawton, Crisp, Sanchez, McCracken, Terrero) and Ryan Madson, eligible to return soon from the sprained pinky that put him on the DL. Billy Wagner isn't untouchable; he's a keeper I'd consider moving for a closer who isn't as good but is healthier right now. Carlos Delgado is also available, but only for an equivalent hitter (i.e. a keeper) at another position. Let the last-minute trade talks begin!

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