Stephen Farkas (0.24 WHIP, 125 K)
Nick Braden (3 HR, 10 RBI – while smoking)
Josh Nagorski (5 R, 15 BB)
Belgian defense turns a DP
Chandler Phillips (.623 SLG%, 1.26 WHIP)
Dakota LaDouceur (.474 OBP, 3 HR)
Kyle Tomlinson (1.448 OPS, 28 R)
Craig Skinner would like you to suck it The Week 6 Marquee features two teams fighting over the top spot in the Garcia Division. El Diablos (11-3) currently hold a four game lead over the upcoming Belgian Wiffles (6-6). The two teams split the first series, with game one being a 15-1 mercy in favor of El Diablos and game two resulting in a 2-0 perfect game victory for Farkas and the Belgian Wiffles.
El Diablos come off a 4-0 week, where they swept the struggling Islanders and the Flying Squirrels in dominating fashion. El Diablos scored 10+ runs in three out of the four games and didn’t let up more than three all weekend. The star-studded Diablos seemed to be stopped by one man this season: Stephen Farkas. As a team, El Diablos have batted an impressive .349 with 21 HR and 109 total runs through 14 games. However, Farkas threw a perfecto against the slugging Diablos. Can El Diablos finally hit Farkas? Will this be a 30 inning game? I guess we will have to wait and see.
After the epic Skinner vs. Farkas duel likely in game one, game two should offer more hitting. Phillips is the solid #2 of the Diablos famous 1-2 combo with an impressive 1.67 ERA and 1.26 WHIP. The Wiffles, however, don’t have a reliable #2 in their rotation. Nick Braden, David Buhr, Chris Lewis, and Travis Strojny have all pitched behind Farkas, and Lewis is the only pitcher amongst them with an ERA below four, and he has not even pitched seven innings. The Wiffles have played rather consistently this year. With Farkas on the mound, they usually win (he’s 4-1). However, poor hitting overall has prevented the Wiffles from having a winning record. They have batted an abysmal .134, ranked last in the league. Even without a consistent #2 pitcher and poor hitting, the Wiffles are still right in the mix for the play-in game, and taking one or two in this series will put them in a good spot for the playoffs.
The Diablos, however, just keep winning. If they continue their flaming hot first half of the season, they should finish at around 22-6, or even possibly better. But will that be good enough for the home field advantage throughout the playoffs? It all depends on if the Aces pull off 21-7 like 2012 or if they go 25-3 like last year. At the end of the day, sweeping this series would put El Diablos at a comfortable 13-3 that could simply coast to a Garcia Division title.
This series should build up the early, early playoff race. Also a plus, Farkas is scheduled to be taped so all those who haven’t gotten the chance to witness in person yet should get a pretty good view of the man that has thrown three perfectos (so far). All in all, game one should be a must-see and game two is definitely intriguing as well.
| Holy Grounds | 'Gian Joint | Pervis Memorial | King's Castle | ||||
| 5/31 | 6/1 | 6/1 | 6/1 | ||||
| WO | 1|0 | IS | 2|1 | BW | 3|4 | WA | 0|0 |
| HB | 11|11 | BW | 13|11 | EL | 0|8 | KF | 1|1 |
| Unavailable Pitchers: 1 Game: C. Phillips (EL), B. D'Agnese (FS), Paquin (HB), Murtha (IS), Castle (KF), Jardine (ON), Bortmas (WW), M. Brannan (WO), Crozier (WA) 2 Games: Farkas (BW) |
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+.500 records for all 4 Pickers in Week 5. #2.5takeover played right into their easy-pick wheelhouse. Chris won the week with a perfect 5-0 to extend his lead. Kyle right behind him at 4-1, with a lock-less David going 3-1, and Hollitinder bringing up the rear at 3-2. The least challenged result in gameplay was O/U 2.5 ding dongs by Mark Phillips and Wags — Mark hit 1, but as the mercies and final outs loomed their was no conceivable chance 2 more would come. That was David's lone miss; Jason doubles up with a correct lock. The other two O/U 2.5s were much more down to the wire. Haffey was successful on his first 2 steal attempts, but was then picked off on the third. He used the fourth late in the second game, and got the win for himself and the over; Holli's Wolfpack pride gave him the only miss on that. D'Agnese struck out both Chandler Phillips and Kyle "the Picker" Tomlinson in the first inning. However, Dakota LaDouceur had walked earlier in the game and was caught stealing for the third out — we may have to investigate some El Diablos/Pickers collusion to get the under there. All 4 got this right; Kyle x2 with his lock. The 1-1 series split split the Pickers 2-2: Castle and Paquin (locked) in the right, Jason and Kyle the opposite. The Farkas perfect games pick obviously remains open through the end of the regular season. Week 4 is a light week; only 4 series. No shenanigans this time. Big numbers, power numbers, power pitching, and the ever-amusing underdog with the better record are on the table. |
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 David (11 - 19, .367) |
 Jason (10 - 19, .345) |
 Chris (17 - 14, .548) |
 Kyle (11 - 19, .367) |
 @  Total Runs: O/U 30.5 |
Over Farkas isn't pitching and Belgian's bats finally come alive |
Over #WalkFest2014 will happen and there will be runs galore |
Under That's about what was put up against the Diablos last week. No way these two teams do that |
Over Not by much though |
@  Series Result |
El Diablos Sweep I can't see Farkas silencing this offense again |
1-1 Split Farkas is too good for any team to beat him, and EL are on a hot steak. They win the one Farkas doesn't pitch |
1-1 Split 1-0 Belgian game two. Wastes the starters for two games going 15+ innings |
El Diablos Sweep Mark Phillips will be on the HR leaderboard after this week |
 @  Series Spread: HB -4.5 |
HB -4.5 Dennis pitches a gem and hits 5 homers on the day |
HB -4.5
I'm pretty sure I have to pitch a game so I'll take the Balls. We win one game, but the game I pitch gets ugly quick |
HB -4.5 Kyle almost got it right, this pick is actually easier than Hollister's sister |
HB -4.5 This pick is easier than that Grandma from Tinder that Hollister hooked up with |
 @  Total HR: O/U 4.5 |
Under New week, new rookie, enough said |
Over 55ft fence sets up these teams for a minimum of 7 dongers |
Under Two by Castle, but no more |
Under 4 all by Aces |
