The Nation - Power Rankings

With the week 6 Power Rankings coming out, let's take a look at The Nation's Power Rankings through 5 weeks of fantasy. -Thanks Pat

You may be wondering to yourself why I am thanking Pat again. 'Man, what gives?'  

 Let me start by saying how wonderful of a commissioner he is. I know it's not easy setting up a draft correctly, so that you can manage your lineup day-to-day, or draft before the beginning of week 1. I strictly remember watching games during the first week of the season as my players dominate the playing field. I saw news articles 3 games into this season titled "Robinson Cano is on pace for 216 home runs in 2016." Can you imagine watching that first week and see 'your boy Cano' go for 4 home runs and 7 RBI's?!  Now that we're here, let's keep going. I want to also thank Pat for postponing the draft because I did not want to see my Japanese hidden gem sleeper pick go for 6 scoreless innings and also be the first Dodger to hit a Home Run this season! Nah, didn't want any of that to be included this season. So here we are, 6th week of the season, 5th week in fantasy.

I imagine most of you share some of these same frustrations. However, that does not take away the fact we are all handicapped with these hiccups, so all is fair in love and baseball........or something like that.




Week 5 Power Rankings with Bonus Draft Grades.
  
1. Brian's Team (5-0)

Commonly referred to as the Theo Epstein of fantasy baseball, Brian starts off the season with a league best 5 straight wins. Combining his knowledge of out-of-market fantasy players, tied with an aptitude history of the game, we all saw this coming. This is the most feared ball club this year, kinda like the Cubs. We will see how not only Brian can keep this streak up, but the Cubs as well.

Some favorable #'s (League Leader in each perspective category):

• Runs - 179
• Hits - 330
• Doubles - 70
• Home Runs - 51
• RBI - 178
• Total Bases - 561
• Earned Runs - League worst 122
•  

These #'s alone sum up the productive pounding this team has had the pleasure of dishing out for 5 straight weeks. With the likes of Arenado and Altuve leading the way, this team will be an extremely tough opponent in the wars to come.

Live look at Brian at the Ballpark:

Just absolute hustle on and off the field.. gotta love this guy leading the top of the ranks.

Bonus: Here we see Brian getting ejected for mustering "suck it" to Joe West.

Draft Grade: A

2.  The Kekambas Bitch (4-1)

This is a well rounded team, and by well rounded I mean I have no idea where to begin. Not sure what the strategy was during the draft for this particular manager. On the one hand you have some nice talent and forthcoming ball players, then you got guys like A-rod, Denard Span, & Carlos Gomez. Not to mention the aforementioned savage himself, Jonathan Papelbon. These 4 picks state to me that this team means business. "We may not outscore you this week, but you sure as hell are gonna remember the night you played 'The Kekambas Bitch'."

Some favorable #'s

• Caught Stealing - 0 times in week 2.
•  Struck out - league worst 274 times.
• Outfield Assists - led league with 4 in week 3.
• Complete Games - 3 w/ 3 shutouts leads the league.
•  Has only surrendered league best 57 walks, but has the most blown saves w/ 4.

These #'s reflect exactly how I see Joe at the plate

 Don't let this team fool you though, you cannot get caught stealing if you're not on base to begin with. That's a fact, and regardless, this team has more X-factors than any of yours.

Must be nice having Kershaw too.

Draft Grade: A-

3. Cano Can Go (4-1)

Solidified a nice 1-2 punch in grabbing Harper and Arrieta early. Cano has been the all-star of this team so far and rightfully so. Coming from an off year, Cano has had a major hot start and will look to continue his power play throughout the season.

 Hope you all had the great pleasure  seeing my guy Bryce hit a Papa Slam this season, great stuff. Speaking of Harper, there was a point this year where he had 11 straight at bats without an official at bat. I was at the game on mother's day in which he walked 6 times and got HBP. Before the game I asked a friendly confider  what the over/under  on official at bats Harper would have for the game, in which we concluded to be 2.5. We were way off. I like to think that when I stated this number I was simply thinking of the amount of beer I can drink during a 9 inning game at 2.5. Common mistake, the switch to budweiser products has been tough on the ole stomach.

Remember my Japanese sleeper Kenta Maeda? Ya, well he cooled off since week 1 and gave up 2 hr's to Thor in 1 game.

Some favorable #'s

• Sacrifice Fly's - 15
• Intentional Walks - 18
• No Hitters - 1

This team loves to get runs in the old fashion way. Sacrificing averages to get RBI's, gotta love it. Teams are clearly afraid to pitch to these players as well, should boast well for the teams confidence down the stretch. It's also nice having a guy that can throw a ball like this.

 Draft Grade: B+

4. Let Drake Stay!!!! (2-3)

I got this team at 4, with 2 main reasons. First, he's got the most points out of all the teams left. Second, and more importantly, the team name. Being a classic hater of  the south side, we got Harry working in a little bad blood to start the season off with a hot dig at the locker room fiasco from this off-season. I am sure being a teacher has something to do with it, but I for one could not imagine having a kid in my place of work every single day. This is the difference between 'Let Drake Stay' and the rest of the playing field. I thought this was a strong draft for Harry, look at some of these players: Machado, Russell, Betts, Panik, Fielder, Eaton, Pence, Reddick, Pedroia, deGrom, Verlander.

Resiliency is the word that comes to mind when I look at this team. Not only that, just look at what type of pitch you need to throw to strike out Mookie Betts. 

Wiffle Ball Movement

Some favorable #'s

• Singles - 213
• Triples - 11
• RBI - 47 last week
• Outfield Assists - 13

Again, Resiliency. This team is going to run hard for infield singles, and can also hit the long double turning it into a triple. Should be fun watching this team grind it out the whole year.

PS: Trivia Question - What 90's rock band was named after a peyote concoction hallucinogen recipe made by one of the band member's great grandmother? (Answer-located at end of blog, you got some time to think)

Draft Grade: B

5. Tom's Team (3-2)

This team digs deep and continues to find a way to win ball games. I think we can all agree that this is the scariest team with guys who have 4 letters in their last name. I mean take a look at some of these names: Shaw, Diaz, Sano, Duda, Kang, Baez, Cole. When you look at a lineup, this is not something you want to come across. All powerful names from different walks of life, coming together under one manager. The strict decisiveness of these last names shows me just how easy this season is going to be. Could you imagine how lucky these players must have been learning to write cursive in grammar school. I can tell you one thing, they spent a lot less time writing their names in cursive, being only 4 letters, than the average student athlete. Thus, ultimately lending more time on the playground to get better. No one likes nerds anyway, this team is legit.

Some favorable #'s

• Maybe some in Hanley's glove?
• Issued league worst 90 walks, to go along with league worst 14 wild pitches. However, leads league in Saves + Holds with 25.

IT has to sting knowing your second pick gets suspended for as many games as he did. Hey, that's the game. If only we were playing FB back when it was Sosa vs. McGwire, the tale might be different. However, this earns Dee Gordon - Tom, a spot on the steroid checklist. I play Tom in a match-up this week, and frankly, he's got the upper hand in steroid use a.k.a. will win at all costs. You need a manager like that, "Hey, I'm gonna give you a chance kid, let me worry about the repercussions." Absolutely fearless of commissioner Pat's stance on steroids in the game of baseball today.

Arguably has the best pitching staff, look for this club to extend a winning path directly into October. Manager also has the ability to eat more hot dogs in a 9 inning game than you.

Draft Grade: B

6. Marty Weeds (2-3)

Team Marty Weeds is brought to you by......

Joe Mauer: Cold Hard Facts

I absolutely love this team. I had the misfortune of playing this team last week and was losing the entire week until the Sunday Night Baseball game. It was a great win, but Marty Weeds had some members of their team sitting on the bench for their respective off-days. This is a testament of how well organized this team is. You literally have to hope major league ball clubs bench their stars on Sunday, and twice on Wednesday.


Molina, Cabrera, Walker, Turner, Bogaerts, Cain, Choo, Granderson, Pujols, Mauer, Scherzer, Bumgarner, Rodriguez, Nicaiso, Harvery, Wainwright, even keep it OG with Rollins on the bench. Which of these players are my favorite on team Marty Weeds you ask? Easy, the answer is Bartolo Colon.

 None other than the 43 year old journeyman himself - Bartolo! Here we see Colon listed as an available position player, and rightfully so, the guy hits dingers. The closest comparison I can make is a guy like Jaromir Jagr from the NHL.  Having guys like Jagr & Colon on a team is imperative to making a nice run in the playoffs. Longevity, reliable, consistent. These are key terms that come to mind regarding this team. Look out for a beat down from Marty Weeds at some point this season. My personal pick to win the world series this year.

Some favorable #'s

• Strikeouts - 187
• This is interesting, Team Marty Weeds had a league worst in earned runs allowed in week 2 with 34. That same week, he owned a shut out as well. Some balance in pitching will really strike fear in the eyes of an opponent This team also has yet to blow a save. Scherzer had a nice 20K performance too, I guess..

No shocker here, really. I mean, check out this stat from Max Scherzer's career below: 

First 20-K pitcher to have two different colored eyes.

 I am not sure what would be more terrifying. Having to face this guy^ in the batter's box, or compete against the manager of Marty Weeds in an Undisputed Snapple Bottle Match. Stay tuned this season to find out. 

Draft Grade: A-

Trivia Answer:  Pearl Jam

For the politically correct, this is not entirely true. "They just liked the word “Pearl”: it’s surfer slang for submerging the nose of your board, it’s a good Janis Joplin record, it was the nickname of basketball great Earl Monroe, and Vedder did have a cool great-grandmother named Pearl. She didn’t wed a Native American–but she did marry a circus contortionist. (The band came up with “Pearl” at a brainstorming session in a Seattle restaurant; the “Jam” got added after a 1991 trip to New York City that included a Neil Young concert where many of his songs became extended jams.)" source.

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Also, look for the highly anticipated "Pearl Jam of the Week", in which Let Drake Stay!!!! will present the pearl jam song of the week leading up to their performance at the friendly confines.

Check out the bottom half of this week's power rankings in:  Power Ranking- The Bottom Half