Week 12 is in the book folks.  There were some tight matchups that went down to the wire.  A few teams stayed hot; one team in particular stayed undefeated.  Five players were added to the ever popular and fan favorite List of Jericho. 

Island Beach Bears are out pitched and lose to the Barnegat Banana Slugs 6-5-2

MVP

These teams are tied for 7^th place with each having a record of 4-7-1, only a half game behind Shane’s Leviathans for the 6^th and final playoff spot who sit at 5-7.  It was the pitching that led the Slugs to victory as they dominated the pitching categories 5-0-2.  Of course, this means they lost the hitting categories 1-5-1, only winning steals in a close 5-4 battle.

Gary Sanchez continues to mash as he had 3 HRs and 9 RBI on the week and now has 23 home runs on the year for the Bears.  That Yankees lineup going to be fun to watch as they are starting to get healthy.  The Bears pitching continues to struggle on the season, their team ERA was 5.45 this week.  The Bears are ranked 10^th in team ERA and QS on the season.  Doesn’t help when Aaron Nola is pitching a gem from the bench on

Yasiel Puig recorded a Jericho on his way to earning the MVP of the matchup.  His 2 steals proved to be the most important of his stats recorded this week.  Steals were the only offensive category that the Slugs narrowly won this week.  It was all they needed though, because the Bears pitching is just not very good.  Strong pitching performances this week from Lance Lynn (15 Ks in 2 starts), Max Scherzer (10 Ks), and Patrick Corbin (8 Ks) for the slugs.  Shout out to Adam Ottavino and his 3 holds for the Slugs who won the holds category 3-2. 

JERICHOs

Puig – BBS

NEXT WEEK

BBS (4-7-1) v RCBD (3-6-3)

IBB (4-7-1) v LAKE (5-7)

Isotopes stay hot by beating off the Bad Dudes 7-6-1

MVP

Another closely contested Backyard matchup.  There’s a new DJ taking over the infield in the Bronx.  LaMahieu had himself a damn good week with 10 runs and 10 RBI and OBP over .500.  He also had himself the only triple of the matchup.  He was only a double short of the prestigious Jericho, that every hitter so desires to get every week.  This was the 7^th straight victory for the Isotopes who now sit in second place after starting the season 0-5.  Ian Kennedy had 2 saves with SP eligibility. Kennedy is over 30 and a former Yankee, this is the only reason why T knows his name.

The Bad Dudes offense is pretty good.  51 runs and 54 RBIs for the week.  Peter Alonso continues to rake .548 OBP, 7 runs, 8 RBIs, 4 HRs, 3 2Bs. Chapman, Mazara, and Machado all had big weeks on their own.  This offense is just getting Stanton back too, who will find his groove and start crushing home runs soon enough.  Maybe they should think of trading a bat for a pitcher, I know I’d be willing to take Alonso off his hands.  6.25 team ERA for the Bad Dudes this week.  Their best pitcher on the season has been Brandon Woodruff (114 Ks in 94.1 IP, 7 QS, 9 Ws, 4.01 ERA).  Pretty solid year for Woodruff I will admit, but they need some more weapons out there.  Shout out to Alex Reyes sitting at 53 IP in his career.  Alex just left a AAA start with pectoral discomfort this week (cue the San Andreas “ah shit, here we go again” meme).  He has been struggling in the minors this year anyway, but it would sure be nice for that guy to stay healthy.

NEXT WEEK

RCBD (3-6-3) v BBS (4-7-1)

TOPES (7-5) v LTBD (12-0) ***Matchup of the Week***

Ocean Gate Fishing Club dominate the East Coast Kings 10-2-2

***MVP OF THE WEEK***

It appears Greg doesn’t love R Mac anymore after this week (or whatever Greg’s name was for a couple of those weeks).  This one wasn’t even close.  The Fishing Club’s staff was excellent with 9 QS, 2.42 ERA, 6 Saves, 4 Holds.  Cole Hamels, Gerrit Cole, and Shane Bieber strong weeks, while Castillo racked up 13 Ks in an otherwise mediocre 2 start week.  Trout was just a monster as he shows us why he is the best baseball player on the planet.  Heroy got good performances from other spots on the offense as well.  Alvarez had 3 HR and 8 RBI, while Betts was a 2B away from a Jericho.  Amed Rosario was motivated by my words last week and showed he has a pulse (.458 OBP, 4 runs, 3 2Bs, 2 RBI, 3 SB).  Get your trade offers in while you have a chance folks!

Berrios was impressive in a 2-start week for the Kings 15 IP, 13 Ks, 2 QS.  Christian Yelich is keeping up with his usual insanity and hit another 3 dingers this week bringing his season total 29.  Yeah, he’s pretty good too and in contention for this whole best baseball player on the planet thing (63 Runs, 29 HRs, 63 RBIs, 17 SB, .435 OBP).  The Kings are looking to bounce back this week against the Renegades.

NEXT WEEK

OGFC (6-5-1) v RAYS (2-7-3)

ECK (6-6) v RRF (6-5-1)

Lakehurst Leviathans beat Rojo’s Renegade Force 9-3-2

MVP

The Leviathans pull out their 5^th victory on the season, which is the total they had in their first 2 seasons combined.  Nice little turn around going on here for Shane as they currently sit in the 6^th and final playoff spot.  The groin injury to Mondesi hurts this squad a bit, but it doesn’t appear to be too serious, hopefully he is back out there recording Jericho’s soon.  Carlos Santana is a stud while wearing an Indians uniform.  One of the more underrated players around the league had himself quite a week with 7 Runs, 3 HRs, 5 RBIs, 1 SB .500 OBP.  He is having a great season so far for a Cleveland team that is suddenly hot in June (Santana has 53 Runs, 14 2Bs, 1 3B, 17 HRs, 47 RBIs, 3 SB, .417 OBP).  Sticking with the Indians theme, Oscar Mercado had a nice little Jericho as well for Lakehurst this week.

Overall this matchup was a little underwhelming when comparing to the other scores around the league.  Rojo and his Gades are sitting in the 4^th playoff spot currently.  Elvis Andrus chipped in a Jericho.  Rojo will look to bounce back next week in a tough matchup against the East Coast Kings.

JERICHOs

LAKE – Oscar Mercado

RRF – Elvis Andrus

NEXT WEEK

LAKE (5-7) v IBB (4-7-1)

RRF (6-5-1) v ECK (6-6)

***MATCHUP OF THE WEEK REVIEW***

Backdoor Sliderz hold off X-Rays 7-6-1 to stay undefeated

MVP

The matchup of the week lived up to its hype as it came down to the wire Sunday night.  Dochney fell 1 RBI short of the elusive 60/60 club for the second straight week.  With the X-Rays needing a steal Sunday night, Yadier Molina took second base for a defensive indifference in the 9^th while Cards were trailing.  If that had been ruled a steal this matchup would have ended in a tie.  There were plenty of storylines going on in this close matchup.  These were the only 2 teams to reach the 100 K mark this week.  Odom’s squad finished first or second around the league in the categories of runs, 2Bs, steals, Ks, wins, and saves.  X-Rays probably would have won against any other team this week. 

With steals up for grabs going into Sunday, that underdog team in Lacey streamed the long time X-Rays cornerstone and former Backyard champion Billy Hamilton.  Billy would go on to have 2 SBs Sunday, helping to keep the category tied at 10 which was critical for the win for those underdog champion good guys residing in Forked River.  Domingo Santana and Freddie Freeman had themselves a big week, each with 10 RBIs and OBP north of .440.  Buehler was absolutely dominant in his 16 K complete game, which avoided extra innings with a Matt Beaty walk off.  Nobody wants to be on the receiving end of their pitcher tossing a 9-inning gem without getting a CG…. Nobody!  Verlander and DeGrom brought it in their 2 start weeks with Verlander having 17 Ks and DeGrom 19.  Big time Jericho for Childish Bambino (4 Runs, 2 2Bs, 2 3Bs, 1 HR, 7 RBIs, 2 SBs, .500 OBP).

X-Rays put up one hell of a fight.  As stated before, he probably would have won any other matchup. #NoLightDays was in full effect, attacking you with bulk pitchers seemingly every day.  Felix Pena was especially effective in this role having 10 Ks for the week without eating up a start for the X-Rays.  X-Rays also got a good performance out of Zach Plesac in a 2-start week (2 QS, 8 Ks, 2 Wins, 1.29 ERA).  Jose Ramirez showing signs a life, picking up a Jericho this week.  It feels like the Indians have been all over this recap, right?  Mallex Smith continues to hit since his call up, 8 Runs and 3 SBs this week.

JERICHOs

Juan Soto – LTBS

Jose Ramirez – RAYS

NEXT WEEK

LTBS (12-0) v TOPES (7-5) ***MATCHUP OF THE WEEK***

RAYS (2-7-3) v OGFC (6-5-1)

A LOOK AHEAD

The first and second place teams square off in week 13.  A rematch from last years championship.  Topes are riding a 7-game winning streak while the Backdoor Sliderz are 12 and 0 to start the year and have won 17 straight going back to last season.  T will be looking to get his vengeance by handing Dochney his first loss on the season.  Oh, and Dochney secures the first-place seed with a win this week.  I am going to make up this stat and say this would be the earliest the 1 seed has ever been clinched in the Backyard.  I have no evidence to back this claim up but let’s roll with it anyway.

Oh yea, there are 4 other matchups that I’m sure have some implications too.  The playoff picture may begin to take shape this week.  Rays looking to remain alive in a must win against Heroy’s Fishing Club.  Shane, the current 6^th seed, facing off against Sean’s Bears who sit in 7^th.  Bad Dudes vs Slugs will be interesting as they both are looking at the playoffs from the outside for the first time in the AD era of the Backyard.  And the battle of the chat mutes with R Mac and Rojo squaring off.  Who will break the silence first!?