After a two week holiday break, we’re back to cover the last two matchups. With the All-Star break in our rearview mirror, we get to enjoy about 365 straight days of the Gauntlet. Just remember it’s a marathon, not a sprint. A cellar dweller today could become a champion come hockey with a little luck and some solid moves.
Trade Talk
Speaking of moves, the hot stove approached absolute zero with only 6 trades being made over the last 3 weeks. Most surprisingly, Evan only accounted for one of these trades.
The trade kicked off with a minor swap of Joey Luchessi and Ryan Pressly between Sam and Cameron. With Cameron’s pitching decimated, he grabbed someone to eat innings with a solid K%, while Sam added baseball’s best reliever for the first third of the season. Trades between sellers don’t occur often, but both Sam and Cameron found it worthwhile to make the swap.
Sam continued to wheel and deal trading Domingo Santana to Adam for Jason Heyward and $9 next year. Adam enters the fray making spending money for the first time this season. A solid acquisition for him, but Heyward has gone off recently, and Judge only sold for $7 more 3 weeks later.
With that, we’ll jump forward to the most recent trade. I bought Aaron Judge off Jake for $16. I just can’t give up on baseball and believed this was a bargain for a power bat. Jake and I had originally agreed to this trade on July 6th, after Jake posted “Judge going for $15 this years money rn, if anyone wants him make an offer.” After realizing Jake needed him more in his matchup against Sean, we agreed to a verbal agreement baring injury or a higher offer and finalized the trade yesterday.
Jake was active the week before as well trading James McCann to Sean for $5 next year, and receiving Keuchel and $2 for Felipe Vasquez. Two relatively minor acquisitions for contenders. The fall of Buster Posey has reached its peak. Hold on to quality catchers for as long as you can, they decline rapidly.
I’ve made a few head scratching moves this season, and made another one with buying Woodruff and Peacock from Cameron for $5 this year and $20 next year. Woodruff ended up being an expensive drop for me, and I was hoping Peacock would be a nice addition as well. Peacock immediately turned into a dodo, and then hit the IL, so I definitely have mild buyer’s remorse. My inner Evan may have come out in this trade.
Matchup 13 6/24-6/30
2019-20 Gauntlet Champ beats Brennan Huff 8-4
I had a bold strategy, and it almost paid off if it wasn’t for my meddling, abysmal pitchers. Adam takes the season series 15-9.
Cheap Players Available NOW crushes Team Chippy’s hopes and dream 9-1-2
After beating a good team, Taylor’s team let him down once again by getting demolished by Sam’s Marlins-esque team. Team Chippy dropped right back out of contention with this loss. With this beatdown, Sam takes the season series 15-7-2.
Mr. Conway Twitty upsets Vlad the Impaler 8-4
Sean’s hitting has dramatically cooled, and rumor has it players are becoming disgruntled with his no SVHD strategy. Emmett’s squad keeps chugging along which creates even more question marks about the Verlander deal. Emmett could easily have ended up as a buyer. Emmett gave Sean trouble this season and ends up winning the series 12-8-4.
The Bounceback Braves vanquish their demons in Threat Level Midnight 8-3-1
Jake got a big win against his friend and former roommate Cameron in dominating fashion. With this big win, Jake stole the season series 12-11-1 which he can likely hold over Cameron until next year.
Ronalds Lobos squeak by Kirby’s Keebler Cookies 7-5
In the battle between the two big money heavyweights, Evan came out ahead once again. Evan won the season series 12-9-3 which won’t matter though if he ends up missing the playoffs.
Xan Pham tops Governor Clark 7-4-1
Even his first mid-season name change can’t turn Hunter’s fortunes around, as he lost yet another matchup. Even with this loss, Hunter still managed to win the season series 13-6-2.
Matchup 14 7/1-7/14
Brennan Huff scoops Cheap Players Available NOW 10-2
Even with his endless amount of quality streams, Sam’s team was overpowered throughout. This matchup keeps me in 9th place, but within striking distance for the rest of the season. I dominated the season series against last years champ, 17-7.
2019-20 Gauntlet Champ continues title run demolishing Ronalds Lobos 10-2
Adam’s team is good, and Evan’s 15 page manifesto didn’t work. Adam’s absolutely cruising to 1st place while Evan is in a vulnerable position with this matchup. Evan shouldn’t feel too bad about this loss with Adam just squeaking out the series win 13-11.
Threat Level Midnight falls to Xan Pham 2-10
After selling off multipole quality pieces, Cameron has struggled in recent weeks. Two strong weeks for Jacob have put him back into playoff contention. Jacob wins the season series 13-9-2.
The Bounceback Braves upset Vlad the Impaler 7-5
Don’t look now, but Jake hasn’t lost a matchup in 4 weeks (albeit with two ties) while Sean has dropped 3 straight matchups. Jake may not be making playoff noise, but he’s fighting to not finish last. Sean’s offensive grip has regressed, and his pitching hasn’t been able to hold ground. He’s 1.5 GB of the Lobos and has 5 tough matchups in a row. Sean did win the season series 14-9-1.
Governor Clark gets impeached by Kirby’s Keebler Cookies 2-10
Another abysmal matchup for Hunter. After a second place finish last year, it feels like Hunter can’t put anything together. Is it lack of effort, bad luck, both? For what it’s worth, he’s bought a handful of players this year. Ronak’s big win jumped him to 3rd in the standings. Ronak wins the season series 15-9.
Team Chippy squeaks by Mr. Conway Twitty 6-5-1
After a big loss to Sam, Taylor bounced back slightly this week. These teams continue to hang around in the standings and are 1 game within each other. Emmett wins the season series 13-9-2.
Looking Forward
With only 7 matchups left in the regular season, owners are running out of time to make noise in the standings. Below are the current standings with GB being broken down by 1st/4th.
1st: 2019-20 Gauntlet Champ -19/-24.5 GB
Key Matchups: Threat Level Midnight / Vlad the Impaler / Xan Pham
Adam continues to dominate the league, and has a relatively easy remaining schedule the rest of the way. Baring injury and extreme regression, he should easily take 1st.
2nd: Threat Level Midnight 19/-5.5 GB
Key Matchups: Kirby’s Keebler Cookies / 2019-20 Gauntlet Champ / Brennan Huff / Ronald’s Lobos / Vlad the Impaler
With what has to be the toughest remaining schedule and a completely different team, Cameron will face an uphill battle to remain in the playoffs. Never count the waiver wire savant out, but he could be looking at 6th/7th before he knows it.
3rd: Kirby’s Keebler Cookies 24/-1 GB
Key Matchups: Threat Level Midnight / Vlad the Impaler / Xan Pham
With a relatively light schedule the rest of the way, Ronak needs to make the most of it in order to hold on to his playoff spot.
4th: Ronald’s Lobos 24.5/-.5 GB
Key Matchups: Brennan Huff / Threat Level Midnight / Vlad the Impaler
Even with a big loss last week, Evan remained in the 4th position. Evan also has a relatively light schedule which means he’s in good position to hold onto this playoff spot.
5th: Vlad the Impaler 25/.5 GB
Key Matchups: Xan Pham / Kirby’s Keebler Cookies / 2019-20 Gauntlet Champ / Brennan Huff / Ronalds Lobos / Threat Level Midnight
Only a half game back, Sean can’t feel too bad about his chances with a selling Cameron. But looking forward, Sean has the toughest schedule out of any competitor. After dropping 3 straight matchups, there is no room for error in 6 out of the final 7 matchups.
6th: Team Chippy 30.5/6 GB
Key Matchups: Xan Pham / Kirby’s Keebler Cookies / 2019-20 Gauntlet Champ / Brennan Huff / Ronalds Lobos
Taylor surprisingly finds himself in 6th place after yo-yoing in the standings all year. His schedule the rest of the way is likely only second to Sean in difficulty. While playing these contender’s is difficult, it also means a few clutch performances can pay large dividends.
The Fantasy Gauntlet 