October 3, 2016

Congratulations to Jim Kushner, champion of the 2016 MLB Predictions Pool! Jim is our twelfth new winner in twelve years, and has won in his eleventh year of competition.

• Two unique picks were made this year: Jim had Zach Britton for AL saves, and Daltry/Lovejoy chose Max Scherzer in the NL IP category.
•  Jon Pauley and Jason Salavon collected 81 HBPs each this year, shattering Jon’s own pool record of 71 from 2008.
• Three returning entrants (along with Jim) had their best finishes to date this year: Jason Salavon, Garrett Schwab, and Mike Levine.

Here are the season category leaders, with bold indicating players we actually chose:

AL BA: José Altuve (7)

AL HR: Mark Trumbo

AL RBI: Edwin Encarnación, David Ortiz

AL R: Mike Trout (10)

AL SB: Rajai Davis

NL BA: DJ LeMahieu

NL HR: Nolan Arenado (2), Chris Carter

NL RBI: Nolan Arenado (9)

NL R: Kris Bryant

NL SB: Jonathan Villar

AL IP: David Price (4)

AL W: Rick Porcello

AL ERA: Aaron Sanchez

AL SO: Justin Verlander

AL S: Zach Britton (1)

NL IP: Max Scherzer (1)

NL W: Max Scherzer (3)

NL ERA: Kyle Hendricks

NL SO: Max Scherzer (4)

NL S: Jeurys Familia (3)

AL HBP: Brandon Guyer (7)

NL HBP: Derek Dietrich

AL HBP: Chris Sale (16)

NL HBP: Jimmy Nelson (6)

As always, thanks to our own Brian Wells for making our daily updates possible on the pool site and Twitter. Thanks to Greg and Anthony for joining this year! Congrats to Jim, and let’s enjoy the playoffs… We don’t keep track of fan affiliations, but we can at least confirm devotees of the Mets, Red Sox, and Cubs among our entrants.

-Jud and Dan

October 2, 2016

October 1, 2016

Jason Salavon is back on top thanks to Madison Bumgarner's 7 1/3 innings at AT&T Park yesterday. Jason's NL IP point won't last long, as Max Scherzer takes the mound tomorrow trailing Bumgarner by just 3 1/3 innings.

Should we start making out a check to Jim Kushner? Not so fast… If Jon Lester wins his start this afternoon in Cincinnati, then Scherzer will need a win of his own on Sunday to restore Jim's NL W point. If Lester doesn't get the win today, then Jim's looking pretty good. Kushner can also score some insurance if Mike Trout loses his lead in AL runs, or even shares the lead with Josh Donaldson.

Remember that any one-game tiebreaker potentially played on Monday is considered a "Game 163," so the stats count in the pool (see Matt Holliday, 2007)…

Happy October!

-Jud and Dan

September 30, 2016

September 29, 2016

September 28, 2016

Jim Kushner reclaims the throne with a two-point lead over Jason Salavon. Max Scherzer's outing against the D-backs last night (6IP, 2ER, 10K) earned Jim a point for NL wins while docking Jason one in IP. Scherzer is indeed scheduled to pitch again on Sunday, which could very well grant Jim his first Predictions Pool title.

Our next update will likely follow Madison Bumgarner's start against the Dodgers. See you then!

-Jud and Dan

September 27, 2016

September 26, 2016

Jason Salavon steals the lead from Jim Kushner with just one week remaining of regular season baseball, ending Jim's streak at 112 consecutive days in first place. Garrett Schwab rounds out our top three, with 19 entrants trailing Jason and Jim by at least two picks.

We can credit Jason's rise to four events: (1) Jon Lester's win over the Cards yesterday, which knocked Max Scherzer out of the lead for NL wins, (2) Jonathan Villar passing Billy Hamilton in NL steals, (3) Madison Bumgarner's 6 IP in San Diego on Saturday, and (4) Mike Trout's contention in the tight race for AL runs. Jason's time at the top may be short, as Scherzer is slated to pitch tomorrow and only needs two innings to catch MadBum. Furthermore, a win by the Nats' current ace nets Jim an additional point for NL wins. One last thing in Jim's favor: Scherzer can make two starts before the regular season's end.

We'll send out updates this week with every new lead change. See you then!

-Jud and Dan

September 25, 2016

September 24, 2016

September 23, 2016

September 22, 2016

September 21, 2016

September 20, 2016

September 19, 2016

Jim Kushner adds to his lead in weekly update #21, followed by Rob LaColla and Danton Boller. Jim now has a four-pick advantage over the nearest three entrants...

With just two weeks of baseball remaining, Jim's lead may be too much for his challengers. Rob or Danton could conceivably pick up a point each, but Jason Salavon seems to have the only real chance to contend. If Mike Trout (trailing by one run) passes leader Josh Donaldson in the AL R category, Jason makes up two picks on Jim.

As for the other two points, Salavon has a chance with Chris Sale in the AL ERA category, as well as Madison Bumgarner in NL IP. Jim can lose ground with the aforementioned Donaldson situation, and is also somewhat vulnerable in NL steals, where the ailing Billy Hamilton clings to a two-bag lead. Jim’s unique pick of Zach Britton still tops K-Rod in AL saves by two.

See you next Monday!

-Jud and Dan

September 18, 2016

September 17, 2016

September 16, 2016

September 15, 2016

September 14, 2016

September 13, 2016

September 12, 2016

Jim Kushner extends his reign over the 2016 MLB Predictions Pool in our 20th weekly update, with Frank Gatland and Rob LaColla tied for second. Jim's lead would be even larger if not for Jake Arrieta's win over the Astros last night, which took Max Scherzer out of the NL wins picture for now…

Despite slipping to seventh place in today's update, Jason Salavon still has a reasonable chance to catch Jim. If Mike Trout passes Josh Donaldson in the AL runs category, Salavon scores a two-point swing on Kushner. Could Zach Britton's slender lead over K-Rod in AL saves become Jim's last line of defense?

Our current overall HBP average of 49.1 is already the highest in pool history, surpassing 2009's final mark of 46.1. Nice job, everyone!

-Jud and Dan

September 11, 2016

September 10, 2016

September 9, 2016

September 8, 2016

September 7, 2016

September 6, 2016

September 5, 2016

Jim Kushner leads our first September weekly update, with Frank Gatland and Jason Salavon reprising their positions from last Monday. Frank will need Jim to drop two categories to move up, while Jason can still take the lead outright if Mike Trout passes Josh Donaldson in AL runs (Trout trails by two)…

Jason caught a break yesterday when Max Scherzer’s scheduled start against the Mets was pushed to Monday, keeping Madison Bumgarner’s NL IP lead intact for now. However, Scherzer’s next start might cost Jason more than a point—a victory by the Nats’ current ace will earn Jim and two other entrants a bump in the NL wins category.

Have a great Labor Day, and see you next Monday!

-Jud and Dan

September 4, 2016

September 3, 2016

September 2, 2016

September 1, 2016

August 31, 2016

August 30, 2016

August 29, 2016

Jim Kushner continues his winning ways as we approach September baseball, leading Frank Gatland and Jason Salavon by two picks. Jim and Frank are reaping the benefits of an explosive run-scoring weekend for Josh Donaldson (6R, 4HR, 9RBI)... Jason plummeted to 11th place on Sunday, but was then picked up by Nolan Arenado's HR in D.C. and a quality start by Madison Bumgarner against the Braves.

Brandon Guyer collected his league-leading 28th HBP yesterday, breaking the all-time Predictions Pool record of 27 set by Chase Utley in 2008. The current totals of 70 HBP for Jon Pauley and Jason Salavon are just one short of Jon's own pool record, also set in 2008.

See you next Monday!

-Jud and Dan

August 28, 2016

August 27, 2016

August 26, 2016

August 25, 2016

August 24, 2016

August 23, 2016

August 22, 2016

Jim Kushner maintains his lead for the twelfth consecutive week, with Jason Salavon and Frank Gatland rounding out the top three. Jason might look to Mike Trout in the AL runs category as another way to catch Jim... Trout currently trails leader Mookie Betts by four runs, and Josh Donaldson by two.

Most of our scores took a dip yesterday when Clayton Kershaw finally vanished from the NL ERA category. While it’s likely that the rehabbing lefty can make a few September starts for the playoff-contending Dodgers, Kershaw's ultimate qualification deficit of 41 innings seems a bit much to overcome.

See you next Monday!

-Jud and Dan

August 21, 2016

August 20, 2016

August 19, 2016

August 18, 2016

August 17, 2016

August 16, 2016

August 15, 2016

This week's update looks a lot like last week's, with Jim Kushner ahead of Frank Gatland by a point & HBPs and leading Jason Salavon by two picks. Jim has now been in first for 72 consecutive days.

Jim's advantage over Frank and Jason lies in the relief pitching categories. Zach Britton and Jeurys Familia each hold leads of four saves in their respective leagues... Jim will be tough to catch if both closers hang on through September.

See you next Monday!

-Jud and Dan