Dusty'd

We are awarding a Bullinger to Carlos Zambrano for his fine outing yesterday:

4 IP, 8 Hits, 7 ERs and 5 Walks

Zambrano lasted a little longer in the game than the usual Bullinger recipient, but he got special consideration for several reasons. First, Zambrano is, or is supposed to be, a true A pitcher, a Cy Young candidate who is supposed to anchor his fantasy team. That 0-2 record and 5.35 ERA are certainly anchoring the Pounders staff.

Second, do you know that line just below the pitching stats to indicate that a pitcher faced batters in an inning in which he didn’t get anyone out? Well get this: “C Zambrano pitched to 7 batters in the 5th.” Yikes, 7 batters without getting anyone out! Dusty left his ace out there to get crushed. Don’t we wish he had done that with Russ Ortiz in game 6?

Third, Zambrano threw 103 pitches in that outing. That is an impressive 4 inning stint.

Finally, the outing moved the Pounders below the Pecklers in the standings. Kevin said in BABI talk that our team is bad. Maybe so, but how does it feel to be looking up at us?

Boof Brittain nominated our old favorite, Steve Trachsel for a Bullinger as well. Here is his line:

3.2 IP, 8 Hits, 6 ERs and 5 Walks

These are certainly awardable stats. Add to it that the outing knocked the Cartel out of sole possession of 1st place. The Cartel lost 3 ERA points and a WHIP point this week, and I think he’ll agree Trachsel did it. When he bought him in the auction, didn’t all of you who have ever had him know he’d regret it?

But, no Bullinger for Trachsel. Steve Trachsel can never earn a Bullinger because, well, he’s Steve Trachsel. If Bullinger hadn’t wrecked us so badly, we’d be awarding Trachsels. This guy has ruined everyone he’s ever touched. And the worst part is that he’ll pitch just well enough against the Giants to beat them and make his owner think he doesn’t stink.

Let me put it this way: if we ever award a Bullinger to Trachsel, his line is going to be so horrendous that it will go down forever in fantasy pitching lore. That day probably won’t come until he’s pitching for Dusty, who will leave him out there like he used to leave Livan out there, or like he did yesterday with our Bullinger winner.

Final unrelated note: I got a nice email from Kenny 9 complimenting my recent flurry of writing here. At the end he said, “(I) really like your writing, even when I don't agree with it.” Don’t agree with it? I guess that would be when…you’re wrong.