#ShotsFriday 

We had a good bit of #ShotsFriday Shots this week by mostly 2 guys (though I had the odd ball) . @Orioles881 got on the board with his first using Nelson Cruz. @Avery25 and @TweeterLegrand had a clown question and got rewarded with a shot from Bryce Harper. @Avery25’s 2 and @Tweeterlegrands first. Harpers third. @Roktikitiki found a shot with league and playerboard leader Nelson Cruz with @RokTIkiTiki’s second of the year. @Landerulo found his league leading fifth this year with Harper as well. @JMoeller05 found his first with Nelson Cruz. @Lele670 added to the Bryce Harper total. @MLBShowdown247 also found his first with Harper. The reason Harper homered? @TomWyliehart picked him for his fourth of the year. Oh and I took Ryan Braun for my second and Braun’s first.

@Landerulo – 5

@TomWyliehart- 4

@Yamansdood- 2

@MLBShowdownguru- 2

@ Avery25 – 2

@Roktikitiki - 1

@Jamicfin – 2

@Kris_Bryant – 1

@TherealJohnR-1

@Purple_X_314 - 1

@Orioles881 – 1

@Tweeterlegrand -1

@JMoeller05 -1

@Lele670 – 1

@MLBShowdown247 - 1

Playerboard

Nelson Cruz – 8

Bryce Harper 6

Mike Trout- 4

Hanley Ramirez – 2

Freedie Freeman -2

Giancarlos Stanton – 1

Josh Donaldson- 1

Miguel Cabrera-1

Brandon Belt- 1

Ryan Braun -1

#TriviaThursday - 5/28/15

Happy Thursday everyone!  I want to apologize for missing #TriviaThursday last week.  I didn't have anything prepared before the day started, and my wife and I celebrated our 10 year wedding anniversary that day, and found out that our fourth child (due during MLB playoffs) will be our first boy, so it was a busy day and I never got back to it.

Two weeks ago, we had a first-time winner on our #TriviaThursday board!  @CKiritz was the first to identify Bob Feller (17) and Kerry Wood (20) as the only pitchers in MLB with as many strikeouts in a game as their age at he time.

Home Run King?

With two months of baseball done for the year, we have seen some nice power numbers this season.  If they can continue with their current paces, Bryce Harper (57) and Nelson Cruz (62) will both break the 55 HR mark for the first time since Ryan Howard hit 58 in 2006, with Cruz on pace to for the most since Barry Bonds set the single season record with 73 in 2001.  Which brings us to our new poll question:

MLB Showdown 2014: Starters 600-560 Points

The 560-600 point range is interesting. In a lot of instances it is going to be your Ace and in a lot of those instances he is not going to be the best pitcher. Doesn’t mean don’t pick them. It just means these guys are going to need some help. This is usually a price point where I am drafting late because I ended up missing out on high point players I wanted earlier. 

#ShotsFriday

So last week I was bit by the work bug. For those that don’t know I work for a tent and inflatable company. And for those that don’t know May is the first month that people come out of their holes and invite others to their home. So I was busy. But I am back now. Luckily I only missed 1 shot. That was to my good friend and amazing partner on this blog @RokTikiTIki. Not only does he make my charts look beautiful. He is also finally on the board with his first #ShotsFriday shot. He got it with Josh Donaldson’s first shot.

Last week was my chance at redemption. @Roktikitiki has been hounding me to change my picture. I wanted just the right time and reason. That time and reason was … My first #ShotsFriday shot with Brandon Belt’s not only first shot but first homer of the year. Belting me a homer. Also @Purple_X_314  joined me with my first homer with Miguel Cabrera’s first shot. Can that be right? Remember to tweet us @MLBShowdownguru or #ShotsFriday to tweet who you think improves their 2015 card with a homer. Also enjoy your favorite work appropriate beverage while thinking about baseball.

@Landerulo – 4

@TomWyliehart- 3

@Yamansdood- 2

@Jamicfin – 2

@Kris_Bryant – 1

@Avery25 – 1

@TherealJohnR-1

@KylevanPelt – 1

@RokTikiTIki- 1

@MLBShowdownguru- 1

@Purple_X_314 - 1

Playerboard

Nelson Cruz – 5

Mike Trout- 4

Hanley Ramirez – 2

Freedie Freeman -2

Bryce Harper 1

Giancarlos Stanton – 1

Josh Donaldson- 1

Miguel Cabrera-1

Brandon Belt- 1

Card of the Week - 5/20/15

I am going to take a look at two cards of the same player, the hottest hitting player in the game right now.

MLB Showdown 2014: Starters 560-590

Name	Con	Pts	IP	HR	2B	1B	BB	FB	GB	SO	PU
Max Scherzer	6	590	7	0	20	17-19	16	12-15	10-11	3-9	1-2
Jame Shields	5	580	7	0	20	17-19	0	11-16	7-10	3-6	1-2
Tanner Roark	5	580	7	0	20	17-19	0	11-16	7-10	3-6	1-2
Madison Bumgarner	5	580	7	0	20	17-19	0	12-16	8-11	3-7	1-2
Jered Weaver	6	570	7	0	20	17-19	16	10-15	7-9	3-6	1-2

#TrivaThursday - 5/14/15

Last week, @kris_barnes7 was the first to identify Bob Gibson as the only pitcher to win the MVP and the Gold Glove in the same season.

Card of the Week - 5/13/15

Last year, we all missed out on seeing what Jose Iglesias could do.  We have gotten a glimpse already this season, we can only hope that he can keep going at this pace (as long as the Tigers as a team crumble and fall....that is the Twins fan talking).  So for the card of the week, I thought we would look at Iglesias from two years ago.

Time For A Change?

Last week, 58% of voters thought that even without Adam Wainwright, the St. Louis Cardinals would make the playoffs (and I am pretty sure that @jamicfin was the one person who picked them to win the World Series).  They have been playing well, so who knows if they can keep it rolling or not.  We will have to check back on this one later on in the season.

MLB Showdown 2014: Starters +600 points

                If I am paying over 600 points for a starter I want him to do one thing: Win no matter what. I can pay a guy 400 points to have excuses. I can find a guy for 350 points who can’t be stretched. I can even pay 500 points to be caught in a bad match up. Over 600 points… I need W’s.

MLB Showdown 2014: Starters 600+

Name	Con	Pts	IP	HR	2B	1B	BB	FB	GB	SO	PU
Clayton Kershaw	5	660	7	0	20	18-19	0	14-17	10-13	3-9	1-2
Felix Hernandez	4	660	7	0	0	19-20	18	15-17	9-14	3-8	1-2
Chris Sale	6	650	7	0	0	16-20	0	11-15	9-10	3-8	1-2
Garrett Richards	4	620	7	0	20	0	18-19	13-17	7-12	3-6	1-2
Johnny Cueto	3	620	8	0	0	20	19	14-18	10-13	3-9	1-2
Adam Wainwright	5	610	7	0	0	19-20	17-18	12-16	7-11	3-6	1-2
Doug Fister	6	600	6	0	20	17-19	0	13-16	7-12	3-6	1-2

#ShotsFriday

              Another Friday and another day to think about baseball while waiting to get off work. I had a fun time last week making my first selection for a player who had his game already completed. Some how with cheating I still couldn’t get on the board. The only two people who did get on the board were @Jamicfin and @Landerulo both with Nelson Cruz. ‘@Landerulo is now the leader on the Twitter board with 4 shots on the year and @Jamicfin got his second. Nelson Cruz is now first on our Player board with 5 passing Mike Trout. Remember to tweet in who you think goes yard tonight to @MLBShowdownguru or #ShotsFriday. Then spend the rest of your day hiding from your boss thinking about baseball enjoying your favorite work appropriate beverage.

Twitterboard

@Landerulo – 4

@TomWyliehart- 3

@Yamansdood- 2

@Jamicfin – 2

@Kris_Bryant – 1

@Avery25 – 1

@TherealJohnR-1

@KylevanPelt – 1

Playerboard

Nelson Cruz – 5

Mike Trout- 4

Hanley Ramirez – 2

Freedie Freeman -2

Bryce Harper 1

Giancarlos Stanton – 1

#TriviaThursday - 5/7/15

The correct answer to the movie version of #TriviaThursday last week was Frank Thomas.  In the movie Mr. Baseball, he plays a rookie first baseman who supplants Tom Selleck's character Jack Elliot on the Yankees, pushing Elliot to play for the only team that wants him, the Chunichi Dragons in Japan.  On his first night there, Elliot turns to CNN Sports to get an update on what is going on back in the US, only to hear about how Ricky Davis (Frank Thomas's character) went 4-5 with 3 HR and 6 RBI in his first game.  It took all three hints, but @JMoeller5 got the correct answer for his 9th point on the season.

This week's question returns us to actual MLB stats and records:

Card of the Week - 5/6/15

This week's card of the week is another odd card.  It has a lot of downside to it for a Control 6, 16+ pitcher.  But it is because it is such an interesting card that I chose it for this week's CotW.

MLB Showdown 2014: Designated Hitters       

              Welcome to one of my favorite changes we have made from the 2000-2001 sets. The severely discounted Designated Hitters allow for leagues to be very customizable. Leagues that want more hitting can go AL rules and have discounted DH’s. NL leagues have cheap pinch hitters. You can go original rules and have them play 1B with -2 fielding (or even more severe if you wish).

MLB Showdown 2014: Designated Hitter

Name	OB	Points	Speed	HR	3B	2B	1B+	1B	BB	FB	GB	SO
Victor Martinez	10	300	C(8)	18-20	0	16-17	0	9-15	3-8	1-2	0	0
David Ortiz	9	250	C(8)	17-20	0	15-16	0	10-14	5-9	3-4	1-2	0
Adam Dunn	8	170	C(9)	17-20	0	16	0	13-15	6-12	0	0	1-5
David Dejesus	8	140	B(15)	19-20	0	16-18	0	10-15	4-9	3	1-2	0
Delmon Young	8	110	C(12)	20	0	17-19	0	7-16	5-6	0	2-4	1
Billy Butler	7	30	C(9)	20	0	16-19	0	10-15	7-9	5-6	1-4	0
Carlos Beltran	6	50	C(11)	18-20	0	15-17	0	10-14	7-9	5-6	4	1-3
Jason Giambi	5	50	C(8)	16-20	0	0	0	14-15	8-13	0	0	1-7
Kendrys Morales	5	30	C(10)	18-20	0	15-17	0	10-14	7-9	5-6	3-4	1-2
Alfonso Soriano	5	10	C(12)	19-20	0	16-18	0	7-15	0	0	0	1-6

#ShotsFriday 

                You want to know what makes #ShotsFriday easier? Multiple picks. @TomWyliehart and @Landerulo both had 3 picks this weeks. Both took advantage with a homer. @TomWyliehart had Hanley Ramirez who went deep for his first and @TomWyliehart’s third of the year. @Landerulo had Nelson Cruz going deep for @Landerulo third. @Jamacfin also had Nelson Cruz to give @Jamacfin and @Kris_Barnes had Cruz as well for their first and Cruz his third. @Yamansdood also had Hanley Ramirez to give Ramirez his first and Yamansdood his second.  Remember to tweet in your pick for who goes deep tonight to #ShotsFriday or to me @MLBShowdownguru. Remember to enjoy your favorite work appropriate beverage while waiting for baseball and rooting for your best players to make better MLB Showdown cards.

Twitterboard

@TomWyliehart- 3

@Landerulo – 3

@Yamansdood- 2

@Kris_Bryant – 1

@Jamicfin – 1

@Avery25 – 1

@TherealJohnR-1

@KylevanPelt – 1

Playerboard

Mike Trout- 4

Nelson Cruz – 3

Hanley Ramirez – 2

Freedie Freeman -2

Bryce Harper 1

Giancarlos Stanton – 1