The top seed is locked up. Two other pieces to the playoff picture are yet to be finalized. Nonetheless, the 2014 season of The Daily Grind has been nothing short of a masterpiece. Kurt, well done and congratulations for not only achieving your first ever winning team, but for also taking Jimmy Dugan to the playoffs. Mark and Mike, what happened? Sophomore slump? Just plain unlucky? The inclusion of the play-in game for the 6th and 7th place teams could not have gone any better. With two trying hard just to get in, and two more trying to avoid the game, these last three games will be exciting!
In looking back at my season preview, I found my top five ranked team are bound for the playoffs. Meanwhile the top-seeded Tom Emanski was projected for 7th, and Moneygraph Saberbeanes and FICA (competing for the play-in game) were destined for 11th and 13th place, respectively. Not bad.
Regardless, it has been a pleasure to join with all of you in making this league the best the World Wide Web has to offer. No one asked for it but I’m doing it anyway. Here are my 2014 regular season awards:
Most likely to succeed beyond 2014: Scioscia's Doghouse, Mark Hennemuth. Mark, you didn’t live up to the expectations set by your 2013 playoff team. However, you did some wonderful work as GM of the Doghouse and put your team in great position to build a championship quality roster for many years.
Least likely to succeed beyond 2014: GotHeeeem!, Albert Ramirez and Jason McIver. No offense intended, Jason and Albert, but you have a lot of work left to do. Mid-way through 2014 you were a contender. Then reality set in and the losses piled up. Without many pieces locked up for the future and only two future minor league slots, the next auction will need to be a turning point for this team.
Rookie of the year: Pennyball, Ryan Kay. Despite missing the playoffs by a wide margin and a near-last place finish, Mr. kay took an expansion team, acquired some elite young talent and got his feet wet in the most intense fantasy league he’s played in. His outlook for 2015 and beyond will be contingent upon his ability to increase spending and leave his mark at the auction.
Most Improved: Jimmy Dugan, Kurt Angier. Kurt, you have lived up to the the hype set back in 2012. Your team is knocking on the door of the second bye for the playoffs. You have some elite players signed to contracts for the future. You have the swagger and the skill to make a championship run. Can you complete it?
The team we should feel sorry for, but we just can’t: The Spruce Bruce, Taylor Holiday: He’s 15 games over .500. He’s near falling into the abyss of the play-in game. He has suffered season-ending injuries to seven of his regular players. Taylor has endured hardship, forfeits, and ridicule. But we still don’t feel sympathy for him. At all.
Executive of the year: Tom Emanski, Gregg Angier. Gregg nearly set a new single-season wins record, has had the top seed locked up for weeks, and we still don’t know how he did it. He made questionable move after questionable move, shuffled through players, and then loaded up on prospects in the offseason leaving us scratching our heads. His moves cashed in, his prospects yielded mid-season reinforcements, and his team’s metamorphosis brought to life a fantasy juggernaut. Gregg sits in managerial glory with the likes of Brian Sabean and Billy Beane. This might be the year he takes home the trophy.
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