We’re getting close to the forty day mark in the baseball season, the time by which most Major League teams have decided whether they have a chance to make the playoffs.  It is also a good time to check and see whether you are close to making the playoffs.  Today I find myself in seventh place.  I have fluctuated between second and eighth the past three weeks so the standings are still very dynamic.  Here is where I stand:

Overall, I’m 158^th out of 390.  That makes me slightly above average.  Pretty fitting for a team that is 7^th out of 14 in the local standings.  I’ve been as high as 53^rd.

From an injury standpoint, I lost Mike Lowell and Alfonso Soriano for extended periods, but they are back now.  My team is currently at 100%.  When I look at my place in the standings, it is clear that I missed them.  I also have Aramis Ramirez who might end up on the DL with a sore wrist.  We’ll have to see.

Batting Average (Currently #8: .265 / #3: .278)

My batting average is suffering from a couple of players who could do much better.  Lowell’s .237 and Soriano’s .180 are not doing me any favors.  Still, I expect them to do much better now that the weather is warming up which will help my average and allow me to move up in that category.

Runs (Currently #3: 228)

I’m doing well here so far.

Home Runs (Currently #13: 39 / #3: 50)

I have a couple of culprits in this category.  I drafted Soriano #1 with the idea that he would hit at least 30.  He has 2.  Mike Lowell was expected to hit 20, he has zero.  Delmon Young has been my bane this year.  I expected 20 and hoping for 25.  He has zero.  I should see some improvement here, so I won’t panic, but I’m going to need some fireworks if I’m going to get close to third in this category.

RBI (Currently #8: 194 / #3: 236)

I knew I was a little weak in this category, and I’m doing better than expected.  There is a pretty big space between #3 and #4, so with a couple of good nights (i.e. RBI from the HR I’m missing) I could easily move up to #4.

Stolen Bases (Currently #Tied 11: 22 / #3: 38)

I’m not doing particulary well in this category.  Again, it is Soriano.  He’s supposed to give me 30 to 40 and he has given me 2.

ERA (Currently #7: 3.879 / #3: 3.743)

Recently, I’ve moved down in this category.  Last week I was #2.  I have a 3.879 despite having Ted Lilly on my roster.  He is doing much better and I just had an off week, so I believe that I’ll return to upper tier in the coming weeks.  I drafted Tim Lincecum as my #1 starting pitcher and I’m reaping the benefits.

Wins (Currently Tied #4: 19 / #3: 20)

I’m in the mix and that is all you can hope for.  #1 is 22 and with one good week I could be tied with him.

WHIP (Currently #8: 1.334 / #3: 1.287)

As my ERA slipped, so did my WHIP.  I’m in the mix, so I just have to wait and see.  If my pitching gets back on track I will do much better.

Saves (Currently #4: 21 / #3 22)

First place is 24, so again in one good week I could be #1.  Jonathan Papelbon and Joe Nathan are doing what they need to do.  I have Joel Zumaya in the wings, although Todd Jones hasn’t had enough opportunities to loose his job.

Overall

The NFBC doesn’t give you many opportunities to acquire talent off the free agent wire.  There is always enough there to allow you to pick up a temporary replacement, but rarely can you pick up a permanent one.  I invested heavily in hitting, and the fact that I’m not doing as well there is a little bit of a concern, but much of that rests on the shoulders of Alfonso Soriano.  I picked him #1 to hit .290 with 110 runs, 30 HR and 30 SB.  I’m not getting that from him.  Still, other players have picked up the slack. 

Pitching wise, I’m doing a bit better than expected.  Ted Lilly has settled down and I have a group of veterans that will win some games and some youth that needs to exceed what was expected of them.

It is a marathon.  My forty game analysis says that I’m in the mix.  Now I just need to pay attention, try and pick up a little help when it comes available, and hope to avoid injuries.  My hitting should improve as the weather warms up.  All in all, I'm doing much better than last year.

JP Kastner is the winner of the 2007 Strat-O-Matic Baseball Online Expert League World Series.  In five seasons of SOMBOE, JP Kastner has five winning seasons, four playoff appearances, three World Series appearances and now one World Championship.  He is in his third season in the Tout Wars mixed league.