Mid Season Report Cards
We are at the half way point of the season and like every year there have been surprises in both the win and loss column. Who thought back in early June that the White Sox (25-5 in last 30 games) would lead the AL Central by the All-Star break? Did anyone else get caught up in the Washington Nationals hype when they were leading their division in May BEFORE the arrival of Stephen Strasburg? Who out there dumped their overperforming Padres early in the season thinking there’s no way they’ll hang on to the NL West? Here’s a link to some midseason power rankings - see how your teams are stacking up: http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/powerRankings
Who’s Hot?
White Sox - won 8 straight
Rockies - 8-2 in last 10
Who’s Not?
Mariners - 2-8 in last 10
Pirates - lost 6 straight
Long Winning Streaks Ended by State/City Rivals
The Texas Rangers and Chicago White Sox entered the weekend on long winning streaks. And although nobody would consider either team “cold” now after 1 loss in their last 10+ games, it’s kind of interesting that both teams lost to in state rivals Houston and the Cubs…both of which have been hugely disappointing so far this year.
Last week’s big earners
Rangers - 9-1 in last 10 games
White Sox - 9-1 in last 10 games
Last week’s big losers
Dodgers - 2-8 in last 10 games
Pirates - lost 6 straight
Indians - 2-8 in last 10 games
Best of the Trash Talk Board
We got a great suggestion that we should post some of the more entertaining Trash Talk segments from various JHB leagues. Here’s a highlight from last week:
Harrelson Swallows ( 6/18/2010 9:00:12 AM ) There’s a good chance that the server will reject that move because it doesn’t want the Orioles either.
Roth ( 6/17/2010 7:51:03 PM ) Ok, I’ve got to get rid of the O’s, I just have to figure out who to take. I’ll take a look and let you know.
Major League A-Hole ( 6/17/2010 6:34:52 AM ) and roth if u take the astros it might b kinda interesting b/c i had them orginally and dumped them (and $42) for the nationals who r now starting to suck like u said they would….
Recent JHB Earners
Rangers - Won 8 straight
Red Sox - Won 6 straight
White Sox - Won 6 straight
Recent JHBÂ Losers
Nationals - Lost 6 straight
Pirates - 2-8 last 10 games
Astros - 2-8 last 10Â games
What’s So Fun About Playing JHB Sports Fantasy Games?
We received a great quote from a JHB Sports player today and maybe it’s because we’re based in Chicago and the Blackhawks just won the Stanley Cup but we thought it was perfect.  Crazy Manny writes “JHB Sports games are way better than traditional (player based) fantasy sports because they never have a parade for the guy who had the winning fantasy team”.Â
It turns out Crazy Manny (and we’re finding others too) actually travel to the city of the winning team to party with the locals if they happen to own that team in their JHB Sports league. We have a two word reply to Crazy Manny and anybody else like him: That’s awesome!Â
Here’s a youtube link to what it looked like in just one of the many great neighborhoods in Chicago on Wednesday night: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jsP-Q6e0wuQ&feature=related  Â
Recent JHB Earners
Astros - 8-2 in last 10 games
Angels - 8-2 in last 10 games
Recent JHBÂ Losers
Orioles -Â 2-8 in last 10 games
Pirates - lost 5 straight
Check out your current stats using the link below. Â
www.jhbsports.com
Trade Value
Last week we talked about how to calculate market value for undrafted (waiver wire) teams. So naturally people are now starting to ask about team for team trade value between players. That too is very simple. It’s win differential X number of total players in your league X point value. Here is the calculation of a recent trade in a 5 player league with a point value of $2:
Win differential between Orioles and Padres at the time of the trade = 10
X number of total players in 5 person league = 5
X point value = $2
The trade value for the person with the Padres (the team with more wins in this case) = $100 (10 win diff X 5 people in league X $2)
When the trade is made the earnings impact these 2 players immediately while leaving the other player’s earnings unchanged. This transaction is between the 2 players only and technically does not even require league approval because there is no way to cheat the JHB Sports scoring system.  E-mail us at jhbinfo@jhbsports.com for an explanation for how the scoring system is totally flawless and cannot be cheated.Â
Any trades should be posted on the Trash Talk board. It has a time and date stamp so everyone in the league knows exactly when it took place. Â
Current Earners and Losers:
Big Earners
Dodgers, 8-2 in their last 10
Rays, 8-2 in their last 10
Big Losers
Brewers, 2-8 in their last 10
Giants, lost 5 straight
Astros, 2-8 in their last 10
Market Value for Waiver Wire Franchises
Now that the MLB season is in full swing and some teams that were left undrafted are starting to over perform (i.e. the Nationals, Padres, etc.), we are getting lots of e-mails asking about how to determine market value for these teams. It’s pretty simple actually. It’s win differential X number of other people in your league X point value. Here is the calculation of a recent waiver wire pick up for a 7 player league with a point value of $1:
Win differential between Astros and Nationals at the time of team swap = 7
X number of other players (you subtract the player swapping teams) in 7 person league = 6
X point value = $1
The market value for swapping the Astros for the Nationals = $42
When this player picks up the Nationals, his earnings immediately go up by exactly $42 and the rest of the league player’s earnings will go down exactly $7. At the end of the year, this player owes the rest of the league players $7 each. Time will tell if it was a good pick up.  Basically if at the end of the year the win differential between the Astros and Nationals is greater than 7 then it was a good move.
Any waiver wire pick ups should be posted on the Trash Talk board. It has a time and date stamp so everyone in the league knows exactly when it took place and how much the player paid for the new team. Â
Current Earners and Losers:
Big Earners
Dodgers, won 7 straight
Reds, 8-2 in their last 10
Big Losers
Brewers, lost 6 straight
D’Backs, 2-8 in their last 10
Check out your current stats using the link below. Â
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www.jhbsports.com
A Perfect Mothers Day
 Congrats to Dallas Braden for pitching MLB’s 19th ever perfect game. With his Grandmother in attendance, what a great Mothers Day gift for his late mother who passed away from cancer. And if you own the Oakland A’s that’s good news for you too as they stay 1 game back of the red hot Texas Rangers in the AL West.  To all you mothers in JHB’s MLB beta test, we hope you had a wonderful Mother’s Day weekend; there’s no doubt you earned it!Â
Here are this past week’s Earners and Losers:
Big Earners
Yankees, 8-2 in their last 10
Blue Jays, 8-2 in their last 10
Rangers, 8-2 in their last 10
Big Losers
Angels, 2-8 in their last 10
Astros, 2-8 in their last 10
Mariners, 2-8 in their last 10
MLB Winner and Loser Trends
The Mets and Astros are switching places…well kinda. Last week we commented on how the Astros were hot and meanwhile the Mets were just getting off their rough start. Now the Astros are back to the way they started and the Mets are staying hot while challenging for the NL East that everyone was just handing to the Phillies.Â
Does all this mean the Mets are good trade bait or are they for real?  Have the Astros put the worst days of the season behind them or will Astros Owners have to get used to this? Some Owners might be thinking of dumping his/her Mets for a statistically worse team that they think is on the rise…that Owner could probably get a little cash for the trade too. Or perhaps a team like the Astros might be swapped out for an undrafted team like the Nationals. Many leagues left the Nats on the board if that league drafted less than all 30 MLB teams. The Nats are only 1.5 games out of first place in the NL East…
Here are last week’s Earners and Losers:
Big Earners
Mets, last 10 games = 8-2
Tigers, 5 game winning streak
Big Losers
Astros, lost 6 straight
Brewers, last 10 games = 2-8
Check out your current stats using the link below. Â
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Try the Ultimate Anti-Bracket Game This Year
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1. Figure out how many Players (4-8) will be in your league. Think family, friends, co-workers - anybody you’d like to beat!
2. Figure out the point value for your league…that is, if you care to make it “interesting”.Â
3. Figure out your draft order. The draft reverses order every other round so there’s no advantage to picking 1st.
4. Going in draft order, each Player drafts an equal number of mutually exclusive teams from the field of 64.
5. Watch your teams dominate!
Check out the new look NCAA Tourney home page using the link below and sign up for your league today! Â
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JHB Sports Launches NCAA Version In Time For the 2010 Tourney
Welcome back to the original no maintenance fantasy sports concept. JHB Sports now has the NCAA Tourney version you’ve been waiting for and its miles from the ordinary bracket. This is the best way to talk trash and maybe win a little cash from the members of your league. NCAA teams will be loaded after Selection Sunday, March 14th. Start getting your league of 4-8 players ready and see how much fun the “anti-bracket” game can be. Â
Check out the new look NCAA Tourney home page using the link below and sign up for your league today! Â
