CFBL 2012, Year #23

Oakies Strut Their Stuff in

Their Inaugural Year

New Teams/Rules:  Changes were in the offing in 2012, as it was the first year without the talented Young Guns who quit after the 2012 season, upset by a trade between their long-hated rivals, Cactus Scouts, and the Belichicks, owned by the son-in-law of the Scouts' owner; the Guns had won five titles in their 21 years in the league.  Also resigning after the season were the aforementioned Belichicks (that's what twin babies will do to you).  The Guns were replaced by the Lodi Crushers, owned by Michael Liberato and his cousin, Matt Garcia (whom no one has ever seen or met); Michael has long been associated with the league as the son of an original owner, Al Liberato.  The Belichicks were replaced by newbies Julie Garcia & Stephanie Isaac of Redding, long-time friends of the commissioner.  They proved their mettle in their first year.

We got rid of the 30 minimum innings weekly rule for starting pitchers (made no sense with each pitcher's ERA points being determined separately); we allowed teams to place a player on the DL if they are on the DL at any time on Sunday; weekly ERA points were used to break ties; players were allowed to play any position that CBS allowed them to play; and trades were extended until 8:30 on Sundays during trade season.  

team (first round pick)

     Clubbers:   Fielder

     Devil Rays:   Pujols ($15)

     Casuals:   Kershaw ($10)

     Tahoe Rats:   Tulowitzki ($5)

     OAKIES:   Miguel Cabrera ($5)

     Lodi Crushers:   Bautista

     Cactus Scouts:   Cano

     Portuguese Water Dogs:   Votto ($15)

Regular Season:  It was an incredibly competitive race for the top spots during the regular season.  When the dust settled, the Cactus Scouts (despite an 0-7 last week) held off the rookie Crushers by one game; the dRays finished one further back, and the rookie Oakies two further back.  The Clubbers and Rats weren't that much further back.

Regular Season Standings:

     61-44  Cactus Scouts

     60-45  Crushers

     59-46  dRays

     57-48  Oakies

     52-53  Clubbers

     51-54  Tahoe Rats

     41-64  Dogs

     39-66  Casuals

Playoffs:  The Scouts & Crushers went straight to the Final Five; the dRays made short work of the Rats & Dogs, both quickly eliminated.  It took an extra week for the rejuvenated #8 Casuals to oust the #5 Clubbers.

The dRays got off to a fast start of the Final Five with a 4-0 record; the Oakies & Crushers tied at 2.5-1.5; the #1 seeded Scouts wiped out at 0-4.  After the Casuals ran the table in week #2, they trailed the Crushers by a half game, and they led the Oakies by a half.  In the last week, the rookie Oakies snuck by the rookie Crushers to claim the title.

The OAKIES won a very dramatic Sunday night, due in no small part to the Scouts' Verlander's outstanding SPW, which gained the Scouts enough points (when combined with the Crushers' Sale's loss) to sneak into 2nd place for the week, giving the OAKIES enough playoff wins to produce a championship in their rookie season.  

A special shout-out from the Oakies to Delmon Young and his 3-run HR off of Sale.  If that last drive by Hudson had gone over Jackson's glove, we'd be heading into a run-off playoff week.  But Jackson is, after all, an Oakie.

Playoff Standings:

     8.5  Oakies

     7.5  Crushers

     6.0  Casuals

     4.0  Scouts & dRays

Willie Mays statue, AT&T Park