Will Rice assumes the lead in our All-Star break update, snapping Rob LaColla’s five-week streak. Karen McCloskey sits in third behind Rob with Dan McCloskey and Jim Kushner rounding out the top five.
Will can thank Felix Hernández once again for his pool fortunes, although this week CC Sabathia didn’t play the IP spoiler. Felix went eight shutout innings against the Angels last night to pad his ERA lead while Sabathia spent the afternoon struggling with the Twins in the Bronx (4IP, 8H, 8R). Joe Nathan was tied for the AL saves lead in our last update, but three saves in four days by Jim Johnson sent Nathan back down in the standings.
Let’s take a look at some of our All-Star break leaders in past years along with their final standings: Steve Craig in 2012 (finished 9th), Dan McCloskey in 2011 (finished 3rd), David Jones and John Agnello in 2010 (finished 4th and 15th respectively), Jon Pauley and Tony Wight in 2009 (finished 2nd and 8threspectively), Will Rice in 2008 (finished 2nd), and Jud Ehrbar in 2007 (finished 2nd). In summary, an All-Star break lead does not necessarily translate into a title.
But what about Karen McCloskey? Karen has finished top three on three occasions this month and has HBP over all contenders at this point. Chris Davis would probably need to be abducted by aliens for her AL HR pick of Edwin Encarnación to catch up, but a similarly mysterious disappearance by NL SB leader Everth Cabrera coupled with second-half struggles for King Felix could provide a tiebreaking scenario for Karen.
Enjoy the festivities at Citi Field and we’ll check back in next Wednesday.
-Dan and Jud
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