Yankees Repeat as 2016 season draws to an exciting close

Ditto!

Yankees repeat as world champs, defeating Pirates 4 games to 2

(PE)Dee Gordon MVP with .550 batting average over six-game series

Just three weeks ago or so, on November 21, things looked bleak for the defending champion Yankees. The Reds had already clinched their division—and their wild card hopes were fading quickly. Already in the clubhouse at 44-36, they watched as the Giants and Red Sox met for a five-game series to conclude the regular season. The Yankees’ only path to the post-season at that point was for the Giants (41-34 at the time) to go 3-2 against the Red Sox (42-33) in those final five games, which would result in a three-way tie for the wild card at 44-36. Any other outcome and the Yankees were done. 

We know what happened, of course. The 3-2 outcome happened, opening the door a crack. And the Yankees stormed through. First they took the round-robin tie breaker to claim the wild card, beating both the Giants and Red Sox in the first round. Next they swept the Moe Division champion Reds 4-0 in the divisional playoffs, setting up a World Series rematch with the Pirates. 

For the second year in a row the Yankees defeated the Pirates 4 games to 2 in the championship series, completing a post-season run (including the round-robin) of 10-2. Dee Gordon claimed MVP honors after batting .550 in the World Series, although many Yankees could have a valid claim to those honors.

Congratulations to the Yankees—again! Great season everyone. See you at Christmas time in February! 

World Series

Pirates (Number 1 seed) vs. Yankees (Number 3 seed)

Yankees win series 4 games to 2
MVP: Dee Gordon

Divisional Playoffs

Pirates (Number 1 seed) vs. Mets (Number 4 seed)

Pirates win series 4 games to 2
MVP: Manny Machado

Reds (Number 2 seed) vs. Yankees (Number 3 seed)

Yankees win series 4 games to 0
MVP: Anthony Rizzo

Final Regular Season Standings

Larry Division

1. x-Pirates (51-29), .638, 0.0 GB
2. Red Sox (44-36), .550, 7.0 GB
3. Giants (44-36), .550, 7.0 GB

Curly Division

1. x-Mets (37-43), .463, 0.0 GB
2. Rockies (36-44), .450, 1.0 GB
3. Cardinals (27-53), .338, 10.0 GB

Moe Division

1. x-Reds (50-30), .625, 0.0 GB
2. y-Yankees (44-36), .550, 6.0 GB
3. Athletics (27-53), .338, 23.0 GB

x=Clinched division title
y=Clinched wild card

Wild Card

1. Yankees (44-36), .550, 0.0 GB*
2. Red Sox (44-36), .550, 0.0 GB
3. Giants (44-36), .550, 0.0 GB

*Yankees win wild card in three-team round-robin playoff

2017 Draft Order

1. Cardinals**

2. Athletics

3. Rockies

4. Giants***
5. Red Sox
6. Mets
7. Reds
8. Pirates
9. Yankees

**Cardinals and Athletics have same record but Cardinals "win" tie-breaker by going 4-6 vs. Athletics
***Giants and Red Sox tied; Giants secure fourth pick in 20-sider tie-breaker

Final Regular Season Standings and Post-Season Madness Update -- December 7, 2016

(Updated December 9, 2016)

It's a rematch of the 2015 World Series this year as the Pirates and Yankees square off for the title. In the divisional series, the Pirates stormed back from a 0-2 deficit to defeat the Mets 4 games to 2, while the Yankees swept a Reds juggernaut 4 games to 0.

And the Yankees jump out to a 2 games to 1 lead in the 2016 World Series! 

World Series

Pirates (Number 1 seed) vs. Yankees (Number 3 seed)

Yankees lead series 2 games to 1.

Series to resume -- and conclude -- Monday, December 12.

Divisional Playoffs

Pirates (Number 1 seed) vs. Mets (Number 4 seed)

Pirates win series 4 games to 2
MVP: Manny Machado

Reds (Number 2 seed) vs. Yankees (Number 3 seed)

Yankees win series 4 games to 0
MVP: Anthony Rizzo

Final Regular Season Standings

Larry Division

1. x-Pirates (51-29), .638, 0.0 GB
2. Red Sox (44-36), .550, 7.0 GB
3. Giants (44-36), .550, 7.0 GB

Curly Division

1. x-Mets (37-43), .463, 0.0 GB
2. Rockies (36-44), .450, 1.0 GB
3. Cardinals (27-53), .338, 10.0 GB

Moe Division

1. x-Reds (50-30), .625, 0.0 GB
2. y-Yankees (44-36), .550, 6.0 GB
3. Athletics (27-53), .338, 23.0 GB

x=Clinched division title
y=Clinched wild card

Wild Card

1. Yankees (44-36), .550, 0.0 GB*
2. Red Sox (44-36), .550, 0.0 GB
3. Giants (44-36), .550, 0.0 GB

*Yankees win wild card in three-team round-robin playoff

2017 Draft Order

1. Cardinals**

2. Athletics

3. Rockies

4. Giants***
5. Red Sox
6. Mets
7. Reds
8-9. To be determined

**Cardinals and Athletics have same record but Cardinals "win" tie-breaker by going 4-6 vs. Athletics
***Giants and Red Sox tied; Giants secure fourth pick in 20-sider tie-breaker

Final Regular Season Standings and Post-Season Madness -- November 30, 2016

(Updated December 2, 2016)

World Series

Participants to be determined

Divisional Playoffs

Pirates (Number 1 seed) vs. Mets (Number 4 seed)

Series tied 2 games to 2

Reds (Number 2 seed) vs. Yankees (Number 3 seed)

Yankees lead series 2 games to 0

Final Regular Season Standings

Larry Division

1. x-Pirates (51-29), .638, 0.0 GB
2. Red Sox (44-36), .550, 7.0 GB
3. Giants (44-36), .550, 7.0 GB

Curly Division

1. x-Mets (37-43), .463, 0.0 GB
2. Rockies (36-44), .450, 1.0 GB
3. Cardinals (27-53), .338, 10.0 GB

Moe Division

1. x-Reds (50-30), .625, 0.0 GB
2. y-Yankees (44-36), .550, 6.0 GB
3. Athletics (27-53), .338, 23.0 GB

x=Clinched division title
y=Clinched wild card

Wild Card

1. Yankees (44-36), .550, 0.0 GB*
2. Red Sox (44-36), .550, 0.0 GB
3. Giants (44-36), .550, 0.0 GB

*Yankees win wild card in three-team round-robin playoff

2017 Draft Order

1. Cardinals**

2. Athletics

3. Rockies

4. Giants***
5. Red Sox
6-9. To be determined

** Cardinals and Athletics have same record but Cardinals "win" tie-breaker by going 4-6 vs. Athletics
***Giants and Red Sox tied; Giants secure fourth pick in 20-sider tie-breaker

Wilr card round-robin, post-season madness, and final regular season standings -- November 29, 2016

An unprecedented three-way tie for the wild card spot resulted in a round-robin showdown to see who survived among the Yankees, Giants and Red Sox, all of whom finished the regular season at 44-36.

The Yankees defeated the Giants 4-2 in the first round-robin game, and then knocked off the Red Sox 5-4 in the second game to claim the wildcard spot in the playoffs.

The 20-sider determined that the Giants would draft fourth in the February 2017 draft, with the Red Sox going fifth.

World Series

Participants to be determined

Divisional Playoffs

Pirates (Number 1 seed) vs. Mets (Number 4 seed)

Play to commence November 29, 2016

Reds (Number 2 seed) vs. Yankees (Number 3 seed)

Yankees lead series 1 game to 0
Play to resume November 29, 2016

Final Regular Season Standings

Larry Division

1. x-Pirates (51-29), .638, 0.0 GB
2. Red Sox (44-36), .550, 7.0 GB
3. Giants (44-36), .550, 7.0 GB

Curly Division

1. x-Mets (37-43), .463, 0.0 GB
2. Rockies (36-44), .450, 1.0 GB
3. Cardinals (27-53), .338, 10.0 GB

Moe Division

1. x-Reds (50-30), .625, 0.0 GB
2. y-Yankees (44-36), .550, 6.0 GB
3. Athletics (27-53), .338, 23.0 GB

x=Clinched division title
y=Clinched wild card

Wild Card

1. Yankees (44-36), .550, 0.0 GB*
2. Red Sox (44-36), .550, 0.0 GB
3. Giants (44-36), .550, 0.0 GB

*Yankees win wild card in three-team round-robin playoff

2017 Draft Order

1. Cardinals**

2. Athletics

3. Rockies

4. Giants***
5. Red Sox
6-9. To be determined

** Cardinals and Athletics have same record but Cardinals "win" tie-breaker by going 4-6 vs. Athletics
***Giants and Red Sox tied; Giants secure fourth pick in 20-sider tie-breaker

Standings -- November 20, 2016

(Updated November 22, 2016)

Larry Division

1. x-Pirates (51-29), .638, 0.0 GB
2. Red Sox (44-36), .550, 7.0 GB
3. Giants (44-36), .550, 7.0 GB

Curly Division

1. x-Mets (37-43), .463, 0.0 GB
2. Rockies (36-44), .450, 1.0 GB
3. Cardinals (27-53), .338, 10.0 GB

Moe Division

1. x-Reds (50-30), .625, 0.0 GB
2. Yankees (44-36), .550, 6.0 GB
3. Athletics (27-53), .338, 23.0 GB

x=Clinched division title

Wild Card

1. Red Sox (44-36), .550, 0.0 GB
2. Yankees (44-36), .550, 0.0 GB
3. Giants (44-36), .550, 0.0 GB

2017 Draft Order

1. Cardinals*

2. Athletics

3. Rockies

4-9. To be determined

* Cardinals and Athletics have same record but Cardinals "win" tie-breaker by going 4-6 vs. Athletics

Standings -- November 16, 2016

(Updated November 17, 2016)
(Updated November 19, 2016)

Larry Division

1. x-Pirates (50-29), .633, 0.0 GB
2. Red Sox (42-33), .560, 6.0 GB
3. Giants (39-34), .534, 8.0 GB

Curly Division

1. Mets (36-43), .456, 0.0 GB
2. Rockies (34-44), .436, 1.5 GB
3. Cardinals (25-49), .338, 8.5 GB

Mets Magic Number = 1

Moe Division

1. x-Reds (50-30), .625, 0.0 GB
2. Yankees (43-32), .573, 4.5 GB
3. Athletics (26-51), .338, 22.5 GB

x=Clinched division title

Wild Card

1. Yankees (43-32), .573, 0.0 GB
2. Red Sox (42-33), .560, 1.0 GB
3. Giants (39-34), .534, 3.0 GB

Standings -- November 10, 2016

(Updated November 11, 2016)
(Updated November 14, 2016)
(Updated November 15, 2016)

Larry Division

1. x-Pirates (50-29), .633, 0.0 GB
2. Giants (38-32), .543, 7.5 GB
3. Red Sox (37-32), .536, 8.0 GB

Curly Division

1. Mets (34-42), .447, 0.0 GB
2. Rockies (29-37), .439, 0.0 GB
3. Cardinals (25-49), .338, 8.0 GB

Mets/Rockies Magic Number = 10

Moe Division

1. Reds (48-29), .623, 0.0 GB
2. Yankees (41-28), .594, 3.0 GB
3. Athletics (25-49), .338, 21.5 GB

Reds Magic Number = 5

x=Clinched division title

Wild Card

1. Yankees (41-28), .594, 0.0 GB
2. Giants (38-32), .543, 3.5 GB
3. Red Sox (37-32), .536, 4.0 GB

Standings -- November 2, 2016

(Updated November 4, 2016)
(Updated November 8, 2016)

Larry Division

1. Pirates (48-28), .633, 0.0 GB
2. Giants (36-29), .554, 6.5 GB
3. Red Sox (32-28), .533, 8.0 GB

Pirates Magic Number = 5

Curly Division

1. Mets (31-38), .449, 0.0 GB
2. Rockies (26-34), .433, 0.5 GB
3. Cardinals (21-44), .323, 8.0 GB

Mets Magic Number = 16

Moe Division

1. Reds (46-26), .639, 0.0 GB
2. Yankees (39-28), .582, 4.5 GB
3. Athletics (24-48), .333, 22.0 GB

Reds Magic Number = 7

Wild Card

1. Yankees (39-28), .582, 0.0 GB
2. Giants (36-29), .554, 2.0 GB
3. Red Sox (32-28), .533, 3.5 GB

Standings -- October 18, 2016

(Updated October 20, 2016)
(Updated October 24, 2016)
(Updated October 26, 2016)
(Updated October 31, 2016)

Larry Division

1. Pirates (44-28), .611, 0.0 GB
2. Giants (36-25), .590, 2.5 GB
3. Red Sox (31-26), .544, 5.5 GB

Curly Division

1. Rockies (26-34), .433, 0.0 GB
2. Mets (26-36), .419, 1.0 GB
3. Cardinals (17-42), .288, 8.5 GB

Moe Division

1. Reds (43-21), .672, 0.0 GB
2. Yankees (37-26), .587, 5.5 GB
3. Athletics (22-44), .333, 22.0 GB

Wild Card

1. Giants (36-25), .590, 0.0 GB
2. Yankees (37-26), .587, 0.0 GB
3. Red Sox (31-26), .544 3.0 GB

Standings -- October 11, 2016

(Updated October 14, 2016)

(Updated October 16, 2016)

Larry Division

1. Pirates (41-24), .631, 0.0 GB
2. Giants (30-23), .561, 5.0 GB
3. Red Sox (27-24), .529, 7.0 GB

Curly Division

1. Rockies (25-33), .431, 0.0 GB
2. Mets (21-31), .412, 1.0 GB
3. Cardinals (17-39), .304, 7.0 GB

Moe Division

1. Reds (40-18), .690, 0.0 GB
2. Yankees (31-23), .574, 7.0 GB
3. Athletics (19-36), .345, 19.5 GB

Standings -- September 23, 2016

(Updated September 28, 2016)
(Updated October 5, 2016)

Larry Division

1. Pirates (32-15), .681, 0.0 GB
2. Giants (30-23), .561, 5.0 GB
3. Red Sox (27-24), .529, 7.0 GB

Curly Division

1. Rockies (22-31), .415, 0.0 GB
2. Mets (21-30), .412, 0.0 GB
3. Cardinals (16-31), .340, 3.0 GB

Moe Division

1. Reds (35-16), .686, 0.0 GB
2. Yankees (29-22), .569, 6.0 GB
3. Athletics (17-36), .321, 19.0 GB

Standings -- September 19, 2016

Larry Division

1. Pirates (32-15), .681, 0.0 GB
2. Giants (26-22), .542, 6.5 GB
3. Red Sox (24-23), .511, 8.0 GB

Curly Division

1. Mets (20-27), .426, 0.0 GB
2. Rockies (20-28), .417, 0.5 GB
3. Cardinals (15-29), .341, 3.5 GB

Moe Division

1. Reds (33-15), .688, 0.0 GB
2. Yankees (27-21), .566, 6.0 GB
3. Athletics (16-33), .327, 17.5 GB

Standings -- August 16, 2016

Hey, who's that managing the Athletics?!

Yes, that's our old friend and long-time Athletics protege Kenny Duffield taking the wheel for a few games. Ken took team with the league's worst record and went 3-1! That's managing! 

Larry Division

1. Pirates (32-15), .681, 0.0 GB
2. Giants (25-20), .556, 6.0 GB
3. Red Sox (22-21), .517, 8.0 GB

Curly Division

1. Rockies (20-28), .417, 0.0 GB
2. Mets (17-26), .386, 0.5 GB
3. Cardinals (15-29), .341, 3.0 GB

Moe Division

1. Reds (32-12), .727, 0.0 GB
2. Yankees (24-21), .533, 8.5 GB
3. Athletics (16-31), .340, 17.5 GB

Standings -- August 2, 2016

Larry Division

1. Pirates (32-15), .681, 0.0 GB
2. Giants (23-18), .561, 6.0 GB
3. Red Sox (22-21), .517, 8.0 GB

Curly Division

1. Rockies (19-26), .421, 0.0 GB
2. Mets (17-25), .405, 0.5 GB
3. Cardinals (13-27), .325, 3.5 GB

Moe Division

1. Reds (32-12), .727, 0.0 GB
2. Yankees (24-21), .533, 8.5 GB
3. Athletics (13-30), .302, 18.5 GB

July 19, 2016: Standings, New Divisions, and Mid-season Draft Results

Larry Division

1. Pirates (29-14), .674, 0.0 GB
2. Giants (23-18), .561, 5.0 GB
3. Red Sox (22-21), .517, 7.0 GB

Curly Division

1. Rockies (18-23), .439, 0.0 GB
2. Mets (16-24), .400, 1.5 GB
3. Cardinals (13-27), .325, 4.5 GB

Moe Division

1. Reds (30-11), .732, 0.0 GB
2. Yankees (23-19), .548, 7.5 GB
3. Athletics (12-29), .293, 18.0 GB

And those are your divisions for 2016! Looks like it's gonna be a horse race again.

Mid-season draft results:

1. Yankees: Trayce Thompson (cut: Mat Latos)
2. Cardinals: Jake Lamb (cut: Jake Peavy)
3. Giants: Michael Fulmer (cut: Anibal Sanchez)
4. Red Sox: JT Realmuto (cut: Houston Street)
5. Mets: Willson Contreras (cut: Stephen Drew)
6. Pirates: Josh Tomlin (cut: Gio Gonzalez)
7. Athletics: Charlie Blackmon (cut: Casey Janssen)
8. Rockies: Nomar Mazara (cut: Carl Crawford)
9. Reds: Vincent Velasquez (cut: James Shields) 



Next action: Nothing scheduled for now but stay tuned!

Standings -- July 9, 2016

(Updated July 12, 2016)
(Updated July 15, 2016)

1. Reds (30-10), .750, 0 GB
2. Pirates (28-14), .667, 3.0 GB
3. Giants (23-17), .575, 7.0 GB
4. Yankees (22-19), .537, 8.5 GB
5. Red Sox (22-21), .517, 9.5 GB
6. Rockies (18-23), .439, 12.5 GB
7. Mets (16-24), .400, 14.0 GB
8. Cardinals (13-27), .325, 17.0 GB
9. Athletics (12-29), .293, 18.5 GB

40-Game Records (for ping-pong ball purposes)

1. Athletics (11-29) (9 ping pong balls)
2. Cardinals (13-27) (8 ping pong balls)
3. Mets (16-24) (7 ping pong balls)
4. Rockies (18-22) (6 ping pong balls)
5. Red Sox (21-19) (4.5 ping pong balls)
6. Yankees (21-19) (4.5 ping pong balls)
7. Giants (23-17) (3 ping pong balls)
8. Pirates (26-14) (2 ping pong balls)
9. Reds (30-10) (1 ping pong ball)

Next action: Commissioner Dog Night, Monday, July 18, at the Commissioner's!

Standings -- June 17, 2016

(Updated June 22, 2016)
(Updated June 29, 2016)

1. Reds (26-8), .706, 0 GB
2. Pirates (25-14), .641, 3.5 GB
3. Giants (22-17), .564, 6.5 GB
4. Red Sox (20-16), .556, 7.0 GB
5. Yankees (19-16), .543, 7.5 GB
6. Rockies (16-19), .457, 10.5 GB
7. Mets (12-17), .414, 11.5 GB
8. Cardinals (10-26), .278, 17.0 GB
9. Athletics (9-26), .257, 17.5 GB

Next action: Nothing scheduled as of now. Let's roll 'em!

Standings -- June 10, 2016

1. Reds (26-8), .765, 0 GB
2. Pirates (22-13), .629, 4.5 GB
3. Giants (20-15), .571, 6.5 GB
4. Yankees (16-14), .533, 8.0 GB
5. Red Sox (13-12), .520, 8.5 GB
6. Rockies (11-14), .440, 10.5 GB
7. Mets (7-14), .333, 12.5 GB
8. Athletics (8-20), .286, 15.0 GB
9. Cardinals (7-21), .250, 16.0 GB

Next action: Wednesday, June 15, at the Commissioner's. Let's roll 'em!

Standings -- April 28, 2016

1. Reds (23-8), .742, 0 GB
2. Giants (20-12), .625, 3.5 GB
3. Pirates (20-13), .606, 4.0 GB
4. Yankees (15-12), .556, 6.0 GB
5. Red Sox (13-12), .520, 7.0 GB
6. Rockies (11-14), .440, 9.0 GB
7. Mets (7-14), .333, 11.0 GB
8. Athletics (8-18), .308, 12.5 GB
9. Cardinals (7-21), .250, 14.5 GB

Next action: Nothing Scheduled as of now. Let's roll 'em!

Standings -- April 18, 2016

1. Reds (23-8), .742, 0 GB
2. Giants (20-12), .625, 3.5 GB
3. Pirates (18-12), .600, 4.5 GB
4. Yankees (14-10), .583, 5.5 GB
5. Red Sox (12-10), .545, 6.5 GB
6. Rockies (11-14), .440, 9.0 GB
7. Mets (7-14), .333, 11.0 GB
8. Athletics (8-18), .308, 12.5 GB
9. Cardinals (5-20), .200, 15.0 GB

Next action: Nothing Scheduled as of now. Let's roll 'em!

March 31, 2016 -- Standings

1. Reds (21-8), .724, 0 GB
2. Giants (19-11), .633, 2.5 GB
3. Pirates (18-12), .600, 3.5 GB
4. Yankees (14-10), .583, 4.5 GB
5. Red Sox (12-10), .545, 5.5 GB
6. Rockies (10-11), .476, 7.0 GB
7. Mets (7-14), .333, 10.0 GB
8. Athletics (8-18), .308, 11.5 GB
9. Cardinals (5-20), .200, 14.0 GB

Next action: Nothing Scheduled as of now. Let's roll 'em!

February 29, 2016 -- Bodega Draft Weekend and Initial Regular Season Standings

1. Reds (19-8), .704, 0 GB
2. Giants (15-9), .625, 2.5 GB
3. Yankees (14-10), .583, 3.5 GB
4. Pirates (15-11), .577, 3.5 GB
5. Red Sox (12-10), .545, 4.5 GB
6. Rockies (10-11), .476, 6.0 GB
7. Athletics (8-12), .400, 7.5 GB
8. Mets (7-14), .333, 9.0 GB
9. Cardinals (5-20), .200, 13.0 GB

The 2016 Redwood SOM Draft Weekend is in the books, and a fine weekend it was.

First, our 2015 champion Reds presented the Chico Escuela Trophy to our current World Champion, the Yankees:

Then came the draft, resulting in the following picks for each team, as reflected on the Big Board:

Strato, and especially Bodega Weekend, is not for the faint of heart. Some owners simply couldn't keep up with the pressure:

And now the 2016 season is under way! First out of the gate are the Reds, who earned the Bodega Curse colors by posting a record of 19-8 on the weekend. But many teams are right on their heels, with the Giants, Yankees and Pirates all within 3.5 games of them. Meanwhile the Cardinals pause to take stock of a very tough start to the young season.

Great time, as always!

Next action: Nothing Scheduled as of now. Let's roll 'em!