Lakeside Fantasy Baseball: Week 16 Power Rankings and Week 17 Previews

Two weeks to go, and we're getting close to clarity in the playoff race.  Let's check out the Power Rankings:

T-1. Albuquerque Isotopes-Josh Blum (36 Points)
Josh's got solid play from all positions during this match-up, and his seed now comes down to this week's big match-up.  He could get a bye, or he could drop into a first-week match-up.

T-1. Accountants Do It In Numbers-Randy Blum (36 Points)
The same holds true for Randy this week.  Another win keeps him tied at the top, and this week's match-up will determine the division title.  It's down to Randy and Josh, and we'll see which team really is #1.

3. The Bryce Is Right-Andrew Blum (32.5 Points)
Andrew cruises to a win this week, but he's officially locked out of the division race.  He still has something to play for though, as he could knock one of those top two out of the #3 spot and get the easier match-up in Round 1.

T-4. Zimmerman Telegraph-Shane Sandri (26.5 Points)
Shane gets an important win this week, as he's the first team to officially lock up their playoff seed.  Shane's win clinches the division title for him, and he now gets to cruise into the playoffs with a Round 1 bye.

T-4. A New Era-Austin Drake (26.5 Points)
Austin takes a tough loss this week, and it now leaves with a small outside chance of still missing the playoffs.  However, he still sits pretty solidly in the #5 seed at the moment.

6. LC Legend-Kyle Trondle (18 Points)
Kyle manages to keep his playoff hopes alive with a win this week.  He has two tough match-ups left, but if he can win them both, he might just sneak into the playoffs.

7. No More Haren Addiction-Andy Ashbaugh (15.5 Points)
Andy takes a tough loss this week, and his playoff potential suffers because of it.  Luckily, the two teams he can catch both lost as well this week, so he basically sits in the same place as last week.

8. The Fresh "Prince"-Scott Stepaniak (15 Points)
Scott continues to hold a slim lead for the final playoff spot, but his team definitely faltered this week.  He needs to put it back together, or he'll risk missing the playoffs altogether.

9. How I Met Yu's Mother-Brian Rossen (8 Points)
Brian's losing ways continue, and we'll see what kind of moves he might make in the next week and a half before the deadline.

10. ThE RoUnD MoUnD Of ReBoUnD-Ervin Demirasi (7 Points)
Ervin somehow still has a shot at the playoffs.  Don't hold your breath, though.

Looking ahead to Week 17, there's one very big match-up that stands out above the rest.  #1 Albuquerque Isotopes (11-5) takes on #1 Accountants Do It In Numbers (11-5) in the match that will determine which team takes the division title.  The winner will clinch both the division title and the #1 seed, assuring themselves of a Round 1 bye and the easier road to the championship.

Perhaps the next best match-up of the week is #7 No More Haren Addiction (6-10) looking to take #8 The Fresh "Prince"'s (7-9) playoff spot and the avoidance of relegation.  Meanwhile, #3 The Bryce Is Right (10-6) will look to end another team's playoff hopes with a win against #6 LC Legend (6-10).  It's not really an intriguing match-up anymore, but #4 A New Era (8-8) could at least clinch a playoff spot against division winner, #4 Zimmerman Telegraph (11-5).  And then there's a potential Toilet Bowl preview, with #9 How I Met Yu's Mother (4-11) looking for just one more win against #10 ThE RoUnD MoUnD Of ReBoUnD (6-10).

Until next week, good luck to all!

Top 20 Singles: Week Of July 29, 2013

1. Demons-Imagine Dragons  (3 Weeks At #1)
2. Dance With Me Tonight-Olly Murs
3. Ghost-Darling Parade
4. That's My Jam-Relient K (Featuring Owl City)
5. The One That Got Away-The Civil Wars
6. Babel-Mumford & Sons
7. Summer Paradise-Simple Plan (Featuring MKTO)
8. Bourbon In Kentucky-Dierks Bentley
9. Misery Loves My Company-Three Days Grace
10. Sick Of It-Skillet
11. Bleed Out-Blue October
12. We Fall Apart-We As Humans
13. Miss Jackson-Panic! At The Disco (Feat. Lolo)
14. There's No Going Back-Sick Puppies
15. I Want Crazy-Hunter Hayes
16. Tie It Up-Kelly Clarkson
17. Submarines-The Lumineers
18. Mirrors-Justin Timberlake 
19. Odds Are-Barenaked Ladies 
20. Can't Hold Us-Macklemore & Ryan Lewis



Biggest Mover:  Miss Jackson (Up 6)
Highest Debut: Odds Are (#19)
Next Five In: House Of Gold by twenty-one Pilots, In A World Like This by Backstreet Boys, Take Back The Night by Justin Timberlake, Stuck On You by Open Air Stereo, Blue Skies by Uncle Kracker


Imagine Dragons makes it three weeks at the top this time around.  Olly Murs and Darling Parade continue to put on the pressure, but it is Relient K that may be the biggest threat to the #1 spot right now, moving up to #4 this week.  We get another big move in the second half of the list, as Miss Jackson makes a mjaor jump up the list, moving up six spots this week.  And we also get another debut this week, with Barenaked Ladies coming in at #19.

Top 20 Singles: Week Of July 22, 2013

1. Demons-Imagine Dragons  (2 Weeks At #1)
2. Ghost-Darling Parade
3. Dance With Me Tonight-Olly Murs
4. Babel-Mumford & Sons
5. Summer Paradise-Simple Plan (Featuring MKTO)
6. The One That Got Away-The Civil Wars
7. That's My Jam-Relient K (Featuring Owl City)
8. Sick Of It-Skillet
9. Misery Loves My Company-Three Days Grace
10. Bourbon In Kentucky-Dierks Bentley
11. We Fall Apart-We As Humans
12. Bleed Out-Blue October
13. I Want Crazy-Hunter Hayes
14. Mirrors-Justin Timberlake 
15. There's No Going Back-Sick Puppies
16. Can't Hold Us-Macklemore & Ryan Lewis
17. Tie It Up-Kelly Clarkson
18. Submarines-The Lumineers
19. Miss Jackson-Panic! At The Disco (Feat. Lolo)
20. How She Rolls-Chase Rice



Biggest Mover:  Bleed Out (Up 3)
Highest Debut: Tie It Up (#17)
Next Five In: Odds Are by Barenaked Ladies, In A World Like This by Backstreet Boys, Take Back The Night by Justin Timberlake, Blue Skies by Uncle Kracker


Imagine Dragons holds strong at the top this week, with Darling Parade and Olly Murs giving some competition for that top spot.  There's lots of movement. through the Top 10, with five of the next seven songs moving up this week.  Further down the chart, we also see solid movement.  Among others, the highlight move of the week is from Blue October, moving up three spots this week.  And three songs make their debuts this week.  Tie It Up leads the way at #17, while Submarines and Miss Jackson fall in at #18 and #19 as well.

Top 20 Singles: Week of July 15, 2013

1. Demons-Imagine Dragons  (New #1)
2. Ghost-Darling Parade
3. Babel-Mumford & Sons
4. Dance With Me Tonight-Olly Murs
5. Sick Of It-Skillet
6. Summer Paradise-Simple Plan (Featuring MKTO)
7. The One That Got Away-The Civil Wars
8. That's My Jam-Relient K (Featuring Owl City)
9. I Want Crazy-Hunter Hayes
10. Misery Loves My Company-Three Days Grace
11. Mirrors-Justin Timberlake 
12. Bourbon In Kentucky-Dierks Bentley
13. We Fall Apart-We As Humans
14. Can't Hold Us-Macklemore & Ryan Lewis
15. Bleed Out-Blue October
16. See You Again-Carrie Underwood
17. There's No Going Back-Sick Puppies
18. Beautiful-P.O.D.
19. How She Rolls-Chase Rice
20. Mission Bells-Matt Nathanson



Biggest Mover:  That's My Jam (Up 4)
Highest Debut: How She Rolls (#19)
Next Five In: Odds Are by Barenaked Ladies, Tie It Up by Kelly Clarkson, Submarines by The Lumineers, In A World Like This by Backstreet Boys, Blue Skies by Uncle Kracker


We get a change at the top this week, and Imagine Dragons can now claim a second #1 single this year.  However, competition is close behind, as Ghost moves up to #2, and Olly Murs is close at #4.  We also get significant change in the rest of the Top 10, with Simple Plan, The Civil Wars, Relient K and Three Days Grace all move up or into the Top 10.  Further down, we see Bourbon In Kentucky and We Fall Apart moving up a bit, while Blue October and Sick Puppies move up a bit as well.  Finally, the week's debuts see Chase Rice and Matt Nathanson both sneak into the Top 20, at #19 and #20, respectively.

Lakeside Fantasy Baseball: Week 15 Power Rankings and Week 16 Preview

Three match-ups left, and a few things are becoming clearer.  Let's check out this week's Power Rankings:

1. Accountants Do It In Numbers-Randy Blum (37 Points)
Randy takes a tough loss this week, putting up over 1000 and still losing.  The loss drops him back into a tie for first in the division, but his team still looks strong.  A key match-up next week will likely determine the division title, so until then, it's likely cruise control.

T-2. Albuquerque Isotopes-Josh Blum (33 Points)
Josh picks up another major win this week against Andrew, and it puts him back ahead of Andrew by a game, and this time it ties him up for the division lead.  He now has a clear path to the division and the one seed; we'll see what happens in the next two weeks.

T-2. The Bryce Is Right-Andrew Blum (33 Points)
Another week for Andrew to put up a massive point total and still lose.  This one hurts, as it probably ends his hopes for the division title and a bye in the first playoff match-up.  Nevertheless, he's clearly going to be a contender come playoff time.

4. A New Era-Austin Drake (28 Points)
All of a sudden, Austin's where he's seemed like he would be for most of the season.  The win this week puts him at 8-7, and it at least gives him an outside shot at taking over the division title.  No matter what, he's solidly in the playoffs.

5. Zimmerman Telegraph-Shane Sandri (27.5 Points)
Shane picks up the win this week, and it puts him back in a really strong position to get that #2 seed.  One more win will basically clinch it, which puts him in a great place right now.

6. The Fresh "Prince"-Scott Stepaniak (18 Points)
Scott picks up another important win this week, and it's allowed him to create some separation in that final playoff spot.  He still has work to do, but a one game lead certainly helps things.

7. No More Haren Addiction-Andy Ashbaugh (15.5 Points)
Andy started off very, very slow.  However, he now sits at 6-9, just a game out of the playoffs, and his team is definitely hot.  If he keeps it up, he might just sneak in and be a potentially devastating playoff team.

8. LC Legend-Kyle Trondle (14.5 Points)
Kyle takes a tough loss this week, and it may have killed his chances at sneaking into the playoffs.  He needs a lot of help now, and he has to turn it around and win out.

9. ThE RoUnD MoUnD Of ReBoUnD-Ervin Demirasi (7 Points)
Ervin's finally fallen away from playoff contention, and is starting to look like the team the Power Rankings seemed to point to him being all along.  His hopes aren't completely dashed, but he'll need to get back on a lucky streak.

10. How I Met Yu's Mother-Brian Rossen (6.5 Points)
It looks like it's officially time for Brian to start looking to next season.  Trades could be coming soon.


Looking ahead to next week, we get an extended 10-day match-up in a very important week for a lot of teams.  The match-up of the week looks to be #2 Albuquerque Isotopes (10-5) taking on the hottest team in the league right now, #7 No More Haren Addiction (6-9).  A Josh win basically locks up a Top 3 seed and knocks Andy out of realistic contention, while an Andy win puts him in a strong position and significantly muddies up the top of the division.

#1 Accountants Do It In Numbers (10-5) gets what seems like an easy match-up on paper, taking on #10 How I Met Yu's Mother (4-11).  #2 the Bryce Is Right (9-6) has to fight against a team fighting for the last playoff seed in #6 The Fresh "Prince" (7-8).  Meanwhile, #4 A New Era (8-7) looks to take a shot at the division title by getting a win against #8 LC Legend (5-10).  And, finally, #5 Zimmerman Telegraph (10-5) has the potential to basically lock up the #2 seed with a win against #9 ThE RoUnD MoUnD Of ReBoUnD (6-9).

Enjoy the All-Star Break!  Remember, games start back up on Friday for this 10-day match-up!