Edit: Jim's replied saying that a random prize goes to first place of the season, so if you're in contention, click through and see if you're eligible! Tie-breaker will be based on most golds, then most silvers, bronzes, and finally bonus points.
Ah, the penultimate 'Pit Your Wits. Penultimate's one of those words I learned a while ago and I try to use whenever possible, so I'm semi-pleased with the current situation, even if it means my li'l old column is growing up and moving out for the rest of the year in just a week. Until then, though, I'll savor the moment. Hit the jump to see the results for last week's challenge (with the stats for each pitcher, too, at no added cost!) and the new leaderboard. Someone who'd chilled in the middle rungs of the 'PYW ladder now sits in first, so it appears that we may have an interesting final week. Also, if you aprticipate this week, you get a point just for being awesome, so click through, dangit. See you there, homes.
Last week's challenge required the submissions to list which pitchers would have the "superior" number over the course of the week in Hits, Runs, Innings Pitched, Earned Runs, Strikeouts, K/9, and BB/9. Wade Miley, as some discovered, started twice, giving him the edge in innings pitched. That one was nearly a lock, but one would expect him to take both counting stats barring some crazy performance. - and nothing more. That one Ian Kennedy fellow's just a little bit too good. I've listed the stats of the pitchers below, and you'll find the "best" numbers of the lot bolded.
Just because it makes the most sense to me, I'll award a point for those that said either Kennedy or Saunders for runs. Saunders, Kennedy, and Miley were the starting pitchers to grab victories this week, so those that said three will receive an additional point (a lot of you guys listed the pitchers, so I just took the number and ignored who you said would win). I tallied all of the scores up, and because it won't take up too much room, I'll list how everyone did. Next to first place you can see which of the stats were guessed correctly.
So, as you probably deduced, DeDxDbacKxJroK will be receiving his first gold of the season and TylerO his second silver. Meanwhile, Brian MacKinney, imstillhungry95, CaptainCanuck, Nonpartisan, Jdub220, and Swag11 will all get bronzes for nailing four of the numbers. Reflecting this week's results on the leaderboard produces the following:
Which means, of course, that we now have a tie for first place. BulldogsNotZags had a late submission last week, one that would have netted an extra point and secured sole possession of first. Instead, with DeDxDbacKxJroK's three-point performance this week, BNZ now finds himself splitting the spoils of first with someone who'd yet to grace the top five. As noted, this week will be the final challenge of the season, as I don't wish to string this along during the playoffs, a period in which the season could end at any random time. I'll keep it simple, so those that have yet to participate can quickly get on the leaderboard on the last week and those tied with someone can try to scoot forward a spot. Additionally, anyone who participates can earn themselves a point. Now, onto the challenge.
The playoffs are almost here, and for once the Diamondbacks are still playing games that matter. What will the final scores be for the rest of this week's games (start with Saturday's!)? You'll get a point for each correct run total (ie, you guess Arizona 7-5 and the score is 10-7 SF, you'll get one point). As a reminder: Saturday and Sunday vs Giants, Monday-Wednesday vs Dodgers.
Submissions due before first pitch on Saturday (5:10MST), por favor. Good luck to the ten of you that can still get first!