SnakeLines, Week 5: Bullpen Runs

Week 4 Review

[Photo: Jennifer Hilderbrand-USA TODAY Sports]

Not much more really needs to be said. The line was set at five hits, but one mis-directed (if not malicious) pitch from Josh Outman, and the curtain was lowered on Didi Gregorius's week. The good news is, he seems to have made a full recovery, and will likely be re-activated over the weekend, as the Diamondbacks start their road-trip in San Diego. However, from the SnakeLines point of view, it's exactly the same as if he had gone ohfer, in every game he missed. He did get a hit before...well, getting hit, but that was all. The line comes in at one, which is solidly under the line offered at the SnakePit Casino. So, who wagered wisely, and who betted badly?

• Winners (10): AJV19, AzRattler, azshadowwalker, eel, Craig from Az, GuruB, Maizefed, piratedan7, SenSurround and TolkienBard
  
• Sinners (13): azsportsfan31, BattleMoses, blank_38, BrokeNBattleX, Daniel Corbin Jr, Gildo, grimmy01, hotclaws. imstillhungry95, JoelPre, Marc Fournier, since_98 and Surksquatch

A fairly well-balanced set of odds, with just a few more losers than winners - the former group included those who bet on the "push", of Gregorius getting exactly five hits. But definitely a few more points scored this week, so let's update the standings to reflect those.

• 3 points
  AJV19
• 2 points
  AzRattler
  azshadowwalker
  blank_38
  Craig from Az
  eel
  Gildo
  Maizefed
  Marc Fournier
• 1 point
  AZfan85308
  backtocali
  BobRob12
  BrokeNBattleX
  grimmy01
  GuruB
  navyazfan
  piratedan7
  SenSurround
  Shawnwck
  TolkienBard
  
• 0 points
  azcougs
  azsportsfan31
  BattleMoses
  BigLeagueAZ
  Daniel Corbin Jr.
  frienetic
  hotclaws
  imstillhungry95
  JoelPre
  leemellon
  LiamNeeson
  littleRoom
  rd33
  since_98
  Surksquatch

AJV19 becomes the first sole leader on the standings to date, but there is a pack of eight players that are just one point behind, so that lead could easily evaporate by this time next week.

Week 4 line

Time to focus on the bullpen - as if we haven't been doing that already, mostly in a weeping, wailing and gnashing of teeth kind of way. The line is the number of runs which our relievers will allow over the next week. There are a few factors here. Firstly, how many innings will they get to work? Perhaps playing into this, Wade Miley will be a two-game starter. And might there be an extra-inning contest? Next, where they are playing. The Diamondbacks get to leave the Belt-friendly confines of Chase Field, and head into Petco Park and Chavez Ravine, which may affect your estimates. Finally, note it's runs, rather than unearned, not that there have been many of the latter lately.

Stats to help you:

• Bullpen runs allowed, last six games: 11
  
• Bullpen runs allowed, last three games at Petco: 6
• Bullpen runs allowed, last three games at Chavez: 3
• Innings worked, last six games: 21
• 2013 average innings pitched per game: 3.24
• Average innings for each run allowed: 2.92

Bullpen runs allowed this week: 7½

As usual, entry is via the comments, simply by posting "over" or "under". Get it right, and you'll get a point. Entries close at first pitch on Friday night.