The Midseason Report
Gentlemen – Eight weeks are in the books for the 2015 season. Overall, the FMFL has done quite well, with many successful wild card bets and solid $500 weeks. The majority of the franchises are in the positive, which is bucking the trend from the last two seasons.
Here’s a breakdown of how the league did as a whole each week:
Week 1: +$2,100
Week 2: +$0
Week 3: +$11,100
Week 4: +$100
Week 5: +$1,800
Week 6: -$1,800
Week 7: -$3,300
Week 8: -$2,300
That’s a cumulative total of $7,700. The pessimist in me says that can’t last forever…
Disclaimer: The following is a completely biased report of the first eight weeks of the FMFL. The views, opinions, and observations that follow are those of the Executive Director and are completely subjective.
East Division
Bud Fox
Current Total: $700
Winning Percentage: 0.522
Fines: $0
Wild Card Bet: Still Available
Recap: Bud leads the East at the halfway point, relying on his classic theory of betting at least three games a week and hitting more than 50%. The race is still tight, but based on his history, he should be a contender down the stretch.
Grade: B+
Chris B. Corey
Current Total: $400
Winning Percentage: 0.565
Fines: $0
Wild Card Bet: Still Available
Recap: Chris has been a pleasant surprise this season. After a ho-hum return to the league, he’s finally calling back to the days of yore when Chris B. Corey was a feared franchise in the FMFL.
Grade: B
Don Mattingly
Current Total: -$2,200
Winning Percentage: 0.250
Fines: $0
Wild Card Bet: Still Available
Recap: I’ve always wondered how a franchise can end the season at -$4,000.
Grade: F
Karl Farbman
Current Total: -$600
Winning Percentage: 0.438
Fines: $0
Wild Card Bet: Still Available
Recap: A rough start for Karl, who can’t seem to string together any wins. Unless he can gain some momentum over the next few weeks, he can kiss the 2015 season goodbye.
Grade: C
Larisa Oleynik
Current Total: -$100
Winning Percentage: 0.500
Fines: $100
Wild Card Bet: Still Available
Recap: Larisa has played it right down the middle so far this year. If not for a fine in Week 8, she’d be exactly even all the way around. She’s still within striking distance in the East Division race, but will need a wild card win to make a run.
Grade: C+
The Beard of Zeus
Current Total: -$1,100
Winning Percentage: 0.429
Fines: $600
Wild Card Bet: Still Available
Recap: Another year, another disappointing start for the Beard, who compounded his losses by missing his picks one week. He’s a long shot to make a postseason run.
Grade: D+
The Big Hurt
Current Total: $500
Winning Percentage: 0.522
Fines: $0
Wild Card Bet: Week 3 – Pittsburgh – Won
Recap: Thine Big Hurt jumped out to a lead in the East after an early wild card victory, but just as he did last season, started to fade. He’ll look to buck his reputation as a second half snoozer.
Grade: B+
The People’s Champ
Current Total: -$1,200
Winning Percentage: 0.474
Fines: $0
Wild Card Bet: Still Available
Recap: The Champ won $500 in Week 1, but it’s been all downhill since then. He can’t be counted out…yet.
Grade: D+
North Division
Blossom Russo
Current Total: $0
Winning Percentage: 0.500
Fines: $100
Wild Card Bet: Still Available
Recap: Down the middle solves the riddle for Blossom, who is 8-8-1 and even money through the first eight weeks. She is one franchise to keep an eye on for the second half.
Grade: B-
Dr. Oge
Current Total: -$200
Winning Percentage: 0.474
Fines: $0
Wild Card Bet: Still Available
Recap: Nothing great, but nothing terrible for the good Doctor in the first half of the season. If he pulls the wild card trigger soon, he could make things interesting in the North.
Grade: C+
Kenny Powers
Current Total: $100
Winning Percentage: 0.469
Fines: $0
Wild Card Bet: Still Available
Recap: It’s been up and down for Kenny, but after eight weeks he’s in the middle of the pack and needs to string together a few solid weeks if he wants to return to the postseason.
Grade: B-
Kimmy Gibbler
Current Total: -$300
Winning Percentage: 0.382
Fines: $0
Wild Card Bet: Week 3 – Carolina – Won
Recap: Despite winning her wild card bet, Kimmy is in the negative after eight weeks. She’ll need a lot of luck, and for the other North franchises to falter, if she wants to get back into contention.
Grade: C
Rick Moranis
Current Total: $300
Winning Percentage: 0.542
Fines: $0
Wild Card Bet: Still Available
Recap: In 2014, Rick had a great season, but nothing to show for it at the end of the year. Now he’s in position to challenge for the division, but when the heat’s turned up, will he be able to perform?
Grade: B
T-Ferg
Current Total: $1,200
Winning Percentage: 0.652
Fines: $0
Wild Card Bet: Still Available
Recap: T-Ferg pulled away over the past few weeks and now enjoys a comfortable lead in the North. Should he go conservative to protect the lead? Or stay aggressive?
Grade: A-
The Phoenix
Current Total: $500
Winning Percentage: 0.563
Fines: $0
Wild Card Bet: Still Available
Recap: The Phoenix is right in the mix with nine weeks to go, to the surprise of many. After being the number one pick in the divisional draft, he is once again turning some heads.
Grade: B+
Yaz
Current Total: -$1,300
Winning Percentage: 0.344
Fines: $0
Wild Card Bet: Still Available
Recap: Yaz only registered five correct wagers in the first half of the season. I smell a wild card bet coming this week….
Grade: D-
South Division
Art Schlichter
Current Total: -$1,200
Winning Percentage: 0.500
Fines: $600
Wild Card Bet: Week 7 – Atlanta – Lost
Recap: Art was off to a decent start, but then lost $1,000 in Week 7 and $600 in Week 8 when he didn’t place his bets. Has he packed it in for the season?
Grade: D
Boss Hardigan
Current Total: $2,000
Winning Percentage: 0.711
Fines: $0
Wild Card Bet: Still Available
Recap: Color me impressed. Not only has Boss Hardigan been spectacular this season, he’s done it without using his wild card and could challenge for the single season record for winning percentage. The bad news: he’s only tied for the South Division lead.
Grade: A+
Face
Current Total: -$400
Winning Percentage: 0.469
Fines: $0
Wild Card Bet: Still Available
Recap: Face’s unorthodox theory of making all of his picks randomly this season hasn’t hurt him too much thus far. But it makes one wonder, is his franchise really man or just machine? Open the pod bay doors, HAL.
Grade: C-
Gordon Bombay
Current Total: $400
Winning Percentage: 0.525
Fines: $0
Wild Card Bet: Still Available
Recap: No surprise that Gordon is hanging around like he usually does. His division is packed at the top, but he’s just a wild card win from being right up there with them.
Grade: B+
Kiko Garcia
Current Total: $1,100
Winning Percentage: 0.625
Fines: $0
Wild Card Bet: Week 3 – Carolina – Won
Recap: Kiko won his wild card bet in Week 3, but hasn’t been able to keep up with the leaders in the South. This is a battle-tested franchise, and he’s in solid position to make a playoff push.
Grade: A-
OJ
Current Total: -$200
Winning Percentage: 0.500
Fines: $0
Wild Card Bet: Still Available
Recap: OJ hasn’t had an awful season, but he hasn’t showed me anything either. He could sneak into the playoffs, but it would take a big push for him to contend for the division.
Grade: C
The Notorious ABT
Current Total: $2,000
Winning Percentage: 0.680
Fines: $0
Wild Card Bet: Still Available
Recap: The ABT is picking out of his mind right now. Between him and Boss Hardigan, it should be a great race in the South in the second half. Which franchise will blink first and bet his wild card?
Grade: A
Waldo Geraldo Faldo
Current Total: $1,400
Winning Percentage: 0.620
Fines: $0
Wild Card Bet: Week 7 – Jacksonville – Won
Recap: Waldo launched himself into the division race with a big Week 7. Now he has to hope the leaders trip up in the second half.
Grade: A-
West Division
Abe Froman
Current Total: -$900
Winning Percentage: 0.342
Fines: $0
Wild Card Bet: Week 7 – Arizona – Won
Recap: There were signs of life for Abe in Week 7, as he won a nailbiter wild card bet. This doesn’t seem to be his year, but if he can reverse his fortunes completely, he could get out of the basement in the West.
Grade: D+
Babe
Current Total: $1,300
Winning Percentage: 0.638
Fines: $0
Wild Card Bet: Still Available
Recap: For as many games as Babe has wagered on in the first half of the year, Babe’s winning percentage is very impressive. He has stiff competition ahead of him in the West, but has a great deal of experience he’ll rely upon as the season wears on.
Grade: A-
Bayonnaise
Current Total: $100
Winning Percentage: 0.500
Fines: $100
Wild Card Bet: Still Available
Recap: The Naise started the season off well, but dipped over the last month to just about even. He’ll look to get back to his winning ways, but the division is stacked this year and he has an uphill battle.
Grade: C+
Chalky Studebaker
Current Total: $1,300
Winning Percentage: 0.682
Fines: $100
Wild Card Bet: Still Available
Recap: In his debut season, Chalky has performed well, save for one late bet fine. Shecky and Ron are out ahead in the West, but one week and the division could turn upside down.
Grade: A-
Mr. Marbles
Current Total: $1,100
Winning Percentage: 0.656
Fines: $0
Wild Card Bet: Still Available
Recap: Marbles is having one of his best seasons to date, but is also falling victim to how well the rest of the division is doing.
Grade: A-
Ron Mexico
Current Total: $1,700
Winning Percentage: 0.656
Fines: $0
Wild Card Bet: Week 3 – Carolina – Won
Recap: Ron is right on Shecky’s heels for the West Division lead and will have to hold off the other franchises who have not yet used their wild card bets.
Grade: A
Shecky
Current Total: $1,900
Winning Percentage: 0.613
Fines: $0
Wild Card Bet: Week 3 – Carolina – Won
Recap: Shecky got out to a big lead, but then went ultra conservative and has bet five games each week ever since. This has balanced out over the past few weeks and suddenly the West is slipping from his grasp….
Grade: A
The 21th Precinct
Current Total: -$600
Winning Percentage: 0.525
Fines: $0
Wild Card Bet: Still Available
Recap: The Precinct has a strong winning percentage, but hasn’t been able to capitalize. He could be another franchise that could benefit from a wild card bet in the next few weeks.
Grade: C-
