Week 13's installment of the DDWPIPOTCFFBE (Diamond Dynasty Weekly Preview In Pursuit Of The Chalice For Fantasy Baseball Excellence)

Week 12 – Ben and TJ continue to slide, Kurt makes up for a bad week, and Adrian keeps on winning

The Match-Up: Richie (8^th) vs. Colin (5^th)

Colin's team finally came back to earth last week, dropping a 4-6 decision to Alex (6^th, who got a much needed victory). Even with the loss, he retained 5^th place in a log-jammed middle of the pack. FanceyLancey is hitting a favorable part of the schedule at just the right time, facing Richie (8^th), TJ (tied 2^nd), Jarrett (9^th), Ben (7^th), and James (10^th). If he takes care of business now, he won't have to sweat out a playoff spot down the stretch. Don't look now, but Richie has won 3 straight weeks and is inching his way into the playoff picture. He's only two games out of the all important 6^th seed, but he will be tested in the coming weeks against Colin (5^th), Adrian (1^st), TJ (T-2^nd) and Drew (T-2^nd). Can he extend his season-long winning streak to 4? Or will Colin get back to his winning ways? Richie beat Colin in week 4, 6-3.

The Match-Up: Kurt (4^th) vs. Jarrett (9^th)

Kurt was embarrassed by Colin 2 weeks ago, 1-9. So what does he follow that up with? What other than a 9-1 smoking of then-2^nd place TJ (T-2^nd)! Very nice work Kurt-o! Lesser teams would have crumbled, I'm sure of it. The win gives Kurt 3 of his last 4, and he has a great opportunity to cut down on his 8.5 game deficit for first place with Jarrett (9^th) this week, followed by Ben (7^th) and James (10^th). Jarrett gave the DD basement a try last week but found it not to his liking, and gave it right back to fat-mouth James despite losing a tight one to Drew (T-2^nd) – an admirable performance if I say so myself. He's not playing the spoiler quite yet, but with only 2 winning weeks this year, it's time to step on it. Kurt and Jarrett played to a 5-5 tie in week 4.

The Match-Up: Alex (6^th) vs. TJ (T-2^nd)

Alex was falling fast, losing for the fourth time in a row and seventh time in the last eight weeks when he dropped his week 11 match to Richie. In week 12 he dug deep and pulled out what was probably the most unlikely victory of last week with a 6-4 win over Colin (5^th), who was on a roll heading into their match-up. Now he goes up against a struggling TJ (T-2^nd), who has dropped 3 in a row (outscored 8-20). TJ has some pesky opponents coming up, squaring off against Alex (6^th) this week, Colin (5^th), and Richie (8^th), but at only 5 games in back of the top spot, he's still got a great chance at securing a bye for the first round of the playoffs. TJ crushed Alex 8-0 in Week 4.

The Match-Up: Ben (7^th) vs Drew (T-2^nd)

After dropping three weeks in a row, and four of his last 5, Ben has gone from 5^th...to 6^th...to 7^th. It doesn't get any easier this week going up against Drew, who keeps quietly putting up wins and hanging with the big boys. Ben goes up against Kurt next week, so he's got a tough little stretch in front of him. Ben finds himself only .5 games out of a playoff spot, and right in the thick of the seemingly annual “Too Many Teams For Too Few Playoff Spots” battle (this years edition – 4 teams and 2 spots, Richie (8^th) 2 games behind Colin (5^th). Drew has Ben (7^th), James (10^th), Adrian (1^st) and Richie (8^th) on tap, so he has a good opportunity to keep throwing up W's. Drew beat Ben 5-4 in Week 4.

The Match-Up: Adrian (1^st) vs James (10^th).

Ahh, James. What do we do with you? You took your lumps gracefully and humbly all year, and then you tie Jarrett and beat Ben, get out of last place, and all of a sudden you start mouthing off. You couldn't even beat me! I'm in 8^th! Listen up Maimonis, I'll make you a deal. If you can win ANY of the next three weeks against Adrian (1^st), Drew (T-2^nd), or Kurt (4^th), I'll get off your back. But if you drop all three, you're in for a shit-storm my friend. And since I'm the only one that writes on this blog anymore, no one will be here to protect you. So good luck to you, my friend, because you will need it. Oh yeah, Adrian won again. 3 weeks in a row. Hasn't lost yet this year. Ho-hum. Any questions? Didn't think so. Adrian beat James 7-2 in Week 4.

P.S. - If anyone reads these, let me know what you think about them! Good or bad, compliments or criticisms, stuff you wish I included or stuff you think I should leave out, I'm curious to hear your thoughts!

P.P.S. - JAMES! ALEX! KURT! WHOEVER ELSE USED TO POST ON THIS SITE! Nothing since May 27! One thing a week from everyone gives us a new article every day!