Playoff Personalities

And now it’s time to meet your 2017 Playoff Managers!

#1 TJ Geers:  TJ locks down the #1 seed for the second time in history (2009, 3^rd place finish) and secures his third bye (2009, 2011).  He makes the playoffs for the 12^th time since 2003 – a Diamond Dynasty best – but his playoff resume leaves much to be desired.  After winning the inaugural title in 2002, TJ has only made one return trip to the finals where he lost to Kurt in 2013.  His 9-16 playoff record is the lowest winning percentage in league history (min. 3 games played) but Geers has high hopes for a 2017 Chalice run coming off of the greatest regular season in his long-tenured DD history.

#2 Richie Travers:  Richie grabs the #2 seed for the second time in history (2004, 3^rd place finish) and secures his third bye (2004, 2014).  He makes the playoffs for the 10^th time and fourth consecutive season, but has had mixed success in recent years.  After winning the Chalice in 2014 he’s suffered first round exits in both 2015 and 2016.  With a career playoff record of 11-10 and his third-best regular season team at hand (10-1 in his last 11 weeks), Richie is well-positioned for a run at his second Chalice (jinxing powers, ACTIVATE!)

#3 Jarrett Staff:  The man who no longer needs an introduction.  After missing the playoffs four years straight from 2010-2013, Jarrett has finished the regular season as a top 3 team in four consecutive years.  Furthermore, he is undefeated in the last two years in five playoffs match ups and thus, is the two-time defending champion.  It feels like we should just throw any pre-2014 numbers out of the window as they’re so drastically different:

2003-2013: .482 regular season winning percentage, 3-6 post-season record, 0 titles

2014-2017:  .552 regular season winning percentage, 5-2 post-season record, 2 titles

#4 Colin Lancey:  This proud black man nabs the fourth seed for the second time in league history (2014, 3^rd place finish).  This is Colin’s seventh consecutive playoff appearance, tied for longest in league history (TJ, 2007-2013) and by far the longest active playoff streak.  But despite the consistency, Colin has little to show for it.  Since his only championship in 2004 he has just one finals appearance, a loss to Jarrett last year.  He’s 1-3 in his last four quarter-final match ups but is fresh off a dominant 7-3 victory over first round opponent Alex last week.

#5 Alex Gentilli:  Alex punches hit ticket to the playoffs for the second consecutive season.  He’ll try to improve on last year’s showing, when, as a #2 seed, finished in third place.  Alex hasn’t won a title since 2005 but he’s been to the finals more than any other manager in this year’s playoffs (last appearance 2012).  Alex is not playing his best fantasy baseball (0-2-1 last three weeks) and will have to turn things around in a hurry if he wants to break his 11 year dry spell.

#6 Tim McGrail:  Tim battled back from an abysmal start to the season to finish in sixth place (more on that in the full season write up next month…or in the off-season….whenever.)  It’s his second playoff appearance in three full DD seasons.  He’s looking for his first playoff victory and will have to earn it against the aforementioned juggernaut Jarrett.  Tim lost to Jarrett 7-2 last week.