As my wife will tell you, I’m a little rough out of the gate, but a strong finisher. Others are just the opposite. Here is a list of those opposites, the best starters in league history and how they finished up. As you will see, things have not ended well for teams that start hot, which is bad news for Masterson. He just started 4-0 before suffering his first defeat. Teams that start 4-0 are 0-5 in the playoffs. In fact, of the 23 teams that have started 3-0 or better, only three have reached the title game (only one has won it all).
Other fun facts: Eric is the only person to start 5-0 twice in his career. Masterson and former league member David have the most appearances on this list, as they both have started 3-0 or better three times. In a bit of a surprise, Calderon…one of the league’s most successful teams has never started a season 3-0.
9-0 STARTERS
DAVID, 2007 Finished: 11-2, lost in semifinals
He did drop two of his final four, but became the first team to suffer just two loses in the regular season (record until 2011). He won his division and took the top seed. However, he was upset by #7 Calderon in the semis.
5-0 STARTERS
JUSTIN H, 2000
Finished: 8-6, lost in quarterfinals
He was 7-1 at one point, before dropping five in a row. He won in week 14 to stay above .500, but lost in the quarterfinals to #4 Griff.
DAVID, 2003
Finished: 8-6, lost in quarterfinals
Dropped six of his final nine games, falling to #5 Griff in the quarterfinals
ERIC, 2007
Finished: 8-5, lost in quarterfinals
Struggled hard after solid start. He would drop five of his final eight games, including his final three in the regular season and to #5 Matt (the eventual champ) in the quarterfinals.
ROBIO, 2012
Finished: 7-6, Won Championship
After best start in my long career, I struggled in the second half of the season, dropping six of my final seven games, barely sneaking into the playoffs. However, I got hot and became the first person to start a season 3-0 or better and win the championship.
ERIC, 2012
Finished: 9-4, lost in title game
Started off hot, winning first five and seven of eight, but dropped three of five down the stretch. He earned his first scoring title and the third seed. He, along with me above, became the first pair of 5-0 teams to reach the finals.
4-0 STARTERS
BRIAN, 2000
Finished: 10-4, lost in quarterfinals
Sat at 7-1, but finished the season losing three of six, before falling to #6 Chris in the quarterfinals.
JIMMY, 2001
Finished: 7-7, lost in quarterfinals
After solid 4-0 start, he dropped six of seven, before rallying. Only person to win division at .500, lost in quarters to #6 David.
DAVID, 2008
Finished: 7-6, lost in quarterfinals
Sat at 6-2, but struggled down the stretch, dropping four of his last five, before losing to #3 Colby in the quarterfinals.
JEFF, 2009
Finished: 8-5, lost in quarterfinals
He started 5-0 and was sitting pretty at 7-1, but Jeff ended up dropping four of his final six, including his last two. He had no shot against the top seed Matt and eventual champ in the quarterfinals.
GRIFF, 2010
Finished: 9-4, lost in quarterfinals
It wasn’t a tragic finish, as Griff went 5-4 down the stretch, only losing two in a row once all season. However, he failed to show up in the quarters, losing to #4 Bob (the eventual champ).
ROB M, 2014
Finished: Not Yet Determined
Second person in this league (David in 2008-09) and only active member to start a season with at least three straight wins in back-to-back years (he started 3-0 in 2013).
3-0 STARTERS
RICK, 2000
Finished: 11-3, lost in semifinals
He finished strong, losing just three times all year. He earned both the scoring title and top seed, but was upset by #4 Griff in the semis.
DON, 2002
Finished: 8-6, lost in quarterfinals
Struggled late, dropping four of five before salvaging final game. Won division and earned two seed, but was upset by #7 Masteron in quarters.
GRIFF, 2002
Finished: 8-6, lost in semifinals
After starting 3-0, Griff dropped his next six before recovering to win final five, becoming only team with a 6-game losing streak to make playoffs. He lost to #3 Robio (the eventual champ) in the semifinals.
ROB M, 2003
Finished: 7-7, lost in semifinals
He would lose his next three after 3-0 start and finish 4-4 down the stretch. He upset #2 Molly in the quarterfinals, before falling to #5 Griff the following week.
DON, 2004
Finished: 7-7, lost in quarterfinals
He was 4-1, before dropping four straight. He wrapped up the season splitting his final four. Lost to #4 Calderon in quarterfinals. That’s a lot of four’s.
ROBIO, 2005
Finished: 6-7, lost in semis
After opening with three straight wins, I dropped five of my next six. I became first 3-0 team to finish below .500, but I squeezed in the playoffs splitting final four games. I upset #3 Burrier in the quarters, before falling to #7 Colby in the semis.
MOLLY, 2006
Finished: 10-3, lost in quarterfinals
She never lost two in a row, won her division and earned a scoring title. However, she was upset by #7 Don (the eventual champ) in the quarterfinals
RICH B, 2008
Finished: 6-7, missed playoffs
Burrier sat at 5-1, but would lose six of his final seven games, thus becoming the first 3-0 team to ever miss the playoffs. He became the second 5-1 team to miss the post-season, but the first since the 13-game era.
COLBY, 2009
Finished: 6-7, missed playoffs
After rolling to his 3-0 start, Colby would drop four straight and six of seven. He managed to win a pair late, but a week thirteen loss to Bob ended his playoff dreams. Colby became just the second 3-0 team (and second straight no less) to miss the post-season.
MATT, 2010
Finished: 9-4, lost in quarterfinals
After his trio of wins, Matt would drop four of his next six, but rallied to end the season on a four-game winning streak. He won his division and earned the #3 seed, but was upset by #6 Colby in the quarters.
RICH B, 2011
Finished: 7-6, lost in title game
Rich would improve to 6-1 at one point in the season, but suddenly got cold, losing his next four. A week twelve win kept him in the post-season and even another loss in week thirteen didn’t keep him from winning a division (in our final year w/divisions). Despite his struggles, he became the first person on this list to reach the title game, falling to #7 Bob.
ROB M, 2013
Finished: 8-5, lost in semis
Was a solid 6-2, before dropping three of his last five. He earned the #3 seed, finishing second in scoring. He took care of business in the quarters (over Molly), before falling to #2 Calderon in the semis.
MOLLY, 2013
Finished: Not Yet Determined
Her first 3-0 start since 2006.