So I’ve been answering a lot of emails personally, rather than on the site lately due to my schedule and for that I’m sorry.  As evidenced in some of those letters, several people have the same questions about the same players.  “Is it still too early to cut bait on…?”  “What can I expect in return if I trade…?”  “Should I expect a decline from…?”  were the questions.  Here’s the top 5 they were asked about… (more…)

One of the more difficult things to do, when trying to tweak your team through trades, is to decide what to do with some of your rookies.  Do you give up on the ones that are struggling?  Do you try and sell high on the ones that are playing well or do you keep them with the hopes that they will continue to play at the level you’ve grown to expect?  There’s no real track record, save for their minor league numbers, and there’s always a big question mark as to whether or not their season will take a 180 degree turn in the opposite direction.  Lots of speculation.  Here’s a list of some of 2007’s biggest rookies and what you can probably expect from them the rest of the way… (more…)

To the thousands of Bartolo Colon owners, I feel the need to apologize.  I traded for him three starts ago, and since then he has completely fallen apart.  I can only assume that he has been jinxed by the transition and will suck for the rest of the year.  Sorry ’bout that.

Welcome to beautiful downtown Kansas City.  Well, ok, its not beautiful, exciting, or fun.  Despite this, players from around the league were willing, nay, eager to come to the heart of fly-over territory for a mere chance to win a Buzzie.  Strolling in with a confident grin is Jarrod Washburn who had two wins this week.  Oh, and over there is Joe Borowski (a personal fav of mine) hoping that his 4 save week will get some recognition.  John Lackey is sitting up in the balcony tonight hoping that his change of seating will break his string of Buzzie-less weeks.  Sorry, Charlie.  This week’s winner had not only a good week, but a great week.  With two wins, more than a K per inning, and ratios both under 0.7, there can be no arguing with the committee’s decision on the Player of the Week. . . . (more…)

So here we are again.  Tyler Clippard, a young starter, thrust into the major leagues.  This time it is on the biggest stage in the game, Yankee Stadium.  He doesn’t come with all the hype that Phillip Hughes does, nor does he have equal “stuff”.  Yet he has done well in his (short) stint in the minors and through necessity is now pitching for the big club.  Clippard looked very good in his debut against the crosstown rival, New York Mets.  He won the game and struck out a batter per inning even if he did walk three.  The question is though, is he the right guy for your fantasy team.  Lets find out with a closer look at his start again Jered Weaver and the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. (more…)

In: Tony Abreu – The slick fielding kid mans a mean hot corner. He’ll hit for average and add more speed to the bottom part of the lineup.

Out: Andy LaRoche – It’s not the .429 OBP by any means, but if you’re not going to hit for average (.206) and you’ve got no power (0 HR with only 3 RBI) then the Dodgers might as well have Abreu in.

In: Troy Percival – Old man river got let out of his minor league coaching contract to pursue a comeback. The Phillies and the Tigers have expressed interest. (more…)

Pretty funny stuff huh?  If you are like me, you have laughed at this trailer for the movie “Knocked Up” several times.  What makes this line so funny?  Two things.  First, is the simple double entendre of the word “rear”.    Second is the fact that harming the child in question is so far from an option that it is amusing.  Someone needs to tell this second part to Elijah Dukes.  Apparently there is a voicemail recording of Dukes leaving a message for his wife in which he says, “You’re dead dawg.  I aint even kiddin, your kids too.”  I mean, cmon dude, is life that bad that you have to threaten kids?  You are in the major leagues.  Granted, you are hitting under .250 and all, but jeez, lighten up.  Hey, Dukie, leave them kids alone!!

Timing.  It is everything.  What was, was.  What is, is.  What will be is what we must concern ourselves with.  It doesn’t really matter if your third baseman has sucked the high hard one so far this season. What is more important to you what he will do from today on.  What good is that rookie that is tearing the cover off the ball right now if in the second half of the season he disappears?  The trends, the values, the trades.  These are the things to focus on in the effort to improve your team.

BUY, MORTIMER!  BUY!!! (more…)

Ryan Shealy’s bat has awoken!!!  You have to know that supporters of the young player are doing back flips over his recent performance.  He has certainly earned more playing time and could be a nice addition if you need someone at first.  It is very possible that he was dropped by someone that was too quick to jump off of his bandwagon.  Another player that could soon make a serious impact on many teams is Octavio Dotel.  That’s right!  The “opening day closer” seems to be nearing a comeback.  With Joakim Soria blowing a save or two recently, Dotel should have a clear shot at reclaiming his old job.  Don’t sell the farm to get him though, its not like he has a ton of history in that role with that club.  And don’t look now, but if you missed your chance to buy low on Ichiro, it’s gone.  He is tearing it up on the base paths, finally. 

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So there I am. Just got the Gran Turismo out of the body shop (these hills in SF can do some serious damgae to the undercarriage) and who do I see as I’m rounding the corner past Fillmore? That’s right. In full length multi-colored, multi-patterned fur, with a wide-brimmed hat that put every lady at the Kentucky Derby to shame, it was my man Huggy. He’s been mysteriously absent the past few weeks so I knew this had to be good. I pulled over into a seedy little alley and here’s what I got… (more…)