Day 151 And Couting

The Yankees named Joe Girardi as their manager. I don't expect this to have negative SB effects on the production of any hitters as Joe did run in his one season as Marlins manager. The biggest question is whether he alienates any of the older players i.e. his former back-up Jorge Posada. Two strong-willed catchers has a chance to ignite.

Day 153 And Counting

Congratulations to the Red Sox! Their second WS championship in 4 seasons hasn't been diminished one bit the the classless acts of Alex Rodriguez and his agent, Scott Boras.

Not that fantasy teams will hold ARod's actions against him next year.

Day 155 And Counting

The Padres released 2B Marcus Giles with no ready replacement unless one believes in the power of Geoff Blum. I am more inclined towards AA 2B Matt Antonelli (307/404/491 51 XBH) or a postion switch of AA 3B Chase Headley(330/437/580 63 XBH). Although, a Headley switch would block the already-switched-from-3B Antonelli.

Either way, both players should be at the top of the 2008 fantasy rookie radar.

Day 156 And Counting

It's official. Dustin Pedroia has cast a spell on all fantasy baseball-dom. No one who owns him can see his 8 HRs and 7 SBS. I have been unable to adavnce any trade discussions involving him for Al Reyes!

Another owner even agreed that it wasn't a good offer.

Day 157 And Counting

No one knows how much I want to change yesterday's blunder on Jeff Francis. I mistkaenly compared 2005 and 2006 not 2006 and 2007! Francis' ratios worsened over that time to 4.22/1.38, but he won 17 games. His hits increased from 187 in 2006 to 234 in 2007.

Unless one is blinded by Wins, Francis will remain a very late-round draftee.

My apologies.

Day 158 And Counting

Jeff Francis starts Game One of tonight's World Series. He has pitched two excellent games so far this post-season and had an excellent Coors season - 4.16 ERA and 1.29 WHIP.

However, the ratios appear very dependent on Hits Allowed as his Ks and BBs did not change much from his 2006 season when his ratios were 5.68/1.62 respectively. He allowed 31 fewer hits this season in 15 more innings while striking out eleven fewer batters.

I wouldn't get caught gambling on him at next year's drafts.

Day 160 And Coutning

The Rockies have September call-up, OF Seth Smith, on their play-off roster. To me, that is strange as Smith was a mid-September recall and went 5-8 in seven games. That is not the type of resume one usually has when landing one of the 25 coveted play-off roster slots.

I say this having hyped him more strongly than any other fantasy site I read. (Here is the link.) However, I cannot overlook his play-off inclusion and wonder what it augers for this coming off-season and for 2008.

Day 161 And Counting

Will Dusty Baker retard the development of the Reds young players through over- or under-use? This seems to be a meme that will prevade any off-season fantasy discussion of the 2008 Cincinnati Reds.

Day 162 And Counting

Can someone explain Brandon Morrow beyond his numbers last season? Is there reason to expect much more? I'd assume the walks would have to be cut in half for that to happen.

Even if it did would he close if Putz got hurt?

Day 163 And Counting

Over at Fake Teams, I wondered about the effects of a new manger of the Yankees given Joe Torre's penchant for SBs (4th in the AL). A player who looks like he will likely be stopped from running would be Robinson Cano who swiped four bags. Unfortunately, he was caught five times.

I have the same concerns about Melky Cabrera, who stole 13, but was caught 5 times. A new school manager who has bought the current wisdom of the SB would likely curtail the running of Cano while Cabrera may or may not see a decrease in opportunity.

Day 165 And Counting

A team has made repeated offers for Brandon Morrow. He has yet to make an offer that would cause me to deal the walk machine.

Some of the players offered were a $23 Lyle Overbay and a $22 Aubrey Huff. Not that either player couldn't conceivably reach those draft prices next year. I just don't want to be the one with them.

Day 166 and Counting

Are the Rockies going to be next draft's over-priced players? I saw it occurring with SS Troy Tulowitzki and OF Matt Holliday regardless of a World Series appearance, but who else?

Day 168 and Couting

The New York Daily News reports Joba Chamberlain is going to begin the Spring as a starter along with Phil Hughes. With his strikeout totals, he is going to be an intriguing player to project.

I'm guessing he will have the attendent hype of a Cole Hamels or Matt Cain. The question is will he "disappoint" like Cain or fulfill expectations like Hamels.

Day 169 and Couting

Gooing through the list of possible #1 overalls in my NL-only minor league draft (we can keep up to 5 each season), the best I come-up with are the Padres Matt Antonelli, the Brewers' Matt LaPorta and the Dogers' Chin-Lung Hu. With 2B open in San Diego, even Antonelli may not be available.

Maybe I just hope the offer I amde earlier this week remains unanswered.

Day 170 and Counting

No response whatsoever to my inquiry for #1 in my NL-only league. Hopefully, Edgar Renteria isn't on the George Mitchell's Hop Sing list of steroid users.

Whoever is will suddenly have all his past performance explained.

Day 171 and Counting

No sooner did I deal Teahen then he was dealt again. This time for the #18 pick and Nick Adenhart.

Am I better off with #21 and $5 savings on my cap thanks to moving Santana or #18 and Adenhart? It looks about the same to me.

Day 172 and Counting

No word on my offer from yesterday for the #1 pick. However, I did accept my first trade of the off-season. I dealt $10 Mark Teahen and $10 Ervin Santana (LTC) for $12 Luis Castillo and #21 pick in my 24-pick minor league draft.

I view Santana as a $5 penalty thanks to the Long Term Contract. That effectively made Teahen a $15 player, which is close to his full-value in a 12-team, AL-only 4x4 keeper league.

Day 173 and counting

I sent an offer of $1 Miguel Olivo, $5 Chuck James and a $25 Edgar Renteria to the team with the #1 pick in my two-round minor league draft. The top propsect available, NL-only, is not at the tip of my tongue, but I have some extra protectable players and want to see what I can get.

Day 174 and Counting

I have been unable to swing a trade yet. I sent a $10 Mark Teahen and $10 Brendan Harris for a $20 Carlos Guillen and was shot down without a counter.

I take that as a signal that the other team sees Guillen as a core player, and one I won't bother pursuing.

Day 175 and Counting

I wonder if any of the Rockies' rookies, outside of Tulowitzki, will get a bump next year thanks to their participation in this season's post-season? Pitchers Ubaldo Jiminez and Franklyn Morales come to mind as does the ill-used Jeff Baker too.

Day 176 and Counting

Here are my AL-only 4X4 12-team keepers. We can protect up to 14.

1. KC Closer Joakim Soria $5
2. TB Closer Al Reyes $10
3. TX Closer CJ Wilson $7
4. DET Closer Hopeful Joel Zumaya $5
5. NY P Joba Chamberlain $13
6. LAA CY Young Winner John Lackey $28
7. OAK OF Travis Buck $5
8. SEA OF Jose Guillen $19
9. KC OF Mark Teahen $10
10. SEA OF Ichior Suzuki $38
11. DET OF Curtis Granderson $10
12. MIN OF Michael Cuddyer $21
13. TX C Jarrod Saltalamachia $27 (Long-Term Contract)
14. TB 2B/SS Brendan Harris $10

On the outside is $10 2B Danny Richar, $5 3B Brian Buscher, $5 3B Brandon Wood (likely to be added by protect time), $6 RP Brandon Morrow. I also have a $10 Ervin Santana on a LTC. To release him would cost $5 of draft day money.

Tell me what you think.

Day 177 and Counting

I have received a few offers for $10 Mark Teahen in an AL-Only 4x4 keeper. They were a 2nd round pick in our minor league draft. Everyday starters in this format should be worth more than that, no?

178 and Counting

The Cubs announced RHP Angel Guzman underwent reconstructive surgery three weeks ago. This erases any lingering thoughts about Lou Piniella's summertime assertion that he is a closer in waiting. Carlos Marmol is this off-season's Matt Capps.

179 and Counting

Yesterday was the first day of the off-season. Assuming the 2008 MLB season kicks-off on Sunday night, March 30th, there are 180 days in the off-season. I will be posting daily and counting down towards Opening Day 2008 and the start of the 2008 fantasy baseball season.

I am already in negotiations for some trades based on the keeper lists I put together yesterday.

Day 182/Day 1

Notes from yesterday:

The Rockies are in the play-offs.

Prep for 2008:

Make preliminary list of keepers for each league to see what your needs are.

Day 181

Notes from yesterday:

Thanks to Tom Glavine's embarassment, I snuck back into 5th place in my NL-only. Without a Rockie or Padre pitchers, I hope I can't lose that little bit to fall back out of the money.

The season is over, and it was a disappointing one. JD Drew, Mark Teahen, Michael Cuddyer helped me under-perform my HR expectations. Not to mention the disappoinments in AVG, too.