LorfTVP

Fourth overall right now but everything is pointing upward. I'm dominating saves (32 vs. 18) while still leading the league in strikeouts (224 vs. 214) which is a very positive trend. I'm tops in SB as well (32-28-23) along with, for the time being, tops in ERA and WHIP on the strength of Greinke, Hernandez, Lincecum, and for the last two starts, Lee. My offense is middle of the pack but I'm hoping that Fielder and Teixeira continue to heat up along with the recently picked up Conor Jackson in place of Sheffield.

If the person is stupid enough to offer, YES! Liriano was just sent back to the minors and won't be back in shape until the ASB at least...in a nine team league, Liriano isn't worth much. Weaver alone would be a good return. So yes, do it. How is your team doing anyway?

So what happened to Gabbard?

I'm sorry, VG. But you have to understand. Manny is a beast.

Exactly what I was thinking! The poor guy just got antsy and let it out too soon. He should've waited until it was impossible to bring jackhammers into the visiting clubhouse. Can't blame the guy but...I'm disappointed.

Hey VG, thanks for Eric Gagne. xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx [Edit] Thanks for nothing! But still, yah, nobody denied that these were quality 100% American prospects (except for Engel Beltre, who will probably make this deal even sweeter for you). Seriously, it doesn't matter if these guys even pan out, you won that trade by a lot. David Murphy has a big mouth. Wide.

Do you recognize any of this meat?

Wow, I don't even know how I could write that without noticing the sexual connotation. Thank you, VG, your meat recognizing skills are unparalleled.

Haha, what do you get if you take Albert Pujols away from the St. Louis Cardinals? The San Francisco Giants (maybe a bit older though...and a bit more red)

I got one of those pointless questions up... Wish I could've gotten something meatier up.

He's trade bait, unfortunately. I'd like him on the bench as an extra OF who has been learning 1b but Casey, and Crisp sort of take care of that for now. He might get a chance on the bench depending on how the trades go and if Kielty stays.

That should be a bit easier to read/judge now.

I'm pretty sure I've highlighted everyone that was actually there. Thoughts? BIG BLUE C Jorge Posada 1b Mark Teixeira 2b Brandon Phillips SS Édgar Rentería 3b Álex Rodríguez OF Chone Figgins OF Juan Pierre OF Delmon Young UTIL (121) James Loney Bench Ramón Hernández Bench Luis Castillo Bench Kevin Youkilis Bench Cameron Maybin Bench Moisés Alou SP C.C. Sabathia SP Justin Verlander SP Chien-Ming Wang RP Bobby Jenks RP Joe Borowski RP Tony Peña RP Kevin Gregg gateb C Kenji Johjima 1b Travis Hafner 2b Ian Kinsler SS Troy Tulowitzki 3b David Wright OF Vladimir Guerrero OF Nick Markakis OF Vernon Wells UTIL Raúl Ibañez Bench Kosuke Fukudome Bench Jhonny Peralta Bench Evan Longoria SP Brandon Webb SP Tim Lincecum SP John Maine SP Pedro Martínez SP Oliver Pérez SP Rich Harden SP Matt Garza RP Mariano Rivera RP Todd Jones Pdouble C Geovany Soto 1b Garrett Atkins 2b Howie Kendrick SS Hanley Ramírez 3b Troy Glaus OF Grady Sizemore OF Carlos Beltrán OF Manny Ramírez UTIL Andruw Jones Bench Nick Swisher Bench Dustin Pedroia Bench Johnny Damon SP Josh Beckett SP John Smoltz SP Chad Billingslet SP Jeremy Bonderman SP Joe Blanton RP Jonathan Papelbon RP José Valverde RP Huston Street RP Joba Chamberlain Viking Penguins C Jason Varitek 1b David Ortiz 2b Rickie Weeks SS Jose Reyes 3b Aramis Ramirez OF Carlos Lee OF Hunter Pence OF Corey Hart Util Jim Thome Bench J.R. Towles Bench Jacoby Ellsbury SP Cole Hamels SP Felix Hernandez SP Scott Kazmir SP Daisuke Matsuzaka SP Yovani Gallardo SP Matt Cain RP Joakim Soria RP BJ Ryan RP Eric Gagne RP Brian Wilson Dick Trickles C Ivan Rodriguez 1b Albert Pujols 2b Brian Roberts SS Derek Jeter 3b Alex Gordon OF Carl Crawford OF Ichiro Suzuki OF Torii Hunter Util Jason Bay Bench Orlando Cabrera Bench Pat Burrell Bench Ryan Garko Bench Jeff Kent SP Roy Halladay SP Javier Vazquez SP Francisco Liriano SP Rich Hill SP Clay Buchholz RP J.J. Putz RP Takashi Saito RP Jason Isringhausen GolfingGuy C Joe Mauer 1b Adrian Gonzalez 2b B.J. Upton SS Michael Young 3b Ryan Braun OF Matt Holliday OF Jeff Francoeur OF Matt Kemp Util Paul Konerko Bench Willy Taveras Bench Justin Upton Bench Orlando Hudson SP John Lackey SP Carlos Zambrano SP Fausto Carmona SP Jeff Francis SP Tim Hudson SP Adam Wainwright RP Jeremy Accardo RP Joe Nathan RP Carlos Marmol Legit C Jarrod Saltalamacchia 1b Justin Morneau 2b Chase Utley SS Rafael Furcal 3b Adrian Beltre OF Alfonso Soriano OF Lance Berkman OF Adam Dunn Util Eric Byrnes Bench Todd Helton Bench Ken Griffey Jr. Bench Josh Fields Bench Kazuo Matsui Bench Khalil Greene SP Dan Haren SP Roy Oswalt SP Kelvim Escobar SP Brad Penny SP Dustin McGowan RP Billy Wagner RP Matt Capps KaySlay C Brian McCann 1b Ryan Howard 2b Dan Uggla SS Carlos Guillen 3b Miguel Cabrera OF Curtis Granderson OF Alex Rios OF Bobby Abreu Util Mike Lowell Bench J.J. Hardy Bench Kelly Johnson Bench Michael Cuddyer SP Brett Myers SP James Shields SP Jered Weaver SP Phil Hughes SP Dontrelle Willis RP Francisco Cordero RP Manny Corpas RP Brad Lidge aka Black C Russell Martin 1b Carlos Pena 2b Placido Polanco SS Jimmy Rollins 3b Ryan Zimmerman OF Shane Victorino OF Josh Hamilton OF Chris Young Util Adam Jones Bench Yunel Escobar Bench Billy Butler SP Jake Peavy SP Erik Bedard SP Chris Young SP Aaron Harang SP Tom Gorzelanny SP Mark Prior RP Trevor Hoffman RP Rafael Soriano RP Troy Percival RP C.J. Wilson Metropolitans C Victor Martinez 1b Prince Fielder 2b Robinson Cano SS Miguel Tejada 3b Chipper Jones OF Magglio Ordonez OF Brad Hawpe OF Jermaine Dye Util Derrek Lee Bench Aaron Rowand Bench Carlos Delgado Bench Edwin Encarnacion Bench A.J. Pierzynski SP Johan Santana SP Ben Sheets SP A.J. Burnett SP Ted Lilly SP Ian Snell SP Derek Lowe RP Francisco Rodriguez RP Chad Cordero

Actually, I just drafted in my nine team league (8th overall pick, snake) so this provides an interesting chance to compare teams. Okay, here goes. Player (Pick) C-Brian McCann (9) 1b-Prince Fielder (2) 2b-Rickie Weeks (11) 3b-Alex Gordon (14) SS-Troy Tulowitzki (6) CI-Mark Teixeira (4) MI-Julio Lugo (23) OF-Lance Berkman (3) OF-Alex Rios (5) OF-Corey Hart (7) OF-Gary Sheffield (16) OF-Bill Hall (21) Util-Joey Votto (24) SP-Johan Santana (1) SP-Felix Hernandez (8) P-Tim Lincecum (10) P-Francisco Liriano (12) P-Matt Cain (13) P-Rich Harden (17) P-Zack Greinke (19) P-Matt Garza (25) P-Bobby Jenks (15) P-Manny Corpas (18) P-Brad Lidge (20) P-Brian Wilson (22) So, without a bench, I'm obviously going to draft a little bit differently...but all that means is that I'll go for best available player (most likely OF) instead of reaching for a good backup MI or C early. Checking against ADP lists, I apparently drafted all of my guys early but sometimes you have to reach out for those guys you A. Trust and B. Believe in. I tried going for a lot of Speed/power guys like Hart, Weeks, Rios, Gordon, and even Sheffield, who was a late steal. I'm a strong believer in just getting the best pitchers available and going with, not scrap heap closers, but cheaper guys. I have tremendous K potential but the same risks with Lincecum, Liriano, and Harden that whatshisface had. Bill Hall and Joey Votto are my two droppable guys at this point.

You obviously concentrated on offense early, probably going Howard, Rollins, Berkman, and Victor. Your offense will definitely be hurting in the SB and AVG department, so you might wanna start Kendrick over Johnson. While they offer the same in speed, Kendrick should have a tremendous BA. Still, your only speed guys are Rollins and Young. Don't worry, you have plenty of power, but don't expect great BAs from Fields (rookie), Young (last year), and Dunn. Is there a limit on the pitchers you can have? You got your backups, including backup catcher, which I consider to be very important for those extra 20+ games worth of stats over the year. As for your SP, I like it, despite the risk. You have no chance at competing in wins but you should be up there in strikeouts. You should be all set for saves...but I dunno, if possible, I'd scrap an OF for another SP. Buchholz will be on an innings limit and all that so his chances at wins should be limited as well. You have too many low BA, slow, HR type of guys and SP question marks...other than that, the team looks solid enough.

Good, cheap closers are the way to go. You got some great steals with picks 20-23, I'm a fan. Hey, sorry about that.

You got the rounds these guys were drafted? Let's see, an eight team league is on the shallow side but there is still some difficulty once you get down to the lower levels. What are the exact roster limits? Are you heavier on hitting out of necessity or preference? I like your SP though, a ton of K potential with Bedard, Hamels, Young, and **ahem** Harden and some steady contributors in Halladay and Hudson who won't hurt you at all. your relief pitching is a bit more questionable. BJ Ryan, who is only 10 months removed from Tommy John, is a coin flip to begin the season, much less at closer. I guess he won't hurt to have stashed away but you can't compete in a category with just Jenks and Jones, whose stats should even out to a 3ish era with maybe 70 saves between them. The starting lineup feels middle of the pack with only one speed guy and two semi-speed guys (Markakis, Wells [who may be running more depending on his spot in the batting order]). You have a stocked bench though, so depending on whether this is H2H or rotisserie, you'll want to pay close attention to daily lineups and what stats you need. On the plus side, nobody will hurt you in average. I'd maybe want to get another speed guy for off days, but yah, you've got plenty of power on the bench with Swisher (35+) and Gonzalez (30+) and possibly a great steal, assuming he has better luck this year, with Chris Young's 30/30 potential.

I understand the feeling...I live with fake fans and it just doesn't cut it. I dunno...the problem is either that people tend to specialize in a sport or two or else they just don't care.

I was never raised with sports so as soon as I realized that sports were necessary to prove my manhood, I immediately adopted all the local New England teams around '99. That means Red Sox, Patriots, Celtics, Bruins, and **ahem** Revolution. But yah, that's all in the past now, VG. All in the past.

I think some of you guys hit on it when you mentioned the young guys. I don't know if it's my imagination, but there seems to be a huge influx of young talent these past two years, whether because of the rising free agent salaries or more confidence in the rookies. As all these older "questionable" players phase out, the youth movement will continue. Look at the young stars who have already proven themselves: Wright, Reyes, Ramirez, Braun, Tulowitzki, Fielder, Howard, etc. Granted those are all sluggers, there are also fireballers like Phil Hughes, Clay Buchholz, Verlander, Liriano, Lincecum, etc. This sport doesn't need to do anything other than hope for success from its young, homegrown prospects.

Sweet, I'm still culturally relevant. Sorry, I sorta died for a while and then had to stay away while you guys were **ahem** celebrating. Vacation is coming up at the end of the week so I'm probably going to finish making my lists then and go through a couple of mock drafts to get an idea of what to expect. From what I've seen so far...OF is really weak along with 1b and 3b. C and 2b are both pretty stacked, in terms of after the top 3, but SS has only speed experts after Reyes, Ramirez, and Rollins goes...except for Tejada, but that's a coin flip and a half. More to come.

They did mention complications of an enlarged heart but I don't know if it was always big or it just expanded. can a heart expand like that?

Not for a while...but this is good...this is very good. While the Yankees spend over 400 million on just resigning players, we spend 37.5 on Lowell, 13 max on Schilling, and are pretty much set except for improvements to the bullpen and bench and the eventual Crisp trade.

What about the other eight fans on the West Coast?

He earned it...and after that April, wow. :clap: