Fantasy Update

As we are heading on into the All Star break, I decided to give you an update on my fantasy teams. One is horrible, and the other is just bad. We'll start off with the Sox Stalkers, who, unlike Papi's Posse, are in ICU, but not quite hooked up to the ventilator yet.

Sox Stalkers

C- Johnny Estrada (Much better than I thought he'd be. Batting .290)
1B- Gary Sheffield (.290 - 17 HRs - 49 RBI. And he's not a Yankee anymore. Very nice)
2B- Kelly Johnson (Just picked him up a few weeks ago, 2B has sucked for me all year)
3B- Mark Teahen (Also just picked him up, eh)
3B- Adrian Beltre (Acquired in the Manny / Mike Lowell for Peavy / Beltre trade. Eh)
SS- Hanley Ramirez (Hurts my heart a little he's so good. Does have 13 errors).
OF- Curtis Granderson (Not only a great blogger, but a solid 4th OF. Too bad he's my 2nd)
OF- Carlos Beltran (Needs so raise his power numbers, 9 home runs and 38 RBI...killing me Carlos)
OF- Randy Winn (Batting a solid .296)
OF- Trot Nixon (Hat is still very dirty)
Util- Mark Loretta (Picked up last night cause their regular SS broke his leg or foot or something)

Pitchers

SP-
Jake Peavy (A new stalker, he has yet to have a dominating start for me, but I think tonight is the night)
Curt Schilling (4.20 ERA...EEE)
Derek Lowe (Oh, you know Derek, I do too, and I don't know why I drafted him)
Barry Zito (How do you spell $120 million dollar bust? B-A-R-R-Y)
Greg Maddux (has better numbers than Curt, which tells you a lot about my team)

RP-
Jonathan Papelbon (16 saves, pretty little 1.85 ERA and 34 K's)
Doug Brocail (Solid little reliever)
Joe Nathan (Right now him and Papelbon are on average for 30 saves. Eh)
Pat Neshek (Great website and a solid reliever. Better ERA and WHIP than Paps)
Heath Bell (Another one of my Padres, great ERA and WHIP)

My two best catagories are average and wins, my two worst are RBI, saves (with Nathan and Papelbon, how does that happen?!), and WHIP (which has been the bain of my existence the entire season). I'm currently in 10th in this league, but, I'm only 12 points out of 6th, so, if maybe my starters could stop sucking, there is some room for improvement.

Papi's Posse

C- Johnny Estrada
1B- Ty Wiggington (I'm serious, he is my 1B)
2B- Chase Utley (a stud, batting .319)
3B- Mike Lowell (I think his thumb is bothering him more than he lets on)
SS- Orlando Cabrera (All the '04's will forever have a free pass in my book. Well...most)
OF- Vernon Wells (cold all year)
OF- Carl Crawford (poor guy wasting away in Tampa Bay)
OF- Adam Dunn (19 HR's...WHO KNEW!)
Util- Adrian Beltre (no escaping)
BN- Khalil Green (sucks), and Chipper Jones (old), and Curtis Granderson (blogger extroidinaire)

SP-
Julian Tavarez (batshit!)
Jeff Suppan (I have known you sucked all along dumbass)
Dave Bush (4-6...bad times all around)
Tom Glavine (300 may be harder than first thought)
Roger (I know, I know, but I even broke my "No Yankees" allowed rule my team was in such straits
Jon Lester (...still waiting...)

RP-
Scott Linebrink (I love my SD relievers)
Chris Sampson (6-5, eh)
Kevin Gregg (0-2...eh)
Mariano (8 saves?!? I mean, really now)

This team, is um, 3470 out of first, and firmly in last place. Not good times.

*Dice-K gave up 0 hits yesterday but was unhappy with is 5 walks, and was unwilling to speak with the media after the game. I personally, always got mad when I gave up no hits and runs when I pitched. (okay, I never pitched, but you get the point). Shaughnessy says Matsuzaka was seen stretching out during the game and icing after it. (he never ices) Let the massive panic attack begin. Dan does point out, "Only in Boston. Only here could there be a crisis after a guy throws a five-inning no-hitter."

*Papelbon looked good yesterday. Craig Hansen did not.

*The Ritz-Carlton is making a new Dice-K Tini which has, “includes three parts vodka, one part passion fruit puree and one part sake. It is garnished with a glowing red ice cube made to like dice and pickled ginger.”

*Jo-EL Pineiro may be on the market. The mostly likely trade partner is the Reds according to Jeff Horrigan.

*Colts President Bill Polian praises the Patriots off season moves. You think Bill? They did a good job? Are you sure they didn't nudge you or anything? You don't want to complain to the commissioners office?

*The NFL approved a new revenue-sharing system.

*The Celtics played great against the Raptors last night, I actually watched some of this. Great time of the year to elevate your game guys. C's came away with the 95-87 W.

*No criminal negligence found in the death of Pat Tillman.

*Freddy Sanchez knee is still screwed up. Glad he isn't on my fantasy team.

*Pacman Jones is um, screwed.

*The UNC Student Mascott died after being struck by an SUV. (so sad).

*Philadelphia Eagles traded DT Darwin Walker and a 2008 pick to the Buffalo Bills for Takeo Spikes and Kelly Holcomb. Personally I think this is a great deal for the Eagles, who, take Spikes out of the AFC East. Thanks guys.

SG has an article on how great the NCAA tourney has been, and that is where I found this link...

One freaking home run Jason Kendell? ONE?

Good Morning Everyone! Today we have a special installment of "Amanda should have researched more before her fantasy draft". Last night was my draft for the Sox Stalkers. Turns out I missed my one for Papi's Posse (which, I didn't get David on my team so I'm going to change my name to the Big Misnomers, rather than Papi's Posse. I hate that. Someone could have called and reminded me! Steve? Conor? Chris? Thanks guys). Anyway, here's my lineup. (not that anyone cares). (We're partying here like it's 2004).

The Sox Stalkers

C - Jason Kendall (who, I realized this morning had 1 home run last year! ONE! )
1B - Gary Sheffield (I try to only have one ass on my team. So here he is)
2B - Freddy Sanchez (I try to have 80% of my team have some kind of Red Sox connection)
3B - Mike Lowell ("I think I love you, but what am I so afraid of" (bat speed my friends).
SS - Hanley Ramirez (because ROY didn't hurt enough last year - he did hit 1/2 as many HR as Josh let up, oh, and I'm 9 months older than him. Super!)
OF - Manny Ramirez (I'm pretty happy with this pick. Until he needs the month of July off)
OF - Carlos Beltran (My dad forced me into this one. He thought he was Peter Gammons last night).
OF - Trot Nixon (aww, hey buddy, miss you already!)
Util - Nomar Garciaparra (even though he never answered my letter, I still love him)
Bench - Orlando Cabrera (ORLANDOOOOOOO)
Bench - WilyMO Pena (I hope K's don't count against me).
Bench - Sean Casey (and his 8 home runs. great pick Amanda).
SP - Barry Zito (don't ask me, ask Barry!)
SP - Curt Schilling (probably picked him 3 rounds too high)
RP - Jon Papelbon (they have him as a RP. I hope that is true. I'm going to loan him my labrum if things don't go well. If I win the league I'm going to mail him a duck)
RP - Joe Nathan (love to see him in a Sox uni)
P - Joel Zumaya (no guitar hero for you Sir. he threw something like 236 pitches over 100 last year. Sick.)
P - Derek Lowe (haha, Hi Derek!)
P - Adam Wainwright (I think he's pretty good. But I actually have no idea)
P - Tim Wakefield (Timmayyyyyyy)
P - Mark Mulder (my team wasn't nearly good looking enough, but Mark is helping in that dept)

*Color Codes -
Red = current Sox
Bold = member of the 2004 World Championship Red Sox.
Italics = picked because I have a crush on them. And yes, that italics on Mike Lowell is not a mistake.
Blue = Players who have at one time been a member of the Red Sox organization.
Purple = One time a member of the Yankee organization, sadly, there is no pink on blogspot.
Orange = Lost the 2004 World Series to the World Champion Boston Red Sox
Teal = Most likely to spend time on the DL due to a surfing accident
Brown = Catchers who hit one HR last year
Weird Yellow = Player who I thought played for the Tigers or White Sox and who actually plays for the Pirates and who was probably a great pick 4 years ago.

As for links today, not a whole hell of a lot going on...but, I had to recommend a few...

Tom Verducci has a great article on Dice-K in SI the Mag that I cannot find on the website. I guess they wait a few days to post them to the web?

Speaking of Matsuzaka-san, he kicked ass and took names yesterday. (my dad's saying).

Papelbon is willing to close.

Tony LaRussa should have called a cab.

No new contract for Moraneau. Get on the phone Theo.

Hopefully today flies by. I'm missing Grey's Anatomy tonight to see the B's take on the Canadians. Can you feel my excitement?