Fantasy Football - Pre-season is Over So Now What? Drop Tim Tebow!!

Ok, that's pretty obvious.  Tebow will make the Patriot's team in name only.  Apparently Coach B. loves his athleticism but not his QB skills.  Join the club.

Anyway, now is the time to get down to some business regarding preparing for drafts and the season. 

Here are some subtle pre-season finale notes:

NY Giants ("All Hail the New York Giants".....I love that line from the Madagascar movie....I've got two small kids, so cut me some slack here....)  RB Andre Brown suffered a fracture in his leg during last night's pre-season finale.  Although going in he was only going to be a 3rd down back, what this means is that David Wilson clearly wins here.  Wilson coming in was going to be the featured back but this further solidifies his role and increases his touches.  No longer will he coming off the field on goal line or third down situations.  So David Wilson moves up the charts.

Quinton Patten looks better and better.  Patton caught 2 passes for 52 yards last night and a TD.  He's the number 3 receiver on the 49er depth chart right now but has looked fantastic all camp.  There is a good bet he overtakes Marlon Moore sooner rather than later as the number two guy alongside Anquan Boldin.  The nice thing about Patten is he can play both on the perimeter and slot receiver positions well.  I like him a lot.

Montee Ball...didn't play, but that indicates to me that the Broncos are looking to save him for him for the opener.  They have seen enough and might be likely to put him in the mix more than some think.  Ronnie Hillman did play in the game last night, which tells me that they were still looking for some progress from him.  His chances also have been hurt by the fact that he has turned the ball over three times this pre-season.  Averaging almost one turnover per game is not going to get you much playing time.  Montee Ball might is a winner here too.

Good luck in your drafts!  Should be some interesting cuts come final roster time on Monday, as well.

Running Your Own League?  Become a Better Commissioner than Roger Goodell Right Here!



Fantasy Football - The Almighty Sleeper Pick - Floyd, Tompkins, Lacy

Sleepers.....under the radar....dark horses......

Every draft has them, whether real or fantasy.  We have talked about a few of them here, as well.  Let's throw a few more in the mix during this lead-up to the last pre-season weekend (thank goodness!! Enough with the exhibition games already....).

Let's start with some injury news.  Starting RB DuJuan Harris in Green Bay is gone for the season.  A patellar issue has him facing season ending surgery and a possible six month layoff.  No, he was not going to be seeing the ball 30 times a game, but the idea was to have him and Eddie Lacy be somewhat of a one-two punch in the Green Bay backfield.  Now that Harris is done for the year, that puts Lacy more in the limelight. 

I think because of Lacy's workload in Alabama and his many bumps and bruises there, his questions regarding conditioning (see early in camp photo bruhaha) and the pass-first offense of Mike McCarthy, Lacy was not at the top of a lot of draft lists.  Add in the fact that he wasn't the announced feature back and that watered down his appeal, as well.

Put the almost concluded pre-season under his belt, the fact that he has run hard, even if the numbers do not show it, and now Harris' injury and I think Lacy jumps up on those lists.  I think that offensive line still has to prove something, and Aaron Rodgers is still going to throw the football a lot, so don't get too giddy.

 Head coach Bruce Arians, now with the Arizona Cardinals, brings a more open offense with him.  In Indianapolis last year, he worked Andrew Luck to perfection, having him throw a lot.  In fact he was in the top five in attempts.  Switch to Arizona.  No, it's not Andrew Luck but Carson Palmer.  Certainly a better QB, however, than what the Cardinals ran out their last year. 

Given the offensive system that Arians runs, and better play at the QB position means the ball is going to be in the air more.  The beneficiary?  How about former 1st round pick Michael Floyd?  He's the number two guy there and also gets a great chance to get more one-on-one coverage with defenses focusing on Larry Fitzgerald. 

One other guy who has been rising up draft boards is Kenbrell Tompkins over in New England.  He's been targeted more times than any other receiver in camp.  He's putting up gaudy numbers for the pre-season.  He's a perimeter guy that just seems to be getting better and better.  I know pre-season can be a little misleading but this dude looks like he can be a real eye-popper for fantasy players.

 

Get Your Fantasy Game On - Find Out More Right Here!

Fantasy Football - Where Does Russell Willson Fit?

With Sidney Rice out all pre-season and Percy Harvin out a while, as well, where does that put Russell Wilson on your draft list?  This Cat was the number Fantasy QB over the last five weeks of last season.  However, I think that is going to be the highlight of this guy's fantasy career until the 'Hawks develop more receiving talent.

In addition, this team is built to be a run first offense.  Marshawn Lynch is the go to back and is a top ten pick.  Backup RB Christine Michael turned in an outstanding performance against the Packers in the 3rd pre-season game on Friday night.  It's a deep backfield that some are calling the deepest in the league.  With all of that running might, including a talented Offensive Line, this team will continue to give the ball to Lynch and company limiting Wilson's numbers.

Counter that with the fact that I just don't see Wilson sneaking up on teams like he did last year.  Lots of defensive coordinators spent the entire off-season looking at tape on how to manage Wilson and the likes of Colin Kaepernick.  Even Green Bay's suspect defense (see my previous post on the Packers' 'D') got to Wilson a couple of times on Friday and limited his yards.  In addition he threw two picks.  He threw only ten interceptions last year.

I see Wilson coming down from the lofty status he was at the end of last season.  To Wilson's own admission, he is not going to run as much as he did last year.  He amassed 489 rushing yards last year and four TD's. 

Combine the facts that this is a run-first offense, their two top receivers are hurt, and Wilson probably will not run as much, limiting his rush numbers,  and you have the making of a guy who might be a little over-hyped come draft day.  The Seahawks are a team expected to be on the rise, with all that happened last year and with a renewed NFL coach given another chance in Pete Carroll.  Might be ripe for a little bit of a slip this year, and Wilson might be the one to take the biggest hit.

 

Get Your Fantasy Game On - Find Out More Right Here!

Fantasy Football - Looking for Offense - How About Matt Schaub?

After you get past the primary set of offensive studs like Adrian Peterson, Doug Martin, C.J. Spiller, Calvin Johnson and the like, it kinds a little challenging when you are drafting lower or simply need some bench guys to bolster your offense.

One place I might turn to would be the Houston Texans.  I have always like Matt Schaub.  The Texans are not a glamour team.  No Petyton Manning or Aaron Rodgers - They are not in New York or Dallas.  They kind of fly under the radar and so does Matt Schaub's numbers.  I've seen a number of prognosticators talk about him being a late rounder and how he really isn't the prize he once was. 

However, even though he doesn't put up numbers like Rodgers or Brees he has some potential to do some damage this year.  Consider the fact that he has one of the better WR's in the league in Andre Johnson.  Arian Foster also does a nice job catching the ball out of the backfield, in addition to his rushing skills.

Toss in an under rated TE in  Owen Daniels.  62 catches last year, with 6 TD's.  He was targeted 128 times.  He will be more of a factor this year, coming off of of a productive 2012 and a renewed sense of his worth in the offense.

In addition, first round draft pick, who I REALLY like, DeAndre Hopkins is going to attract more attention from opposing team defenses.  What does that tell you?  It means that Johnson and and Daniels don't get double teamed as much.  It means the ball gets spread around a little more.  It means some of these guys, who are talented, will get some one-on-one coverages that they will take advantage of during the year.  It means Schaub's numbers get even better.

It may also mean that guys like Hopkins and Daniels might be worth a look as well.  Now, Hopkins has suffered a concussion in week 1 of the pre-season.  He should be ready to go for week one.  I would give him a few games to get into the flow of things, before he will start to show why he was their first round pick.  He'll be a nice complement to Andre Johnson. 

All signs point to Schaub being ready to raise his level of play, as well.  His GM, Rick Smith, has indicated as much.  His QB coach, Karl Dorrell, has talked about his preparation going into the season and that he feels he is in the best shape both physically and mentally going into the 2103 campaign. 

This Texan's team is a good football team.  Many QB's, on the cusp of taking a team to the next level, elevate their play.  Could Schaub throw for 4500 yards and thirty TD's?  I don't think it is out of the realm of possibility.  Might be a little bit of a stretch, but, I'm just saying....he might not be a bad pick after that top tier is gone.

 

Get Your Fantasy Game On - Find Out More Right Here!

Fantasy Baseball - Can You Trust Rookies like Xander Bogaerts and Tony Cingrani Down the Stretch?

Oh, we like youngsters....rookies....phenoms......  Those are the guys that are going to be the next Mike Trout, Adrian Peterson or LeBron James.  When the $&%# hits the fan, though, and games are played for keeps, can these guys actually help your fantasy team?

Take for example two highly touted young players in the Red Sox recent call-up Xander Bogaerts and Reds rookie pitcher Tony Cingrani.  Bogaerts has been lighting it up all year in double A and Triple A.  He gets his call with the Red Sox and is being snapped up like a trailer park in a tornado. 

I know in our league, there are at least a couple of guys who drool over prospects.  Conversely, there are a couple of guys who know that and have really taken some owners to the cleaners when making trades.  Some guys just go 'ga-ga' over highly touted prospects and will stop at nothing to have them on their team.  Bad move.

These guys are extremely volatile.  For every Mike Trout, there are ten Felix Pie's.  Who is Felix Pie, you ask?  My point exactly.  Highly touted farmhand out of the Cubs system, that never became more than the 26th guy on a 25 man roster. 

With September call-ups looming, some of you vying for a pennant may be looking to swoon in on a player here.  Be careful.  Some of these guys come up to get a handful of at bats or innings pitched and that is about it.  If you are looking for guys to give you numbers that can help you, make sure they are going to play a lot.  Some teams will really hand over a starting spot to a September call-up to see what they can actually do.  Most do not.  So, don't fall into the hype if you are really looking for numbers.

I had Edinson Volquez a few years back.  When he got his September call, they plugged him right into the rotation.  I needed some help in the pitching category so I grabbed him.  He gave me a nice month of numbers and I ended up winning my league. 

Regarding Bogaerts, he is a guy who is going to play a lot down through the last 6 weeks of the season.  But, don't be surprised if he sits, especially if he gets off to a lousy start (he went 0 for 3 with a whiff in his first game).  He can be a nice addition for you in the pennant drive or be just another drain on you batting average and not give you the numbers you want.  Just beware of that.

For a guy like Cingrani, who has been pitching for most of the year, the issue you have to worry about here is overuse and fatigue setting in to his pitching lines.  The rookie pitchers have never thrown well into September.  Their season stops about Labor Day, so as the innings start to pile up, you could be in for some bad starts, or some injuries.  Cingrani left Tuesday's start with a lower back issue.  Could it be a sign that he might be hitting the wall physically?

Highly touted rookies are great fodder for columns and hoopla, but be a little cautious as you approach these guys down the stretch.

Defense in Fantasy Football - What Teams Rise and What Teams Fall?

When you are looking for Defenses to target come draft day their might be some intriguing teams from which to choose.  Sometimes we get caught up in the 'name' teams that have a reputation and some 'street cred' to the fantasy world but looking a little deeper can yield some gems not found before.

Let's take example number one - Cleveland.  Now, the Browns, on the surface, have not inspired the fear of the Steel Curtain or the Fearsome Foursome, so they may be bypassed by some in your draft league basically because they do not have that wow factor associated with them. 

However, take the fact that they have a new defensive coordinator in Ray Horton, who comes from Arizona.  With the Cardinals, he ran a 3-4 defense that 'got after it', to use a cliche.  He brings this mentality to a Browns defense that, quite frankly, is underrated.  It has more young talent here than folks give them credit for and will be great beneficiaries of the renewed, aggressive style play.

I think free agent signee and stand-up edge rusher Paul Kruger and inside linebacker D'Qwell Jackson will put up some sack numbers that will start to get people's attention as the season progresses. 

I like this team creeping up on people, as a whole, but I really like their upside on defense.  Most have Cleveland in the second group of ten defenses, but I think they could easily crack the top ten.

The Buffalo Bills is another team on the opposite side of glitz street.  They were and up and down defensive team as it pertained to Fantasy football last year.  However, they too have added a new defensive coordinator who claims to play an attacking, aggressive style defense, as well.  Anything should be an upgrade over last year's squad. 

This was a volatile group last year, with them scoring in the negatives about as many times as they provided double digit points on defense.  With a new scheme giving players like linebacker Kiko Alonso,  an opportunity to shine, this could be an interesting defense.

I'm going to go the NFC North for two teams that I do not think will be as high as many folks think.  The Chicago Bears and Green Bay Packers are two teams, that I have seen ranked fairly consistently in the top ten, or even top five. 

I just don't see it.  The Bears have a new defensive coordinator in Mel Tucker.  Known for his vanilla style defense, and the fact that I just do not see a lot of elite performers having the kind of years they had in the past is why I just am not as high on this defense.  Urlacher is gone, 'Peanut' Tillman and Julius Peppers are another year older and I'm not sold on their safeties Major Wright and Chris Conte. 

I think this is one where reputation goes a little farther in where they get picked.  I'm not saying they're heading to the bottom ten, but I just do not think they are a top five group.

With all of the defensive players that Ted Thompson has grabbed in the draft the last two years, you would think that, by default, this Packers defense should be an improved group.  I just don't see it.  Nick Perry, linebacker extraordinaire from USC, is coming off of surgery that had him miss most of last season.  Rookie first round pick Datone Jones has been hurt this pre-season, missing valuable development time and last year's rookie stalwart in the secondary, Casey Hayward, only made his 1st appearance in camp on Monday.

Throw in the fact that their defense is still feeling the hangover from their playoff debacle against the 49ers and I just don't think this defense is more than a middle of the pack group.  I've seen some draft prognosticators putting this group in the top ten.  I think that's a reach.  If it is, then all those cheese heads around the country will probably be in New York come Super Bowl, because that is where they will be if this team makes that big of a jump defensively.

Michael Vick and Josh Freeman - Under the Radar Stars or Over Hyped 'Stars'

The over hyped star label is probably more so in Michael Vick's case than in Josh Freeman's.  Vick has been a household name for a variety of reasons and for a number of years.  He has always had  'tremendous athlete' tag on him, even if he was not the most accurate passer.  Highly touted and praised his star status has had many ups and downs. 

Here is another crossroad for Vick as a professional football player.  I don't think there is much to the competition between he and Nick Foles.  If Vick is even decent as a passer this pre-season, he wins that job.  Barring an injury or simply some awful football, Vick is in as the Eagles top guy.  Now, that does not preclude him being benched at some point this year.  Vick's tendency over the years has been that his play has been very volatile.  He will look like a Hall of Famer for a game or two and then look like the starting QB for my nephew's sixth grade team.  As mentioned, he is not the most accurate passer either.

All that being said, he has had two nice pre-season games thus far, going 13 for 15 and showing some nice touch.  He is averaging a tremendous 13.3 yards per attempt vs. Foles'  7.1.  He's looked very calm, cool and comfortable in Chip Kelly's offense.  Yes, Vick has a lot of mileage on him and he's been in the league a very long time, so there is some merit to those who say that 2 pre-season games do not contradict ten years of games he has played in the NFL. 

However, he has not only a new coach, but a coach who brings something very different to an NFL offense.  Has Chip Kelly tapped into Vick's inner QB and allowed the all-powerful QB genie to finally reveal himself?  Well, I'm not sure about that, but signs are that Vick just feels very much at home in this offense and may just surprise some folks this season.

Josh Freeman never has been in this kind of a spotlight.  Known for flashes of brilliance, he just as easily has hit the skids.  He can be a maddening player for your fantasy team.  He almost brought the Bucs back to playoff land in 2010 with a brilliant season, throwing for 3451 yards and completing 61.4% of his passes.  Ladies and gentlemen, this was only three years ago.  So, the talent is there.  However, does this kid have the ability, or the team around him, to tap into what he brought to the NFL party just a few short years ago?

Right now, he is the Bucs only real option.  They will most likely not go to rookie Mike Glennon already, and Freeman is still young enough to turn things around and become more consistently good.  However, through two games this Bucs offense looks pathetic.  Granted, this last pre-season game they were playing without veteran guard Carl Nicks, but still the Patriots came calling on Freeman and the Tampa offense.  Freeman went a paltry 2 for 3 totaling 8 yards and 3 sacks.  Not exactly numbers that will get Freeman shooting up your draft list. 

In two pre-season games he is a very average 6 for 10 totaling 42 yards and four sacks.  I know the pre-season can be unbelievably misleading.  But, when this is what you have to go on, it sticks with you a little more.

I still like Freeman, but right now I like Vick a little more.  Stay tuned, there is one more meaningful pre-season game left to evaluate your guys as you get closer to draft day.

Fantasy Football Draft Strategy - Double Wide Receivers Early? Or Draft a Stud RB in Round 1?

Fantasy football has a bunch of different ways to play.  I think more so than fantasy baseball.  Maybe I'm off kilter with that, especially since the whole sabre metrics phenomena burst onto the scene.  More fantasy baseball leagues are expanding beyond the traditional 4x4 or 5x5 formats.  But still it seems that there are so many unique ways fantasy football leagues are setup regarding awarding of points, that it can get a little dizzying.

Obviously, for some leagues it's the Standard system you see on most of th big name sports sites or you may play in a PPR league.  Those seem to be the two most common.  There are a million variations of these, as well.  I have friends who put a different emphasis on various aspects of the game by giving more or less points than most standard leagues in different categories, etc.

Some of the earliest of Fantasy leagues actually used statistics from the defensive side of the football, meaning they used individual positions and not simply picked one defensive team.  That's an interesting spin, as well, and adds even more to the depth that you can have within your league.

Whether standard or PPR, chances are you are going to jump on a stud RB in round one.  Grabbing a monster, healthy back right off of the bat is usually what most folks will do.  Hello, Adrian Peterson!  However, if you have a lower pick, you might be tempted to go the WR/WR route, meaning grab a WR in round one and round two, hoping that you can grab a decent RB down the line.  For example, perhaps you grab Dez Bryant, AJ Green or Brandon Marshall with your first pick and still be able to make a play for one of those guys early in round two. 

Then if you get the opportunity, and this is where keeping your eyes open in camp pays off, you can grab a RB later.  It's a risk, for sure, but your sleeper RB could pay off along with having two very good receivers.  In a PPR league, this might be very tempting.

Most folks will go the RB-RB approach, seeing that trying to get a RB down the line in the draft is a bigger risk than trying to find a decent WR.  A good RB will give you consistent scoring from week to week and is someone you can be confident of in head-to-head match ups, especially.  The WR position can be up and down from week to week, depending on dropped balls, defense being played against and even the weather. 

Maybe you combine the two and go WR-RB or vice versa with your first two picks.  But, even in a PPR league, grabbing two WR's with your first two picks can be almost the equivalent of punting a category.  I've never liked doing that.  Again, unless you can really hit on a RB that comes out of the limelight to shine after training camp, or the first couple of games.

What strategies do you follow?  Love to hear about them!

Are Trent Richardson and Le 'Veon Bell the Real Deal?

Much has been written about former highly touted draft pick Trent Richardson and Pittsburgh rookie Le 'Veon Bell. 

Richarson came into his rookie year last year as the 3rd pick overall and the second coming of everyone from Earl Campbell to Emmit Smith.  Surgery to remove some cartilage issues in his knee robbed him of his entire pre-season.  He struggled to live up to his hype all year in 2012.  If it wasn't for his ability to catch the football out of the backfield and his 11 TD's his year would have been labeled a total washout, considering his status coming into the season.  Then, it was learned that he played much of the season with a couple of broken ribs. 

So, what be felled Richardson was a myriad of injuries and suspect Offensive line.  The question is, can he come back stronger this year? Well, he's already starting by missing time again.  A shin injury currently is keeping him out of camp.  Some will argue that Richardson is more of a 'contact' type runner.  Couple that with the notion that Cleveland still will wallow among the lower part of the league and that is where you get the pessimism of another down year, or at least another year dodging injury.

However, consider the upside for a moment.  You have a new coach, who looks to be utilizing more of an offense that will give young developing QB Brandon Weeden more of an opportunity to succeed.  Talk is that Chudzinski will be incorporating more of the pistol formation, which will (hopefully for Browns' fans) not let defenses zero in on either the RB or QB.  The Browns offensive line will only get better with a little shuffling of John Greco to the right side and an anchor of Joe Thomas on the left.

I don't see Richardson going crazy this year, especially if he keeps battling injuries.  However, the Browns are an improved club.  With a developing QB, their offense should be a little better and open up a little more, allowing more room for Richardson to run.  I have an upswing for him but maybe not to the extent that he would be a top pick.

Bell is thought to be the prototypical Steeler back, reminiscent of the Jerome Bettis days of a banging bruising back who can withstand punishment for 25 carries a game.  I don't think he's the slashing type guy that is going to bust out 75 yard runs.  However, Pittsburgh is another team that has an improved offensive line.

Don't look for Bell to be your featured back.  I think he might be a great guy to have for TD's, though.  They will put the big guy in a lot of goal line situations, so his chances of scoring will be good.  In addition, the guy is said to have good hands.  Look for Roethlisberger to look for him in safety valve situations or simply to help move the chains.  Again, this can be another piece of his arsenal that is overlooked.  Here, I think Bell can be good, not great, and a nice complimentary player on your squad.

Looking to Play Fantasy Football? Check Out the Best Fantasy Football Site Right Here!

Pre-Season Football - Straddle the Bandwagon Carefully When Preparing for Your Fantasy Football Draft

Football is back!!  It's great to turn on the TV or roam through the Internet to see games and stats and replays and, well, anything related to real football games.

When it comes to Fantasy Football, we have our sites set so high to watch games and scout out our players that we tend to go crazy over everything we see.  Bad plays, turnovers, dropped passes, fumbles by starting running backs and the like tend to send us through the proverbial roof when it comes to looking for possible break out stars and how we should put together our rankings as we prepare for our draft.

Football is great, but therein lies the tough part of the game.  With so few games to go on, the sample size is small when trying to make a determination on how well a player is playing.  Add in the fact that pre-season is only 4 games, making the sample size even smaller, ups the challenge.  Throw in the fact that the starters only play a series or two in the first and probably the last pre-season game (some don't play at all in game 4) then you cut down that sample size even more.  Add in the issue of injuries, meaning that there were a lot of guys that didn't play game one over the weekend because of injuries, some of which would probably not be grave enough to keep them out if it were a regular season game, and you have some challenges when doing your 'research'.

My point is that you have to keep an even keel about players when looking at them over the pre-season.  Some guys had great first games, like EJ Manuel for the Bills, Arizona QB's Carson Palmer and Drew Stanton against the Packers, and Jacksonville's Denard Robinson (who was used all over the place.)

Others had down games.  It's all part of a chaotic process called NFL Pre-season.  You have a number of starters held out for minor injuries.  You have second tier guys going against other second tier guys, which isn't altogether realistic when the regular season rolls around.  It can make for some great games and terrible games.  The idea is to put that in context with the rest of pre-season, reports out of the respective team training camps to see how the player is doing each day in camp and also take into consideration the team that he is on as well.

Some guys will start jumping on or jumping off of the bandwagon depending on what kind of a game a certain player has in pre-season.  Take it easy.  Take a breath.  It's only pre-season. Yes, it's nice to see a player having a big game at QB, but know that a lot of the guys he's playing against will be selling insurance come the middle of September and not be on an NFL football team.  A great place to do some extra research is not simply the hot places online, but also look at the individual team's local newspaper.  Sometimes, these can be a great resource to find some related articles to either encourage you to put the player in question on your draft board or to put him down lower on your list.

Use multiple sources and different areas of context (games PLUS camp PLUS team) when making any definitive decisions on guys.  It will make you a better fantasy owner come draft day.

Looking to Play Fantasy Football?  Check Out the Best Fantasy Football Site Right Here! 

Fantasy Football - Does a Player Like Greg Jennings Really Matter?

To piggyback a little bit on yesterday's discussion regarding Bryan Bulaga and how his injury can impact other players, let's talk a little more about that idea and how QB's can affect the numbers of their targets - wide receivers.

Greg Jennings is the most obvious example this year, I think.  He's played his entire career with either Brett Favre or Aaron Rodgers as his QB.  Additionally, he's played on teams that were in the playoffs a number of years, so they were good, with good offenses.  His numbers, when he played, were a result of the offenses he played with and the fact that he played with one and possibly two future Hall of Fame quaterbacks.  Now, ask yourself this question - does Christian Ponder give you that same confidence?

I like Greg Jennings as a receiver.  I don't think he's a great receiver but definitely a good one.  However, with Ponder throwing the football, as opposed to Rodgers and Favre, there is going to be a definite drop-off.  In addition, with Adrian Peterson being the center of that offense, how much are they going to be throwing it anyway?  The Packers had a pass first type mentality.  Also, since their running game was not great, when they got close to the end zone, they were throwing it, meaning more TD opportunities for their receivers.  Do you think the Vikings will be throwing the ball a lot as they get closer to the goal line? 

Again, I am simply illustrating the fact that you need to pay close attention to other aspects of the game when making your fantasy football draft preparation.  From line play, to the connection between QB and receiver, to the style the team plays, to coaching tendencies - these are all factors to consider as you look at the draft board.

The NFC North has another interesting team with potential fantasy busts or breakouts, and this is the Chicago Bears.  With what should be, or was touted to be, an elite QB in Jay Cutler, you have the potential for breakout years for receivers like Brandon Marshall (he had a good year last year - don't know if you would consider another good year this year as a 'breakout'), a healthy Alshon Jeffery, newly acquired TE Martelius Bennett and Matt Forte (can catch the ball coming out of the backfield).  There has been an emphasis on improving the offensive line in the draft and their new coach, Marc Trestman, is thought to be the offensive antithesis of Lovie Smith. 

All that being said, this has the makings for some potentially potent offensive numbers for guys like Marshall, Jeffery and Forte.  Trestman will probably work in the TE more than in Lovie's regime, so you may see some decent numbers from Bennett, as well.  Some big 'IFs' though, right?  Is Cutler really that good?  Is the offensive line going to be improved?  Is Trestman an offensive guru or an imposter?  All valid questions to keep an eye on during the pre-season but again another example of keeping an eye on all aspects of the game to make more of an informed decision come draft day.

Fantasy Football - Should You Care That Bryan Bulaga Is Out For the Season?

With so much emphasis on QB's, running backs and receivers, offensive lineman do not really get any fantasy football love. After all, you don't draft guys like recent Hall of Fame inductee Jonathan Ogden.  You draft guys like Adrian Peterson.

True, but guys like Ogden do play a part in your offensive guys numbers, don't they?  If you're drafting the likes of Aaron Rodgers, you want him to not only stay healthy all year round but you also want him to be able to put up the numbers which he is capable.  That means that his offensive line needs to be good and he needs to have receivers who can catch the ball and a running game that can help out, as well.

So, no, you are not drafting offensive linemen but they sure as heck need to be part of your homework when putting together your draft lists.  That is why paying attention to the torn ACL suffered by Packers' offensive tackle Bryan Bulaga, is important.

The Packers were switching their offensive line around this year, trying to get a little more protection for Aaron Rodgers.  Bulaga and right guard Josh Sittion were moving to the left side, with T.J. Lang moving from left to right guard and possibly Marshall Newhouse and a couple of first and second year guys, battling it out for right tackle.  Now, the entire line is in flux.  Does the flip-flop stay, with rookie David Bakhtiari protecting Rodgers' blind side and Sitton staying on the left side also?  Does Newhouse go back to his old position at left tackle?  Do they sign a street free agent still out there to help?  Lots of questions that will affect that entire offense.

Obviously, Aaron Rodgers will be drafted high, but the offensive line woes does make you think about WHERE you draft him.  If he is going to be running for his life fairly regularly, that might make you think a little harder as to where to place him on your board.  Do you draft a running back instead, with that first pick? 

One of Rodgers' best receivers, Jordy Nelson, is missing all of training camp with a knee injury, which is another chink in the offensive armor up in Green Bay.  They lost Greg Jennings (who suddenly needs to be on his own talk show...).  Again, lots of questions, but makes you think about the other factors that play into an offensive guys' numbers.  When your main points are coming from QB's, RB's and receivers, you have to take a look at the rest of that team to make more of an informed decision come draft time.

Do You Put Alex Rodriguez on Your Fantasy Team?

A mixed bag, for sure, to put ARod on your squad or not.  He is the only big name player appealing the suspension.  According to all of the reports I have heard he is not taking this lightly.  His camp is ready to hammer back at MLB.  We shall see how that unfolds, most likely over the late Fall and Winter months.  The last I heard is that the speculation is that they will not hear his appeal until November, at the earliest.

That aside, you as the quintessential fantasy owner, has to decide whether you play the guy or not.  I'm sure he was drafted in your league.  I would be shocked if he wasn't.  You may be his owner, waiting out whatever waiting period your league has to decide whether to activate him, or not.

Or, you are wondering whether to try and make a deal for him.  Perhaps there is something inside you that says that you just can't bring yourself to put him on your roster.  You feel he's as guilty as MLB says he is, and he won't play on your club.  Others who have that competitive fire might think that, "but hey, the dude might help me win my league."  So there are moral dilemmas that may sway one owner over another in their decision to play him, or not.

If you play him, or want to try and go after him in a trade, can he really help you?  You have about a month and a half left in the season.  Does he enough left in the tank to put your team over the top?  My knee jerk answer to that is "Yes."  I think he feels he has a lot to prove.  He wants to prove to the public and MLB that he's clean and that he can still put up big numbers, which will show that he didn't use PED's to put up the monster seasons he has.  I feel like he will be playing with a huge chip on his shoulder and that may drive him for the remainder of the season.

I know he's coming off of major injury and he's 38, but he still has put up some pretty good numbers over the last few years.  I know what you're thinking...he put those numbers up because he was juiced, but I still think he's got enough raw talent to be a good player.

If your competitive fire is such that you need another bat in your lineup to help grab you some points, then maybe you do take a shot at him.  A tough decision, but hey, that's why you're in this business of fantasy ownership, right?

Let me know what you're doing or would do with ARod on your fantasy squad.

Grab a Dodger

If you're looking to bolster your fantasy team, look no further than the resurgent Los Angeles Dodgers.  Left for dead in June, the Dodgers are the hottest team in baseball.  Don Mattingly was looking over his shoulder not too long ago, wondering if his days as the skipper of the club had come to an end.  However, with the call-up of Yasel Puig, the club has ignited and is playing its best baseball.

Of course, Puig is the star at the moment and I am sure he s gone in every league, or his owner is holding him for major ransom money in looking to deal.  However, there are gems all over this lineup, that might still be there for the taking in some leagues, either as a Free Agent pickup or in a deal.

Guys like Chris Capuano, who has turned in a couple of nice outings recently and recently acquired Ricky Nolasco.  Nolasco is more of a 'known' commodity but Capuano might still be sitting unclaimed in your league.  The reason I mention to grab a Dodger is they are doing it as a team, so there are a lot of different contributors.  Puig and Hanley Ramirez are two of the offensive stars that are going to cost you if you are looking to acquire them.  However, a number of their guys will still give you some decent numbers, since the ball club is playing so well, yet not cost you so much in a deal or might still be there in your Free Agent pool.

Mark Ellis, A.J. Ellis, Andre Eithier, Carl Crawford are all samples of guys who are putting up some decent numbers but not lights out.  If the Dodgers continue to win, you will see these guys contributing.  In a game like fantasy where totals mean so much, having these guys in your lineup vs. open or dead spots can make a huge impact in the long run.

How Can Set-Up Relievers Win Your Fantasy League?

Ok, we had a little off the topic time the last few days examining some of the ramifications of the MLB trade deadline.  A few days ago we had started a conversation regarding set-up relievers and how they can be instrumental in your push to win your fantasy league.  This is true whether your league uses 'Holds' or not.

Let us examine a few guys in that role who are having great years.

There are a few guys I would put into the 'Above Average' category.  Sam LeCure of the Reds, Jordan Walden of the Braves and Antonio Bastardo are three guys I will talk about here.  All of them are having a pretty good years as late-inning guys, but are not the save guy for their club.  These guys still provide some nice numbers for your pitching staff. 

Bastardo has a 2.454 ERA/1.289 WHIP.  Now the WHIP numbers aren't the greatest, especially for a relief pitcher, but his 44 K's in 40 plus innings helps and throw in the fact that he has 3 wins and a couple of saves and you have the making of a nice guy you can add to your staff.  Considering how close some the pitching categories can be in your league some of these numbers can certainly help.

How about LeCure's numbers - 2.195 ERA/1.146 WHIP with 43 K's in 41 IP?  Or Jordan Walden - 2.571 ERA/1.143 WHIP with 40 K's in 35 IP with 4 wins?  Again, not overwhelming when compared to starting pitchers but these numbers add up with your other pitching stats that can certainly help you grab a couple of points.

Two guys I would consider upper echelon set-up guys are Trevor Rosenthal - 2.29 ERA/1.13WHIP with 74 K's in 51 IP and Tylar Clippard - 1.73 ERA/0.83 WHIP with 50 K's in 46 plus IP and a staggering 6 wins.  Clippard has more wins than many of my starters. 

This is what I mean.  You take a shot at one of these guys and you can't go wrong.  They are not going to give you bad numbers.  Most times they will deliver positive numbers for you and not some of the roller coaster numbers that some starters will give.  In addition, they could be in line for some saves on those days where the closer is not available as well as pick up a few wins in late relief. 

In any kind of a close race you want to grab points where you can and set-up guys can be instrumental in your push for a fantasy league pennant.

Trade Deadline Recap - Like Watching Paint Dry

Seriously?  That is what MLB gave us this year?  Wow, not much in the way of deadline deals.  I guess the closest, only because he was a starter on a contending team, was Ian Kennedy going over to the Padres.

Other than that it was truly a letdown.  Some years bring a breathless pace of transactions with fantasy implications all over the place.  Some, well, are like watching paint dry.  Like 2013.

Maybe there might be a little movement in August with the Waiver trading going on, but waiver wire trades in the dog days rarely make a splash.  We will most likely have to wait for the off-season, once the Biogenesis stuff is over with and teams search to rebuild and restock.

I don't want to overlook the Ian Kennedy trade for fantasy purposes, however.  If you do have Kennedy (I do) you have been truly disappointed this year.  He's been a disaster overall, with some occasional decent starts that get your hopes up.  He should benefit from the confines of Petco Park.  The place has been known to make a positive impact on pitchers.  However, if he cannot find the strike zone or continues to make bad pitches, it won't matter if he pitches in the Grand Canyon.

However, he is only a couple of years removed from a brilliant 21-4 season and has a career ERA (going into this year) of 3.77 and a WHIP of 1.24.  Nice numbers overall.  Perhaps a change of scenery will help him.  It certainly cannot hurt being in pitcher friendly San Diego.  He might be a nice buy low guy if you are looking for help on your starting fantasy staff.  Even if you are looking for help for next year, you might be able to grab him from a disgruntled owner.  He is signed through next year so he should stay in San Diego over the off-season.

Oh well, should have probably gone for the nap while the kids were taking theirs instead of surfing the 'net looking for blockbuster deadline deals....maybe next year.

Jake Peavy Finally Dealt

I know in yesterday's post I was going to talk more about set-up guys.  With the trade deadline looming, I am going to put that thought on hold and comment on some of the deals going down.

The rumors surrounding Jake Peavy finally came to fruition with the three-way deal of him to the Red Sox.  Boston also dealt Jose Iglesias to the Tigers, presumably because they are feeling the heat of the Biogenesis affect and that, perhaps, Johnny Peralta ends up getting suspended.  Finally, the White Sox get young outfielder Avisail Garcia.

Peavy and Garcia are the two most intriguing guys in this deal to me.  The Red Sox add a quality starter and the White Sox add an interesting young player with some upside.  The youngster is only 22, with some power and speed.  If you have room on your fantasy roster, this is the guy I would try and jump on.  He has had a little bit of an issue with swinging at bad pitches and not being able to take many walks (where have we heard that issue before?), but if he can harness some of that, he could be a nice 5 category player for you.

Peavy should be Peavy with the Red Sox.  Obviously, he is playing with a better ballclub this year so he may tick off a couple of extra wins, but his other numbers should not be affected much.  That being said, we have seen where a player really gets rejuvenated when he gets traded to a team in contention.  With Peavy's history as a 'lights out' type pitcher don't be surprised if he, indeed, puts up some better numbers the rest of the way in Boston.  I do not think you can count on that, but it would not be out of the realm of possibility.

I have never been a big fan of Jose Iglesias.  I sometimes wondered about some of the hype surrounding his stature over the last few years.  He does not have much in the way of power and his average at the minor league level (.244 with on base percentage under .300) leaves much to be desired, as well.  Do not be fooled by his over .300 Avg. this year.  It is an anomaly.  He is simply some decent insurance for Detroit if Johnny Peralta gets the hammer from the PED's investigation.

We'll see what teams actually pull the trigger or which rumors were all smoke and mirrors.  Trade deadlines can be filled with a bunch of transactions, or they can be a bore fest, because of little activity.  We'll see.

Can Set-Up Pitchers Really Help?

The closer is the guy that gets all the glory....comes in the game in the 9th....mows down three straight hitters...strikes out the last guy to end the game with a flourish....his team wins and his fantasy owner - you - knocks down another one in the Save category.  Nice stuff.

What about the guy who has pitched in the 6th or 7th and held the lead, or gotten out of a bases-loaded jam when he came into the game?  How about the guy in the 8th, who kept the middle of the opposing lineup from doing any more damage?  Where's the love for these guys?

Well, thankfully, more and more fantasy leagues are including 'Holds' as part of their statistical categories.  Some, like the one I am in, still does not.  However, that does not preclude you from grabbing one, or possibly two of these guys and have them help your team.

One strategy I have always used with a nine pitcher squad (with no restrictions/limits/rules on how many starters or relievers you need to have - we simply have an innings minimum) is to have six starters, at least one and ideally, two, Save guys and at least one, if not two (if only one save guy)
Set-Up type guys.  Why? 

Even though our league doesn't use 'Holds' those guys are extremely useful in giving me solid ERA, WHIP and even Strikeouts.  Look at Octavio Dotel's career as an example.  In the years he wasn't the 'go to' save guy he still amassed a ton of strikeouts and minuscule ERA's and WHIP numbers.  How does 145 strikeouts in 105 innings grab you?  Or how about later in his career when he was with the White Sox, amassing 92 strikeouts in 67 innings?

My point is that there are guys out there, maybe not to the extreme of Dotel, that can give you some really solid numbers in ERA, WHIP and strikeouts that can certainly help your pitching categories.  When some of those categories are tight and a few points can mean the difference between winning and losing a fantasy league pennant, these guys can be extremely valuable.  Look at some of these guys to help out.

Tomorrow we'll look at some of the guys currently toiling in various bullpens that might be available in your league that can help, especially down the stretch.

Deadline Deals - How Do They Affect Your Fantasy Team?

We have already seen a number of deals this month involving teams playing for the future vs. teams looking to solidify their run for the pennant this year.  With a few days left before Wednesday's trading deadline, there still are lots of rumors running rampant.

There are two ways to look at deadline deals and how they affect your fantasy squad.  The most obvious is if your player is the one directly involved in the deal.  How does that player's new found team affect his playing time, statistics, etc.? 

For example, if you had recently dealt Matt Garza, you would be looking at how his trade to Texas affected his value.  Do you feel he went up or down or perhaps stayed pretty much the same?  In a case like Garza, I think his stock in wins may have jumped a little whereas he might take a small hit in ERA and WHIP since he is joining the American League.  From there you can assess what he means to your ball club.  If you were one of those teams playing for the future yourself, perhaps this solidifies his standing more and you are now able to deal him to a contender in your league.  If you are one of the lucky ones eyeing a fantasy league pennant, he becomes a more entrenched member of your rotation.

These are the easy ones to digest.  However, pennants are won and lost on seeing a little deeper into trades to get a sense of where some of the other players affected in the deal may end up on the roster.  When I say "affected", I mean both other guys involved in the deal as well as guys left on the respective rosters.

There is a ripple affect with any deal.  Closers and set-up guys is where you see some of the most immediate impacts.  Kevin Gregg is being rumored to be another one of the guys Theo Epstein and Jed Hoyer discard in this month of rebuilding that has happened on the north side of Chicago.  Not only do you want to look at Gregg's worth with his new team, but also what happens to guys that are setting up for him?  Strop, Parker and Jeff Russell would all be in the mix possibly for saves at that point.  Especially if you are playing for next year, you may want to take a flyer on one of those guys anticipating a possible deal.

I have been able to grab some of the guys that suddenly have new found roles and more playing time as a result of deals.  Not the guys directly involved but the guys left behind.  Many times these are the guys that go unnoticed (or not as highlighted) that you can grab that can be a solid guy in your lineup for the next year and beyond.

If your league allows for in season minor league pickups, this process can get even more intriguing.  Taking a chance on a minor leaguer who's new team has an upgraded future role, can have a have impact in how you look at some of these deals, as well.

Do look at these trades on the surface to see how the main players get affected based on their new environments, but pay special attention to the guys left behind.  Those are the spots where you can find some gems left behind that can help your team, not only the rest of the year but into next, as well.

Players Under the Radar That Can Help Your Fantasy Team

The second half of the baseball season is well underway.  Some of us fantasy geeks are looking for players to either get us over the top or to grab for next year.  Hear are a couple of guys that can help in either category.

Devin Mesoraco was a highly touted prospect in the Reds organization, putting up some nice power numbers that were to translate nicely to the Great American Ballpark.  His first full year last year was less than anticipated, as he hit only .212 in his first extended action.  He did hit five homers but was still considered a disappointment. 

This year started off up and down.  He started the season in a back-up role to Ryan Hanigan.  In the small snippets of playing time he showed some signs of life but was still too inconsistent to be relied on.  However, the kid is only 25 and is only in his 2nd full year in the bigs, so he still has some ability that hasn't come out yet, or has it?  His latest hitting surge has come at the expense of Hanigan, who is serving some time on the DL.  In a seven game stretch from the 14th thru the 23rd, he's gone 10 for 22 with 2 homers and 6 RBI.  His back was an issue a few weeks ago.  If he's healed and has started to tap into his potential, he could be a nice pickup for not only the last couple of months but as a nice fixture behind the plate.

Carlos Torres is another guy you might want to take a look at, at least down the stretch.  He is now in the starting rotation for the New York Mets, taking the place of a hugely disappointing Shaun Marcum.  In his stead Torres has put up some impressive numbers, like a microscopic 0.94 ERA, a 26/4 K/BB ratio in only 28 2/3 innings and a 1.01 WHIP.  He pitched well out of the bullpen for the Mets since his recall in mid-June and Terry Collins has plugged him in to the rotation with some monstrous results.

His first full year in the majors was last year with the Rockies, where he failed to impress.  However, he seems to have found some life in New York under pitching coach Dan Warthen.  His strikeout to walk numbers are what jumps out at me.  Those numbers show that he has some swing and miss stuff.  Terry Collins calls him a 'strik throwing machine.'  That also tells me has the confidence of his manager, as well.  He's another that can help down the stretch and he's only 30.  That, to me, although not a 22 year old flame throwing phenom, is still not old as it relates to pitchers.

I know this time of year you are looking for big guns that can help propel you over the top in your league, or you are looking for guys that you can build on for next year.  These two guys might serve a purpose for you no matter which side of that fence that you're on right now.  And these guys are probably sitting on your league's waiver wire or can be had for cheap in a trade. 

Matt Garza stock goes up or down?

The Matt Garza deal presents itself with some interesting ups and downs.  Remember, Garza got dealt to the Rangers, from the Cubs, for a number of younger players, most notably Mike Olt and Justin Grimm.  Let's take Garza's situation first.

Matt Garza has quietly turned in some quality numbers over his career.  After his first two years in Minnesota, where he posted WHIP's over 1.50 and an ERA over 5.00 his first year, he has settled in to a quality pitcher since he started pitching regularly in the rotations while in Tampa.  Between his time with the Rays and Cubs he has never had an ERA above 4.00 or a WHIP above 1.26.  Pretty impressive numbers.

Now some may be skiddish about his injury status and the he might be a little brittle.  His only time (albeit a lengthy one, I grant you) of any significant time on the DL was last year and the beginning of this year.  Otherwise he has been injury free.  The guy can flat out pitch, is what I'm saying.  In addition, I think the kid (he is only 29) is healthy and throwing great, as usual.

His numbers this year again indicate that he is a great pitcher.  With Texas, he is going to probably suffer from a little Ranger-itis, meaning his numbers might shoot up a little in two ways.  One he is going into a hitter friendly ballpark in Arlington.  The ball jumps there, but it does also when it gets warm at Wrigley Field.  I will say that in the cool weather of April and May, pitchers benefit from the winds coming off of the lake and blowing in.  However, when it gets warm, Wrigley turns much smaller.  Garza still has put up some impressive numbers overall with the Cubs.

His biggest uptick in numbers might be for the simple reason that he's playing in a league with a DH.  For any pitcher having to face 9 quality hitters vs. only 8 as in the National League is a difference over time.  Rangers or Cubs, I wouldn't hesitate to have him on my club.  Being with the Rangers will probably give him more of an opportunity to gather more wins, with Texas being a much better hitting club than the Cubs.

Really, I think it is a wash as to whether his stock goes up or down as a member of your fantasy league.  Whatever he might gain in wins (and wins are somewhat difficult to hang your hat on because of their unpredictability), he might give back a little in ERA and WHIP.  Garza's simply a good pitcher either way.  Don't get caught up too much in the hype that he went to Texas and that is going to shoot his stock up exponentially.

Baseball Part 2 - Let the Games Begin....Again!

I have to admit it.  I go through stat withdrawal over the All-Star break.  I love the game.  All the nuances, underpinnings, side stories, and strategies, but I still love to dive into box scores.  Whether it a physical newspaper I thumb through or scrolling down the page of a website, boxscores are KING for me. 

With an added twist that I started 25 years ago by beginning my own fantasy baseball league, those boxscores mean even more to me now.  They are looked at in a little different way then simply seeing who went three-for-four.

There are a lot of intriguing story lines for the 2nd half.  Can Miguel Cabrera be the first player in history to win the the Triple Crown two years in a row?  Can Chris Davis keep his unbelievable numbers?  Can Max Scherzer continue to mow down hitters like he's a video game pitcher?  Can the lowly, small market, proud franchise known as the Pittsburgh Pirates actually stay above .500, let alone really (I mean really...) make the playoffs?

Players will be dealt.  Players will get hot.  Players will take a nose dive.  There will unbelievable finishes and heartbreak defeats.  I can't wait....

Let the games begin...again!

2nd Half Strategies - Look Closely at the Numbers

Are you looking for ideas to pick up points in your Fantasy Baseball league?  Do any of these examples look familiar?

You have had your eye on that starting pitcher on the last place team in your league all year.  This might be the time to try and make that deal for him because you desperately need help in pitching. 

Or how about this scenario - You are struggling in runs, so you are going to try and go after a couple of leadoff type guys rotting on your opponents' teams at the bottom of the standings.  Offer them something decent and - voila! - you have yourself some significant points in the 'Runs' category.

Not so fast.  One thing a lot of guys do when making deals they think will help them is simply not look at the numbers close enough.  Not only numbers for the individual players you want but the numbers that tell the tale of where you are in the standings, as well.

First off let's look at the players.  For players you want, take a closer look at their recent trends.  Using the pitching example, try and look to see what their numbers have been over their last four or five starts.  If they started out well, but have been knocked around lately, that might be a red flag.  Is there an injury lurking that no one knows about?  Have they started to come back to reality? 

Remember, especially for pitchers, those early season numbers can be decieving.  They pitched a fair amount of starts in cold weather, which is an advantage.  One that I've used many times.  I've taken a decent pitcher, have him pitch well in the month of April and a little in May.  Ride that high to a trade.  Once the warm weather hits, the balls start flying a little more and those low E.R.A.'s and WHIP start to rise.

Look at players who started slow but who are on the rise.  Their overall numbers might be down, but perhaps they have started to find their groove.  These guys can sometimes be had for a cheaper price.  Eric Hosmer and Josh Hamilton are two examples of this.  So, instead of overpaying for a guy with gawdy numbers that may slow down in the 2nd half, try and take a closer look at some guys trending upward.

Lastly, look at the numbers in the standings.  Yes, you may need some pitching points, but where, exactly can you gain?  If you are light years away from gaining some meaningful points in E.R.A. and WHIP, then I might look in another direction.  For example, saves can be a category that you can gather points in rather quickly.  You might have guys at the very top running away with the category, but chances are this category is bunched up enought that picking up another save guy can gain you valuable points.

Also, look closely at each category and see how far behind you are from guys above you.  Looking closer can give you more insight into whether you can gain a bunch of points or not.  The HR category is really bunched up in our league.  Just the addition of one big power guy can add another 4 points.  However, ERA and WHIP are spread out.  Someone is not going to be able to pick up many points here.

Look at the numbers to make better decisions on what you need and who to try and go after.

Hate the Yankees? Ya' still have to love Mo'

The New York Yankees are one of those polarizing elements in sports.  You either love them or hate them.  There probably are a few other teams littered through pro and college sports that bring strong emotions on one side or another.  I think the Yankees have been in that class for a long time.  That's what winning regularly does.

But if you are simply a baseball.  Just enjoying the game for what it is, you were doing what I did Tuesday night.  That is you simplly wanted to watch the game.  Get a glimpse of your favorite players or guys you don't get to see very often and have fun.  Maybe share it with other friends, and family members (like my three old).  Even if you absolutely hate the Yankees, you have to have loved the Mariano Rivera moment in the game.

I truly believed that I was fortunate to be a part of one of those historical moments in sports.  Much to my wife's disdain, I toss that phrase around perhaps a little too much - "historical moment" - when watching a sporting event (and trying to entice her to join me - "This is history in the making" - and then I watch her eyes roll).  But seeing Rivera come in from the bullpen, the applause getting louder and louder as he jogged in, people starting to stand.  Then, by the time he gets to the mound, he sees players from both dugouts jumping out over the fence and in front standing and clapping.  I don't care what team you love or hate, if you simply love great moments in sports, that was it. 

Here was the greatest relieve in the history of the game, being almost drawn to tears in front of a packed crowd and national television audience.  He was that moved.  A great moment for a great player.  Not sure I agreed with him winning the MVP, but it still was a time capturing snaphsot that will be replayed thousands of times.

Love the Yanks or hate 'em.  You still gotta love Mo'.

All-Star Break Trading - When to pull the plug

So, you find yourself in 6th place in your fantasy baseball league.  A little out of the top five payout spots but still far enough away from the bottom that you still feel that you might be 'in it.'  That's the hardest place to be when deciding on whether to start dealing for younger, cheaper talent to hold on to for next year or to try and trade those elements away to try and make a run yourself.

Obviously, this is only relevant for keeper leagues.  If you are playing in a one year and start over type league, I feel sorry for you (did I say that out loud?).  Really, play like you mean it and actually get yourself into a keeper league:)  It is much more fun and provides for a lot more intrigue whether you are toward the top or at the bottom.

I have been playing in a keeper league for over twenty years.  Each year is something different.  I've won and I've also been toward the bottom where I work the trade wires similar to what the Cubs, Phillies, Brewers and the other second division teams are starting to do.  Play for next year.  In a keeper league there is always something that will make the season interesting.

Off of the 'keeper league' soapbox, the hardest position to be at is when you are around the top.  Some folks feel that anything less than a title is not enough so even if they feel they can finish in the top 3 or top five, it does not matter.  They are dealing.  We have a couple of guys in our league like that.  If they know the top is probably out of the question for themselves this year, they are hitting the trade route.  Others in that category will make a few deals but still work the waiver wire and free agent pool to grab a guy or two that can propel them into the top group, even if it means not winning it.

It's all in your perspective.  I am actually in that boat right now.  I am in sixth place and we pay out the top five.  It's not so much the prize money as it is the pride of finishing 'in the money'.  One of our guys keeps track of that stuff historically and prints an update each off-season.  I have to admit that it is nice to see my team name mentioned more than others when it comes to finishing in the top five.

However, there have been years where it is so disappointing to finish fourth as opposed to winning it that I have dealt guys left and right even though I was toward the top.  Again, assess what your thoughts were going into the season.  How has that changed now at the All-Star break?  What do you want to accomplish for the rest of the year?  How badly do you want to beat out some guys?  All these questions, and probably more, come into play in deciding whether to play for next year or keep moving forward with this one.

The All-Star break always brings a sense of withdrawal, since there are no stats to look at for a few days.  However, it can be a time to reflect and honestly ask yourself where you want to go from here. 

Looking for Starting Pitching? Chris Carpenter is on the way back.

It's July and you are still in the hunt for the top spot (or playoff spot if your fantasy league uses them) of your league.  However, you can use some starting pitching.  The waiver list might be a little dry right now with most decent pitchers already gone and any young phenom probably swallowed up by now, as well.

Well there might be a little hope on the horizon with the news that former Cardinals ace Chris Carpenter will start a minor league rehab assignment with Double-A Springfield on Monday.

It's hard to try and gauge what you might expect from Carpenter.  He has battled back from serious arm injuries in the past.  Not only has he battled back but he's excelled when he has come back, for the most part.  This time he is coming back from various neck, arm and shoulder issues.

He most likely will have a spot available to him in the starting rotation.  Their front four of Wainwright, Miller, Lynn and Westbrook have been superb.  However, Jaimie Garcia (my guy!) is out for the season and they have had a few guys in and out of the fifth spot, including highly touted prospect Michael Wacha.

Consider Carpenter's history of coming back from injury, here.  Also, look at the reputation of the Cardinal organization.  Both should not be overlooked.  Carpenter has come back before rather solidly.  The Cardinals seem to know what they're doing and are considered one of the top organizations in the game.  I know Carpenter is 38 and these are not tweaked ankles or a blister which he is trying to overcome, but..... 

Out of all of the pitching candidates coming back from injury, Carpenter might be one guy I would definitely monitor as he gets closer to his return.  He just might be a player that can put you over the top down the stretch.

Cubs Begin To Deal

With the discarding of Scott Feldman, Carlos Marmol and Scott Hairston, the Cubs have begun their second trade deadline dealing under the auspices of Theo Epstein and Jed Hoyer. 

The dealing of Feldman to the Orioles has brought in two former fairly highly touted arms in Pedro Strop and Jake Arrieta, to the Cubs.  They continue to stockpile former high tiered young arms in addition to adding to their international bonus money and slots, which they may max out or exceed at this point.

With Alfonso Soriano starting to heat up, his name has bounced around various rumor mills, but still remains a tough sell.  With his contract, the Cubs would have to pick up a big chunk of money to make any deal work.  Still, with the Jed and Theo show at work, if they feel that a quality return would help then they may pull the trigger on a deal even with the idea of the club swallowing most of his contract.

It is interesting to note also that since the deals started flowing the Cubs have entered in to a mini upswing, finishing off the Angels last night to record their fourth consecutive victory.  Newly acquired Strop finished off the game be recording a pair of strikeouts.  Something that I need in my Fantasy League as I continue to slide in a number of categories.

Yea, I picked up Strop thinking that he may still have some upside left as a closer.  Kevin Gregg, I believe, is simply lightning in a bottle and the bottle may break at any time.  For Cub fans, they hope his bubble bursts after he is dealt to a contender.  With his effectiveness as a closer, he has become another intriguing player the Cubs can use to deal for another young arm.  When he hits the bricks of another town, Strop may very well take over the closer role. 

Arrieta and Strop are the onlly guys in these deals so far that can help in the immediate future.  Even though Arrieta is down at Iowa, if he shows any sense of upside, they are sure to call him up.  His strikeout ratio (8.6 per nine innings last year) shows that he has some tremendous stuff.  It's up to the Cubs to see if they can turn him into anything positive.  The Rangers and Orioles were not successful to this point.

Matt Garza is still the biggest chip in the Cub's trade arsenal.  It will be interesting to see what the Cubs end up doing, as there are rumors that they might just want to sign him now instead of deal him.  More to come I'm sure. If your fantasy league allows for you pick up guys like Strop and Arrieta and stash them, it might be worth a flyer on either one.