Baseball, Baseball & MORE Baseball...

Image courtesy of Thomas Nelshoppen, you can purchase at Zazzle.

Plenty to come over the next week or so...

• The conclusion of the 2014 Boys of Summer APBA Baseball World Series, between the Fairgrove Tigers and the Portland Microbrewers.

• More highlights on my 2007 Detroit Tigers Season Replay, their series results against the Minnesota Twins at the Metrodome & the visiting Kansas City Royals. After that the Tigers go to the windy city, Chicago to play the Chicago White Sox for a five-game series? Must have been a rescheduled rain out; going off the schedule on Baseball Reference. 

• The WHAT IF World Series of 1984 continues between the Chicago Cubs and Detroit Tigers...

• Latest on my Fantasy Baseball Team, the Gotham City Rogues, plenty of changes were done to the roster.

• Information on the Toledo - Glass City APBA Baseball Tournament, hosted by my friend, Ron Emch. 

• Plus the latest on the Crazy 48's Baseball League; Only 20 games left, plenty of updates, standings & league stats to come...

Can't Break Even

Who knew?! Kimbrel suddenly looking like odd man out.

The Gotham City Rogues can't seem to ever break even, every single time. We started the season 0-2, but then evened our season up at 2-2, but then lost to go 2-3, then won a big week against a tough opponent to even 3-3.

I thought my opponent for Week 7, would be a easy victory because their team has been struggling, and I just came off a big win against the Brownbeard's Drunken Pirates -- but I got my butt whooped 440-292!

Recent activity: I released Gregory Polanco -- I happened to have the starting outfield for the Pittsburgh Pirates this season, but Polanco finally had to go. Marcell Ozuna (Marlins), you need to step it up, you may be next! Picked up Josh Reddick; Released Nathan Karns - SP (TB) for Jered Weaver of the Angels.

Placed Craig Kimbrel on the trading block, who would have imagined that?! He was my team's 3rd overall pick I believe (after Andrew McCutchen & Max Scherzer)... but he's only my 3rd best reliever out of 3 relievers, plus heading down the road when Jose Fernandez comes back from the Disabled List, I will have to certainly go with two relievers only. Kimbrel is being outplayed by my other two relievers, Jeurys Familia and Glen Perkins (who I drafted, released at one point & signed him back).

Kimbrel, by the way, as of press time, had 12 Saves, but a 5.00 ERA & 1.39 WHIP -- a WHIP that is mediocre or average at best for a starting pitcher -- Relievers' WHIPs are generally not higher than 1.000, especially a good one like Kimbrel, whose career WHIP as of this moment & due to the 18 bad innings this year, is 0.930!

More Gotham Dark Nights

Newly acquired Lincecum has been a bright spot this week, is there more to come?

Every time that things start looking up for my Gotham City Rogues in my fantasy Baseball league, things get turned upside down.

I have kept Alex Cobb on my DL list, thinking he will be worth the wait once he's back, word came Friday (May 8th) that he is done for the season & will be undergoing Tommy John Surgery.

Glen Perkins is suddenly raking in all these Saves since the Twins have suddenly become one of the league's surprises for now, as they have had a good stretch. I drafted Perkins, released him, which eventually became my great pickup of Jeurys Familia. Someone else picks up Perkins once he starts collecting the Saves, I was like 'go figure'. He just got released, I picked him up & sent Craig Kimbrel to the bench until Kimbrel can get that ERA down -- Not going to release Kimbrel though, I would be a damn fool to do so.

I was down nearly 100 points, losing this week's match-up 168-84, and now have closed the gap within 35 points (299-264) as of 7:05 p.m.-- with the rest of today & tomorrow to go. Picked up Tim Lincecum, who was coming off a terrific start on May 3rd, a three-hit, no ER, 8 inning performance against the Dodgers; Lincecum scores big for me with 25 points Friday, no ER's & 8 K's, including the win against Miami.

Is Tim Lincecum back? Here is a very encouraging article by SB Nation.

Andrew McCutchen appears to be possibly getting over his cold snap, 6-for-his last 13 at-bats, earning 12 points the last two days & lifting his average to .219. Todd Frazier for most part has been a success for me, since he's leading the National League with his 10 HR's, but it would be nice if he improves his .240 batting average.

Placed Yordana Ventura, Anthony Rendon, and Alexei Ramirez on trading block. Ramirez should have been on that almost all season, he's been lousy -- Ventura and him, may find themselves on their butts before someone could offer a trade. If I can get something for Rendon that would be nice, his injury has no specific timeline, and sounds like he will likely miss the first-half of the season, due to the way the injury report is reading.

Gotham Rising?

As I have reported earlier this month, I have joined a Fantasy Baseball League with some friends from high school on ESPN. The name of my team is the Gotham City Rogues (yes, a shout-out to Batman) I lost the first two week match-ups, both by a hair -- resulting in a 0-2 record; I finally won my first match-up this past week, by just 9 points! Plus even better, I beat the undefeated 2-0 team to do it.

Are we back in the thick of it?

Well, not quite... But we are getting there. I still happen to be getting banged up, apparently my new pickup in Archie Bradley took a line-ball to the face -- suffering Sinus Cavity damage to the face, but is in good spirits.





INJURIES

I have of course had injuries to Yan Gomes, Alex Cobb, Anthony Rendon, and Jose Fernandez. Since then, I released Gomes, while waiting patiently on the other three -- Those three will bring me big points down the stretch.

My other catcher was Devon Mesoraco (who was also banged up & missing time), he brought me a big whopping one point in three weeks! So I released him for Russell Martin, who in the last few days seems to be slowly breaking out of his slump, plus in that Toronto lineup will bring in plenty of runs & ribbies, regardless of his batting average.

Familia already has logged 9 saves, a nice addition to a team that already has Craig Kimbrel.

IMPROVEMENTS

I made some big free agent splashes by picking up Devon Travis, Collin McHugh, Lorenzo Cain, Carlos Martinez & Jeurys Familia. While saying good bye to dead weight such as Shin-Soo Choo, Homer Bailey, Steve Pearce, and Rusney Castillo (on DL).

Upgraded from Wade Davis that led to Brian Boxberger (who then got released for) to Familia. Henderson Alvarez suddenly missed a start, and I quickly went to McHugh.

Could Adeiny Hechavarria be my latest free agent steal? I jumped on the opportunity.

MIDDLE INFIELD

I think I got better over all, I added Alcides Escobar, a few weeks back, while I just added Adeiny Hechavarria, especially in case Alexei Ramirez never gets it together. When Anthony Rendon returns, somebody from the middle infield will be out of a job. Travis & Escobar are safe, I could cut one of my outfielders, but the two that I would even consider releasing are Gregory Polanco and Marcell Ozuna -- and I feel they have too much upside. So Alexei's time may be running out. I feel even releasing Alexei, and already Erick Aybar -- I will be better up the middle regardless how this all plays out.

TRADE OFFERS

I recently got a offer for Collin McHugh in exchange for two players, SP-Doug Fister & 2B/OF-Jason Kipnis -- a year ago, this deal would have gone down. But this season? Kipnis is not upgrading my 2B situation with Travis playing like an All-Star, and the future return of Rendon. Fister is not having as good a season as McHugh, and their projections before the season only have Fister averaging a point more per game. I also got a offer for my Max Scherzer this week, but he's my ace, it was a good offer, Robinson Cano -- but Scherzer has already brought in about 35% more points to this point of the season.

STRUGGLING

I have a few guys who have struggled in Andrew McCutchen -- he cut the dreads & he's playing mediocre, sure he's been playing hurt, but I hope this was not a Sampson result (in a biblical sense), like McCutchen lost his power suddenly. Gio Gonzalez could be better, considering his numbers before 2014, or is this a trend for Gio? Todd Frazier's batting average is down to .239, I think he could be better. I feel if some of my players improve, I can really make a good run at this, especially now with my great free agent pickups.

ROTATION

Scherzer: The Rogues' ace.

At one point after the draft, I felt I could have been stronger, now I am liking where I am. I drafted Max Scherzer and James Shields, and they have done as expected of them -- Scherzer is averaging 19.5 points an outing, while Shields is averaging 17.8.

The huge surprise has been Chris Archer, sure we all knew he was going to be a good one, but he's my biggest scorer on the whole entire team, already recording 109 points! Averaging 21.9 ppg. So now we are talking Scherzer, Shields, Archer, add McHugh (16.8 ppg) & Carlos Martinez (16.8). Archie Bradley, by the way, averaging 14.0 ppg -- hopefully he won't be out long with the injury to the face. I also have Alex Cobb and Jose Fernandez already on the DL, so it all depends how long Bradley will be out for, someone at some point is going to lose their job to either Cobb or Fernandez.

BULLPEN

My two relievers after the draft, was the best stud at the position in Craig Kimbrel, plus Minnesota's Glen Perkins. It didn't take long for me to release Perkins, once I realized that the Twins are in no close range of putting him in Saves situations, so I signed Brian Boxberger of Tampa momentarily, and I was happy with that pickup -- Tampa will be in many close games. I was happy with that until I saw that the N.L. Saves leader Jeury Familia was available, so I made the quick upgrade before someone else did.

OUTLOOK

Quite better after the first two weeks, I really think I have many solid areas now moving forward. It's a long year though, and as quick as it takes to get suddenly excited -- it can also turn to quick disappointment, plus it all depends when to strike when a player is hot.

Currently: 1-2

Double Impact Devon

Young Devon Travis has made an immediate impact in the Majors for the Toronto Blue Jays. Travis was acquired by the Blue Jays from Detroit in exchange for outfielder Anthony Gose. As a Tigers fan, I hate the trade overall, even though Gose will bring a defensive/speed element to the Tigers, he's a role player overall compared to Travis, who will be a future All-Star (if not this season), while he's making an early bid for American League Rookie-of-the-Year. 

Travis was supposed to be the Tigers' future star second baseman, the heir apparent to Ian Kinsler. Now he is Toronto's gem, batting .359, with 5 HR's & 16 RBI; His On-Base Percentage is .414, while his OPS is an astounding 1.102! Now we all know he won't keep going at this strong rate, but one thing is for sure, this kid can flat out play.

Precisely why I drafted him in the 2014 MWBL Draft, a league which you can draft guys before they reach the Majors, and you own that player if they make their Major League debut within 3 years, which makes me the proud owner of Mr. Travis. 

I drafted him 46th overall (2nd Round), after I lost out on drafting Rougned Odor and Mookie Betts (who was moving from 2nd out to the OF anyways). I do have a strong second baseman in Brian Dozier, who lifted his OBP in 2014 for the Twins. I acquired Dozier in the Matt Holliday trade with the Coconut Creek Crushers. My middle infield went from weak to full of potential now, with Danny Santana moving back to his natural shortstop position in Minnesota, plus my 2015 MWBL Draft picks in Aldaberto (Raul) Mondesi, Jr. & Franklin Barreto. 

Now the double impact of Devon is this, for my fantasy baseball team, the Gotham City Rogues, I picked up Devon Travis on the first day after his MLB debut, in which he hit a HR. My regular 2B Anthony Rendon has been on the disabled list, and I cut Erick Aybar to get Travis. Travis & Rendon will stay with Rendon's return, while Alcides Escobar will likely be my shortstop, making Alexei Ramirez the odd man out; Ramirez is well-known to be a cold starter to seasons, but my patience is running thin on him. I could keep him in the utilities area, but that might be needed for Marcell Ozuna, the OF from Miami, and I believe he will soon be hitting some HR's.

By the way, my team finally won a weekly match-up against the first-place team, making my record 1-2, now -- just edging our competition by 9 points!

Now it's time for my new pickup in Archie Bradley of Arizona to make a Devon Travis impact on my fantasy team!

The Dreaded Injury Bug

Hoping to see more of this, once Nats' Rendon is off the D.L.

So, I told myself that I would not tinker with my Fantasy Baseball roster this time (in my 3rd Fantasy Baseball experience), but my players keep falling victim to the dreaded injury bug.

I lost a close week in a week match-up against this one team 316-308, this week is already looking like a nightmare comparably as I only have scored 24 points in two days! The next lowest in the league for Week 2 has 72, while i'm losing this week 119-24!

Looking back at all the injuries to this point...

• SP- Homer Bailey (CIN) - still on 15-day DL, released him.

• SP- Jose Fernandez (MIA) - On DL indefinitely until probably June -- holding onto him for big points later, if all works out well from his rehab.

• 2B- Anthony Rendon (WAS) - On 15-day DL, currently on my bench, I plan to keep him, because once he's back he'll be right up near the top of the game in second basemen.

• OF- Rusney Castillo (BOS) - I had him, thinking alright! he might do something on a lower level of sorts of an impact like fellow Cuban Yasiel Puig did for the Dodgers in 2013. Then noticed that his opening series, he did nothing, then to read that he was in Triple-A to start season, I decided to take a chance & let him go to get someone now in Lorenzo Cain. Come to find out Castillo now injured his shoulder on a diving catch... so it was a good move for now, but I will have to keep my eye on him & snag him when he's coming back up to the Majors.

• C- Yan Gomes (CLE) - This is a guy you definitely want for a catcher, the problem is my Detroit Tigers had to injure him, sliding into home plate; Result? 6-to-8 weeks with a sprained knee. I had to release him, especially since I have other injuries & slumps all over the place.

• SP - Alex Cobb (TB) - Opened season & currently on D.L.; he was one of my higher draft picks for starting pitchers, I will keep him. Cobb was always a risk due to frequent trips to the list every year... but he's always rewarding when he pitches.

• I have a few guys that have been banged up & DTD (day to day) in Andrew McCutchen & Yordana Ventura.

• SP - Henderson Alvarez (MIA) - Signed him recently, while I dropped Bailey, has bad outing & is now on Disabled List -- Are you kidding me? Come on down Carlos Martinez of the Cardinals!

For my team named the Gotham City Rogues, they have been looking less like superheroes, and more like guys that are carrying a ton of Kryptonite on their backs... for that injuries have not been my only problem, bad slumps right now have plagued the team as well.

I signed Devon Travis from Toronto (former Tiger prospect, current future star) to help out with the 2B situation with Anthony Rendon hurt. At shortstop I have Alexei Ramirez (usually a slow starter anyways) while I have the usual dependable Erick Aybar in my 2B/SS slot. For a couple days, Alcides Escobar has been a free agent & has been producing for the hot Kansas City Royals, but Ramirez & Aybar are in the same area of most Fantasy Baseball lists, so I stalled on making a move, but I finally got fed up & decided to cut Aybar (who was batting .208 with only one run). Eventually, I will have a tough decision to make when Rendon returns, I will either have to cut Escobar or Ramirez, or hold both, and let one of my outfielders go.

I'm probably making my outfield problem bigger than it is, due to the fact that you can always find an outfielder to replace another, compared to premium positions where good 2B & good SS are much harder to find. The problem is that I'm sitting on Gregory Polanco & Marcell Ozuna, waiting for them to break out, Ozuna is the safer choice since he already hit 20+ HR's last season, but Polanco has probably a higher ceiling... then again, it usually takes a guy a couple seasons to take over -- So Polanco will likely be the odd man out if he doesn't click soon, plus he strikes out too much & his OBP (on-base percentage) is low.

Andrew McCutchen, Starling Marte & Lorenzo Cain are keepers, they are not going anywhere. I really can't believe that I found Cain out there, that's a good nugget to have, especially if he stays healthy. McCutchen cut his dreads & suddenly is suffering Sampson-like consequences in his batting average, as he is currently below the Mendoza Line.

On the fence with Shin-Soo Choo. If Choo can rebound to the Choo we remember in Cleveland or even Cincinnati than great! The thing is he has not done anything, has been hurt & banged up, and not showing much at the plate right now -- he's taking up space, and although Nori Aoki (of the Giants) is not anywhere as great when both are at their peaks, but Aoki is seeing the ball really well right now, consistently putting up points in Fantasy Baseball right now. How long do I dare wait? 

Of course, I signed Steve Pearce and he suddenly does squat for me -- but I like his power & believe that he can do much of the same this season (like he did in 2014) if given the chance; At the same time, I have to remember he was not an original draft pick of mine, so he is expendable.

I need my catcher Devin Mesoraco to step up, he's not going anywhere too soon though, unless his season becomes an obvious disaster, but having to release Gomes already, I need to keep Mesoraco. I will keep an eye out for a catcher just in case, keep the guy in utilities & bench, and if Mesoraco after the All-Star break is a complete bust, than go with the other option & search for a big bat at any position to help offense.

My latest moves....

• Released - 2B/SS- Erick Aybar (LAA), SP- Henderson Alvarez (MIA) & RP-Glen Perkins (MIA). The reason I released Perkins, I already have a reliever in Craig Kimbrel, and Perkins has only played in two games since opening day, with one save, the other being a negative outing; With the Twins being probably in less Save opportunities in a much-improved division, Perkins won't be of much value to me.

• Signed - SS- Alcides Escobar (KC), P/RP- Carlos Martinez (STL) & RP- Brian Boxberger (TB). Escobar's so-so batting average has always bothered me, where Aybar for Angels was usually higher, but Aybar is doing squat right now, and right now -- I have to do better with who's hot right now! Boxberger has three saves already for Tampa Bay, and Tampa will have starting pitchers & a more grinding lineup than Minnesota to keep giving Boxberger opportunities -- Perkins is worthless to me, if he's only to give me a few points a week. For example, Boxberger has scored 23 points up to this point, Perkins? Only 4 points, that is the difference of me starting the first week 0-1 & instead being 1-0.

My Early MVP's

• SP- Max Scherzer (WAS) & 1B- Adrian Gonzalez, but wishing I didn't blank on the 3rd overall pick (after the top two picks were Clayton Kershaw & Mike Trout) which I took Andrew McCutchen instead of Miguel Cabrera, who I felt would start slow, and then go on to have his best season since 2012. He was almost my pick for A.L. MVP this year, but stayed safe with Trout. Of course, Cabrera wins A.L. Player of the Week in first week. Gonzalez has done very well though, Todd Frazier had a good week as my 3B, and my other corner guy is Freddie Freeman. 

My team has a chance to show more upside this season with players like Scherzer, A-Gonz, Freeman, Frazier, Shields, Cobb, Kimbrel, Rendon, McCutchen, Marte, Gio Gonzalez & Ozuna -- so I'm definitely not throwing in the towel...

...but damn you, dreaded injury bug!!!

One Week in the Books

Gone... GONE... A-GONZ! Adrian off to fast start in 15'.

My fantasy baseball team had some big moments in Adrian Gonzalez, a player that one of the league owners tried to acquire from me in exchange for IF-Ben Zobrist & 3B/C-Carlos Santana -- I turned him down & watched Gonzalez belt 5 HR's in the first three games.

We do the points format in which you play one team during an entire week, I was leading the first 3-to-4 days & then watched the other team make a good 40 point swing, then I thought I may catch him with some of my pitchers pitching Sunday. I fell short 316-308, so I am 0-1 after one week.

My team has had to deal with injuries, I drafted Homer Bailey, but released him since he's still on the 15-day DL. I already have hurt players in 2B-Anthony Rendon (WAS), SP-Alex Cobb (TB) & SP-Jose Fernandez (MIA). I released Bailey to acquire OF-Lorenzo Cain to help with my offense.

During the week, I released OF-Rusney Castillo due to him playing in Triple-A, would like to resign him when I know he's about to come back up in case he makes one of those huge impacts Cuban players like to make. I picked up Henderson Alvarez as a starter. Plus 1B/OF-Steve Pearce & 2B-Devon Travis.

Gomes' injury led to tough decision.

Andrew McCutchen & Shin-Soo Choo are also banged up for me, and now in the last couple days, SP-Yordana Ventura is hurting (although he has done well & logged 2 wins) & I lost Yan Gomes for 8 weeks it appears, I fortunately have Devin Mesoraco at catcher as well, but now I may have to make some crucial decisions on possibly releasing Jose Fernandez & Yan Gomes.

I think I will hold Jose Fernandez in the DL slot, and have to let Gomes go. I need to bring another starting pitcher in, short on starters with Fernandez on Fantasy/MLB DL, and Cobb on actual DL. I have Craig Kimbrel & Glen Perkins for relievers at the moment, Kimbrel is not going anywhere, Perkins might be an option.

Signed SP-Collin McHugh (HOU).

It's too bad that Max got a no-decision, came so close to a victory this week. It was a close week for almost everyone as well.

Action in Gotham City

When it comes to Fantasy Baseball, you can usually count me out! But when one of my best friends from high school, one that I haven't talked to much in the last 20 years, messages me out of the blue and asked me to join fantasy baseball league (along with other friends from school), I didn't hesitate, you can count me in!

Overall, I feel it's really nothing but luck in Fantasy Baseball, and you don't get the thrill as in APBA Baseball doing the General Manager aspect & managing a team. I never played the version that we are doing, we are doing match-ups against each other and how are players do that day, is who wins the match-up -- the versions I have done in the past, is the ones that how all your players do & where they rank in 6 (or was it 10?) categories, for example if you were first in batting average in a league of 12 teams, you have 12 points etc, etc.

I decided to represent my love for Batman & Batman comics, by going by the name of the Gotham City Rogues, which happened to be the same name of the football team in "The Dark Knight Rises" -- think Hines Ward running a kickoff back while the football field is crumbling behind him, all thanks to Bane's cronies.

I decided to wing it when preparing for the draft, no studying whatsoever before the draft, I feel I did pretty good actually, it also helped that a few people in the league did not make it & were auto-picked by the computer.

Here is my team below...

C - Devin Mesoraco (CIN)

1B - Freddie Freeman (ATL)

2B - Anthony Rendon (WAS)

SS - Alexei Ramirez (CWS)

3B - Todd Frazier (CIN)

2B/SS - Erick Aybar (LAA)

1B/3B-Adrian Gonzalez (LAD)

OF - Andrew McCutchen (PIT)

OF - Starling Marte (PIT)

OF - Marcell Ozuna (MIA)

OF - Gregory Polanco (PIT)

OF - Rusney Castillo (BOS)

UTIL - Yan Gomes (CLE)

SP - Max Scherzer (WAS)

RP - Craig Kimbrel (ATL)

SP - Alex Cobb (TB)

SP - James Shields (SD)

SP - Gio Gonzalez (WAS)

SP - Homer Bailey (CIN)

SP - Chris Archer (TB)

RP - Glen Perkins (MIN)

SP - Yordana Ventura (KC)

Bench

OF - Shin-Soo Choo (TEX)

SP - Jose Fernandez (MIA)

RP - Wade Davis (KC)

I took Andrew McCutchen, 3rd overall, I'm actually surprised I didn't take Miguel Cabrera, who I feel will have his best season since 2012, his Triple Crown year -- once he gets rolling of course, may be a bit slow out of the gate.

Now it wasn't my intention to draft the entire starting outfield for the Pittsburgh Pirates, it just worked out that way. Speaking of Pittsburgh (plus the fact he's a huge Pirates fan), on a sad note a shout-out to my APBA brother Ken Schultz who is going through a horrible ordeal right now, as his mother just passed away -- please everyone, keep my friend & his family in your thoughts.

We are thinking of you, Ken!

Reloading and Waiting...

Fantasy Baseball Report     4/19/11

First off, let me begin by saying that this is actually my first time participating in a Fantasy Baseball League... I know, I know.. quite shocking, but believe it or not it's true.

The draft happened about a month ago, and I got the 2nd overall pick in which I took SS-Hanley Ramirez, a no-brainer pick after someone took the obvious top pick on Albert Pujols. I would get A-Rod & Adrian Gonzalez on my next two picks, I goofed up on not grabbing Mark Teixiera as my Corner Infielder option (CI), I took a catcher in Brian McCann, which is good C pick, but early. Of course some jack-ass that goes by Phish in my fantasy league called me out on it, in the draft chat room; and then went on to call me out "First time in a fantasy baseball league, huh?"; yeah I guarantee he's no match to me in APBA. So let's just say I every extra incentive to at least past him in the standings this season if I don't succeed at winning it.

My first day was a good one, I jumped up 11 points thanks to 8 strike-outs from my top starting pitcher Justin Verlander, a save from the best-in-the-game closer Mariano Rivera, and a HR from Torii Hunter. The next day was a complete opposite when I lost 17 pts; but bounced back to 66 the next day with Uggla, A-Rod, Hunter & Austin Jackson.

Roy Oswalt and Brian McCann also gave me early returns.

Two days later I was up to 72.5 and was actually 5 pts behind the leader.

But now after 2 1/2 weeks, entering Period 3, my team has fallen to 48 pts, 7th in the standings, I finally came around to benching A-Jaxx (DET's Austin Jackson) and Uggla (who's been playing UGGLY!), I signed 2B-Orlando Hudson yesterday morning and started him over Uggla. Hudson was batting over .300 and has 6 steals (Padres' base-running coach Dave Roberts has him stealing more... which is great, cause I need Stolen Bases like Kurt Cobain needed Heroin). Also in the steals department, I dropped Julio Borbon, who wasn't doing squat, benched A-Jaxx, and brought up Dexter Fowler who seems to be having a pretty good start with Colorado, he's been a sleeper for a couple years now, so hopefully he's breaking out finally.

I resigned Alfonso Soriano, who was actually the first player I dropped because I got excited early on Brandon Belt, who we can say is now sitting on the pine on the waiver wire. Soriano has 5 HRs for the Chicago Cubs, so I got some power back on the OF squad. Adam Jones has been dissapointing so far, hitting around .200, but I have no room to bench him right now, and he happens to hit an occasional HR. I released Cody Ross because he has been on the D.L. this whole time.

The SS position has been interesting for me, I released Marco Scutaro as my bench middle-infielder, since Yunel Escobar has been playing like an MVP early on, and since I have Hanley Ramirez. The only problem Ramirez is in the middle of season-starting slump, but I would be a mad fool to EVER release this fantasy monster... when he bounces out of his slump, and my 1B-Adrian Gonzalez steps up his game, my team should se immediate success on those 2 alone!

I made some good pitching moves of late that I believe will help lower my ERA and WHIP, besides yesterday's catastrophy for Travis Wood (vs. PIT), I believe he'll get me some K's, since he's a young stud... I released Rick Porcello, who was only good for wins really, ERA and WHIP could be a strength with him, but he's doing nothing but hurting in those 2 catagories.

I made an early mistake at dropping Oakland's Brian Fuentes for Boston's Daniel Bard, at the time it appeared to be a really good move since Boston closer Jonathan Papelbon struggled through Spring Training and Oakland had a closer in Andrew Bailey. The very next day, Daniel Bard got rocked (thank goodness I had him on the bench, otherwise that would have been 54.00 ERA added) and Andrew bailey got hurt. Fuentes, has since been picked up by someone, and has now earned at least 5 saves. Also my late draft pick Chris Sales wasn't paying off. Bard & Sales have been released, I picked up Farnsworth for a day, then released him for Twins' new closer-for-now, Matt Capps.

I'm excited about two starting pitcher signees Kyle Drabek (TOR) and Michael Pineida (SEA), they both have really low ERAs and good amount of K's; I think they will continue to benefit me, so YAY! for me! Nay for Wandy Rodriguez who has been a down-right disappointment early on, hurting my ERA and WHIP, he pitches against Mets later today, and the Brew Crew later in this period; if he falters though, to the bench he goes!

Back issues for both A-Rod and Oswalt, have me on alert at the moment, can't afford to lose either one of them, even for a little bit.

Sam Fuld, I'm excited about this pick-up, he could be one of those Scott Podsednik out-of-nowhere kind-of-players... he's got a bundle of steals already, and is in the top 10 leaders in batting avg. Hopefully he doesn't get figured out, because he could really pay dividends as a total steal.

We'll see where we are at in a week!