TG Fantasy Baseball

Below The Fold
Written by Nick T.
April 26, 2010
 

Ladies and Gentleman,

Clearly last week's dedication to Adam Wainwright envoked a second win for Team Euro.  While he didn't get the win, he was kind enough to pitch a CG and get us the same amount of points should he have won.  With a line like this: 8 INN 7HA 1BBI 4K 2ER + a CG, he earns the right to get the same photo placed in this week's issue of Below The Fold. 


Mr. Wainwright isn't my only man-crush this week.  As I mentioned last week, Ike Davis has arrived to the New York Metropolitans (plug "The Schmoozer" here).  As of last Monday, April 19th, this has been my wallpaper:


Going 2-for-4 with an RBI in his Mets debut, Ike did wonders for Citi Field...the place was ROCKING at the thought of us finally getting a long-term 1B solution.  However, the place ERUPTED 4 days later when he did this:


Needless to say, he deserved this:


As you can tell, I am on a major high between Ike and my fantasy team thus far.  Going into week 4 being 2-1 and in 2nd place of my division is a good feeling.  While my hunch to bench Nolasco last week was totally WRONG (8INN 7HA 9K 1ER W), I still picked up the fantasy win.  In the process, I learned that Peavy is a walk MACHINE...4.1INN 7HA 7BBI 5K 7ER L.  He earns the position of a double duty starter on Team Euro.  Nolasco gets promoted to a must start.  Some other happenings from the week include NOT dropping Rodney as Fuentes blew his first game back.  While that always happens, Scioscia didn't offer any words of encouragement:  "It wasn't how we would have scripted it," manager Mike Scioscia said. "Brian didn't miss that much time. I mean, if he missed a month, it's a little different. He threw a couple of 'pens, got into a game to pitch to hitters in A-ball, and his stuff looked good judging from our evaluations."  As a result, Rodney stays on the team along with Fuentes just in case.  This is an extremely frustrating move as it takes up a roster space and won't enable me to use the waiver wire for double duty potential (see below).  Finally, some shocking news on Kerry Wood, who yes, is still on my team...The veteran right-hander, who hasn't pitched in a game since March 10 back in spring training, told the Cleveland Plain Dealer that he was sore and wasn't as sharp as he hoped to be following his workout prior to Friday's game against the Oakland Athletics. That might be a red flag for the Indians but manager Manny Acta stopped short of calling it a setback for Wood. "We have to wait until he comes in tomorrow and see how he feels," said Acta following Cleveland's 10-0 loss to the A's. "Then (we'll) make a decision whether we're going to have another simulated game or whether he goes on a rehab or rest."  If another injury enticement comes up, believe me, Kerry will have NO place on this team!

Some of the moves that I did make include:

Perez, Oliver SP NYM - Added
Coghlan, Chris LF FLA - Dropped

Bonderman, Jeremy RP DET - Added
Padilla, Vicente SP LA - Dropped

Padilla, Vicente SP LA - Added
Niese, Jonathon SP NYM - Dropped

Rodriguez, Ivan C WAS - Added
Molina, Yadier C STL - Dropped

Pudge finds his way back to Team Euro...good bye Yadier; I never liked you anyway (see 2006 playoffs).  Padilla gets added and dropped in the same week due to a forearm injury which ultimately has him on the 15-day DL.  The Bonderman move is a direct result of my opponent is picking up double duty pitchers like D. Eveland and C. Silva to pile it on this week which is annoying so I had to make some moves of my own including the Bonderman move and latest Oliver Perez move which I HATE...for five reasons:

1.  He is Oliver Perez
2.  I dropped Chris Coghlan for no reason
3.  Mets game is rained out tonight so double duty is no longer a certainty
4.  Waste of 50 cents 
5.  Another reason for me to be upset with the Mets

Looking ahead this week:

I had to bench Zimmerman with his lingering hamstring injury (great first round pick) for Jose Lopez who had a descent week last week (5-24, 2B, HR, 6 RBI, 5 R, SB, BB, 3 KO).  Pudge gets the nod again this week, hoping for another monster week from Morneau who had a great line last week (10-21, 4 2B, 2 HR, 7 RBI, 6 R, 7 BB), Martin Prado, who had been bothered by an oblique injury, returned to the starting lineup on Sunday against the Mets. Prado went 1 for 3 with a double while recording a strikeout. He has hit safely in his last four games, adding three doubles over that span; outfield and utility players remain the same as last.  For pitching, I am playing it a bit risky this week with 3 closers:  Brian Fuentes, Andrew Bailey and Jon Rauch.  In addition to the noted Bonderman move above, I benched Ervin Santana, De La Rosa, and Peavy for Jeff Niemann and Ricky Nolasco, who I owe a big apology to.

On to Week 4's complete match-up:

MY WEEK


Rodriguez, Ivan C WAS 
Morneau, Justin 1B MIN 
Prado, Martin 2B ATL 
Lopez, Jose 2B SEA 
Bartlett, Jason SS TB 
Ethier, Andre RF LA 
Sizemore, Grady CF CLE 
Span, Denard CF MIN 
Swisher, Nick RF NYY 
Bailey, Andrew RP OAK 
Bonderman, Jeremy RP DET
Fuentes, Brian RP ANA 
Niemann, Jeff SP TB 
Nolasco, Ricky SP FLA 
Rauch, Jon RP MIN 
Wainwright, Adam SP STL 

HIS WEEK

Molina, Bengie C SF
Howard, Ryan 1B PHI 
Hill, Aaron 2B TOR 
Youkilis, Kevin 1B BOS 
Theriot, Ryan SS CHC 
Damon, Johnny LF DET 
Dunn, Adam LF WAS 
Markakis, Nick RF BAL
Lee, Derrek 1B CHC 
Eveland, Dana SP TOR
Pettitte, Andy SP NYY 
Silva, Carlos SP CHC
Soria, Joakim RP KC 
Weaver, Jered SP ANA
Wilson, Brian RP SF 
Zito, Barry SP SF 

So Far...

No results since I got my article in before the first game this week.

Finally, some random ramblings and findings from the week...

Last week, we mentioned Ben Roethlisberger who had yet to have the heavy hand land on him.  This week is a little different.  Big Ben was issued a 6 game suspension which could be dropped to 4 with good behavior.  Is it possible that Roger is jealous of this?:


Survey says...

In other news, I came across the 2010 list of The World's Most Expensive Stuff 

$65,000 hotel rooms and $115,000 bicycles (the kind you pedal) are cool but nothing beats the Dodge Tomahawk V10 Superbike listed at $700,000.  Seriously, how bad ass is this thing:



See the entire list for yourself here:  http://images.businessweek.com/ss/10/04/0415_most_expensive_things_sold/

That's about enough bling for this week - see you next time!

NT 
NT@BTFFS.com
You can visit the latest column directly by visiting BTFFS.com


THE League, g.fantasy:  GFANTASY.com

Going into week 4, we're 2-1.  Chuck and pray! 

Next Issue (1.8): More Ike?  2 games above .500?  3 closers effective?  Ollie?