Trade Deadline: Manny, Bay, Griff

Fantasy Impact Manny: Manny being Manny is getting old. Joe Torre will handle it though. That outfield in LA is loaded. I'm not sure how he's going to juggle it. It's hard to have Andruw Jones out of the lineup because he drops your ERA but gobbling up everything in center but he is batting .166. Kemp, Ethier, Pierre, Manny, and Jones............what to do. Manny will play.......if he's not pretending he's hurt. Everybody else's fantasy value just goes down b/c you don't know who's going to play day to day.

Fantasy Impact Bay: Jason Bay has never played in a big game in Pitt. Now he goes to Boston where every game is big. Can he handle it? He should love the Green Monster. I look for him to be big.

Fantasy Impact Griffey Jr.: Who knows. I'm rooting for him though. Swisher should play some first base which will drop Konerko's at bats. Of course if your playing Konerko in your fantasy lineup, you're probably in last place anyway. I think Griffey will play well because he knows this may be his career's last shot at a winner.

Free $50 Gas Card Giveaway

Your right this has nothing to do with fantasy baseball but hey gas is killing me more than my pitching is so I just couldn't pass without telling you guys about this give away. All you have to do is click the link, it's takes less than a minute to sign up for these $50 gas cards.

I actually read this everyday and remember fantasy is just that fantasy.....and fantasy baseball rocks.....but so does saving money, so check it out!!!!!

On August 18, three winners will be announced at MoneyNing and each winner will receive a $50 gas gift card to help them fill up their tanks! Click here to check it out!!

Yanks get Pudge from the Tigers

Fantasy Impact: Pudge should be much better in Yankee Stadium than in Detroit Rock City. Pudge doesn't have much pop left after ditching the roids, but he may poke some over a very short left field corner in Yankee Stadium. This is a huge move for the Yanks. Pudge is similar to Molina in defense but he adds about 80 points of batting average.

Angels get Teixeria from the Braves for Kotchman

Fantasy Impact: Teixeria goes to the most potent lineup in the league and pitchers are seeing him for the first time. I expect him to blow up for the rest of the season and lead the Halos to the World Series. Kotchman should get a lot of at bats and be a semi productive player like he's been for a couple of years now.

Todd Jones......Out

I guess Todd Jones will have more time to write his weekly piece in the Sporting News Magazine now that Jim Leyland has seen enough. Jones is out as the Tiger's closer and Fernando Rodney is taking over the closer role as of this afternoon.

Who's Not Hot

Johan Santana (Mets) His last two starts: 12 innings only 6 Ks and two no decisions.

Justin Duchsherer (As) 0-2 with 12 earned in 20 innings for the ERA leader in the American League over his last three. Not good. He looks like he's returning to his old reliever kind of form.

Hanley Rameriz (Marlins) .158 with 7 Ks over his last 9 games.

Ichiro Suzuki (Ms).200 1 double and 4 Ks in the last 14 days.

Who's Hot

Who's Hot:

Carlos Delgado (Mets)-most leagues probably didn't even have him active until the past three weeks. All of the sudden he's a fantasy stud with 6 homers and 16 RBI in the past two weeks. Slugging .921 over his last 10 games.

Brian McCann (Braves) .385 slugging .808 over his last 8 games. 3 homers and 12 RBI. 9 BB and only 1 K.

David Wright (Mets) .342 with 2 homers and 10 RBI over his last 10 games.

CC Sabathia (Brewers) Averaging almost 30 fantasy points per game since coming over to the Brew Crew. 3-0 26 Ks in 27 innings and only 3 earned runs.

Cliff Lee (Indians) How? I saw him in spring training and he looked like a high school pitcher. 2-0 with 14 Ks in 17 innings lately.

Dan Haren (D Backs) 2-0 with 16 Ks in 15 innings his last two starts.

Olympic Team

Pay close attention to the Olympic Team because it's filled with future fantasy stars. Here's a good article from Rays Digest.

http://rays.scout.com/2/771787.html

Chris Carpenter is back!

Oh my, Chris Carpenter is back from the dead. After pitching a big 6 innings and being my 2nd round draft choice last year, Carpenter will start on Tuesday for the Cards. Before the injury, Carpenter was a top 3 fantasy pitcher for 3 stratight years. Can he get it back? Don't know, but he's got the best pitching coach in the world in should be Hall of Famer Dave Duncan and a wild card contending team in the Cards that I picked to finish dead last in the Central. Watch his first start this week because he might be worth a pick up.

Yankees steal Nady and Marte

The Yankees look like they got exactly what they needed tonight in a trade from the Pirates getting left young gun reliever Marte and Xavier Nady. Nady is batting over .330 and gives them the right handed bat in the outfield that they so desperately needed. Watch out Red Sox b/c the Bombers are coming through. On a fantasy note, I think this destroys Nady for owners as his playing time will be instantly cut and he's playing in a lefty ball part in Yankee Stadium + you never know how people will react to playing in the soapbox that is the NYC. Trade him now if you can.................

Utley is absolutely struggling

Chase Utley is turning his MVP campaign around quickly. Over the last 21 days, he's batting .233 and slugging .383. Not good for my fantasy team Chase!

Home Run Derby

Well the Home Run Derby was flat out awesome tonight. Ex-Red Josh Hamilton put on a show that won't soon be repeated. I see no reason why all the home runs can't count in a competition like this, but the powers that be just don't see it that way. With the 28 first round shots, and I mean shots, Josh probably hurt himself by hitting "too" many. The 28 was a new first round record, beating out the 24 that Bobby Abreu hit in 2005. I think he not only wore out his 71 year old pitching coach but he also wore down himself. This years results might help to make a rule change in the future, as it should. I think they just have to keep the end result in question, as this does keep more fans at home watching. And the more watching the more ad revenue....the more people that has their sets tuned in the more the ads cost, never forget it's always all about the money!!!!!!!!

I will say this Justin Morneau was a very graceful winner, as he did everything but apologize as he knew the night belonged to Josh. This story just keeps getting better and better for Hamilton, how can you not cheer for his success. He has a great story for the young people of this country that has demons they need to shake. I see another baseball movie in the works as well. You can say what you want about the NBA slam Dunk contest, The Pro Bowl game whatever else is out there, but nothing compares to the three day break for the Major League All-Star Game and Home Run Derby and all the fan fest activities they have. Show me a sport that has over 53,000 people show to just cheer for something of this nature. I have been lucky enough to go see a couple of these in person and they do rock.

Next up the game itself Tuesday night from New York City and Yankee Stadium, the greatest sports venue in the world, bar none....Enjoy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Fantasy MVPs 1st Half

Here are my Fantasy and MLB MVPs at the break..

AL Fantasy MVP-Ian Kinsler .337/14/55 35 doubles, 84 runs, and 23 steals.
AL MLB MVP-Josh Hamilton .310/21/95 Is this a 1st half total or all year??????
AL Fantasy Pitcher-Roy Halladay 11-6 121 Ks and a league leading 146 innings.
AL Cy Young Justin Duchscherer-10-5 1.78 ERA and the A's are hanging in.

NL Fantasy MVP-Lance Berkman .347/22/73 15 steals.
NL MLB MVP-Chipper Jones .376/18/50 and he's getting old??????
NL Fantasy Pitcher-Edison Volquez 12-2 2.29 ..........and the Reds are terrible!
NL Cy Young-Toss up............Lincecum, Webb, or Volquez

All Star Weekend Predictions

Future's Game MVP- Matt LaPorta (Cleveland)

Home Run Derby Champ-Hamilton and Chase Utley in the Championship-Hamilton WINS.

All Star Game MVP-It won't be a Red Sox player! How about a National Leaguer-Lance Berkman

Homer Bailey To Be Recalled

Homer Bailey will be getting the start in Aaron Harang's spot on Sunday. Aaron left Chicago yesterday to get his right forearm checked out. This doesn't seem real serious and let's hope this is the only start he misses. Bailey is being recalled from AAA Louisville again, let's hope for the remainder of the season and many more seasons.

Homer will have to have his best stuff as he will be going up against the newly aquired CC Sabathia for the Miluakee Brewers. This is a big time start as Josh Fogg is pitching tonight and if Harang is healthy one of these two will probably not be up for long.

Fantasy AL All Star Team

Here's my AL All Start team for the 1st half of 2008: The NL is way better than the AL in Fantasy points this season. They AL is just pretty weak. If you take away the three Ranger players, it's pitifully weak.

c-Joe Mauer: After a couple of down years, he's back hitting for average and doubles. .324/4/37 and 22 doubles. BB/K ratio 47/24. Never hurts you.

1b-Justin Morneau: big RBI guy. This former MVP hasn't hit many homers with 12 or doubles, but he does have 65 RBI.

2b-Ian Kinsler: this is the sleeper of the year. He's #2 overall in fantasy points this season batting .348 with 16 homers, 30 doubles, and 23 steals.

ss-Michael Young: He's striking out more than he ever has but he's getting a ton of at-bats for the high scoring Rangers sandwiched in between Kinsler and Hamilton is a really good place to be. That sounded a bit gay.

3b-A-Rod: Even with his wife getting ready to take half his crap, A-Rod is still getting it done batting over .320 with 18 homers and 50 RBI and even is running a bit more than last year with 13 1st half steals.

cf-Josh Hamilton: Triple Crown possibly???? Probably not but 87 first half RBI so far is un-freakin-believable. He might get 90 or more before the break. Here is your AL MVP. .309/19/87. That would be a good season total.

lf-Carl Crawford: Slow start but he's on now. He's leading the Rays to the playoffs. He's red hot in the past three weeks.

rf-Carlos Quentin: I've been waiting for three years for this dude to break out and he finally has. Tied for the AL homer lead and pounding the baseball.

sp-Duchsherer: Who knows? He was a AL All Star game reliever in 05, now he leads the AL with an ERA under two.

DH-David Ortiz: Is there another DH? He's been hurt half of the 1st half and is still the best DH. Aubrey Huff would be a close 2nd. Where did he come from? He's back from the dead.

**Grady Seizmore would definitely be here if I picked the three best outfielders instead of by outfield position.

Fantasy NL All Star Team

Here my fantasy all-star starters for the 1st half of 2008:

c-Russell Martin: I like him over Geovanny Soto and Brian McCann. He doesn't have as many homers but he only has 43 Ks to 48 walks compaired to Soto's 78 Ks. Soto does have 7 more homers and 5 more RBI but Martin makes up for it with 9 steals. I would even put McCann over the rookie Soto. I don't understand why he's starting the All-Star game over either of these guys.

1b-Lance Berkman: huge 1st half. #1 scorer point scorer in fantasy this year so far. Batting .348 ain't too bad. He'll win he home run derby at Yankee Stadium.

2b-Chase Utley: 25 homers and his team is in 1st place. I drafted him with the #3 overall pick in our draft and right now he's the #3 overall scorer.

ss-Hanley Rameriz: This guy might be better than A-Rod in a couple of years. He has actually scored less than Jose Reyes but after seeing Jose in that girly outfit in Pittsburg a few years ago, I can't go with him at SS.

3b-Chipper Jones: old man still getting it done flirting with .400. Not bad at .379/18/50. He's thanking the Dodgers for taking Andruw Jones out of his lineup.

cf-Nate McLouth: 16 homers and 29 doubles batting well over .300. The Bucs said in spring training that Nate was the real deal and they were right.

rf-Corey Hart: This is a thin position in the National League. Of course if it were the real all-star game, it wouldn't matter what outfield posittion they played. Hart strikes out too much but is an up and comer. .296/14/56 and 25 doubles and throw in 13 steals.

lf-Carlos Lee: He's quiet and steady. Less Ks than BBs. You gotta love it. Matt Holliday is a close 2nd.

SP-Edison Volquez 11-3 2.36 ERA and 116 Ks puts him 2nd in MLB in ERA and 3rd in Ks. Yep, it's a Red. Lincicum is great and you know I love former Kentucky Wildcat Brandon Webb but Volquez has been the man even though the Reds have been awful.

Rough week for A-Rod

Well, maybe this is why A-Rod isn't in the home run derby. It's been a rough week for my son's favoirte player Alex Rodriquez. First, RoseFan rips him for not participating in the home run derby, he is linked to Madonna, and then his wife blasts him in divorce papers. http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/8319100/A-Rod's-wife-files-for-divorce-in-Miami
It doesn't really seem to be phasing the guy who's hitting .323/18/50 and 13 steals while starting at 3rd for the American League. Apparently, A-Rod is a turd. I've seen him in person and that was the impression I immediately got. Even during the down time, he could have came over and talked to the 100s of kids watching him but he chose to stand with his back turned to them. I wanted to punch him in the mouth. Fantasy wise, he's still the man and well on pace to 800. Good luck A-Rod. Looks like your wife is getting half your crap.

A-Rod

Baseball fans....And A-Rod owners in fantasy leagues. How do you feel about him sitting out of the home run derby? I have been to a couple of these and they are a blast to watch.

A-Rod has decided to not participate in the All-Star Game Home Run Derby this year. He thinks it might mess his swing up and it might well do just that. If all the players thought this way then why don't we just shut it down, the hell with the fans that pay him over 25 million per year. This being the last season for the "House That Ruth Built"....am I the only one that thinks A-Rod should bite the bullet and give the Stadium it's proper due. Hell he can always call the "Hit King" Pete Rose to straighten him back out if he messes up that pretty swing.

What do you think the Babe would do!!!!!!! I think he would have won the hot dog eating contest today and still won the home run derby and not missed a beat. Come on A-Rod, you want to be a Yankee, stand up and be one. Modonna will be there to cheer you on, just like Jessica did for Tony Romo......Oh now I know why he doesn't want to participate!!!!!!!!

David DeJesus-KC

David DeJesus is a guy I've been watching for the past two years to break out in a fantasy sort of way. Finally, it's beginning to happen. He reminds me a lot of Johnny Damon back when he was a Kansas City Royal. He's got good speed, likes to hit the ball in the gap, and has decent power as long as he doesn't fall in love with it. Right now, he has a 15 game hit streak and has raised his average to .321 for the season. He gets a high number of at-bats hitting lead off and the Royals aren't all that ball all of the sudden.

Francour sent to AA

Jeff Francour just got sent to AA ball. I've never like Francour as a fantasy player b/c of his so/bb ratio but some people don't like to pass up 100 rbi. I put this guy in an Austin Kearns sort of category. He's got a great arm in right but he's forever a .250 kind of player. I'll be surprised if he ever bounces back in a big way. What do you think?