Pujols-Best hitter in Baseball

Is there any doubt who the best hitter in baseball is? No doubt in my mind. A-Rod is great, Pujols is un-freakin-believable. .362/28/87. 42 more BB than Ks???? WOW! Why not throw in 35 2 baggers. He's hands down the best. All the talk was how bad the elbow was and if Pujols could even finish out the season in 2008 without surgery. He's the best, no doubt.

In 8 seasons, Pujols has a career average of .334, 310 homers, 333 doubles, 679 BB/497 Ks, on base of .424, and a .621 slugging percentage.

Good to see Joe Mauer back as a fantasy force

After an injury filled 2007, it's nice to see that Joe Mauer has returned to his position as one of the premier fantasy catchers. Going into tonight, he was hitting .324/8/66 with 26 doubles and 30 more walks than Ks. Gotta love a .416 on base in fantasy baseball.

Brett Myers is rollin

Luckily for me, I picked up Brett Myers this week and it paid off big time and barring a disaster on Sunday, will lock up the regular season championship for me in my league. After beginning the season terribly and forcing me to drop his butt, he's 3-1 with a 1.17 ERA and 1.14 WHIP in his last 4 starts including a complete game. I love the 31 Ks in those past 30 innings too. If you haven't already............PICK HIM UP!

Some Late Season Pickups.....Maybe

Just a reminder as your regular season winds down and the playoffs are fast approaching, keep your eye peeled for late season call ups and players that are turning things around or just someone who is hot at the moment. I know your team made the playoffs or you wouldn't be reading this....those that didn't or won't make the playoffs are now turning their attention to 'fantasy football'....sorry I said those words in my last two posts, but you know you will play it and it will carry you over to spring training. Another reason to watch as the rosters are expanded in September is to catch a rising star for your keeper league.

I might as well thump my own chest and tell you that I picked up Bronson Arroyo off the wavier wire this week and yes he is one that has been pretty good for the most part the last couple months. Hell he can still win fifteen games this year, how many of you thought he had a chance to do that back around the All-Star break. Bronson threw a complete game tonight and got me a very nice 22 points and still has another start this week. I just took a chance that his two starts this week against bottom feeders Houston and San Francisco might be worth a flier the way he has been pitching lately. I am sure he has been dropped at least once in every league this year......is he available in yours!!!!

Another Red I like right now is outfielder Chris Dickerson and in his first twelve major league games he is hitting .327 and has smashed three home runs.....get him while he is hot if you need OF help.

This guy might be a long shot to be still be available but check out Ian Stewart 3B for the Rockies....thru 53 games he is hitting .316 and has 9 home runs, this is way ahead of what he did in his first call up last season where he only had a .209 average in a short 35 games and only had 1 home run.....so Ian is showing a much better average to go with much much more power.....If you are like me and planning a good playoff run then don't get lazy as the season winds down.

Another guy that deserves your attention is White Sox MI Alexei Ramirez who has a very strong line this month.....315-6-21 those are numbers that if your projected them over the course of the season would be HUGE. Is he worth picking up in keeper leagues!!!!!!!!!!!

Future Lefty Fantasy Star

My son got his first ever start last night and got a W. The little lefty struck out 9 in 4 2/3. He didn't allow a hit but had his share of walks. He opened the season in relief working a perfect 6th with a K. It's pretty exciting to see your little man out there on the hill. I hope to be drafting him in my fantasy draft here in about 14 years!

Grady Sizemore's finest season

Sizemore has been one of the lone bright spots for the Indians this season. I think this is his finest fantasy season yet. Going into today, Sizemore is hitting .271/31/81 and 34 steals. He's improved his SO/BB ratio substantially at 102/83 so far while raising his slugging percentage by 70 pts this season.

Time For Fantasy Football

Yes I do know we are fantasy baseball, but how many of you will also play fantasy football. Baseball is my first love for sure, but I do enjoy using fantasy football to bridge the gap between baseball seasons.
Just wanted to put a plug in for a site that rocks with great info.
visit gametimedecisions.net as there is live advice the next few days with Brian Swaw of gametimedecisions, Matthew Berry of the four letter network and plenty other fantasy experts. John Clayton is on the air as I write this giving his expert advice.
We have a button on the right hand side of this blog that is a link right to Brian Swaw's gametimedecisions.net site, check it out.

Lincecum doing what he does tonight

Tim Lincecum is having yet another fantastic game tonight even if it is against the San Diego offence. 7 strong 8 Ks scattering 4 hits and only walking 1. There's a Cy Young battle coming with Lincecum, Webb, and possibly even Volquez if Volquez can put together a couple more like his last two outings. At this point, I'd say Webb b/c his team is battling for a playoff spot. I've downed Johan Santana lately, but since the break, he's been awesome putting together 7 innings of shutout ball himself tonight. Should be interesting in the NL.

Fantasy Breakouts for 2009?

I guess it's a bit early to be talking about possible fantasy baseball breakout players for 2009, but most seasons are winding down towards the playoffs so what the heck.

1. Joey Votto (Reds 1b) I know, I know, I'm a Reds homer. He'll hit 5th in the Reds order next season behind Bruce and Phillips. His average is up to .281 as of today. He, like Bruce, has finally caught on and is primed for big things in 2009. He'll never be a 40 homer guy I don't think, but he should be able to consistently hit 30+ and bat around the .300 mark.

2. James Loney (Dodgers 1b) I think this guy has the ability to be a batting champion within the next few years. Not sure if the power numbers will ever be there, but he should be a gapper hitter and get you 20 homers a season.

3. Jay Bruce (Reds OF) One year of seeing Major League pitching has been great for Bruce. It always hasn't been pretty, but it looks like he's starting to catch on. He'll bat third in the order and get plenty of at--bats in '09. Should be a 30 homer guy with tons of doubles.

4. Denard Span (Twins OF) Love this freakin guy. .314 with around .400 on base so far for the Twins. He has GREAT speed and I love that his SO/BB ratio is almost even right now.

5. Alexei Rameriz (White Sox 2b) 14 homers and 55 RBI in only 100 Major League games. This guy doesn't like to walk much but add on 19 doubles and you have to like his potential. Needs to cut down on his strikeouts but I like this guy. You're always looking for middle infield help.

Ian Kinsler out for the season

This really kills both my fantasy teams. Ian Kinsler out for the seaon with a sport hernia. What a great season from Kinsler. I had him ranked in the top 6 or 7 2B but I never dreamed he'd have a season like this.

.319/18/71 26 steals and 41 doubles. WOW. That's an entire season worth of stats from a lead off hitter.

Biggest Fantasy Surprise of 2008

The Biggest surprise of 2008 to me is Aubrey Huff. This guy has came back from the dead to carry some fantasy teams including my brother n laws and my son's in another league. Before his homer tonight, he was batting .303/26/84 RBI and 36 doubles. WOW. This is a dude that barley found a roster spot as a back up 3B and DH. That's a great story.

2008 Fantasy Disappoitments

2008 has seen it's share of big time fantasy baseball disappointments.

*Aaron Harang: For me, the biggest 2008 disappointment is Aaron Harang for two reasons: #1, he was my first pitcher I drafted and #2, I'm a Reds fan. I just saw a stat on Baseball Tonight saying his ERA was 9.01 since May 25. That's the marathon that he and Voloquez came in the game in relief after short rests. Not sure if that's had anything to do with his struggles but the fact is that he has flat sucked. He's now 3-13 and the Reds are 21 games out in the Central. Just awful. 3-13 5.59 ERA.

*Jimmy Rollins: Jimmy started out the season rough by being injured a bunch and has just never got it going. As of tonight, he's batting .268 with 8 homers and 42 RBI. He does have 27 doubles, 8 3b, and 30 steals but this is a guy coming off a MVP year of 30 homers 20 3 baggers, and 94 RBI.

*Johan Santana: You're probably going to say how can a guy with a 2.89 ERA be a disappointment but I say he's been a big time disappointment. Here's a guy moving to a pitchers park and moving to the National League where you get a chance to pitch around the 8 hole to strikeout the pitcher. Santana has 141 Ks in 168 innings. That's a huge drop off for him. He's only 10-7 on a contending team. In his last three seasons, he'd had more strikeouts than innings pitched.

*Erik Bedard: Injuries. He was injured from the biggining. Just never got anything going plus his team is horrible.

Great Baseball Movies..................

Nothing to do with fantasy but if this doesn't give you goosebumbs, you may be dead. Thanks to whoever posted these on YouTube.

Ryan Ludwick hits #30 tonight

Ryan Ludwick hit his 30th homer of the season tonight and raised his RBI total to 90. Luckwick strikes out a lot as he's nearing 100 for the season with two more tonight. This guy has went from an undrafted fantasy unknown to a fantasy superstar in a little over a half season.



Current numbers: .304/30/90

Young Fantasy Riser-Armando Galarraga

Armando Galarraga-SP (Tigers)

Galarraga is quickly becoming a big time fantasy pitcher. He has busted on the scene and made a nice fantasy impact in a year where some fantasy pitchers have fallen on there face. He's 11-4 with a 3.11. He has 92 Ks in 133 innings. I'd like to see that improve next year but he plays in a pitcher's park and keeps the ball down and inside that big park. Galarraga will definitely be a pitcher to watch in the earlier rounds of your 2009 draft. Amazingly though, his road ERA is under 3.00 and is almost 4.00 at home in Tiger Stadium. Galarraga is deadly agaist right handed hitters. They're only batting .158 against him.

Two Start Pitchers week 8-11-08

http://www.rototimes.com/mlb/two_start_pitchers.php

Carlos Lee done for the season

Carlos Lee broke a finger against the Reds last night that will knock him out for the rest of the season. Lee was having yet another awesome fantasy year for a horrible team. His season will end at .314/28/100 and 27 doubles. That would be a nice complete season for anybody. I like his BB/K ratio too at 37/49. I'd take a
-12 for the season in that category anytime.

LLWS

If you're sickened by your favorite team (I am) and you're in last place in your fantasy league (I'm actually in 1st in one and tied for 1st in the other), then tune in to the LLWS on ESPN2. Last night's regional game between Louisiana and Texas was a great extra inning game. There are too many curve balls and the fences are too short but it's great action and play.

Tuesday 8-4-08 Fantasy Notes

*Webb looks like he'll pick up win #16 tonight as he has a shutout through 8. He's again the front runner to win the NL Cy Young.

*Josh Hamilton hit #27 tonight. He'll get 2/3 of the triple crown this season.

*Edison Volquez is looking tired. He got ripped yet again tonight. He's looked very average after the all-star break.

*Carlos Lee is the real deal. He just hit 26 tonight. He's batting .302 with 26 dingers and 92 RBI. This dude might be the fantasy MVP to this point in the National League.

*Chris Carpenter was solid again in his 2nd game back from injury. If nobody has him in your league...................PICK HIM UP!!!

Another great baseball fight

Teammates Fighting.

In honor of Prince Fielder being a total punk, here are the top 10 teammate fights from ESPN.

My dumb predictions for 2008 so far.............

**I said not to draft Ryan Braun. I marked him off my list. 3o homers so far and player of the month in July...............Good call by me.

**The Braves and Indians will contend . The Braves are awful and can't score to save their lives. The Indians gave up early.

**Johan Santana the overall #2 player..............not so much at this point.

**Jimmy Rollins #8 overall..............batting about .260 something with 9 homers.

**Rich Hill #11 starting pitcher.................top 5 in strikeouts in 2007........he's in the minors now!

** My Reds will win the Central.............yep. They are in last place.

Not a good night for the Brewers

Not only did the Brewers lose to the last placed Reds..............then Prince Fielder slapped Manny Para upside the head in the dug out in plain sight of the cameras. Prince Fielder is a piece of crap regardless of what was said. You don't punch a teammate especially in plain sight of the cameras and fans. Maybe the lack of meat is getting to Prince. Wish him all the worst things the rest of the season.................