No Economic Crisis here

I know you have heard the phrase: 'Money Talks and Bullshit Walks'. Well let's take a look at the player pulling down the most money at each position THIS season. Note as much money as CC Sabathia got he is still not the highest paid SP in 09. As you strugle to fill out your checks each month, here's a few guys that won't struggle signing any checks. The question is can they cash the check on the field. Do they make your fantasy draft board as that spots best?

3B: Alex Rodriquez.....$32 Million
1B: Mark Teixeira......$20 Million
SS: Derek Jeter........$20 Million
SP: Johan Santana......$20 Million
LF: Carlos Lee.........$18.5 Million
CF: Carlos Beltran.....$18.5 Million
RF: Magglio Ordonez....$18 Million
RP: Mariano Rivera.....$15 Million
DH: Gary Sheffield.....$14 Million
C: Jorge Posada.......$13.1 Million
2B: Chase Utley........$11 Million

Does making the most money mean this is the best fantasy player at his position. If you are checking my draft board the answer is no. We all realize both the New York teams overpay for talent, that's a given. Let's look at 3B I give A-Rod a slight edge over his New York counter part David Wright. At 1B as good as Teixeira is, not even close to Pujols. At SS as much as I love Derek Jeter and the way he plays the game the fantasy edge on my board goes to Hanley Ramirez. SP, again Johan Santana is an awesome talent playing in a pitchers ballpark, but I take the most underpaid player in the game today, Tim Lincecum, as my number one starter. As far as the OF goes this might be the hardest to argue, but as good as these guys are I would be at least as happy with Matt Holiday or Josh Hamilton for a lot less money. At DH, isn't Sheff already crying about getting hit on his arm or elbow, sit down and let Mr. Daivd Ortiz swing a bat. At catcher didn't the Cubs get a pretty good year out of the rookie Geovany Soto, but give me Joe Mauer coming into his prime. At 2B I can go with Utley. As for a closer, Rivera or Jonathan Papelbon another tuff call but I would again take the bargain Papelbon brings to the mound. Drafting you can't go wrong with anyone on this list. Is anyone else ready for draft day........

WOFB 2B

2b....Wow, what a horrible fantasy position after the top 5.

1. Dustin Pedroia 3.57 (Red Sox) Awesome SO/BB ratio. He's a contact guy. It's hard to find a guy not named Pujols that has an on-base of near .4o0 and is slugging near .500. .327/17/83

2. Ian Kinsler 3.91 (Rangers) the 3.91 puts him 2nd only to Pujols in fantasy average in 2008. In only 121 games before injury, Kinsler scored 102 runs and stole 26 bases. .319/18/71 from the leadoff spot isn't bad. He surely won't put up those type of numbers but if he's close.................

3. Chase Utley 3.32 (Phils) A hip injury limited Utley's pop in the 2nd half of 2008 but he still managed to ut up 100+ RBI for the 4th season and hit 40+ doubles for the 3rd straight year. Other than Josh Hamilton and Kinsler, he was the best hitter in baseball before the break. The Phils are bringing him along slowly but if he stays injury free, he could be the #1 2B in 09.

4. Brian Roberts 3.14 (O's) Still a big steal guy. 51 doubles in 08. He'll hit near .300 and give you a lot of steals.

5. Brandon Phillips 2.74 (Reds) Brandon has to start swinging for the gaps instead of the fences. There's no reason this guy isn't a 40+ doubles guy. Didn't have a great season after 30/30 in 07.

WOFB-Shortstop

Shortstop one of many thin positions in fantasy baseball this season. There are 3 great players and then it gets interesting. Past Rollins, it's a crapshoot.

1. Jose Reyes 3.70 (Mets) Great base stealer. Should get a ton in the new stadium. You can get this guy b/c everybody will be after Ramirez.

2. Hanley Ramirez 3.51 (Marlins) SO/BB ratio continues to improve. 30/30 in 08. Two straight years of 125 runs.

3. Jimmy Rollins 3.44 (Phils) nice season in 08 following MVP 07.

4. Rafael Furcal 4.11 (Dodgers) Can he stay healthy after missing most of 08?

5. Stephen Drew 2.63 (D-Backs) Finally broke out in 2008. He's got to cut down on the strikeouts. 109 Ks/41 BB. Slugged over .500 with 21 homers/11 triples/44 doubles.

6. Mike Aviles 2.86 (Royals) Rook in 08. Nice season.

7. Alexi Rameriz 2.46 (WSox) Great Rookie year. SO/BB ratio was atrocious. If that improves, he's a dangerous fantasy MI.

8. Yunel Escobar 2.45 (Braves) Great SO/BB ratio in rookie season.

9. Jhonny Peralta 2.63 (Indians) Jhonny got his eyes worked on before 2008 and slugging up 43 points.

10. JJ Hardy 2.61 (Brewers)

Others:

Jerry Hariston Jr. 2.83 (Reds) Should qualify at SS. Probably a top 10 depending on the Chris Dickerson/Gonzalez situation for playing time.

Derek Jeter 2.56 (Yanks) My favorite player had his worst slugging % since 1997. SO/BB ratio did get better though.

Troy Tulowitzki 2.19 (Rockies) Injury filled 08.

Miguel Tejada (California Penal League) He'll hit great in pinstripes.

WOFB Top 10 Hitters

World of Fantasy Baseball-My top 10 Hitters TB+Runs+RBI -(BB-SO)+ (2*SB)/Games

1. Albert Pujols 1b Cardinals: (4.18) Easiest 1st pick in the history of fantasy baseball.

2. Jose Reyes SS Mets (3.70)

3. David Wright 3b Mets (3.64)

4. Dustin Pedroia SS (3.57)

5. Hanley Rameriz SS (3.51) I think he's going in the wrong direction. He's dangerous but not #1 to me.

6. Grady Siezemore OF (3.49)

7. Lance Berkman 1b (3.50)

8. Carlos Beltran OF (3.56)

9. Ian Kinsler 2b (3.93) Can he repeat 2008 minus the injury? He was fantasy #2 all year in 2008.

10.Carlos Quentin OF (3.58)

Others interesting numbers: You thought you knew but you have no idea.............
A-Rod 3.44
Utley 3.33
Aubry Huff 3.28 Yep Aubrey Huff
Ryan Braun 3.13 Not that good. SO a plenty.
Nate McClouth 3.41
Carlos Lee 3.52

Griffey Signing is a Scam

Let me start this off by saying that this isn't sour grapes because my Cincinnati Reds didn't think it was in their best interest to resign Griffey. Make no mistake I am a homer and I am proud of it. In a perfect world the Reds would have drafted him and he would have spent his whole career in a Reds uniform. Who ever said baseball was perfect....well to me the game itself is still perfect and always will be, at least in my eyes it will be. The things that go with game leave a little to be desired for sure. I am not going into the steroids here and yes deep down in my heart Ken Griffey Jr. did it the right way and was a clean player.

Today I want to look at the reason he went back to Seattle. We can all say yeah Jr proved you can go back home...that's so much BS. Griffey will not be in Seattle to lead this team to the playoffs in 2009. Will he even be drafted in fantasy drafts this year? As much as I love this future Hall of Famer his production has fallen off way too much for that to happen. And let's face reality here, when you get past the age of 37, 38 or 39 your production IS suppose to decline. All steroids users please take note of this fact. The simple truth of the matter is that the Seattle Mariners signed Griffey because they are too cheap to go out and sign some good free agents to try to get back to the post season. Seattle's signing of Griffey was no more than a scam to sell tickets. Yeah it's a feel good story as well, but this team will make millions from this signing and still be on the outside looking in come October. If Seattle fans just want to feel good they get their wish with this signing. If they are hungry to get back to the playoffs they should feel insulted and used by the management of the Mariners. This is probably a one year deal here and maybe next off season they sign someone that can actually help their ball club and not their bottom line. Yes, it's ALWAYS about the money and once again this signing proves that.

With all this said I still wish Griffey all the luck in the world. Sometimes scams can turn into feel good stories!!!!!

#1 Pick???

OK. So what happens if you get the number 1 pick in your draft. No pressure right? Wrong again. If you get the #1 pick, you are looking at 18 to 20 picks before you get to pick again so you better make a good choice. Luckily for you, there is only three to four possible picks.

You could go with Albert Pujols. This is as near a guarantee as you can get. He's a lifetime .334 hitter with a .425 OBP and oh yeah, the NL MVP in 2008. Even with a bum elbow, he still batted .357/37/116 last year and scored over 100 runs. He's playing to stay in St. Louis for the rest of the year. He's the safest pick of all.

You could go with Hanley Ramirez. The middle infield isn't exactly loaded with big boppers. Hanley had his worst year of the last three in 2008. Hanley isn't an RBI guy but he'll get you your share of stolen bases. In 2006 and 2007, he had 51 steals. He only had 35 steals in 2008 although he did have his biggest homer year of 33. He raised his walks by 40 over the previous season but he still struck out 122 times which is 30 over 2007. Hanley is great, but to me, he's still risky. I'll pass. I'd take him #3.

A-Rod? Well, that's a crap shoot. He may have a chip on his shoulder and go buck wild in 2009. I don't know if he's made up like that. If it was Barry Bonds, I'd say he'd would stick up his middle finger and hit 50. I don't know if A-Rod has it in him. I'm not saying he's going to be bad, I just don't see him having a career year after all of this mess. Last year's numbers: .302/35/103. I'll pass. I'd take him #????? Probably 4.

Possibly David Wright? Another thin 3B year. .302/33/124 in 2008 which were darn near identical numbers to 2007. The last four years, he's played 160, 154, 160, and 160 games. He's also going to get you over 100 runs. One problem is that I'm hearing the new Mets Stadium may be MORE of a pitchers park than Shea. WOW. Good player, not #1. Definitely a top 5. My #2.

This is really an easy choice. If you don't pick Albert with the #1 pick, you may be smokin crack. He's the only SURE thing. The #1 pick is easy, the #2 pick however...........That's going to make you sweat.

Jesse Ventura calls for Selig indictment!

http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/9229144/Report:-Ventura-calls-for-Selig

Interesting article from foxsports.com

"In the early '90s, the federal government came into pro wrestling and tried to put (WWE Chairman) Vince McMahon in prison for steroid use of wrestlers," Ventura told NBC's affiliate in Denver. "My question is: They've now determined 104 baseball players failed their steroid test in 2003 — 104. They indicted Vince McMahon, why aren't they indicting Bud Selig? He's the head of baseball, it happened on his watch."

Pete Rose's Take on A-Rod

The Hit King has finally come out with his take on the A-Rod mess. First he said he really thought A-Rod was one of the clean players. Myself I agreed, as did most other baseball fans who were disappointed when they heard this sad news. Pete also said, in typical Pete Rose fashion, that if he had taken steroids he would have had at least 5,000 hits. Like he always said, if you can back it up it isn't bragging. Is it bragging if you need steroids to get there. A-Rod spoke of the pressure he was under after signing the biggest contract in baseball history. How does signing a 250 million dollar contract relate to pressure. I think the folks losing their jobs and worrying about feeding their kids and paying the mortgage are facing more pressure than A-Rod.

Does the fact that Ken Griffey Jr. lost so much time to the injury bug show more that he did it the right way. How many players said they took the roids to come back from injuries quicker. I have to believe Jr. is clean.

A-Rod still has nine years left on his current contract. If he plays it out and then waits another five years before he is eligible to be put on the Hall of Fame ballot, well that's fourteen years from now. Fourteen years from now how many writers from today will still be writing, very few most likely. So I still think Cooperstown is where A-Rod is still going to end up. And like they say time heals all......unless your name is Pete Rose that is.

Selig has shamed the game

Bud Selig came out today and said that players who have used steroids have shamed the game of baseball. Well Bud, that may be true but you and the MLBPA have shamed the game just as much. You suck Bud.

Park City Mountain Resort

After watching the Winter X Games, I've had the urge to try snowboarding or skiing for the first time. A great place to visit would be Park City Mountain Resort in Utah which was an official venue of the 2002 Winter Olympic Games.

Park City Mountain Resort offers something for the entire family. Ride the Alpine Coaster. You can ride the automated lift system to the top of the track. Then, you go flying down the mountain on nearly 4,000 feet of curves, bends and loops. It’s a ride you won’t soon forget.

Since the skiing would probably be dangerous for my uncoordinated health, maybe the Tubing at Gorgoza Park would be more up my ally with the kids and wife. It features a lift-served lighted tubing hill. What is cooler than tubing?

At Park City Mountain Resort, you can also: Take an old fashioned horse drawn sleigh ride, go on a snowmobiling tour, or maybe go to ski and snowboard school.

Book your vacation to Park City Mountain Resort at: 1-800-331-3178

You can sign up for e-mail updates at: http://www.parkcitymountain.com/winter/subscribe

Go check out their live web cams:

http://www.parkcitymountain.com/winter/conditions/mountain_cams/

Check out the adventure blog:

http://www.parkcitymountain.com/winter/adventure/?utm_source=mc&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=mcjan09

Dunn and Abreu Sign

Adam Dunn has signed for the Nats and Bobby Abreu signed with the Halos today. Both are pretty good fits and should lead to similar fanasy numbers for Dunn and I think improved for Abreu.

JT 'The Brick' on Rose and A-Rod

If you read our Big Red Machine Blog this is a repeat from there but it's still worth the read and your opionion. I was listening to JT 'The Brick' on my ride home from work tonight and as last night he was still ripping A-Rod, nothing new here. It seems everyone is throwing their jabs at A-Rod the past couple of days and JT is really pouring it on still tonight. He is one of the biggest New York Yankee fans you will ever hear on the air, hell he evens lives in the LA area but is still a Yankee lover. He opened his show last night with maybe the best monologue I have ever heard on sports talk radio. He called A-Rod a cheat a liar and a fraud to mention a few. He says he will never be believed again or will he make the Baseball Hall of Fame.

Tonight he was still ranting and raving over his disappointment in A-Rod. But what caught my attention was his support for Pete Rose. JT thinks what Pete did is nothing compared to what so many of today's players are doing with these performance enhancing drugs. The Brick said it's time for Bud Selig to step down, and I TOTALLY agree here. He says because all this steroid stuff happened on his watch that he needs to step aside and take the baseball union head with him as well. With a totally clean house he thinks Pete Rose might get a fair shake and have the chance to finally get on the Hall of Fame ballot. I hope Selig gets so much pressure he bows out and baseball gets an opened mind commissioner that will take a fresh look at Rose. Pete is no saint for sure, but his hits were legit......something we can't say for many of today's players.

If you are a reader of our blog please leave your opinion here......Has enough time elapsed for Rose to be looked at again. I say Hell Yes.

What does this do to A-Fraud's Fantasy Value?

The most important thing for me in this whole debacle is.......how is this going to effect A-Rod's fantasy year? I'd say, it can't be good. There will be boos, signs, and more reporters than you can shake a stick at following A-Rod throughtout this season. Heck, this guy gets booed at home after hitting 50 homers and batting .300. What is going to happen on the road. Maybe A-Rod will man up and block out the distrations and have a .350/60 homer year. I don't think this guy has the mental makeup to block it out. He's too worried about what people think and his status as baseball's best ever. I don't think he'll bat .250, but I don't see this being A-Rod's best season. I think this drops him down to maybe a risky 1st round pick.

Jose was right again............

Dang, Freakin Jose Canseco......he was right again. He might be livin in a van down by the river, but that dude knows how to spot out somebody on the juice. If that was a job, Jose might have a house to live in.

Don't Know What to Think of A-Rod???????????

I'm extremely confused right now. I don't know what to think about this A-Rod situation. Today, he came out and admitted to steroid use from 2001 to 2003 with the Rangers. He apparently knew, although he said he only thought maybe, that he failed a substance test in 2003. He's had 6 years to come clean but he apparently thought the genious that runs Major League Baseball, would keep it a secret. He thought wrong.

Now what? A-Rod said he's been clean since 2003. He's got 9 more years on his contract. He better be great in those 9 years. It seems that the possibility that he'll never see the Hall or be "Barry Bonds" disliked has crept into his mind. If he's great and wins multiple World Series in that span of time, is it possible he gets in? If baseball cleans it's image and the other 104 players come out in the open and own up to the use, maybe people will go easier on A-Rod. A-Rod problem partly, is he's already disliked throughout baseball by fans and apparently teammates and managers too. Can he ever regain the image of a great player or will the stigma of cheating stay with him for the rest of his life?

All I do know is, my son's hero has fallen from grace and it'll be hard to impossible for him to ever get it back.

Explain to me why Bud Selig is still the commish of baseball!

As baseball takes another pitch to the helmet, I have to ask myself, why Bud Selig is still the commisioner of baseball. It absolutely blows my mind. In an article this week, it was revealed that Selig pocketed $18 million from baseball last season. That was more than all but three major leaguers. That blows my mind. This guy has been front and center to blame for the steroid era. He sat back and did absolutely nothing about the problem until his hand was forced by Congress. Now today, yet another embarrassment as one of baseball's best players is linked to a failed 2003 steroid test. This was supposed to be confidential information and should have never been leaked. Yet another baseball blunder unless there is some reason baseball leaked it intentially to hurt ARod. Either way, it's another blunder under Selig's blinded eyes. This guy has to go if baseball is on it's way to restoring it's image. Do us all a favor Bud and LEAVE BASEBALL.