Jay Bruce Already!!!!!!

I know some people probably get sick of seeing me and RoseFan talk so much about the Reds but they are my favorite team and I like to let off some steam because their management sucks. Jay Bruce needs to be in Cincy. Living right outside of Loserville, Kentucky, it's nice seeing him in triple A but enough is enough. Over the past 10 games, Bruce is batting .611 with three homers and 12 RBI. Dusty Baker's boy Mr. Cory Patterson is struggling and Keppinger just went out of the lineup for a good period of time with a knee cap so the Reds need someone in the lineup that can hit the baseball. Adam Dunn can't play a lick of D and he swings and misses more than anyone I've seen in my lifetime. Griffey will soon be off to check out the Space Needle in rainy Seattle. Note to Reds sorry management....................BRING HIM UP BEFORE MARTY SLAPS YOU UPSIDE THE HEAD!

Notes

Does anyone remember the Oakland A's pitching staff just a couple of years ago. Once considered one of the top staffs in baseball, Billy Beane just ripped them apart and sold them off like cattle are being sold because of todays grain market. Did he have insight into what Barry Zito, seven straight losses to start the year, was about to become or was he actually smart enough to know this young staff they have today is going to be as good as yesteryear's A's.

Take a look at Justin Duchscherer, he might be the last link to this staff that makes it again one of the best in baseball. Billy is a deal maker for sure and might have out did hisself this time. As tight as the A's are with contracts, well Beane is showing us why he can be this frugal. Their team ERA is less then half of Barry Zito's. Their whole starting pitching staff is not making much more than Zito is making by hinself across the bay in a Gaints uniform.

Duchscherer is recording about 7.5 K's per nine innings with an ERA of 2.42 as of tonight. Take at look at this guy if you need some back end of the rotation help.

Hey I also want to give a little love to my son-in-law for coaching the North Bullitt Freshman Eagles baseball team to the District Chanpionship this past weekend. I would say his coaching career is off to a great start..... This is his blog and I just add a few nuggets every now and then......Congratulations GJ....

Red Hot-Dan Uggla

Dan Uggla has been red hot as of late. In his last 10 games, he's raised his batting average from .245 to .271 and has hit 7 homers to give him 11 on the season. He's also sitting on 11 doubles. This dude doesn't get cheated at the plate. He's struck out 39 times in 136 at bats this season and 167 times last season. The Loserville Kentucky native is only hitting .213 at home and .361 on the road on the year. That's a big fantasy note to think about when you're setting your lineup.

National League Honors

Five weeks into the season, the NL MVP and Cy Young are easy choices:

NL MVP-Chase Utley (Phils) .345/13/28

NL Cy Young-Brandon Webb (D-Backs and Ex-Wildcat!) 8-0 2.41 ERA

NL Rookie of the Year-Edison Volquez (Reds) 5-1 1.06 ERA

By the way, Volquez is the #1 fantasy pitcher without a doubt at this point. It's not even close. I lucked out and draft him with the final pick of our draft. My knucklehead son snagged him up in our other league.

Derek Jeter is voted man of the Century

I got in my truck after school today on the way to baseball practice and turned on sports radio like usual. I turned to three sports channels and a news channel within the first 5 minutes b/c I don't listen to commercials. I love channel flippin. In those 5 mintues, I heard four different discussions of Maxim Magazine's Hot 100 and how Derek Jeter had dated 6 of this list. Since Jeter is my favorite player by himself now that I've discovered that Clemens is a child molesting Roid Head, I thought we'd review...........................

Scarlett Johanson-She's disgusting to me. She's almost opaque white.
Mariah Carey-Crazy Spoon Head. She's so crazy she has a spoon on her head.
Gabrielle Union-probably the most attractive black woman ever.
Jessica Alba-Yes, in that movie Deep Blue.
Jessica Biel-Yes, no doubt.
Vanessa Minillo-Is that the girl Nick Lache is marrying??? If so, Yes

Rich dude in New York. He can get pretty much any woman on earth. My wife would probably leave me for him in about 2 seconds. If you read this baby, I'm just kidding. You're way hotter that the two Jessicas. My wife is a beautiful princess.

By the way, after today, Jeter is batting .298 with zero homers and 16 RBIs. Two numbers that are really scary is that he's only walked four times and has ZERO steals and 1 CS. His OBP is the lowest it's been in 13 years. His lady percentage is high, but his fantasy value is dropping like a rock.

The Sad State Of My Reds

As I drove home from work tonight I was listening WLW 700 AM, the flagship station of the Cincinnati Reds and as usual they were on the short end of the score. This as you know isn't news, but I did hear some news that just didn't sit well with me. First I do love my Reds and although my favorite years come from the "Big Red Machine" years I am still a baseball fan and the Reds are still my team. Back to the news, I heard a sound bite of Ken Griffey Jr. talking about finishing his career back in Seattle. Ok, is this the right time to be jumping ship and is this way you want to leave your hometown team. Griffey will be a Hall of Famer and he will probably wear a Mariner hat on his plaque. But he is in Cincinnati right now for goodness sakes. I really think Jr. thinks there is nothing to play for here and I understand he wants a ring before he retires, but right now with all the young guys on this team he needs to just shut up and play. If Griffey throws in the towel the first week of May how does that look to the young guys looking up to him. Griffey did give the Reds a hometown discount to come here in 2000 as a lot of his money is deferred and isn't even included in this years payroll. I think the Reds promised to build a team around him and we all know how that has worked out. But tell me why I should pay $40 for tickets, $15 for parking, and $7.50 for beer,.....yeah watching them does make you want to drink sometime. But again why do I want to spend a small fortune to see these guys when the person that should be the Captain of the team wants out of town.

I have said it before and I say it again "the Reds have no leadership and the manager seems totally lost as to what the next move should be. I know what my next move should be and that is to go to Louisville if I want to see guys working their asses off to make it to the show. Right now I say you can see as good a baseball game at Louisville Slugger Field watching the AAA team of the Reds, the Louisville Bats, as you are getting from the Reds right now.

How do you pay someone $13 million a year to be nothing more than a pretty good DH. If this was New York he might be worth it, but the Reds could do a lot more with this money. I think Dunn is receiving 18% of the Reds payroll this year and does anyone think he is putting up 18% of the production for this team. Is it time to panic, well who knows, Dusty sure don't. Maybe we ship Griffey back "HOME" and try to trade Dunn's big contract to to the Yankees or the Red Sox and call up Jay Bruce and Homer Bailey from Louisville. If this does happen take a chance on either one of these guys because you can bet your ass that they will give it their all when they step on the field.

Come on Reds!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Dear Johnny Cueto

Dear Johnny Cueto,

It's time to come back strong tonight versus the Cubbies. Your Reds are sucking unmercifully right now. Time to put a halt to this five game losing streak by the Redlegs and get your 5.40 ERA back down to earth. Your 1.09 WHIP is still looking good. I hope your hitting and D backs you up tonight so I don't have to drop you!

Thanks in advance for your W,

GMo

Big Time injury news............

**The Brave's John Smoltz who is currently on the DL announced today he'd be a reliever for the rest of the season when he came back from the DL. WOW.

**Yank Phil Hughes will be out until around the all-star break with a fractured rib.

**Colorado SS Troy Tulowitzki will be out until at least the all-star break with a torn tendon.

**Sadly, I can't even wear my Roger Clemens jersey around kids anymore.

**In other news, Bud Selig still sucks.

The Next "BIG THING"

Max Scherzer just made his major league debut yesterday for the Arizona Diamondbacks. He came with minor league numbers off the charts and like Johnny Cueto for the Cincinnati Reds his first appearance was nothing short of brilliant. Coming in for relief and pitching 4.1 innings of no hit, no walk, no run baseball while fanning seven. Yes he faced thirteen and retired thirteen. His smoke hit 98 on the radar gun as well. He seems like another of these can't miss type players. I actually wanted him in one of my leagues but snoozed a little too long before I decided to pull the trigger. I had actually put him on my watch list and was going to make up my mind on Saturday for next weeks lineup. Don't make the same mistake, if he is out there in your league, don't finish reading this, go get him. After you safety get this guy on your roster invite all your friends to come back with you and read some of the best "free" fantasy information out there. Here's hoping his future goes better than Cueto's has gone the last couple weeks. Cueto will have growing pains but he is a Major League Pitcher and will be a great fantasy pitcher as well.
Well as I write this Scherzer was just named a starter for the Backs. This is how much faith Arizona has in this guy and you should as well.

Fantasy Riser-Carlos Quentin

I've been waiting for Carlos Quentin (White Sox) to break out for a couple of years now. It looks like now he finally will under crazy skipper Ozzie Guillen. Right fielder Quentin has started out hitting .312 with 6 homers and 20 RBI. The stat I like best is 14 walks versus only 12 strikeouts. Here's a couple more big stats: OBP .454 and Slugging .623. Injuries always put a damper on his game in Arizona. If you haven't already picked this dude up..................DO IT!

Hot Starts.....But for how long

Before I get to what I want to write I just might rant on "my Reds" somewhat. What does Aaron Harang have to do to get a win. He could sue for non-support. I mean he hasn't given up more than two earned runs in all but one of his six starts so far this season. Tonight was another very good game for Harang after a 7 2/3 innings 8 strike out and one walk performance. The Reds had me as excited as I have been for quite a few years this spring. Last year we couldn't get a two out hit with RISP and that trend has followed this year. I hope you didn't draft Bronson Arroyo, he is the Cincinnati version of the Giants Barry Zito....I think it's time to stick a fork in both of them. They may be the most over paid players in the game today. How about Adam Dunn, hitting a cool .200 he is at least leading the league in walks, but do the Reds pay him ten million a year to walk...I think not.
Really I still think Adam will get his 40 home runs, but the question is will the Reds ever get it going. Does Jr. get number 600 on this road trip, I bet Reds ownership won't complain if he hits number 599 early on this road trip and then relaxes until he gets back home.......Does anyone else think Brandon Phillips is looking to hit a tater every time up.....Come on Reds....get it going.

Now for some hot starts that might or might not continue.

MIGHT NOT:

Chipper Jones is white hot and if you think he will keep this up the entire season, well really nobody does. If there is someone ready to give you way more than Chipper is actually worth that can actually help your team, I might consider pulling the trigger here. How long before his annual trip to the Dl. I love Chipper and hope he keeps this pace up, just don't count on it.

Pat Burrell has always had some pretty good power and usually with power comes the rib eye steaks and he has at least 22 as I write this. How many thinks he will continue to hit above .350.....sell high and you won't be sorry, his lifetime average is no where near .350 actually it's closer to .250 do the math....If someone wants him reach for the sky and see if a rookie fantasy player might bite.

MIGHT:

Derrek Lee is someone I wanted pretty bad before draft day, I might have stated this before, because we had a couple of Cub fans join our league this year he went a little earlier than I thought he would go. Turns out he was worth that early pick. I have said it before and I will say it again.....he's money and a fantasy stud. If you are in points league he will end the season in your leagues top ten in points.
Don't even think about unloading this guy unless someone offers you three players rated close to him. If you don't own him maybe you could play the injury card and let your competition know he is less than two years removed from that nasty break and it might not be totally healed, yeah right. If someone trades him in your league, you should offer this guy a trade everyday.

Miguel Tejada......We were all afraid to draft him this season not knowing if he would spend more time behind bars than at SS, and I am not talking about him lying about his age either. I will be the first to say I was very wrong about this guy. He had more baggage than my ex-wife would take to Florida for a week. I remember those baggage carriers you used when your trunk wouldn't hold everything for vacation, well even with a van I needed one and so did Tejada as this season started. I was wrong at the start of the season and I would now say he is one of the guys that will keep it going the rest of the way.

Connor Jackson...He might not hit you a lot of home runs but this guy is for real. He will hit for a high average and get you plenty RBI's and with a playing for a great Diamondback team he will also score plenty, so hold this guy and enjoy the ride that I do believe will last.

Fantasy Surprises End of Week 3

Wow, there are a couple of guys that have jumped up and surprised the fantasy baseball world. If they aren't picked up in your league, you better jump on them.

*Nate McClouth (Pirates) .384/3/15. Tack on 15 runs, 2 steals, a 16 game hit streak, and a league leading 10 doubles and this guy is suddenly a fantasy stud batting lead off for the Bucs. .384 can't keep up but it looks like McClouth is the real deal suddenly.

*Justin Upton (D-Backs) Look back and see that I said this guy is a must get as a potential break out superstar this season. .385/5/13 and he's off to a superstar start. His strikeouts are a bit of a concern, but this guy could hit over .300 and 30 this season. The D-Backs are loaded with young talent.

*Conner Jackson (D-Backs) .347/3/17. Conner Jackson is finally breaking out. I got to see him in the Futures Game in Detroit in 2005 and everyone expected him to break out right away. What I really love about him is only 3 strikeouts and 7 walks. Have I already mentioned the D-Backs are loaded?

*Yunel Escobar (Braves) .324/3/11 is off to the rookie start he was looking for. His strikeouts to walk ratio is staying in check at 10:10.

Fantasy Flops End of Week 3

Three weeks into the the season there are some guys who've been very disappointing and I'm not sure if they can bounce back.

*Edwin Encarnarcion (Reds) I was big on Edwin to start the season. I think it was mainly because I was blinded by his "Redness". Edwin's fielding is horrible at best. His bat has started to wake up in the past week (.348), but I don't think this guy may every be a big-time fantasy third baseman like I'd hoped. His season numbers are sitting at .241/2/7. His strikeout to walk ratio isn't as bad as I thought though at 10:12.

*Julio Lugo (Red Sox) I thought it might be back to 2005 form for Julio this year in a great spot with the Red Sox but...........NOPE. Batting .271 with 2 RBI and 1 SB isn't going to get it done for Lugo. Drop him now if you have him and find something better.

*Andruw Jones (Dodgers) Andruw Jones officially sucks. .167/1 homer/3 RBI=TERRIBLE!!!!
The Dodgers have to be kicking themselves for giving this bum enought money to buy his home country. Great job with 18 Ks in 54 at bats. If he was half a man, he'd give that money back but I think it all goes to child support.

*Russell Martin (Dodgers) .196/1/5. Martin has started terrible and can't seem to get along with new skipper Joe Torre. He didn't like getting sit down yesterday. It will be interesting to see if Martin can bounce out of this slump.

Notes from a crazy game today

I know this site is "THE WORLD OF FANTASY BASEBALL" and that's why most of you guys have been checking us out. With that said, I want to pass a few things by everyone. I have been a baseball fan all my life, not saying I am an expert on rules and why you do this and why you do that. Well this game had several strange things happen that I just didn't agree with. First, Henry Blanco the Cubs catcher came up with two on, no outs in the fourth, and bunted it foul for the out. This was a situation that simply didn't make sense. He actually was bunting all the way on every pitch. I thought maybe he was trying to fake the reds defense and then would swing away after showing bunt on the first pitch. To make matters all the more strange Ted Lilly was on deck, yes the pitcher was on deck and not in danger of being pulled at that time. I don't think I have ever seen such a thing. Not sure if he did this on his own or missed a sign or what.


Another thing that I will say was just plain stupid was this, the WGN annoucers said that Dave Weathers actually threw at Mark DeRosa when he hit him. It was the eighth inning and the Reds were up 9-2 and you want me to believe that Weathers was throwing at DeRosa, that's so much bullshit. After losing five in a row and the way the ball flies out of Wrigley why would you put runners on base like that. I guess the way the Reds were finally beating up on somebody and the crowd leaving they needed something to keep the veiwers watching. Also if Weathers was throwing at him don't you think Piniella would have plunked a Red in the ninth with the game all but over then.


This next thing that was strange, but not in a bad way, was two brothers pitch hit in same inning. I can't say for sure but I would bet plenty on this never ever happening before in MLB history. Well maybe not a plenty, there were a lot of Alou's playing at the same time years ago. But in the eighth inning again, brothers came in to pitch hit, Corey Patterson for the Reds and Eric Patterson for the Cubs. Tell me the last time you saw this happen.


Now a little fantasy numbers from this game.....Derek Lee, who is on fire, actually struck out three times today. I would venture to say this won't happen many times if ever again this year. I wanted him so bad this year, but just waited to long with two Cub fans playing in our league. I think you could offer the bank for this guy and not get hurt. He is finally healthy again and showing why he is one of the best fantasy players out there.


Joey Votto is hitting .351 and should be the everyday first baseman for the Reds. If he is avaiable in your league you might want to go grab him. Either he plays everyday or Dusty is a moron. Scott Hatteburg is a pretty good player but quite frankly is not as good as Votto and I think if the Reds could move him they would.


Listening to Reds radio before the game, Marty and Dusty were talking about player moves in the near future. Dusty told Marty that as soon as the Reds get back in town he will meet with the GM and go over a few moves that he would like to see get done. This doesn't bode well for Josh Fogg after getting his ass handed to him in his last start. I am not sure if Homer Bailey gets the call or Matt Belisle. Belisle has had three great outings on his rehab assignment and has posted a 3-0 record with an ERA of 1.09 and Bailey is 2-1 with an ERA of 1.29....look for one of these guys to be in Cincinnati as early as this weekend. You could do a lot worse if you need pitching help.


Oh yeah......Jr. hit #596 today.....time to head to Cincinnati and get some right field seats and be the lucky one to snag #600.........GO REDS!!!!!!!!!

And last, the strangest thing that happened in this game......THE REDS WON!!!!!

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Just a short note to let our readers know that this site has now been tested and got the "GREEN CHECK MARK" on Google search engine. We are good to go, and really always have been, but when Google speaks people listen. I just wish I had listened and mortaged my house to buy all I could of their IPO. I am just a minor contributor but the guy that writes most of this blog knows his baseball and always gives you fantasy guys some great info. With that said tell your friends to check us out and get some great fantasy info and general baseball happenings here, best of all it's FREE.