The Fantasy Family Middle Kid (FFMK): Division Preview (Farmville)

By Brian Campana

With the addition of two teams to the league, the Fantasy Family Middle Kid looks to open the new season at a new level: 12 teams, two divisions, one trophy. 

While there has been some speculation as to the changes made this season, the changes made were for the improvement of the league.  Taking away the 2B and SS spots is needed to avoid an influx of scrub middle infielders.  The 3rd P spot and the 2nd UTIL spot were also removed to allow managers the freedom to use strategy in their draft and their season. 

With the loss of these three spots comes the addition of three additional bench spots, taking the total to six.  Also, the DL spot was changed to allow for three players to stay on the DL.  Throughout the season these changes will begin to show their positive impact on the league.

All in all, it was a very successful draft this season.  Of the 12 managers, eight drafted their own team, one was drafted by a friend, and three auto-picked.  With only a few days until the season starts, let’s take a look at the two divisions, their teams, managers, and the players that were drafted, along with projections on the season.

The Farmville Division features the past two league champions, along with some other very talented managers.

Big Orange: The 2008 Fantasy Family Middle Kid Fantasy Baseball League Champion was not able to get the back to back title he so dearly sought.  But this year, Big Orange is back with a rather impressive showing at the 2010 Draft.  A strong offensive team, Big Orange really drafted his hitting superbly.  Brian McCann, Ryan Howard, Brian Roberts, Andrew McCutchen, Carlos Lee, and Shane Victorino highlight a team superbly balanced in all offensive categories. 

However, on the pitching side of things, Big Orange leaves himself a bit exposed.  Cliff Lee is a solid No. 1 starter, but he has shown problems mentally and physically this spring, can he get back on track in a new ballpark?  The rest of the rotation are where the real problems exist.  Jered Weaver, Jeff Niemann, Roy Oswalt, and Randy Wells are decent, when healthy, but compared to the 1-2 punches of many of the teams in the league, this is a weaker starting rotation. 

However, Papelbon should keep saves a possible win every week, and should help Big Orange squeak into the playoffs.

BDAZ:  Whereas Big Orange went hitting, BDAZ really made a jump on starting pitching in the draft, after securing three solid players in his infield.  Justin Morneau, Evan Longoria, and Jimmy Rollins are studs, and they look to have great years.  But AJ Pierzynski, Raul Ibanez, Alfonso Soriano, Jay Bruce, and Dan Uggla don’t provide a whole lot of depth, with Ibanez at least adding some dingers. 

But the starting pitching of Zack Greinke, Jon Lester, Javier Vazquez, Chad Billingsley, and Jake Peavy is startling, pun intended.  When the dust settles each game week, look for BDAZ to take a lot of wins, strikeouts, and ERA categories.  Though, closers Frank Francisco and Chris Perez, with Jason Frasor and Ryan Madson, is nothing to brag about, but you never know, in a given week it's anyone’s guess.

Lockdown:  I am going to be honest here, while Lockdown has historically had an atrocious fantasy team, he did a good job with his pitching staff, and his hitting is looking all kinds of legit.  Miguel Cabrera, Dustin Pedroia, Carl Crawford, Adam Jones—these are all big names here. 

But aside from the influx of hitting from those guys, Lockdown looks like just another middle of the road team.  Or does he? 

Sure, names like Yovani Gallardo, Josh Johnson, and Wandy Rodgriguez might raise a collective eyebrow or two from the average sports fan, in the fantasy world, these guys are good.  The only real weakness on this team is relief pitching, but with the rest of this lineup, Lockdown should make a competitive run towards playoffs, if he stays active—on second thought…

Economy Busters:  The Champ returns for another run at a title, and with yet ANOTHER strong draft, he looks like the clear-cut favorite to win the league all over again.  Meanwhile, all of this is coming from a guy that does not even like to watch baseball.  It is sad, really. 

Looking at the offensive side of things, Economy Buster is loaded with talent, both young and old.  Alex Rodriguez, Carlos Pena, Jayson Werth, Nate McLouth, and Robinson Cano should provide plenty of consistent play for Economy Busters, with players like Michael Bourn, Alex Rios, and Alexei Ramirez providing some big games mixed in with some mediocre ones. 

The pitching for Economy Busters has been historically strong, and this year is no different.  Felix Hernandez, Ubaldo Jimenez, and CC Sabathia make for a pretty filthy 1-2-3.  Fuentes, Aardsma,and Rivera are a solid closing staff, though a tad weaker than last year’s monstrous pen. 

At the end of the day, and most likely end of the season, look for Economy Busters to be pushing for a first round bye, and one of the first two division titles.

Jedi Knights:  A relative newcomer to the league, Jedi Knights makes a return to the fantasy baseball world with a draft that was pretty decent considering it wasn’t drafted by the head manager.  Prince Fielder, Pablo Sandoval, Aaron Hill, Jason Bay, and Denard Span highlight a potent offensive squad. 

But the anchor of this team is the 1-2-3 punch of Tim Lincecum, Johan Santana, and Tommy Hanson.  If Santana stays healthy, Jedi Knights may run away with this thing.  Relief pitching is there too, Soria is a stud, and Hoffman, Jenks, and Gonzalez should provide some help with closing games out as well.

The Halos: The Halos drafted first overall.  Obviously he took Pujols.  But to have Pujols, V-Mart, Mark Reynolds, Nelson Cruz, AND BJ Upton on his team—I mean, youth movement much?  It is like Pujols is surrounded by babies, adding Kyle Blanks, Carlos Gonzalez, and Chris Davis in the mix as well. 

Adam Wainwright, Clayton Kershaw, Matt Garza, and Ervin Santana round out the youth movement by the Halos, but the bullpen of K-ROD, Leo Nunez, and Matt Lindstrom is nothing to go bragging to your parents about.  All in all, The Halos are going to struggle often and tear it up every so often.  But the inconsistency that could reside on this team scares me from making any kind of bold prediction for playoffs.

Farmville Power Rankings

1. Economy Busters: Really? I mean, he won the league last year, had another strong draft, AND still he has luck on his side.  I mean his fiance beat people in the bracket, including me, and had Montana taking it to the barn, let's get serious here guys.

2. Jedi Knights: Perhaps luckily for everyone else, Jedi Knights was forced to have a friend draft, and still drafted strong.  Considering that Jedi Knights knows more about baseball than anyone I have ever personally met—phew! Could have been worse!

3. Lockdown: This pick could easily be interchanged with the Halos.  Whereas Lockdown has a strong team, he is one of the more lax managers.  If his team starts to get riddled with injuries, look for this ranking to drop significantly, maybe to the doghouse.  But the season just started, assumptions cannot be used, and therefore, strong team—but can the manager match?

4. Big Orange: Casey Flynn throws down the gauntlet.  After the wedding, the League will only be able to see Chant on the weekends and every other holiday.  All kidding aside, if Big Orange can get and stay healthy...watch out.

5. BDAZ: We three (Morneau, Longoria, Rollins) will have a tough time carrying around the hitting categories on this team, and to expect a team to win EVERY pitching category EVERY week is just silly.  Or is it, Economy Busters?

6. The Halos: The League Nursery is open, and Albert Pujols has offered to babysit all of the youngin's in the league.  This team just has bust written all over it.  Don't like it, sue me. Oh wait, Angels fan, not Dodgers fan. My bad. I just went there.