Bleacher Report - Articles by Chris Hester

Cubs Fans Are Desperate and RotoHog is Here to Help!

Chris Hester — Sat, 04 Oct 2008 16:07:52 -0400

Just when Chicago Cubs fans thought it couldn't get any worse...could we be seeing a Wrigley Field return of Steve Bartman? Check out this press release from RotoHog.com:

LOS ANGELES, CA, Oct 02, 2008 (MARKET WIRE via COMTEX) -- RotoHog ( www.RotoHog.com), a leading fantasy sports operator and software developer for major brands, professional sports leagues and media companies, announced a unique marketing initiative today with RazorGator, a leading company in the secondary ticket market, involving the Chicago Cubs playoff push and their lifelong fan Steve Bartman.

Nearly five years after his infamous incident in Game Six of the 2003 NLCS, RotoHog.com is giving Steve Bartman a second chance by offering Mr. Bartman $100,000 to show up and attend one of the Cubs' playoff games as the North Siders vie for their first World Series crown in 100 years.

Should Bartman decide to take RotoHog up on their offer to attend Game Five of the NLDS against the Dodgers at Wrigley Field on Tuesday, October 7 or NLCS Game One on Friday, October 10 in seats provided by RazorGator, RotoHog will up the ante and give Mr. Bartman $100,000.

"The world of sports took Steve Bartman's life away and now a fantasy sports company is trying to give it back," said RotoHog CEO Kelly Perdew. "The fallout that this Cubs fan had to endure over the past five years was unfortunate and RotoHog wants to ensure that this guy is appreciated for who he really is at heart...a sports fan."

Through RazorGator ( www.RazorGator.com), the industry-leading source for Hard-To-Get(SM) tickets, RotoHog has secured tickets for Bartman should he choose to attend the game.

"Ticket sales are driven by diehard sports fans and Steve Bartman was that for the Chicago Cubs," said Scott Roback, Vice President of Business Development for Razorgator. "We assume he is still cheering just as hard for the Cubs now and from what we're hearing from the team's fans, it is time for him to be welcomed back to the Cubs family.

"RotoHog turned to us because RazorGator is the ultimate destination for Hard-To-Get(SM) tickets. We wanted to be a part of this opportunity to help change the karma for the Cubs and Steve Bartman."

To support the initiative and make sure Mr. Bartman is received in a positive light, RotoHog.com will also be launching a Second Chance fantasy football league for other sports fans to participate in, as well as a "Forgive Bartman" Facebook application. The application is part of a series of social network initiatives designed to expand the presence of fantasy sports on MySpace, Facebook and other social networks around the world.

Now, all of this is based on the hopes that the Dodgers/Cubs series will indeed reach a Game Five (which isn't likely at all) but would Cubs fans be willing to give this guy another chance? Should Mr. Bartman DESERVE a Second Chance? If you were Steve...would you take the money and go risk your life at Wrigley Field!?

Fantasy Football Challenge

Chris Hester — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 10:54:44 -0400

Well everyone, it's that time of year again.

People are buying their Fantasy Football draft magazines and picking their "locks" and "sleepers" for the upcoming season, scanning the Internet trying to find as many different places to play their favorite Fantasy sport on-line and praying for victory.

Well here it is folks, an open challenge.

Come one, come all.

I will be running a Bleacher Report writers league on RotoHog.com.

If you are interested, simply leave me a comment or feedback and I will send you the information needed to sign up.

Never been on RotoHog?

You may want to go check it out!

They have revolutionized the way people play fantasy sports!

So, go check out the site, sign up for an account, and be prepared to meet your match in the Bleacher Report league.

There is no limit to the amount of teams one league can have so everyone can sign up and take their chances.

Football season is right around the corner.

Do you have what it takes to tackle the Hog?

The Untouchables: Cincinnati Reds Style

Chris Hester — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 09:02:29 -0400

Jayson Stark is reporting that when two clubs recently contacted Cincinnati Reds General Manager, Walt Jocketty, about the possibility of becoming trade partners they were given a list of “untouchables” from the Reds roster.

Jay Bruce

This one was pretty obvious.

Bruce may be, if it were up to me, the only person on such a list! Jay has done it all so far during his short MLB career.

He started out blistering every pitch thrown his way only to fall into a deep slump where he couldn’t make contact if the pitch were tossed under handed to him!

Now, it seems, he is starting to figure everything out again and it shows by the line drives he’s been spraying all over the field.

This kid is the future of the Cincinnati Reds organization and there is zero chance they’ll get rid of him.

Edinson Volquez

Again, like with Bruce, this one was pretty obvious.

Edinson was lights-out during the majority of the first half of the 2008 season and may end up being the starting pitcher for the NL in this year’s All-Star game. The Reds picked him up in an off-season trade-involving Rule five drafts pick Josh Hamilton.

Edinson has come back down to Earth a little in his last couple of starts by getting roughed up by the Toronto Blue Jays and then not exactly dominating the Pittsburgh Pirates.

He certainly has shown the ability to be “the guy” to lead this rotation for many years and one would expect Cincinnati to hang on to this kid for as long as possible.

Johnny Cueto

After his first start of the season against the Arizona Diamondbacks many fans had already started thinking, “where in the world has this kid been hiding?”

Johnny has dominating stuff and is a big-time strikeout pitcher.

In a ballpark as small as Great American, that is exactly what the Reds need. Johnny went through a little rough-patch this season, but has seemed to slowly figure things out again.

I may say that Johnny is more of an “untouchable” than Edinson!

Joey Votto

How good has this kid been?

The Reds finally have someone to play first base that can hit the ball— hard.

They have had quality first basemen; don’t get me wrong, but when was the last time Cincinnati had a power guy playing that position?

Joey isn’t going to slug 40-50 homeruns each season, but he will give you 30+ and 100+ RBI it looks like.

He tends to still looked over matched occasionally while at the plate, but his future is just as bright as the rest of the list so far and also spent time in AAA playing LF.

If the Reds decide against resigning Adam Dunn Joey has the ability to take his spot in the outfield if needed.

Edwin Encarnacion

Wait, seriously?

Don’t get me wrong, EE is a solid, respectable, up and coming third baseman, but untouchable?

Edwin has come a long way with his defense and may indeed compete for a Gold Glove at the position in the near future— combine that with the flashes of power that he shows from time to time and I could see why another team may want to take a chance on the kid.

What I can’t see is how we could possibly say no to the right deal.

If EE were to be traded and Jeff Keppinger had to slide over and play third base for the Reds, would that be so horrible?

Color me confused on why exactly Edwin is on the untouchable list!

So, that’s it folks, that’s the list.

What was that you said?

That can’t be the entire list?

I beg to differ, according to the report, that’s the whole thing.

Where is Aaron Harang on that list?

What about Brandon Phillips?

Very good questions and I wish I had the answer to that.

Aaron has not exactly looked like himself this season, but still manages to go out every fifth day and give the Reds a chance to win. His run support has been an absolute joke this season and that has to play a part in the mental aspect of his game.

How can he be expected to go out and shut down the opposing offense when he knows in the back of his mind that if he gives up two runs he’s probably going to lose?

That’s a lot to ask out of anyone!

In my opinion, if Aaron is not an “untouchable” he is as close as it gets without actually being on the list.

I am thinking that it will take a package like the A’s received in exchange for Dan Haren for the Reds to ever consider moving Harang to another club.

As for Brandon Phillips, what does he provide the club?

How many second basemen in the NL give you the offensive threat that BP does each time he comes to the plate?

Chase Utley, Dan Uggla, and Jeff Kent— that’s about all I can come up with.

Factor that in with the fact that Brandon is probably the best defensive second baseman in the league and one must wonder how he is not an “untouchable”.

Brandon always seems to be smiling while he’s out there and seems to love the town of Cincinnati. This guy could easily be the Face of the Cincinnati Reds right now.

Or he could be traded, I guess…

NBA Draft 2008: The Good, the Bad, and the...Wait, They Picked Who?

Chris Hester — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 08:33:19 -0400

The enigma that is the NBA Draft has come and gone leaving a few teams in good shape, a few teams in bad shape, and a few teams that…well, we don’t know where they are!

Let’s take a look at the teams that did well in last night’s draft, shall we?

1.) Portland Trailblazers: The Blazers have become known for their “draft day deals,” and they certainly didn’t disappoint us Thursday night. Picking up Nicolas Batum from the Houston Rockets will be a move that helps them a few years from now, but stealing Jerryd Bayless out of Indiana was simply amazing. They did, however, have to give up former Duke standout Josh McRoberts…good luck with that Pacers.

2.) New Jersey Nets: The Nets have managed to almost completely revamp their roster in a matter of two days. Shipping Richard Jefferson off to Milwaukee for Yi Jianlian and Bobby Simmons was just a start. With their first pick Thursday night, they found themselves in the “right place at the right time” as Brook Lopez fell into their laps with the No. 10 pick. Add in Ryan Anderson and Chris Douglas-Roberts, and the Nets had a heck of a draft this season. The future is starting to look a little better in New Jersey.

3.) Houston Rockets: Well, little did anyone know at the time, the 2008 NBA Draft turned out to be a good one for the Houston Rockets. Selecting Nicolas Batum left many “experts” scratching their head, but everything was sorted out later that evening. The Rockets shipped Batum out in exchange for Donte Greene and Joey Dorsey. Donte will give the Rockets another slashing/scoring threat, and Dorsey brings them a little bit of attitude that the team desperately needs.

Now, on the flip side of the coin, let’s look at the teams that didn’t fare so well.

1.) Charlotte Bobcats: Maybe Michael Jordan should stick to what he knows, playing basketball. The man that extremely overvalued Kwame Brown with the Wizards showed once again that he has very questionable judgment when it comes to talent. The Bobcats need a lot of help in a number of areas, yet they chose a small PG in DJ Augustin (while Jerryd Bayless was still available) and then took project Alexis Ajinca with the No. 20 pick. Charlotte is a franchise that seems to be stuck in neutral, and they did nothing to move forward in this year’s draft.

2.) Sacramento Kings: The Kings are in desperate need of a frontcourt player that can step in and give them big minutes immediately. With Brad Miller’s act starting to wear thin in Sac-Town, they decided to take Jason Thompson with the No. 12 pick of the draft. Jason Thompson…really? This one is a head-scratcher to say the least. Thompson could develop into a great player down the road, but the Kings do not really have the time to wait.

3.) Indiana Pacers: Trading Jermaine O’Neal was something this franchise had to do, that’s a given. Getting oft-injured guard T.J. Ford and the 17^th pick in this year’s draft in return makes you wonder just how far O’Neal’s fallen in the last few years! The Pacers did the right thing in selecting Jerryd Bayless with the 11^thpick, but immediately trading him to Portland (along with Ike Diogu) for Brandon Rush and Jarrett Jack was a little strange. The Pacers also receive the draft rights of the slow but talented Roy Hibbert from the trade with the Raptors, which may not be all that bad. What is bad, however, is now Indiana has T.J. Ford, Jamaal Tinsley, Jarrett Jack, Brandon Rush, Marquis Daniels, Travis Diener, Ronald Murray, and Kareem Rush all at the guard position next season. If this was a 6-foot-6 and under league, they may dominate…unfortunately, it’s not.

Ok, so we’ve seen who has “won” and who “lost” in this draft, now let us look at the teams that made us go…huh?

1.) Seattle Supersonics: The confusion with Seattle began with their first pick of the night. It was widely rumored that they were high on Brook Lopez but may want to go with a true point guard to help run the offense along for Kevin Durant. They decided to grab that PG with their first selection, and to everyone’s surprise, it was Russell Westbrook, not Jerryd Bayless. If that wasn’t enough, the Sonics then selected a HUGE prospect in Serbe Ibaka who they may not even have on their team for a few years. This team does not have the depth to take that sort of risk in my opinion, but that’s why the GM’s make the big bucks.

2.) Memphis Grizzlies: Color me completely confused about what’s going on in Memphis. Drafting Kevin Love seemed like the right move with their first pick of the draft. The fact that they traded him (along with Mike Miller, Brian Cardinal, and Jason Collins) to the T’Wolves for OJ Mayo and some expiring contracts was a tad confusing. They also pulled the trigger on another trade in which they acquired Donte Greene and Joey Dorsey for a future second round pick. Now that trade makes some sense as Greene gives them a young athletic scorer and Dorsey gives them someone to battle under the ….wait…they traded them already too? Well, in this trade, they acquired Darrell Arthur, who was the “darling” of the draft as he received a standing ovation when his name was finally announced with the No. 27 pick of the evening. Arthur could be a very nice pick up for the Grizz if he turns out to be healthy, but all of this movement still leaves me thinking…”huh?”

NBA: Memphis Love(s) Them Some Mayo

Chris Hester — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 04:28:26 -0400

Every mock draft I read described Kevin Love as being a perfect fit for the Memphis Grizzlies.

After basically giving away Pau Gasol last season to the Lakers, the Grizzlies went into the 2008 NBA Draft desperately needing some help in their front court. With the #5 pick, they seemingly got that help in UCLA's Kevin Love.

Memphis fans everywhere (well, somewhere) went to bed last night excited about the fact that they now have a big man to help strengthen a front-line that includes Hakim Warrick, Kwame Brown, and Darko Milicic.

Kevin could start right away and give the team an exciting starting five for the 2009 season: Mike Conley; Mike Miller; Rudy Gay; Hakim Warrick; Kevin Love. That is certainly a group of starters that may help get some butts in the seats next season in Memphis.

Needless to say that excitement turned to confusion Friday morning when Grizz fans woke up and read the sports page.

During the night, while fans dreamed about the future of this group, an 8 player trade with Minnesota went down that sent O.J. Mayo, forward Antoine Walker and guards Greg Buckner and Marko Jaric to Memphis for Kevin Love, shooter Mike Miller, Brian Cardinal and Jason Collins.

Somewhere Rudy Gay is shaking his head and repeatedly muttering a single word: why?

This was going to be Rudy’s year to take over the team. Management drafted a player that has played with bigger stars before and seemed to be perfectly fine with not being the No. 1 option. A solid, hard working kid to help battle down low and help Gay turn into the star he seems destined to become.

That all changed as soon as this trade was announced.

This team will obviously now become the O.J. Mayo show. O.J. is marketable and will help the Grizz sell tickets and make Sportscenter each night. Kevin Love does not carry the “star power” with him that O.J. brings with him.

Rudy Gay has all of the makings to be a star, but he is still developing and will need another year or two before he becomes a “household name”. O.J., for a number of reasons, is already there.

Don’t get me wrong, O.J. is a very talented youngster that easily could be a star in the NBA. He should step right in and take the place of the departed Mike Miller. O.J. and Rudy could turn into one of the strongest 1-2 punches in the league.

The duo should go a long way in helping Mike Conley grow into a very solid PG.

The Memphis backcourt is now set for years. On the flip-side, with Warrick, Milicic, Kwame Brown, Antoine Walker, and rookie Donte Green…their frontcourt could use a few upgrades.

While I don’t “Love” this trade for the Grizzlies, the Gay/Mayo combination should be an exciting one to watch!

Hey Bronson Arroyo, If you Don't Want to Be a Yankee...Just Say So!

Chris Hester — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 09:04:30 -0400

With the trade deadline quickly approaching, there are rumors flying around everywhere about a number of different Cincinnati Reds’ players. Bronson Arroyo has heard these rumors.

Arroyo had this to say about what he's been hearing: "I know this is probably my best year in my whole career to be traded—we're not playing our best ball and my salary (nearly) triples next year. Me and (fellow starter Aaron) Harang, both."

He continues: "If we're not winning, it all depends on the owner of the club. How long do you want to ride something and see if you're going to win or do you pull out the big-dollar guys and do something?"

As a Reds fan, I remember the day Bronson was traded to Cincinnati. He made it pretty clear that his heart remained in Boston and he, hopefully, would return there one day and end his career with the Red Sox.

So, how do you think this “Bostonian” would take the news that he may be heading to the “Evil Empire”? What could he possibly do to derail this trade without making it public that he has NO desire to go to New York?

How about this: 1IP; 11 H; 10 ER; and 3 HR allowed against the struggling Toronto Blue Jays last night?

If you are Brian Cashman, how could you possibly think of bringing this guy to your team now?

I know the Yankees are desperate for pitching right now, but this guy got shelled by arguably the worst team in the AL East. What would he do against the Sox or upstart Rays?

Bronson may have sealed his own fate last night and assured himself that he will not have to worry about wearing the Pin Stripes anytime soon.

Well played Mr. Arroyo.

Shaq Bids Fairwell to his Badge

Chris Hester — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 12:34:02 -0400

Hope your rap was fun Mr. O'Neal.

Just one day after a video of Shaquille O'Neal "freestyling" about former team mate Kobe Bryant made its way to the internet, Shaq has been stripped of his special deputy's badge.

"I want his two badges back," Arpaio told The Associated Press on Tuesday. "Because if any one of my deputies did something like this, they're fired. I don't condone this type of racial conduct."

During a rap session that was recently posted on TMZ.com, Shaq pokes fun at Kobe with the line "Kobe couldn't do it without me".

Had that been the end of it there may not have been a problem. Unfortunately, Mr. O'Neal continued and in the process used language that Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio found unacceptable.

So there it is, no more Deputy Shaq roaming the streets of Arizona fighting crime.

On the other hand, honestly, what was Shaquille O'Neal doing with a badge in the first place? Is law enforcement considered a game now? Is this a Celeb Reality show?

Congratulations Mr. O'Neal, you have managed to turn what should be an exciting time in the NBA into another spectacle with the focus on you. Well played sir.

Did Don Imus Really Just Say That?

Chris Hester — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 16:43:22 -0400

Honestly, is this person really "out there" enough to stick his foot in his mouth again?

You guys remember Don Imus, right?

The guy that nearly lost his job because he thought it was a good idea to compare the Rutgers women’s basketball team to a bunch of "nappy-headed hoes".

Well folks, he's done it again.

According to an AP News Report out of New York, during an on-air conversation Monday about the arrests of Dallas Cowboy’s cornerback Adam “Pacman” Jones, Imus asked, “What color is he?”

Told by sports announcer Warner Wolf that Jones is “African-American,” Imus responded, “There you go. Now we know.”

Now we know.

What exactly do we know, Mr. Imus?

That you are indeed a racist?

Maybe we should give Mr. Imus the benefit of the doubt on this one.

Maybe he just wanted to make sure we weren’t talking about the cute loveable yellow Pacman that we all grew up loving.

One would think, maybe even hope, that after the fireworks that followed his comments towards the Rutgers ladies that Imus may have finally learned where his boundaries lie.

Apparently he hasn't.

Mr. Imus, you've had a nice long career but it may be time to hang it up. You simply can't come on air and broadcast to the world your racist and degrading thoughts towards other people.

I think even Howard Stern is embarrassed for you right now!

Adam Dunn to Toronto? Not on Your Life!

Chris Hester — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 07:13:38 -0400

Adam Dunn will almost certainly become a free agent at the end of the 2008 season. Picture how nice the Toronto Blue Jays' lineup would look with his 40+ HRs plugged in between the young Alex Rios and All-Star Vernon Wells.

J.P. Ricciardi has made sure this will never happen.

During his Wednesday-night radio show, a caller asked J.P. about the chances of making a trade for the Cincinnati Reds slugger. His response has drawn the ire of the laid-back Texan.

"He's a lifetime .230-.240 hitter that strikes out a ton and hits home runs.
Did you know the guy doesn't really like baseball that much? Did you know the guy doesn't have a passion to play the game that much? I don't think you'd be very happy if we brought Adam Dunn here...We've done our homework on guys like Adam Dunn, and there's a reason why we don't want Adam Dunn."

Needless to say, Adam was ready to fire back once informed about Ricciardi's comments. Quoting an interview from C. Trent Rosecrans blog, Dunn responded with:

I don’t know the clown. I don’t know, and you can use the word ‘clown’ if you like.

I’ve seen it, I haven’t heard it. I really don’t care what one guy thinks, to be honest with you. If I’m a G.M., I don’t know that I’d go out of my way to discredit a player—if I’m a player. He’s obviously won more than me, I guess. Or hasn’t. I know nothing about him.

The players didn’t say anything, it’s just some clown sitting in a front office, pushing paper. I don’t play for any other reason than the guys here. I’ve said it all along, it doesn’t bother me what people say or think, especially someone outside of the organization who has no idea of anything that goes on here. He’s not even in our country. This guy’s in another country talking ****.

He felt like he needed to say it for some reason, I have no idea why, and I don’t care. He could be in this clubhouse right now, I wouldn’t know. I couldn’t tell you his name, what he looks like—he’s got a big mouth, that’s all I know about him.

I read it, I just read it. I don’t care. He doesn’t have to use my name, use someone else’s name. I’m not taking up for him, because I don’t care about him. I don’t know who he is. I’m not going to sit here and defend someone who’s going to sit there and say I don’t care about baseball.

It pisses me off, to be honest with you. He doesn’t even know me. If he knew me, fine. Say what you want. But this guy doesn’t know anything about me, other than what he sees on whatever SportsCenter they have on up there. That’s it.

It pisses me off. It does. I just told you it pisses me off when people who have no idea what the **** goes on around here and then say—I don’t give a **** what people say in this clubhouse, I don’t care, besides what’s said in here. I don’t care about the perception people have of me, if anything happens, it looks like I ain’t going to Toronto. I can eliminate one team.

I’m not converting my dollars into looneys and twoneys just yet. They’re really good, actually."

Call me crazy, but why in the world would a GM of any team go out of his way to bash a player from another team?

Does Dunn strike out a lot? Certainly. That being said, he could be the power threat a team like Toronto needs to put them over the hump.

If J.P.'s scouts actually sit and watch the Reds play (I wouldn't wish that on anyone right now), they would note that one of the main reasons Adam strikes out so much is because he is so selective at the plate.

He has a very good eye, but tends to lay off too many borderline pitches, and that typically gets him behind in the count.

All of that being said, you can basically plug him in for 40+ home runs and 100+ RBI each season. Any lineup, including yours Mr. Ricciardi, would love to have that type of threat in the middle. You sir, have made sure that will never happen.

Congrats.

The Greatest Choke in NBA History...or Just Really Poor Coaching?

Chris Hester — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 17:09:07 -0400

How does this happen? How could this happen? This didn't just happen did it? Not to this team.

The Lakers have arguably the best coach in NBA history AND one of the greatest players to ever lace a pair of sneakers. How could a team with those two "elite" NBA guys allow their team to collapse like this?

First I would like to place the blame on Mr. Bryant and his lack of leadership.

Once the Celtics started making a comeback it seemed as if Kobe decided to try and lead by taking over the basketball. This is NOT what the Lakers needed. They needed someone to step up, get the team together, and go back to playing the type of ball that gave them the 24 point lead they were in the process of blowing.

How many times, as a leader, could you allow Sasha to be exploited on the defensive end of the court without getting him some help?

How many times, as a leader, do you allow Lamar Odom to simply vanish into thin air during a time of need?

Where was Kobe? Where was his MVP leadership? How could he not grab his team, get their heads on straight, and try to get the team to take a collective deep breath?

Was it completely Kobe's fault? Obviously not.

You have to give credit to Boston for fighting and clawing their way back into the game and never giving up. It would've been easy and almost understandable for the Celtics to just pack it up in the first half and start thinking about game 5.

Doc Rivers did not allow this to happen. Doc kept telling his guys that they couldn't come back all in one possession. Do not get out of the game plan. Just keep doing what we do and we will be fine. And his guys believed that.

Where was Phil Jackson during this time? What happened to the "Zen Master" and how could he allow this to happen? How could one be considered one of the greatest coaches in NBA history and continue to allow his team to make mental mistakes?

Now I know, a coach can only do so much. He can't go out there and play defense and make shots for his team. What he can do is run a defense that may stop the other team from taking the ball straight to the basket any time they wanted.

What he can do is remind his team that this is the NBA FINALS and no lead is large enough.

What he can do is get his "bigs" to actually post up, take the ball to the rim, and give an effort to rebound occasionally.

Phil Jackson was flat out out-coached and the Lakers showed everyone their lack of heart and passion. Something like this can't happen.

This can't happen on the biggest stage your sport will see.

This can't happen in a "must win game."

This simply can't happen to a team with Phil Jackson and Kobe Bryant.

Or maybe it can. Nice season Lakers, see you guys next year.

GET WELL ANDREW BYNUM...THIS TEAM NEEDS YOU.

RotoHog Fantasy Baseball: June 11 Update

Chris Hester — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 18:04:40 -0400

What a day Wednesday turned out to be! I had a little bit of a dilemma that almost came down to a coin-flip, believe it or not!

Before I get into my position-by position analysis, I would like to send my deepest regrets to the NL Central. How boring will baseball be in this division now that both Pujols and Soriano are on the disabled list?

This would be a perfect time for my Reds to make a move...except for the fact that they aren't any good. Oh well, on to the Fantasy Baseball game!

C: Ryan Doumit (PIT): After missing out on Ryan's onslaught last night, I was torn on whether or not to start him this evening against the Nats. John Lannan has been solid so far this season for Washington and, let's face it, what were the chances Doumit would have two solid nights in a row? Well, I took a chance, and it paid off! Doumit went 3-for-4 tonight with a home run for a nice 19.9 points! Nearly 20 points is great out of any position, but getting that type of production from a catcher is just astounding!

1B: Lance Berkman (HOU): Lance has been a mainstay in my lineup for most of the season and has certainly made his stay worthwhile! Tonight, however, he was actually a little worse than using an EMPTY slot and saving $51! Lance put up an 0-for-3 night with a strikeout and one run scored. When I came home and saw Houston put up six runs I just knew Lance drove in at least half of them! What were you doing out there tonight, my man!?

2B: Mark DeRosa (CHC): In the never-ending search for a quality second baseman for my team, let me introduce you to today's contestant: Mark DeRosa. DeRosa has actually been pretty hot coming into today's game, so I figured "why not ride the hot hand?!" This is a philosophy you will see later in my strategy, as well! So Mark, whose real position should probably be UTL since he plays basically all over the field, may havee arned himself another start in the Hester lineup after tonight. Nothing spectacular from Mark (2-for-4 with a run scored) but he gave me almost six points from a position I can never seem to get right.

SS: Michael Young (TEX): Speaking of the "hot hand!" Who at the shortstop position has been hotter than Mr. Young lately?! Michael brought with him a 10-for-22 month of June, and I figured I would try and milk him for every bit of the streak that I could. I picked him up as soon as the trading floor opened and placed him right into action. How'd that work out for me, you ask? Well, I guess there are two sides to every coin. When a player is scorching hot you can say "man, he's killing the ball, I should get him on my team"...which is what I said. OR you could say "man, he's hot right now...he HAS to cool off at some point, right?"...which is what I should have said! Young's 0-for-5 night could've hurt a lot worse without the one walk and one run scored! I'm thinking I'll give him another try tomorrow...but I'm mad at him right now.

3B: Ryan Braun (MIL): Ahh, Ryan Braun. Which side of this madman showed up today? To steal a line from a very good movie, "Braun is like a box of chocolates..." I think you know the rest. Tonight, however, "Decent" Braun showed up. This is the Braun that owners could tolerate if he could just have more nights like this one! There is nothing wrong with 1-for-5 with a double, one run scored, and one RBI. I'll take that every night, sir.

OF: Matt Holliday (COL): Well, Mr. Holliday, you aren't in AAA anymore, I guess! After ripping apart the minors, I decided to purchase Mr. Holiday as soon as he came off the DL. That, so far, has not been a great decision for me! Holiday is now 1-for-7 with four strikeouts since coming back to the Rockies lineup. I may go ahead and sell him off in the morning and look for another outfielder until he shows he is ready to hit MLB pitching!

OF: Ryan Ludwick (StL): Ahh, how can you go wrong with a slugging contact guy in Great American Ballpark?! After last night's show Ryan put on, I had no choice but to buy him! Now, you must understand how hard this was for me being a Reds fan, but at some point you have to put your pom-poms down and use your head. Ryan rewarded me for stabbing my team in the back tonight by going 2-for-4 with a walk, home run, two RBI and two runs scored in St. Louis' thrashing of my Reds tonight. I guess if my team has to lose, at least they lost by giving me some points!

OF: Milton Bradley (TEX): This may be the hardest purchase I've made all season. Every ounce of dignity I had was telling me not to make this purchase. I am not sure there is a more worthless person in MLB than Milton Bradley (Jose Guillen notwithstanding). That being said, I need points! Another Ranger who has been tearing the cover off of the ball lately earned his way into my starting lineup and promptly let me down (see Josh Hamilton last night). Milton went 0-for-3 with two strikeouts, two walks and a run scored, earning me a mere 1.5 points. Was that enough to sell my soul to the baseball devil? I don't think so.

UTL: Justin Morneau (MIN): Wasn't this guy the MVP of the American League recently? What has happened to Mr. Morneau?! I have bought and sold him a number of times this year just waiting for him to hit a hot streak. I finally may have caught him at the right time. I have been keeping an eye on him for the last week or so and decided the time was right to give him another chance. He did not disappoint by going 2-for-5 with two doubles and three RBI. Just for that I will keep him around for a little bit longer!

SP: "King" Felix Hernandez (SEA): I bought Felix before the season began and just knew he was going to be the anchor of my pitching staff. Little did I know by "anchor" I meant the thing that would hold my team down! Felix was horrible early in the season and forced me to sell as soon as possible! That being said, he has turned his season around quite nicely and that was never more apparent that today against Toronto. Now, don't get me wrong, the Blue Jays aren't exactly "Murderer's Row," but any time you can get a stat line of 8 IP, 4 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 8 K and a W out of your starting pitcher, you, too, will be extremely happy! Those numbers equal out to a nice little 81-point start for King Felix today!

SP: John Lackey (LAA): Here is where I had to make my coin flip. You see, I have both John Lackey AND Scott Kazmir on my team. I have been in this situation before and found that starting BOTH starters from the same game is typically a recipe for disaster. So I tossed, I turned, I read, I studied, I asked for help, and finally I decided..."go with the guy pitching at home." Well, after a 26-pitch first inning in which Lackey gave up a run and the Rays left the bases loaded, I was certainly second-guessing my pick! I had to go out for a bit tonight, so you have no idea how excited I was when I came home and saw his final line: 7 1/3 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 7 K, and the W!? 60 points? Really?! Kazmir wasn't bad tonight, earning 21 points, but for once I had a 50-50 chance at something and actually picked the winning side!

RP: Bobby Jenks (CHW): DNP

RP: Salamon Torres (MIL): DNP

As for tomorrow, I think I may leave the core of my lineup the same. I like most of the guys I have in there right now, but will surely do some tweaking. I am taking some sort of a gamble tomorrow, as I am starting Jake Peavy fresh off of the DL. Let's just hope he is the Peavy of old and not the one that got roughed up before being put on the shelf!

Until tomorrow...g'night everyone.

RotoHog Fantasy Baseball: June 10 Update

Chris Hester — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 18:22:53 -0400

I am really starting to get into the RotoHog fantasy baseball game and I figure I might as well start a play by play of how things are going. If you do not know about RotoHog or how they work, I recommend you checking out the website, you'll quickly become addicted!

So, because things started to get humorous early this week I will give you a quick synopsis of what's happened so far this week.

Sunday my team looked like this:

C: Empty (There are no catchers I really like right now so I have been choosing to leave this spot blank for now. That being said, I purchased Ryan Doumit off of the trading floor the day he came off the DL. I am waiting for him to show he's knocked the rust off before I place him in the lineup)

1B: Ryan Garko (CLE): He's been hot lately and he's trading for under $10. I thought I would pick him up and give him a chance. Of course, the game I decide to start him he promptly goes 1-3 for a wonderful 3.30 points. I decided to make some serious roster changes before Monday so I quickly sold him in the morning and bought purchased a new 1B. Of course, Monday Garko continues his hot hitting and smacks a 3 Run HR. I probably didn't need those points, right?

2B: Brandon Phillips (CIN): BP has been slumping lately but as a Reds fan I know he tends to shine against LH Pitching. Unfortunately I was able to "Black Cloud" him into an 0-4 day. Again, making a big change to my roster I decided to sell him and use the $ to build strength elsewhere. What did Brandon do Monday, anyone know? Ohhh that's right, he hit a HR.

SS: Michael Young (TEX): Young has been hitting well this year when he's able to stay on the field. Of course Sunday he gets the day off! Seeing that Orlando Cabrera has been sizzling hot I dropped Young and picked up OC.

3B: Maicer Izturis (LAA): Here is my sleeper pick. He's under $4 and has been tearing the cover off of the ball. He is currently on a 10 game hitting streak and is unbelievably cheap!

OF: Manny Ramirez (BOS): Who's been hotter than this guy?! He is in a zone these days that reminds us why Boston puts up with"Manny being Manny". What did he do for me Sunday? 1-4 with 2Ks. Thanks ManRam.

OF: Ryan Braun (MIL): This guy is like a roller coaster! Every timeyou think he's getting out of his slump he throws in a nice 0-4 with 3K game that makes his owners want to pull their hair out! He is a true risk/reward type of guy!

OF: Carlos Beltran (NYM): Maybe I'm holding on to the past a little too long, but didn't this guy use to be spectacular?! I am still waiting for the Houston Astro Carlos Beltran to reappear.

UTL: Dan Uggla (FLA): This guy just flat out loves to HACK. Facing a Reds team that has been up and down this season Dan was a nice pick to start Sunday as he gaveme a 2-3 game with 3 RBI...then I sold him.

So here is how today (6/10/08) went for me.

C: Empty: Again, leaving Doumiton my bench until he....wait....he did what tonight? 4-4 with 2 HR? Ok, excuse me while I get a tissue for my tears. 48 points on my bench? Hmmm, that's just...ok let's move on

1B: Lance Berkman (HOU): Another HUGE night for the best RotoHogplayer in the game! He is expensive($47) but he continues to produce! Tonight he went 3-4 with a triple, HR and a nice 5 RBI for a very helpful 36 points. Tomorrow he is facing a guy that he is 3-6 off of in his career. Lance will surely be in my lineup again tomorrow evening.

2B: Ian Kinsler (TEX): Not a bad night, but not a great one. I sold Phillips and since then he's been stinging the ball and showing off his power. Kinsler, on the other hand, went 1-4 with a BB and a run scored. He gave me a little over 6 points so it could've been worse. I think I'll run him out there again tomorrow and see how we do. He is only 1-6 against Royals starter Kyle Davies, but the Rangers have been hitting the ball well lately, I'll roll the dice (well...probably).

SS: Orlando Cabrera (CHW): Orlando had a rough night tonight against the Tigers. 1-5 with a CS = -4 points for me tonight...not good! Tomorrow the Sox are facing Justin Verlander whom OC is hitting an abysmal .083 off of in his career. Justin hasn't been dominating this season but I still think I'll go ahead and drop Cabrera when the trading floor opens tomorrow.

3B: Maicer Izturis (LAA): Another productive night for less money than a gallon of gas. Maicerwent 2-4 with 2 runs scored tonight and continues to get zero RotoHog respect. Tomorrow, on the other hand, may put a stop to his hot streak. The Halos face Scott Kazmir and he has been flat-out nasty lately. I will probably move Maicer to the bench tomorrow but keep him on my roster. Braun is eligible at 3B so I will probably just move him up to this slot.

OF: Josh Hamilton (TEX): There are some questions about his health right now so I took a gamble when I purchased him. That gamble certainly did not pay off tonight. Josh struggled going 0-5 with 1K, 1 RBI, and 1 run scored. Being that he is almost $47 I will certainly be dropping Mr. Hamilton in the morning.

OF: Ryan Braun (MIL): Braun showed everyone why he's worth keeping on your team tonight when he hit his 17th HR of the season. He continues to swing a hot bat and will absolutely be in my starting lineup again tomorrow.

OF: Matt Holliday (COL): Back from the DL and beating up pitcher in AAA I tooka chance on Holliday this evening as well. Showing a little rust he went 0-3 with 1K and 1 run scored. His price will probably take a significant drop in the morning so I may sell early and buy him again late. I like this guy and think it's only a matter of time before he starts knocking the cover off of the ball!

UTL: Jay Bruce (CIN): Dusty Baker placed Jay Bruce into the leadoff spot for the first time in his professional baseball career. Bruce in-turn went 1-4 and got -0.8 points on the evening. This guy just has "it". Even his outs are hit hard and he hustles all of the way down the line on groundballs. The league is starting to make a little adjustment to him and throw him first pitch junk since he likes to hack early, but I think Jay'll be alright. He will be sticking around on my roster for a little bit longer.

SP: Being that I am a little over the suggested innings pitched usage I decided against starting anyone tonight. I have 3 of my SP going tomorrow (2 of them facing each other) so I have a hard decision to make in the morning!

RP: Bobby Jenks (CHW): DNP. With the White Sox losing to the Tigers their closer did not see any action tonight.

RP: Salomon Torres (MIL): The Brewers were smoked by the Astros tonight so Mr. Torres got the night off.

I will be making some more "strategic moves" when the floor opens and hopefully that will produce more points! A disappointing day ended with 56.86 points. Not a horrible night considering my pitchers saw zero action. That being said, let's hope for a better day tomorrow!

Maybe We Should Give the Elite XC and Kimbo Slice Some Credit?

Chris Hester — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 13:26:32 -0400

In marketing you learn that there's no such thing as bad publicity. Maybe that's what the Elite XC people had in mind when they threw the inexperienced Kimbo Slice into the main event of their first Primetime Network show.

Everywhere you look these days you see an article talking about what people thought about the fight. There are people that are talking about Kimbo as if he's the savior of MMA and there are others that are saying how he's overrated and has no business in the ring with "real fighters."

Do you see a trend though? EVERYONE is talking about him! Both Kimbo and Elite XC have been plastered on the frontpage of many a newspaper/sports website since the controversial fight last weekend.

The media circus surrounding this fight can only lead to good things for the company and Mr. Slice.

Think about it, the show was a ratings hit for CBS and also sent many viewers to YouTube for a chance to see some of Kimbo's street fighting exhibitions.

What will all of this craziness mean for his NEXT fight?

Hopefully Elite XC learned from its mistakes (the show admittedly had a few) and puts together a solid lineup for the next show which has the potential to push MMA over the hump and bring a windfall of revenue. Dana White and UFC may start second guessing the fact that they passed CBS' offer.

My How the Tables Have Turned

Chris Hester — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 07:56:12 -0400

Something struck me this weekend while I watched Cincinnati sweep the Braves right out of Great American Ballpark. Could it be true? Can this really be happening? For the first time in a LONG time, is it more exciting to be a Cincinnati Reds fan that it is to be a fan of the Atlanta Braves? Say it ain't so!

The Braves were, without a shadow of a doubt, the team of the '90s. While the Reds had their bright spots (1990 World Series Champs; 1995 Division champs) the Braves were the team to beat, year in and year out. Since then, the Reds have fallen to the bottom of the NL Central, and the Braves still find a way to compete for the top of the NL East since the beginning of 2000. That, however, may be coming to a halt in the very near future.

After watching the series this weekend, I began to compare and contrast the two teams, and what the future may hold for both. After doing so, I was pretty excited about what may be in store over the next few years! Let's take a look at a position-by-position breakdown from my eyes.

Catcher

Ok, this one is really not close and actually probably shouldn't be the first point of the discussion since it favors Atlanta so strongly! Brian McCann is, without a doubt, one of the most offensively gifted catchers in MLB. There really is no logical person that could possibly muster up an argument for that.

On the other side of the coin, Cincinnati runs out its three-headed monster of mediocrity! When looking at the three catchers the Reds have on their roster (David Ross; Paul Bako; Javier Valentin), I personally do not see a potential everyday catcher among them. This is one spot on the field that the Reds could certainly stand to upgrade.

Advantage: The Braves have the advantage at this position both for the short-term and long-term future.

First Base

Acquiring Mark Teixeria last season from the Texas Rangers was a wonderful move by the Braves' front office...for now. Coming over at the trade deadline last season, Mark put on a slugging exhibition that finally let the world see what type of player he could be. So far this season, Mark has been a tad disappointing while hitting .276 with nine HR and 42 RBI. The biggest problem with Mark is the fact that he is a free agent after the season, and there are rumors abound that he will be the starting first baseman in Fenway next season.

As for Cincinnati, they have finally given the 1B job to youngster Joey Votto, and he has shown (so far) that he can handle the position. Joey was brought up in September last season, and saw some time at first while platooning with Scott Hatteberg.

After a slow start, Votto started to get a little more comfortable and began spraying hits all over the field. 2008 began much like 2007 did for the youngster. After being named the starter, Joey got out of the gate rather slowly, and people started second-guessing Dusty Baker's decision to start the kid rather than the veteran Hatteberg.

Votto has since silenced those critics. Hitting .281 with 10 HR and 29 RBI, Joey is showing everyone that he will be a mainstay in the Cincinnati lineup for many years to come.

Advantage: I would say as of this moment the Braves have the advantage at first with Tex. That being said, if they do not lock him up to a long-term deal, the future looks like it will favor the Reds.

Second Base

Kelly Johnson has not been flashy at 2B, but he has certainly gotten the job done. After starting slowly in 2008, Johnson has turned it on and provided the Braves with solid contributions night in and night out. With little help to be found in the minor leagues, the Braves hope Kelly will continue to produce and give Atlanta the type of professional play he has shown so far this season.

In Cincinnati, the Reds former GM Wayne Krivsky should have a warrant out for his arrest after stealing Brandon Phillips from the Cleveland Indians. Phillips has brought his boyish smile and enjoyment of the game to a town that has quickly fallen in love with him. Providing Gold-Glove defense and some surprising pop in his bat, Brandon has anchored himself in the Reds 2B position for the foreseeable future.

Advantage: I would say the Reds have a clear advantage at this position for both right now and for the future. BP seems as if he will find his way to his fair-share of All-Star games in the future.

Shortstop

When the Braves decided to deal Edgar Renteria in the offseason, it showed the world that they felt Yunel Escobar was ready for prime time...and so far they have been correct!

Escobar has given the Braves solid (sometimes flashy) defense while batting .300 with five HR and 25 RBI. This 25-year old will be part of the Braves' foundation for quite a while. He many not put up the huge numbers his NL East counterparts do (Reyes; Rollins; H. Ramirez), but he more than gets the job done.

The Reds captured lightening in a bottle when they placed Jeff Keppinger in the starting SS position. Before going down with a knee injury, Jeff was hitting .324 with three HR and 21 RBI. For a while he was the only bright spot for the Reds offensively.

Since he's gone down, Jerry Hairston Jr. has stepped right in and continued the hot hitting that Kepp was giving the Reds. For the season, Jerry is batting .327 and has provided the Reds with a number of key at-bats, including a miraculous suicide-squeeze against the Braves this past weekend.

Advantage: This one is close. I think Escobar has the brighter future, but Keppinger (when he returns) has shown that he can flat out hit! Kepp doesn't make the great plays, but he rarely makes mistakes. I would call this a draw for now and give a slight advantage to the Braves for the future. To me, however, this one is a toss-up.

Third Base

Chipper Jones continues to pad his already Hall-of-Fame worthy stats. Hitting a ridiculous .409 with 13 HR and 38 RBI so far this season, Chipper is showing that at 36-years old, he is still an MVP candidate. He may have lost a step defensively, but if he can find a way to continue swinging the bat even close to the level he is right now, people will be able to overlook any other deficiencies.

The concern with Chipper is always how long he will be able to stay healthy. The Braves have given him some time off when needed this season, but Chipper's history shows that the injury bug will show up at some point this season.

The Reds are not quite as lucky when it comes to the 3B position. Now don't get me wrong, Edwin Encarnacion is a pretty good player, but he is nowhere near the player Chipper Jones is. Edwin has shown flashes of brilliance with the glove at third, but also goes through some mental lapses where his throw ends up in the crowd!

He has given the Reds 10 HR so far this season, but is hitting a minuscule .239. EE is only 25-years old, so he certainly has room to grow, and he has shown signs of improvement so far this season.

Advantage: It goes without saying that the Braves have a HUGE advantage right now at 3B, not only over the Reds, but pretty much any other MLB team.

Chipper has been nothing short of amazing this season, and has shown he's not quite ready to call it a career just yet. The future, on the other hand, may favor Cincinnati. Chipper is coming up on the end of his career, and the Braves seemingly do not have much in the minor-league system to take his place. Edwin, like I mentioned, is only 25-years old and still has a very high ceiling.

Outfield

The Braves decided against bringing back Andruw Jones (which turned out to be an excellent decision), and instead went with newly acquired Mark Kotsay in CF. While Mark will never be the player that Andruw was during his career with the Braves, he is certainly a great stopgap until Atlanta's group of young OFs (Jason Heyward, Jordan Schafer, Brandon Jones) are MLB ready.

Greg Norton has given the Braves solid contributions, but seemingly is nothing more than that. Jeff Francoeur has been disappointing this season, but still shows flashes of ability that keeps Braves fans interested in the kid. With one of the best arms in the league, one must wonder why any 3B coach would test this kid in RF. He should be a mainstay in that Atlanta OF for quite a while.

The Reds have a couple of decisions to make very soon when it comes to their OF. Adam Dunn becomes a free agent after the season, and the small-market Reds must decide if they are willing to pay him the money he deserves. He will never be mistaken for a Gold-Glove OF, but Dunn gets the job done defensively while putting up astounding offensive numbers.

On the other side of the OF is "The Kid"...well, maybe more like "The Old Man" now! Ken Griffey Jr.'s time in Cincinnati is clearly coming to an end. The Reds must decide if they are going to trade him after he hits his 600th career HR or keep him around for the rest of the season simply to decline his option in the offseason.

Griff still has some pop, and though has lost a step in RF, he still makes the great play from time to time. Then there is Jay Bruce. Now, I know this kid can't possibly keep up the pace he has started his rookie season off with, but all you can say at this point is "wow"! After lighting the league on fire for a week, Reds fans everywhere are sitting on the edge of their seat every time this kid comes to bat!

Advantage: I would say that currently the Reds have a significant advantage in the OF. The future, however, depends on what the Reds do with Adam Dunn. If he is re-signed, then I would say the future also belongs to Cincinnati. If they let Adam walk in the offseason, then it makes things a little harder to read.

The Braves need to give their young kids a chance at some point to see how they react to the big leagues, but that's a little harder to do when you are actually in contention for the division!

Starting Pitching

With John Smoltz seemingly finished (which in itself is sad), the Braves' rotation is not looking good. Glavine isn't getting any younger, and he is showing his wear-'n-tear these days.

Tim Hudson has loads of ability, but for some reason has not been able to 'put it all together' since joining the Braves. Mix that in with the fact that the injury bug keeps biting him, and a lot of Atlanta fans have been unhappy with his performance with the team. He has been giving them 14-16 wins per year, but there was so much more expected out of him that I am not sure he COULD have lived up to his expectations.

Jair Jurrjens and Jo-Jo Reyes both have lively arms and could provide Atlanta with solid starts, but neither seem like "front-of-the-line" guys that will take over what the team loses with Smoltz out.

The Cincinnati rotation is finally starting to come together. Aaron Harang hasn't pitched like the ace he was last year, but he has been steady with a 3.86 ERA and 78 Ks. The Reds offense has given him little, to no, run support, which explains his awful 2-8 record on the season.

Edinson Volquez has been nothing short of spectacular so far this season. Coming over from Texas in an offseason trade for Josh Hamilton, Edinson has dazzled Reds fans with his minuscule 1.46 ERA and eye catching 83 Ks. Armed with a 'plus' fastball and at times an unhittable changeup, Volquez has started the season in Cy-Young-Award winning fashion.

Johnny Cueto's major-league debut was one of the most ridiculous things I have ever witnessed. The kid looked like Pedro Martinez reincarnated! Since then the league has adjusted to him and he is no longer getting people to swing at his slider off the plate. His last few starts have been solid, and it seems like he may have figured out that his first start was a fluke and he needed to change a few things to survive.

Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde...oops...I mean Bronson Arroyo has been serviceable as long as you view him as your No. 4 starter. He has been all over the map so far this season, and you really do not know what to expect when he starts a game.

The No. 5 slot for the Reds has been a TRAIN WRECK so far this season, and they are wheeling out their next "Star of Tomorrow" this week in Homer Bailey. We will wait until after his first start of the season before passing judgment on Mr. Bailey.

Advantage: The Braves had a run where they had the best starting pitching in the league. Unfortunately for Braves fans, that run is over. Tim Hudson is very solid, but really doesn't posses the No. 1-type stuff you are looking for. With Smoltz out for the season, I would certainly give the Reds the advantage both right now and in the future. The future is bright for the Cincinnati rotation.

Bullpen

The Braves bullpen was forced to go through some changes when Rafael Soriano went on the DL earlier this season. Now that he is back, and everyone is allowed to "shift back" to their regular spots, the Braves' bullpen can finally settle down.

Soriano is flat out nasty, and as long as he's healthy, the closer roll is certainly solidified. Manny Acosta filled in adequately for Soriano while he was out, and can now step into the set-up role nicely. Once they get Mike Gonzalez back, the Braves should have a very good back-end of the bullpen.

After what was a joke of a bullpen last season, the Reds went out this winter and brought in a few pieces to help settle things down. Francisco Cordero was given a ton of cash to come in and lockdown the ninth inning for the Reds. So far he has done a great job, collecting 11 saves to go along with his 2.10 ERA.

Jared Burton (Rule Five pick from Oakland) has found his groove again, and is currently blowing people away in the eighth-inning set-up role. Mix in a healthy Bill Bray and Gary Majewski to go along with Jeremy Affeldt, and the Reds' fans finally do not have to hold their breath every time the manager goes to the pen.

Advantage: I would call this one a close toss up, but with the youngsters in the Reds' bullpen, I would have to give the 'future' advantage to Cincinnati. The Braves key bullpen guys have all had injury concerns over the last few years, which brings their durability into question.

My late Grandfather (God rest his soul) was a HUGE Atlanta fan when I was a kid. We would sit and argue back and forth for hours over which team was better (an argument that I knew I had no beef in, but couldn't let him just steamroll me). Well grandpa, I think our arguments would be a little more fun for me now.

Joba Chamberlain Capable of Enlivening Yankees?

Chris Hester — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 09:43:02 -0400

Tonight's the night.

Can you feel the excitement?

Major League Baseball fans everywhere are buzzing about the first major league start for young, pitching sensation Joba Chamberlain.

This may be exactly what the New York Yankees need to jump start what has thus far been a very disappointing 2008 season.

If Chamberlain can find a way to show up to Yankee Stadium tonight and give New York six or seven strong innings, it could be just what the doctor ordered.

I am not sure I have seen a pitcher in recent memory with the fire and pizzazz that this kid brings to the mound.

Manager Joe Girardi certainly didn't do the young man any favors in terms of match-ups, however!

Joba makes the first start of his career against divisional foe Toronto and perennial CY Young candidate Roy Halladay.

The kid certainly has his work cut out for him tonight.

It will be interesting to see how he makes the transformation from RP to SP.

Will he be able to give the Yankees six or seven quality innings? Will he flame out early and provide more disappointment for the Bronx Bombers?

There is one thing for sure, I can't wait to watch and find out!

Flip Saunders Fired? Where does Detroit go from here?

Chris Hester — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 06:31:34 -0400

The picture above says it all. Like Flip, I am sure there are many NBA fans worldwide scratching their collective heads right now. Flip, after a 176-70 regular season record, a 30-21 postseason record and leading the Pistons to three straight conference final appearances, finds himself without a job this afternoon.

Now, I can understand that Joe Dumars and the Piston front office expects the best, but honestly, where do they go from here? The "free agent" coaching market isn't exactly booming this season! Mike D'Antoni was probably the one "marquee" name available and he has already been scooped up by the New York Knicks.

One would imagine if Flip decides he wants to continue coaching, he will have little trouble landing a new job (Doug Collins may want to tell Chicago "yes" pretty soon), but I am completely lost on what direction Detroit goes now. They are an aging team with an "old" nucleus and no true offensive threat.

Now don't get me wrong, Billups, Hamilton, Prince and Wallace are certainly very talented offensively, but in today's day and age you need that one guy that can simply take over when needed. A Kobe Bryant/Lebron James/Chris Paul/Deron Williams type of player, and Detroit simply does not have that guy on their current roster.

The Eastern Conference is getting stronger each year and Detroit may have just taken a large step back. Is it time for Tom Izzo to give the NBA a chance? If you are a Pistons fan, do you really want to trust your team in the hands of an inexperienced NBA coach?

However, according to report, assistant coach Michael Curry seems to be a lock of becoming the next coach of the Pistons. He has been an assitant for a few years but has never been a head coach before. I don't think he will be the right guy to motivate and keep the Pistons core players hungry and urgent.

As the picture states, to me, this move is a real head scratcher.

MLB All-Star Game 2008 (NL Picks)

Chris Hester — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 17:55:25 -0400

If the MLB All-Star game took place tomorrow, who would you want to see? Who would deserve to make the starting lineup? Here is my opinion, feel free to share yours.

National League

C: Brian McCann (ATL): McCann continues to be the best hitting-catcher in the National League. At some point the Braves are going to have to consider moving him to another position in order to keep him on the field for many years to come. Batting .318 with 10 HRs and 33 RBI, McCann certainly deserves to start behind the plate for the NL.

1B: Lance Berkman (HOU): .385 AVG, 17 HRs, and 47 RBI as of June 1, really? Berkman continues to chase the Triple Crown in what has been a flat-out amazing start to the season. This switch-hitting stud is protected in the Astros' lineup by slugger Carlos Lee, and has certainly been taking advantage of seeing good pitches.

2B: Chase Utley (PHI): Mr. Utley is putting up numbers you expect to see out of your 1B or OF positions! There really is no comparison at 2B to the type of season Chase is currently having. Batting .312 with an eye-popping 20 HRs and 50 RBI, Chase is redefining the 2B position.

3B: Chipper Jones (ATL): Any one of you remember watching someone hit .400? No? Me neither. That is the type of history Chipper is chasing this year. Even after a little bit of a slump Chipper is still batting at a .405 clip for the season. With Teixeira finally heating up, Chipper should actually start seeing quality pitches. If this is the case, and he can stay healthy, this could be an exciting second half for Braves fans.

SS: Jose Reyes (NYM): The young SS debate rages, but I will take Reyes on my team every day of the week. The prototypical leadoff hitter is like a ball of fire and energy, who seems to do whatever he can to lift the spirits of his team. Jose started the season trying to be someone he's not, sitting quietly in the dugout and playing "emotionless baseball". This idea turned out to be a very bad one, as Jose started the season in a slump that (not surprisingly) ended when he went back to his fiery self.

OF: Nate McClouth (PIT): After beating Chris Duffy out for the starting CF spot in Spring Training, Nate McClouth has turned out to be the bright spot for a disappointing Pittsburg Pirates team. .309 AVG, 13 HRs, 42 RBI are certainly the type of numbers that would earn anyone a spot on an All-Star team, but doing it for the lifeless Pirates is an even more impressive feat.

OF: Alfonso Soriano (CHC): Soriano has changed positions more than any "superstar" in recent memory. Finally settling in LF, Soriano's bat has recently started heating up. His overall numbers look good (.287/13/35) but he was scolding hot during the month of May. Alfonso may be a bit of a liability in the field, but his bat more than makes up for his fielding miscues.

OF: Jay Bruce (CIN): Ok, so I am a homer, but should we penalize Jay for the Reds unexplainable delay in bringing this kid to the majors? All he has done in his first week as a major leaguer is hit .590 while homering in three straight games.

Viewed as a "can't-miss" prospect, Jay is showing the world why Reds fans everywhere were so excited to see him finally get a chance to play with the big boys.

DH: Albert Pujols (STL): What's an All-Star game without Prince Albert? Oh wait, didn't he sit on the bench and watch them lose recently? Ok, well that can't possibly happen this season!

With all of the media talking about Chipper Jones, Lance Berkman, and Chase Utley's start to the 2008 season, somehow Albert's .363/14/37 production has been overlooked. One of the top five offensive players in the game today, Albert is a perfect fit for the DH slot. Just give him a stick and let him come swat it every other inning...sounds like a winning philosophy!

P: Edinson Volquez (CIN): After a dominating start to the season, I see no way to leave this kid off my list of pitchers for the NL team. A blistering fastball followed by what is becoming one of the best change-ups in the game has made Mr. Volquez a must-see for baseball fans everywhere.

P: Brandon Webb (ARZ): Doesn't this get boring? Brandon's not flashy, he's not vocal, he doesn't get the 10+ strikeout games, doesn't throw the ball 100 MPH. What he does do, however, is win baseball games. Throwing what is easily the best sinker in the majors, Brandon continues to mystify hitters and put up a very solid ERA and pick up victories.

P: Johan Santana (NYM): Ok, so maybe Johan hasn't had the year everyone expected out of him (yet), but what is an All-Star game without this lefty? Johan has shown flashes of the brilliance we have come to expect out of him, but has yet to 'put it all together'. He will need to channel his old self if the Mets expect to see the playoffs in 2008...but for now, I want him on my All-Star team.

P: Brad Lidge (PHI): Brad Lidge is making people quickly forget about the mess he became his last couple of years in Houston. Yet to blow a save in '08, Lidge is 14 for 14 with an ERA below one, and 30 punchouts. He has rediscovered the release point on his slider and is showing everyone now that he is still one of the most dominant closers around.

So what do you think? I will post my AL selections tomorrow but until then, let me know what you think of my NL squad.

Baseball's Bright Future Continued

Chris Hester — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 16:25:53 -0400

PITCHERS

Johnny Cueto and Edinson Volquez—Cincinnati Reds: Cincinnati Reds fans across the world have more than just their young sluggers to be excited about. There is a buzz around this pitching staff that hasn't been felt around this city for many years!

Johnny Cueto's first major league start set the bar pretty high for this youngster (five perfect innings; 7 IP, 1 H, 1 ER, 10 Ks) but he has the stuff to reach everyone expectations for years to come. Cueto has absolutely electric stuff that just explodes out of his hand almost effortlessly.

Pair this 22-year old with the newcomer Edinson Volquez (24-years old), and these two create a potentially dominating one-two punch for the Reds. Volquez was acquired in a trade this spring from the Texas Rangers for Josh Hamilton, and has been nothing short of amazing since joining Cincinnati.

Leading the majors with a mind-blowing 1.46 ERA, Edinson has proven (at least for now) that good pitching beats good hitting...even at Great American Ballpark!

Justin Verlander—Detroit Tigers: People forget that Justin is only 25-years old, as it seems this kid has been around forever! Verlander emerged on the scene in 2006 showing off his 100 MPH fastball, and almost unhittable curve. Quite possibly owning the best "stuff" in the majors, Verlander (barring injury) will certainly be something special and exciting for fans to watch for many years.

Joba Chamberlain—New York Yankees: The "Joba Era" begins now. The Yankees are finally moving this young man into their starting rotation, and it has created quite a buzz around Yankee Stadium. This kid is beyond exciting on the mound, and has the kind of swagger that will go over big in New York. I, like many others, am very excited about seeing his first start this week!

Tim Lincecum—San Francisco Giants: "He'll never make it long term", "poor mechanics-I'd pass on him". Reportedly, this was part of the scouting report during before the 2004 MLB Draft, convincing the Cincinnati Reds to pass on the young fireballer.

Now, it's a little early to determine how he will be "long-term", but right now, this kid is flat out nasty. With a motion that is oozing with deceptiveness, Lincecum is certainly living up to the nickname given to him by his teammates..."The Franchise".

Scott Kazmir—Tampa Bay Rays: Part of one of the most lopsided trades in the history of baseball, Scott Kazmir is now showing why he was "untouchable" while coming up through the New York Mets' minor-league system. Untouchable...so everyone thought!

In a move that can only be explained as "desperation", the Mets traded Kazmir to the Rays for a 'veteran' arm (Victor Zambrano) to help in their playoff run of 2004. This move was, and still is, widely criticized by Mets fans and the New York media and rightfully so.

Anyone that saw Scott pitch during his "up-and-coming" years knew what kind of pitcher he would turn out to be, and no one could believe that he could possibly be traded for any Zambrano not named Carlos. The Rays have a very bright future, and it all begins with the ace they stole from New York.

Kimbo Slice—Is This What We've Come To?

Chris Hester — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 08:21:19 -0400

I really hate the fact that my first article is going discuss a topic that I admittedly know very little about, but what can you do?

I, like thousands of other people, have spent time in the last year or so watching Kimbo Slice destroy people on YouTube and was actually half-way excited to see his "primetime network T.V. debut" this past Saturday.

What I saw, however, made me wonder...what did I just watch?

The entire fight had a WWE quality to it in my eyes (which again, I admit to not know much about MMA fighting).

It seemed that Kimbo was in trouble on a couple different occasions during the first two rounds of the fight against James Thompson. I began to think to myself: "What a disaster this would be for Elite XC if their biggest drawing star gets beat by a fighter no one outside of the MMA guru's has even heard of? Will they let this happen?"

Well, I got my answer in round three. After a shot that busted open Mr. Thompson's ear, the ref immediately jumped in and stopped the fight—the fight that Mr. Thompson seemingly was winning by a large margin (to a novice like myself).

Afterwards it was explained that due to the fight being on network television the ref was instructed to step in "before any serious damage took place."

But if that is the case, why was the fight not stopped in round two when Kimbo was pinned to the ground and taking elbow after elbow directly to his face?

This was a sad display of what potentially could have been a great night not only for Elite XC, but also for MMA fighters around the world.

I stumbled upon the BJ Penn fight last week and let me tell you what...THAT is how MAA fighting should be.

Granted UFC has the edge when it comes to athletes and experienced MMA fighters, but people tune in to this type of event to see skilled fighters battling it out in the octagon—not a freak show that a year or two ago was seen on videos beating people up in someone's backyard!

If ratings were all they cared about, why not throw a ton of cash at Brock Lesnar or Bobby Lashely. I am sure, if possible, one of those two would've taken the money and come out to test the Elite XC waters. Instead you had Kimbo Slice huffing and puffing his way to a VERY questionable victory.

I think this may have pushed Elite XC back a step or two rather than moved them into the same light as the UFC.