Bleacher Report - Articles by Scott Fender

Los Angeles Angels Hit Hard, What's Arte To Do?

Scott Fender — Sat, 18 Apr 2009 07:54:01 -0400

The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim are hurting; bad. The opening two weeks of baseball have turned the favorites of the division into an emergency crisis. A quick rundown of the past month shows why the Angels are spiraling out of control and none of it is because of the management or play.

DISCLAIMER: For those who read my first edition of the article, I made a mistake in my writing and I apologize. I wrote Juan Rivera was suspended for 50 games for violating the MLB Drug Policy.

Turns out I was wrongly informed and did not double check the source my information came from. I apologize for the confusion I gave you readers, I apologize for my incorrect writing, and I apologize to Juan Rivera for writing a false statement about him.

Now, onto my article.

To begin the season, the Angels began with three of their best five pitchers on the DL.

Everyone knew Kelvim Escobar wouldn't be ready until after the All-Star Break. But, the surprise came when injuries ravaged the top two pitchers in their rotation.

John Lackey and Ervin Santana got hit with injuries that will sideline them for quite sometime. Ervin Santana may be out for the year, possibly longer. Lackey is out for about a month with his injury.

Unfortunately, tragedy struck next. Adenhart's life was taken from him after a drunk driver hit his friend's car he was riding in. He and two others died.

As sad and tragic as it is, the Angels as a franchise and business had to look forward at the team and season.

This means that now four of the starting five pitchers going into the season are not with the team.

Joe Saunders and Jered Weaver stand alone along with a rag tag bunch of relievers and triple AAA ball players.

The Angels were still getting by, until the outfield started taking shots from the injury bug.

Vladimir Guerrero is going to be out for at least a month with his injury. The Angels success this year has been linked to how Vlad performs.

The heart of the offense and the heart of the pitching is gone from the team.

The Angels are being decimated across the board and are getting their depth tested. The Angels have not responded well.

What are the Angels to do?

Fans are rambling to make a trade. Jake Peavy is being talked in rumor circles as a possible trade target.

Pundits say there are plenty of free agent arms available. Pedro Martinez is still out there and a possible agent.

My personal opinion is the Angels extend an offer to Maddux, but that is my biased opinion.

The front office is deciding to stay in house and work it out. Arte Moreno is holding his cards tight to his chest and letting it ride on the flop. He has promoted Shane Loux, asked Darren Oliver to turn back into a starter, and used long reliever Dustin Moseley.

UPDATE: Since writing this article, Moseley has been placed on the DL. Rich Thompson and Dan Davidson have been called up to replace Vlad and Dustin on the roster.

The Angels are hurting, to say the least. They are banged up, emotionally scarred, and betrayed by one of their own. This is possibly one of the unluckiest franchises in the last decade.

Hopefully, the Angels do what they do best: trust Mike Scioscia and each other, and persevere through this tough season.

Bleacher Report Fantasy League: Week One in the Books!

Scott Fender — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 03:57:41 -0400

Week one is over. Evan Longoria is No. 1 in the game right now, Emilio is No. 2, and Josh Johnson is the best pitcher right now. With plenty of surprises at the top of the boards and plenty of season left to play let's dive into the league and its activities this week.

Here are the standings after week one:

1.	Leftfield Lunatics	8-2-0
2.	End of the Dugout	7-2-1
3.	Brooklyn Bashers	5-4-1
4.	RIP Harry Kalas	5-4-1
5.	Pothead Penguins	5-4-1
6.	A's	4-4-2
7.	Civardi's BALCO Boys	4-4-2
8.	The LOUsers	4-5-1
9.	Machete Squad	4-5-1
10.	MetAL MuLiSHa	4-5-1
11.	Sons of Cuyahoga	2-7-1
12.	LB's Maniaxs	2-8-0

Some of the other managers have given their perspectives on week one. End of Dugout and Leftfield Lunatics have written articles already. Here is a team by team look of the league.

As you can see, Leftfield Lunatics has jumped to the top of the standings after week one. Three teams are tied for third.

One thing to make mention of, Undefeated in 6 OTs has changed there name to RIP Harry Kalas. What better tribute then to name your team after a fallen favorite.

Leftfield Lunatics rise to the top can be attributed to Evan Longoria and his pick up of Emilio Bonaficio. He also has the number four hitter in Alfonso Soriano.

Now that we have done a quick recap, let's take a look at the moves and deals of the past week.

Leftfield Lunatics was led by Evan Longoria, but he won't have that bat in his lineup the rest of the year. He and Brooklyn Bashers orchestrated a deal this week that will possibly send shockwaves for the rest of the season.

The deal is this:

Brooklyn Bashers send:

Conor Jackson (Ari - 1B,OF)
Nick Markakis (Bal - OF)
Josh Beckett (Bos - P)

Leftfield Lunatics send:

Evan Longoria (TB - 3B)
Curtis Granderson (Det - OF)
Joba Chamberlain (NYY - P)

I talked to both managers and here is what they each had to say about the deal:

Leftfield Lunatics are going to be first.

You are giving up a great young talent in Evan and Joba but are getting some young guns in Nick Markakis. What was the original offer and how did it develop into the three for three trade that it is?

Well, the Bombers first asked us about Jose Reyes, but I wasn't willing to part with our No. 1 overall draft pick. We had a glaring need for a staff ace, since we had absolutely nobody that could really hold up the ship.

So we then added another player, and finally a third to even it out. That's just what ended up working for us. One or two players just didn't cut it on our end.

Who was the main cog in you making this trade?

Scott Boras

Many will wonder why you gave up Evan Longoria, who is tearing the cover off of the baseball right now. Please respond to those critics.

I don't see any critics. Look, the kid can play, everyone knows that.

Every year, you get a couple players who will tear it up at the beginning of the season, but to think he, or anyone, would continue a pace like that throughout the entire season is out of their mind.

We gave up a hot bat, but we also brought in another young guy in Nick Markakis who we feel can absolutely tear it up as well, playing in a suddenly effective Orioles offense.

We know what he is capable of when he drove in 112 two seasons ago and we feel like he could be even better this year.

What is your expectations for your three new players and why did you want to make this trade?

We just expect them to be themselves. Markakis is the cog that makes the Orioles' offense go, so we expect him to hit for power and score just like Evan. We needed to make a move for a staff ace like Josh, who will consistently contribute wins and a positive ERA to our young rotation.

Finally, we brought in Conor Jackson as part of the deal and we really liked his versatility, being able to play the infield and outfield. He won't hit tons of home runs but we know he will contribute a very solid batting average.

Let's hear what the Brooklyn Basher's had to say:

You are giving up a great young talent in Nick Markakis but are getting some young guns in Evan and Joba. What was the original offer and how did it develop into the three for three trade that it is?

It was very hard for me to give Markakis away, but you have to give good players to get good players. The original trade was my, Khalil Greene, Rich Harden, and Matt Lindstrom, for Lunatic's Jose Reyes.

He rejected it and responded with this to say, "I'm going to reject this for now. Reyes is probably the guy I'm least interested in moving, especially when the best player I get in return will probably spend 75 percent of the season on the DL. If you're really interested in Reyes, I'd try to work out a 2-for-2 deal but I'd want a starter like Beckett in return."

After that, I tried a couple more times for Jose, but it was too tough, I then started to look at some of his offers and build on them. I liked his ideas, he wanted Beckett, and even though I like him, and he had a great first start, I wasn't totally against trading him.

We shot several offers back and forth to each other over the course of a couple days and we finally agreed on this one here.

In my opinion you are giving up solid talent but are getting more in return in Evan and Curtis. Do you want Joba or was he the piece to swing Beckett over to the Lunatics?

Who wouldn't want Joba, lol. The real answer is that Lunatics gave me three pitchers to choose from him. He let me pick from, I think, Verlander, Slowey, and Joba. I picked Joba, because he's got a lot of nasty stuff, and I see him having a great year.

I think that Beckett is only slighter better than Joba, and that Joba will put up Beckett like numbers throughout the season.

What is your expectations for your three new players and why did you want to make this trade?

I think that Granderson is going to put up an average close to 300. and have good all around stats. Longoria, is only getting better and will build off his rookie of the year campaign.

Joba is filthy and has the ability to dominate every team he faces, and I'm happy to have that ability on my team. The trade started when Lunatic's left a message on the board asking for offers. I sent a couple offers and then we built from there.

Bleacher Creatures who got the better part of this deal? respond in comments and the poll.

For the free agent pick up of the week I give it to Left field Lunatics, for jumping on the Emilio Bonaficio bandwagon. Left field had an astounding 29 moves by the end of the week and two teams hadn't even done anything yet. To put it into perspective, RIP Harry Kalas had the second most with six moves.

Finally, here are my tips and pickups of the week.

First, do not panic or overreact. It is week one. Don't go dropping your top picks for Emilio, Swisher, or Lind. While they are solid picks, you do not need to become the type of manager who picks up the flavor of the week.

This is not fantasy football. The season is not 16 weeks and 16 games long. You have to think of the 162-game season. Fantasy baseball is all about potential and taking a hot player for a cold player, but stars are still stars. Every roster has a few players cut worthy.

Scan the wire and see if there are players who you think will do better over the year, week, or day, for your team. Think of this as the VORP for fantasy sports. VORP stands for value over replacement player. If a player on the waiver is better than your player on your team, pick him up.

If you have a rookie he will make mistakes and have bad games, but there is untapped potential. Winning teams exploit untapped potential and proven vets to create a solid team all around.

Five Players you should target this week:

Emilio Bonaficio (FLA 2B,3B)- if you do not know this name by now, then why are you playing fantasy baseball? He started the year off with an inside the park home run. He is not a power threat and is a bit sloppy at third base so if your league has errors as a stat he may not be what you want.

But he has the 2B eligibility that many crave and can run like the wind. I forecast three home runs, .270 average, 45 SB's.

Nick Swisher (NYY-1B,OF)- He is a utility player for the Bronx Bombers, but he is a hot bat. The Yankees bailout investment at 1B will logjam Swisher, but with four positions he can play he will be finding at bats. Not a regular starter but if you have Tex you may want him to cover for the next two games.

Also, he tried his hand at pitching today throwing one inning of scoreless relief with a K. While that won't count sadly to your team, it shows the Yanks will use him anywhere. He should get at bats through the end of the week which is what you play, week to week, in head to head leagues.

Adam Lind (TOR-OF)- The hot hitter for the Jays is finally up in the bigs and looks like he is staying for good. With plenty of power potential he should find a spot on any team. If he is there grab him if you need the power or another outfielder.

Kyle Davies- (KC-SP)- I targeted Zach Grienke in most of my league drafts this year, but KC has a great pitcher in Davies as well. He has nasty stuff and can get you the K's you need. He will struggle from time to time but he can be a quality pitcher in the AL. Take him if you need a spot starter or have an extra spot.

Oakland Athletics Pitchers- This team is sending out great relievers and great starters. But no one has heard of any of them. Take a look at the team depth chart. Players you should look at: Trevor Cahill, Santiago Casilla, Michael Wuertz, Dallas Braden, and Brett Anderson.

The Athletics are stacked it seems in the pitching department. They have plenty of arms ready to pitch and some on the DL. Take notice and keep an eye on them.

This concludes week one of the season! keep checking in every week for more updates on the league and tips from yours truly, the Pothead Penguins. Thanks and good luck in your leagues! (Unless you are in the Bleacher Report League in which case good luck on taking second.)

The B/R Fantasy Baseball League Presents: Team Pothead Penguins

Scott Fender — Sun, 12 Apr 2009 01:39:08 -0400

Before I introduce the future champions of the Bleacher Report Fantasy Baseball League, I would like to send my condolences to the Adenhart family and just as important to the families and friends of the other two killed in the crash, Henry Pearson, 25, and Courtney Stewart, 20. Also, a heartfelt wish to a recovery and how devastated the lone survivor in the car, John Wilhite, must feel.

Finally, to the driver who took those lives and ignited a community, I ask all to forgive him as hard as it is. I do not know him nor do I wish to, but he is but one of thousands who are arrested daily and people are killed by these drunk drivers. He is but a scapegoat for an increasing problem in today's society.

Onto the reason for this article. As some may know and others are soon to find out, B/R Fantasy Community Leader, Collin Hager, asked people to participate in a fantasy baseball league full of B/R writers.

I joined the cause and soon took a leading role in a vision I had to bring the entire league to the front of B/R and make it an interactive experience. I took his vision and ran with it, helping to recruit more writers to partake in the experience.

Hopefully this group will offer entertainment, valuable insight into baseball, and a way to waste some time debating with us.

No team will embrace the full aspect of this trifecta of comedy, insight, and controversy then the Pothead Penguins. Without further ado, let me present you with the best team in the league.

The Pothead Penguins derive their name from my draft strategy and favorite animal. It is a mix of cuteness and rebellion that will dominate the league, but a great name like mine can only go so far. The roster has to be talented as well, and boy is it.

On draft night I drew the ninth overall pick, and with that here is my team pick by pick on draft night:

1.	(9)	Tim Lincecum
2.	(16)	Chase Utley
3.	(33)	Carl Crawford
4.	(40)	Jacoby Ellsbury
5.	(57)	Garrett Atkins
6.	(64)	Rafael Furcal
7.	(81)	Chone Figgins
8.	(88)	Javier Vázquez
9.	(105)	Bobby Abreu
10.	(112)	Joakim Soria
11.	(129)	Edwin Encarnación
12.	(136)	Brian Fuentes
13.	(153)	Miguel Tejada
14.	(160)	Josh Johnson
15.	(177)	Erik Bedard
16.	(184)	Felipe López
17.	(201)	Coco Crisp
18.	(208)	Joel Hanrahan
19.	(225)	A.J. Pierzynski
20.	(232)	Manny Parra
21.	(249)	Chris Volstad
22.	(256)	Kevin Gregg
23.	(273)	Joey Devine

I know what you may be thinking, Lincecum first off the board? are you crazy!? The answer is yes, I'm crazy for Timmy and Cy Young winners. I jumped on the bandwagon last year even being an Angels fan. I feel he is hands down the best pitcher in the league and of the decade and talent like that isn't often seen.

Lincecum was a no brainer to me after my other man-crush, Hanley Ramirez, was off the board.

My second pick in Chase Utley is credited to positional scarcity, many other talented players were left who I would have loved but I stuck with the talented 2B.

Carl Crawford is a main cog in the well oiled machine known as the Tampa Bay Rays. I was scoffed at last year for picking the Rays to take the Wild Card, who is laughing now? Crawford is a speedster and a threat at all times, a player like him is always welcome on the team.

With the fourth pick, Jacobey Ellsbury landed to me. Now I despise the Red Sox and would always avoid them, but with the tandem of Ellsbury and Crawford, I could build my team around a speedy Outfield and a powerful infield. So I swooped him up and apologized to Angel Fans everywhere.

Garrett Atkins is a great pick. Playing for the Rockies he gets a power boost, plus his multiple position eligibility made the decision an easy trigger to pull.

Rafael Furcal, this draft has made me swallow my pride more times than most. A solid talent around a stupid Dodgers team (again Angel Pride) made it hard for me not to make this choice but I almost passed. I looked at the other options and decided to take a chance on Furcal.

Figgins is not the pick I really wanted since I was looking for power out of my infield but to have two of my favorite players on my team was too good an opportunity so I grabbed him and restored my Angel love after taking both a Dodger and a Red Sox.

Javier Vasquez in round eight is a reach I understand, he was in my queue and I was a bit high still but I love him. His move to the NL is going to be great for him. I took him nearly 40 picks too early but I am still pleased with the pick.

Bobby Abreau was a safe pick to me. He put up 20 steals, almost a .300 average, plus has power to boot. He covers some of the power I lost with the Figgins pick and also still adds to my speedy outfield.

Joakim Soria is the best closer no one knows—he is lights out. With the other elite closers off the board and the way the league is set up in the pitching, Soria was a safe bet to take here.

I will say this, I do not like Edwin, I do not trust him on my team. I do not know where this disdain for him comes from, but he is a player I try to avoid, until I pick him. I would try and tell you why but I am not sure myself why I did.

Brian Fuentes is a great closer and I like him better than K-Rod. This pick gave me another top tier closer, plus three Angels and I am happy about that.

Miguel Tejada, however old he may be, is still a solid shortstop in this league and gives me two solid SS. He's also a nice trade chip and a solid IF position.

Josh Johnson is the ace of the best young staff in the majors. In a year or two he may challenge for a CY Young award. At this point in the draft I go for upside and he has arguably the most upside of any pitcher in the league.

Erik Bedard is a steal at this point. Last year he was looked at as a top-five pitcher and to grab talent like this so late in the draft is a no-brainer. If he returns to form or even partial form then he was worth this pick.

Felipe Lopez is my golden boy this years draft. Go and get him, now. He can hold the OF, and almost all IF spots and he leads off for the DBacks so he will get plenty of at-bats.

He has upside and speed, the only downside is the players around him strike out, a lot. Strikeouts can be contagious, which also limits his chances at scoring when guys aren't hitting the ball. I still love this kid and he fills the utility role on my team to perfection.

Coco Crisp, the best name ever I must admit, is looking to breakout after being pushed out in Boston. He can steal and adds to the outfield speed I wanted. A good steal late in the draft if you are looking for SB and runs.

Joel Hanrahan is the one closer no one actually knows closes. He has lights out stuff for the Nationals, but no one picks Nationals' pitchers it seems. Joel is a cheap way to get 20-plus saves.

AJ Pierzynski finally made this my most hated draft ever, now I have a Dodger, a Red Sox, and the devil himself in AJ.

Angels fans will always have a strong dislike for him since the playoff series where he somehow got the umpire to believe the catcher dropped the ball. Bull crap, but at that spot not many catchers were left. Again, I swallowed my pride and moved on. Thankfully I didn't completely take anti-Angels players and grabbed Jose Guillen.

Manny Parra is still young and will have struggles but I thought he has upside this late so I snagged him.

Chris Volstad is another pitcher on the talented and youthful Marlins club and can bring me some solid K's.

Kevin Gregg gives me another closer and if not he is a low ERA setup man, Thankfully he won the job in Chicago and should get plenty of saves.

Joey Devine was supposed to be the closer but an injury forced him to the DL. Hopefully when he comes back I will have five closers on my team and basically win that category along with ERA basically every week.That concluded my draft and when Devine went on the DL I picked up Scott Downs from Toronto to fill his place. With BJ Ryan's struggles and Downs' lights-out pitching he could be closing soon and he doesn't hurt the ERA.

To recap, my draft strategy is to take a balanced team with multiple position eligibility where I can so no injuries will ruin my team. I keep Felipe Lopez at the utility spot on our team to take over any and all injuries.

Without overpaying for saves (too much) and a catcher I created a solid core of players with a high ceiling.

Here is my offense for you to scoff at or admire, whatever you do understand it will lead me to a championship.

C- AJ Pierzynski (CWS-C)

1B- Garrett Atkins (COL-1B,3B)

2B- Chase Utley (PHI-2B)

3B- Chone Figgins (LAA-2B,3B)

SS- Rafael Furcal (LAD-SS)

CI- Edwin Encarncion (CIN-3B)

MI- Miguel Tejada (HOU-SS)

OF- Carl Crawford (TB-OF)

OF- Jacobey Ellsbury (BOS-OF)

OF- Bobby Abreu (LAA-OF)

OF- Coco Crisp (KC-OF)

Util- Felipe Lopez (ARI-2B,3B,SS,OF)

If you notice I don't have any bench players and I like that, it keeps me from guessing which match ups I should avoid or take and it allows me to concentrate on pitching and keeping an extra starter or two since I carry five closers. If one player goes down Felipe will fill in unless its AJ, which I can waiver add someone whom I am comfortable with.

Pitching wise, I am happy. With the one-two punch of Tim Lincecum and Javier Vasquez and my slew of closers will be solid all year. The pitching staff originally looks like this with some becoming streaming pitchers in the future if they can't perform.

The league doesn't specify which pitcher is needed to fill the spot all slots are straight P. Nine slots without distinction of SP or RP so I could actually fill an entire roster with RP, punt K's, and hope for saves, ERA, WHIP, and sometimes wins. But I am greedy and look to take all five pitching categories.

Here is my staff.

Tim Lincecum (SF)

Javier Vasquez (ATL)

Erik Bedard (SEA)

Josh Johnson (FLA)

Manny Parra (MIL)

Chris Volstad (FLA)

Joakim Soria (KC)

Brian Fuentes (LAA)

Joel Hanrahan (WAS)

Kevin Gregg (CHC)

Joey Devine (OAK) Currently on DL

Scott Downs (TOR) until Devine returns

This staff is solid across the board and I will probably drop Volstad and/or Parra in lieu for streamers and other spot starts.

This staff can be dominant but it still has issues with youth in the SP and could unravel. Hopefully Vasquez and Lincecum keep the ERA down and the K's up to counter any failures.

This concludes my look at the future champions—Pothead Penguins.

Take a look at the link at top to see the other managers from the league and their take on their teams and draft. Thanks and keep coming back for more fantasy advice here in the coming weeks and updates on the league.

RIP Nick Adenhart: Tragic News From Anaheim

Scott Fender — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 12:31:39 -0400

Tragic News from Anaheim this morning. Nick Adenhart was pronounced dead after a hit and run following the game last night.

He was driving home with three others in his Mitsubishi when a driver in a white van ran a red light and struck Adenhart's vehicle, causing it to slam into a light pole. Two of the passengers died instantly while the other died in the hospital.

The driver of the van fled the scene but it has been reported that the driver was apprehended by police this morning.

Adenhart was a prized prospect, but more importantly a human being. My heart and soul go out to his family and friends and he will be missed by many.

Tragedy often befalls the sporting world, and when one does people rally together. I am currently speechless and am without much to write. I wish only strength and support for the Adenhart family. My prayers and thoughts go out to them.

RIP Nick Adenhart, an Angel no longer in the field but instead was promoted to God's staff today.

The Inaugural Bleacher Report Fantasy Baseball League: Preseason Festivities

Scott Fender — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 06:41:54 -0400

This past month, 12 teams have taken the challenge to hold an all Bleacher Report league. The league consist of 12 writers, some of them big names and community leaders, others just lovers of the site and being a part of it all. I am here to chronicle the season.

Thanks to Yahoo! The league site will soon be made public as soon as the request goes through. From there on every member can log on and see the teams.

During this time, I will be giving my own fantasy advice. There will be season interviews with the managers and I hope to achieve a level of closeness with this league and the Bleacher Report fans. I would like to bring the fantasy game to a whole new level where you, the readers, can follow your favorite team.

To do this I have profiles for each of our teams and writers so readers can root for your favorite writers. In these weekly articles, I will have interviews, smack-talk of the week, pickups of the week, and interviews on major trades and the reasoning behind both teams.

Along with the interactive aspect, I hope this becomes an informative piece as well giving you tips and ideas to conquer your fantasy leagues.

Unfortunatly, Yahoo declined my request to make the league viewable by the public due to it not actually being a feature. I have emailed them again to try and lobby for it to be an option next year and hopefully it will work out, however for this first year you wil have to rely on the other managers and me to inform you of the league.

With that in mind, let me introduce you to the teams and writers that will be guiding you through the fantasy season.

Name: Collin Hager
Team Name: Sons of Cuyahoga
How Long on B/R: About a year
Profile

Collin comes in as the community leader for the fantasy tag. He comes with well-respected status and is the commissioner of this league. He is a force to be reckoned with in all aspects of fantasy sports and looks to shed his unwavering wisdom upon the world and lay claim to the virtual trophy.

Story behind team name

I love the movie Major League. I find it to be not only one of the best baseball movies ever made, but one of the greatest films of our time. It helped further push the career of Pedro Cerrano/Dennis Haysbert to the main stream. We can now look back at the All State insurance guy as a Voodoo slugger from Cuba. Tom Berenger deserved an Oscar for the final bunt scene in the movie. Gets me kinda misty.

Draft Strategy

I don't draft pitching early. I feel you can find pitching late in the draft, and saves is something I'm willing to give up to improve my offense. I'll work on pitching early in the season and even on a daily basis throughout to tweak my rotation. Creating a balanced offense is priority one.

Favorite Player

Geovany Soto. I grew up a catcher, and feel he brings the best balance of offense and defense to the position today. Also calls a solid game.

Favorite team

Red Sox (I'm from Boston, so this is no bandwagon jump)

Anything you want to add

I look forward to a year of solid competition that will see my team ending on top of the standings.

Name: Brian
Team Name: End of the Dugout
How Long on B/R: 2 months
Profile

Brian Wey is a fan of the site and is an active editor and supporter. His comedic styling, as visible on his B/R profile, I hope he translates into plenty of smack talk. Consider him an inside player for the Championship with his wit and cunning style.

Story behind team name

My fantasy basketball team name is always End of the Bench, where I sat on my high school basketball team.

Draft Strategy

On offense, I opted to punt power categories and take high speed, high average players. The league setting shows that the minimum innings pitched is seven a week so I stocked up on relievers to make a play for low ERA and WHIP, to load up on saves and punt wins and K’s.

Favorite Player

Tim Lincecum

Favorite team

San Francisco Giants

Name: Jameson Fleming
Team Name: Undefeated in 6OTs
How Long on B/R: Almost a year when the season starts
Profile

Article on Draft and Team

Jameson Fleming will try and use his College Basketball Community Leader status to draw a crowd to his team.

Coming in with an impressive background having appeared in ESPN the magazine, he will be an overpowering force to overcome in the league. If we are lucky he may Twitter on our league. Just kidding Jameson.

Story behind team name

Syracuse basketball is the only team undefeated in games that go to six overtimes. I bleed Orange. 'Nuff said.

Draft Strategy

Miss the first seven rounds, auto-draft six outfielders and patch things up from there.

Favorite Player

Chase Utley

Favorite team

Philadelphia

Anything you want to add

I've been consumed by college basketball since the Phillies won the World Series. The first month or so of this league will be rough for me, but once I get focused on baseball, I should be ok.

Civardi’s BALCO Boys

Profile to come soon. Please be patient. :)

Name: Scott Fender
Team Name: Pothead Penguins
How Long on B/R: About a year
Profile:

Article on draft and Team

Scott Fender is the MAN! OK so I am biased. This is my team and I will be writing all the articles so I will make myself look as good as possible, call it a good PR move. I come with a staggering 12 fantasy leagues this year, including this one. Many of them are keeper leagues and so I will take questions regarding keeper leagues and such.

Story behind team name

I love Penguins and for each of my 12 teams I am running I have a different name and my normal four names (Aztecs, ManBearPigs, Chupacabras, and I <3 Megan Fox) were all used so I put an adjective in front of Penguins for the alliteration.

Read my draft strategy and you will find out why I chose it.

Draft Strategy

Get high for the draft and talk as much shit to the other players and take my favorite players. I will reach an extra round to grab a player if I like them because it is easier to cheer them on.

I take no Red Sox (Except Jed Lowrie and Lars Anderson) and absolutely no Dodgers. I am an Angel fan.

Depending on my first pick, I will go different directions sometimes pitching heavy other times offense heavy. Also, I carry many players with multiple positions.

Felipe Lopez is a favorite of mine and he usually fills my utility slot in case of injury he can move around. I also will take low ERA relievers who don’t close (Scott Downs, Scot Shields, etc.) and carry as many RP as slots allow.

Favorite Player

Tim Lincecum, I am on the bandwagon!

Favorite team

Los Angeles Angels of Anehiem!

Anything you want to add

Bleacher Creatures come and support this league and next year maybe you will be a member!

Name: Nick Carlo
Team Name: Brooklyn Bashers
How Long on B/R: One year.
Profile:

Nick Carlo brings youth to the table. Being one of the younger bleacher report writers out there, he still carries his weight around and can teach you a thing or two.

Look out for the young gun to run the table and grab the trophy.

Story Behind My Team Name

Well, my motto is "Bringing Baseball back to Brooklyn". After the Brooklyn Dodgers left, many Brooklyn baseball fans were heartbroken and changed to the Mets and now there’s another team, the Brooklyn Bashers.

The Bashers part is just that we bash and destroy all of our opponents. LOL.

Favorite Player

My favorite has to be David Wright. He's a great player and person. He's an amazing player and I'm so glad the Mets have a player of his caliber.

Draft Strategy

It's pretty simple, pick the best players left. More in depth, I pick players that can change the game with one swing of the bat or one 100 mph fastball.

I also go for the players on the good teams, because that usually does increase their stats dramatically, but I won't be against picking a great player on a bad team, it's just that I tend to go with the better teams.

Favorite Team

New York Mets

Anything I want to add

I am a die-hard Mets fan. I will give it my all in this league and will be sure to put on a great show.Name: Lawrence Barreca
Team Name: LB's Maniaxs
How Long on B/R: Nine months
Profile:

Already a master of fantasy football, Lawrence looks to Segway that success into America’s Pastime. The Maniaxs will be a force and Lawrence will look to add to his already distinguished fantasy career.

Story behind team name

The main site that I write for is Fantasyfootballmaniaxs.com. I am the baseball director over there, hence the name "LB's Maniaxs".

Draft Strategy

I tend to grab third and second basemen early, then outfielders and two ace starters in the middle rounds. I like to look for potential sleepers in the later rounds, where I have grabbed guys like Mike Aviles (SS), Carl Pavano (SP), and Adam Jones (OF).

Favorite Player

Brian Roberts

Favorite team

Baltimore Orioles

Anything you want to add

I'm looking forward to a great season. The Draft is gonna be a blast! I can't wait to see what my team will look like in the end.

Name: John, co-manager is Lunchtime
Team Name: MetAL MuLiSHa
How Long on B/R: Six months
Profile:

Article on Draft and Team

The only team featuring two managers, John brings his Mulisha to rain down on opponents with is pain.

For managers looking to work out co-manager leagues and such look for this team as an example of how it can work.

John and Lunchtime will look to stake their claim as champions, but is having two managers a PED or a hindrance?

Also, look for this team to bring the comedy as they are both funny guys who are brash and don’t care what they say.

Story behind tea name

It sets the tone for the beatdown you are about to receive.

Draft Strategy

Get power hitters who can hit for average and starters who rack up wins and Ks. Screw saves and steals.

Favorite Player

Man-Ram

Favorite teamSeattle Mariners

Anything you want to add

My co-manager, Lunchtime, is a baseball genius. He's not a B/R writer, but has been a friend since we were kids and he really knows his stuff.

We will have the best young stars, best trash talk, and least busts. HAND ME THE TITLE!

Name: Nino Colla
Team Name: Machete Squad
How Long on B/R: About a Year and A Half
Profile:

Nino carries a powerful resume to this league.

He takes care of business by being a community leader and No. 1 writer for a few different spots including the MLB page and the Indians. He will look to use his mojo for good and be crowned kind of the league.

Story behind team name

From the TV Show Frisky Dingo, Wendell tells the X-tacles that he's a "Steve, From Machete Squad" as a cover.

Draft Strategy

Heavy offensively, I'm not sure.

Favorite Player

Travis Hafner

Favorite team

Cleveland Indians

Anything you want to add

This is my 800th draft so far.Name: Steven Resnick
Team Name: A's
How Long on B/R: Eight months
Profile:

Steven Resnick is your local Bay Area writer, for those of you in the Bay Area of course.

The Resnickator is accustomed to attacks being an A's fan and a 49er fan.

The question remains if he will use the Billy Beane strategy in fantasy baseball. Hopefully, he can put it all together and take a trophy back to the bay.

Story behind team name

My favorite team the Oakland A's.

Draft Strategy

Pitching then hitting

Favorite Player

Eric Chavez

Favorite team

Oakland A'sName: Lou Cappetta
Team Name: The LOUsers
Time on B/R: Two Months
Profile:

Lou has been around a short time and is already raising eyebrows with his talented writings.

He has become an analyst here in that short span. His intelligent pieces show he does his homework and knows his players.

See if that big brain works magic in the league and lets him come back with the ‘ship.

Story behind team name

I spelled losers with my name in it LOU...lol...not anything brain racking.

Draft Strategy

I try to draft the best players from positions that don't have a lot of depth talent wise.

For example, I may draft a catcher a bit early, because offensively there is a huge drop off after the few elite guys at the position.

I will sometimes sacrifice a big name at a position that has a lot of quality offensive player, like first base.

I also like to look for bench players that are eligable for multiple positions.

Favorite Player

Carlos Beltran

Favorite team

NY MetsName: Sergey Zikov
Team Name: SKA Pirates (UPDATE: Name changed to Leftfield Lunatics)
How Long on B/R: A couple months
Profile:

Article on Draft and Team

The diehard sports fan, Sergey finds a team and puts his soul into them.

For all of you people who aren’t fans of drafts and enjoy a good auto-draft league this is your man!

Keep an eye on this team for its style and strategy and see if they can bring in the gold.

Story behind team name

Love the Pirates and my hometown hockey club, SKA St. Petersburg. So combine them and that's my team.

Draft Strategy

Skip the draft and hope for the best.

Favorite Player

Anyone in a Pirates uniform

Favorite team

Pittsburgh Pirates

Why I Am Rooting for the Arizona Cardinals to Win the Super Bowl

Scott Fender — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 05:29:42 -0500

Arizona, the state that refuses to go on the daylight savings time. The state that does not win anything. The state that was admitted just before Alaska and Hawaii. The state that does not win anything, is going to win the Super Bowl.

The Cardinals are on a hot streak just like the Giants of last year, but this is a whole new season. This year the Cardinals are passing the ball like it is a game of catch with friends. They play flag football out there on the gridiron. They do not run, they do not play great defense, and they won the worst division in sports. They have all these reasons as to why they cannot win, but believe me they will win.

But this is not that type of article, I am rooting for the Cardinals come Super Bowl Sunday and let me tell you why.

1. I have nothing against the Steelers. My sister is a huge Steelers fan. I loved Jerome Bettis as a kid. But I am rooting against them for the same reason I did the last time they went to the Superbowl. They cannot get to six rings before my beloved 49ers. I refuse to let another team take the lead.

In other sports teams have built dynasties and won multiple championships and has put itself head and shoulders above other franchises. The Yankees and Celtics do not need to worry for a few decades about someone catching up to them. Football is totally different. Three teams at five Championships, one chance for the Steelers to take the lead and if I have any say then it will not happen.

2. The NFC West respect is important. While the Cardinals are our rivals during the season, I have to root for my division foe to make our 7-9 record look better. The NFC West gets no love from anyone and really why should they. Three of the teams in the division are looking at a top 10 pick. The Rams completed back to back 2-14 seasons, and the division does not seem to be improving at great strides as three out of four coaches were fired last season.

But, a Cardinal victory can change that. Who cares that the 49ers will play the defending Superbowl champions next year? I am looking forward to it. In fact that leads right to reason number three.

3. Having the 49ers beat the defending Superbowl Champion two times next year is too good to pass up. If Warner stays in Arizona then the 49ers can gain plenty of momentum with each win against that team.

Arizona and the 49ers have a very low key rivalry going for them. They have met on Monday Night Football for two or three years in a row with those games becoming some of the best of the year. I still remember Alex Smith's game winning drive last year and will probably never forget the Frank Gore goal line run that was a stumble away from a victory and possibly a different ending to the season.

4. Kurt Warner keeps Matt Leinart out of the league. I do not like Leinart at all. This stems from my distaste for USC but even more for his over all "douchebagness", if you will. I like Kurt, he is a great guy but I could care less who the QB as long as it is not Leinart.

5. Finally, I have money riding on the game. And when you bet money on a team, then you better damn sure root for them.

Los Angeles Clippers Need to Move

Scott Fender — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 12:40:53 -0500

Respect is hard to come by. Just ask the Clippers.

They are easily the least respected franchise in the NBA.

They are arguably home to the smallest fan base.

Here at Bleacher Report, there are 30 registered fans, with no community leader.

The Oklahoma City Thunder have 12 fans, so I guess it could be worse. But that city is excited for the team.

Even the Seattle Supersonics page has more fans then the Clippers.

I have always said that being a Clipper fan is like being in a secret society. When you see another member of Clipper Nation you get excited, because you know there are not that many people out there.

I have come to the realization that being a Clipper fan is more like playing Magic the Gathering or Dungeons & Dragons. Not many people do it and you get excited when you meet someone else who does. But everyone else who knows you play makes fun of you. Being a Clippers fan in Southern California causes a lot of ridicule from my peers.

I honestly think that even if the Clippers win a championship, they will still have no respect and very little growth in their fan base. Just look where they play.

They play at the Staples Center, which is a nice arena and has great seats. But has anyone else noticed that the outside there are basically just yellow and purple lights?

It seems awfully similar to another Los Angeles team with those same colors.

The stadium is only the beginning, though. I went to a game recently and saw an ad for the Lakers' next home game in the stadium.

The Clippers need to move out and get their own place and actually have a home court to call their own. This is not the Jets and Giants sharing a stadium because, at least there the attendance is 50-50 and the site is neutral to both teams.

I thought of the Great Western Forum being a decent site for the Clippers but two problems arose. First, the Lakers called that home and you cannot earn respect by playing in the Lakers' old stadium. Secondly, a church now owns the buildings and uses it for church services and such, and I do not think it is in basketball shape anymore.

This leads to the only other alternative: The Clippers need to move.

They can go back to San Diego and take on a new moniker. The San Diego Tropics could use a revival, but I don't think Will Ferrell should play. But a move back to San Diego could be a rewarding experience, as the city is already home to lovable losers like the Padres and Chargers.

The problem is finding an arena to play in. A stadium would have to be built and the city of San Diego may not want to pay to bring the team back.

I came up with another great spot to move the Clippers, though. Think of how fans will react when they cheer for the Los Angeles Clippers of Anaheim! The Clippers move a county over to Anaheim. They can retain the LA name and join a city of winners in the Angels and Ducks, who have both won a championship this decade.

Plus, the Arrowhead Pond is already used for basketball. I remember going there for the California High School Basketball Championships a few years back.

Also, a move to Anaheim may get Disney sponsorship and the team could get some huge money behind it. If this happens before 2010, then the Clippers could seriously contend to sign Chris Bosh. However, being owned by Disney may make you popular among the tweens and under-18 crowd, but does it get respect?

Think about when the Angels and Ducks became respectable in their sports. The year the Ducks dropped the "Mighty" from their name they started winning. The Angels changed their Halo Blue uniform and logo and became respectable. The Clippers would need one of these kinds of revivals, but I do not see how it can happen in Anaheim.

This leads to the last place the Clippers can move to while maintaining some sort of their old fan base and remain close to Southern California: Viva Las Vegas!

The Las Vegas Clippers would gain some respect. It would be easy to find funding for a stadium and the cheerleaders would look a whole lot better. The crowd would be much more excited and more celebrities would come to the games. Fans could see Elvis cheering the Clippers and get an autograph from Marilyn Monroe.

The Clippers would have no trouble finding funding because the city has been itching for a pro sports franchise for around a decade. The Clippers could become the Vegas Shooters or Rollers. Vegas would be the best move for the Clippers because they would come to a needy fan base, a lot of big money investors around, and they would be fairly close to their old fan base so fans like me could still go to see a game.

So Bleacher Creatures, what do you think: Should the Clippers move and where?

What Happens If The LA Angels Do Not Sign Mark Teixeira?

Scott Fender — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 10:11:05 -0500

It is becoming increasingly more evident that the Angels may miss out on free agent Mark Teixeira.

If he does not stay with the Angels, I personally hope that he does not sign with Boston, but instead Baltimore or Washington. But, wherever he lands outside of Anaheim, the Angels are ready to counter the loss. I do not know what their game plan is, but I can only speculate which is that I am here to write about.

The Angels are seriously considering signing Manny Ramirez if they lose Teixeira. I do not like this signing, all biases aside. He is aging, does not hustle, and wants a lot of money. The Angels have more money invested in an aging outfield than even the Yankees. Garrett Anderson has apparently been shown the door which breaks every fan's heart. However, Reggie Willits is capable to platoon or start. I am not sure if Juan Rivera has been re-signed or not, but I can only hope the Angels consider bringing Rivera and Anderson back instead of signing Manny.

Tony Reagins has stated that the Angels will possibly go after Manny if unable to sign Teixeira. But Reagins has stated, “We have another direction we’d want to go before we went that route,” in refrence to signing Ramirez.

Let us look at what very well could happen if the Angels sign Manny. That would give them an old, crippling outfield. This is where the trades would begin. With the excess amount of talented outfielders, the Angels would likely try and move some. Willits, Gary Matthews, Jr. and others could be shopped.

If Matthews is to be traded, the Angels would have to eat much of that contract to find a buyer. But who to go after? San Diego very well could take Willits, Adenhart, and another prospect or two for Peavy. Milwaukee was talking about possibly moving Prince Fielder. The Angels need to do whatever they can to go after him if this is true. Fielder is young and could be a staple at the corner for a team.

But, the Angels are not big on wheeling and dealing. Instead, they see a problem and look in house for the solution. If Mark goes, then look for spring training tryouts for Figgins, Wood, Napoli, Morales, Quinlan, and other prospects. Also, the Angels could bring back Anderson and/or Rivera and ask him/them to shift to first base.

The Angels and Mike Scioscia are crafty. If they miss out on Teixeira, they will not panic. ESPN, sports writers, and Bleacher Report, will likely cast the Angels of as losers this offseason. But the Angels do not quit and will not let one player ruin the franchise. Angels fans: no need to worry, the team will be OK with or without Mark Teixeira.

Bleacher Creatures, what are your thoughts on what the Angels should do without Teixeira?

The New York Mets' Signing of Francisco Rodriguez Is Good for the LA Angels

Scott Fender — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 09:40:20 -0500

Reports are coming in that Francisco Rodriguez is set to sign a three-year deal with the New York Mets for $37 million. That is about $12 million a year, which is what he wanted from the Angels last year. Good for him, he deserves to get paid after his time in the Big A.

But his time with us in apparently in the past, and now the Angels can look forward to signing a closer or reliever to replace K-Rod. It will not come easy, but it won't be impossible, thanks to what seems like a low salary for the most sought after reliever in the game.

By not signing an obscene, record-breaking deal, Francisco may have just helped his old team find a decent option for a low price. In my opinion, no reliever is worth $12 million a year, not even a dominant on. The remaining closers will not sign for more than that and may not even get to $10 million a year.

This is good news for an organization that is content fixing the problem in-house rather than splash in free agency waters. However, the price on those relievers may be dropping, as Fransisco Rodriguez was the first type-A free agent to sign.

The Angels may be able to squeeze a deal for Trevor Hoffman or another closer who could upgrade the bullpen but not break the bank, as the Angels transition into Jose Arredondo or someone else.

To me, the Angels need a reliever that has success as a closer on the roster. Shields does not have the success rate to be a fail-safe option. The Angels now sit in a better position to make an offer thanks to the signing of Rodriguez. Now let us see how this free agency shapes up.

Fantasy Football: Why Do We Submit Ourselves to Torture?

Scott Fender — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 23:56:36 -0500

A few million people cannot be wrong about something, can they? Fantasy Football provides no benefits. It does not cure cancer, does not work as a pick-up line, does not win you money (unless you pay for it), does not make your dad love you more, and does not provide you with your daily vitamins.

What it does provide are hours meddling with your lineup instead of working or paying attention in school or to your family. Also, it leads to Sundays watching games you would not watch otherwise, only cheering for one player on the field, embarrassments of losing more times than winning, and reading articles on players who may score decent points by guys who could do just a good of a job throwing darts at a board and saying pick up that player in your league.

Yet still, a growing number of people are playing this game. It is possibly bigger than World of Warcraft, Nintendo Wii, and Rock Band. It has its own industry and is bigger than anyone could have imagined. The NFL has to accredit some of the popularity to fantasy football players.

I mean sure Fantasy Football is fun. But it is also devastating. So much time and energy is input into your teams. Think about it you spend sometimes days preparing just to play. You create your name, run through a draft sheet, then pick a time for the draft and make sure you are there, then u spend an hour or two actually doing the draft.

Then you can spend anywhere from five minutes to five hours a week updating said team. Don't forget talking trash to your opponent, trying to make trades to steal away a good breakout player, and analyzing who to start and who to sit.

All of this culminates into the fantasy football playoffs. Where one team shows it can beat everyone for the entire year. All of this work into fantasy results in nothing but broken dreams and laughter from your girlfriend who just won the league because she picked guys with cool names or sexy faces.

So why do we play fantasy football? It is a geeky hobby that can be borderline obsession. It plays with our emotions and makes us curse players who are otherwise good guys. I am looking at you Pierre Thomas and DeAngelo Williams who beat my teams in separate leagues.

It causes you to curse players on your own team for their inability to produce. This is where I give a shout out to DeSean Jackson and his negative performance.

I played in four leagues this year and made two playoffs. I was eliminated by Pierre Thomas after being fifth place out of 20 teams. In another league, I missed the playoffs thanks to DeAngelo Williams putting up 27 points and letting his manager win by two points. You may ask me, "Are you bitter?" And the answer is yes I am.

So who were your fantasy killers this year? Luckily, I never drafted Tom Brady and never touched a Denver running back. But there has to be stories of defeat out there. This is the place to let your frustrations out Bleacher Creatures! Use the comment space to tell us all of your fantasy disasters.

If you are here to gloat please write an article for those of you fortunate enough to not lose, hopefully your virtual championship trophy gets you a date with Megan Fox. If that does happen, please do not tell me; ignorance is bliss.

Also the picture is a shirt for sale at Snorgtees.com it also comes in Fantasy baseball. Get it for your fantasy addict for Christmas!

49ers: Niners On Upset Mission

Scott Fender — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 00:42:24 -0500

The Bills found out the hard way, in a battle of defense, weather, and ineptitude, that the 49ers are not just going to roll over and let the season go.

Mike Singletary is fighting for a job, maybe not just in San Francisco. Due to a scheduling miracle, or curse, the NFC West has had to face the AFC East and NFC East this season. Both divisions are the toughest in the league with every team in those divisions carrying a winning record.

Even when Mike Nolan was around the 49ers took it to every team and found ways to lose. Nevertheless, the 49ers will impact the playoffs. The Bills were team number one and have been all but eliminated from the playoffs. They are now at the bottom of the wild card and the odds are definitely against them. Still, stranger things have happened in the NFL, so Bills fans take solace in that.

Next week is the New York Jets. The Brett Farve squad is flying high and while the 49ers may not knock them out of the playoffs, they can create some drama.

That division is still fairly open. The Dolphins are continuing their surge and the Patriots are hanging tough. Still, the Jets could put away the division with a win against the 49ers. This is why the 49ers could spoil. The Patriots and Dolphins are still itching for a shot at the division and it is the Jets' to lose.

I am not saying that with a loss next week the Jets will spiral out of first late in the season and miss the playoffs like another New York team, but it could shake up the seeding and make for entertaining football the last three weeks.

After a date with the Jets, the 49ers match up against the Dolphins and look to make a second win on the east coast.

At the beginning of the year this was looking like a fight for a draft pick but instead this is now a tussle for playoffs implications. The Dolphins are riding a miracle wave into the playoffs. Unfortunately, all waves come crashing down after time.

The Dolphins are a team on the edge. They have exceeded everyone's expectations but their own and have put a stamp on the NFL this year with the Wildcat offense. But Cinderella's team may not have the Boston Celtic ending they want.

The team will fight for the playoffs but after the season ending injury to Greg Camarillio they have lost most of their chances. The Dolphins already had a weak receiving corp , but this injury makes it depleted. Pennington has done great with what he has, but will it be enough to make play offs?

If the 49ers beat the Jets the week before then this game becomes even more prudent and crucial to the Dolphins. But is it fair to say that those who giveth, may also take away?

After the Dolphins, the 49ers play the Rams. The only thing the 49ers can spoil in this game is the Rams fans who actually pay attention to this game and possibly a few fantasy football playoffs for those savvy owners who start Shaun Hill to upset the top ranked team.

Finally, the 49ers play the Redskins in the season ender. The Redskins are almost out of the playoffs now but they rode a great final few weeks last season so it could happen again.

This game could lead to the Redskins or Cowboys making the play offs. If this happens I will not know what to do because a win could put my most hated team into the playoffs, but I refuse to root for my team to lose. (For the 49er faithful out there I rooted for a the 49ers in the Reggie Bush sweepstakes even if a loss got us the #1 pick)

So the 49ers could be sitting on three potentially spoiling games. They are good at doing it too, after they beat the Broncos to knock them out two years ago. Under Mike Nolan the 49ers won many games in the last four weeks, but with Singletary who knows what will happen.

I do know this though, the 49ers and their fans are on spoiler alert and your team could be next.

Why I Still Hate the Cowboys

Scott Fender — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 21:27:46 -0500

I am a lifelong 49ers fan and will bleed red and gold until I die. I grew up in the glory days of the franchise and may have been a bandwagoner, but most fans start off this way.

My first memory was forgoing playing with my toys to watch the Niners on Christmas. I was hooked. Now, I was little, so this may indeed be a clouded memory, but to me, this team is mine. I try not to say "we," and I try and stay subjective, but biases creep through and I talk as if I am the GM sometimes.

But this is not an article about where I came from. This is about my compounding, ever-growing hatred for the "Boys in Blue."

The Cowboys and 49ers were rivals long before I was born in December of 1987. In fact, the rivalry seems almost destined.

Red versus blue, Cowboys versus Goldminers, the two frontier builders. The Democratic hippies of San Francisco versus Dallas's Republican conservatives. And the two biggest teams of the 1990s in football.

My hatred began as soon as my love fest with the 49ers did.

While I was growing up, I did not know the history of the team, the stars of the past, and the storied failures of the franchise. I couldn't tell you we ran a West Coast offense and I did not even know we had a running game to complement the accomplishments of the big-name quarterbacks and a certain No. 80.

But I knew we did not like the Cowboys.

For about two years I could not stand the Falcons and that damn Dirty Bird, but when the divisions changed, so did my stance on the Falcons. So, young and clueless, I took my blind faith like a religion. I began repeating what others said in front of the pulpit of my television.

My first realization that I despised the Cowboys was when I met my best friend in sixth grade. He was born in Dallas and loved his Cowboys. We were at odds immediately, but we hung out like best friends do.

But football season came around—and the talks started.

It was in meeting him that the hatred went from root to stem. It was not a hatred but a growing my-team-is-better-than-yours pissing contest.

This extreme dislike festered for a few years until high school, where I took my fandom from a childhood love to an obsession. I devoured stats, names, facts, and forecasts for the 49ers. I knew my teams front and back.

The greatest game to memory was watching Terrell Owens redemptive performance versus the Packers in the playoffs in 1998. We all know the story: Owens repeatedly drops passes and has basically the worst game a player can have.

But with time winding down, Steve Young throws a ball so hard through the middle, all Owens can do is catch it or get knocked over by it. Watch here for those memories. Game over. 49ers win, Owens cries. I am dancing and feel like I am on the field with the team.

But that was the last memory I have that came with those reactions.The Garcia days were good but quickly turned sour. The comeback versus the Giants is a classic, but even I realized we got lucky with that pass interference call.

This all comes back to the Cowboys because while the Niner ship was sinking, the Cowboys enjoyed a resurgence.

The 49ers and Cowboys were both going downhill, but that Jerry Jones turned his team around. He went out and made good draft choices and got good players.

The 49ers let good players go and did not bring in good players to replace them. This is another of the reasons I do not like them. The Cowboys currently are a better run franchise than the 49ers. The Cowboys of course are currently better than the 49ers. I lost money and pride the last few times they have played each other, including this past Sunday.

The fact that the 49ers faltered when the Cowboys did not is another reason I hate them. Yeah, jealousy is a reason, and I know Cowboys fans who read this will be happy to hear it—but it is true. Though Jerry Jones is a bit crazy, he takes care of his players and is possibly the best owner in sports.

Simply put, the Yorks are not good owners at all.

Owens was a part of my fondest memory in 49er lore. He is another reason why I hate the Cowboys. I loved him as a 49er. He was a punk and a badass from the start.

I was upset when he left, even though he was turning into a plague on the team. I cheered for him in Philadelphia, when he did the shirtless interview, and I still secretly cheer for him.

But now he has joined the dark side. He is a Cowboy now, and I do not like it. His famed Dallas Star Celebration is legendary, but now instead of dancing on the star, he is wearing the star...eating popcorn.

To add to the current roster of hatred, I hate Tony Romo. The Cowboys are bad guys and should stay that way. They should not be going around changing tires and treating the homeless to movies. They should be slashing tires, making people homeless, and kicking puppies.

But, no, Tony Romo is not following the script. Instead, he is dating Jessica Simpson after having dated Carrie Underwood. Geez, go sleep with a hooker so I can hate you. I already hate the fact that girls adore him in the same way as the Jonas Brothers.

But now he is an actual good guy. I find it hard to root against a man who is a stand-up guy and a class act. Paradoxically, me not being able to hate him makes me hate him even more. So, instead of hating him, I hate the team more.

So let us recap why I hate the Cowboys:

1. I have to, I am a 49er fan

2. They are better than my team right now

3. That stupid guy named Terrell Owens

4. That great guy, still-not-great quarterback, Tony Romo

This list will grow I am sure. But right now, I have to get this off my chest, especially since they just trounced my team in the last three quarters of the latest meeting.

Granted, the 49ers were in control and arguably dominating the first quarter, but it was not an upset in the making. I lost $50 to my best friend and in a separate bet have to wear a Tony Romo jersey.

When this day happens, it will be another reason for me to hate those damn silver and blue Cowboys.

Are This Year's Los Angeles Clippers Going to Be Historically Bad?

Scott Fender — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 14:37:22 -0500

I was flipping through the pages of ESPN.com when I noticed there was a "Playoff Odds" page for the NBA created by John Hollinger.

It lists every team's projections for this season. To do this, a computer simulates the rest of the season and playoffs and lottery picks 5,000 times. It includes their likely record, best chance record, and worst case record. After that, it goes into odds of making playoffs, winning division, being number one seed, making the finals, being the champs, and winning the lottery pick. The article is here.

I looked through it with interest and then finally found my beloved Clippers. Then I cried a little inside. Their projected record is 15-67. Easily the worst in the NBA. Their best hope is 35 wins. But the two figures that caught my eye the most were playoff chance and worst case scenario.

Every team has a chance to make the playoffs, right? Apparently not.

The Clippers have 0.0% chance of making the playoffs this year. Every other team has at least a chance but the Clippers supposedly have none.

The other figure is the worst case scenario. Since the projection is already bad I thought it could not get much worse, then I saw that worst case scenario, the Clippers lose outright the rest of the season. 1 win, 81 losses. Really? I mean a computer actually generated that? I really did not think that was possible to do.

So this pretty much ruined my day. I watched the Clipper game on ESPN.com and they won by 20, so our 1-81 season will only be 2-80.

But still, I cannot think this team, or any team, will ever be that bad. What do you guys here at Bleacher Report think? Which record is most likely?

Los Angeles Clippers Set to Open Season

Scott Fender — Sun, 26 Oct 2008 17:28:46 -0400

Clipper Season is almost here! I know everyone is excited and what better way to start the season than against the big brother Lakers. The Lakers are like the cool older brother who everyone knows and either loves or hates. The Clippers are the nice younger brother who does his own thing and no one really believes they are related.

What better way to open the season? I can think of nothing better than showing the Lakers that the little brother is growing up. No longer subject to noogies and beatings, the Clippers are maturing. They are still not sure who they are and have a year or two until they become the confident kid with the swagger of confident young men.

The Clippers have Baron Davis who will likely take shots he should not and ignore plays and do his own thing. This season does not depend on him. This season and game depend on Chris Kaman and Marcus Camby. The inside men need to get the job done and stay healthy.

With both of these rebounding machines in the game expect teams to alter the game plans. Camby is a former defensive player of the year and can only help Kaman mature into a star.

Also, the young man Eric Gordon will be important not only this year but for the future. He needs to develop behind Cuttino Mobley and Baron Davis and round out his already impressive game. If he plays well enough he will give Cuttino well needed rest in important games and start to earn the starting role.

Eric has plenty to love and showed flashes of maturity and stardom in the preseason. He just needs to translate into the regular season and stay positive. Gordon could form a great tandem in the back court with Davis.

The Clippers could make a splash this year, but they have the makings of a solid team in a year or two. Look for growing pains this year but on opening night, I think the Clippers make a statement against the Lakers.

The Clippers have hit puberty and are maturing. Lakers and the NBA, you are on notice.

Let the Shaun Hill Era Begin in San Francisco

Scott Fender — Sun, 26 Oct 2008 16:36:36 -0400

After JT O'Sulivan's performance for seven-and-a-half games this season, the 49ers finally have a quarterback they can trust. O'Sullivan made his 17th turnover of the season Sunday at the end of the second quarter. This needs repeating: 17th turnover.

The team has 20 turnovers total, and O'Sullivan is responsible for 17 of them. Breaking it down, he has seven fumbles lost and 10 interceptions. Seventeen turnovers in a season is considered the bare minimum for success. O'Sullivan managed to do so after half a season's worth of play.

With interim coach Mike Singletary now running the show, he pulled O'Sullivan and inserted the lovable Shaun Hill. Hill went on to throw for 173 yards and a touchdown, but, most importantly, committe no turnovers.

Last season when Hill took over for the injured Trent Dilfer, he had one interception against five touchdowns. While he may not be like David Garrard was last season, he still protects the ball well and keeps the offense on the field.

He is not a lifesaver and probably will not save the 49ers' season. Remember, he, too, is a traveling quarterback who has been given a shot by the 49ers. So expect some rough times still, but I feel much more confident in the 49ers and the offense with Hill under center.

Being a Clippers Fan: What Does It Mean

Scott Fender — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 08:44:41 -0400

If there is any team that has been disregarded and disrespected more in the history of professional sports, please let me know. The Clippers are like the forgotten step-child, and even that analogy is generous. In cities where there are two teams, there are at least other fans to talk with. The White Sox and Cubs often hate each other and the only reconciliation each got with their playoff exit was that the other team left also.

The Mets and Yankees have a distinct rivalry that is not at the point of intensity, but it's still something that many fans will argue over in New York. In the NFL, the Giants and Jets are the best analogy because they share the same stadium. However, at a home game when they play each other, the fans are often 50-50. Go to a Clippers/Lakers game and it is easily 95 percent or more Lakers fans or Laker haters. There are no Clippers fans to be seen for rows and rows.

The world never has been kind to the Clippers. Type in Clippers onto Google search engine and Clippers baseball provides 2 million hits. Likewise, LA Clipper Basketball gets 300,000. Every sports franchise has the celebrity fan that everyone loves and expects to see at most games. This is probably the best representation of the fans at Clippers games. All joking aside, the Lakers have Denzel Washington and Jack Nicholson while the Clippers have Frankie Muniz and Billy Crystal.

The Clippers have never been taken seriously either. Here is an excerpt from a Sports Illustrated article that possibly explains it all.

Among franchises in the four major professional sports, the Clippers are the most inept ever.... There's got to be meaning to a failure of such immensity. So, consider this: The Clippers must lose so we can be reminded that there isn't always a light at the end of the tunnel, there isn't necessarily redemption and there might not be a next year. -- SPORTS ILLUSTRATED, April 17, 2000

To be a Clippers fan is to never have hope in the team. It is to always believe in the team that will never win. This past offseason is the best example of what a Clippers fan generally goes through. Something exciting happens and the team is looking up. Then God smites the Clippers for something. I think it was the move from Buffalo. So take warning Buffalo Bills: DO NOT LEAVE!

I mean last year Elton Brand was hurt all year after big expectations for the upcoming year. This year Baron Davis signs and the Clippers catapult into a playoff team automatically it seemed. Then Brand inexplicably left and now the Clippers are going to be on the outside looking in this upcoming season.

There is a lot to like about the team but with only five players returning from last year, expectations need to be tampered. But, even after this season, I will get excited for the next season until something else goes wrong.

Clippers fans, I know you are out there! I walk around LA in my Clippers hat and like a secret society, some random person will talk to me about the team. It is a secret club that I am a part of. No one knows who is an actual member, but when you see another person with Clippers gear on you cannot help but get excited.

Possibly the worst thing about being a Clippers fan is that when the team does do good one of these years and makes a deep playoff run, fans will come out and join the bandwagon. And because no one is an apparent Clipper fan, I will be accused of being a bandwagon fan. Random people will see me and assume there is no way I could have been a fan until they began winning.

This is seen with other franchises in sports, most notably the Pirates. Years of failure often leads to reduced fandom. The difference between the Pirates and Clippers is that the Pirates were at least good at one time and have won a Championship.

The Clippers have, arguably, never been good. Sure, they have a few winning seasons and even a playoff series win here in Los Angeles, but they have never had actual success. Years of draft busts and failures at coaching have ruined the credibility of the franchise and left fans in shambles.

As a Clippers fan, I offer hopelessness for those who want their dreams crushed. But the day will come when the Clippers will be relevant once more. I know I have pledged to the Clippers and so has this guy. The day will come when the Clippers are actually good and not just a "sleeper" pick that did not pan out. Will you be a band-wagon fan? Or will I see you in the street boldly proclaiming your eternal fanship to the Clipper Nation?

Where Do the L.A. Angels Go from Here?

Scott Fender — Sun, 12 Oct 2008 20:44:25 -0400

As a life-long Angel fan, I have come to know the top and the bottom of the A.L. West. Though only 20 years into fandom, I feel like I have cemented myself as supportive and critical at the same time. I always expect the best from my team. I also realize the best is sometimes finishing over .500.

This year, the best was a World Series Championship. But Angels fans know all too well what happened this year. This led me to forget about the rest of the season and look ahead. The Angels will be at a crossroads and major changes and overhauls could be in place.

Manager Mike Scioscia has stated that the Angels are built for the long haul. That is a bold statement. Scioscia does have some power in executive decisions, however the fact remains that it is Arte Moreno's final decision. Arte Moreno may be the best owner in baseball. While he is willing to spend money, he's also shrewd with it. He only spends money on good investments and likes homegrown talent over big-dollar free agents.

His style may be put to the test this offseason, however. The Angels are not built for the long haul yet. They are at a crossroads in their short dynasty over the A.L. West. The A.L. west will be much more competitive next season. I do not see the Mariners competing soon, but the Athletics will be better, as long as they do not trade away their entire team before the trading deadline, and the Rangers will be competitive if they get a pitching staff.

The Angels have the most important offseason of any other team. There are multiple club options, two unrestricted free agents that could be paid more than an entire third-world country, and a weak free-agent class that could cause for overpayment for role players.

The first challenge is figuring out what to do with the options. Vlad, GA, and Lackey all have options this season. More importantly, all three are leaders of the team and faces of the franchise. I believe that the Angels need to keep all three around.

This team is built around Vladimir Guerrero and his next contract, either by extension or free agent, will not be as lucrative as he has now. He is getting older and slower, he is becoming a liability in the field, and his bat is not as dangerous.

Granted, he is still a great player, but he is not the Guerrero of old. The old Montreal stadium deteriorated his body quicker than expected. His run is slow and awkward at times. He used to be a 20-20 player, who grew into a 30-20 player, but is now a 20-and-at-best-five player.

To me, Vlad reminds me of Barry Bonds more than anyone. Someone who became the face of a franchise and was the most exciting player to watch bat. One who used to steal a decent amount of bases and as time went on could still steal a bag but had ailing leg problems.

Also, both players would become a liability in the field when only a few years ago they were feared both on offense and defense.

Garret Anderson is the Tim Salmon of this team—a leader who plays the game the right way and who leads by example. A classy player who has stepped aside to let the younger players play more and taken a backseat as a role player. Anderson needs to finish his career as an Angel most fans believe.

The main reason for keeping Anderson around is because he is such a fan favorite, letting him go after a disappointing season will cast doubt on the management. People criticized the Orlando Cabrera trade but there was a tangible trade-off in the deal, and Garland proved his worth to some extent.

Also, the professional that Anderson is, he could be willing to restructure the contract to take some millions off his contract and allow more spending elsewhere. The Angels will not low-ball him, but they cannot pay him and Vlad the same way they have the last few years.

John Lackey needs to stay. Plain and simple. Of all three options, this one is the least likely to get terminated. Lackey is the anchor of this staff and provides the best chance to maintain the excellent staff the Angels have had the last few years.

The next step for Angels management is to look at the players they might lose. The list is Juan Rivera, Jon Garland, Mark Teixeira, Darren Oliver, and Francisco Rodriguez.

Mark and K-Rod will be making big bucks this next year and could set records for their position. The other three will be pursued greatly by more teams and will be harder to keep around.

First off is Juan Rivera. He has been a slight disappointment for the Angels. He was supposed to become a big home-run hitter and instead became a role player in a crowded outfield. The Angels should pursue him, but not heavily. I think he could benefit going to the N.L. and playing for the Pirates, Rockies, or staying in the A.L. and playing for the Royals.

I do not expect Rivera back, and I see him going to one of those teams to be an everyday player. Also, look for Rivera to potentially go within the division to Seattle or Texas. I see him going to the Royals though.

Jon Garland is next, and this one is up in the air for me. I am not sure if the Angels really need him, other than as a No. 4 or 5 starter. Especially if Kelvim Escobar comes back from surgery this year.

Garland will be pursued by many teams since he could be a relatively cheap option for many teams to make into a second or third starter. That draw could send him away. The Angels need a veteran arm in that spot more than Garland, and I see the Angels letting Garland go, which could be upsetting, seeing as he was the only player the Angels got in the Cabrera trade.

Darren Oliver needs to be re-signed. No going around this one, the Angels need Darren. He was the best lefty out of the 'pen last year and one of the only ones the Angels have. Oliver is a staple in that bullpen and the left-handed relievers this year are fairly weak. Oliver should be picked back up and re-signed.

This is where some controversy will happen, so all of you that disagree, I expect numerous comments on how stupid I am and how I am the worst writer ever, but this is the truth people. It's the one that makes the most sense.

Mark Teixeira should be signed to whatever Boras wants. Francisco Rodriguez should be let go. I said it. Let me break it down now.

Marky Mark is a switch-hitting, power first baseman with a Gold Glove. A huge upgrade over Kotchman. I love Kotchman, but the best chance to win resides in Marky Mark. He put up better numbers than Manny Ramirez as a Dodger, single-handedly kept the Angels competitive in every game against the Sox, and management took a gamble with him in the trade and the other option is Kendry Morales.

Not the best way to break things down, but Yahoo! Fantasy Sports has Mark being the 18th best player all of last year and the 13th best offensive player. He was sixth in RBI and had only five errors all year. He is an offensive and defensive powerhouse. And he should be paid by the Angels to keep him around.

K-Rod just set the record for saves. Woohoo! Good for him. But I say that is an arbitrary stat. Saves have long been regarded as the most overrated statistic, not just in baseball but all of sports.

Francisco wants to be paid like a starter, and he just does not deserve it. He is not even the most dominant closer in baseball. If anyone needs a reminder of how a closer can be the best one season and a bust next season, they only need to look at the tale of Eric Gagne. Rodriguez is not a necessary piece in the "Championship Puzzle" the Angels are putting together.

Many believe the Angels will sign Teixeira or Rodriguez, but not both. The question is which one do they sign? I am strongly desiring the Angels sign Mark Teixeira. Mark brings a bat and glove to every game, while K-Rod pitches only in the lead when the Angels fought for that lead or in extra innings.

Starters at least pitch every five or six days and are supposed to pitch an average of six innings. If a closer pitches in three straight games for one inning at a time, he is given a day off because he is supposedly being "overworked." That is one reason the Angels should not pay him.

The other being that Mark is a leader in the clubhouse and is seemingly more professional than K-Rod. I do not know either personally, but I think players and fans alike see that Mark Teixeira is a leader in the clubhouse and the field. I feel that for the money that will be invested in these guys, Mark is the best return.

Plenty of guys each year can become the instant closer guy. Kevin Gregg was a starter for the Angels and was released by them. He is now the shutdown closer for the Marlins. A closer can be any pitcher who gels into the role. Mark will be much harder to replace than K-Rod.

Now, it's speculation time for free agents. These players should be targeted by the Angels: A.J. Burnett (has a player option), Greg Maddux, Matt Morris (Team Option), Jeremy Affeldt, Brandon Lyon, Damaso Marte (Club Option), Ken Griffey Jr. (Club Option), Raul Ibanez, and Tomohiro Nioka

If A.J. Burnett bolts from the Blue Jays, then the Angels need to jump in on the bidding. He is a player who has played solid for years on the Blue Jays and has had little press. He is a solid pitcher who would benefit from being moved out of Toronto.

He has great talent and is a strikeout pitcher. He lead the A.L. in strikeouts last year and won 18 games. The alarming stat is ERA, which is at 4.07. Not bad, but not worth the millions he may be getting. He has the potential to wind that down a bit, and I see him as a 3.5 ERA guy which puts teams in great chances to win.

Whether or not A.J. signs with the Angels, Greg Maddux needs serious consideration. The Mad Dog is a future Hall-of-Famer and possibly the smartest pitcher in the history of the game. Read this ESPN article to fully understand.

Maddux still has a year or two or maybe more left in him. He could be designated to fourth or fifth in the rotation and be able to help out the young guys and help mature Nick Adenhart. Also, Maddux can steal a base or two with nine in his career. That may not be a lot, but he stole one last year, so he can still get up and move. Not as important in the A.L. but still an impressive stat nevertheless.

Matt Morris is another solid player on a team that gets no press. Morris is just a great player who has hit rough spots the last few years. He was a 22-game winner in 2001 and can still play the game. He may have lost a bit since he is going to be 34, but he still can fill in when needed. Also, he saved four games as a Cardinal one year and could be signed to close and preserve the career. A wild thought, but one that is possible.

Jeremy Affeldt will get signed by a team with little fan fare. He is a middle reliever and the only time they get anybody caring about them is if they are doing amazing or horrible. Affeldt is a reliever who could fit well in the bullpen and has gotten better the past three years. At only 29, he can still get better and smarter.

Brandon Lyon could be a cheaper solution to the K-Rod problem. However, Lyon is a better reliever or set-up man than a closer. He seems much more comfortable at reliever than closer, and that is where I would want him.

Move Jose Arredondo up to closer to see how he does, and let Lyon be the seventh or eighth-inning guy. Arredondo and Spieir can battle for the closer spot, but Shields needs to stay in the set-up or seventh-inning spot.

Damaso Marte is a great lefty specialist. He could fit in well with Darren or replace him if the Angels let Darren go. In 2003, he was lights out with a 1.73 ERA but has struggled a bit recently. Last season, he had trouble getting people out, but I think it was just a funk, and he could do a great job in Anaheim.

Ken Griffey Jr. is just a dream option. I grew up watching him and rooting for him as did most kids of the 1990 baseball era. He is a delight to play with and watch and would go perfect in our battered and aging outfield. This is more a dream and joke than anything, but the name alone attracts hope and he would play with a sense of urgency knowing time is running out on him.

He has yet to win a world Series, let alone a playoff series. If the club drops him, he will be looking for a contender, and if Rivera is gone, this would be a perfect scenario for him so he could DH a bit. Plus he could play Seattle a lot. Also, if he does play the field, he is still capable of making the plays and would give us three of the best defensive outfielders in the game.

Raul Ibanez is a better version of Juan Rivera. At age 36 this past year he played all 162 games. He does not get injured much and can still hit the long ball. He will not be returning to Seattle, I do not think, and the Angels should make a move for him. The age is a concern and he should not be pursued too seriously.

Tomohiro Nioka plays shortstop for the Giants. The Yumiuri Giants, that is. He will be 32 and have played nine seasons. He may be average at best though, and Arte, Scioscia, and Reagins seem committed to our current shortstops, so I do not see this coming into fruition, but Nioka is one of the best shortstops in Japan right now.

A career .285 hitter with not much power though, but more than Aybar or Izturis. He has been compared to Michael Young or Edgar Renteria in the Japan league and was second in the league defensively last year (fewest errors committed).

The Angels have never been too interested in Japanese talent, however, and the draw of a 32-year old shortstop from there may not be appealing to the front office. (For more information on Japanese baseball free agents, read here.)

On the flip-side, I do not want the Angels to entertain thoughts of signing CC Sabathia. He is a good pitcher but needs to stay in the N.L. to be dominant. Plus, he likes it over there, I heard, since he gets to bat.

I do not want the Angels to sign him because I am a bit unsure of the innings he added on at the end of the year. It could have worn him down a bit quicker than normal and a bit injury prone in the future.

This is also a reality issue. Signing Teixeira will cost the Angels a small fortune and signing both of these guys would be like hitting the jackpot in Vegas, but it is unlikely. If the Angels do sign him, I will be happy, but I feel we could spend the money elsewhere or next year.

It is a sad thing to say goodbye to this year, and it has left a bitter taste in my mouth. I have yet to watch a single inning of the Championship Series Games, but I am rooting for the Phillies and Rays of course.

I cannot wait to see what we do this offseason. I am already wishing for next season to come. If you have any ideas on what we should do, let me know. I would love to speculate, hope, and dream

Blockbuster Deal: Angels Send Casey Kotchman to Braves for Mark Teixeira

Scott Fender — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 21:19:46 -0400

In a move Atlanta fans should get excited about, Casey Kotchman has become a Brave. While it cost them Mark Teixeira for this season, it has anchored the right-side of the diamond for years to come. Teixeira was a soon to be free agent, anyway, and the chances this year were dwindling with every Chipper Jones injury. After Tim Hudson went down with an elbow injury, the Braves realized they could not win this year.

Now, by stacking the deck for the next few years, with the trade also including relief prospect Stephen Marek, the Braves have positioned themselves to be the frontrunner of the division. Sure, Kotchman does not hit the ball for much power, but he already hit his season high in home runs this season as an Angel (12) and is only getting stronger. What he brings is defense, contact, and intensity.

The Braves are already young with Yunel Escobar, Jair Jurrjens, and a slew of other young talent. Kotchman gives them another piece to the championship puzzle. While Teixeira was a fan favorite, his time was up after this year and the Braves would have been left reeling for a replacement. Kotchman will become a staple on their NL Pennant dreams the next few years.

Unfortunately, if they do make it to the World Series, they may have to get by Vlad Guerrero, Teixeira, Torii Hunter, and the unstoppable Angels. And to think, all it took to get Kotchman was a few prospects to the Rangers—like Jarrod Saltalamacchia, Neftali Feliz, and Elvis Andrus—and a one-year stay with Big Tex. Now they have Kotchman, the man they wanted all along, and the Angels were kind enough to send a mid-level prospect in for goodwill.

Thanks a lot, Atlanta; Angels fans hope Kotchman serves you well as he, too, was a fan favorite. I personally have become an even bigger fan of your team because Kotchman is there. I hope we Angels fans meet you in the World Series in the future.

MLB's Top-Five Call-Ups That Will Affect the Playoff Race

Scott Fender — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 21:34:08 -0400

It's playoff time, regardless of whether or not your team is playoff bound or in a rebuilding mode. The trade deadline is three days away. Is your team a buyer or seller?

When teams sell, look for their young, hot, and sexy prospects to get time with the big club and fight for a spot next year. Some playoff-bound teams look for a rookie to become a spark plug or catalyst and push them past the opposition.

For one reason or another, these young athletes are making their major-league debut soon, and while some may fade to obscurity, and others reach stardom, one thing remains: They were good enough to play on a major-league team.

So here are, five names that should be popping up on your radar, as rosters expand and the season dwindles. These players could also be a fantasy-baseball savior and should be targeted in keeper leagues. Also listed are players to keep an eye on in the next year or two. Without further ado, the predictions and list, in no particular order.

Gio Gonzalez (SP, OAK)

Gio Gonzalez is going to be in the big leagues soon. That is a fact. With GM Billy Beane, young players will always shine until they are sold for a great profit, while breaking down on the team that paid for him.

With Dan Haren and Rich Harden being dealt, a path has opened up for Gio and a slew of young pitchers. Gio is the most seasoned and, perhaps, ready of the bunch. While he fought for a spot during Spring Training, he showed promise, but he was sent down to refine his skills.

Now with a rough first half of the season gone, Gio has unlocked his inner Duchscherer and has been unconscious the last few starts. Oakland hopes this turnaround is permanent and means he is ready for the spotlight. Oakland will likely put him in friendly matchups and at home, as they seem to have given up on this year, but you should never count out Oakland.

Matt LaPorta (OF/1B, CLE)

"Hi, my name is Matt LaPorta, and I was the key piece in the trade that sent your beloved ace for eight years to the Brewers." While no one wants to have to face those expectations, Matt LaPorta is staring them in the eyes.

LaPorta has plenty of potential and intense expectations. LaPorta played outfield for the Brewers because a 400-pound gorilla manned first base for the team. (Who wants to see Fielder running around in the outfield?)

LaPorta played first base in college, and the Indians are looking to utilize him most at that position. The Indians may not want to rush him to the big leagues, but the fans will be clamoring for it. LaPorta may be coming up later than most because he was named to the USA Olympic team and will be going to China to take on the world.

This will be a great learning experience that he can only benefit from. He will be taking on the world's best, and in the later rounds of competition, that is better than AAA.

LaPorta could make a splash this year, and if he does not make it to the big league this season, at least support him during the Olympics. He could become an instant hero there and carry his success to the Indians.

David Price (SP, TAM)

The Rays' No. 1 choice last year is probably the most high profile and anticipated player coming out of the minors. With the Rays leading the AL East, and the trigger-happy Red Sox and Yankees a few games behind, the Rays need all the help they can get.

The young team could get younger if Price is called up soon. David Price could make an impact like Evan Longoria did at the beginning of the year for the Rays and kick them into a higher gear and combat the evil empires.

While Price is no superhero, his numbers in the minors are hard to dispute. With a 1.82 ERA in high-A ball, and a 1.32 ERA in AA ball, he is already dominating the minors. A stint at AAA may not be needed, but it would help.

He has been eating up batters like Prince Fielder eats up tofu, with 59 strikeouts in 60 innings over both minor leagues. If another key cog goes down in the bullpen, look for Price to get the call. He can only benefit from being around Troy Percival and the other veterans that balance out the young studs in the rotation.

His promotion and use could be blueprinted like Joba Chamberlain's was last year. This much is certain: When he makes the Rays' team this year, and I do not doubt it will be this year, look out world.

If you are a Rays fan, be at that game. If you are a baseball fan, TiVo this game and get ready for a future star. If you are a Red Sox or Yankees fan, cry, because your reign as the AL East champs is over. You better start fighting for the Wild Card.

Andrew McCutchen (OF, PIT)

The Pittsburgh Pirates' 15-year rebuilding plan is finally taking shape. Now if only they could find an infield, starting rotation, and bullpen, they will win more games than they lose.

McCutchen is the main prospect in the Pirates' organization, and the time is running out for him in AAA. He could have won the starting job in Spring Training, but he eventually lost the job to Nate McLouth.

So the backup job was his to take, until he lost it to former prospect and speedster Nyjer Morgan.

So back to AAA and obscurity Andrew went. After a rough first half that could be shock from performing so badly in Spring Training, he has finally gotten that fire back and is ready to make the jump.

Steven Pearce took what was supposed to be his call-up earlier this year and again when the Pirates traded Xavier Nady. Look for Pearce and McCutchen to split time in the outfield, starting a tryout session for next year's outfield spot. Either way, McCutchen is someone to be ready for.

Mat Gamel (3B, MIL)

The Brew Crew sure do love their power-hitting third basemen. Especially ones who hit as many home runs as errors committed in the field. Gamel could make a Braun-like impact, not only at the plate, but at the hot corner as well.

Gamel will get the call up because of his bat. Do not look for him to actually play much in the field. Instead, he will be used primarily as a pinch hitter. The Brewers have a great formula for late call-ups that produce, and Gamel may be the next in line.

Gamel will get a few looks for a tryout for next year, but since the Brewers are all-in for this year, they must pull out all the stops.

The last time the Brewers made the playoffs, Hammerin' Hank was still playing. Okay, they made the playoffs since then, but the Sausage Eaters of Milwaukee still think it has been way too long.

Gamel can only help them push for the playoffs. Come October, look for the Brewers to be shaking cans of beer in the locker room (because in Milwaukee, Champagne is banned) and Gamel could be a key piece in the surge.

Other Notables

Colby Rasmus (OF, STL) He was originally intended to be on this list until an mild ACL sprain sidelined him for more than a month and cost him his spot on the Olympic team. The Cardinals have a talented and deep outfield that could match the Angels', once Rasmus is healthy. Look for him to be an opening-day starter next year.

Cameron Maybin (OF, FLA) He, too, was on this list, until I saw that he played 17 games for Detroit before he was traded in the Cabrera/Willis deal. So that left him off the debut list, but he still gets mention because Florida is waiting for him.

Angel Villanola (3B/1B, SFG) A power player who hits moonshots. He could hit a home run with a toothpick for a bat and a bowling ball coming at him. His numbers this year are nothing to write home about, with a .178 average, but he is starting to get the feel of things in the minor leagues.

Fortunately, he is 17-years of age. He cannot gamble or smoke legally yet, and yet he is still the No. 1 prospect in the Giants' organization.

Elvis Andrus (SS, TEX) Another young stud who, at 18, is the best minor-league shortstop and is only getting better. He could make an impact like Hanley Ramirez has done with the Marlins. He needs about a year or two to fine-tune things, but the time is coming for Elvis to rock the world again. You can thank the Braves for dealing him in exchange for Mark Teixeira.

Nefitali Perez (SP, TEX) Not to rub things in or anything, but he was another prospect in the Teixeira deal. And he is hitting about 100 MPH on the radar. So Braves fans should probably skip to the next one while I gush about his abilities.

Perez is still growing and still getting stronger. He could have Randy Johnson-type domination, hopefully without the back surgeries. Perez will come up quickly because the Rangers' pitching staff couldn't stop a little-league team from scoring runs.

Chen-Hsuan Lin (CF, BOS) He merits mention mainly because he won the MVP award at the Futures Game at Yankee stadium, helping the World beat the United States 3-0. It was his two-run home run that opened up the scoring in the sixth inning.

He was viewed as not worthy to be at the Futures Game, but he said a polite, "Screw You!" to those people. Lin has the speed and is developing the power to become a regular center fielder on a major-league level. Keep a watchful eye on him.

Luke Hughes (3B, Min) Few have heard of him, but he is going to garner your attention soon. He has crushed AA ball this year and is poised to make his debut possibly this year.

The year before, he struggled in the minors and was revoked as a prospect, but a hot year makes him relevant again. The Twins could call him up and see if the hot streak continues, or just promote him to AAA and just wait and see if the year is a fluke or not. Out of this list down here, he is the most likely to see time this year.

Hank Conger (C, LAA) The catching phenom is here on this list because he is on my favorite team, and I am biased. He is drawing some comparisons to Mike Piazza with his offensive bat. He may still be two years off, since he is only in high-A ball, but there is reason for excitement.

While he is prone to injuries as of late, when he plays, he makes an impact. Conger hits for average but can drive the long ball just as easily. Think Howie Kendrick, but with power.

While his defense needs to be better, and his catching skills are only so-so, a position change could be in the works. Since he is still a ways away from the big league, the Angels have time to develop him. Oh, and he is a switch hitter, just to add to his awesomeness.

Top 10 Ways You Know Your Season Is Going Bad

Scott Fender — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 17:39:16 -0400

10. Keiichi Yabu (RP-SF Giants)

Yabu was working his arms out using elastic bands. If you are a pitcher or baseball player, you know about the elastic bands that people place anywhere to do simulated throws and stretch arms out.

Yabu was doing this when the hooks snapped and the elastic band whipped around hitting him in the eyes.

He lost vision for a second and then his vision became blurry. He recently made his first relief appearance of the season so he will be fine. Here is an article on his injury.

9. Elton Patterson (DE- Orlando Predators AFL)

It is one thing to get hurt in the game.

But Elton Patterson was warming up and pumping up the crowd. He jumps up and down as if in a huddle yelling, "What time is it? Game Time!!!" until he stops, drops, and rolls.

Watching it I feel bad for the man but cannot help but laugh. Here is his highlight.

8. Brandon Marshall (WR-Denver Broncos NFL)

What makes this injury so great is that he lied about it and made up an embarrassing story about it.

He originally stated he slipped on a fast food bag (McDonald's, I believe) and fell through his TV, severing an artery, muscles, and a few veins on his arm.

Embarrassing right? Not the truth though.

He came forward a day later to tell the truth. He did put his arm through a TV, but it was done while wrestling with his family. Basically his family went WWE on him and through him through a TV.

I am waiting for him to come out and tell everyone he punched the TV when he lost to a family member playing Madden 08 on his PS3.

7. Your cleanup batter has 106 Home runs entering the season and his career high is 19 Home runs.

Your Ace pitcher had a 4.53 ERA last season and already has his ERA up to 6.30 in two starts.

This is a bad sign. If not for Aaron Rowand, this team would struggle to hit 100 home runs this season. Thankfully, after Zito the rotation looks good for the Giants.

6. Patrick Roy (Coach- Quebec Remparts of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League)

He was suspended for 5 games for telling his son, a fellow goaltender, to fight another player.

Roy was always a heated, testosterone filled player who may have been under the medical condition known as 'roid rage (just me guessing, no evidence to support the claims.)

Anyway, Roy is not the person with the bad season, it is the team he coaches.

Just imagine a practice. "Hey, skate ten suicides and the last one to finish has to fight me."

Or "After our passing drills we are going to head over to the gym and learn some Tae Bo from some Billy Blanks videos I found, so you can fight better you bunch of wusses."

Or finally, "Hey I want everyone to meet our newest addition to the team, he is mean, he is crazy, and he will do anything to win a fight. Meet our new assistant coach: Mike Tyson."

5. You played for the New Jersey Institute of Technology basketball team and just went 0-29. Not only did you have the worst season ever, but now you get to come back next year and continue the streak.

This seems like something that can haunt a program forever. It really does not help the recruiting process and really everyone just wonders how they could not win one game. Even the Miami Dolphins found a way to win last year.

4. Your name is Barry Bonds. You can play but no one wants you. This may be a redemptive story if someone signs him but for now its just sad. No joke on this one

3. Your name is Clutch the Bear (Mascot of the Houston Rockets) and Tracy McGrady just dared you to wrestle Booker T of the WWE. And you did so admirably, but still. Take a look.

Even though wrestling is fake, you still do not want to wrestle if you are a mascot. Mascots are lovers not fighters.

Still, respect goes to Clutch. I became a closet Rockets fan because of that guy, so it cannot be that bad of a season. No, I take that back: I do not like the Rockets I just like Clutch. Take a look at his other videos here, here, and here. I mean, he even has his own music video!

2. You are the favorites to win the World Series and you decide to spice things up in the league by starting off in thirtieth out of 30.

Here is to an 0-7 start with a total of 15 runs in those 7 games. Granted, they did win but they have a over-hyped starter and a great player at 3B, but he is no savior.

They can still do it, which is why there are 162 games in a season, but it will be no easy task in the deep AL. Even then the NL can always surprise a team and win the whole thing.

1. You are the Chicago Cubs and are celebrating 100 years of infidelity!!! Go Cubs! Let us all hope this does not last 100 more years. 100 is usually a good number, but for not winning a championship in 100 years, it really puts a damper on spirits.

But man does it make for one crazy story. Bartman, Black Cat, Collapses, Billy Goats and everything else that made this one of the most loved losers of all time. Here is a stirring tribute to those Cubbies.

And the 2008 NL Rookie of the Year Is...?

Scott Fender — Sun, 06 Apr 2008 20:37:15 -0400

As the 2008 MLB season begins we all wonder who will be the next Ryan Braun to come up and make a splash. Who will be the next Tim Salmon and be a big time player for one MLB franchise? Who will be the next Ben Grieve who makes a splash one year and now he is the answer to a trivia question? Who will be a Rookie of the Year and future Hall of Fame Player? I will leave Hiroki Kuroda, Kosuke Fukodome, Yasuhiko Yabuta, and other Japanese players off this list because I feel they should not be eligible for the Rookie of the Year award but that is for a different argument and article. And now for the list of candidates:

NL:

Obvious choices:

Jay Bruce: The Reds have a crowded outfield. But they also have an aging outfield. While Bruce has no timetable set for a call up, there is no doubt he will get it soon. The moment Ken Griffey Jr. goes down with another hamstring injury or the rumors of an Adam Dunn trade materialize, Bruce will jump from Triple A and up the depth chart over Norris Hopper and Ryan Freel. Both of those guys are not everyday players, they are great role players. Jay Bruce could in fact enjoy another season in Triple A if none of these players get injured or traded which is unlikely but possible. Jay Bruce can make an impact and has a great power potential. Ultimately his chances for Rookie of the year depend on when he gets his opportunity.

Cameron Maybin: He is the next Marlin to make a splash and get traded in his contract year. He will follow footsteps of Willis, Miguel Cabrera, and the basically entire World Series Roster. He will stay and be the star of the team once Dan Uggla and Hanley the Manly Ramirez are traded. The Marlins are a revolving door of talent. A fast food chain in a career game. Maybin has star potential and can hit with a little power and steal a lot of bases. He is in competition with Cody Ross in center field. Once he runs the course of being in the minors long enough to extend his contract and avoid arbitration, look for the Marlins to promote this kid. If the Marlins do well and so does Maybin look for votes to come his way. But the problem he has is playing for the lackluster fan base of the Florida Marlins. No one will recognize his contributions when he is not on T.V. and only 500 fans are cheering him on.

Johnny Cueto: This kid is for real. If you play fantasy baseball he is someone to jump on a bandwagon for. His first major league game puts in a 7 inning performance, with only one hit (a home run to other young talent Justin Upton) Here is the kicker and what gives him star power, 10 strikeouts in that short time. He has vaulted over Homer Bailey in the organization as future ace. Cueto will continue to impress and with his strike out rate he will garner attention and votes. He may struggle but of all the rookies this year, I believe he has the ability to make the most contribution to this team. The Reds really need pitching to take that division and with Harang and Arroyo patrolling the one and two spots, Cueto fills in nicely for a dominant three. Cueto puts this staff from average to division best. That is what a Rookie of the Year candidate does.

Jayson Nix: The next Pedroia possibly, Nix is an above average defensive player with an average bat. What he has above the rest of these guys is job security. Cueto could struggle and see time in Triple A and the others are already there. Jayson is there to stay and the Rockies seem committed to him. Many experts say 10 home runs and 15 steals. That is more production then Pedroia when he won. So the kid has a chance. But Pedroia won the award in a lackluster rookie class in the American League. Guys who are average players do not normally win this award. If the Rockies make the postseason again and Nix helps out then he could gain some votes but the Rockies would need a dominant year to help Nix out and in the pitching crazy NL West I do not see that happening. He goes up against some solid starters in the division which will hurt his average and production.

Colby Rasmus: Colby is a prototypical young outfielder. He has the hybrid power/speed combo and is being held back because his production in double and triple A make owners believe it is a fluke. He may be in the minors now, but with Skip Shumaker and Ryan Ludwick in center, Rasmus will get a golden opportunity soon. The Cardinals may wait but his time will come. He will get the shot because of the lack of production from Skip and Ryan, or if Pujols goes down and actually needs that surgery the Cardinals may call him up to provide a spark in the club and to the fans. Colby Rasmus has the potential to put up solid numbers and hit enough home runs and steal enough bases to persuade a few voters. But, I do not think he will put up enough of a case to win the prestigious award.

Dark Horse Candidates:

Jair Jurrjens: Looking to resurrect the pitching glory days of the Braves, they brought back Smoltz and Glavine. With Maddux not able to round out the three amigos, they need to fill his vacancy with someone young who can learn their trade. Jair Jurrjens is not your poster name like Maddux, Glavine, or Smoltz but he can pitch, and that's all that matters in Hotlanta. He was a key piece in the trade that saw Rentaria leave Atlanta. Jurrjens has a lot going for him. He is in a system with a lot of older players who could see time off. Mike Hampton is in the rotation which means he will see time each time Mike goes down, which will be often. He is a bit inconsistent so there will be stretches that he gets knocked around. But he can make a strong case for Rookie of the Year if the Braves make a playoff push with him in the rotation.

Joey Votto: The Reds have a lot of young talent in the system. However, their payroll has a lot of expensive veterans playing on the field. Scott Hattenburg is holding onto the first base job but with any slip look for Votto to jump in. He has a swift bat that could lead to a .300 average and 25 home runs. He can even move a bit and steal a few bases. Votto could leave strong impressions on the voters if he becomes the starter. What will hurt him is if he struggles at all the Reds may not give him many opportunities limiting his role.

J.R. Towles: He already has the starting role in Houston. In fact there was not even a chance for anyone else. J.R. will spin himself a fantasy tale and hit .250 with average home runs. The Astros are committed to him and because of this he may improve his chances or hinder them. If he hits solid and can contribute everyday like the Astros hope, then he can make a push for R.O.Y. However, look for growing pains and plenty of patience from the Astros. Towles will not put up a solid R.O.Y performance, but he can still surprise me and exceed average expectations.

Manny Parra: The Brewers young team gets stronger and stronger. Manny Parra is a potentially dominant pitcher. The Brew Crew has him limited to relief duties but look for him to gain a fifth starter role and slowly move up. He had a torn rotator cuff two years ago but after rehabbing it became better than before. If that shoulder stays healthy and he gets a solid shot at the back end of the rotation, Parra can turn some heads. He gets the ground ball outs and does not give up the long ball. He gets solid strike outs so what is not to like? I wonder the same thing. Parra will be a great asset when the Brewers make their playoff run which will help his voting cause.

Geovany Soto: That is correct there are two rookie catchers this year who could win. Many experts like this kid but they are clouded because they see him as a top 10 catcher in the big leagues. But the catcher position is a very week one right now. Anyone who plays fantasy sports can see that. Just because he becomes a top level talent in a position does not earn him the title of rookie of the year. I believe he has better abilities than Towles and has a better mentor behind him in Henry Blanco. Because of his fantasy abilities he may become a fan favorite towards year end. But look for yet another historic Cubs collapse to kill his shot at Rookie of the Year. Although he may not be to blame, my pick for R.O.Y. will be the one to finish off the Cubs. This ends Soto's chances and he loses a few votes.

Chin-Lung Hu: The Dodgers top prospect is a Troy Tulowitzki type player. He can instantly become one of the best defensive shortstops in the game and challenge TT for Gold Gloves for years to come. He added 15 pounds over the last season to add a bit of pop to his bat. He will hit above .300 and below average power. He will get the call to the show as either a utility player or because of injury. Hu has great range and is the defensive rookie of the year but that does not translate into the award.

AND THE WINNER IS: As I touched on in my previous article, I have Jair Jurrjens winning. Behind Jair in the voting is Cameron Maybin. Currently, experts have Soto, Cueto, or Bruce winning. I touched early on Soto making a solid run but a Cubs collapse kills his shot. Jurrjens catches fire late and the Braves win the division. He becomes a hot pick and wins by a slight margin. Maybin comes on strong and his production slips just a bit throughout the year. Maybin plays well all year but he puts up above average numbers. Jurrjens goes 4-0 in September with a small ERA and slips by Maybin. It will be a two way race with Soto and Maybin until the last month and Jurrjens slingshots into the lead for the win.

Thanks for reading, if you think I missed anyone here feel free to post it and I will tel you why they did not make the list. Here is my AL article.

American League: And the 2008 Rookie of the Year Is...

Scott Fender — Sat, 05 Apr 2008 21:22:17 -0400

AL:

Obvious choices:

Evan Longoria: The man who will supposedly save the Rays and propel them into contention for the future. Coupled along with him and David Price the Rays will be looking good in 2 years. But that is the Rays, this is about Evan Longoria. He does not have the power Braun has but what he lacks in power he makes up for more than enough in defensive abilities. Longoria is projected to be a gold glover and will make some top ten plays and web gems. This will boost his popularity as well. The only thing that can hurt his chances for Rookie of the Year will be the fact that he plays for the Rays.

Jacoby Ellsbury: Looking to make repeat Rookie of the Year awards for the Red Sox, Ellsbury comes in with high expectations. A speedster and defensive stud, he can make a run at the R.O.Y. He plays for Boston and a playoff team always improves ones chances of winning awards. However, this year is full of candidates and he may lose some votes due to lack of power. After all according to Greg Maddux and Tom Glavine, "Chicks Dig the Long Ball"

Joba Chamberlain: Joba the Hut was untouchable against the hitter he faced. The Indians needed a swarm of of gnats or whatever it was to throw him off finally. If God needs to send a plague of locust to stop a player then the player must be doing something correct. What will hurt Joba will be the Joba Rules. Yankees have him starting in the bullpen being set-up man to Rivera. He will eventually be settled into the roation but is lack of solid role could prove devastating to his campaign.

Clay Buchholz: Clay is working in a deep rotation that helps cover up any mistakes he makes. The line-up behind him will give him solid run support, but with or without it this kid can pitch. He would be on this list if he was on the Orioles, O.K. maybe not the Orioles. The kid can pitch but I just do not believe he has the star power to push the vote for R.O.Y. But you never know, he does play for Boston and might run on Pedroia's power and fight with teammate Ellsbury for the award.

Ian Kennedy- So the Red Sox and Yankees are fighting Evan Longoria for the favorites in the rookie award. Ian Kennedy will start in the rotation unlike his counterpart, Joba. This puts a leg up since he will put up more innings and quality starts then Joba. Ian does not have the dominance that Joba has. Last year he put up solid numbers in three starts. The reason he will not win is because he, like Clay Buchholz, just is not making a splash. He will be consistent but not over powering to win the award.

Dark Horse Candidates:

Nick Adenhart: As Angels fan, I absolutely love this kid. An overpowering fastball and high strike out rate usually means succes, unless you are John Rocker. He will be an anchor in the rotation soon, but it is unclear if he will make it to the show this year. If Mosely or Santana does not perform he can get the call. If another pitcher goes down he will get the call. But it is unlikely these two things will happen. Lackey will soon be back solidifying the rotation. And I do not see the Angels giving up on Mosely or Santana in the first month. Adenhart could be a late call up and will more than likely be on the playoff roster. He can be a powerful candidate next year if he does not reach the pitching limit in his late season call up. Ultimately his chances this year will depend on when he gets his call up.

Daric Barton: He hits the ball well, and hard. He gets on base. He does all of the un-sexy things you ask for in a player. He scores enough runs and takes the walks. He is going to hit a few home runs but he is not a power hitter. This will hurt his chances along with his average glove and average team. He is your typical everyday player for an average team. Nothing sexy hear but what he can do is fit into the Athletics game plan and become a dynamite kid in the line up. Do not be surprised to see him rip out 80 RBI's and score 80 runs. This may be enough to sway a few votes his way.

Jeff Clement: He cannot throw out a runner even on a bad jump. But he can hit 30+ home runs. This reason alone we can see Clement get the call up around the All Star break. He is this year's candidate to be the Ryan Braun. He is a liability in the field and a power hitter at the plate. The Mariners will probably call him up because Sexon, and basically the entire Mariners line up is shady and can not be depended on to get enough runs to win. Clement could provide a spark and send the Mariners over the Angels which is what a Rookie of the Year should do.

Brandon Wood: Another Angel who may get the call up, this guy can hit. Another Braun like guy, Wood could play third base or shortstop. The Angels are hesitant to send him up until he is comfortable at shortstop. Izturis and Aybar also have the shortstop duties dual time already and there is little room for a third. Two is company but three is a crowd. If Figgins goes down for a long period of time or even Aybar or Izturis, Wood can become a back up. But it is loaded in the Angels organization take a look at the depth chart. Until someone moves Wood and his power, coupled with strike outs that make Ryan Howard (199 strike outs in 529 AB's) look like David Eckstein (22 strike outs in 434 AB's) Wood's hole in the bat will keep him from the Show as well.

Gio Gonzalez: Gio could be finding a rotation spot with a trade happy GM who has 2 pitchers he is shopping around. Gio was sent to the Athletics in the Swisher trade. Gio struck out 185 batters in only 150 innings last year in double A ball. He make the leap to Triple A and the Athletics will watch him intently to see how he does there. He can challenge the K Kings in a year or 2 and if his strike out rate continues in the big leagues then he could be seeing plenty of votes for R.O.Y. However, if the Athletics do not compete he may not get the call so he can refine is control. Look for Gio to move into the rotation because of trade or the Athletics make a push for a play off spot.

AND THE WINNER IS: As I touched on in my previous article, I have Evan winning, like many other people have predicted. Gio will finish behind Evan in the voting. Evan will get his shot in early May and will destroy the ball. He will lead the Rays into a play off race with the Sox and Yanks but he will go cold in the last month. This will hurt his voting but with a strong first half he will edge out Gio's dominating second half. Evan and Gio's team will not make the playoffs but their performances alone will push their respective teams into the play off picture.

Thanks for reading, if you think I missed anyone here feel free to post it and I will tel you why they did not make the list. Here is my NL Article.

Why the Oakland Athletics Will Sign Barry Bonds This Year

Scott Fender — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 18:07:35 -0400

Baseball is a funny game.

A game is never over until the last out and anyone can win on any given day.

It is also a very thriving business.

Some owners take their business so serious they do anything to turn a profit. The Florida Marlins are the biggest example in this category.

Some owners do whatever it takes to win no matter how much money is thrown around. This would be the New York Yankees.

Each team goes about their business a different way but each team is trying to build a winner whether for the future or the present. In this business some teams take risks and sign an injury prone player hoping for great returns and an injury-free year. Other teams take aging stars to provide leadership. Some teams take young players in the hopes of developing potential.

But all of these players are generally bought at bargain prices.

There will always be players who get paid way too much and some who do not get the paycheck they deserve.

With all of this money being flaunted at prospects, washouts, walking band-aids, and convicted felons, then why doesn't Barry Bonds have a team?

Some argue that fan backlash prevents an owner from signing Barry Bonds. Whether or not he took steroids is not the question.

Barry Bonds can help any baseball team.

He brings in fans (or enemies), helps teams win ballgames, and draws revenue regardless of salary. Barry wants to play this year.

He may be getting old and will miss a few games due to court dates and rest days, but the man can play.

Last year in 340 AB Bonds had 94 hits. 28 of those hits were home runs. He hit for a respectable .276 AVG. But had an astounding .480 On-Base Percentage and an even more amazing 1.045 OPS (On-Base Percentage plus Slugging Percentage).

Only four other players in the National League posted a higher OPS last season: Chipper Jones, Ryan Braun, Matt Holliday, and Prince Fielder.

As a Designated Hitter on an American League team he can do damage.

In interviews he has expressed disdain at being a full-time DH. He believes that if he cannot be a service to some team in the outfield then it is time for him to retire.

So Bonds will be signed by a team hurting for some offense with a weak outfield. The alarms sound and the Oakland Athletics are in great position to sign the career home run leader.

Why do Billy Beane and the Oakland Athletics make sense for Barry Bonds?

Location, Location, Location

Oakland is right across the bay from Barry's Glory Days.

The fans of San Francisco still adore Barry.

The Oakland A's signing Bonds would receive the smallest backlash from the fans because Oakland is always looking to one-up San Francisco in every sport. Barry would not have to move and adjust to a new area. He is comfortable in the area and would fit well.
Moneyball

Billy Beane has always coveted Barry Bonds.

In the book, Moneyball, Billy Beane called Barry the best pure hitter in the game today. Billy Beane also knew the Giants would never trade him so he gave up on the idea of acquiring him.

But the fact is that Bonds is the perfect player for a moneyball attitude. He draws plenty of walks (even when not walked intentionally), hits the ball hard, and runs conservatively.
Chris Denorfia, Ryan Sweeney, Emil Brown, Travis Buck, and Jack Cust

Only one of those guys can be a dangerous player.

Cust has power with the bat, but he has the DH spot filled. Nothing against the rest of these guys, they all can play since they are on MLB rosters and all fit the Moneyball persona in some way, but they just are not Barry Bonds.

Would you rather have Travis Buck in Left Field or Barry Bonds? Imagine you are the GM who would sell more? Who would contribute more? Heck, even in fantasy baseball would you rather have Travis Buck or Barry Bonds?

The outfield of the A's is not a bad group, but there is no star power nor are they exciting.
Stick it to "The Man"

That man being everyone who says he cannot play anymore.

Anyone who called him a cheater.

The man is the media who often scorns him and he returns the favor.

The man being Giants GM Brian Sabean.

The man being Commissioner Bud Selig.

The man can be anyone Bonds wants it to be. Bonds is now trying to play to prove himself to doubters. Bonds knows he can play and does not doubt himself. You do not doubt yourself and then break home run records.
To win

The Athletics do not look like the team to beat, but over the past seven to eight years the Athletics still find a way to be competitive regardless of the ragtag roster.

Everyone has picked the Los Angeles Angels or the Seattle Mariners to win the battle out West (I personally have the Angels, but I am biased towards them).

Oakland seems to be in a mix of some sort all the time. And with the gigantic amount of young talent this team could throw together a run and demand a playoff spot.

Bonds gives the young group leadership, poise, and swagger.
Boost the Hall Of Fame resume

He is already a first ballot Hall-of-Famer, but is still shy of 3,000 hits and 2,000 RBI—plus he could be the only member of the 800 club. He needs 65 more hits and 4 RBI. He is also 89 games away from playing in 1500.

All of the stats are jovial, but 3,000 hits is a big accomplishment in baseball. This solidifies his resume regardless of the steroids.

Now I understand that in order for the Athletics to even attempt to sign him, Bonds would have to take a pay cut and be playing basically for the love of the game.

$2 million is the limit (I think) the Athletics would offer him.

They pride themselves on cheap talent and daring trades. So the push for Bonds would most likely come after a trade or an injury.

Barry Bonds will be wearing number 25 for the Athletics at the end of this year mark my words and take them to Vegas.

Angels Fans Don't Fret: Pitching Still a Strength

Scott Fender — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 17:45:16 -0400

Kelvim Escobar could be done for the year, and possibly his career.

John Lackey is out for at least a month and possibly longer.

A shoulder tear (Escobar) and a tricep strain (Lackey) have Angel fans worrying. I will admit that to lose the No. 1 and No. 2 starters for a long period of time will be hard to overcome.

But if anyone can do it, the Angels can.

The Angels have an amazing farm system and can replace the missing parts in two ways. One way to overcome the injuries is through the farm system itself and the other being via trade with prospects.

The Angels have become winners by establishing their minor league teams.

Each year, someone gets hurt, and the Angels respond with young talent.

Last year, Reggie Willits provided a charge. In 2002, Francisco Rodriguez made his name known, and people like Kendrick, Figgins, Rivera, Napoli, Weaver, Lackey, Escobar, and countless others all came up in the Angels' system.

This year’s wave of newcomers will be in the pitching and infielding. We will see Brandon Wood, Kendry Morales, and a few others get the call more than likely.

I also suspect another no-name prospect, of whom not many fans will have heard, to get the call and perform admirably and earn a roster spot like Willits did last year.

With the starting pitching rotation not clearly set, we see four starters already.

Jered Weaver is the new ace; Garland, Santana, and Saunders fill in the next three most likely in that order. The final spot is still up for grabs.

Either Dustin Moseley will come out of the bullpen and become a starter again or Nick Adenhart, the 22-year-old flamethrower, is thrust into the rotation.

Adenhart is the people's choice and possibly the smart one. Moseley is needed in the bullpen. Shields is not ready for the season, and Bootcheck is hurt for awhile.

This leaves two key cogs in the bullpen out. Moseley would be better fit to fill one of those roles. Adenhart could come in and work his kinks out now.

He performed well in Spring Training, and although he is not perfect, I see an early call up being a smart move.

The Angels face a relatively weak schedule in the first month of play. This means Adenhart will be able to get his work in against the weaker teams of the AL.

Adenhart could even begin in the bullpen like Joba Chamberlain and Jonathan Paplebon have done. Moseley could fill in the fifth and Adenhart works the bullpen to gain experience. It is a great learning curve to be placed into.

There is one last option for the Angels and that involves going to a four-man rotation. But this has not been done since the early '80s, and that option seems unlikely, but possible.

The Angels have made deals this offseason already, and I would not be surprised to see them pull the trigger again.

Wood and Adenhart could go as well as the beloved Figgins. Rivera and Willits are also prime suspects to be traded.

Finally, Francisco Rodriguez could be shopped around as he is in his last year and no contract extension is in sight.

A trade in the first month is highly unlikely, however.

If Lackey's injury is more serious, Escobar's is as serious as feared, and Adenhart, Moseley, Santana, or another pitcher is not getting the job done, then look for the Angels to grab a pitcher from a non-contender.

The Athletics are shopping their two young arms in Harden and Blanton, but don't count on the A's to trade within the division.

If the Angels can get one of those two look for a three-team trade or cash for the Angels to be involved.

As for other teams, the Astros and Marlins could be potential trade partners. If the Astros begin to lose ground, look for the Angles to try and get Roy Oswalt near the deadline. They would probably have to give up Willits or Rivera, Wood, and possibly Adenhart or more to get him, though.

Mike Soscia hinted at the possibility of the Angels trading for more arms, but he is determined to fix the problem within the organization first.

If the Angels have proved one thing the past couple of years, it's that there's always someone waiting and willing to take over and become the next star.

Look for Adenhart on that mound sometime soon.

No matter what happens, the Angels will find a way to fill the hole and contend.

MLB 2008 Predictions: A Quick Look Into The Future

Scott Fender — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 09:13:25 -0400

Angels-AL West

Tigers- AL Central

Red Sox- AL East

Tampa Bay Rays- AL Wild Card

Braves- NL East

Cubs- NL Central

Diamondbacks- NL West

Brewers- NL Wild Card

Angels beat Rays (3 games)

Tigers beat Sox (5 games)

Brewers beat Diamondbacks (5 games)

Braves beat Cubs (4 games)

Angels beat Tigers (6 games)

Brewers beat Braves (6 games)

Angels beat Brewers (7 games)

NL beats AL in the All Star Game (7-3)

Prince Fielder MVP

Prince Fielder wins Home Run Derby beating out Ryan Braun

biggest trade deadline move sends Mark Prior and Khalil Green from Padres to Angels for Izturis or (Aybar depending on who is statrting the starter will go) Willits, and Chris Bootcheck

Barry Bonds will not sign this year unless the Type A free agent can get removed from him... if it does look for the Rays, Reds, Pirates, Dodgers, and Yankees to go after him

Clemens will not sign this year and will retire

Randy Johnson will win Comeback player of the year with Kerry Wood behind in voting

AL MVP goes to Carl Crawford with Vlad, Torii, and Cabrera behind in voting

NL MVP goes to Prince Fielder with Texiera, Byrnes, and D. Lee behind in voting

AL Cy Young goes to Beckett with LAcket, C.C., and Kazmir behind in voting

NL Cy Young goes to Chris Young with Zambrano, Randy Johnson, and Smoltz bhind in voting

AL rookie goes to Evan Longoria with Gio Gonzalez behind in voting

NL rookie goes to Adam Jones (if he is eligible if not then look for the award to go to Hiroki Kuroda if Japanese players can't win R.O.T.Y. awards then Jair Jurrjens to win with Cameron Maybin behind in voting

Other Teams Should Fear The New-Look Tampa Bay Rays

Scott Fender — Sun, 09 Mar 2008 01:22:41 -0500

The Tampa Bay Rays—formerly known as the Devil Rays, but more on that later—have always been the laughingstock of the MLB. Even the Montreal Expos—ahem, sorry, the "Washington Nationals," have fared better.

The Rays have been beaten worse than a punching bag before a Mike Tyson fight. Worse than people pulled over by the LAPD. Worse than Elijah Dukes' wife—allegedly, of course. Worse than Vince McMahon after Stone Cold Steve Austin gets through with him. The list goes on and on.

But the new-look Rays are off to a fresh start. They have abandoned the "Devil" in their name and are now simply the Rays. Nothing strikes fear into the heart of people more than little rays of sunshine—too many sunrays can cause health hazards.

And were Devil Rays really threatening? I mean, stingrays are the scary ones. They took out the Crocodile Hunter himself. But Devil Rays? Nothing too scary about them. According to Wikipedia, there was a villain named Devil Ray who fought the Justice League.

But Devil or no Devil—the name is not what is going to scare the rest of the league.

After suffering a decade of humiliation in the AL East—averaging 97 losses and finishing higher than last only once—the Rays have made a flurry of moves this offseason, and raised expectations among the fanbase.

What has the Tampa faithful so excited? All those years a the bottom have made this team a haven for young prospects who want to play. Not only do these prospects want to get in the game, but they can actually hold their own in the Big Leagues.

The cornerstone of the Rays was called up at age nineteen. He is twenty-seven now and an eight-year vet. Carl Crawford is the main reason the Rays are looking so good right now. He is the kind of player all MLB teams look for. He leads by example, encourages, plays all-out every day, and is a face for a franchise.

Crawford draws comparisons to Tony Gwynn, Tim Salmon, Craig Biggio, and countless others who played every at bat for one franchise. He also has no plans to leave.

But now, Carl Crawford no longer has to do all the work. The front office actually put money into contracts this off-season and the team looks new and improved because of it. Look at Tampa Bay roster in 2000, when the Yankees won their last World Series, shown here. Only a few names stand out, but nothing spectacular. It is a bunch of veteran guys eating a payroll of a poor team.

Now look at the 2008 projected roster. This team is built to succeed.

Carlos Pena had a break-out year that he hopes to build on. Dioner Navarro is going to make a name for himself soon and has the staying power to be an anchor for the Rays.

Shortstop duties will be handled by the soft hands of Jason Bartlett, acquired in the trade that sent Delmon Young to the Twins. He has spent most of the off-season working on his defense, hoping to improve his .967 career fielding percentage.

Second nase is now in the reigns of Akinori Iwamura. Iwamura was the starting third baseman last year but the Rays shifted him to make room for the man creating the biggest buzz in the Rays organization and in the MLB.

That man is Evan Longoria. And although he shares a striking resemblance in name to the beautiful actress and wife of Tony Parker, he will soon make people recognize his name first. His beauty is contained in the way he plays—with a strong swing and solid defense.

Scouts say Longoria is a much better defensive player than Ryan Braun—but despite his supreme defense, Longoria is not projected to produce offensively as well as Ryan does (no one may ever match what Ryan did last year as a rookie). However, Longoria will not start in the majors on opening day.

The Rays want to win but front office is still stifling when it comes to money. By keeping Evan in the minors for the first two weeks of the season, the Rays will keep him from being a free agent for one more year. The longer he stays in the minors, the better the chances of the team winning any arbitration cases in the future.

Until Longoria gets called up, look for Willy Aybar and Joel Guzman to handle the hot corner.

The outfield is also full of talent. Center field is fully in the hands of B.J. Upton now. He was platooned as a second baseman and center fielder but now will be full time in center field. Left goes to Carl Crawford.

Right field is Rocco Baldelli's to lose. And he can lose it by being injured as he often has in the past. Baldelli has the potential to be a spark plug for his team—if he can spend an entire year off the disabled list.

At designated hitter the platoon of Jonny Gomes (against left-handers) and Cliff Floyd (against right-handers) will be solid.

The pitching staff is coming together nicely. With a solid one-two punch of James Shields and Scott Kazmir, the Rays hold a devastating right-left combo. Each of the pitchers is getting better every year and both could easily be the ace of this team.

Matt Garza makes for a nice number three. He was also acquired with Jason Bartlett in the trade with Minnesota. He is a great young pitcher with great stuff. Andy Sonnanstine should end the season as the teams number four pitcher. A highly-touted prospect, look for him to have a few rough outings and a few spectacular ones.

The final spot in the rotation is up for grabs, with Edwin Jackson being the early-on favorite.

The bullpen was the weak point last year, and although great strides have been made this offseason, it will still be subpar. Al Reyes, Dan Wheeler, and the rest will offer decent relief that should get the job done but often will not.

However, the new closer is the great Troy Percival. He is providing great leadership, not only in the bullpen, but for the team as well. The Rays made an excellent choice in signing him, because he will lessen pressure on Carl Crawford to be the team leader.

Percival will get the saves as he always has—but his age is catching up to him, so he will get roughed up once in awhile, and may spend time on the DL.

Finally, take a look at the minor league affliates of the Rays. Tampa Bay has a great farm system that they built on many high first-round draft choices. Many players on the Rays roster came up through the system, and were not brought in via trades or free agency. This is a great sign for a struggling club.

A look at the top ten prospects shows that the Rays are set to contend soon. Also an in depth look at that page will show how each of the Rays' first-round choices in the past ten years have done. Six out of the ten are still in the Rays system and four are projected starters. David Price was the first pick of the Rays this past year, and after he tears up the minor leagues expect to see him in the Rays' starting rotation in 2010.

The Rays are young and talented and their success will rest in the hands of manager Joe Maddon. Many believe he can do it. A thirty-one-year employee of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim prior to becoming the manager two years ago, Maddon has the indications of a great manager, and under his direction his young team the Rays will shake up the league.

Finally in a show of confidence for this team, the management have proposed a new stadium for Tampa Bay—and many of the locals, including state officials and the mayor, have embraced it. under what looks like some sort of wind-sail roof, the state of the art, waterfront stadium, will draw crowds and be an immediate upgrade from Tropicana Field. The new stadium looks great and could be one of the most engaging parks in the future.

Look for the Rays to make a splash this year. They will be in the hunt for the playoffs and if they were in the National League they might pull off a wild card somehow. The Rays, however, are in the tougher American League.

They will be a name up until August, but will fizzle out due to inexperience. They will finish third in the AL East and be primed and ready to go in the future. 2008 may not be the year for the Rays but the future is coming to Tampa Bay.

An MLB Obituary: Is Moneyball Over?

Scott Fender — Fri, 07 Mar 2008 08:44:07 -0500

A National Bestseller all about baseball statistics took everyone by storm.

Michael Lewis wrote the book Moneyball in such a way that the reader could not help but root for the Athletics. Being a fan of the Angels, I cannot explain my infatuation with the A's except through this book. In fact, I hated them until the offseason when I read it.

But this past week, the focus of Moneyball retired. Jeremy Brown hung up his cleats for personal reasons.

Moneyball tells the tale of a team everyone wants to see succeed—except Yankees fan. We can all relate.

I grew up in poverty without the money others had. In baseball we see the Yankees' payroll exceed the total income of some third world countries. The Athletics were finding ways to win with a payroll of less than a million dollars.

Moneyball, in its simplest form, is the study of statistics to evaluate a player. Scouts and fans have been doing this for years—even more so now that Fantasy Baseball is so popular.

But Moneyball looked at the obscure statistics: on-base percentage, walks, WHIP, and other stats. And this was just the beginning. The phenomenon soon evolved, or mutated, to evaluate statistics that could not be understood. Intense mathematical equations were used, and this all seemed to kick off the beginning of a new era of baseball.

So with this great revolution, how many titles has the Oakland team won since Billy Beane and his Moneyball method took over? Anyone? That's right: zero.

So does Moneyball work?

Let's look at today's Athletics' roster. Only Eric Chavez and Huston Street remain as players who merit name recognition. If you play fantasy baseball you may recognize more names like Kurt Suzuki, Daric Barton, or Jack Cust. But the new CF Chris Deneforia?

I just cannot buy into Moneyball when no postseason success merits my admiration. The Yankees spend as much as Bill Gates makes, but cannot win either.

I am convinced that intangibles win the game.

How can you measure desire, leadership, camaraderie, sportsmanship, or honor? Even Moneyball stats cannot measure these attributes. Video games put fictitious numbers on people with these intangibles and give ratings on leadership, but you cannot measure it or compare it.

So, Moneyball is dead. It was a great experiment and fun while it lasted. Now let's move on and accept that baseball cannot be bought, it cannot be marginalized, and it cannot truly be understood.

It can only be played and enjoyed.

Brett Favre's Shadow Covers Even Warren Sapp's Massive Build

Scott Fender — Thu, 06 Mar 2008 23:28:03 -0500

In recent retirements, we see the iconic number four step down as the epitome of longevity. His longevity could be used to spokesperson Viagra but that's for another story or topic. He announced his retirement, ending his brilliant career and bravo to him.

However, a man who defined a position and had just as brilliant of a career announced his retirement the same day as the Packer Posterboy. Warren Sapp (yeah, remember him?) deserves credit and some of the spotlight as he walks away from the game.

Warren, we hardly knew ya. Favre was the definition of tough at QB and laughed and cried with us and danced about the field like a little kid—and we loved him for that.

Sapp meanwhile, ate offensive linemen, bumped refs, spit on people, slapped offensive coordinators, and also was a scary, feared player. Ask Glenn Dorsey who he wants to be, ask Jake Long who he looked up to, and ask any offensive linemen who ever went against Sapp who was the hardest, toughest, scariest man they played was. All of them will say Warren Sapp.

He not only talked the talk, but he walked the walk. He was a B.A.M.F. (ignore his touchdown dance bunny hop) and say what you want about his temper tantrums, his flair for getting personal fouls, and his nastiness that went over the top sometimes; but he played with as much heart as Brett did. He got those penalties protecting teammates, being a leader, arguing, being human, and showing he will not back down to anyone.

He never quite got 100 sacks (97 1/2) but all of those sacks as a defensive tackle gains respect in my book. Many teams could still use his services and will more than likely call him up over the course of this season as injuries pile up and players under-perform.

We all have our favorite Sapp moments from the touchdown dance from earlier, an appearance on MTV's Wild N' Out, his Mike'd Up Moments, and his uncanny ability to make us all laugh. He and Favre have an intertwined history. They played often and now the two most iconic players at their positions in our decade have retired on the same day. Like Favre, he can still play. So as we raise our glasses to number four let’s take a moment and remember number 99.

Embrace the man that is Warren Sapp, because like Brett Favre, we will never again see a player like this in our lifetime. We lost not one, but two of the greatest, so while Favre has his day let's give credit where credit is due. After all he deserves it. He even walks out in style and leaving us the memories of why we love him.

Here is to Brett Favre and the man who knocked him on his ass. They will even go side by side into the Hall Of Fame, I am sure of it. In fact, the are even working on Sapp's bust as we speak.