by Eddie Mayrose

For many serious Fantasy owners, their pre-season prep work involves in-depth analysis of statistics, mock drafts and statistical projections.  Comprehensive stuff, and a great foundation for a successful Fantasy season.  Their work continues during training camps, as they track injuries and position battles that affect playing time.

In today’s world of instant information, delivered to smart phones and tablets, it’s extremely difficult for even the most casual Fantasy players to miss that Ryan Madson and Joakim Soria have been lost for the season. Or that Ryan Howard is two months away from playing and David Wright has been dealing with a rib injury. What used to be a significant edge for the hard working owner has been eliminated, mandating that more digging is needed in order to have a leg up heading into the draft. The question is, where to dig?

You might want to point your shovel toward the AL and NL notes published daily by USA Today.  With just a little practice, you’ll learn to read between the lines; unearthing valuable tidbits of information that will allow you to identify potential sleepers and busts not known to the more casual Fantasy player.  You may have to connect a few dots, but you’ll reap the benefits later on.  Here are a few players we’ve come across just this week.

Matt Cain- Always overshadowed by Tim Lincecum, Cain has become one of the NL’s steadiest hurlers.  He and the Giants have suspended talks for a contract extension, putting Cain into Moonlight’s favorite category- “Last year of his contract”.

Aroldis Chapman- Moving from the Cincy bullpen to the rotation may be difficult. But the hard throwing Cuban import has always been a starter and has shown great command in Florida, something that plagued his tenure as a reliever.

Edwin Encarnacion- If you’re in an AL only draft, Encarnacion’s value gets a bit of a bump should he gain OF eligiblity, something with which the Jays’ are currently tinkering.  The Jays don’t want to lose Edwin, their starting DH, during interleague play.

Felix Hernandez- The Mariners head to Japan to open their season this week vs. the A’s, before returning home for more exhibition games preceding their “U.S.” opener.  That means two starts for Hernandez in what will be an extended first week in most Head to Head formats.

Brian Matusz- The Oriole lefty is enjoying a strong spring, with 13 K’s in 10 IP. While it’s not unusual for young players to shine in Florida, Matusz’s number take on greater meaning because he reported to camp in great shape; a stark contrast from last season.  His spring success could be the indicator that he is ready to live up to the Birds’ lofty expectations.

Justin Morneau- The Twins’ superstar has lost most of the past two seasons to a concussion. Manager Ron Gardenhire is thrilled that he’s finally healthy and expects the former MVP to return to his lofty status.  Now, before you dismiss that assessment as typical, spring manager-speak, remember that Gardenhire has been the voice of caution through Morneau’s troubles;refusing to rush his 1B back into the lineup.

Salvador Perez- The news this week that Perez will be lost to knee surgery no doubt caused him to be lowered or removed from many draft boards. However, the Royals catching prospect is just 21, and is expected back by the All Star break.  If you’re in a keeper league, he could be a huge bargain.

Giancarlo Stanton- After being hit on the wrist with a pitch, Stanton, (the very definition of a player to be named later) has missed a ton of time.  However, before you start to worry, be aware that Stanton played just 6 ganes last spring, yet managed to post some pretty impressive numbers.

Neil Walker- The Pirates second sacker is a solid, second-tier performer at the position with decent upside.  If Bucs’ skipper folows through on his idea to insert Walker into the cleanup slot, Walker, currently a late mid-rounder in most mixed leagues, becomes an unexpected power source.

Delmon Young- The Tigers have assembled a lineup that will hit like a beer league softball team.  Young may be the biggest beneficiary, as he’ll hit fifth in this powerful order, behind Miggy and Prince and ahead of Alex Avila.  Don’t forget that Young is just two years removed from a 100 RBI season and is, still, just 26 years old.

No More Calls…We Have a Winner

It happens every spring. As certainly as the tulips will bloom, Major League Baseball owners will victimize fans with their own, annual scam, known on these pages as Arbitration Fraud.

According to the Collective Bargaining Agreement between the owners and the players association, a player with three or more years of service, but less than six years, may file for salary arbitration. There is another category called “Super Two”, in which players with more than two years and less than three who have accumulated 86 days of service in the previous season are also arbitration eligible.  If, that is, they rank in the top 17% of service time for ALL players. So, if the promotion of a player is held up for two months, he will is likely to fall below the Super Two line and will definitely have another season added before he makes the three year mark.

To that end, many small market teams assign their top prospects to their AAA affiliates when they break camp, no matter how dire their needs.  While the “head fake” given to the fans is always something along te lines of”…he needs more seasoning”, the actual reason is that the organization is delaying the start of the “Arbitration clock” by a year, thus delaying his first big payday.  This “seasoning”, always comes, miraculously, around the end of May, no matter who the player might be.

At first glance, this seems like a fiscally responsible practice, especially considering that salaries have run amok over the last decade.  Upon closer examination, however, this amounts to nothing more than fraud, as owners continue to charge top dollar for tickets and advertising while KNOWINGLY not putting their best product on the field.

Suppose you were looking to buy a new car. After finding a graet price on a fully-loaded vehicle, you head to the dealership, only to find that the only one remaining is a car that is not as completely equipped. Cloth seats instead of leather, standard rasio rather than satellite and no GPS.  Would you still pay the price of the one that was fully loaded?  Of course, not. Yet that is exactly what Bud Selig and his merry band of carpetbaggers do every year, much to the chagrin of Fantasy Baseball owners.

For the last five years, there has been at least one elite young player that has been kept down by the parent club.  As a result, Fantasy Owners have been forced to endure this process, knowing full well that the player they’re waiting for should be in the Major Leagues.  In 2007, a season generally considered to be Alex Rodriguez’s best, the Milwaukee Brewers delayed the promotion of Ryan Braun, who, form the time of his debut, posted better statistics than ARod, who won the AL MVP.  The following season saw a twist on the fraud, as thw Twins buried Francisco Liriano in AAA as he was recovering from surgery.  Liriano started the season in Minnesota, but needed more time to rehab his elbow and was legitimately demoted.   He remained in Rochester for three months, however, deszpite posting a 10-1 record with an ERA below 2.00. Not until his agent threatened to file a grievance was he recalled.

Matt Wieters took the award in 2009, forced to wait while the Orioles named the much traveled  Pat Borders their starter. His BA was below the Mendoza Line when Wieters finally arrived. Catchers made it two years in a row last season, when the Indians decided Carlos Santana wasn’t quite ready for duty.  Funny, he went right into the third slot in the order upon his promotion.

Until this week, the 2011 Arbitration Fraud Award was a two man race between Eric Hosmer of the Royals and San Diego’s Anthony Rizzo. Kansas City, perhaps recognizing a window of opportunity with the Twins, White Sox and Tigers off to disastrous starts, pulled the trigger on Hosmer, jettisoning the putrid Kila Ka’ahuie, whose name must be Hawaiian for, “Punch and Judy”.  All Hosmer did, while Kiahuue was flailing at air for six weeks, was bat .439 in 21 games with 3 HR, 15 RBI and an OBP of .525, a tad better than Ka’ahuie’s .195 BA.

That left  Rizzo as our 2011 recipient.  While Brad Hawpe has treated Padres’ fans to a .179 BA with just 1 HR and 6 RBI, Rizzo has ripped through 29 Pacific Coast League games to the tune of a .397 BA with 10 HR and 42 RBI.  But, apparently, Rizzo needs just a bit more “seasoning”.  About two weeks more, I would imagine.

Bobby Carr, owner of Citizens Kane in the 40-Kane Fantasy Baseball League, has been the unfortunate victim in four of these cases and he’s currently sitting on Rizzo.  “This quote has been attributed to a lot of people.  I first heard it from Bill Parcells and it’s one of the few notions I’ve ever come across that is always correct”, said Carr. “When they say it’s not about the money, it’s ALWAYS about the money.”  In this case however, it’s also about Fantasy Owners taking one in the shorts.

By Moonlight Graham

It was a banner year for rookies in Major League Baseball as more than a few newcomers not only burst onto the scene in a big way, but turned their teams into contenders. The American League Rookie of the Year, Rangers’ RP Neftali Feliz, set a rookie record for saves and firmed up the Texas bullpen to the tune of a World Series appearance.   He wasn’t the AL’s only impact newbie, as Minnesota’s Danny Valencia filled a void at third base for the champions of the AL Central.   In the National League, Travis Wood performed so well for Cincinnati that even Dusty Baker, notorious for his disdain of rookies, couldn’t keep him out of the rotation. Then there was NL Rookie of the Year, Buster Posey, who was not just the most important player in the lineup for the World Champion Giants, but impacted the Rangers’ championship run by making then San Francisco catcher Bengie Molina Aavilable.  Now, That’s a game changer.

In the Fantasy Baseball world, owners are always trying to uncover these hidden gems.   There isn’t a Fantasy league champion among us that doesn’t have a story about the rookie sleeper that took advantage of both talent and opportunity and  carried him to a Yoo-Hoo shower.  Who might some of these players be in 2011? Let’s take a look.

Jeremy Hellickson- Rays’ fans can talk about David Price all they want.  He may very well be in possession of his first CY Young Award by the time you read this but Hellickson may be the ace of the future.  His Minor League command statistics are incredible; better than Price’s, and he performed very well in a late season call-up.

Domonic Brown- If the Phillies decide to part ways with Jayson Werth, Philadelphia fans may forget all about him when Brown takes over.  He hit a combined .327 in two Minor League stops with 20 HR and 68 RBI in just 343 AB.  Throw in 17 SB and you can see why worth or Raul Ibanez are expendable.

by Eddie Mayrose

The New York Mets made one very big statement this week in their hire of Sandy Alderson as GM. As a baseball lifer, there’s no way Alderson will stand for the meddling of Fred and Jeff Wilpon, neither of whom has ever heard an opinion he didn’t respect. With Alderson on board, there’s no doubt who’ll be calling the shots.

His first move was stellar, appointing J.P. Ricciardi as his assistant.  Formerly the Toronto Blue Jays‘ GM, Ricciardi’s skills as a talent evaluator are among the most respected in the game; skills the Metsies desperately need as they try to rebuild a farm system bereft of top prospects.

Alderson’s next move might be a little dicey, however, as the fan base clamors for the hiring of Wally Backman; a move destined to keep the Mets behind the eight ball.  Backman has no Major League experience, his volatility will quickly wear thin in a big legue clubhouse and, most importantly, he’s given no evidence that he’s tamed the wild lifestyle that got him fired in Arizona after just a few days.  When asked about Backman’s antics in the NY-Penn League, an exec from a rival team shrugged his shoulders and said, “Don’t get me started on the (crap) that guy pulled.”

I’ll agree that the Mets need more fire but I’m not sure that has more to do with the manager than a change in personnel. They just have too many players for whom apathy seems to be a constant state of mind.  Regardless, there is a candidate available that’s both experienced and fiery; one that would initially be an extremely unpopular choice for Met fans to accept but could be the one that leads them out of the wilderness.  Here’s hoping that Alderson places a call to Larry Bowa as soon as possible.

By Eddie Mayrose

Each year, around the feast of St. Joseph (March 19th) the famous cliff swallows of San Juan Capistrano return from their winter vacation spot 6,000 miles south in Goya, Corrientes, Argentina. While it is truly one of nature’s wonders, it isn’t as unique as many might think. Here in New York, we annually celebrate the return of our own type of swallows; loony birds with no capacity to remember past failures who are destined to perpetuate their own suffering.

New York Jet Fans Return to Capistrano

My heart goes out to Cheap Seater Lou Ricciardi. He’s been mentioned before in this space as a long suffering Jet fan that can’t stop himself from being sucked into the hype. Perhaps in an attempt to conceal his gullibility, Lou sent me a blurb that he found on a Jets blog, rather than put his own name to the same, misguided optimism. Anyway, some poor slob submitted a long post about the death of the “Same Old Jets” and mocking Gang Green’s naysayers. As if his heart won’t be broken once again.

I have to admit, these New York Jets have me stumped. I had predicted a standard, garden variety collapse; to the tune of a 6-10 season. However, as I’ve watched them dominate both sides of the ball on their way to compiling a 3-0 record in the AFC East as they welcome back three Pro Bowlers this week, I am at a loss to discern from which direction disaster will eventually strike. Now, I’ve been a Jet fan my whole life and carry the scars to prove it. They’ve crushed my spirit so many times that I’ve developed a keen sense of impending doom; but it’s failing me at the moment. Don’t get me wrong. I’m still completely convinced that, somewhere down the road, the season will go terribly wrong. Not only that, the longer it takes, the more it will sting. For now, though, I’ll enjoy the ride, right up until it runs me right into the brick wall that’s always waiting for Jet fans. However, unlike poor Lou Ricciardi, I’ll be wearing a seat belt.

New York Knicks Return to Capistrano

Can’t imagine that any of the Knicks’ brass was shocked to find that Eddy Curry had, once again, reported to training camp overweight and out of shape. In an unusual twist, Curry has become the team’s longest tenured player; mostly due the waning skills and obscene contract that make him completely untradeable. Just another example of how the gifts of Isiah Thomas just keep on giving. And, in this case, eating.

New York Mets Return to Capistrano

Here they go, again. Fred and Jeff Wilpon in search of two or three thousand opinions on the best way to return their franchise to the top of the NL East while completely missing the point that their indecision is the very reason the Metsies are floundering. Let’s try this, Freddy. Go find a solid, established baseball lifer (Sandy Alderson?) and then LEAVE HIM ALONE. Keep sonny boy away from him, too. Say all you want about the failings of Jerry Manuel and Omar Minaya, there’s no disputing that they were always hamstrung by your lack of commitment to a long-term direction for the team. I don’t know who may be on the radar to fill either position, but the notion being floated around that Wally Backman is somehow ready to handle a major market franchise has disaster written all over it.

We’ve seen, courtesy of YouTube, Backman’s over-the-top volatility when things don’t go his way. Not exactly the demeanor necessary to handle a sometimes combative press corps. Besides, word out of the NY Penn League is that Backman hasn’t necessarily expunged all of the demons that caused the Diamondbacks to withdraw their managerial offer a few years ago. Get it right this time, guys, or your brand new ballpark is going to be empty for a long time.

by Eddie Mayrose

As talk of George Steinbrenner’s possible induction into the Hall of Fame swirled around Old Timer’s day at  Yankee Stadium, I was asked by Cheap Seater Jim Case if the late Steinbrenner had been good for baseball.  A difficult question to answer, no matter how you felt about The Boss during his reign in the Bronx.  While most Yankeee fans  are sure to point to the many championships won since Steinbrenner bought the franchise in 1973, his detractors make note of the mockery he made of the pinstripes with his endless firings of managers and pitching coaches as well as two suspensions that resulted from a felony conviction and an extortion attempt.  However, almost all will use the phrase, “George just wants to win.”

The thing I always found interesting about the “just wants to win” theory is that the Yankees never, EVER, won a title when the impetuous Boss had the final say about the roster.  His first championships were won under the watchful eye of GM Gabe Paul, who threatened to quit whenever Steinbrenner insisted on a ridiculous player move. When Paul had had enough, he resigned, leaving the reins in George’s hands and the fans with a drought that would last eighteen years.

In 1990, after King George’s lifetime suspension (later reduced to three years), Gene Michael was allowed the free hand necessary to build a champion.  Six years later, after astute scouting and even sharper trades, the Bombers were on top again; remaining there for four of the next five seasons.  See if you can find a Yankee fan that experienced Steinbrenner’s 1980′s sideshow who believes Messrs. Posada, Rivera, Pettite and Jeter would all have made it to the Bronx had the Boss been in charge.  He’d have traded at least one for an aging designated hitter and probably two before they’d made the majors.

The fact is, anyone in sports is “all about winning.”  Very few, however, hide behind the philosophy to dismiss their petulant and criminal behavior.  Steinbrenner is the only owner in the history of the game to be suspended TWICE.  The Yankee Pride he so often referred to was significantly diminished during his time as principal owner but his actions always drew interest from fans throughout baseball.  Fans may have come to the ballpark just to boo the Bombers; but they came to the ballpark.  He was the first to establish his own cable network, putting money in the pockets of the owners that followed suit but taking free, televised baseball from the very fans to whom he often claimed his devotion.

So, to answer Mr. Case, Steinbrenner was too often a bad guy to have been good for Major League Baseball but, through the interest he generated, Baseball did benefit from his presence.  As for the ridiculous notion that he belongs in Cooperstown, I have my own question:  If Georege Steinbrenner is inducted into the Hall of Fame, what do we tell Pete Rose?

Are Jets Fans Ready For Some Blacked Out Home Games?

Heard an ad for New York Jets’ tickets on the radio the other day, generously proclaiming that prices in the new Jets-Giants stadium have been reduced by as much as fifty percent.  This came on the heels of an invitation I recently received from Gang Green to tour the new facility, even though I gave up my season tickets in 1987.  Now, I’m hardly a marketing genius, but it seems to me that the Personal Seat Licensing extortion may not be going as well as planned.

LeBron Misses Opportunity For Greatness

I know it’s a business. I know LeBron James had every right to pick his own spot. And It just would’ve been great, this one time, to see an athlete care less about himself and more about the people affected by his decision.  James, an Ohio native, has lived among friends and neighbors that have struggled financially throughout his life.  He’s well aware that his decision to leave will result in the loss of jobs in and around Quicken Loans Arena. For him to have stood up and said, “I can’t leave; too much depends on me remaining in Cleveland,” I’d be writing instead about one of the greatest role models in the history of sports. Instead, as was his privilege, James decided to split, dishonoring his time with the Cavs by orchestrating a dog and pony show that only served to rub salt in the wounds.  Sure, he’s a hero now in Miami but he’d have been a legend in Cleveland and, as Babe Ruth put it to Benny “The Jet” Rodriguez in The Sandlot: “Heroes get remembered, kid. But legends never die.”

by Moonlight Graham

In 2003, in an attempt to regenerate fan interest just a year after a lack of available pitchers forced MLB Commissioner Bud Selig to declare the All Star Game a tie, Baseball’s hierarchy decreed that the Mid-Summer Classic would now determine home field advantage in the World Series. It wasn’t already bad enough that the rosters were watered down by the requirement that each team, no matter how bad, must be represented; now, a player from a second division club could have a hand in deciding the outcome of the sport’s premier event months in advance.

While the move was and is opposed by many, I never really had a problem with it.  Not because I agree with the concept; it’s completely ridiculous to think I’m staying up that late to watch Garrett Jones of the Pittsburgh Pirates face Kansas City Royals’ closer Joakim Soria because I’d like the Mets to have home field if they get that far.  However, because the old system of alternating the privilege was also completely without merit, I figured, “Who cares?”  Until I realized that the new policy actually gives mindless fans the opportunity to hurt their team’s shot at a championship; often at the prompting of it’s own front office. We’ve all been to the ballpark in the early part of the season and heard the huge pitch to vote for the hometown boys.  Actually, you don’t even have to attend a game anymore, as on-line balloting has given everyone a voice.  “Send Joe Blow to Los Angeles for the All Star Game”, blare the ads.  “Forget the stats, vote for our guys!”  On the surface, a nice marketing strategy, but one that could prove fatal to a championship run. 

The Philadelphia Phillies have won two consecutive National League pennants and, despite being ravaged by injuries, are still within striking distance in the NL East. There aren’t many Phillies fans that aren’t expecting a third straight World Series appearance.  Yet, right down to the last week, fan balloting had 3B Placido Polanco, SS Jimmy Rollins and 2B Chase Utley in the starting lineup.  Polanco, hiting .318 with 4 HR and 27 RBI, is a far cry from New York Mets’ third sacker David Wright or Scott Rolen of the Cincinnati Reds; two Gold Glovers also boasting BA over .300 while sitting near the top of the league’s RBI standings.  Rollins has missed all but twenty games this season while Utley is going through the worst campaign of his career.  How does a Philadelphia baseball fan better the National League’s chances of winning the game by voting for any of them?  Rest assured, however, that if Charlie Manuel’s boys open the Series on the road, every cheese steak moron that backed “J-Roll” will be whining for all he’s worth.   And not a soul in the Phillies’ front office will realize that their ad campaign was probably a bad idea.

Fantasy News and Notes

Although there hasn’t been a Triple Crown winner since Carl Yazstremski in 1967, there may actually be a three man race for the honor in the AL this year.  Detroit’s Miguel Cabrera leads the loop in HR and RBI and is fifth in BA.  Rangers’ OF Josh Hamilton is fourth in the batting race while sitting just 4 HR and 5 RBI back of Cabrera while, in Minnesota, Justin Morneau has as many dingers as Hamilton and is third in BA.  He’ll have to pick up the RBI, though, as he’s more than 10 behind the top spot… Don’t be too quick to write off the first half of Blue Jays’ OF/3B Jose Bautista.  THe HR may have tailed off and his BA was never stellar, but his 49 BB indicate he’s still got a plan at the dish…Hank Blalock was released by the Rays to make room for Gabe Kapler.  Guess it’s really over when a team wants Kapler instead of anyone… Let me get this straight.  The Seattle Mariners, dead last in the AL West, may be looking to move Cliff Lee but gave up prospects for Russell Branyan?

Buy Low

- Is anyone still paying attention to the Baltimore Orioles?  If your league isn’t, call the guy that owns Adam Jones and make a deal.  After a miserable start, Jones used a hot June to raise his BA to .274 and now has 13 HR…This may be your last chance to grab Moonlight’s favorite sleeper, Jason Kubel.  His bat has warmed with the weather in Minnesota, his BA s climbing and he’s on pace for 90+ RBI.

Sell High

- After a dugout confrontation for not hustling in Tampa, B.J. Upton was out of the lineup with, what was called,  a hamstring issue.  I’m not buying. This is a guy that melted last year when Joe Maddon dropped him in the order.  Expect the same dropoff if he’s feuding with teammates… Angels’ RHP Joel Pineiro has won five straight.  A solid pitcher, he’s never been dominant and you won’t miss him too much; especially if you can use his hot streak to secure a big bat.

Grab Bag

- Cincinnati Reds’ rookie Travis Wood debuted yesterday with seven strong innings.  Not a big K guy, he’s been an ERA and WHIP monster all through the Minor Leagues.  If he stays in Dusty Baker’s rotation, grab him.

Drop Zone

- If you haven’t shed yourself of Rockies’ 1B Todd Helton, do so, now.  Having never struck out more than 80 times in any of the last seven seasons, he’s now at 50 and complaining of a bad back.

Sick Bay

-  Had to share this one. In the Hausier’s Krowedum Rotisserie League, Jack Sullivan’s Big Steins have been bitten by the injury bug; often with comical results.  The laughter from the rest of the league had not yet died down after Kendry Morales was lost for the season while celebrating a HR when Luke Scott, another Big Stein, pulled a hammy rounding first after going deep.  The way I figure, if Jack’s guys keeping hitting dingers, he’s got no chance to win.

by Moonlight Graham

Once upon a time, before the evolution of the internet, Fantasy Baseball information was hard to come by.  News regarding critical issues such as day-to-day injury situations, rookie callups and even trade rumors were rarely current.  Often, it was necessary to directly call the MLB club in question but, even then, it was as likely as not that you’d reach someone that didn’t already frown on the entire concept of Fantasy Baseball.  Which brings me to the kid in Milwaukee.  I  never got his name so, I couldn’t say if he’s still in baseball but, wherever he is, there’s a former, public relations intern of the Brewers that, probably, still curses ole’ Moonlight at the very mention of Dan Plesac.

Sometime in the early nineties, Plesac, the Brew Crew closer, was nursing a bad elbow while a member of Moonlight’s Master Batters.  After a few absences from the daily box scores and no mention of an injury, I placed my first call to the unsuspecting intern.  Surprisingly, he really didn’t seem all that interested in the fact that a tight Saves race might decide my league.  He was equally unsympathetic when I explained that I couldn’t pick up a replacement unless Plesac was disabled by Milwaukee.

So, I asked, “Hey, what’s up with Plesac?”  “Is he going on the DL?”  “Not to my knowledge”, came the reply and thus started a daily correspondence over the course of the next six days.  Exasperated, he finally admitted to me that Plesac was likely out for awhile but, as rosters were about to expand on September 1st, would not go on the DL.  If he’d have only told me that in the first place, I’d have had another relief pitcher and he; an enjoyable week.

As the Rotisserie Baseball world has evolved, that episode has become more and more ironic to me.  Here I was, being sneered at and stonewalled by the MLB franchise owned by Bud Selig, who would become the money hungry commissioner that recognized Fantasy Baseball for the cash cow it is.  By charging exclusive rights fees to online services run by CBS, ESPN and Yahoo, Major League Baseball has helped advance an industry now so stuffed with the very news it once protected, that Fantasy Baseball owners must discern the Good info from the Bad and the Ugly.  What follows is a Moonlight Guide through the media.

The Good
If you’re in a league that holds Minor League players, you’ll want to listen to Grant Paulsen, host of MLB Network Radio’s Minors and Majors on XM channel 175.  Paulsen, just 22 himself, is as impressive as the young phenoms that appear on his show.  Infinitely more knowledgeable than his experience would have you believe, he balances MLB analysis with guest spots featuring the top prospects from each organization; kids he’s obviously taken the time to meet before they go on the air. It’s a funny, informative two hours each Sunday morning at 8AM that’ll give you an edge and put a smile on your face.

Once a daily staple for Fantasy Baseball players, The Fantasy Focus, hosted by Rotowire’s Jeff Erickson, disappeared from the MLB channel on XM radio in 2009.  Now Rotowire Fantasy Sports Today, Erickson and co-host Chris List share their expertise on XM channel 241 and Sirius channel 125 from 11 AM to 2 PM EDT.  Long a Tout Wars opponent of stats guru Ron Shandler, Erickson has a great feel for Fantasy trends, supports his views with statistics without becoming married to them and enjoys a seamless and often funny banter with the equally likable List.

The Bad
When MLB Network launched last year, it seemed like a natural fit for the Roto industry.  However, it took more than a year for The Fantasy 411 to debut. Hosted by Mike Siano and Cory Schwartz, the show is a disappointment in both its insight and timing.  The opinions offered are rarely better than any you’d already made, yourself and the 5 PM EDT slot does not allow for transactions involving day games.  What a shame that the network doesn’t cater to what is obviously it’s largest audience.

The Ugly

Imagine you’ve landed a date with the prettiest girl in school and she shows up wearing curlers and a house dress.  That’s, essentially, what MLB Network has accomplished by simulcasting its nightly Quick Pitch on its Sirius XM channels.  Harold Reynolds, possibly the best analyst in all of sports, becomes impossible to follow if you’re listening to his TV broadcast on the radio.  Discussing highlights and making demonstrations you can’t see, Reynolds and his cohorts instantly become a terrible listen.  Amazing that anyone earning his living in the profession would sign off on such a disaster.

NBA Finals Dilemma

It seemed like such a simple choice.  As the NBA Finals began, I stood firmly behind the Boston Celtics as two of my favorite players, Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett led Doc Rivers’ squad into another Finals matchup with the Lakers.  That Los Angeles features both Phil Jackson and Kobe Bryant, a pair of NBA figures for whom I’ve never had any tolerance, made the decision to back the boys from Beantown all the easier.  Until I realized, however, that Nate Robinson, longtime headcase acquired in mid-season from the Knicks, would garner a championship ring should the Celtics triumph. Ouch. Now I’m left to pull for the impossible during tonight’s Game 7.  Can both teams lose?

The Buzz Around the World Cup

Was asked by Cheap Seater John Wall if there were to be comments in this space related to the World Cup. Knowing me as he does, I’m sure that John expects me to drone on (pun intended) about the ridiculous kazoos with which the South African fans have been assaulting the ears of fans across the world.  Or to ridicule the fact that these incredible athletes act as they’ve been shot at the slightest contact; attempting to draw calls from the officials.  Sorry, Johnny, none of that here. Instead, I’ll just point to the front page of Sunday’s New York Post, whose blaring headline proclaimed, “U.S. Wins 1-1″.  I mean, seriously, if we’re so overmatched that a tie is viewed as a win, why the hell are we even competing?  Make me watch this nonsense.

Timing is Everything

Has anyone else noticed that the current hot streak that has taken the Mets to within a half game of the lead in the NL East has coincided with Luis Castillo’s stint on the DL?  With Angel Pagan, a legitimate major league hitter, batting in the second spot, the Amazins have suddenly caught fire, begging the question: when Castillo comes back, will he find his way back onto the field or be shown his rightful place on the bench?

That’s What a Dad Does

On Opening Day, New York Yankee designated hitter Nick Johnson caught quite a bit of flack from his teammates.  It seems that, after making a promise to his nine year old daughter, Johnson chose “Party in the U.S.A.” by Miley Cyrus as the song that would be played when he came to bat.  Needless to say, it wasn’t well received by many of his young teammates as Johnson heard about it all the way into the Bombers’ locker room after the game.  The next morning, however, when Craig Carton tried to pile on Johnson during his morning show on WFAN, it was Boomer Esiason that brought some sanity to the issue.  “He promised his daughter”, said Esiason, “and that’s what a dad does.”

“That’s what a dad does.”  He stops playing golf because Little League baseball is way cooler when you’re playing.   He sits in a gym for hours at a time because, maybe,  you might knock down a three pointer; even though your minutes are seriously limited.  He worries about you whenever you’re out of the house but says nothing, because he won’t cramp your style.  He tells you you’re really doing well behind the wheel, even after you’ve driven into a hedgerow. And, most of all, he loves your mom.

In an episode of Taxi, the greatest sitcom of them all, Alex Reeger offers his opinion of fatherhood.  ” You worry from the day they’re born and it never stops.  You worry when they’re sick. You worry when they don’t come home from school on time.  You worry about their grades and whether they’re running around with the right kids.  You worry if they’ll meet the right girl and get a good job.  It never ends.  And for what?  Maybe a hug and a kiss every once in a while because the kid feels like he has to?  All in all?  It’s not a bad deal.”  Happy Father’s Day.

It happens every spring.  MLB clubs head into the new season filled with all of the promise and excitement that a new year brings.  Injured players are healthy, dissapointing performance are forgotten and optimism rules the day. Unfortunately, many also begin the new campaign focused more on finances than the standings and thus, head into battle without a full arsenal of weaponry.

Without going into all of the legal issues surrounding the MLB arbitration process, suffice to say that the most important element is service time; specifically, days on a Major League roster.  If a rookie that would normally be eligible for arbitration after two years is held back until the end of May, he cannot be credited with the service time required for a full season.  Therefore, the big payday usually gained through arbitration is delayed by a full calendar year.

On the surface, it seems like sound, fiscal planning by the big clubs; a strategy carried out for years.  However, after drilling down a little deeper, you discover a very seedy. three-card-monte type of scam with MLB fans as its victims.   While these franchises knowingly and intentionally fail to put their best product on the field, their loyal supporters continue to be charged top ticket prices for an inferior product.  The nerve required to perpetrate this bait-and-switch is exceeded only by the gall needed by the GM to keep a straight face as he proclaims the player in question to suddenly be of Major League skill level at the same time the deadline passes.

Over the course of the last two weeks, four such prospects; each having had some aspect of their game questioned by management, took up prominent positions with the parent club without so much as a small hiccup.  In San Francisco, Buster Posey seems to stroke two hits a day as he’s become the best run producer on the offensively challenged Giants.  Michael Stanton, professional baseball’s leading home run hitter with 21, has seamlessly worked his way into the Marlins’ lineup with 5 RBI over his first 5 games.  Friday, the Indians called up Carlos Santana whose .310 BA and 51 RBI apparently were not enough to unseat the light hitting Lou Marson over the first two months.  Santana, incidentally, was the Tribe’s number three hitter all weekend and poked his first HR on Saturday.

Then, of course, there’s Stephen Strasburg.  Nationals’ brass, somehow managing not to laugh, voiced their concern about the phenom’s ability to pitch from the stretch.  As he ripped through Double a and Triple A, the pressure to promote him grew; but not enough to make the Nats’ flinch.  Finally, on June 8th, Strasburg got the call and lit up the baseball world with a 14 K performance.  Good luck finding anyone that believes Strasburg couldn’t have done that in April.

Three decades ago, MLB Commissioner Bowie Kuhn would have stepped in and put an end to this fraud under the credo that it was not in the best interest of the game.  Unfortunately, today’s commissioner, Bud Selig, is the errand boy for ownership, having been a member of the club, himself.  As a matter of fact, the Milwaukee Brewers, run by Selig’s daughter, pulled the same nonsense three years ago with Ryan Braun. As it’s unlikely that an empty suit such as Selig will ever rule against his brother owners, expect the nonsense to continue; while fans pay through the nose to watch inferior talent.

*                          *                            *                             *                           *

Buy Low- Here’s an idea.  Find a Yankee fan, commiserate with him about Javy Vasquez’s high ERA and the silly notion that he can’t win in New York. Then, steal him away and laugh all the way to September.  Vasquez is a strikeout machine who’s won four straight.  That he pitches for an offensive juggernaut makes him more attractive.  In Houston, Carlos Lee is in the midst of rebounding from an awful start.  He’s still only at .225, so you might find a frustrated trading partner.

Sell High- Tampa Bay’s Carlos Pena recently homered in six straight.  Pray that it camouflages his miserable .185 BA and dump him on the unsuspecting.  With the wheels coming off of the White Sox bandwagon, look for Bobby Jenks to be moved. A marginal closer with a poor K ratio, Jenks is more likely to be used as a setup man should he be traded.

Grab Bag- With Jason Bartlet on the DL in Tampa, 2B Sean Rodriguez has begun to emerge.  The big name for the Rays in last year’s Scott Kazmir deal, Rodriguez is a power hitter who’s lifted his average to .270.  Gaby Sanchez has done nothing but hit during his rise through the Marlins, system.  Now, he’s in the two hole, feasting on a diet of fastballs hitting in front of Hanley Ramirez.

Drop Zone- Time to pull the plug on Aaron Hill.  It’s a mystery, now, as to what was in Toronto’s water last year but, whatever it was, it’s gone. He no longer warrants a spot in your lineup. Ever since rumors surfaced about possible PED use, Colorado’s Todd Helton has become more of a high average hitter with little pop.  Now, the average is gone, too, rendering him almost useless.