Roto-World

2009 Fantasy Football Draft Guide!!!

2009-09-01T11:01:00.000-07:00

Do you want to WIN your fantasy football league in 2009??

Need expert advice at a reasonable price?

Well, you have come to the right place!!

Purchase our 2009 Fantasy Football Draft Guide!! This guide contains over 80 fantastic pages of content!! Don't waste your money buying out-of-date magazines that cannot help you win.

With this guide, you get advice from the top fantasy players in the game for less than the cost of a magazine. For only $4.95, you have nothing to lose!! This guide includes original insights and analysis on fantasy baseball.

Articles included are:

Draft Strategy Guide

Coaching Changes

Fantasy Team Names

Contract Year Players

Breakout Players

High Risk/Reward Players

Avoid List

Top Rookies

Once purchased, the outline will be sent to you via email so you don't have to pay for shipping or worry about the outlines getting lost in the mail!!

To Purchase, contact us by posting a comment below.

Will the Real Jay-Z Please Stand Up?

2009-05-29T13:15:00.000-07:00

Jay Z is recently sporting a new hairstyle, and he looks eerily similar to Dwight Gooden circa 1986. Can you tell the difference?

Dwight Howard - Dancing?

2009-05-21T07:50:00.000-07:00

Introducing your newest contestant on Dancing with the Stars:

2009 Fantasy Baseball Draft Guide!!!

2009-02-05T13:12:00.000-08:00

Do you want to WIN your fantasy baseball draft in 2009??

Need expert advice at a reasonable price?

Well, you have come to the right place!!

Purchase our 2009 Fantasy Baseball Draft Guide!! This guide contains over 80 fantastic pages of content!! Don't waste your money buying out-of-date magazines that cannot help you win.

Articles included are:

Draft Strategy Guide

Managerial Changes

Bullpen Notebook

Fantasy Team Names

Stolen Bases Notebook

Contract Year Players

27-Year Old Players

Breakout Players

High Risk/Reward Players

Avoid List

Top Rookies

Once purchased, the outline will be sent to you via email so you don't have to pay for shipping or worry about the outlines getting lost in the mail!!

To purchase, please leave a comment.

This Just In: Geezer Ballplayer Worth Millions

2009-01-09T08:12:00.000-08:00

This week, Starting Pitcher and 45-year old geezer Randy Johnson signed a one year $8 million contract with the San Francisco Giants. When hall of famers like Sandy Koufax and Whitey Ford felt like they could no longer perform when they were in their 30's, the fact that Johnson is receiving a premium contract demonstrates that the geezers can still be successful in the young man's game of baseball.

And Johnson will be worth every penny. Johnson is 5 wins away from the magical 300 win plateau. Fans all over the country will attend every in start in anticipation of watching history. The ticket and advertising sales will earn the Giants profits well above Johnson's $8 million salary. In addition, Johnson gives the Giants a quality 5th starter to place in the rotation behind National League Cy Young winner Tim Lincecum, Matt Cain, Jonathan Sanchez, and Barry Zito.

Johnson becomes the third Cy Young Award winner on the Giants' staff, joining the NL's reigning winner, Lincecum, and Zito, the 2002 AL Cy Young Award recipient. The last team with three Cy Young winners on the same roster was the 2002 Braves, who boasted Tom Glavine, Greg Maddux and John Smoltz.Johnson is one of the most accomplished pitchers in Major League history. The veteran of 21 big league seasons has won five Cy Young Awards and made 10 All-Star teams while compiling a 295-160 career mark with a 3.26 ERA, 100 complete games and 37 shutouts in 596 appearances. Known to be highly motivated about the chance to secure his 300th career victory -- he'd be the 24th pitcher to achieve that milestone -- Johnson ranks second all-time with 4,789 strikeouts.

Even at age 45, Johnson remained effective last season, posting an 11-10 record with a 3.91 ERA in 30 starts for the D-backs. He ranked third among National League pitchers with a 3.93 strikeout-to-walk ratio and sixth with 8.46 strikeouts per nine innings. His 2.41 ERA following the All-Star break ranked fifth among NL hurlers.

Pretty remarkable for a geezer like Johnson. But, then again, several pitchers are peaking in their golden years.

A few weeks ago, the Philadelphia Phillies rewarded starting pitcher Jamie Moyer with a two-year $16 million contract. That sort of contract would make sense coming off a season in which he was 16-7 with 3.71 E.R.A. except for the fact that Moyer is the oldest player in the major leagues. At 46-years young, Moyer is among the game's most reliable starting pitchers. He even proved to be a critical part of the Phillies rotation in 2008 that led them to a World Series title.

In 2008, New York Yankees starting pitcher Mike Mussina won 20 games for the first time in his career. That fact that this amazing feat occurred at age 38, makes Mussina's success even more remarkable. Mussina decided to retire while he was on top of his game, but if he desired, he could have received another multi-year contract from the Yankees.Pitchers like Johnson, Moyer, and Mussina used to be an aberration, but in today's game pitchers are showing their effectiveness longer and longer. In the coming years, we may see the first 50-year old pitcher receive a premium contract. It will be just enough money to buy him the best rocking chair on the market.

2008 Fantasy Basketball Draft Guide!!!!

2008-10-03T14:47:00.000-07:00

Do you want to WIN your fantasy basketball league in 2008??

Need expert advice at a reasonable price?

Well, you have come to the right place!!

Purchase our 2008 Fantasy Basketball Draft Guide!!

This guide contains over 80 fantastic pages of content!! Don't waste your money buying out-of-date magazines that cannot help you win.

Articles included are:

Draft Strategy Guide

Coaching Changes

Fantasy Team Names

Contract Year Players

Breakout Players

High Risk/Reward Players

Avoid List

Top Rookies

Once purchased, the outline will be sent to you via email so you don't have to pay for shipping or worry about the outlines getting lost in the mail!!

To Purchase, contact us by posting a comment below.

Nothing Like a JEST Fan

2008-10-03T14:39:00.001-07:00

As if the New York Jets didn't have it bad enough that they play in "Giants" stadium and don't even play in New York...You would hope that they could at least spell their team name...

Going back to Work?

2008-08-04T07:00:00.000-07:00

Legendary Green Bay Packers Quarterback Brett Favre has announced a return to the team. Although he formally retired in March claiming that he was "too tired" to continue, the future hall of famer now claims that he was forced out by team management and that he still has some good football left. With Brett Favre now announcing his return to football, Roto-World examines the top 5 professional athlete comebacks:

5: Joe Louis -- The Brown Bomber ruled boxing from 1937 to 1948. Louis is most famous for his World War II matchup against German fighter Max Schmeling, in which he defeated the Aryan boxer in just two minutes before a sellout crowd at Yankee Stadium. Louis retired on top, but money issues forced him to return to the ring two years later. Rocky Marciano ended Louis' career for good at age 37.

4: John Riggins -- Nicknamed "The Diesel," Riggins was a Hall of Fame running back for the Washington Redskins. After a contract dispute in 1980, Riggins walked away from the game. He was lured back to the team in 1981, telling the media "I'm bored, I'm broke, and I'm back!" Riggins continued to suit up until 1985 and won the Super Bowl MVP Award for his performance in Super Bowl XVIII.

3: Sugar Ray Leonard -- The Fighter of the Decade in the 1980's, Leonard loved retirement so much that he did it several times, including a last try back in 1997 at the age of 40. Leonard first retired in 1982, but then returned in 1983, 1986, 1988, 1991, and 1997. He encountered famous matches against Tommy Hearns, Roberto Duran, and Marvin Hagler.

2: Mario Lemieux -- The current team chairman played 10 years and won two Stanley Cups with the Pittsburgh Pengins, but then sat out the 1994-1995 season after battling Hodgkin's disease and a bad back. Although he retired officially in 1997, he returned in 2000 to play 5 more seasons before a heart ailment finally forced him off the ice.

1: Michael Jordan -- His Airness likely had the most shocking of retirements. After 3 World Championships with the Chicago Bulls from 1992-1994, Jordan abruptly walked away from the game to play baseball with the Chicago Whitesox for 1.5 seasons. Jordan returned in 1995 wearing jersey number 45, but would find success only when he reclaimed number 23 from the rafters. Jordan would win 3 more titles with the Bulls and then retire again. He would resurface in 2001 to play 2 seasons for the lowly Washington Wizards.

Best Baseball Nicknames of All Time

2008-06-23T14:31:00.000-07:00

10. "The Big Hurt" Frank Thomas -- Nicknamed "The Big Hurt" in 1992 by broadcaster Ken Harrelson, Thomas has been a fearful presence in the batter's box for two decades. With over 500 homeruns and two MVP awards, Thomas is a sure-fire Hall of Famer.

9. "Shoeless" Joe Jackson -- Legend has it that Jackson bought a new pair of spikes for a game in South Carolina in 1908. After a few innings, the spikes were causing blisters on his feet, so he took them off and played the rest of the game barefoot. Although he never played another game without spikes, the name stuck forever.

8. "Charlie Hustle" Pete Rose -- The only nickname fitting the man who huslted his way to 4,256 hits. Rose was known for running down to first base after a walk. He never took a play off, and will always be known for his hard slide against Ray Fosse in the All-Star Game in 1971 that ended the catcher's career.

7. "Pudge" Carlton Fisk & Ivan Rodriguez -- This nickname was so good, it was used twice. Known for his durability, Fisk was a Hall of Fame catcher whose career lasted 24 seasons. Fisk also hit the famous "waving" home run in Game 6 of the 1975 World Series. The 2nd coming of "Pudge" was Rodriguez, who certainly lived up to his potential. A 13-time Gold Glove winner and 14-time All-Star, Rodriguez will be calling Cooperstown home once he retires.

6. "The Wizard of Oz" Ozzie Smith -- The perfect nickname for the shortstop who always magicly seemed to come up with the ball. With a record 16 gold gloves and a fantastic flip to start each game, The Wizard personified the acrobatic style of play by the St. Louis Cardinals in the 1980's.

5. Lawrence Peter "Yogi" Berra -- Yogi got his "nickname" from Bobby Hofman, a childhood friend. While watching a movie about an Indian snake charmer, Bobby noted that Yogi had a striking resemblance to the hindu man, saying "That yogi walks like Lawdie ( Larry) Berra," and the name stuck. Joe Garagiola tells a funny story about Yogi giving Carmen an anniversary card signed 'Yogi Berra.' She asked him if he thought he had to sign his last name so she wouldn't think it came from some other Yogi."

4. "The Say Hey Kid" Willie Mays -- Known for his gregarious nature, Mays would usually welcome a newcomer with his traditional "Say Hey." Yet, this "Kid" would go on to smash 660 Home Runs and appear in a record 24 All-Star Games. Today, Mays is arguably the greatest living ballplayer.

3. George Herman "Babe" Ruth -- The Babyfaced Ruth elevated the game of baseball to a national pastime. Prolific with the bat, Ruth batted a career .342 and slugged 714 home runs. Ruth's accomplishments were so incredible that the term "Ruthian" was created to describe his feats and those of future ballplayers.

2. "Mr. October" Reggie Jackson -- Nobody embodies the "clutch" player more than Reggie Jackson. With 3 home runs in game 6 of the 1977 World Series, Jackson dominated the L.A. Dodgers and led the Yankees to their first championship since 1962.

1. "The Iron Horse" Lou Gehrig -- A fitting nickname for the man who played in a then-record 2,130 consecutive games. Besides the incredible streak, Gehrig was also a model of class and dignity--a perfect foil to the playful Babe Ruth. Yet, Gehrig was no mediocre player. To this day, he still holds the record for career Grand Slams (24) and most RBI's in the American League in one season (184).

Honorable Mention: "El Guapo" Rich Garces, "The Chairman of the Board" Whitey Ford, Lenny "Nails" Dykstra, "Donnie Baseball" Don Mattingly, Mordechai "Three-Finger" Brown, Jim "Catfish" Hunter, "Splendid Splinter" Ted Williams, Stan "The Man" Musial, "Big Papi" David Ortiz, "Oil Can" Boyd, Larry "Chipper" Jones, "El Caballo" Carlos Lee, "The Pig Puma" Lance Berkman, "The Crime Dog" Fred McGriff, "Mr. May" Dave Winfield, "The Mayor" Sean Casey, "Dr. K" Dwight Gooden, Edwin "Duke" Snider, "The Big Unit" Randy Johnson, Nolan Ryan "Express", "The Rocket" Roger Clemens, "Stanky the Yankee" Andy Stankiewicz, Sal "The Barber" Maglie, "The Mad Hungarian" Al Hrabosky.

I Can't Believe (2008 NFL Draft edition)

2008-04-28T08:18:00.000-07:00

I can't believe....

I can't believe that Andre Woodson, a sure-fire 1st rd QB, fell to the 6th round just because of 2 bad days with 'Mad' Mike Martz

I can't believe that the Ravens went after small school and unproven QB Joe Flacco after the Kyle Boller disaster when tested and accomplished Brian Brohm was available.

I can't believe that all those teams passed on Penn State all-time tackler Dan Connor. Can you say Zach Thomas?

I can't believe that the only team willing to take a risk on Brian Brohm was the Packers.

I can't believe that the Bears didn't even draft a QB.

I can't believe its not butter.

I can't believe that Parcells stole 2 starters from the Cowboys for only a 4th rd pick.

I can't believe Mario Manningham scored only a 6 on the Wonderlic. Yet, he will probably get a college degree.

I can't believe that the first receiver taken was Donnie Avery.

I can't believe that the Titans didn't draft a receiver until the 4th round and took yet another RB in the first round.

I can't believe that the Colts took both the first and second best centers in the draft when they already have Pro Bowler Jeff Saturday.

I can't believe that this email took me 10 minutes to write and is better than whatever Todd McShay has to say..

That is all..

The Sun Rises Again in Phoenix?

2008-02-08T07:10:00.000-08:00

When the words came out of Shaq’s mouth at the press conference in Phoenix, I knew that he was ready to work. The Big Daddy is a player who needs to be motivated to play his best. First there was playing in Orlando towards getting the big contract. Then there was playing for the Lakers to win a championship. Then there was playing for the Heat to prove he could win another championship without Kobe.

Along the way, the media doubted him. First, Shaq couldn’t do anything but dunk. (so he developed a jump hook). Then, the media said that Shaq couldn’t shoot free throws and asked teams to employ Hack-a-Shaq at the end of games (Shaq, like he always says, made his free throws when he needed to). Then, Shaq couldn’t win a championship (so he sought out Coach/Guru Phil Jackson and he promptly won 3 of them.

Agreed, Shaq is no longer the player he was back then. He will not score 30 points per night or shatter backboards with reckless abandon like in his heyday. But the man can still play a significant role. When the Heat acquired Shaq, it was a big risk. They had made the playoffs the year before and had a nice nucleus with Caron Butler, Eddie Jones, and Lamar Odom. So naturally, the Heat trade away all those players and acquire Jason Williams, Gary Payton, Antoine Walker, and Alonzo Morning. In addition, the Heat had a talented young player named Dwyane Wade. But what happened in the playoffs? Wade took over games and Shaq played his role as a double-double defensive presence. Wade was humble, unlike Kobe, and Shaq knew that this was his golden ticket.

Well, Willy Wonka has again arrived in Phoenix. Shawn Marion was a great player, but only when playing with Steve Nash. Nash can and will turn Atlanta Hawks reject Boris Diaw into a suitable substitute. But now what have they added? They now have a frontcourt of Shaq and Amare Stoudemire…Pretty scary!! The last time we saw a front court like this was when David Robinson and a young Tim Duncan rode off to the championship. Shaq will guard the big men in the west while Amare (whom Shaq has known since he was 13—no Kobe issues here) will be freed up to be an offensive beast. Then add MVP Steve Nash and you have a scary lineup.

Shaq was the player who liked to coast into the playoffs as the 6th seed and win the championship. He can be lovable with the media and great in icy/hot commercials. Just don’t doubt him. Not yet.

Rudy Roots for the Red Sox??

2008-02-06T14:08:00.001-08:00

From: The Associated Press

NEW YORK — Yankee fans won't like it, Red Sox fans won't like it and Rudy Giuliani certainly won't like it.

When Topps baseball cards hit the stores this week, about one in every 70 packs will include a picture of Giuliani, fist raised in victory, celebrating with the Sox on the field after their World Series win.

Giuliani wasn't really there, of course. For years, the former New York City mayor has been known as a die-hard Yankee fan. But he did alienate some Yankee fans by declaring in October that he was rooting for the Sox in the Series — "I'm an American league fan," he said — and Topps ran with the idea.

"We took that and thought it would make for a funny card, since the Red Sox won," said Clay Luraschi, baseball brand manager for The Topps Co. "We thought, let's put him in the championship dog pile."

Rudy Giuliani is front and center with the rest of the Red Sox. He said Giuliani's withdrawal from the presidential race didn't dampen his enthusiasm for the card. Giuliani — who also appeared, by himself, on a 2004 Topps card — was not consulted about the new card, Luraschi said. Messages left Tuesday at Giuliani's campaign and work numbers were not immediately returned.

Topps did something similar a year ago, inserting George Bush into the stands and Mickey Mantle into the dugout in the background of Derek Jeter's card.

NFL Draft Preview - QB

2008-01-28T06:51:00.000-08:00

Now that all college players have declared their eligibility for the NFL Draft, it is time to review the skills players who can help your fantasy team this season and beyond. This installment will be focusing on Quarterbacks.

QB:

Matt Ryan: "Matty Ice," as the Boston faithful call him, put together a solid season for BC this year. Although BC fell in the rankings towards the end of the year, Ryan carried BC on his back for much of the season and made them winners. That leadership ability, coupled with his above average arm, height, and overall skills make him the protypical QB coming out of this year's draft. He kinda reminds me of a right-handed Matt Leinart, who had less talent around him.

Brian Brohm: Brohm is another classic example of a player who should forego his senior season and come out when his stock is the highest. Like Leinart and Brady Quinn before him, Brohm could have been picked in the top 5 in the draft a year earlier and now, after a solid but unspectacular season, finds himself fighting to be even the #1 QB drafted. When Bobby Petrino left, Brohm should have gone with him. Brohm has nice numbers all around, but may not be successful unless he finds the right system.

Andre Woodson: Another 'leadership' guy who put Kentucky football on the map. Huge arm and charismatic abilities remind NFL scouts of a less-mobile Vince Young or even a Donovan McNabb. His release is a bit slow and he had a tough time trying to adapt to 'Mad' Mike Martz' system in workouts, but he has great potential. A team who needs a QB, like the Ravens, Jets, and Chiefs, would be foolish to pass on him if they have the chance.

Colt Brennan: The QB for 12-1 Hawaii seeks to prove the naysayers wrong and bring respectability to Hawaii's Run and Gun offense. Few Hawaii players have been able to produce in the NFL, and Brennan appears to be the same unless he can find a team with the right system for him.

Chad Henne: Tough QB from Michigan proved he can win big games and proved that he can be resilient after Michigan was shocked by Appalachian State last year. He lacks some of the glitter from the top 3 QB's, but should become a solid backup somewhere. He may even be a potential Matt Schaub, a tough guy who learns on the sidelines for a few years and earns fans as he shows potential.

Joe Flacco: The QB from Delaware is earning praise in workouts, but does that translate into the NFL? He lacked the competition from bigger games and seems unproven. He could be the next Jay Cutler. Then again, he kinda sounds like the former #1 overall from Fresno State, a guy named David Carr.

Josh Johnson: This I-AA QB from San Diego is my ultimate sleeper. They guy completed dominated I-AA and before you say, Tavaris Jackson, Johnson is recommended highly by former NFL QB Jim Harbaugh, who recruited him before leaving for Stanford and upsetting Ohio State this year. This is all you have to remember: 43 to 1. That is Johnson's TD to INT ratio in 2007. Scary!!

Should the Twins Trade Santana??

2008-01-16T14:52:00.000-08:00

In a word, abso-freakin-lutely!!!

Here are the Facts: Johan Santana, the undisputed best pitcher in MLB right now, is a free agent after the 2008 season. Based on contracts given out to pitchers like Barry Zito and Carlos Zambrano, who are not in the same class as Santana, Santana is expected to be offered a contract in the range of 5-6 years and $140-160 million next offseason. The Twins, who have the richest owner in baseball but who refuses to spend any money on his team, cannot afford to pay Santana the contract that he expects to receive. Santana, 32, has a no-trade clause, but has agreed to waive it if he is traded to the Yankees or Red Sox. If the Twins do not re-sign Santana, the team who signs him will be forced to give up their two top draft picks in the 2009 draft to the Twins in compensation for signing the Class A free agent pitcher.

Here's the Law: In baseball, there is no prize for finishing third.

Here's the Analysis: Publicly, there are currently three offers on the table for Santana. The Yankees have offered Philip Hughes, Melky Cabrera, and a third prospect. The Red Sox have offered a package of Jed Lowrie, Justin Masterson, and either Jacoby Ellsbury or Jon Lester and Coco Crisp. The Mets have offered a larger combination of prospects: OF Carlos Gomez, RHP Kevin Mulvey, RHP Philip Humber and RHP Deolis Guerra, the team's top pitching prospect from Class-A St. Lucie. As of today, the Twins have yet the accept any offer and are holding out for the best package for their ace pitcher.

Here's the Conclusion: The Twins are in a bind, but they would be smartest to trade Santana now while his value is the highest. During the season, Santana is at risk for injury or for not pitching well (See Randy Johnson in his last season with Seattle) because of this contract distraction. Either of these factors could lower his trade value. Further, if the Yankees or Red Sox both play well this year, they could decide to yank their offer for Santana because they would not need him. Finally, the Twins are in the same division as the Detroit Tigers and the Cleveland Indians, who are both poised to be better this season than the Twins (even with Santana). If the Twins cannot make the playoffs with Santana, there is no reason to hold onto him to stay competitive. They did so last year with CF Torii Hunter, and he left as a free agent. The Twins should sell hard while the market on Santana is high and restock their team, or else they risk being left with a team that loses their ace and continues to fade into obscurity.

My Favorite Yankee Stadium Memory by Mickey Mantle

2008-01-02T12:56:00.000-08:00

This year marks the last year of Yankee Stadium, the House that Ruth built. But, some might argue that some other of the Yankee greats took ownership of this house as well. Mickey Mantle, the All-American boy from Oklahoma, had this hilarious response to his favorite Yankee stadium memory!!!

Click on the Image below.

Warning: Not suitable for children.

Baseball Off-Season Winners and Losers

2007-12-21T10:16:00.000-08:00

This baseball off-season has certainly had its share of winners and losers. From the Santana sweepstakes to the Mitchell Report, this off-season has stirred up more controversy and created more headlines than any other professional sport. Here is a quick run down of the who sh-t the bed and who f-cked the prom queen:

Winners:

1) Detroit Tigers--Big trade for the wildcats! They picked up future Hall of Famer Miguel Cabrera and pitcher Dontrelle Willis in exchange for 5 minor leaguers. Cabrera is under contract for the next two seasons and makes the Tigers lineup downright scary. Willis has gotten progrssively worse since his 22 win campaign in 2005. The potential is still there, but the Marlins' firesale tendencies appear to have taken their toll. Look for the D-Train to rebound as a 3rd starter for Detroit with plenty of run support. Although the Tigers traded top prospects Andrew Miller and Cameron Maybin, there is no guarantee with those players. The Tigers have put themselves in contention with the Yankees and Red Sox for the AL pennant.

2) Washington Nationals-- Credit Jim Bowden, GM for the Nationals, who practically stole Lastings Milledge from the Mets and left nothing but a 'late pass' behind. Milledge is a 5 tool outfielder who is only 22 years old. He has potential all-star written all over him. Meanwhile, in return, the Mets received Brian Schneider, a 32 year old defensive catcher whose skills are declined and is owed about $10 million for the next two seasons. Although Schneider's defense is an upgrade over LoDuca, the jump is not worth the organization's best prospect. Last off-season, Minaya could have traded Milledge for A's pitcher Joe Blanton. Instead, Minaya ended up with a 32 year old catcher whose best seasons are behind him. In addition, Bowden also picked up low risk-high reward Devil Rays outfielder Elijah Dukes, a problem child with potential. An outfield of Kearns, Milledge, Willy Mo Pena and Dukes could be a factor for the Nats for years to come.

3) Los Angeles Dodgers-- The boys in blue jumped on Manager Joe Torre the second he was was insulted with a one year deal by the Yankees. Although Torre may not have the same caliber of player he had in New York, he is a good fit for a big market club who will take off all the media pressure and teach the players how to win together. In addition, the Dodgers stole Andruw Jones for a two year $38 million deal. Jones is only 31 and will play a quality centerfield as he seeks to re-establish his ability and get a new contract.

4) Minnesota Twins--The Twinkies have yet to trade Santana, but they have still had a great off-season simply with their trade for Delmon Young. A former #1 pick, Young had over 90 RBI's as a rookie and has the potential for multiple all-star apperances down the road. Although the Twins gave up Garza and Bartlett, those players lack the potential impact of Young. I hear whispers of Frank Robinson for Milt Pappas. The trade of Bartlett was easily replaced with the signing of defensive whiz Adam Everett from Houston.

Losers:

1) San Francisco Giants: Although they did the right thing in letting Barry Bonds walk and saving themselves his $20 million salary, the Giants have done very little this offseason to get better. The team has pitching potential in Matt Cain and Tim Lincecum, but lacks a proven run producer. To solve this dilemma, the team decided to throw $60 million at free agent Aaron Rowand. Rowand is a solid player and "good clubhouse guy," but is unlikely to hit more than 25 home runs next season. Moreover, the five year commitment is a big long for a guy whose first healthy season was last year. The Giants would have been better off signing Andruw Jones instead.

2) Seattle Mariners: In a bare market for free agents, the Mariners rewarded starting pitcher Carlos Silva to a 4-year $48 million contract. This pitcher has had a losing record the last two season and an average ERA of about 5!! Clearly, the Seattle brass appreciated Silva's ability as a innings-soaker. The guy can give you 200 innings. Whether those innings are quality is anyone's guess. Seattle might as well have retained Horacio Ramirez to soak up the innings, and spent their money on some offense. In addition, the M's declined Jose Guillen's option of $9 million so he could sign with the Royals for $36 million. The M's should have picked up the option and then traded Guillen to a team like the Royals to net some prospects, like the Yankees did with Sheffield a year ago. Instead, Guillen gets $36 million and the M's got zip.

3) New York Mets--The off-season is almost over and the Mets have done nothing to make themselves a better team that was one win away from the post-season last year. They traded away Milledge and signed 2B Luis Castillo to a 4-year contract. Neither of those moves are likely to make an impact and instead make the Mets older and more obligated to declining players. Without the propects to go after Santana or Haren, the Mets are left to lean on an ailing Pedro Martinez as their number one starter.

4) Cincinnati Reds--The Reds have too many outfielders and first basemen with Adam Dunn, Scott Hattenberg, Ken Griffey, Josh Hamilton, Ryan Freel, Jay Bruce, Joey Votto all capable. They seem ripe to a big trade to land a quality player like Cabrera or Santana. Instead, they sit tight and spend $46 million on closer Francisco Cordero. Although he had a great season last year, he is far from dominant and even had only less blown save than incumbent Dave Weathers. What a waste!

Papelbon's Dog Eats World Series Ball

2007-12-20T11:18:00.000-08:00

According to HattiesburgAmerican.com, Red Sox star Jonathan Papelbon's dog has taken a large bite out of the ball from the last out of the 2007 World Series.

After Boston Red Sox relief pitcher Jonathan Papelbon struck out Colorado Rockie Seth Smith for the final out of the 2007 World Series, Red Sox catcher Jason Varitek gave Papelbon the baseball. Papelbon's agent later said that his client didn't have the ball.

It puzzled some in Boston, as the team had trouble getting the final baseball of the 2004 World Series, too, which the Red Sox also won. Well, the 2007 mystery is now solved. The World Series baseball is in Hattiesburg. At least what is left of it is.

"My dog ate it," said Papelbon, who has a home in the Canebrake subdivision. "He plays with baseballs like they are his toys. His name is Boss. He jumped up one day on the counter and snatched it. He likes rawhide. He tore that thing to pieces. Nobody knows that. I'll keep what's left of it."

We wonder if the dog's name was Mientkiewicz.

The Worst Fantasy Football Finals Ever!!

2007-12-19T07:56:00.000-08:00

Hard to believe. The fantasy football finals are here, and you would not believe the names that are finding their way into the starting lineups for teams that have endured a long season and made it to the final round.

Sage Rosenfels, Shaun Hill, Aaron Stecker, Kolby Smith, Shaun McDonald, Anthony Gonzalez...

Ladies and Gentleman, I give you the starting squad that is going to take home the championship this weekend.

Forget the Tom Bradys, Tony Romos, and Terrell Owenses...If you had them last week, you season is officially done....

This year, more than any other, has been the year of the injury. The Tampa Bay Bucs are on their 3rd running back, the Niners are on the 4th QB, and the Panthers brought 1986 first round pick Vinny Testeverde to lead the squad after Delhomme and Carr could not last through the season. Fantasy stars Steven Jackson, Larry Johnson, Reggie Bush, Deuce McAllister, Marvin Harrison, Shaun Alexander, Rudi Johnson, Donovan McNabb, and Marc Bulger were all hit by the injury bug. Let's not also forget Deion Branch, Terry Glenn, Anquan Boldin, Matt Schaub, Chad Pennington, Alex Smith, Roy Williams, Steve McNair, and Jeremy Shockey who all starting positions due to injury.

The key this year was to be flexible and attack the waiver wire. The key this year was not to have Reggie Bush, but to pick up Earnest Graham. So next year as you contemplate spending all your budget on uberstars like Ladanian Tomlinson and Adrian Peterson, remember that the key to winning is flexibility.

How to Get to the World Series

2007-12-11T08:35:00.000-08:00

How does a team construct the right roster to get to the World Series? I'll give you a clue. It doesn't require A-Rod or Santana.

Whether you are the big pocket Yankees or the lowly Nationals, there is only one way to get to a World Series: You need a roster of hungry players who are playing for their next contract and who want to win.

Nothing is a larger motivating factor than money and providing for our families. To professional athletes, especially in the early years, winning is great and alot of fun, but it doesn't put food on the table. Let's be clear. The minimum salary for a professional athlete is well within the top 1% in the nation, so no one will be seeing these atheltes on the soup line. But, if you are an athlete, your goal since you were young was to make it to the big leagues and to set up your family for life. That is why they play. They pay their dues in the minors and are looking for that one big payday. Because of injuries, many hard-working athletes never get to see that day. So for those who are fortunate and have positioned themselves correctly, this is their chance.

How often are you likely to find a player on a long-term contract have a career season?? Very rarely. Most players, like ourselves, get comfortable at our jobs and will not push ourselves harder unless there is some reward on the other end. Motivation has been replaced by long guaranteed contracts. Is it really a surprise that some of the best players this year put up their best seasons in the final year of their contracts? A-Rod (Opt out clause), Jorge Posada, Torii Hunter, and Aaron Rowand were all playing for their next contract. Meanwhile, players who just received big contracts and are less motivated had off-years. See Alfonso Soriano, Gary Matthews, Jonny Damon, Vernon Wells, and Barry Zito.

The other players who put in on the line this year were the young stars who are playing for their first or next big contract. See Hanley Ramirez, David Wright, Jose Reyes, Victor Martinez, Grady Sizemore, Dan Haren, Prince Fielder, Justin Morneau, and C.C. Sabathia. These players are hungry and seek to increase their future pay day.

Agreeably, some players, despite their salaries, still put forth a great effort on the field. Those are players like Derek Jeter, Albert Pujols, Vlad Guerrero, Chase Utley, and David Ortiz. But these players are few and far between. Most players are just like us. They play harder when they know there is financial security on the line.

So, the trick to fielding a World Series winning team is to gather young hungry players who are playing for their next contract. That means that signing players like A-Rod and Johan Santana to 10 year contracts will not guarantee you a ring. When was the last time A-Rod or Santana appeared in the World Series???

Is Leon Washington Flipping off the League???

2007-11-25T15:35:00.000-08:00

2007-11-11T19:59:00.000-08:00

Top 5 Worst Haircuts in the NBA...

In honor of the NBA’s season opening, I bring you the Top 5 Worst Haircuts in the NBA:

5. Anderson Varejo- Sideshow Bob, anyone??

4. Danny Fortson- To paraphrase Buddy Love, Hey Danny, I’ve heard of dreadlocks, but sh-t locks?!?!

3. Scott Pollard- Scot Pollard signed a one year contract for $1.2 million this offseason. Apparently, a good haircut costs $1.3 million.

2. Drew Gooden- Marcellus Wallace doesn’t like to be f-cked by anyone except Mrs. Wallace.

1. Chris Kaman- Man, this guy looks like the long lost 7 foot brother of the Hanson band…

The Greatest Papelbon Story Ever Told

2007-10-22T14:22:00.001-07:00

Story contributed by David Elson

Last season at Fenway, a funny thing happened in Section 41. About 10 guys were there to celebrate some guy's 40th birthday party (his name was "Hammer") as well as another person's 15th wedding aniversary. Most of them were out of towners that were not even real die-hard Red Sox fans, but the point is that they came in smashed and continued to drink like fish while there. By the second inning, we start to find out one reason why the "Hammer" is called the "Hammer". He pulls out of his shirt pocket some pictures of his recent trip to some Caribbean Island. The first few pictures look innocent enough with him and some hot chick who apparently was his ex-wife. The 4th picture shocks you: his ex-wife is COMPLETELY naked...and it goes on from there...we're talking about a complete pornographic sequence here. And they were passing these pictures around to each other and also to nearby fans having a jolly good time discussing the hammering ability of the "Hammer" among many other things.

One of them gets the idea that the "moneyshot" picture should be shown to the players in the Red Sox bullpen. So he folds the picture and flicks it over the railing so that it lands in the steps of the bullpen. And that is when the party really started.Papelbon comes out of the dugout during the game holding the picture in his hand with a bemused face looking for the guy who threw the picture. The whole section starts buzzing with excitement and Papelbon and the "Hammer's" friend who threw the picture start talking to each other. I cannot hear what was said, but during the next half-inning break, Papelbon emerges. The section goes nuts again and this time Papelbon signals to the "Hammer" to get ready to catch a pitch, and he throws a baseball to the "Hammer". It was signed by the entire Red Sox bullpen, and they wrote "Thanks for the bullpen pics".

Naturally, everyone started going crazy at this point, and the Hammer's friend tried to get more signed baseballs. Throughout the rest of the game, Papelbon, Timlin and one other reliever were talking and joking around with the Hammer's friends and a deal was worked out whereby the "Hammer" would sign one of the pictures (he signed it "Thanks for the autographed baseball, The Hammer") and allow the Red Sox to keep the picture in their bullpen in exchage for more signed baseballs. Meanwhile, everyone in the stadium can see the craziness going in with the Red Sox bullpen. Even the security guard was shown the pictures and her reaction was quite priceless. All in all, it was quite the day and quite the scene.

The attached pics show Papelbon's excited reaction to seeing one of the pictures and one of the signed baseballs ("The Hammer" is the one in the blue shirt).

The Rise of the No-Name QB, And Other Insights on Week 6 in the NFL

2007-10-15T14:24:00.000-07:00

Cleo Lemon, Tim Rattay, Derek Anderson, Vinny Testeverde, Gus Frerotte, Kerry Collins...Are these really the QB's who played significant time in week 6 of the NFL season? About 1/5 of the league is fielding a field general who has no business starting an NFL team in 2007. Testeverde is about as old as Julio Franco, Frerotte is the guy who knocked himself out with a head butt to a wall, and Cleo Lemon sounds like a guy who would be a character on 'Good Times.' Nevertheless, in an age of first round bonus babies and increased competition, these journeymen took the reigns and performed admirably for their teams (except Frerotte, of course, who head-butted his way to 5 INT's). With injuries impacting teams at an all-time high rate this season, expect this trend to continue.

Here are some more insights on week 6 of the NFL season:

The additons of Randy Moss and Donte Stallworth to the Pats have been grabbing headlines, but how about little WR Wes Welker. He's catching short passes underneath and becoming a valuable possession receiver for Tom Brady. Look for him to be a consistent pest to opposing defenses as the season continues.

As noted in this blog last week, WR Bobby Engram (9 catches, 120 yds) and TE Owen Daniels (5 catches, 79 yds) put up nice games this week. Keep them in your starting lineups until Deion Branch and Andre Johnson return.

QB David Garrard looks like the real deal. The former backup has taken over the QB position for Jacksonville and stabilized the unit. The fact that he has yet to throw an interception this season is incredible!

QB Chad Pennington looked shaky again this week. He has a matchup against the Bengals next week, which may hold off the call for Kellen Clemens. The Jets may be better off feeding the Bungles to Clemens now so he can get a quality start under his belt. The last time the Jets made a significant QB change was when Pennington replaced Testerverde in 2003. The Jets made the playoffs that season. Looks like history may repeat itself.

Boy, was I wrong about Derek Anderson. The guy currently has more fantasy points than Peyton Manning. He's always been a gunslinger, but he is correcting his mistakes and not turning over the football. And, he's making a stud out of former 1st round pick Braylon Edwards. Keep riding Anderson while he's hot.

Adrian Peterson is such a godzilla-like monster that I saw Japanese peasants running from Chicago this weekend.

Miami is 0-6 and currently on the clock...With talent like Ronnie Brown, Chris Chambers, and Jason Taylor, it's amazing they can be this bad.

Anyone see Marion Barber's run out of the endzone to avoid a safety?? The RB plays angry and gives Dallas some attitude. He's a keeper and will take over the full-time job next season when they let Julius Jones walk.

Does the Head Coach or Manager actually make a difference in his team's result?

2007-10-14T17:20:00.000-07:00

Does the Head Coach or Manager actually make a difference in his team's result?

This season, the San Diego Charger fired Marty Schottenheimer, who led the team to a 14-2 record in 2006, to hire head coach underachiever Norv Turner. Schottenheimer had a proven success of turning around NFL teams and leading them to the playoffs, but never won a Super Bowl. Meanwhile, Turner had won several Super Bowls with the Dallas Cowboys in the 90's as the offensive coordinator, but did little as a head coach at stops in Washington and Oakland. Is Turner the missing ingredient? Well, the Chargers are off to a lackluster start and already have lost more games this season than they did all of last year. If the Chargers underachieve in this system, Turner and GM AJ Smith are going to feel the blame.

But before you write Turner off, I remember another lackluster skipper who took over a team in 1996 that had not been to the World Series in 15 years. That manager had previously managed the Braves, Mets, and Cardinals. Up to then, he had a record of 894 wins and 1,003 loses, a .471 average. World Series Winning managers Davey Johnson and Lou Pinella were available. Nevertheless, that manager with the lackluster record was hired. From then, that same manager led his team to a record 11 straight playoff finishes. His name: Joe Torre.

Now, Steinbrenner wants to fire Torre for his recent loss in the playoffs. But who is going to do a better job than Joe Torre? Joe Torre was not responsible for the pathetic outings of Roger Clemens and Wang. Torre is not responsible for Jeter hitting into numerous double plays. Will hiring a new manager make the difference for the Yanks next year? Only time will tell.

Is this Parity? And Other Insights from Week 5 in the NFL

2007-10-10T13:35:00.000-07:00

Is this parity? The New Orleans Saints, St. Louis Rams, and Miami Dolphins are a combined 0-14. Meanwhile, the Dallas Cowboys, New England Patriots, and Indianapolis Colts are a combined 15-0!! Agreeably, many teams are finding their way to the middle, but how different is this scenario than other sports? Clearly, the undefeated Cowboys, Pats, and Colts are Super Bowl contenders, while the Saints, Rams, and Dolphins are already on the clock...

Here are some other insights on week 5 in the NFL season:

What a difference an offense makes? RB Sammy Morris, formerly the guy who could not handle even a partial load for the Miami Dolphins last season, has now rushed for back-to-back 100 yard games for the Pats. He will likely share time with Maroney, when the youngster returns from injury, but you should ride the Morris train while you can.

Look who is the new number one receiver? Due to injuries to wide outs, Tight End Owen Daniels and WR Bobby Engram have been elevated to #1 receiver status. Keep them in mind as quality fill-ins as we enter the month of bye-week mania.

Is that really Kurt Warner back under center? Despite attempts to keep the former two-time NFL MVP down, Warner has emerged as the new starting QB for the Cards. Although it took a big injury to Leinart to officially elevate Warner, Warner's recent success showed that his time was coming. The Cards O-line has been holding up well, so as long as Warner has time to throw, he will be a quality option. If he doesn't have time to throw, he will soon find his immobile self sitting next to Drew Bledsoe on the "what happened to us?" bench.

Trent Edwards is just ok. While some are pointing to the next great QB controversy (Edwards afterall was tabbed "great" by QB guru Bill Walsh), he is more likely to follow in the footsteps of rookie QB's Charlie Frye and Bruce Gradkowski, who started off with great games as rookies and then fell to mediocre once defenses had time to figure them out.

Is there a Running back in the House? In only 5 weeks, Tampa Bay has managed to lose starting RB Cadillac Williams, and solid backup Michael Pittman, to injuries. With 3rd stringer Earnest Graham now left to grab the starting carries, the team was looking at signing Kevin Barlow and Ciatrick Fason for depth. Yikes! Eventually, the team signed Goal-line vulture Zack Crockett for depth, leaving the starting load to Graham.

The Giants pulled off a great win against the Jets on Sunday. Brandon Jacobs returned and rushed for 100 yards on 20 carries. Now 3-2, and with the next few games against the likes of Atlanta, San Fran, and Miami, the G-Men could realistically go into their bye week with a record of 6-2. Not bad for a team that started 0-2 and could help but give up 30 points a game...

Were the Dolphins really haggling for weeks over QB vet Trent Green? With another concussion last week and an 0-5 start, we may begin seeing rookie John Beck get some PT.

Jason Campbell has big upside. Campbell put up a great game for the Redskins on Sunday. Despite suiting up without number one receiver Santana Moss, Campbell looked like a polished QB in the pocket. Remember, this is the leader of that Auburn team that went 11-0 and got screwed by the BCS. He is quickly becoming a great field general for the Skins.

Roto-World

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The Rise of the No-Name QB, And Other Insights on Week 6 in the NFL

Does the Head Coach or Manager actually make a difference in his team's result?

Is this Parity? And Other Insights from Week 5 in the NFL

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