I’m sorry to do this to you directly out of the blue. Knocking on your door in the middle of the night like a worthless schmuck hoping you’ll take me back. It feels like a scene from a John Cusack movie.
I should never have dumped you like I did. I guess having Tulowitzki made it seem like any other shortstop options were expendable, especially after the one-man show he put up last September.
But here I am, on my knees begging for your forgiveness. Ian Desmond, I am a fan. I want you to be a part of my repeat Championship run. You’ve got excellent skills, and I was a bit jealous to see them on display with Savage’s team after I tossed you aimlessly to the Waiver Wire for more immediate needs.
I get it. You wanted to spurn your former owner. That’s sensible, and I’m cool with it. Now it’s time to join forces for the greater good. Nobody wants to see Downs’ team advance especially over me and together we can make it happen.
Tulo’s injury is worrisome, but if it costs him his season, I’m willing to commit to you for the long haul. Let’s do this Ian.
Allow me this time to offer you an arms-extended welcome back to The Evil Empire.
We’ve got work to do.
+
Thursday, September 15, 2011
Thursday, July 14, 2011
5 WR's to target late in 2011
The 2010 season showed a few wide receivers who may have bright futures as solid fantasy contributors, each of which will have a low-risk cost on draft day and should be targeted late in your draft.
- Josh Morgan - SF
I'll admit I had some hopes for more production from Morgan in 2010 after some promising numbers in 2009 (52 rec, 527 yards, 3 TD's). A slow start to the season. On the positive side, he did improve his YPG (from 32.9 to 43.6) and his total yards from his 2009 total to 698. He's not much of a red zone target (just 8 TD's in 44 career games), but a lot of that could have more to do with Gore/Davis taking most of those targets. A new coach and philosophy geared towards offense from Jim Harbaugh could see Morgan take a greater step forward in his fourth season.
Production Prediction - 65 REC, 800 YDS, 5 TD
- Davone Bess - MIA
Brandon Marshall didn't really have the impact most anticipated in 2010 and the Dolphins offense was rewarded with an increase in production from Bess. So far in his 3 seasons his offensive production has improved each year as the Miami offense gets him more involved. Despite his small stature (5'10", 190 lbs.) he hauled in 79 catches for 820 yards and scored 5 touchdowns. His career 10.2 YPC gives him the profile of a possession receiver, which is just fine if Marshall begins seeing more downfield looks. He cracked the 100 yard mark just once (6 REC, 111 YDS vs. OAK in Week 12) and the Dolphins had weeks of offensive inconsistency, so it could be tough for Bess to really increase his numbers, but another season of similar stats would certainly be easy for owners to swallow.
Production Prediction - 85 REC, 835 YDS, 6 TD
- Earl Bennett - CHI
Outside of Johnny Knox, the Bears receivers were at the mercy of Jay Cutler's inconsistency. Bennett's numbers took a hit after a good 2009 and after getting some hype as a preseason sleeper pick. I'm still a believer in Bennett, as his previous chemistry with Cutler at Vanderbilt showed later in the 2010 season when Cutler was feeding him the ball (See: Weeks 12-13). If his 2011 returns are closer to 2009 he'll be a good backend pick.
Production Prediction - 55 REC, 750 YDS, 4 TD
- Mike Thomas - JAX
People will remember Thomas' 2010 season for his Hail Mary winner against Houston and rightfully so because it rocked. Even with the Jaguars passing woes popping up here and there, Thomas maintained a solid season of 66 REC, 820 YDS, and 4 TD's, leading the Jaguars YDS and REC. He's only 5'8", so expecting his YPC to increase from 12.4 might not be smart as he fits the possession receiver mold for Jacksonville. He's more Wes Welker than Steve Smith, but with Mike Sims-Walker now searching for a new team, the Jags will have to find Thomas more often to win ball games.
Production Prediction - 85 REC, 975 YDS, 7 TD
- Brandon Tate - NE
When the Patriots traded deep threat Randy Moss in Week 5 my mouth began to water at the prospect of Tate's increased workload. I made the add in all my fantasy leagues and was rewarded with just 4 REC, 104 YDS and a TD in the 3 games after the Moss trade. His season line - 24 REC, 432 YDS, 3 TD was respectable for a WR in his first year. His 18 YPC average looks nice and would look even better if Brady could find him downfield more often. Tate doesn't wow you with his 6'1" frame but he does have the wheels to get himself open against defenders. Deion Branch still stands in his way as the primary deep threat, but an uptick in production seems like a given with the way Brady likes to spread the ball to his pass-catchers.
Production Prediction - 45 REC, 655 YDS, 7 TD
- Josh Morgan - SF
I'll admit I had some hopes for more production from Morgan in 2010 after some promising numbers in 2009 (52 rec, 527 yards, 3 TD's). A slow start to the season. On the positive side, he did improve his YPG (from 32.9 to 43.6) and his total yards from his 2009 total to 698. He's not much of a red zone target (just 8 TD's in 44 career games), but a lot of that could have more to do with Gore/Davis taking most of those targets. A new coach and philosophy geared towards offense from Jim Harbaugh could see Morgan take a greater step forward in his fourth season.
Production Prediction - 65 REC, 800 YDS, 5 TD
- Davone Bess - MIA
Brandon Marshall didn't really have the impact most anticipated in 2010 and the Dolphins offense was rewarded with an increase in production from Bess. So far in his 3 seasons his offensive production has improved each year as the Miami offense gets him more involved. Despite his small stature (5'10", 190 lbs.) he hauled in 79 catches for 820 yards and scored 5 touchdowns. His career 10.2 YPC gives him the profile of a possession receiver, which is just fine if Marshall begins seeing more downfield looks. He cracked the 100 yard mark just once (6 REC, 111 YDS vs. OAK in Week 12) and the Dolphins had weeks of offensive inconsistency, so it could be tough for Bess to really increase his numbers, but another season of similar stats would certainly be easy for owners to swallow.
Production Prediction - 85 REC, 835 YDS, 6 TD
- Earl Bennett - CHI
Outside of Johnny Knox, the Bears receivers were at the mercy of Jay Cutler's inconsistency. Bennett's numbers took a hit after a good 2009 and after getting some hype as a preseason sleeper pick. I'm still a believer in Bennett, as his previous chemistry with Cutler at Vanderbilt showed later in the 2010 season when Cutler was feeding him the ball (See: Weeks 12-13). If his 2011 returns are closer to 2009 he'll be a good backend pick.
Production Prediction - 55 REC, 750 YDS, 4 TD
- Mike Thomas - JAX
People will remember Thomas' 2010 season for his Hail Mary winner against Houston and rightfully so because it rocked. Even with the Jaguars passing woes popping up here and there, Thomas maintained a solid season of 66 REC, 820 YDS, and 4 TD's, leading the Jaguars YDS and REC. He's only 5'8", so expecting his YPC to increase from 12.4 might not be smart as he fits the possession receiver mold for Jacksonville. He's more Wes Welker than Steve Smith, but with Mike Sims-Walker now searching for a new team, the Jags will have to find Thomas more often to win ball games.
Production Prediction - 85 REC, 975 YDS, 7 TD
- Brandon Tate - NE
When the Patriots traded deep threat Randy Moss in Week 5 my mouth began to water at the prospect of Tate's increased workload. I made the add in all my fantasy leagues and was rewarded with just 4 REC, 104 YDS and a TD in the 3 games after the Moss trade. His season line - 24 REC, 432 YDS, 3 TD was respectable for a WR in his first year. His 18 YPC average looks nice and would look even better if Brady could find him downfield more often. Tate doesn't wow you with his 6'1" frame but he does have the wheels to get himself open against defenders. Deion Branch still stands in his way as the primary deep threat, but an uptick in production seems like a given with the way Brady likes to spread the ball to his pass-catchers.
Production Prediction - 45 REC, 655 YDS, 7 TD
Monday, June 27, 2011
1B-Stud Again?
Carlos Pena was owned in just 60% of Yahoo! Fantasy Baseball leagues at the start of this week.
Say what you want about his batting average but that seems criminally low for a guy who is showing up after a wretched spring where he struggled with a thumb injury and wasn't getting consistent at-bats.
He's now up to 64% (after a 2-HR game against the Rockies) today, and has posted this line since May 1st: 43/171 (.251), .366 OBP, 16 HR, 38 RBI, 31 BB, and 33 R in those 51 games. Not bad for a guy who had ZERO HR's and just 5 RBI's in 63 AB in April.
Make the Add people.
Say what you want about his batting average but that seems criminally low for a guy who is showing up after a wretched spring where he struggled with a thumb injury and wasn't getting consistent at-bats.
He's now up to 64% (after a 2-HR game against the Rockies) today, and has posted this line since May 1st: 43/171 (.251), .366 OBP, 16 HR, 38 RBI, 31 BB, and 33 R in those 51 games. Not bad for a guy who had ZERO HR's and just 5 RBI's in 63 AB in April.
Make the Add people.
Selling Pujols? Yup.
I'm very happy with the current state of my team.
Would it be nice to keep Albert Pujols as a late season possible addition at 3B (Especially a position currently held by Peralta/Polanco)? Duuuuh, of course. The injury kind of sours my plan for my hitters (To use a hot Pujols to help HanRam ease back into my lineup).
After my 10-3 throttling of Dave Cavanagh's first place Lights and Sirens squad, and the subsequent takeover of 1st for myself. The 4/5 seed could be a deadly opponent (See: Spliffs, Cliffs and TSA. Hell Downs too.)
I've decided I can make my run without the help of stalwart slugger Albert Pujols. Very few teams/owners can legitimately make this claim. In return and instant boost to my pitching staff. The Johan Santana Experiment is over (Waiver Wire) and thus I want to try something else. That something is getting Tim Lincecum or Clayton Kershaw.
Sans Pujols, my hitters will be:
- Hanley Ramirez
- Josh Hamilton
- Mike Stanton
- Ben Zobrist
- Howie Kendrick
- B.J. Upton
- Carlos Pena
- Carlos Santana
- Jhonny Peralta
- Placido Polanco
- Geovany Soto
- Ian Desmond
That's without Pujols mind you.
Good enough to win stats with this pitching staff behind it?
- Felix Hernandez
- Tim Lincecum / Clayton Kershaw
- David Price
- Yovani Gallardo
- Michael Pineda
- Wandy Rodriguez
- Johnny Cueto
- Scott Baker
- Jonathan Sanchez
- Justin Masterson
- Cory Luebke (Spot-starter for now)
Now that I'm in first, I'm looking to fully be able to dominate the pitching stats down the stretch (It takes 8 of the 15 categories in our league too), even if it comes at the expense of my hitters in AUG/SEPT in the playoffs. I think the quality of my other hitters (Especially at 1B - Pena / Zobrist / Kendrick / Santana) will more than offset the loss of Sir Albert.
Friday, June 17, 2011
Pujols 3B Watch
*Editor's Note* - I had been running this segment on my Tumblr but I think I'll just continue it here. Seems more fitting I guess.
How many more games does Albert Pujols need to get 3B-eligibility in Beisbol?
Play: 4 3 games
Start: 1 game
Game Notes: Pujols made the switch to 3rd in the 9th inning. Made his 9th error tonight and thus makes it harder to continue putting him at 3B. Just start him there tomorrow and move him back to 1st base La Russa...
HR Watch
Josh Hamilton cranked a pretty looking two-run homer this evening.
And Carlos Santana hit a solo shot as well.
Jhonny Peralta adds a grand slam? I'll take it. Back-to-back nights with HR's for Peralta.
And Carlos Santana hit a solo shot as well.
Jhonny Peralta adds a grand slam? I'll take it. Back-to-back nights with HR's for Peralta.
Trade Season
Offered a couple trades today.
Savage gets:
2B - Zobrist - TB
P - Masterson - CLE
Mallow gets:
P- Kershaw - LAD
The other:
Alex B. gets:
P - Masterson - CLE
P - Santana - NYM
Mallow gets:
P - J. Johnson - FLA
Savage gets:
2B - Zobrist - TB
P - Masterson - CLE
Mallow gets:
P- Kershaw - LAD
The other:
Alex B. gets:
P - Masterson - CLE
P - Santana - NYM
Mallow gets:
P - J. Johnson - FLA
Thursday, June 16, 2011
Pujols to 3B: A Mallowsian Breakdown
Albert Pujols, fantasy baseball's long-time points monster (and one-time third baseman) is only 1 start and 4 appearances away from getting 3B-eligibility in Beisbol. Some bastard leagues he's already eligible, but not mine.
This is big for a couple reasons. It give me a fantasy beast at a position that's been thin most of the year (I drafted Pedro Alvarez, damn hype). It gives me the flexibility to switch Zobrist / Polanco / Kendrick around at 2B and the Walkin' Carlos Bros. (Santana & Pena) around at 1B.
There are two problems with this currently: Pujols recent error woes and David Freese's impending return. He got the start at third last night, and an appearance tonight but has made 3 errors in the two games. He's also made a few errors at 1B this season so his defense has been... well... offensive. Freese told KFNS 590, a STL radio station, that he's looking at a two week window until he's back. His minor league rehab stint is due to begin Monday or Tuesday of next week.
People say La Russa can be stubborn (How else does someone stick with Ryan Franklin so long), so I'm thinking if everyone starts asking him "WHY IS PUJOLS ALLOWED TO START AT 3B WITH SUCH TERRIBLE DEFENSE!??" he'll just put him out there one final time to show that he's the boss and that's he's been doing it for 42 years.
This is big for a couple reasons. It give me a fantasy beast at a position that's been thin most of the year (I drafted Pedro Alvarez, damn hype). It gives me the flexibility to switch Zobrist / Polanco / Kendrick around at 2B and the Walkin' Carlos Bros. (Santana & Pena) around at 1B.
There are two problems with this currently: Pujols recent error woes and David Freese's impending return. He got the start at third last night, and an appearance tonight but has made 3 errors in the two games. He's also made a few errors at 1B this season so his defense has been... well... offensive. Freese told KFNS 590, a STL radio station, that he's looking at a two week window until he's back. His minor league rehab stint is due to begin Monday or Tuesday of next week.
People say La Russa can be stubborn (How else does someone stick with Ryan Franklin so long), so I'm thinking if everyone starts asking him "WHY IS PUJOLS ALLOWED TO START AT 3B WITH SUCH TERRIBLE DEFENSE!??" he'll just put him out there one final time to show that he's the boss and that's he's been doing it for 42 years.
Intro Time
Name is Mallow (Not really, but yeah). I operate a fantasy baseball team named The Evil Empire. I am a Yankees fan first, Rockies fan second. I am the current defending champion of the league Beisbol on Yahoo!. It's a 12 team H2H league with 15 scoring categories, and 27 roster spots.
I figured it might be cool to start a blog to randomly document some of the happenings of my fantasy team en route to a repeat championship.
Here is the current roster:
C - Geovany Soto - CHC (via Draft)
1B - Albert Pujols - STL (via Draft)
2B - Ben Zobrist - TB (via Draft)
3B - Placido Polanco - PHI (via Draft)
SS - Hanley Ramirez - FLA (via Trade)
OF - Mike Stanton - FLA (via Draft)
OF - Josh Hamilton - TEX (via Trade)
OF - B.J. Upton - TB (via Trade)
DH - Howie Kendrick - LAA (via Trade)
BN - Carlos Pena - CHC (via Draft)
BN - Carlos Santana - CLE (via F/A)
BN - Ian Desmond - WAS (via Draft)
BN - Jhonny Peralta - DET (via Draft)
BN - Angel Pagan - NYM (via F/A)
P - Felix Hernandez - SEA (via Draft)
P - David Price - TB (via Draft)
P - Yovani Gallardo - MIL (via Draft)
P - Johnny Cueto - CIN (via Draft)
P - Michael Pineda - SEA (via Draft)
P - Wandy Rodriguez - HOU (via Draft)
P - Jonathan Sanchez - SF (via Trade)
P - Justin Masterson - CLE (via F/A)
P - Scott Baker - MIN (via Trade)
P - Jose Valverde - DET (via Draft)
P - Kyle Farnsworth - TB (via F/A)
P - Fernando Salas - STL (via F/A)
P - Jon Rauch - TOR (via F/A)
DL - Johan Santana - NYM (via F/A)
In case you're wondering how I got such an amazing roster, I'm shifty as fuck. And a terrific micro-manager. And great at drafting.
Oh, and I'm currently just two games back of first place as we hit the mid-season stretch.
I figured it might be cool to start a blog to randomly document some of the happenings of my fantasy team en route to a repeat championship.
Here is the current roster:
C - Geovany Soto - CHC (via Draft)
1B - Albert Pujols - STL (via Draft)
2B - Ben Zobrist - TB (via Draft)
3B - Placido Polanco - PHI (via Draft)
SS - Hanley Ramirez - FLA (via Trade)
OF - Mike Stanton - FLA (via Draft)
OF - Josh Hamilton - TEX (via Trade)
OF - B.J. Upton - TB (via Trade)
DH - Howie Kendrick - LAA (via Trade)
BN - Carlos Pena - CHC (via Draft)
BN - Carlos Santana - CLE (via F/A)
BN - Ian Desmond - WAS (via Draft)
BN - Jhonny Peralta - DET (via Draft)
BN - Angel Pagan - NYM (via F/A)
P - Felix Hernandez - SEA (via Draft)
P - David Price - TB (via Draft)
P - Yovani Gallardo - MIL (via Draft)
P - Johnny Cueto - CIN (via Draft)
P - Michael Pineda - SEA (via Draft)
P - Wandy Rodriguez - HOU (via Draft)
P - Jonathan Sanchez - SF (via Trade)
P - Justin Masterson - CLE (via F/A)
P - Scott Baker - MIN (via Trade)
P - Jose Valverde - DET (via Draft)
P - Kyle Farnsworth - TB (via F/A)
P - Fernando Salas - STL (via F/A)
P - Jon Rauch - TOR (via F/A)
DL - Johan Santana - NYM (via F/A)
In case you're wondering how I got such an amazing roster, I'm shifty as fuck. And a terrific micro-manager. And great at drafting.
Oh, and I'm currently just two games back of first place as we hit the mid-season stretch.
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