Banner Days

A banner day for the Reign of Error - didn't gain many points (from 29.5 to 30.5) but had 3 HR and 14 RBI. Huge for the team thus far. BFM played and I noticed it, and he swatted a solo shot, coupled with dingers from Eli Marrero and Adrian Beltre. Interestingly, all three of these guys were guys I could have sat if I chose or hadn't been paying attention to lineups. Boy that would have sucked. Chipper and Edgar chimed in with 4 and 3 RBI each (Renteria is white-hot right now) and with the news that Bri-Gi could be back next week, I'm feeling as optimistic as I have all year. That's a weird sensation..

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The problem with daily trannies

Due to a mild case of over-managing, I sat Adrian Beltre who went 2/2 with 3 runs, 1 HR and an RBI for the wildly untalented Fernando Tatis ("Ferny Tat") who pulled an 0/4. Thanks to my suprising RBI king, Edgar Renteria, who had another 4 RBI, it didn't hurt that much, but every little bit counts. Javier Vasquez pitched well - the roto geeks feel his pitch counts are too high, and given what has happened to A.J. Burnett, I'm inclined to be a bit nervous about it. Why don't managers care about this? It's that short-term mentality, and perhaps a bit of the fact that many of them played in the days when pitchers simply threw more. For whatever reason, it doesn't happen anymore. Stil in last place (29.5 points) and I'm starting to solidify my starting team. However, Big Fat Mo left the game with a stomach virus yesterday - which is tragic for him since his stomach comprises about 75% of his body. So, I'll be starting either Tony Clark or Lyle Overbay in his place for the next day or so.

Yikes.

Elmer Dessens???

Another good day yesterday, gained 4 points due solely to stellar pitching from Brett Myers and Elmer Dessens. Only two games last night, and my pitchers won both of them - that's how early this season is, that I can gain 4 points in a night with only two games. But I'll take hope any way I can get it. If I can continue on a good offensive surge, well...no jinxies, but it would be good, to say the least. Watched parts of both games, but more of the Phillies game and I must say I really like this Myers kid. He pours in the heat and has a snapping curveball, which might be one of the most fun things to watch from a pitcher. (Hey, it's why Shawn Estes still has a job.)

A New Hope: Not the Money Grubbing Whore Kind

Well, the standings don't show it, but what happened this weekend is starting to give me some hope. Yes, still in last place (28 pts...) but Chipper and Jeff Kent had productive weekends, and Shawn Green clouted one as well. Russ Ortiz pitched a gem (8 2/3 innings of 1 run ball) and my TSN newsletter just told me - and when it's good news, I believe it implicitly - that Adrian Beltre and Kent are on the rise. If the offense starts up, I really can compete with anyone in the league, I think. My biggest hole is stolen bases - while Alex Sanchez has been great thus far, he has only swiped 3 bags, and I'm dead last by a LOT in the category. I just can't punt, my other stats aren't good enough to cover. So, I'm going to have to do something in that category. What's nice is that I'm second in the other traditional punt category - saves - and Izzy still isn't off the DL.

Potential Drop Candidates: At the draft, I thought picking up Eli Marrero was huge for $2 at catcher. Now, he'll be splitting time with the oft-injured J.D.Drew, and he's not doing much while platooning. Similarly, I have Tony Clark as Big Fat Mo insurance, but I can't really play them both so he's hogging the bench. Once Giles comes back - should be two or three weeks at most, please please please -- this will be less of an issue.

Back in the cellar

Yup, back in last place. That lasted real long. It's strange, my team is surviving on the strength of its pitching - which I optimistically think of as a good sign. The reason? Well, since I paid little attention to pitching, just picking up bargains (Javy Vasquez for $12 was a steal at the draft and looks even better now) where they existed. Therefore, when inevitably my hitters realize that they're being paid to HIT, the team should be quite well-rounded.

I just have this haunting feeling I had the same thoughts last year...

Jeff Kent finally hit another HR (a solo shot) and recently the only run-producer on the squad has been Big Fat Mo. Who I was seriously considering ditching not too long ago.

One thing I will say - with the exception of Ced and myself, everyone else is bunched up quite close. This season is still just in its infancy, and things will change. THEY. WILL. CHANGE.

Big day for the Reign of Error in that it is the first morning (aside from maybe one of the first few days of the week) that I'm not in last place. Jimmy Crackcorn, and I do care...but it's more that Right Said Ced managed by the Commish himself just had a fecal day at the plate. I expect things will correct themselves right quick if my offense stays as flaccid as it has been. But it's a nice day when you get two wins and they're from your fourth and fifth best starters - Brett Myers and Elmer Dessens [the latter who I did want in the draft, but Smack got him...then dropped him quickly. I may have to do the same sooner than later, but for now, happy to have him.] Javier Vasquez pitches for me today, always a good thing. He's clearly the best pitcher I have these days and without him and Renteria, things would be even worse for the Reign of Error. But...things are looking up all over.

Last year, I did a blow-by-blow account of the draft that everyone else found mind-numblingly dull so I won’t go into that again. I will say this – the highlights of the draft? Watching the Van Burens erupt into turmoil not once, but twice (and over Brandon Duckworth and Brian Lawrence!) Waiting for new nicknames from Barmak (Vinnie Pads, $5…Vinnie Pads, $5…) and of course, the FS-J-Hate battle for Aramis Ramirez, while Benny P stood outside, shaking with fear that J-Hate would actually let the FS win out.

So…I desperately wanted Albert Pujols, but Rozy Cheeks was willing to pay approximately $260 for him, so I bowed out after $50. That left me with hitters Chipper Jones, Shawn Green and Brian Giles (aka “Bri-Gi”) and therefore on paper the best outfield in the league, in my opinion. The infield has issues on the corner (Big Fat Mo and Yo Adrian Beltre…) but is sick up the middle with Jeff Kunt and Edgar Rent-to-Own, and Eli Marrero/Damian Miller behind the plate is more than adequate. I went into the draft thinking of Jason Kendall if I was going to get a catcher – seemed clear he was going to bust out – but I really knew I’d have to punt the position, and I did better there than I even had hoped.

The First Few Weeks of the Season…
To quote Ashton Kutcher, “Dude, where’s my offense?” Jeff Kent started well and then disappeared. I think I got more out of him last season at this time when he was on the Disabled List. Chipper has more small injuries than Maggie Gyllenhaal in Secretary and Brian Giles is actually on the DL. (I didn’t actually cry that day…but I got misty.) Lately, I’ve been doing the Leo Mazzone rock in my office and chanting, “It will turn around, it will turn around.” My co-workers seem to be keeping their distance.

On the other hand, my Avoid Griffey at all Costs strategy really pays off every year. It astounds me that others in the league STILL have said they’ll pay for him next year. Ah, talent…now we know why Sabean paid what he did for Neifi Perez. No, on second thought, we may never understand that.

My team hit a new low for ineptitude with a total of 16 points a week or so ago. Now, since we only have 10 categories, it’s not quite apples-to-apples with prior years, but there’s simply no way to cut that pie without finding out that my team is currently really, really bad.

Things are picking up…I can tell it’s happening because I’m starting to get those “try and rip him off for slumping players” trade offers. Hey, I say this with love – I do appreciate it. Really. It’s part of the fun. And I just might bite one of these days…if my team is THIS bad in a few weeks, I just might have to.