Fantasy Player's Edge

April 7, 2008

Roster Shuffle:

Happy Monday!! Hopefully you routed last weeks
opponent, if not, it's only week 2.

Jason Bay, he of 2nd round draft status a year ago,
was benched yesterday. How do you lose so much so
quickly!!! The short answer is that you don't. This
guy can be had for a tray of avocados.....make the
offer as he's certainly has a bit of upside especially
if the Pirates make him available.

Lance Berkman has neck spasms. Neck spasms? Do
you know anyone that is afflicted with this condition.
C'mon Lance man up.....whatever happened to Ben Gay.
Is that politically correct?

Mark, this is going to be the year I actually start a game,
Prior had a successful bullpen session after feeling a bit
of tightness in his shoulder last week. Porcelain Prior
is on the comeback trail. I'll believe it when it happens.

Eric Bedard was scratched yesterday. My sense is that
he was overwhelmed by his Baltimore homecoming. He
did not attend the parade in his honor or the Peter Angelos'
cotillion on Saturday night. Don't listen to this hip inflamation
nonsense, I have sources.

Jerry Owens is going to be out a bit longer, who knows
why? Those of you waiting to pounce on the "cheap"
steals bandwagon will have to decide between McLouth
and Gomez. Opps, they're probably gone. I'm not a big
proponent of cheap steals and very little else. This
year I used a 3rd, 4th and 5th on Brian Roberts,
Chone Figgins and Chris Young the outfielder. This
trio will be counted on for 300 runs, 200 rbi, 50
homeruns, a .285 batting average and 120 steals.
That translates to 35% of the runs, 24% of the rbi,
22% of the homeruns, 68% of the steals and a major
contribution towards a .300 average which all represent
the mean highest total at the top of every category
in Rotisserie. Get some bang from your bags!!

Wigginton and Giambi are dinged.


Streamers: (tomorrow's probable starters available as free agents)

Jamie Moyer- didn't this guy pitch in the Negro Leagues?
No matter, he's 5-3, 2.62/1.16 against the Mets.

Doug Davis- this is not a sentimental pick as this is his
last start before surgery for thyroid cancer. Davis is 3-2,
1.04/1.01 with 27 k's in 34 innings facing the Torre's.
Good luck Doug.

Jason Jennings- the original argonaut hopes to fleece
the Orioles. 1-0, 0.00/1.57 over 7 innings with 7 k's.
Risky play, but it's early in the week.


Spotties: (tomorrow's position players available as free agents)

Coco Crisp- knows when to hold em', knows when to fold em'.
10/30, 2 stolen bases versus Rogers

Rich Aurilia- who's afraid of the Padres Wolf. Rich has the aura
going 7/18 with a pair of jacks.

Orlando Hudson- Gloria Estefan fanatic rails at Loaiza mocking
the diva with an Esteban handle. 10/25 with 3 extra base hits.

David Dellucci - huge Dom DeLuise fan is working on a comedic
cookbook to facilitate a career after baseball which should start
after this game. 6/12 with a homerun.


Start/Sit: (today)

Tom Gorzelanny (start)- has Cubs eating out of his southpaw.
Modest 2-2 record comes with 2.60/1.23 and 22k's in 27 innings
pitched.

Johnny Damon (start)- wasn't he a better player when he
resembled a caveman? Will emerge from the dugout tonight
with Girardi authorized extensions. Hank Steinbrenner rails
but Joe G. tells him to pound sand. Oh yeah, Damon is 3/8 with
3 steals versus Hammel.

Khalil Greene (start)- he's forevever raising Cain in the clubhouse.
Doesn't hit the Giant ace for average, 6/23, but does have 4 jacks.

Jason Bay (sit) -sitting on the dock of the bay, wasting time admiring
the Lilly('s). Ted owns him. 1/9 with 3 k's.

Pat Burrell (sit) - Arroyo's patsy, he actually calls him that as Burrell
steps in, very tender. 2/12 5 k's.

Aramis Ramirez (sit) - refuses to learn the correct pronunciation of
Gorzelanny. Refers to him only as papa. 1/11 3 k's.


Game Keys: (daily strategy tips)

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visit the Player's Edge early and often to gain a strategic
advantage daily.


All Done:

Two more young arms had dignified performances yesterday.

Edinson Volquez, the Reds other diaper dandy, registered a
win over the Phillies striking out 8 while allowing 2 earned
and 7 whip over 5.1 innings.

Franklin Morales, a poor man's Cueto, pitched 6 innings of
shutout ball allowing the D'Backs only 5 whip. He fanned 2.
He's got good stuff so expect his k's to improve. Corpas
blew the save.

Speaking of Manny Corpas. He's off to a slow start with a
blown save and a 9.00 era after a couple of appearances.
Trevor Hoffman has been worse. The all time saves king
has lost two games and has a hefty 12.27 era. He ended
the 2007 campaign dismally and now this. He and Corpas
will certainly be given additional rope but the situations
bear watching with Bell and Fuentes in the respective
wings.

Brandon Lyon is in immediate danger of losing his job. He
was awarded a win after blowing a save yesterday. Pena
would be in line to replace Lyon should he continue to falter.

Oh, for all the pundits who had you race to grab Putz's heir
apparent Mark Lowe it should be noted that the southpaw
O'Flaherty was Mariners manager McLaren's choice to face
portsider Markakis in yesterday's save situation. Lowe was
brought in to face a righty and promptly blew the game. As
noted in an earlier column, let it shake out.

Hey, only one reference to Cueto!!!!