Fantasy Baseball Update #3 How many Outfielders does it take to win a league championship?

A quick side-note: If you haven’t seen it yet, check out ESPNs 30 for 30 series…it’s great, and a must see for all Fantasy Players is the recent episode called “Silly Little Game” about the creators of Fantasy Sports, it’s really good television.

The baseball season is five weeks young, it’s a big enough sample size to see what your team lacks so you can make those crucial adjustments that keep you competitive. I would still say it’s too early to really be conceding stats (unless you drafted with that strategy) so the best thing to do is to keep your team well rounded and address all those areas that you’re not doing well in. There are plenty of guys that already look like busts just look at my team…I’m talking to you Prince Fielder (5^th overall pick) and Grady Sizemore (4^th round pick) but don’t freak out just yet (although I did offer up Fielder in a deal already…so I’m not the best at staying calm either). The flip side of that is that there are plenty of guys out there that are a surprise That’s you David Freese and Doug Fister so what I like to do (and what I suggest to you), is grab as many of these surprise guys that you can and have them fill in until your big dogs come back to life…please come back life! That’s you Prince Fielder again!

Stock Up: A ton of young guys are stepping up and delivering in baseball early. It remains to be seen how many of them will continue this success all year but for now, grab them and ride their success as long as you can. David Freese is batting 358 with a 404 OBP in 23 games for the Cardinals, he should be on a roster in every 10 team mixed league. Though it pains me to say it (cause I’m a Red Sox fan) Bret Gardner is playing great for the Yanks, he has 11 steals and is batting a crazy 347, with Curtis Granderson out now for a month, expect Gardner to be a huge part of the offense. Two young pitchers that have to be picked up and kept on your roster are Jaime Garcia and Doug Fister who both have ERAs under 1.30. Other guys worth looking at and are not owned in most leagues are: Kevin Millwood (in 40 innings a 3.15 ERA and 1.25 WHIP), Colby Lewis (38 K’s in 32 innings and a 2.76 ERA), Adrian Beltre (333AVG and 8 XBH’s), and how about Kosuke Fukudome (who nowhere near enough people own) who is batting 342 to go along with his 438 OBP and 5 HR’s. (Bonus Guy: Former Fantasy prospect Chris Young looks to have sort of got his shizzle back together with a 300 AVG and 24 RBIs in 100 at-bats…but be cautious as he has already struck out 23 times).

Deep Sleepers-Welcome to the big leagues Rockies pitcher Jhoulys Chacin…along with having an awesome name, (that sounds like a strip club or like a foreign Ruby Tuesdays or something) you can deliver in the bigs…his 8 inning, 1 hit, 9 K performance was impressive enough to make me pick him up in a ten team mix league…keep it up!

Time to take a closer look at: Carl Pavano, it may sound funny but maybe he is more than a spot starter…he has a 3.72 ERA and a 1.12 WHIP in 31 innings, and on the Twins I think he can win 15+ games…seriously, take a look at Pavano.

Some advice from the guy in 6^th place-If you are going to make trades try sending several offers and scenarios for the trades…this lets other owners know you are flexible. Also if you are a dick about it all when you don’t like a trade offer, try to be nice instead of yelling at the the other guy, he may not know as much as you do, and who knows, you may need a guy from his team later…better to be nice about it all. Also lots of guy are getting hurt so manage your D.L. spots accordingly and pick up the right replacement guys. Too many times we just decide to leave Joe Mauer on the active roster thinking he will be back soon, and then DTD turns to D.L. and that turns into weeks…better to stay on top of it all and grab a replacement as soon as something goes wrong.

Alright so at last check my #1 (or at least my favorite of my five leagues) team (The Boston Lagers) was sitting in dead last…I vowed to make some adjustments and climb the ladder to the top…well I’m am in a more respectable 6^th place now, and a had to wheel and deal quite a bit to get there. (My other 5 leagues 1^st, 2^nd, 2^nd, 3^rd, and 4^th)

Boston Lagers (ESPN-Custom) 10 Team, Standard scoring (with XBH extra base hits and OBP on base percentage) as the two extra stats in hitting and (K/9 strikeouts per 9 innings pitched and BAA batting average against) as the two added pitching stats. Roster = C, 1^st, 2^nd, 3^rd, SS, OF, OF, OF, UTIL, UTIL, UTIL. Current Place-6th

This league has a mostly savvy fantasy players with a handful of baseball fan newcomers…the draft was competitive (see draft review in Fantasy Update #1) and the talent is spread out.

HITTING:

C-Jorge Posada-Please don’t go on the D.L.

1st-Prince Fielder-Offered him and Posada up for Joe Mauer and almost got it done.

2nd-Dustin Pedroia-Probably my best player to this point.

3rd-Chone Figgins-Getting better (7 steals and 355 OBP) but his awful 209 AVG is killing me.

SS-Alexei Ramirez-I replaced him with Uribe, Theriout, and Tejada already…but then went back to him now that he is getting a shot at the leadoff spot.

OF-Andre Either-My newest peice cost me Dan Haren, but delivered right away with 2 homers.

OF-Carlos Lee-I don’t want to talk about it right…I keep throwing him out there,

OF-Vernon Wells-It’s shocking to me that this guy has a 327 AVG and 8 HR’s…but it is helping me get over how bad Grady Sizemore is so thanks.

UTIL-Josh Hamilton-Getting Hamilton cost me a closer (J. Soria) and Raul Ibanez, but it has been worth it so far as he has been getting better each day. I expect big things from him.

UTIL-Franklin Gutierrez-He earns his starting spot with a 320 AVG and a 380 OBP, he actually has been my most consistent OF…I’m real glad I drafted him in just about very league I’m in.

UTIL-Lance Berkman-I drafted him as Fielder insurance and trade bait…but that only works if plays well…I’m waiting…

BENCH- I dropped Adam LaRoche and Paul Konerko way too early (both big mistakes) but at least I have J.D. Drew for his annual 6 good weeks of the year. Grady Sizemore has been relegated here until he performs for me…it might be awhile. My last bench spot goes to SS Rafael Furcal (got him in the Hamilton Deal) right now, but if he goes on the D.L. and R-Ram doesn’t perform I may drop him. (I have like freakin 20 Outfielders…I must trade some)

PITCHING:

I lost Dan Haren but with Liriano being back it was a loss I could afford. Josh Johnson and Jered Weaver have both worked out great and really my only bad SP is Josh Beckett and I still think he will be fine. I round out my guys with Matt Cain who is back on track as well. My relievers are fine for now, but I have been shopping for another closer, I lost Feliz from the rangers when I dropped him for a spot starter and got stuck with Chad Qualls, who actually has been ok. My other two closers Ryan Franklin and Papelbon are fine. On a flyer, after his good start against the Royals I grabbed Jake Peavy dropping Dice-K (who I think will be alright, but it may take another start or two) so will see how he does. Plenty of guys to stream line so take advantage I am…and my 22 wins lead my league.

Good luck to all in Fantasy and Reality!

The Top 7 Things on TV right now...at least that I watch

So as movies get crappier and crappier as the 3D era is upon us…again, let’s try to turn to TV for a minute and see what’s good watching right now. I would be lying if I said that the best on television is HBO’s Miniseries The Pacific (1) because really it is not just the best thing on TV right now, it’s probably the best entertainment out there period right now (at least that you can watch on a screen). Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg do it again covering in an epic way the Marines of the Pacific in their WWII drama. It started slowly, but has really sucked me in and now has me viewing (and anticipating viewing) every week. Of course there is sports for the sports fan that I am…but what if I want something I little deeper than just the Red Sox underachieving in yet another game with a division rival (it may be a bad year for the BOSOX)…well the perfect viewing for that kind of fan is ESPNs 30 for 30 series (2) which continues on with The 16^th Man, which is the uplifting story of the South African Rugby team. For your Reality fix, I recommend American Idol (3), though my favorite just left, and it seems to just mirror what little girls want as they have the best texting fingers apparently…it still packs a little punch with decent music, and ok feedback…the show is bleeding so watch it this last year before it dies I say. If you like funny I’ve got 2 shows for you and shockingly they are both on NBC…no no not The Office, how about both 30 Rock (4) and Community (5) they are both well written, and full of that snarky, sarcastic, ironic wit that lord knows I love. Must viewing for me on Sundays is clearly The Simpsons (6) and Family Guy (7) they are topical, cutthroat, and very funny. Think of South Park as the Mich Ultra Light (Which I no longer drink), Family Guy as the Heineken Light (which I love but wish had more flavor), and The Simpsons as the Samuel Adams Light (the perfect blend of flavor and smoothness that never gets old)…yeah that should sum up how I feel pretty well.

As for hope for the future you ask?? Well I gave up on shows like The Human Target and True Blood and I am starting to dwindle (but still watch sometimes) on Modern Family, so I have to hope for a new show to come in and grab me…my guess is that the new Fox show The Good Guys will suck me in for awhile…mostly because it stars one of my boys (Bradley Whitford of The West Wing and Studio 60 fame), but also because it is an old-fashioned buddy cop show that doesn’t appear to take itself seriously. Add a Colin Hanks and you may something there Fox.

Let me know what you guys watch and maybe why I should be watching…As a boring man with a boring life I actually don’t watch that much TV and am picky about what I get sucked into…(yes Dexter people I tried and no I didn’t like it!!) so let me know if it’s good…but only if its good! (and I swear if you say House I’m gonna…)

Movie Review #35 A Nightmare on Elm Street

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A Nightmare on Elm Street (2010) Jackie Earle Haley, Rooney Mara Directed by Samuel Bayer

I’m starting to think that music video directors aren’t really great directors of movies…for every Michael Gondry (who directed the brilliant Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind…#3 on my “Best of the Decade List”) there is inevitably 3 or 4 Samuel Bayer’s apparently. This first time feature director totally whiffs on the Freddy reboot by being boring, predictable, and worst of all not funny.

A Nightmare on Elm Street is the retelling of the legendary Fred Krueger story. I actually had high hopes for this one (ok reasonably high) because of the (at least what I thought) great casting call of Jackie Earle Haley (from The Bad News Bears fame…too old?? Ok how about The Watchmen which I gave him high praise for his Rorschach role) as the creepy Freddy Kruegar. The movie is yet another yawn of a horror film that doesn’t take any notes from the only really good horror reboot of the last several years, Rob Zombies Halloween. Similar to the recent Friday the 13^th remake (crap as well), Nightmare just doesn’t do anything with the story except polish up the cinematography and recast a bunch of good looking kids to play old fashioned roles…oh yeah it also wrote Freddy as snooze, instead of a charismatic, kind of funny, almost likable maniac. Rooney Mara is decent with the badly written role of Nancy, but isn’t really aloud to add much to the crappy story. I saw it is a total whiff of a reboot. They could’ve made Freddy more disturbing (a la Rob Zombie) or maybe more charismatic (they had a real good actor in Earle Haley to work with), instead they did neither as they (the crappy screenwriters) obviously just dreamed of dollar bills (as we know all horror movies are cheap to make and kids go and see them no matter what so they can make out) instead of having nightmares. Oh well I suppose if you are 16 and want to make out, you won’t miss much (because there isn’t much to miss in this 90 minute bore) with this film, for the rest of us, just go rent the old ones which are better…and keep in mind those weren’t that great either.

(The Shawshank Scale 1-10) Nothing worse than a boring Freddy with a dated and lazy script…I’ll be generous with a 4.5 on this one…giving it anymore than that would give me nightmares.

Food For Thought: Jackie Earle Haley tries to redeem himself in the film Louis, which is a silent film actually about Louis Armstrong…I think it is going to be done in two parts. You can also see him regularly on the Fox show Human Target, which I was watching but gave up on…its ok (Earle Haley is the best part of it). As for the one “sort of” bright spot Ronney Mara, she has The Social Network coming out later this year about the founders of Facebook…I can’t wait to twitter about it.

Movie Review #34 The Joneses

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The Joneses (2009) David Duchovny, Demi Moore Directed by Derrick Borte

Though it was made in 2009, The Joneses was just released (limited release). At times this film by first time director Derrick Borte, is an absolutely brilliant satire about capitalism and the culture of consumerism, and at other times it is a cliché filled story with a predictable climax. The Joneses misses the mark ultimately…but not by much.

The Joneses is the story of a fake family, made up of actors, put together by an advertising firm to be transplanted to a fancy neighborhood…um to make neighbors envy their perfect lives and want the things they have… therefore selling products that the fake family push and appear to own. Got it? It is both goofy story and a smart one that for the most part actually works. David Duchovny (playing David Duchovny…which I usually kill actors for just being themselves in movies, but with Duchovny, he is so cool, I actually don’t mind his quiet sarcastic normal ways) plays Steve…he is the newest member of this dream team family real-life advertisement. Kate (played very well by Demi Moore) is the leader of the group (as well as the fake mother) and she is the most ambitious of the family. The message of the movie is actually quite poignant, and the results of the culture of consumerism can be pretty awful…and the movie goes to those ends to show you some of that awfulness. Gary Cole shows up as the neighbor Larry in a really good performance that only gets bad at the end (otherwise I would’ve smelt Oscar), and the always annoying Amber Heard is forced on us as the slutty fake sister/daughter Jenn (she really isn’t that hot, and really not a great actress…and yet I know Hollywood keeps pushing her..why?). Even Lauren Hutton has a nice cameo as the big advertising boss KC, who is ruthless and evil in her brief screen time. The film is worth watching and is probably just a few flaws short of being really good…but those flaws are just too obvious in the end. I won’t highly recommend this film, but I will suggest you go and rent it on a night where you’re bored and feel like shopping and blowing some money you don’t have….I think if you watch The Joneses…you might just stay in and wait for the next sale to roll around.

(The Shawshank Scale 1-10) Smart, interesting, great message, solid cast, but in the end felt flawed…I give The Joneses a reasonable 5.5 on the Shawshank Scale. Consumerism can be real evil and our country is bleeding from debt, but if you want to see a movie that delivers the message more accurately try Capitalism (A love story) or Maxed Out (both documentaries that are good).

Food For Thought: I didn’t eat at this film, but try butterscotch chips instead of chocolate chips next time you make cookies…wicked awesome. Up next for Duchonvy is a film called Mt. Pleasant but you can watch him now on the great Showtime series…Californication (I wait till the whole season is done and then watch which works better). For Demi Moore there is Bunraku about a drifter who finds trouble, it co-stars Woody Harrelson and Josh Hartnett, both of which I like. The obnoxious Amber Heard has about 30 movies coming up in the near future as Hollywood continues to shove her down our throats…the best sounding of those films is a little one called The River Why about a big-city guy who leaves that life to be in the wild.