I just received my copy of ESPN the magazine's fantasy baseball preview.  I read it cover to cover, and nearly spit coke all over the pitchers section. 

What does a player have to do to get respect?  When you think of guys who had a great 2005, What names come to mind?  Santana, Clemens, Pettite, Pedro, Halliday, Oswalt?  Yeah, That's a good list. 

I'm not saying that Carlos Silva deserves to be on that list, what i'm trying to get across is the fact that this guy is one of the top 15-20 pitchers in all of baseball, and it seems no-one has heard of him. 

Silva was acquired by the Twins in the 2004 Off-season from the Phillies.  The Twins sent Eric Miltion and his 9 million dollar salary to the Phillies for two no-name players.  My initial reaction to the trade was disappointment, I was a huge Milton fan, but knew it was time to trade him.  But for who?  a Middle infielder named Nick Punto, and a Reliever named Carlos Silva... GREAT trade Ryan.  But my disappointment was immediately pr oven wrong when Silva stepped into the rotation, going 14-8 with a 4.21 ERA. 

But it was 2005 that Silva truly exploded.  While he only posted a 9-8 record due to an anemic Twins offense, He reduced his ERA to 3.44, and his WHIP to 1.17.  It was remarkable that a ground ball pitcher could succeed in the dome, where in the not so distant past made the term "Turf Hit" commonplace in Minnesota.  Yes a new carpet has been installed, but it's still an incredibly difficult place to field ground balls. 

But it was Silva's pinpoint control that has Twins fans everywhere drooling over this guy.  188.1 Innings, 9 walks.  No, that's not a misprint, Silva walked a total of 9 batters.  The next closest mark is over double his total, also a twins pitcher, Brad Radke. 

Why am I mad? Carlos Silva is rated ESPN's 70th best pitcher for fantasy baseball.  While I know ESPN doesn't believe that Silva is the 70th best pitcher in MLB, It is ridiculous that guys like Fransisco Liriano, Ervin Santana, Erik Bedard, Jake Westbrook, Matt Morris, Mike Mussina, Kewlvim Escobar, Matt Clement, Javier Vasquez, Brad Radke, Jeff Weaver, Jon Liever, C.C. Sabathia, and John Patterson are ranked higher than the freak that is Carlos Silva.