MVP: Gabe Kapler .291 .310 .582 .892 4-13-12-32 2-10-1
Runner-Up: Mike Cameron .269 .367 .654 1.021 3-7-6-17 4-8-0
Comments: I am using the two as a group. This has been a bright spot for the Brewers to start the season. Together they remind me of John Lowenstein/Gary Roenicke without the 25-game suspension and the fact one of the Brewers is not a left-handed hitter… other than that… I am cool.
LVP: Ryan Braun .268 .304 .465 .768 5-23-13-59 7-28-1
Bottom-Up: Prince Fielder .257 .372 .431 .803 4-20-16-47 19-18-0
Comments: both players do not belong on this list but given where they went in drafts… Their numbers do not add up to their production.
Runner-Up: Carlos Gomez .271 .297 .374 .671 1-8-17-40 3-26-13
Comments: If Morneau played somewhere other than, a state recognized for lakes they have (I am on record here to say that Minnesota does not have 10,000 lakes. Maybe they more or less… but not 10,000 exactly) he would be an All-Star regularly.
LVP: Delmon Young .263 .306 .307 .613 0-9-15-35 7-21-6
Bottom-Up: Jason Kubel .245 .264 .396 .660 4-17-11-42 3-22-0
Comments: Both players came into this season as great sleepers in AL-only leagues… yet both have been big disappointments for Fantasy owners but Minnesota is a top their division as I write tonight. Go figure.
New York Yankees
MVP: Johnny Damon .295 .394 .527 .921 4-14-25-59 19-20-5
Runner-Up: Bobby Abreu .306 .363 .452 .815 4-21-15-56 11-24-2
Comments: Damon is quietly putting up good Fantasy numbers, while Abreu is the glue right now that is holding the lineup together.
Runner-Up: Pat Burrell .330 .459 .687 1.147 9-30-20-73 26-24-0
Comments: Without Chipper Jones in the NL, Utley is the MVP. How do you not like Utley? Pat’s bat is hotter than Fergie in a bikini. Check her out in the May 5th edition of In Touch Weekly.
LVP: Ryan Howard .167 .294 .351 .645 6-14-16-40 21-45-0
Comments: I have officially given up on LaRoche. Pittsburgh fans know what I mean.
San Diego Padres
MVP: Adrian Gonzalez .302 .355 .556 .911 8-23-19-70 10-27-0
Runner-Up: See Above
Comments: In a big home ballpark, Gonzalez is putting up some nice numbers. I have him in a league that I cannot even trade him in because my knuckle-headed friends would rather hold onto David Ortiz or Carlos Pena.
Bottom-Up: Carlos Pena .215 .323 .421 .743 7-17-15-45 13-35-0
Comments: Longoria will eventually hit. I think he is over-matched at times and looks like he has no plan at the plate. He has had some great at-bats (see Roy Holladay) but they are few and far in-between.
Texas Rangers
MVP: Josh Hamilton .300 .347 .531 .878 6-33-16-69 11-19-0
Comments: Talk about getting a second chance in life and taking advantage of it… Hamilton and Bradley both have been solid in the middle of that lineup.
Bottom-Up: Ben Broussard .159 .225 .268 .493 3-8-8-22 5-20-0
Comments: Maybe it is unfair for me to put Blalock on this list, but coming into this season, he insisted he was healthy and proved once again that we should never trust a player’s opinion of himself unless we are in the company of Rickey Henderson.
Toronto Blue Jays
MVP: Alex Rios .310 .379 .474 .853 3-15-20-55 14-25-8
Runner-Up: Vernon Wells .273 .341 .405 .746 4-22-17-49 12-15-1
Comments: I just traded for Wells. What do you think of this trade; Wells and Giambi for Cust and Jenks?
LVP: Frank Thomas .167 .306 .333 .639 3-11-7-20 11-13-0
Bottom-Up: Aaron Hill .264 .323 .388 .712 2-13-11-47 9-16-2
Comments: Why would you want “The Big Attitude” on your team?
Washington Nationals
MVP: Christian Guzman .309 .331 .463 .794 3-14-20-63 5-12-0
Runner-Up: Felipe Lopez .281 .349 .344 .693 1-12-12-33 10-14-4
Comments: I have nothing for this team. New ballpark, same crowds.
LVP: Ryan Zimmerman .217 .252 .333 .585 3-14-12-43 6-23-0
Anita Marks is my fifth favorite Marks… Groucho, Harpo, Chico and Zeppo rank 1-4
Jimmy V told us to ‘Never Give UP’… I say ‘Always Give Down’…
I can’t image life without peanut butter and jelly…
I would give my right eye to see like Wade Boggs…
Nick Markakis is my favorite Greek player since Clay Bellinger…
Boiled eggs are better fried…
Betty Rubble… I like to Stegosaurus her Plateosaurus
I have no idea what the Jimi Hendrix Experience is like, but if it’s under $15… I want two
My new favorite game… Connect Four
It makes more sense to have the pitcher wear a helmet… not coaches
I’ll take my chances with John Daly as my partner in quarters…
There’s no better GM in Fantasy Baseball than Ray (a friend of mine) O’Brocki…
My new favorite shirt… t-shirt $20… tickets to the race $150… three beers $27… seeing Jeff Gordon in the wall... priceless!
Is it me or does Frank Caliendo do a better John Madden than John Madden…
My favorite uniform… French Maids!
-------------------- You can't sit on a lead and run a few plays
into the line and just kill the clock. You've got to throw the ball
over the #### plate and give the other man his chance. That's why
baseball is the greatest game of them all. ~Earl Weaver
Every one has a favorite baseball team… me? Of course I love BALTIMORE (yes I will try and continue to write BALTIMORE in caps for the purpose of reminding people where this team plays) Orioles. Some like individual players. I have followed this team since I was about 6 years old. Interesting fact: That was Reggie Jackson’s first and only season in Baltimore before going to the Yankees. Final 1976 numbers for Reggie; .277- 27 HR- 91 RBI- 27 2B- 134 GP- 108 K 54 BB. Thanks Reg. Thanks for nothing.
Well to say the least Reggie wasn’t one of my favorite players after that 1976 season. See my family had told me how great Reggie was when he was in Oakland. So I thought that Reggie was going to be my first favorite Oriole of all time… that sound you heard was the brakes on my Reggie bandwagon sketching to a sudden stop. Nope. Reggie would not be one of the favorite Orioles.
Before I list my top 10 all time favorite Orioles, I want to share with you some of my favorite players I watched play in the AL when I was 6-11 years old (1976-1981). Or PC ( Pre- Cal ).
Boston: Fred Lynn, Jeremy Remy, Rick Burleson
New York: Bucky Dent, Willie Randolph, Paul Blair
Milwaukee: Robin Yount, Paul Molitor, Rollie Fingers
Kansas City: George Brett, Frank White, Willie Wilson
California: Brian Downing, Bobby Grich, Rod Carew,
Cleveland: Rick Manning, Andre Thornton, Mike Hargrove
Minnesota: Roy Smalley
Seattle: Ritchie Zisk
Texas: Toby Harrah
Now my top ten Orioles:
10. Doug DeCinces. Baltimore Oriole from 1973-1981. Had more broke noses that I can remember and I’m sure he rather not. Remember when hit a 3 run shot in the first inning of a five run first against the Pirates to start the 1979 World Series? I do! He always has some credit… if not the most for… O R I O L E S … MAGIC MAGIC MAGIC!!! Feel it Happen! Try getting that tune out of your head anytime soon.
9. Kiko Garcia. Baltimore Oriole from 1976-1980. Just loved his play in the 1979 World Series. It just seemed to me when he played… he played hard. Loved the fro’ from the cap!
8. Mark Belanger. Baltimore Oriole from 1965-1981. WOW! Did you know that? The fondest memory of the Blade for me was when he hit a home run against Ron Guidry during that classic 5 game series at Memorial Stadium during the 1978 season. By the way Guidry won the CY Young that year.
7. Al Bumbry. Baltimore Oriole from 1972-1984. AL ROY in 1973!! The BEE was just a bug to other teams when he got on base. Bumbry has to be one of the All-Time Most under Appreciated Players in Oriole history.
6. Don Stanhouse. I’m shaking just thinking o####ood reason to write about him. Maybe “Wild “Bill would have been a better choice.
5. Lee May. Baltimore Oriole from 1975-1980. Best will be remembered for the one who hit the sharp grounder down the line in Game one of the 1970 World Series that Brooks turned into a MLB highlight treasure. I like Lee because he was the “Big Bopper “. He was my Boog Powell. He actually ties Reggie for the team lead in home runs in 1976.
4. Dave Skaggs. Baltimore Oriole from 1977-1980. I know you are sitting there going… Dave Skaggs? Dave Skaggs? Trivia question… who wore the number 8 last before Cal Ripken… Dave Skaggs? YEAH BOOOYYY!
3. Eddie Murray. Three letters for you… H O F!
2. Gary Roenicke. Baltimore Oriole from 1978-1985. He won someone a $1,000,000 during a “Glam Slam “promotion that the Orioles had every game during the years I speak of. If memory serves me correctly… this was in NY and it was Saturday or Sunday afternoon game. It doesn’t matter… plus the guy took one on the chin only to comeback wearing a half mask helmet to play. Love that!!
1. Ken Singleton. Baltimore Oriole from 1975-1984. Yup, Mr. “I will now enter the batter’s box and find three stones that don’t belong before I bat “ Singleton. What not to like… switch hitter with power… great arm… great “ eye “ at the plate… should of won the 1979 AL MVP… plus he protected Murray before Cal arrived. #29 in YOUR program… #1 in my heart!
Do you not like my list? Give me your own. Any Oriole period of time is welcome. It’s just cool to speak of the past when the future looks bright!
With all apologizes to David Letterman... here is my top ten EXPECTED injuries every Spring Training... and if you are surprised by any of these... let's just say.. I want you in my league!
10. ALERT! ALERT! ALERT! Rocco Baldelli is not playing... again this Spring Training... I had to take the easy one first. By the way... speaking of Baldelli... has anyone disappointment you more in potential fantasy numbers each year than Baldelli?
9. Any pitcher over 40 who has had a surgery in the last three years or has a grandchild in the minor leagues. Think Randy Johnson and... my grandfather Jamie Moyer.
8. Any veteran player who doesn't like to run anymore. Think Jeff Kent and Dimitri Young. If Kent had his way he would have a pinch runner each at bat and Young would have a pinch hitter so he could eat during each at bat.
7. All Denver Broncos... This is a known thing all ready.
6. HGH participants... easy one!
5. Pedro Martinez... If I ever have the chance to invite 5 of my favorite people in the world to dinner they would be... Pedro ( because he was the anti-Bambino curse and I think it would be interesting to hear what he went through during those years in Boston. Len Bias... so I could talk him out of it... Rickey Henderson... why not? Gary Williams and Roger Carr would be the last two).
4. The Evil Empire's Feelings... again this Spring Training the moaning and crying from the Yankees is coming from both the inner office and the dugout office about teams this Spring Training. Get use to this folks... this is just the beginning...hahahahahahha ( evil empire laugh ).
3. Groin injuries... I'm sorry folks but if you don't get the opportunity to stretch your groin during the season... I hope you stretch that groin ( wink ) all off season.. NO EXCUSES!!!
2. Burnt Toes... Rookie hazard... Rookie rule number one.. if you smell smoke.. it's you dummy!!!
and the number one EXPECTED Spring Training injury...
J D DREW!!!!!!!!! Wait, wait, wait... maybe that BoSox fan is right... so ladies and gentlemen the new number one expect Spring Training injury goes to.... Curt Schilling!!
I ask this question with the most sincerity. I'll explain...
Tonight the Twins sent the rights to reconstruct a long term contract with Johan Santana to the NY Mets. They have 72 hours to get a deal done. My guess... it happens.
What if McPhail and Angelos knew this deal was going to happen days ago? The chances are good since McPhail has plenty of insiders to draw from. Just a few years ago, baseball officials were reporting McPhail was the next commissioner of the league. I bet he knows a few people.
Maybe that's why the Orioles were so upset about the leak of the deal. Maybe that's why McPhail denied any deal was done. Maybe we wanted to wait a few more days. They may have had a plan to wait until Santana was a done deal before putting Bedard back on the table.
See now the Yankees and the Redsox have to be a little concerned about Seattle landing Bedard for " prospects. " To them it would be a steal of a deal. I'm not saying the Yankees or the Redsox would offer the same package to us as they did to the Twins... but it's worth a few more days to see what they want to part with.
Both the Yankees and the Redsox have more to offer than the Mariners. Maybe we would trade within our own division... it has happened plenty of times throughout the years.
Could the Orioles possibly being the right thing? Man, I sure do hope so.
George Steinbrenner and the Yankee brass meet for a few days in Tampa to discuss the future of the Yankees. Well after much debate here's what they rolled out today. They offered Joe Torre ( who is 8th all time in wins by a manager ) a one year deal for somewhere around 5 to 8 million dollars. Not bad on the cash side, but after you ripped this man and threatened his job unless they advanced in the playoffs, who by the way has taken the Yankees to 12 straight playoff appearances and 4 world series rings, you can;t expect the man to take that suicide contract. Who do the Yankees think they are dealing with? Joe Torre has been the only manager in my 37 years on the planet that actually can handle all the pressures that surround that job at the zoo. This man has won 1,173 games while losing only 767. Do the math people, that's 98 wins a year for a twelve year span. Has George had one too many calzones. Did his two sons slip him a " mickey ?"
Good luck Yankee fans finding a replacement, but beware who ever is next will have huge shoes to fill and I don't see anyone having a twelve year stretch in New York like Joe just had. I hope every Yankee fan enjoyed that ride because I believe the Yankees just cut off their own head. Plus that was the best backhanded( compliment ) from someone in New York since the U S Open. Good luck Joe, see you in Cooperstown.
My name is Chip and I reside in Baltimore, Maryland. I have lived in Baltimore all my life and really love the city. I am the biggest Oriole and Maryland Terrapin fan I know. I'm also a huge Ravens fan but I miss my Baltimore Colts. Some of my favorite players I enjoyed watching as a child include Rickey Henderson, Cal Ripken Jr, Bert Jones, Dr. J, Ken Singleton, Roger Carr, Len Bias, Sugar Ray Leonard and Earl Campbell. Though we do not have a NBA or NHL team, I still follow both sports just as much as the others.
Currently you can find me at www.wnst.net and www.thomasgeo rgebaseball.c om and www.thebirdso fprey2.com
Fantasy sports manager sine 1991.
Pleasures include my family and Italian cuisine.
My son, Matthew, is nine and thinks Duke, NYY , Redsox and the Steelers stink!
