Part II

Offensive MVP and LVP Fantasy Style

Milwaukee Brewers

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.

Minnesota Twins

MVP: Justin Morneau .284 .358 .495 .853 6-25-14-54 12-17-0

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.

LVP: Robinson Cano .154 .214 .256 .471 3-8-7-30 8-15-0

Bottom-Up: Derek Jeter .313 .339 .393 .732 0-16-15-44 3-8-0

Comments: Cano signed a huge deal and is pulling a Carl Pavano right now while Jeter has yet to go deep or steal a base.

New York Mets

MVP: David Wright .284 .406 .569 .975 6-26-17-62 23-18-4

Runner-Up: Ryan Church .318 .382 .491 .873 4-22-23-54 11-24-1

Comments: Wright is a beast at third; you did not need me to tell you that. Church has been solid all year.

LVP: Carlos Delgado .213 .306 .361 .668 4-16-16-39 14-21-0

Bottom-Up: Luis Castillo .239 .343 .261 .605 0-4-11-23 4-7-6

Comments: It is time for Delgado to Delgottogo.

Oakland Athletics

MVP: Emil Brown .271 .296 .398 .694 3-26-19-47 4-11-1

Runner-Up: Bobby Crosby .268 .336 .402 .737

Comments: What can Brown do for you? Lead the AL in RBI.

LVP: Travis Buck .154 .197 .277 .474 0-6-5-18 2-20-0

Bottom-Up: Mark Ellis .237 .322 .359 .681 2-11-5-47 17-15-3

Comments: What does Travis Buck and I have in common? We both suck at hitting the curve ball… However, he gets paid to hit.

Philadelphia Phillies

MVP: Chase Utley .357 .432 .762 1.193 13-26-28-96 13-20-3

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

Bottom-Up: Shane Victorino .231 .296 .292 .588 0-2-7-19 6-8-2

Comments: Howard is hitting something around .400 when he actually hits a ball.

Pittsburgh Pirates

MVP: Nate McClouth .323 .411 .606 1.017 7-25-28-77 17-16-3

Runner-Up: Xavier Nady .347 .406 .542 .948 4-30-19-64 10-21-1

Comments: McClouth is by far the biggest surprise in Fantasy this season on the offensive side. Reminds me of Eric Brynes… but better!

LVP: Adam LaRoche .202 .275 .303 .578 2-8-7-30 10-32-0

Bottom-Up: Freddy Sanchez .222 .250 .282 .532 1-11-10-33 4-14-0

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.

LVP: Khalil Greene .220 .273 .305 .578 1-11-6-36 8-24-0

Bottom-Up: Jim Edmonds .181 .266 .241 .507 1-6-6-20 9-23-2

Comments: Greene has been disappointing so far and Edmonds has been pointless so far.

San Francisco Giants

MVP: Aaron Rowand .337 .383 .531 .914 3-15-12-52 7-26-0

Runner-Up: Bengie Molina .296 .324 .480 .803 4-19-9-47 4-5-0

Comments: It is nice to have a catcher like Molina on your team… just make sure it is the right Molina brother.

LVP: Ray Durham .253 .330 .367 .697 1-7-9-29 8-15-4

Bottom-Up: John Bowker .250 .268 .426 .694 3-9-4-29 2-16-0

Comments: I was going to put Barry ****s on the list but his head did not fit on the page.

Seattle Mariners

MVP: Ichiro Suzuki .279 .329 .375 .704 2-9-21-51 10-10-12

Runner-Up: Raul Ibanez .302 .345 .484 .829 5-21-17-61 10-18-0

Comments: If April showers bring May flowers, what does Mayflowers bring? Pilgrims. NO! It brings more Ichiro hits.

LVP: Jose Vidro .192 .248 .298 .546 2-18-12-31 8-14-1

Bottom-Up: Kenji Johjima .184 .245 .218 .463 0-5-4-19 6-5-0

Comments: I am very frustrated with the play of Johjima. The image of Jeff Clement in his rear-view mirror is closer than he thinks.

St. Louis Cardinals

MVP: Albert Pujois .358 .518 .604 1.122 6-23-18-64 33-9-2

Runner-Up: Ryan Ludwick .308 .386 .615 1.002 4-15-16-48 10-24-1

Comments: What elbow problem? Shoot, I hope I did not jinx him.

LVP: Troy Glaus .232 .318 .366 .684 1-21-9-41 15-25-0

Bottom-Up: Chris Duncan .271 .402 .400 .802 2-6-12-28 16-16-1

Comments: Glaus vs. Rolen… advantage M.D.’s

Tampa Bay Rays

MVP: Eric Hinske .279 .392 .581 .974 6-15-14-50 16-14-2

Runner-Up: B J Upton .286 .379 .429 .808 3-21-18-45 17-26-4

Comments: If you drafted Hinske in your AL-only league, good job. If you drafted Hinske in your mixed league, you are a liar.

LVP: Evan Longoria .239 .345 .437 .782 3-11-10-31 11-19-2

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

Runner-Up: Milton Bradley .320 .412 .495 .907 3-12-13-48 16-13-0

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.

LVP: Hank Blalock .299 .365 .460 .824 3-7-9-40 8-9-0

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

Bottom-Up: Austin Kearns .212 .331 .292 .623 2-12-12-33 16-19-1

Comments: If Zimmerman is the face of the franchise, I am calling Joan Rivers for a referral.

Nationals… last in your program and last in my blog.

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,

Toronto: Jesse Barfield

Oakland: Rickey Henderson, Rickey Henderson, Rickey Henderson

Detroit: Alan Trammell, Ron LeFlore

Chicago: Carlton Fisk

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!

I was only 13 years old, a seventh grader at Francis Scott Key Middle School when the Orioles last went to and won a world series. For you Cub fans and Ranger fans and whomever else has a problem with their city winning a world series, I know be quite and sit down right? Wrong. No fan of a team will ever shut up and sit down if they truly believe their team can turn things around. Look I don't think Angelos has the right plan for this team, in fact I'm not sure if Angelos knows a bunt from a punt. The one thing that I do know is that he can field a 4th place team and that's the damn reason I'm writing.

See writing about how bad my team has been is more healthy for me than yelling and screaming about it. I'm about to stick hot needles in my eye if the birds do not start to make progress. We have had enough of the excuses about playing in the same division as the Yankees and Redsox. Hell the Bluejays took second place in the division last year.

So how do I or we go about getting things improved on and off the field for the Orioles? Well first I start by getting our fans back. Players and coaches need to make it a priority to meet and greet with the home folk even in the winter. But here is what I think will get our fans back the most. No I'm talking about bringing Cal Ripken in to run things ( but damn that would be sweet ). I want the BALTIMORE back on our road jerseys. Is that asking too much? I'll even sew all the jerseys for free!!! From what I understand Angelos is not the reason we don't have Baltimore on our jerseys instead it was Edward Bennett Williams. Remember he was owner of the Washington Redskins and he wanted the DC community to embrace the Orioles as their own that he took it off, and don't forget MLB has to approve such a change. Bad times all around.

Now I know this won't improve our fourth place finishes but this will start the flow of positive changes for this team. I see our minor leaguers are getting better, we are drafting better and hopefully we will see more home grown talent like in the 60's, 70's and 80's. The Oriole way has to be the only way. Like all teams it starts at the top, but in this case we must start at the bottom and work our way to the top. As much as I hate to say this, Angelos is not the problem. The problems have been that we have not judged talent well enough to bring a spark or any fire power to the big league club. It may be years before we see another title, but if they have BALTIMORE sewn on their proud chest when it happens, well than Good times all around.