I’ll try to keep it quick this week (damn me for writing this at my other job). Just a couple of weeks until pitchers and catchers report. I will be down in Orlando in mid-march to watch a few games. For those who have never been to a spring training game, I recommend you go. Everything is laid back and the players are approachable (great for autograph seekers). Look for my dos and don’ts of autograph seeking soon.
Magglio Ordonez is the last big name free agent on the market. He just recently started to work out for teams to show that he is ready. The Tigers have been the leading team. They offered 5 years @ $55 million. He wants at least 7 years, so the negoitiation are at a standstill. The Mets are rumored to be interested, but would have to move Cameron or Floyd to make an offer. The Mets have had trouble finding any interest in Floyd and are content to using Cameron for the time being. The Cubs are passing since they overpaid for Jeromy Burnitz.
I do want to point out a few things about the Sammy Sosa trade:
– There will be more protection for Melvin Mora and Miguel Tejada in the line up. Add in Javy Lopez, and the potential for guys like Brian Roberts and Jay Gibbons, and you have a pretty good line up. Sosa’s not going to hit like he did in Chicago, but should still help.
– Jerry Hairston will be a solid bench player for the Cubs, which is one of their glaring weaknesses. He will not be starting, but may platoon with Todd Walker if he struggles.
– The prospect the Cubs got should not have a significant impact in the majors.
Now onto a question. Our own Mark asked on the forum:
Here’s one for you that plauged me throughout the entirety of last season. How much of a factor do you hold Adam Dunn’s record breaking strikeout performance in a decision to draft him? I had him in 2 leagues last year, kept him the whole way in one league and traded him in another. What’s your best advice this year?
Dunn is worth having in most leagues, except in leagues where strikeouts count against you. Look at his 162 game average:
HRs – 38 (x 4 pts/HR = 152 pts)
Ks – 183 (x -1 pt/K = -183 pts)
You see that the strikeouts more than erase the home run potential, but, again, that is only in leagues where strikeouts count again you. RotoChamps is projecting Dunn to have a good season (.270/.377/.589, 46 HRs, 185 Ks). I am projecting him to be a top 10 outfielder (in leagues w/o Ks). I would say to definately go after him, even if you don’t want him. Any other owner would want him, so he could be good trade bait (as long as you have a solid replacement). He should be taken around the 5th round. I wouldn’t take him earlier than that since outfield is deep (Last season he did qualify at first base, but he won’t at draft time this year. In many leagues, a player needs to have played a position 15 times to qualify; Dunn played first 10 times).
This may be a little off subject, but I want reader help for naming my teams. I already have one team I named the Short Bus All-Stars (Also, if anyone would like to make me a logo, I would be happy to accept it). Last year, I used comic book teams for names (Suicide Squad, Thunderbolts, etc). I need something new. E-mail suggestion with your questions.
Now a word from our sponsors:
– Mark’s Weekly Pulse
– Nick’s Pancakes
– Patrick’s Offense
– Dr. Jay’s Pine Tar
– Aaron’s controversial HOF 100
– As a comic book reader, I have found that there are 2 columns that can answer any of your questions: WWITDCU and the Marvel Handbook
Top 7 Catchers (based off my projections):
1. Victor Martinez
2. Javy Lopez
3. Ivan Rodriguez
4. Jorge Posada
5. Jason Kendall
6. Joe Mauer
7. Johnny Estrada
Please feel free to post questions in the forums. Also, we have started a thread for a fantasy baseball league. Sign up if you want in.
