Friday, the 17th

Good morning, everyone. Can I pick 'em or what? I told you guys yesterday that Moyer was going to pitch a shutout and put some clown at the top of the Leaderboard. Well, sure enough....Of course I meant it in jest, but nonetheless. Anyway, I hope your half is off to a good start and your current rank after the first day didn't give you a stroke. And please forgive the shitty formatting. Converting text is a real pain on this site.

YESTERDAY

I certainly can't complain. Any time the Magic Wandy pitches a shutout on the road, it's hard to piss and moan. He gave me 29, much to my surprise. Most of the top staffs did well as Lee went the distance, Harden was superb, and even Cook held his own. My bats were pretty much crap, unfortunately, pitching in only 23 and led by Ryho. My total of 52 lands me at #8540 overall, 23 points off the Leaderboard. I must say that It's a little weird. In the first half, I was the leader after day 1 and never vell out ofthe top 200. It's cool. Wild rank changes should be expected for the next few weeks.

TODAY

I see that about 75% have Lince today, as expected. I also see, though, that another 20% or so took Carp today. That kind of surprises me, to be honest. No one else saw significant action. With the Bow Wonder facing thelowly Pirates, I feel pretty good about my chances tonight. The bats will play a big part in tomorrows ranks. Here's my final again...

C: McCann

1b: Prince

2B: Utley

3B: ARod

SS: Jeter

LF: Braun

CF: McLouth

RF: Luddy

DH: Thome

PS: Lince

TOMORROW

Weather:
none

Teams Facing Lefty Starters:
Tigers, Red Sox, Braves, Orioles, Indians, Mariners, Nats, Pirates, Royals, Reds, Dodgers, Astros

Teams Facing Rookie Starters:
Angels vs. Mazzaro (2-5 3.59 in 8 starts)
Rangers vs. Swarzak (2-3 4.50 in 6 starts)

Bats to Avoid:
Damon (3-22)
Inge (7-46)
Wells (1-12)
Lind (2-12, HR)
Huff (2-11)
Ellis (2-12)
Peralta (2-16)
Guzman (2-21)
Teahen (2-13)
Phillips (2-12)
Gerut (4-21)
Bonaficio (2-11)
S Drew (2-13)
C Young (2-11)
Ausmus (2-14)
Manny (2-11)

Pitchers:
Jackson (7-4 2.52, 1.06 WHIP, 3-3 2.33 on road, 0-0 0.00 vs. NYY in 1 start this season)
CC (8-6 3.86, 1.15 WHIP, rocked in 2 of last 3, 2-2 4.55 at home, 0-1 4.50 vs. Det)
Johan (10-7 3.09, 112 K in 116 IP, 1.20 WHIP, 3-5 4.81 on road, 0-1 0.00 vs. Atl)
Danks (7-6 3.91, 1-0 2.77 in July, 1-0 1.29 vs. Bal)
Weaver (10-3 3.22, 1.12 WHIP, 2-0 6.38 in July, 3-2 4.66 on road, at Oak)
Washburn (6-6 2.96, 1.09 WHIP, 2-1 1.96 in July, at Cle)
Lilly (9-6 3.18, 1.11 WHIP, 5 R in last 21 IP, 3-5 4.66 on road, at Was)
Johnson (8-2 2.74, 1.13 WHIP, 4-1 1.98 at home, 1-1 2.65 in July, 0-0 0.00 vs. Phi)
Wainwright (10-5 3.04, 2-0 1.07 in July, 3-4 2.35 at home, vs. Zona)
Kershaw (7-5 3.16, 99 K in 99 IP, 2-0 0.53 in July, 2-2 1.85 at home, 0-1 12.46 vs. Hou)

Haren (9-5 2.01, 0.81 WHIP, 129 K in 130 IP, 4-1 2.36 on road, 2-0 0.60 July, atStL)
I have to take Haren here. I was going to take Wainwright, as the research I did for today's work was done a few days ago. I just now saw Haren was going. If he can hold off Big Al and Luddy, he should be OK.

First:
Miggy (4-6, HR vs. good lefty)
Konerko (3-11, 2HR)
Howard (7-19, 2HR vs. good starter)
Prince (12-33, 3HR)
I think the matchup for Prince is as good as any. He is hitting well and Harang is a mound turd.

Second:
Polanco (13-40, HR vs. good lefty)
Pedroia (2-6 vs. lefty)
Utley (5-16 vs. good starter)
Roberts (4-12 vs. good lefty)
Sanchez (3-3 vs. lefty)
I have half a mind to take either Phillips or Kinsler, but neither of them hit well vs. lefties and righties respectfully. I think Pedroia is the only favorable match here.

Third:
ARod (7-19, 2HR vs. good starter)
Chipper (5-11 vs. good lefty)
Wright (1-3)
Longoria (2-3, HR but banged up)
Hall (17-47, 3HR)
I don't care for any of these tomorrow. Give me a hot hitting Sandoval vs. weak-ass journeyman Charlie Morton.

Short:
Jeter (11-27, HR vs. good starter)
Escobar (5-12 vs. good lefty)
Hanley (2-4)
Tulo (4-15)
Tejada (3-6 vs. good starter)
Escobar is about as inconsistant as they get and as muchas I like Jeter, I don't like taking bats against good pitchers. Hanley looks like the best option to me.

Left:
Bay (2-6 vs. lefty)
Diaz (10-18, HR vs. good lefty)
Lee (4-5, HR vs. good starter)
Crawford (3-5)
Braun (5-19, 3HR)
Braun and Bay are the only ones inthis group not facing good pitchers and I like Braun better. Neither have been too hot lately, but Braun usually comes through for me while Bay tends to disappoint.

Center:
Melky (6-17 vs. good starter)
Sizemore (4-12, HR vs. good lefty)
Cameron (6-20, HR)
Since Kemp is hitting .380 vs. lefties and is also facing a washed up Hampton, he will be my man tomorrow. Nothing else looks good to me anyway.

Right:
Rios (8-11)
Dye (4-8, HR)
Hawpe (2-5)
Ross (2-5)
Hawpe is tempting as usual, but I have a hunch on Dye tomorrow. He is 13-33 during his 9 game hitting streak and seems to always be good around this time of year.

DH:
Matsui (7-22, Hr vs. good starter)
Thome (2-9, 2HR)
Scott (3-6, HR vs. good lefty)
Hafner (8-20, 3HR vs. good lefty)
Since none of this really does anything forme at all, I will take Papi vs. Tallett. He is 2-10 with a homer against him, but is hitting better than any of these others right now.

Catcher:
Mauer (3-5 vs. good starter)
McCann (5-16, HR vs. good lefty)
VMart (9-22 vs. good lefty)
Shoppach (4-8, HR vs. good lefty)
I think Varitek will be my pick here. His numbers vs. Tallet aren't bad and Iknow he will play, if nothing else.

FINAL LINEUP

C: Varitek

1B: Prince

2B: Pedroia

3B: Sandoval

SS: Hanley

LF: Braun

CF: Kemp

RF: Dye

DH: Ortiz

PS: Haren of the Desert

STAT CORNER

The Best Batting Averages vs. Righties (150 AB min.)
Mauer .391
Ichiro .361
Hanley .356
Kubel .351
Pujols .348
Uribe .347
Figgins .342
Bartlett .339
Hawpe .337
Kennedy .333

The Worst Batting Averages vs. Righties (150 AB min.)
Shoppach .173
C Young .174
K Johnson .175
Giambi .183
Navarro .194
Al Gonzalez .197
Punto .200
Bradley .200
Ianetta .202
Atkins .203

DISCLAIMER

My picks are exactly that, my picks. If you choose to follow my lead, feel free to do so at your own risk. Thanks as always for reading, pleae come again, pass the word and....

FU For Life Kerry Wood!