Friday, the 3rd

Good morning, everyone. My pitchers have averaged 4 points over the last three days. If you consider taking the same staff as me today, I strongly suggest you think again. More on that later. There are only ten days left in the first half of this ever so humbling game. Play smart and play well as this is where it counts. I apologize in ad vance for some of the formatting. I did thelegwork for this weekend yesterday and had to a lot of copy-paste BS that messed it up somewhat. I'll fix it when I get back from Memphis.

YESTERDAY

Happ did a decent job for me until his pen came in and the lowly Braves sent me further down the spiral I am stuck in. 2 points from the staff is not exactly what I had in mind. Fortunately, CC failed to provide and about half of the population was in the same boat. Sadly enough, my bats were piss poor as well, led by Wright and his 4 points. My total of 21 dropped me to 14th overall, 31 points out of 10th.

TODAY

With the possibility of rain factored in, and no clear cut pitcher to take, I have a feeling the staff's will be all over the place today. It could either be a very good day to make a move, or a season ender for some of us. I tried to take the safest bet in Kuroda and kind of think he might be the top pick, but we will see soon enough. Here's the final again....

C: Olivo

1B: Pujols

2B: Utley

3B: Prado

SS: Zo

LF: Crawford

CF: Hunter

RF: Ethier

DH: Scott

PS: Kuroda (no imploda)

TOMORROW

Weather:

Brewers/Cubs 70%

Cards/Reds 80%

It's early and I won't have a chance to check again due to travel, so I will probably avoid both of these games. I suggest you check it again later tonight.

Teams Facing Lefty Starters:
Red Sox, Braves, Mets, Tigers, Padres, Marlins, Pirates, Rangers

Teams Facing Rookie Starters:
Nats vs. Hanson (see "pitchers")
Indians vs. Mazzaro (see "pitchers")
Angels vs. Berken (1-5 6.44 in 7 starts)

Bats to Avoid:
Pedroia (3-18 vs. starter)
Ellsbury (2-11)
E. Chavez (2-16)
Tex (4-22, HR)
Swisher (2-14)
Rios (4-20)
Soriano (3-17)
Fontenot (2-11)
Cameron (0-10)
Uribe (2-16, HR)
C. Jackson (1-13)

Pitchers:
Halladay (10-2 2.56, 1.05 WHIP, 4-0 1.88 on road, 2-1 2.33 in June, 1-0 1.00 vs. NYY)
Hanson (4-0 2.48, 0 ER in last 3 starts, at Was)
Lannan (5-5 3.45, Low K's, 2-0 2.03 at home, 3-0 2.19 in June, 0-1 2.77 vs. Atl in 2 starts)
Floyd (6-5 4.12, 3-3 5.80 on road, 3-0 1.28 in June, 0-1 6.00 in 2 starts vs. KC)
Nieve (3-1 2.25, at Phi)
Ortiz (3-3 3.36, 0-0 4.20 on road, 1-1 1.91 in June, at SF)
Lince (8-2 2.37, 132 K in 113 IP, 1.07 WHIP, 4-1 1.48 in June, 3-1 2.57 at home, vs. Hou)
Jackson (6-4 2.49, 1.04 WHIP, 3-3 2.12 on road, 1-1 2.91 in June, 0-1 7.50 vs. Minn)
Wolf (3-3 3.61, 1.18 WHIP, 0-2 5.24 in June, 0-1 4.22 in 2 starts vs. SD)
Duke (8-6 3.13, Low K's. 1.19 WHIP, at Fla)
Mazzaro (2-3 2.95, 1-1 2.45 on road, 1.17 WHIP, at Cle)
Price (2-2 3.93, 37 K in 36 IP, 0-1 4.50 on road, 1-2 4.23 in June, at Tex)
Cook (8-3 3.77, 3-1 4.03 at home, 5-1 2.36 in June, 0-0 23.14 vs. Zona)
Halladay, Hanson and Lince are my top three, but this is one that is pretty easy for me. Lince at home is one that I just can't pass on right now.

First:
Millar (9-19)
Overbay (6-14)
Votto (1-2)
Pujols (2-2)
Tatis (6-16, HR vs. lefty)
Gonzalez (4-11 vs. good lefty)
Pena (3-6)
Tracy (19-35 vs. good starter)
As much as I would like to risk the weather with Pujols, I just can't. I have narrowed it down to Branyan and Votto and think I will go che cheap way with Votto. Penny is a decent pitcher and Votto is a much cheaper risk.

Second:
Hill (10-17)
Johnson (6-15, HR vs. good lefty)
Castillo (7-20 vs. lefty)
Polanco (6-20)
Uggla (4-8 vs. good lefty)
Hill meet Wang. Wang meet Hill. Bat meet ball. Ball go far.

Third:
Beltre (6-17, HR)
Wright (19-41, 3HR vs. lefty)
Kouz (4-11 vs. good lefty)
Longoria (3-6, HR)
This one is simple as well. Wright owns Moyer. None othere really considered.

Short:
Alexei (2-4 but banged up)
Rollins (1-1)
Renteria (7-23)
Furcal (2-3)
Hanley (4-9 vs. good lefty)
Zobrist (1-2)
I know Duke is a decent pitcher, but Hanley is a better hitter. No brainer once again.

Left:
Bay (2-5, HR vs. lefty)
Damon (29-84, HR vs. good starter)
Diaz (4-10 vs. good lefty)
Span (4-6 vs. good starter)
Thames (3-5, 3HR)
Manny (2-3, HR)
Thames has some pretty impressive numbers against Liriano, but something is telling me not to do it. At this time, I think I will take a flyer on Manny. I may, however, change my mind on that.

Center:
Wells (6-19)
I want to go with Vernon, but he hasn't done a damn thing this week. I learned recently, first hand, how bad Holland sucks for Texas, so I am going to employ BJ at center. I have to have at least one Ray in this game.

Right:
Drew (3-9 vs. lefty)
Ichiro (1-2)
Fukudome (5-16, HR)
Francouer (6-12, HR vs. good lefty)
Winn (4-12)
Cuddyer (3-4 vs. good starter)
Mags (6-17, HR)
Ethier (2-3)
I know Hawpe is only 1-6 vs. Petit, but who it Petit anyway? It's at Coors. I will leave the stat sheet for my boy Hawpe in a close one over Ethier.

DH:
Griffey (13-33, 3HR)
Sheff (14-33, 4HR vs. lefty)
Sheff - no questions asked.

Catcher:
Varitek (4-15, 3HR vs. lefty in day game)
Soto (4-10, HR)
Schneider 2-5 vs. lefty)
Pudge (2-2 vs. good starter)
Mauer (3-8 vs. good starter)
Vatitek has the numbers, fits under the cap, and will play for sure.

FINAL LINEUP

C: Varitek

1B: Votto

2B: Hill

3B: Wright

SS: Hanley

LF: Manny

CF: Upton

RF: Hawpe

DH: Sheff

PS: Wright


STAT CORNER

Solo Home Runs are much better than three-run shots. Let's look at the leaders in WHIP year to date:

The Best:
Haren 0.81
Greinke 1.02
Jackson 1.04
Halladay 1.05
Vazquez 1.06
lince 1.07
CC 1.09
Cueto 1.12
Weaver 1.13
Lilly 1.13
J. Johnson 1.13

The Worst:
Wellemeyer 1.70
Suppan 1.66
Snell 1.62
Gallaragga 1.58
Owings 1.55
Garland 1.53
Davies 1.53
Sonnastine 1.53
Arroyo 1.52
Liriano 1.52

DISCLAIMER

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

FU For Life Kerry Wood!