Thursday, the 16th

Good morning, everyone, and welcome aboard the second half of Baseball Challenge. We hope you enjoy your trip with us over the next few months. Please be aware that, in case of emergency, there are exits on either side as well as in the front and the back. The seat in front of you is also equipped with sick bags. These are most comonly used for imploding staffs but can also be used if you come down with a bad case of the DNP's. The pilot has asked that you now stop your bitching and whining and move on with us to a fresh start. Please buckle your seatbelts and enjoy the ride.

Seriously, be sure to scroll to the bottom today to read an article just posted by JayJayCox. He finished third in the first half as you should already know and wanted to add his thoughts. Thank you JayJay for your contribution.

TODAY

From what I can tell, pitching was anything less than easy yesterday. Wolf, Braden, Harden, Wandy, Lee and Cook were all getting some interest. It is because of this that some 12 year old kid from Lancaster, PA will probably be in the lead after today because Moyer of all people is his favorite player and he pitches a shutout today. It looks like Lee (and Kerry FU Wood) got about 30% of the picks, Wood took about 20% and Cook, Harden, an Wandy gathered up over 10% each. Here's my final again.....

C: VMart
1B: Howard
2B: Utley
3B: Wright
SS: Hanley
LF: Braun
CF: Sizemore
RF: Hawpe
DH: Cust
PS: Wandy

TOMORROW

Weather:
Mets/Braves 60&
I see no reason to be concerned.

Teams Facing Lefty Starters:
Yankees, Cubs, Giants, Red Sox, Marlins, Rangers, Orioles, A's

Teams Facing Rookie Starters:
Yankees vs. French (1-0 1.93 in 4 appearances)
White Sox vs. Berken (1-6 5.87 in 9 starts)

Bats to Avoid:
C Guillen (2-12)
Granderson (1-11)
Kearns (5-30, HR)
Zimmerman (2-11)
Uggla (3-23)
Victorino (3-16)
Mauer (2-12)
Crede (2-11)
Kubel (0-10)
DeJesus (2-16)
Crisp (2-14)
Teahen (2-14)
J Guillen (2-12)
C Pena (2-15)
Crawford (1-13)
Mora (4-24)
Cust (1-10)
Kouz (2-18)
Hawpe (2-11, HR)
Berkman (2-15)

Pitchers:
Felix (9-3 2.53, 121 K in 124 IP, 1.14 WHIP, 5-1 1.94 on road, 2 R or less in 8 of last 9, at Cle)
Burnett (8-4 3.77, 101 K in 107 IP, 5 R in last 5 starts, vs. Det)
Z (5-4 3.53, less than 7 IP in 3 of last 4, 3-2 3.20 on road, at Was)
Lince (10-2 2.33, 149 K in 127 127 IP, 1.05 WHIP, 5-1 2.22 on road, at Pitt)
Romero (7-3 3.00, 5-1 2.31 at home, 0-1 11.25 vs. Boston this season)
Jurrjens (7-7 2.91, 3-4 2.98 at home, 0-0 2.35 vs. NYM this season)
Shields (6-6 3.42, 3 R or more in 3 of last 4, 1-0 2.25 vs. KC)
Greinke (10-5 2.12, 129 K in 127 IP, 1.08 WHIP, 6-2 1.88 at home, vs. Tam)
Bills (9-4 3.38, 119 K in 125 IP, 3 R or more in 6 of last 7, 1-0 0.00 vs. Hou)
Carp (7-3 2.47, 0.87 WHIP, 3 R or more in 5 of last 7, 3-1 2.42 at home, 0-0 0.00 vs. Zona)
Seriously, do you have to ask?

First:
Branyan (3-11, HR vs. Ohka)
Youk (1-2, HR vs. good lefty)
Votto (6-15, 2HR)
Prince (9-29, 3HR)
Helton (3-5)
Cantu (3-13, 3HR vs. lefty)
Prince has been lighting it up pretty well lately and I can't pass on a bat like his against Arroyo in that park. Votto and Branyan are fine picks too, but I really like the comfort of knowing Prince is on my team.

Second:
Pedroia (1-3, HR vs. good lefty)
Barmes (4-6)
Utley (6-17)
Harris (4-10)
Ellis (6-19, 2HR vs. lefty)
Again, this one is pretty easy, as many picks will be until the valus go up some. Why would i not take Utley?

Third:
Wright (4-11, HR vs. good starter)
Inge (4-9 vs. good starter)
ARam (5-12, HR vs. lefty)
Chipper (4-13, 2HR)
I really like ARod over these four vs. the rookie at Coors East tomorrow. Is it too early to get burned by him yet? Nah....

Short:
Renteria (4-6 vs. lefty)
Hardy (7-23, 4HR)
Hanley (9-24 vs. lefty)
Lopez (5-16, 2HR vs. good starter)
Tulowitzki (3-9)
I'll pass on Hanley who has only 1 HR vs.lefties this season, and Hardy is a little banged up. I think I'll take Jeter simply out of pure attrition - and because of the rook he faces in the park he plays in.

Left:
Bay (1-1 vs. good lefty)
Manny (1-3, HR vs. good starter)
Pierre (12-34 vs. good starter)
Ooooh, this blows. I really think I will stick with Braun. 6-21 vs. Arroyo is better than any of these.

Center:
Sizemore (5-10 vs. good starter)
Ellsbury (1-1 vs. good lefty)
Cameron (7-21)
McLouth (1-3)
Well, I'm not taking Grady vs. Felix, that's for sure. Let's go with McLouth vs. Pelphrey at home.

Right:
Ethier (3-8, HR vs. good starter)
Mags (3-9, HR vs. good starter)
Bruce (4-7, 3HR)
Ludwick (1-2)
Cuddyer (4-15, HR)
Willingham (5-7, HR vs. good starter)
As weak as Garland is, I have to take someone against him. Ludwick is the lucky winner, and one of the hottest bats in the league right now.

DH:
Ortiz (1-2 vs. good lefty)
Scott (2-1 vs. good lefty)
Lind (1-2)
And they all face good starters...I guess I'll take Thome vs. Berken, should be good for a walk or two if nothing else. Matsui might be worth a shot as well.

Catcher:
Laird (4-5 vs. good starter)
Benji (2-6 vs. lefty)
McCann (8-20)
Ianetta (3-5, HR)
Yadi (2-2)
Let's go with McCann. I don't really see anything else that impresses me much.

FINAL LINEUP

C: McCann

1B: Prince

2B: Utley

3B: ARod

SS: Jeter

LF: Braun

CF: McLouth

RF: Ludwick

DH: Thome

PS: Lince

STAT CORNER

The Best Batters vs. Lefties (75 AB min)
Jeter .449
Wright .446
Braun .403
Alexei .397
Kemp .395
C Lee .386
Konerko .386
Prado .382
Span .376
Callaspo .376

The Worst Batters vs. Lefties (75 AB min)
Giles .136
Davis .143
Hardy .156
Morgan .171
Ethier .181
Bruce .183
BJ .186
Howard .187
J Guillen .191
Granderson.194

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!