Thursday, the 30th

Good morning, everyone. So the Pirates have now sold off their entire team practically. It's a real shame to see such a storied franchise totally give up. It may just be time for them to move. I hate to say it, but what gozillionairre is going to want to buy that mess and move to Pittsburgh of all places? Also, the Tribe traded off Lee and VMart is sure to go today or tomorrow, so they say. The reigning Cy Young winner has been traded only 4 times in the history of major league baseball. But it has happened twice in the last two years, with both CC and Lee being dumped by Cleveland. Man, baseball has really changed. I believe I have mentioned on here that I don't really like to take more than 3 bats from the same team. Take a look at my bat results from last night to see the bad side of a load-up.

YESTERDAY

Well the day certainly got off to a good start for me with Go-Caine tossing a 36 point gem. It got better when Halladay struggled to get 10 and Johan rained out. But then the Phils bats started. At least they tried to. They turned Petit into a superstar and the 5 of them combined for just 7 points. Had it not been for the 6 I got from Braun, it could have been a record setting disaster. The 17 total bat points gave me a total of 53. I jumped 150 spots to #3364 in the second half and fell back to #33 overall. It's still progress, though.

TODAY

I hope you all noticed the DH today, although I suspect that probably a third of those ahead of me did not. The Mets staff accounts for over 80% of the suspects, with the Rocks getting maybe 10%. Many of the top bats are the same for everyone. We need the Mets to take the sweep 10-2, 10-2 if there is to be much movement today. Here's the final again...

C: McCann*
1B: Murphy*
2B: Barmes*
3B: Wright*
SS: Tulo*
LF: Manny (Pagan*)
CF: Fowler*
RF: Frenchy*
DH: Ortiz*
PS: Johan and the other guy*

TOMORROW

Weather:
Dodgers/Braves scattered t-storms
DBacks/Mets scattered t-storms
Mariners/Rangers scattered t-storms
Bosox/Orioles scattered t-storms
Rocks/Reds isolated t-storms

Teams Facing Lefty Starters:
Tigers, Pirates, Mets, Royals, Rangers, Yanks, Blue Jays

Teams Facing Rookie Starters:
Dodgers vs. Hanson (5-1 2.95 in 9 starts)
Phills vs. Sadowski (2-3 4.81 in 5)

Possible Load-ups:
Rays vs. Ponson (1-6 6.79)
Twins vs. Santana (3-6 7.29)

Bats You May Want to Avoid:
Zaun (1-10 vs. starter)
Youk (4-22)
Lowell (3-20)
Sizemore (3-17)
Shoppach (1-10)
A Cabrera (1-10)
Wright (1-10)
Cantu (2-11)
Beltre (7-39, 4HR)
Branyan (2-17)
Griffey (2-13)
Kubel (2-11)
Yadi (2-12)
Luddy (2-11)
Benji (2-15)

Pitchers:
*At this time the Reds have not announced a definitive starter
Jackson (7-5 2.59, 1.11 WHIP, 3-4 2.35 road, 1-1 2.96 July, 2-0 0.64 at Cle)
Lannan (7-7 3.27, Low K's, 3-6 5.51 road, 2-2 2.70 July, 0-0 1.29 at Pitt)
Cook (10-3 3.87, 2-0 4.20 July, at Cin)
Davis (5-10 3.76, 2-4 4.44 road, 2-2 5.61 July, at NYM)
Harden (7-6 4.55, 104 K in 93 IP, 2-0 1.80 in last 3 starts, 4-1 2.03 road, 0-0 12.27 at Fla)
Hanson (5-1 2.95, vs. LAD)
Richmond (6-5 3.69, 0-1 5.63 at Oak, just off DL)
Braden (7-9 3.74, 2-2 5.28 July, 0-2 2.70 vs. Tor)
This is a tough call. Hanson, Harden and Lannan all could be good, but they all have their weaknesses as well. I Like Lannan aside from the lackof strikeouts. Hanson is good, but facing the Dodgers. Harden has been good on the road and thismonth. I think I have to go with Rich, mainly because he is likely to be the top pick.

First:
Miggy (5-8, HR vs. lefty)
Votto (3-6 vs. good starter)
Pena (5-12, HR)
Morneau (5-12, 2HR)
Pujols (9-17, 3HR)
AGonz (6-12, 2HR)
Pujols looked a little better last night and, while all of these could go off, I think Fat Al gets it back tomorrow.

Second:
Roberts (4-9)
Pedroia (7-21)
Zo (2-6, HR)
Kinsler (2-3)
Kendrick (5-10 vs. good starter)
Cano (3-3 vs. lefty)
I think I'll pass on Cano against the lefty and Kendrick even as hot as he is and go with Zo vs. Ponson. I simply like the matchup better and he has usually cashed in for me.

Third:
Inge (2-3 vs. lefty)
Zimmerman (1-3, HR)
Reynolds (2-3)
ARam (2-5, HR)
Chipper (16-42, 5HR)
Figgins (7-12, HR vs. good starter)
Reynolds is in a pitchers park and I don't trust Chone very much. Zimmerman does not have enough power for me, so between ARam and Chipper, I have to like Chip. The stats are too much to pass on.

Short:
Hanley (2-4 vs. good starter)
Bartlett (1-3)
Lugo (7-19)
Scutato (3-8 vs. good lefty)
I have to take J-Roll on the road vs. the rook. He is really feeling it right now and the other matchups could backfire.

Left:
Bay (5-8, 2HR)
Gomes (3-3, 2HR vs. good starter)
Abreu (5-10 vs. good starter)
It seems too easy to take Bay, but it seems equally as stupid not to take him.

Center:
Ellsbury (6-20)
Granderson (4-11, Hr vs. lefty)
McLouth (3-7)
Upton (7-12)
BJ. None others even considered.

Right:
Cake (2-4, HR)
Drew (6-18, HR)
Ichiro (20-38, HR)
Dye (2-6)
I normally try not to take singles hitters, but Ichiro's numbers are among the best I've seen with that many at bats.

DH:
Ortiz (6-18, HR)
Hafner (3-7, HR vs. good starter)
Thames (3-9, HR vs. lefty)
Papi went deep already today, and will all the hype his affection for sticking needles in his ass is about to get him, I have to pass. Thames crushes lefties and should do so again.

Catcher:
Laird (1-2 vs. lefty)
Doumit (3-5, HR vs. good lefty)
Snyder (3-8)
Mauer (8-15)
Mauer may not be a sure thing, but he is the obvious pick.

FINAL LINEUP

C: Mauer
1B: Pujols
2B: Zo
3B: Chip
SS: Rollins
LF: Bay
CF: Upton
RF: Ichiro
DH: Thames
PS: Harden

DISCLAIMER

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

FU HALL OF FAME

Kerry MF'n Wood (Founder)
Nick MF'n Blackburn (Record Holder at -43)