Thursday, the 9th

Good morning, everyone. There are only 3 lineups left to be picked before the close of the first half. Are you ready? It has gone by very fast and seems like forever ago when the 'Stros and Nats left a game suspended in the 10th. Well, that game is going to be completed today. Be sure to check your lineups from May 5th to see if you had anyone in that game. I had Oz as my starter that day and while so far I have been credited for -4 points, it certainly could get better. If the 'Stros win, it could give me a great start to my day. Again, check your lineups.

YESTERDAY

The Dodgers disappointed many with their poor effort, but the rest of the popular staffs all put up at least decent numbers, led by Wandy with a majical 37. I had Greinke, as did many, who came in with a decent 18 after a miserable start. My bats gave me 34 the hard way as I had no home runs, but 7 of my 8 bats gave me at least 4. The total of 52 dropped me back to 13th overall, but actually made up groundon 10th place, just 11 out.

TODAY

All but one on the Leaderboard has Lincecum and it is more than likely that you do as well. The bats will be the difference today and movement will be minimal. Will all the day games, DNP's could be an issue for some. I wish you well and don't sweat the PS today. It won't be worth your time. Here's my final again...

C: Varitek
1B: Dunn
2B: Utley
3B: ARod
SS: Jeter
LF: Bay
CF: McLouth
RF: Ethier
DH: Papi
PS: Lince

TOMORROW

Weather:
Cards/Cubs 50%
I see no reason to worry about this. Pick freely.

Teams Facing Lefty Starters:
Orioles, Tigers, Phillies, Royals, Astros, Twins, White Sox, Yankees, Padres

Teams Facing Rookie Starters:
Orioles vs. Cecil (2-1 6.23 in 7 starts)
Jays vs. Berken (1-5 6.25 in 8 starts)
Rays vs. Mazzaro (2-4 3.59 in 7 starts)

Teams That Have Never Faced Starter:
Orioles and Rays

Bats to Avoid:
Laird (1-12 vs. starter)
Garko (2-12)
Cameron (2-20)
Gerut (1-10)
Furcal (3-18)
Ausmus (1-16)
Pierre (2-12)
Kearns (6-35
N Johnson (2-11)
Morgan (1-10)
Punto (1-13)
Gomez (2-14)
Francouer (0-10)
F Lopez (1-14)
C Snyder (2-11)
Beltre (2-12)
Giles (1-14)

Pitchers:
Feldman (7-2 3.91, 1.18 WHIP, Low K's, Less than 7 IP in last 10 starts, 0-0 1.42 vs. Sea)
Carp (6-3 2.32, 0.82 WHIP, 3-2 2.26 on road, 1-0 0.00 vs. ChC)
Lee (4-8 3.45, 0-2 2.40 vs. Det, Kerry Wood)
Jackson (6-4 2.59, 1.07 WHIP, 3 R or less in last 10 starts, 3-1 2.94 at home, 1-0 0.00 vs. Cle)
Duke (8-7 3.28, Low K's, 3 R or more in 5 of last 6 starts)
Bannister (6-6 3.87, 2 R or less in 5 of last 6, 2-3 5.02 on road, at Bos)
Lester (7-6 4.16, 123 K in 106 IP, 2 R or less in 6 of last 7, .107 BAA vs. KC)
Nieve (3-2 2.73, 5 starts, has yet to go 7 IP, vs. Cin)
Bills (9-4 3.14, 1.20 WHIP, 115 K in 120 IP, 3 R or more in 5 of last 6, 3-1 2.92 on road, at Mil)
Mazzaro (2-4 3.59, 6 IP or less in last 5, at Tam)
Oz (5-4 3.81, 3 R in last 23 IP, 0-0 7.20 vs. Was)
Danks (7-6 3.76, 4 R in last 28 IP, 1-0 3.18 vs. Min)
Jiminez (6-8 3.86, 4-3 4.05 at home, vs. Atl)
Haren (8-5 2.16, 0.83 WHIP, 119 K in 121 IP, 2 R or less in last 8, 4-4 1.95 at home, vs. Fla)
Haren, Carp, Lester and Oz are my favorites in this group. As much as I want to go with the popular staffs, I think Oz is the best option tomorrow. He probably won't be the top pick, but I think he is a safe one. That said, the suspended game they are finishing today is a carryover fromthe last time I took him.

First:
Lee (13-40 vs. good starter)
Miggy (7-20, HR vs. good lefty)
Youk (3-8 vs. good starter)
Berkman (4-12 vs. lefty)
Morneau (7-23, 3HR vs. good lefty)
Helton (13-39, HR)
They all face tough matchups, but I will go with the numbers and Morneau against the lefty.

Second:
Scutaro (2-3 vs. rook)
Pedroia (3-9, HR vs. good starter)
Castillo (2-5)
Harris (6-18 vs. good lefty)
Lopez (4-12 vs. god starter)
I simply like Scutaro on the road vs. a crappy rook. No brainer for me.

Third:
Inge (14-36, 3HR vs. good lefty)
Zimmerman (3-10 vs. good starter)
ARod (3-7)
Sandoval (1-2)
As much as I want to go somewhere else, I think I am going to stick with ARod. The only thing that scares me is if he sits, but I will risk it for another day.

Short:
Peralta (3-8, HR vs. good starter)
Guzman (4-11 vs. good starter)
Escobar (5-8)
Drew (6-13, 3HR)
Honestly, how can you pass on Drew with numbers like that?

Left:
Soriano (12-31, 2HR vs. good starter)
Lind (1-2 vs. rook)
Bay (1-2 vs. good starter)
Willingham (4-13 vs. good starter)
Damon (3-8)
Lewis (3-8)
It's close, but I am going to take Lind over Damon. Soriano hasn't done shit for me, or anyone else really, all season.

Center:
Wells (1-3 vs. rook)
Ellsbury (2-4 vs. good starter)
Wells is the only one I like here. See the Jays loadup evolagaiving?

Right:
Mags (17-45, HR vs. good lefty)
Choo (3-6 vs. good starter)
Werth (2-3, HR vs. good lefty)
Drew (4-9, HR vs. good starter)
Church (3-7)
Ethier (1-3)
Cuddyer (9-18, HR vs. good lefty)
Hawpe (11-34, 3HR)
Winn (3-9)
I know Hawpe is struggling a little, but I like the matchup against Lowe, who has been piss poor of late - and it's at Coors.

DH:
Hafner (2-4, HR vs. good starter)
Ortiz (3-8, HR vs. good starter)
Sheff (8-23, HR)
Cust (2-4, HR)
Kubel (4-10, HR vs. good lefty)
Blalock (3-4, HR)
Byrd (1-1)
The key here is that Arroyo sucks more than Sheff is struggling. Easy pick.

Catcher:
Soto (2-4 vs. good starter)
Mauer (9-18, HR vs. good starter)
McCann (3-9)
Johjima (3-10 vs. good starter)
Benji (2-4)
McCann. I know he does nothing every timewe take him, but Coors and salary are the factors that seal the deal for me.

FINAL LINEUP

C: McCann
1B: Morneau
2B: Scutaro
3B: ARod
SS: Drew
LF: Lind
CF: Wells
RF: Hawpe
DH: Sheff
PS: Oz

STAT CORNER

Let's take a look at the longest current hitting streaks, and the averages that come with them:

Rolen 25 games, .390 AVG.
Morales 13 .344
Gutierrez 11 .477
Votto 11 .370
Berkman 10 .438
McLouth 9 .350
Yadi 9 .364
Scott 9 .364
Miggy 9 .263
Wells 8 .400
Flores 8 .400
H Matsui 8 .440
Garko 8 .333


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, pass the word and....

FU For Life, Kerry Wood!