Wednesday, the 22nd

Good morning, everyone, and what a fine morning it is. The Nick Blackburn expiriment is behind me and my BBC life is good again. I'll take this time to thank you all for continuing to show up every day. We have gone well over 200 hits each of the last two days and I am really glad to see it. Keep passing the word and I will keep my typing fingers ready (I really only use three of them). Also, do not forget that there is another Double Header coming up on Friday. Please be advised.

YESTERDAY

I don't know if I would call it a stellar DH, but it was a good one. The Halo's staff combined for a total of 35 while the next most popular group, the 'Stros, god royally pen slapped. The bats were somewhat mediocre, especially for me as I failed to put Aybar on my team. He was single handedly the difference between good and great yesterday. Napoli, DeJesus, Matthews and Abreu all put up good numbers and my 50 bat points gave me a total of 85. This kicked me up about 12,000 spots to #15,369 in the second half and #31 overall. Improvement boys, that's what it's all about these days - aside from ball bearings.

TODAY

As expected, Lincy got the cast majority of the pub today and was picked by over 80% of you. Bills was a distant second. This means that the bats are what matters today. There were some good ones out there to take, along with many favorable matchups. If you picked well, you will move well today. If not......... The final again.....

C: Salty
1B: Tex
2B: Zo
3B: ARod
SS: Hanley
LF: Braun
CF: Kemp
RF: Hawpe
DH: Papi
PS: Lince

TOMORROW

Weather:
Mariners/Tigers 50%

Teams Facing Lefty Starters:
Jays, Indians, Braves, Tigers, Mariners, White Sox, Rays, A's, Padres

Teams Facing Rookie Starters:
Indians vs. Rzeprzcynski (1-1 2.50 in 3 starts)
Mariners vs. French (1-0 1.89 in 3)
Yanks vs. Mazzaro (2-6 4.09 in 9)

Possible Load-ups:
Jays vs. Huff
Phills vs. Correia

Bats You May Want to Avoid:
Mags (6-36, 2HR)
Polanco (1-11)
Thome (0-13)
O Cabrera (4-29)
Kearns (0-10)
Rollins (2-12)
Giles (3-17)
Kouz (2-12)
J Wilson (1-12)
Morneau (2-11)

Pitchers:
Washburn (7-6 2.87, 1.09 WHIP, 3-1 1.82 in July, at Det)
Buehrle (10-3 3.52, 1.18 WHIP, 6-1 2.81 home, 3-1 4.50 July, 1-0 4.05 vs. Tam)
CC (9-6 3.66, 1.15 WHIP, 3-2 4.04 home, 2-2 4.10 July, 0-0 8.10 vs. Oak)
Wainwright (10-6 3.01, 123 K in 137 IP, 2-1 1.39 July, at Was)
Morton (2-2 3.21 in 6 starts, at Zona)
Haren (10-5 1.96, 0.80 WHIP, 137 K in 138 IP, 3-0 0.78 July, vs. Pit)
Weaver (10-3 3.48, 1.18 WHIP, 2-0 7.36 July, vs. Min)
CC and Wainwright are intriguing, but Haren will easily be the most popular pick tomorrow. This is a good day to play it safe and go with the majority.

First:
Miggy (3-5, HR vs. good lefty)
Konerko (7-15, 2HR vs. lefty)
Dunn (4-12, HR vs. good starter)
N Johnson (3-4, HR vs. good starter)
Pujols (3-3, HR)
It's a good day to give Konerko a go, but like everyone else, I will have Pujols.

Second:
Zo (1-3 vs. good lefty)
Utley (3-6, HR)
The Padres are flying all the way from the coast to Philly tomorrow for a make up game. They are also throwing a world class hack. Utley is an easy pick.

Third:
Zimmerman (5-12 vs. good starter)
Figgins (6-16)
These guys do nothing for me. ARod is a decent option. Mark Reynolds, I would like you to meet Charlie Morton. Feel free to take him deep a few times.

Short:
I got nothing.
Rollins and Escobar are the only ones I like, but J-Roll is 2-12 vs. Correia and Escobar can't hit lefties well. I will go against my own advice and take the hottest bat - Jimmy.

Left:
G Anderson (21-64, 2HR vs. lefty)
Crawford (12-25 vs. good lefty)
Holliday (3-6 vs. good lefty)
Ibanez (3-4, HR)
Again with the Phillies, welcome aboard Raul.

Center:
Rowand (2-3)
Upton (6-17 vs. good lefty)
Morgan (5-9 vs. good starter)
Victorino (4-8, HR)
Matthews (3-7, HR)
I like Victorino, but don't want too many Phills, so let's take Grady vs. the rook.

Right:
Dye (5-17, 2HR vs. lefty)
Kuddy (1-3, HR)
It's a tough call between these two, but in the end, Dye is in a better hitters park. I'm not happy about it, but what do you do?

DH:
Cust (5-15, HR vs. good lefty)
I think Lind is just about the only option here.

Catcher:
Benji (1-3 but in day game)
Yadi (1-3)
Mauer (3-9 vs. good starter)
I hope VMart is beginning to come around. Since I can afford him, I will risk it.

FINAL LINEUP

C: VMart
1B: Pujols
2B: Utley
3B: Reynolds
SS: Rollins
LF: Ibanez
CF: Grady
RF: Dye
DH: Lind
PS: Haren

STAT CORNER

The Leaders in Batting Average Over the Last 30 Days:
Hanley .414
E Aybar .405
Gutierrez .387
Montero .375
Dye .371
Jeter .371
Beckham .369
Berkman .368
Ichiro .368
O Cabrera .365

Leaders in ERA Over Last 30 Days:
B Anderson 0.34
Kershaw 0.90
Lince 1.16
Haren 1.22
J Vazquez 1.34
Happ 1.46
Wandy 1.54
Wainwright 1.60
Piniero 1.63
Oz 1.66

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 don't be afraid to pass the word.

FU HALL OF FAME

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