Friday, the 14th

Good mornig, everyone. I don't have too much to say today, but will give my thoughts on just a couple of things that have happened in the past few days.

On Shane Victorino and the beer: As dangerous as it was, it was also funny as Hell. Drop the charges, Shane. The only thing worse than a bitch is a bitch covered in someone else's beer. Get over it.
On Michael Vick: Who the fuck cares?
On the LLWS: I absolutely love it and I wish all these kids the best of luck.

YESTERDAY

Boys, my three Nats combined for 3 stinking points against Bronson damn Arroyo. This, my friends, is exactly why I don't like to take more than three players from one team on the same day. It happens all the time. Aside from those bums and Venable (who DNP'd), My bats were solid, led by Prince (13), Mauer (12), Tulo (7), and Cameron (6). They combined for 44 total points. Pitching was better than I expected as well, as Lee gave me a srtong 29 while CC assisted most of you that didn't have Lee with an impressive 33. At the end of the day, the scores were rediculously high once again and my total of 73 kept me at #26 overall, but kicked me up to #552 in the half.

TODAY

With all the good pitching that is out there, I really expected to see more diversity then I do. Wainwright is the top pick (very unexpected) with 64%, while Kershaw is second with only 20%. Lester is the only other one who even made a ripple on the charts at 6%. I seriously did not expect to see this today. It unfortunately shows all the signs of TERRIBLE MISTAKE by the voting public. I have a feeling tomorrow's edition will be fueled by my regrets over taking the wrong staff today. Seriously, this just seems wrong. There is absolutely no reason that Wainwright is supposed to be the top pick with all those great starters on the hill today. Usually, when the public thinks it's smarter than the game, they are wrong. Why do you think Vegas always wins? Here is my final again, along with the top picks...

C: McCann (Mauer*)
1B: Pujols*
2B: Phillips (Cano*)
3B: Chipper (Zimm*)
SS: Hanley*
LF: Bay (Holliday*)
CF: Sizemore*
RF: Cuddyer (Ethier*)
DH: Papi (Vlad*)
PS: Wainwright*

TOMORROW

Weather:
Rocks/Marlins scattered t-storms

Teams Facing Lefty Starters:
Cubs, Pirates, Braves, Chisox, Twins, Giants, Angels, Rays, Jays, Bosox, Dodgers, Yanks

Teams Facing Rookie Starters:
Angels vs. Matusz (1-1 7.04 in 2 starts)
Reds vs. Martin (1-2 5.91 in 5)
Yanks vs. French (2-2 4.31 in 7)

Possible Load-ups:
Twins vs. Huff (6-6 6.72, .400 BAA)
Rays vs. Tallett (5-6 4.85, .359 BAA)

Bats You May Want to Avoid:
K Johnson (3-17 vs. starter)
Escobar (1-13)
Francouer (0-10)
Uribe (8-56, HR)
Huff (2-28)
Mora (4-22)
Wiggy (1-11)
J Guillen (1-10)
C Young (2-13)
Reynolds (1-11)

Pitchers:
Duke (9-10 3.40, Low K's, 0-1 5.11 August, 0-1 3.21, .341 BAA at CHC)
Cain (12-4 2.44, 1.17 WHIP, 6-2 2.51 road, 0-2 5.40 August, 1-0 0.00 at NYM)
Johan (13-8 3.00, 8-2 2.07 home, 3-1 2.70 post break, 1-0 5.14 vs. SF)
Cook (10-4 3.93, 0-1 5.40 August, 1-0 1.50 at FLA)
Lackey (7-5 3.88, 3-1 1.88 post break, 1-0 2.25, .196 at Bal)
Jackson (8-6 2.79, 1.16 WHIP, 5-1 2.79 home, 1-0 4.50 August, 0-1 2.84 vs. KC)
Pineiro (10-9 3.22, 1.12 WHIP, Low K's, 4-4 2.24 home, 1-0 7.50 August, vs. SD)
Davis (7-10 3.62, 2-0 2.57 August, 0-1 8.31 vs. LAD)
For me this pick simply comes down to either Johan or Cain. They are both solid and this should be a Hell of a pitchers duel. For myself, I like Johan at home. Both offensives are very iffy, both pitchers are solid, and I think the home team will win out. Also, while it's not what makes my decision for me,Johan is 1.3 mil cheaper, which will help out my bats.

First:
LaRoche (2-6, 2HR vs. lefty)
Howard (2-3)
Morneau (3-6 vs. lefty)
Garko (7-23, 3HR vs. good lefty)
Miggy (5-6)
Prince (4-9, 2HR)
Pujols (1-1)
Tex (2-3 vs. lefty)
This is a Pujols/Prince pick for me. Morneau is not exploding right now, and I don't like Tex vs. the lefty. I think I will take Prince, after what he did for me yesterday. Tough call, and either should produce.

Second:
Sanchez (4-13 vs. good lefty)
Zo (3-8, HR vs. lefty)
Hill (9-27 vs. lefty)
Both Zo and Hill hit lefties well. just one thing decides this one for me. Hill is on the road, which could result in an extra at bat. It sounds silly, but it's also a legitimate factor.

Third:
Chipper (8-20, 2HR vs. lefty)
Peralta (2-2, HR)
Wright (8-17 vs. good starter)
Longoria (2-6 vs. lefty)
Young (5-10)
I really don't care much for what I see here. I don't take Chipper vs. lefties, so Longoria seems like the best option. I don't feel great about it, though.

Short:
Theriot (12-32, HR vs. good lefty)
Drew (3-9)
Hanley (5-10 vs. good starter)
Bartlett (2-4 vs. lefty)
Scutaro (4-13 vs. lefty)
My brain tells me to take Jeter, who slaughters lefties. But I won't because of two things. Girardi is sitting prople and Jeter always scores low when I take him. if you go with him, and he does well, thank me for laying off. I will take Bartlett, who has been hitting leadoff and is red-hot.

Left:
Fonzie (15-33, 2HR vs. good lefty)
Quentin (2-2, HR vs. lefty)
Braun (3-9)
Crawford (5-12 vs. lefty)
Manny (10-20, HR vs. good lefty)
With manny hitting only .278 vs. lefties, I will pass on him. Soriano can't hit for shit right now, so I have to ignore the numbers there as well. Or do I? I like Braun, who does well on Saturdays if I remember right. Tough Call. Screw it. It's your last chance Fonz.

Center:
Rowand (13-41, 2HR vs. good lefty)
Granderson (2-4)
Upton (3-7 vs. lefty)
Wells (12-30, 3HR vs. lefty)
Kemp (9-18 vs. good lefty)
While I have to pass on Wells, who is hitting .221 vs. lefties, I can't pass on Kemp, who hits .398 against them.

Right:
Bradley (5-10 vs. lefty)
Ethier (6-16, HR vs. good lefty)
Like many before him, Ethier hits under .200 vs. the hooks. I don't like this group at all, but think Cuddyer will suffice vs. Huff. Nevermind, Let's go with Hawpe, who is due, vs. VandenTurd.

DH:
Cust (3-8, HR)
Kubel (2-6, HR vs. lefty)
Scott (2-5, 2HR vs. good starter)
Burrell (3-8, HR vs. lefty)
An Jones (15-45, 6HR)
Andruw better damn well play, because I will take those numbers (vs. Penny) all day long.

Catcher:
McCann (10-27 vs. lefty in day game)
Mauer (4-6, HR vs. lefty in day game)
Benji (12-29, 2HR vs. good lefty in day game)
Olivo (2-4, HR vs. good starter)
Kendall (10-13)
Montero (2-6, HR)
Mauer. No discussion needed.

FINAL LINEUP

C: Mauer
1B: Prince
2B: Hill
3B: Longoria
SS: Bartlett
LF: Soriano
CF: Kemp
RF: Hawpe
DH: Jones
PS: Johan

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, -14, -11, -7, -6)
Nick MF'n Blackburn (record holder at -43)
Jake MF'n Peavy (2 time offender at -8 and -2)
Houston MF'n Astros Staff(-4)
Los Angeles MF'n Dodgers Staff (-11)
Zach MF'n Greinke (-4)