Thursday, the 20th

Good morning, everyone. After this week, there are only 6 weeks left in the season. For that I would like to say Thank GOD! I'm really ready for it to end. I am also beginning to feel like testing the load-up theory again, just out of boredom. From now on, I may try to take at least 6 bats from one team every night, just for kicks. I'll let you know for sure tonight when I post the final lineup. Anyway, here we go..........

YESTERDAY

You've got to take a chance every once in a while. I did that yesterday with Jurrjens who, aside from a few two out fudge-ups, did pretty well. At least he equalled Verlander with 21. Unfortunately, Cliff Lee turned into Bob Feller and smoked the DBacks for 41 points. My bats were pretty weak as well, led by McCann (10), and totalling a measly 25. My 46 points for the night left me ranked #26 overall and #522 in the half.

TODAY

As expected, Johan is the top pitcher with 30%, but he is closely trailed by Johnson at 25%. Lester and Cain, both at 14% also had good showings. There could be some movement today for sure, especially with possible rain issues all over the league. Here's my final again, along with the top picks...

C: VMart*
1B: Pujols*
2B: Kinsler*
3B: Longoria*
SS: Tulo (Hanley*)
LF: Bay*
CF: Hunter (Hamilton*)
RF: Willingham (Werth*)
DH: Vlad (Ortiz*)
PS: Johan*

TOMORROW

Weather:
Reds/Pirates scattered t-storms
Brewers/Nats scattered
O's/Chisox pm showers
Yanks/Bosox scattered
Phils/Mets scattered
Marlins/Braves scattered

Teams Facing Lefty Starters:
Indians, Mariners, Angels, Red Sox, Mets, Rangers, Rocks, Tigers, Cards, Cubs

Teams Facing Rookie Starters:
Indians vs. French (2-3 3.74 in 8 starts)
Brewers vs. Martin (2-2 4.61 in 6)
Jays vs. O'Sullivan (3-1 5.98 in 8)
Angels vs. Rzepczynski (1-3 3.98 in 8)

Possible Load-ups:
Tigers vs. Gonzalez (4-3 5.88, .357 BAA)

Bats You May Want to Avoid:
Kinsler (2-16, HR)
Young (2-15)
Tracy (4-21)
Winn (5-29)
Eckstein (2-18)
Willingham (2-11, HR)
Pedroia (6-32)
Pagan (2-11, HR)
Pudge (2-16)

Pitchers:
Vazquez (10-8 2.99, 1.04 WHIP, 178 K in 162 IP, 2-1 2.86 August, 0-1 7.94 vs. SF)
Floyd (10-7 3.94, 5-2 2.38 home, 3-1 2.57 post break, vs. Bal)
Jackson (9-5 2.85, 1.19 WHIP, 3-4 2.79 road, 2-0 4.50 August, 1-0 1.29 at Oak)
Wells (9-5 3.01, 4-2 2.98 road, 0-1 2.57 at LAD)
Wolf (7-6 3.43, 1.14 WHIP, 1-2 4.03 home, 1-0 1.29 vs. CHC)
I think Vazquez is the best pick here at home, and Jackson would be a good second choice.

First:
Prince (1-3, HR vs. rook)
Youk (9-25, HR vs. lefty)
Howard (6-17, HR)
Gload (10-25 vs. Vazquez)
Pena (1-2, HR)
AGonz (7-17, HR)
Also worth a look are Pujols, Miggy, and Morales.

Second:
J Lopez (2-3 vs. lefty)
Sanchez (3-7 vs. Vazquez)
Polanco (2-5 vs. lefty)
Also worth a look are Hill and Utley.

Third:
Zimm (2-5)
Lowell (8-24 vs. lefty)
Crede (2-2, HR)
Atkins (7-19 vs. lefty)
Sandoval (2-5 vs. lefty)
Also worth a look are ARod, Beckham, and Kouz.

Short:
Jeter (3-6)
Escobar (3-10)
Renteria (7-14)
Drew (7-17)
Tulo (5-12, HR vs. lefty)
Also worth a look are Scutaro and Aybar.

Left:
Bay (12-27, HR vs. lefty)
Ibanez (3-9)
G Anderson (2-4)
DeJesus (6-12)
Quentin (3-6, HR)
Also worth a look are Braun, Holliday and Crawford.

Center:
Ellsbury (5-12 vs. lefty)
Upton (2-3, HR)
Hamilton (3-9 vs. lefty)
Also worth a look are Morgan, Cameron and Sizemore.

Right:
Drew (12-32, 3HR vs. lefty)
Werth (5-14)
Church (8-16, HR)
Dye (4-11, HR)
Cake (2-5, HR vs. Floyd)
Mags (2-3, HR vs. lefty)
Also worth a look are Abreu, Ichiro and Hawpe.

DH:
Ortiz (17-46, HR vs. lefty)
Thome (3-12, 2HR)
Also worth a look are Lind and Matsui.

Catcher:
Doumit (3-5, HR)
Varitek (17-55, 2HR vs. lefty)
McCann (4-11, HR)
Olivo (6-11, 2HR)
Mauer (2-6)
AJ (4-13)
Benji (5-17 vs. lefty)
Also worth a look is Napoli.

FINAL LINEUP (League Wide Trek - Day 1)

Picking just as I promised I would, I am going to take Jackson as my starter tomorrow, eliminating the rest of the Tigers for the next 29 days (including Verlander). The only other decent choice is Vazquez, but the Braves have a lot of games left with the Mets and I will save their staff for one of those.

Bats are more difficult. I narrowed it down to the Mariners, Royals, and Rockies to start the journey. I want to save the Rocks for a time when they face a weaker pitcher at home and even though the Royals face my nemesis Blackburn, he can be good at times. So the Mariners it is. I can pick six of them pretty easily, but it is difficult to find a seventh that is sure to play. I am lacking at short, left, and catch. Short is out, as Josh Wilson sucks eggs. Left is no better, so I am stuck at catcher with Johjima, who has only caught one of French's 3 starts, but hits much better than lefties. I hope he plays. Here is what I have for tomorrow...

C: Johjima (s)
1B: Branyan (s)
2B: Lopez (s)
3B: Hannahan (s)
SS: Tulo
LF: Bay
CF: Gutierrez
RF: Ichiro
DH: Griffey
PS: Jackson

STAT CORNER

The Longest Current Hitting Streaks and ther Stats That Match:
Hanley - 14 games, .456 avg, 2 HR, 13 RBI
B Pena - 11 games, .366, 1 and 4
Ichiro - 10 games, .400, 1 and 6
Cantu - 10 games, .311, 2 and 8
J Baker - 9 games, .472, 1 and 6
Roberts - 9 games, .381, 2 and 6

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)