Tuesday, the 18th

Good morning, everyone. Let's start the day off with a little trivia nugget I heard during the radio broadcast of the Braves game yesterday afternoon. We all know that the Mets moved into their new stadium (CitiField) this year. Who are the two players with the most home runs in this park thus far?
The answer will be in the Stat Corner near the bottom of today's post.

YESTERDAY

Well, Hanson didn't get much help from the pen, but he put up a respectable 17 points for many of us. Unfortunately, (for me, anyway), Carp held on for 28 and I lost that one. My bats were decent, accounting for a total of 33, led by Cake (9), Cameron (7), and Pujols (6). Notice that I have taken Cameron now twice in the last week and he has delivered 13 points for me. I like that, and you may see him in my lineup again tomorrow. In the end, my 50 points left me ranked #25 overall and #387 in the half.

TODAY

As per usual, every 5th day we don't have to worry too much about our bats as Lincy is on the hill tonight. As a matter of face, 85% of us have him. CC was the next most popular pick, but he registered too low percentagewise to even matter. So rest easy and pray for bats tonight. Here's my final again, along with the top picks...

C: Mauer*
1B: Howard*
2B: Kinsler*
3B: Longoria*
SS: Hanley*
LF: Braun (Ibanez*)
CF: Wells (Hamilton*)
RF: Pence*
DH: Jacobs (Vlad*)
PS: Lincy*

TOMORROW

Weather:
Royals/Chisox isolated t-storms
Giants/Reds isolated
Twins/Rangers isolated
DBacks/Phils scattered t-storms
Rocks/Nats scattered
Brewers/Bucs scattered
Braves/Mets PM t-storms

Teams Facing Lefty Starters:
Angels, DBacks, Brewers, Reds, Astros, Yankees, Cards

Teams Facing Rookie Starters:
Rays vs. Tillman (1-0 4.88 in 4 starts)
Cubs vs. Latos (4-2 4.01 in 6)

Possible Load-ups:
Tigers vs. Snell (2-9 5.84)

Bats You May Want to Avoid:
Konerko (6-48, HR vs. starter)
Alexei (3-17, HR)
Getz (0-13)
Teahen (6-34, HR)
J Buck (2-17)
Betancourt (1-14)
Butler (2-12)
Hafner (0-11)
Kendrick (1-10)
Everett (2-12)
Feliz (3-25)
Stairs (1-10, HR)
Prince (3-30)
Kendall (2-19)
Taveras (2-15)
Winn (4-22)
Ausmus (2-12)

Pitchers (and lots of them):
Greinke (11-7 2.33, 174 K in 166 IP, 1.14 WHIP, 4-4 2.81 road, 1-1 4.26 August, 2-1 1.61 at CWS)
Verlander (13-6 3.28, 194 K in 167 IP, 1.16 WHIP, 2-1 2.11 home, 1-1 4.09 August, 0-1 6.14 vs. Sea)
Marquis (13-8 3.55, Low K's, 1-1 4.05 August, 1-0 0.00 at Was)
Haren (12-7 2.50, 0.89 WHIP, 6-2 2.96 road, 2-1 4.71 August, 0-1 3.60, .194 BAA at Phi)
Lee (10-9 2.86, 2-0 1.20 August, vs. Zona)
Gallardo (11-9 3.52, 165 K in 153 IP, 3-5 2.52 road, 1-0 6.38 August, 1-0 1.80 at Pitt)
Holliday (13-5 2.69, 1.08 WHIP, 8-3 2.67 home, 2-1 2.52 August, 1-0 1.00 vs. Bos)
Niemann (10-5 3.86, 4-2 2.89 home, 1-0 4.12 August, 1-1 6.97 vs. Bal)
Jurrjens (9-8 2.99, 0-1 5.51 August, 1-0 1.32, .179 BAA at NYM)
Millwood (9-7 3.31, 7-1 2.47 home, 0-0 2.31 August, .336 BAA vs. Min)
Wells (9-5 3.01, 4-2 2.98 road, 0-1 3.86 at SD)
Wainwright (14-7 2.62, 2-1 1.31 August, 1-0 0.00 at LAD)
Kershaw (8-7 2.91, 142 K in 136 IP, 3-3 1.86 home, 0-2 4.11 August, 0-0 0.00 vs. StL)
Ok, I am feeling a little crazy today. There are three of these that I like most of all: Gallardo, Jurrjens, and Lee. I think Lee will be the popular pick and it may be a good time to take a risk. Therefore, I will be going with Jurrjens. The only Mets that hit him well are on the DL and I will be hoping Reynolds continues his tear in Philly. Eventually, I have to do it, and this looks like a reasonable time. Ah, Hell. I just saw that Harden is going for the Cubs tomorrow. They must have made a late change. Sorry I don't have the numbers for you, but I am going to stay with my pick.

First:
Miggy (3-9, HR)
Huff (2-2)
Overbay (5-7)
Youk (17-47, HR vs. good starter)
Morneau (6-16, 3HR vs. good starter but may be hurt)
Tex (2-6 vs. lefty)
Pujols (4-7 vs. good starter)
My favorite here would be Morneau, but he left last night's game with dizziness. I think I will take Aubrey Huff, hoping that he will make a big splash in his first games with the Tigs. He is also a very good value, salary wise.

Second:
Polanco (5-10)
J Lopez (8-25 vs. good starter)
Roberts (3-9 vs. good starter)
Phillips (4-8 vs. lefty)
Cano (3-6 vs. lefty)
Robbie Cano hits good enough against lefties that, with minimal options, I will take him and his red-hot Yankees out west.

Third:
Peralta (5-14, HR)
Wiggy (3-6, HR vs. good starter)
Sandoval (2-6)
I know I have rolled with Longoria alot lately, and I am going to do it again against the rook. In this case, that's the best reason I have.

Short:
As Cabrera (3-9)
Aybar (3-7 vs. lefty)
Renteria (6-17)
O Cabrera (28-87, HR vs. good starter)
Jeter (3-7, HR vs. lefty)
Furcal (7-13 vs. good starter)
I don't know who the Hell Bazardo is, or that a Bazardo is, but I am going to bet that Hanley holds his own against him. Otherwise I would go with Jeter, who always seems to turn into a straight singles hitter when I take him.

Left:
Pods (16-30 vs. good starter)
Rivera (2-6 vs. lefty)
Braun (7-19, HR vs. lefty)
Gomes (2-5 vs. lefty)
Holliday (4-9 vs. good lefty)
I have to go no further than Braun here. None others seriously considered.

Center:
Grady (5-16, 2HR)
Hunter (2-4, HR vs. lefty)
Gutierrez (6-20, HR vs. good starter)
Cameron (11-26, 3HR vs. lefty)
Hamilton (2-6)
Melky (4-5, HR vs. lefty)
As I said before, Cameron has done me right twice in the past week. Once again, he has owned the starter and earns a shot on my team. Like Huff, he is a salary benefit as well.

Right:
Dye (16-41, 3HR vs. good starter)
Choo (5-12)
Drew (8-25, HR vs. good starter)
Cake (4-9, HR vs. good starter)
Cuddyer (8-18, HR vs. good starter)
Ethier (4-13 vs. good starter)
All the good ones face good pitching. I hate that Cuddyer is ice cold, but the way the Twins have hit Millwood, I have to chance it.

DH:
Lind (2-5)
Velez (3-7, HR)
Kubel (4-10 vs. good starter)
I want to give Velez a shot, but with Vlad hitting like he has been and his history of owning lefties, I'll pass on Velez.

Catcher:
AJ (16-37, 2HR vs. good starter)
VMart (3-10 vs. good starter)
Benji (5-15)
Mauer (9-25 vs. good starter)
Martin (7-11 vs. good starter)
Not caring much for the matchups, and knowing that Mauer is likely to sit in the next few days, I will take McCann. At least he'll be in the lineup.

FINAL LINEUP

C: McCann
1B: Huff
2B: Cano
3B: Longoria
SS: Hanley
LF: Braun
CF: Cameron
RF: Cuddyer
DH: Vlad
PS: Jurrjens

STAT CORNER

Our trivia question was which two players lead the league in home runs at CitiField this season? The leader is Gary Sheffield with 5. In second is Mark Reynolds with 4. Did you guess right? Reynolds hit 4 in a 3 game set earlier this season. Flat out amazing if you ask me.

The Teams Thas Have Struck Out The Most (and Least) This Season:
1. Texas
2. Arizona
3. Florida
4. Tampa Bay
5. Colorado

26. LA Angels
27. Baltimore
28. Toronto
29. Houston
30. NY Mets

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)