My Fantasy
Fantasy-baseball team, that is. I'm in a 12-man CBS SportsLine league. Pretty standard stats.
I'm forgoing relievers and bench pitchers. (The former because there are only 5 pitching spots and rosters are set once per week, the latter because I'd rather wait to pick up a starter who's on a roll, rather than letting a pitcher like Aaron Harang take up space on my bench even though he'd never play. And I figure I can wait to pick up a pitcher when one of mine goes to the 2-man injured list.)
So here's the team:
Swamp City Gnats
Starting Position Players
Johjima, Kenji C SEA -- One of those Japanese "rookies" I'm hoping will shine at the plate.
Teixeira, Mark 1B TEX -- I had no chance at Pujols. He's almost as good and getting better.
Loretta, Mark 2B BOS -- A good hitter who will score a ton of runs in front of Ortiz and Manny.
Chavez, Eric 3B OAK -- Boring, solid, dependable, consistent, plus a good deal of power.
Lopez, Felipe SS CIN -- A real bargain with a late-round pick.
Beltran, Carlos OF NYM -- I had him last year and he sucked. He'll be better protected this year, and he's too good not to bounce back.
Burrell, Pat OF PHI -- See Chavez.
Crisp, Coco OF BOS -- I guarantee he'll outperform the man he replaced on my Sox.
Wilkerson, Brad DH TEX -- Smaller park, better protection means he's ripe for a monster season.
Starting Pitchers
Beckett, Josh SP BOS -- Won't be as dominant in the AL, but still good for 18 wins.
Martinez, Pedro SP NYM -- Rumors of his death continue to be greatly exaggerated.
Millwood, Kevin SP TEX -- Anchor for an improving Texas staff, he's been a winner every place he's gone.
Peavy, Jake SP SD -- He'll be excellent at worst, and he could walk away with the NL's Cy Young award.
Zito, Barry SP OAK -- A's kept the right guy. If they falter, he could be dealt late in the season.
Reserve Position Players
Willingham, Josh C FLA -- He'll play every day, and will be eligible at C, 1B or OF.
Zimmerman, Ryan 3B WAS -- I bought him low and will trade him high (for pitching) if needed later this season.
Uribe, Juan SS CHW -- If Lopez falters at short, he can slide in nicely.
Lane, Jason RF HOU -- Could easily supplant any of my OF who start off slow or are injured.
Swisher, Nick RF OAK -- No plate discipline? He led the A's in hits this spring. And his power and potential were too much to ignore.
In real baseball, I think the White Sox have a very good chance to repeat. If they don't, I see my Red Sox or the Cardinals with a chance. I think the Devil Rays will be vastly improved -- even more so than the Tigers.
Now let's play ball.
I'm forgoing relievers and bench pitchers. (The former because there are only 5 pitching spots and rosters are set once per week, the latter because I'd rather wait to pick up a starter who's on a roll, rather than letting a pitcher like Aaron Harang take up space on my bench even though he'd never play. And I figure I can wait to pick up a pitcher when one of mine goes to the 2-man injured list.)
So here's the team:
Swamp City Gnats
Starting Position Players
Johjima, Kenji C SEA -- One of those Japanese "rookies" I'm hoping will shine at the plate.
Teixeira, Mark 1B TEX -- I had no chance at Pujols. He's almost as good and getting better.
Loretta, Mark 2B BOS -- A good hitter who will score a ton of runs in front of Ortiz and Manny.
Chavez, Eric 3B OAK -- Boring, solid, dependable, consistent, plus a good deal of power.
Lopez, Felipe SS CIN -- A real bargain with a late-round pick.
Beltran, Carlos OF NYM -- I had him last year and he sucked. He'll be better protected this year, and he's too good not to bounce back.
Burrell, Pat OF PHI -- See Chavez.
Crisp, Coco OF BOS -- I guarantee he'll outperform the man he replaced on my Sox.
Wilkerson, Brad DH TEX -- Smaller park, better protection means he's ripe for a monster season.
Starting Pitchers
Beckett, Josh SP BOS -- Won't be as dominant in the AL, but still good for 18 wins.
Martinez, Pedro SP NYM -- Rumors of his death continue to be greatly exaggerated.
Millwood, Kevin SP TEX -- Anchor for an improving Texas staff, he's been a winner every place he's gone.
Peavy, Jake SP SD -- He'll be excellent at worst, and he could walk away with the NL's Cy Young award.
Zito, Barry SP OAK -- A's kept the right guy. If they falter, he could be dealt late in the season.
Reserve Position Players
Willingham, Josh C FLA -- He'll play every day, and will be eligible at C, 1B or OF.
Zimmerman, Ryan 3B WAS -- I bought him low and will trade him high (for pitching) if needed later this season.
Uribe, Juan SS CHW -- If Lopez falters at short, he can slide in nicely.
Lane, Jason RF HOU -- Could easily supplant any of my OF who start off slow or are injured.
Swisher, Nick RF OAK -- No plate discipline? He led the A's in hits this spring. And his power and potential were too much to ignore.
In real baseball, I think the White Sox have a very good chance to repeat. If they don't, I see my Red Sox or the Cardinals with a chance. I think the Devil Rays will be vastly improved -- even more so than the Tigers.
Now let's play ball.
posted by TtP Staff @ 4/02/2006
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