Tuesday's Notable and NOTables

Tuesday's Top Performer:

DH-Jim Thome-Chicago White Sox

Now for 2 days in a row the top performer has been a lazy sack of gold. Two designated hitters have taken home the last awards. Thome went 3-4 with a game winning 3-run home run to top the Royals.

Hitting notables:

Aaron Rowand and Travis Ishikawa- Combined 4-7 with 6 RBI's

Jorge Cantu- 2-3 with his 2nd homerun in as many days.

Albert Pujols- 2-3 with his 1st homerun of the season.

Hitting NOTables:

Milton Bradley- Now 0-7 to start the year.

Justin Morneau- Now 0-8 to start the year.

Garett Atkins- Now 0-7 to start the year.

Pitching notables:

Jair Jurjjens- 5 and 2/3 innings, 0 ER, Great start for the young ace.

Ubaldo Jimenez- 7 innings of shutout ball and 8 K's.

Gil Meche- 7 Innings, 1 run, lost win to Kyle Farnsworth blown save....go figure.

Pitching NOTables:

Tim Lincecum- 3 Innings and 3 ERs...not a great start for the reigning NL Cy Young

Ian Snell- Got shelled...thats all you need to know. I don't know why people are so high on him.

Scott Olsen- 3 Innings and 8 ER's...ouch

Monday's Fantasy Notables and NOTables

Opening Day's Top Performer:

Fantasy performer of the day:

OF-Adam Lind-Toronto Blue Jays

Adam Lind was the DH for the Blue Jays tonight. He came through with 4 hits and 6 RBI's. Lind is only owned by about 30% of that fantasy world so go get him.

Hitting notables:

Tony Clark- 2-4 2 HR's Proving old age can still do it.

Hanley Ramirez- 5 RBI's for a leadoff man!?

Felipe Lopez- Journey man smacks 2 HR's in Arizona outburst.

Hitting NOTables:

Mark Texiera- 0-4 and 4 LOB in Yankees debut.

Nomar Garciaparra- 0-4 Hang it up

Casey Blake- 0-4 with a golden sombrero

Pitching notables:

Kevin Millwood- 7 IP, W, 5 H, 5 K's- Looked stellar vs. Indians.

Johan Santana- Only 5 2/3, 7 K's, W- Off to a great start for the Cy Young candidate.

Francisco Rodriguez- 1 IP, S, K- Record holder on pace for 162 saves!

Pitching NOTables:

C.C. Sabathia- 4 1/3 IP, 6 ER, 5 BB- New look Yankees = not very good

Brandon Webb- 4 IP, 6 ER,- The Diamondbacks won in slugfest, but Webb less then impressive.

Roy Halladay- 7 IP, 5 ER, W,- Got a lot of run support, but only 2 K's and unimpressive.

Sunday Fantasy Notables and NOTables

I will update you on interesting fantasy stats every night. Here we start with Opening night!

Fantasy performer of the day:

SP-Derek Lowe-Atlanta Braves

Derek Lowe- 8 IP, 2 H, 0 BB, 0 ER, which relates to a starting 0.00 ERA and 0.25 WHIP (Walks and Hits per inning) He dominated the Phillies tonight.








Other notables:





Brian McCann- 1-4 HR and 2 RBI's ++++++Best C in fantasy


Jeff Francouer- 1-4 HR and 1 RBI +++++++Available in most leagues


Jordan Schafer- 2-3 HR and 1 RBI +++++++HR in 1st MLB at-bat


Chipper Jones- 2-4 and 1 RBI ++++++++++ Only trails Jordan Schafer for batting title. :-)





other NOTables:





Phillies- 2 Hits


Ryan Howard and Chase Utley- 0-7 with 2 K's


Brett Myers- 3 HR's allowed


Kelly Johnson- 0-4 as leadoff hitter





Check back tomorrow as there will be more than 1 game!

Opening Day Update!

Brian McCann and Jeff Francouer have each homered in their first at-bats of the season. This could be Jeff's year. Pick him up ASAP.

Corpas over Street? Not so fast my friend!

As I told you before in my closing report, that closers are a big merry-go-round. Huston Street formerly of the Oakland Athletics

has won the closing duties in Colorado. First of all Street did not deserve the job. He was hurt, had worse numbers then Manual Corpas, and lost the closing job last year to side armer Brad Ziegler. I feel Corpas earned the job during ST and will should re-take the closing role in mid-May. So I say draft Street ONLY if you need a closer, because as we know, Colorado is not a pitcher friendly park.

Spring Training numbers-

VS

Street- 5.23 ERA Corpas- 1.00 ERA

A Penny saved is a Penny starting?

These words sound like a kindergartener- "No pain". Those were the words out of Boston Red Sox pitching hopeful Brad Penny after finishing up his last spring training game. Although Penny gave up 3 runs and and five hits of five innings he felt no pain. This is great news for a guy who has been injured frequently in his 9 year career. The Red Sox hope he can get back to his 2006 and 2007 form where he won 16 games each year. Penny has only pitched 200+ innings in 2 years and will be a huge injury concern this year. Look to take Penny late in your draft and if he stays healthy look for him to win 12-13 games this year with a 4.00 ERA.

Opening Day Countdown

Only 5 days until the 1st pitch! The first game of the season will pit the defending World Series champion Philadelphia Phillies vs. National League East rival The Atlanta Braves.

The Braves get off the hook and will face either Joe Blanton or Brett Myers. Phillies ace Cole Hamels will not be ready to pitch until April 10th against the Dodgers. So this means make sure all your Braves studs (McCann, C. Jones, and well...I guess that's it) are in line for the Phillies on Sunday. Take a look at Yunel Escobar and Jeff Francouer in deeper leagues.

The Phillies will face newly acquired Derek Lowe. Start Howard, Rollins and Utley. Also take a look at Shane Victorino for runs and stolen bases this year. This game should be a great start to the 2009 baseball campaign.

The Sleeping.....Cub?

Who is the Chicago Cubs best first baseman? Everyone in the country would say Derek Lee (33 years old). NOT SO FAST MY FRIEND. I would agree with them, but there is a young hooker on the rise (and by hooker I mean left handed bat). Micah Hoffpauir the Chicago Cubs reserve first baseman has made the opening day roster. Hoffpauir is among the spring training leaders in homeruns and runs batted in. I believe Hoffpauir could start for 50% of major league baseball including:

Braves

Angels

Royals

Mariners

Detroit

Tigers

Pirates

Diamondbacks

Giants

Orioles

Nationals

Marlins

Hoffpauir has a powerful lefty bat and fits perfectly at 1st base. If Derek Lee were to ever go down or the Hoffpauir gets to play in the American League...Pick this guy up. You heard it here 1st.

Another closer look....

As I said in my last closer post. Closers come and closers go! The Brewers just placed Hall Of Fame closer Trevor Hoffman on the 15 Day DL. He will spend the 1st week of the season on the DL. The Brewers will probably go by committee.

Hoffman's assignment to the disabled list means that right-handers Mark DiFelice and Jorge Julio are both likely to make the Opening Day roster. Another right-hander, Carlos Villanueva, is likely to serve as Milwaukee's closer while Hoffman is down.

Take a closer look!

The Chicago Cubs have just recently announced that Kevin Gregg will take over the closing role in Chicago to start the '09 campaign. The Chicago Cubs had bullpen concerns when Kerry Wood signed in the off season with the Cleveland Indians. Gregg had been battling fireballer Carlos Marmol for the job during spring training. Here you can see why the Cubs came to their decision.

Marmol- 4 ER, 5 HBP, 1 BB, 6 Hit over 8 IP.

Gregg- 0 ER, 0 HBP, 2 BB, 4 Hit over 8 1/3 IP

Fantasy Advice- Snag Gregg in the middle rounds and take Marmol in the late rounds, because as we know Closers usually come and go.

Brian McCann Injured

The top fantasy catcher in the land was injured. McCann suffered a contusion on his right throwing hand after taking a foul tip off the bat of ex-teammate Mark Texieraaieaia or however you spell his name. Luckily for Braves fans he is listed as day-to-day. Look for this NOT to affect his fantasy status as the number 1 catcher.

Hanson, Price, and Weiters sent to minors...

All 3 of these phenoms were sent down to the minors prior to the start of the 09 season. Thus meaning they have zero fantasy upside in the beginning of the season. Expect all 3 to be called up during the month of May.

David Price is the young lefty stud for the Rays who only threw 14 innings last year and had a sub 2.00 ERA. Expect him to become the franchise of this team with Longoria.

Tommy Hanson is the young fireballer for the Braves who posted 163 strikeouts in 138 innings for the Braves in the minors.

Matt Weiters is the 22 year old catcher who will start in the minors for Baltimore. Matt hit .343 in spring training and will be an asset to the club come May.

Look for these 3 studs to give their teams a playoff push come July and August.

Top Pick Per Positon

C-Brian McCann ATL
1st-Albert Pujols STL
2nd-Chase Utley PHI
SS-Hanley Ramirez FLA
3rd-David Wright NYM
OF-Ryan Braun MIL
OF- Grady Sizmore CLE
OF- Josh Hamilton TEX
SP- Tim Lincecum SF
RP- Jonathan Papelbon BOS
UTIL- Ryan Howard PHI

Sleeper- Geovany Soto CHI

What are you thoughts? Agree? Disagree?

Fantasy 1st Round Preview

Hey everyone! I am an avid fantasy baseball guru. Here is my fantasy advice on a head-2-head 5X5 10 team league.

1st-Albert Pujols- Sure he goes into the '09 fantasy season as an injury concern, but when someone can put up the consistent numbers year after year he is my number 1.

2nd-Hanley Ramirez- This kid is a beast and can produce in every offensive category and....he's only 25!

3rd-Tim Lincecum- I know your saying its too early to draft this ACE, but believe me it will be worth it.

4th- David Wright- 3rd base is a scarce positon and with A-Rod being out a few weeks, grab this all around athlete.

5th- Grady Sizmore- 5 tool player who should go as the 1st OF'er.

6th- Josh Hamilton- Takes advantage of a hitter park-will produce early and often

7th- Johan Santana- Career low ERA will continue to keep this ACE pitching well for Mets.

8th- Ryan Howard- Low batting average, but will make up for it in RBI's and Hr's

9th- Ryan Braun- Always have plenty of depth in OF, but if you can't get Grady or Josh-this slugger will be just as rewarding.

10th- Mark Texiera- Will hit in the middle of a horrifying (for pitchers) lineup.