Fade's 2010 Fantasy Baseball Smack Board!!!

The season is about to start, so let me get my one good deed for the year and wish you all Good Luck this season!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Let's have some fun!!!!!!!

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Remember, games start Sunday!!!

 

Throw in our pre-season analysis of each roster, from fellow competitors Fade and Sam:

Fade's Analysis:

The Aliens -- Nothing really stands out about this team. However, like always, I'm sure Sam will find a way to be competitive and prove me wrong. Grade: C

Jent -- A decent team, but nothing to get too excited over. Grade: B-

Rook -- Tremendous squad. The only real weakness I can see is at RP2 and possibly second base. Should do well. Grade: A

DarkHorse -- For all the time expirations, I thought DH had a terrific draft. Decent team all around, although I don't like Posada much at all as a starting catcher. SP depth is also just a wee bit thin. I don't know what's up with all the RPs. Trade bait, perhaps? Grade: B

Expos -- I won't give myself a grade, but I will say that I feel happier about this team than I have the past few years. I wouldn't change anything about my draft, although I do wish that Markakis had fallen to me instead of Ichiro.

PSJ -- Incredible pitching, powerful outfield, and paper thin infield. Definitely the most difficult team to forecast. I'll go out on a limb and say PSJ does well and makes the playoffs. Grade: B+

Longhorn -- A top-heavy team. After you get past the big guns (Pujols, Morneau & Halladay) I'm not fussy. Grade: C+

Smeg -- Has some nice outfielders and a few good pitchers, but relatively weak in other areas. Grade: C

 

Sam's Analysis:

Jent - Best pick: Haren in the first. A no-brainer, but it has to be said. A young stud pitcher who should make your keeper roster for years to come. Worst pick: Zobrist in the third. I don't think there's any way he repeats his 2009 numbers, which he'd have to do to justify picking him this high. Overall: projected 22 - 23, an improved roster but no playoffs.

Smeg - Best pick: Aardsma in the 11th. Nice young closer, late in the draft. Maybe more importantly, Seattle should be a good team this year and give him plenty of save opportunities. Worst pick: McCutchen in the 4th. He could be very good, but his minor league numbers indicate that he might not reproduce his power numbers this year. He's as likely to fall back a little this year as he is to stay the same or improve. And the Pirates' weak lineup will hold down his runs scored. Overall: projected 23 - 22. Again, an improved lineup, and I liked your draft, but I think you will just miss the postseason.

Darkhorse - Best pick: Webb in the 6th was a great pick, just for the chance to pick up a Cy Young type that late (effectively the 12th round in a 6 man keeper league). Worst pick: I couldn't decide which I liked less, Wandy in the 4th or Delgado in the 17th. I think Wandy's topped out in Ks and could regress, and the Stros aren't going to be good this year. I think he's due for a downturn. But Delgado? He's done, gone, finito. I know it's the 17th, but even then there was talent to find. Delgado may or may not even play in 2010, but it won't be in the first half of the season. Overall: 19 - 26. Not excited about this team, honestly. Rooting for Webb though.

PhiSlammaJamma - Best pick: Bell in the 5th. Good job locking up the best available closers early. I like that strategy in a league like ours. Makes a big difference come playoff time. Worst pick: Jake Peavy in the 2nd. I don't like Peavy moving out of Petco and I don't like him in the AL. I think there will be difficult transition for the guy, even if he's 100% healthy. A reach this early. Overall: 17 - 28. Lots of pitching, bad offense. No reason for this many holes in a league as shallow as we have.

Rook - Best pick: Wagner in the 12th. A closer for a pretty good team who can throw gas and has something to prove. High reward, little risk this late. Worst pick: Wieters in the third. Wieters did nothing this last year to warrant such a high pick, so it's obviously the expectations that have him there. I've seen too many excellent catching prospects come up and fail to think that this guy is anything close to a sure thing. Could become a keeper, but could end up on the waiver wire by season's end. Overall: 26 – 19. Best in the West Division, #1 seed in the playoffs. Started with a great keeper roster, which is the basis for a good season. A strong talent base is the key to remaining competitive year after year.

LonghornFan – Best pick: Happ in the 17th. A young, talented pitcher with keeper potential in the 17th round of the draft? How can you go wrong? Worst pick: Big Papi in the 13th. I think the handwriting is on the wall, and he’s done for fantasy purposes. The current version of Ortiz is healthy but no longer worth a roster spot. I don’t think big guys age particularly well in baseball terms and I don’t think this one can return to form without the roids. Overall: 25 – 20, Best in the East, playoffs. I think LH might have more top-end keeper talent than anyone, Rook included. Add a very solid draft and you’ve got a good team now and for years to come.

Me – Best pick: I was very pleased to see Lilly, my second-best starter in 2009, fall to me in the 15th round. The surgery he had was just arthroscopic but it must have lowered his draft stock a lot. I think he’ll be fine by late April, May at the worst, and he’ll go back to being a 19 ppg pitcher. Worst pick: I think I reached for another Cubbie in the fourth round when I picked Ramirez. He’s great – when he’s healthy – but I can forsee injury concerns all year long. I got virtually the same production, more reliability and more versatility in Figgins a couple rounds later. Overall: 24 – 21, wild card. I think I put together well-rounded squad along the blueprint I’ve found works. Should have the depth to get through the season and the production to compete if I make the playoffs, where it’s a different ballgame.

Fadeaway – Best pick: Gallardo in the second round. Really like this kid. He’s gonna be a stud and should have the innings-cap removed this year. The Brewers should be able to get him some wins. And imagine the production in a few years when he leaves for the Yankees or Red Sox! Worst pick: Ichiro in the fourth. Last year was anomalous in his career in terms of power numbers. I don’t expect him to repeat that. Meanwhile, you’ve got a 36-year-old outfielder who relies on his speed with nowhere to go but down. I’d expect a return to 2008 numbers. Lots more bats with the same productivity but more potential were available that early. Overall: 24 – 21, wild card. Another team with a very strong keeper squad, a good mix of pitching and hitting, and no glaring weaknesses.

 

DH, you are playing me, just name your starting pitchers and Fade can put them in - only fair, after all just a game.

I'm sure CC would have been one of them.......

 

Fade, put in his pitchers, first game of the season - no more do overs allowed.

DH, however Burnett cannot be in your line-up, he is too good of a pitcher! In all seriousness, you have 3 relievers currently in your line-up and can only have 7 total pitchers, therefore can only have 4 starters.

 

First Opponent! First Victim! NEXT!!!!!!!!!!! :grin: