An exasperated Cy Young Award, and some fantasy baseball infielders stuck in the middle
Felix Hernandez is your American League Cy Young Award winner. No complaints here. He had a spectacular season.
A Weeks worth of D
Hernandez wasn't an overwhelming favorite, but he won handily. The sabermetric evaluations which support the argument that the King was the best pitcher in the Junior Circuit have great merit. The formula in ESPN's Cy Young Predictor needs revision; no one accounted for (or counted on) this paradigm shift.
And, the statistical importance of a win might still be overstated. A victory, however, isn't meaningless.
Utilitarian triumphs Tap your mouse here for more »
Philadelphia Phillies need Ben Francisco treat, and one fantasy baseball message
Raul Ibanez is hitless in the NLCS. He had a fine second half, but the Philadelphia Phillies' rear ends are pretty close to contact with that second coat of semi-gloss, and it's not even dry yet.
Raul is playing it too cool
The San Francisco Giants will send Madison Bumgarner to the hill in Game 4, which presents Charlie Manuel with the perfect opportunity to give Ibanez a night to clear his head. The 38-year-old isn't a poor hitter versus southpaws, but there's still a lapse. (Then again, there's no drop-off from zero hits in 15 at-bats.)
Francisco in Frisco? Tap your mouse here for more »
The fantasy baseball player and the Stephen Strasburg solution
Stephen Strasburg's keeper league value may never be lower than it is right now.
"If I have ever made any valuable discoveries, it has been owing more to patient attention than to any other talent."
-Sir Isaac Newton
Dr. Lewis Yocum will perform Tommy John surgery on the right-handed rookie's rifle this Friday in Los Angeles. The Washington Nationals' prime asset will need 12 to 18 months of recovery time. Judging from how the District handled him this year, don't bank on a cameo in 2011.
Short-sale Strasburg Tap your mouse here for more »
If you don't pay your respects to the Boss, at least pay him some respect
George Steinbrenner was abrasive. For the longest time, despite repeated pledges to do so, he wouldn't stay out of day-to-day operations and trust the people he hired to make baseball decisions to make them. He loathed long locks and facial hair, sans the masculine Don Mattingly mustache.
I did it my way. And it worked.
George Steinbrenner was determined. For the longest time, despite in-house opposition, he couldn't exclude himself from the baseball decision-making process because he felt that he knew best what it took to win. He believed that a successful franchise should present itself in professional manner.
Steinbrenner's style, Capps raps Tap your mouse here for more »
Cole Hamels can't blame Jim Joyce, and Stephen Strasburg's debut date is a holiday
Last night, against the San Diego Padres, Cole Hamels might have been even closer than folks realize to completing the second no-hitter by a Philadelphia Phillies pitcher in nine days.
Take a load off, Cole
The southpaw took his bid into the seventh and induced a grounder to Ryan Howard from leadoff man David Eckstein. Howard fielded it well away from the bag, but Hamels was running hard to first to cover. He caught the underhand toss from Howard and barely beat Eckstein's head-first slide.
More on Hamels' near no-no, Strasburg, Harper... Tap your mouse here for more »
Who knows what's best for Stephen Strasburg?
Scott Boras is looking out for Stephen Strasburg's Velcro wallet. Who's looking out for Stephen Strasburg?
Mark Prior, the second overall choice in 2001, signed what is considered the standard against which all other contracts for first-round picks are to be compared. We all saw how that $10.5 million investment turned out.
I'm not suggesting Strasburg's career will end up the same way. There are no guarantees, though, no matter how far scouting and mechanical evaluation have come in the past eight years. Strasburg has been labeled a once-in-a-lifetime prospect; don't forget that Prior was a can't-miss kid. Tap your mouse here for more »
Memorial Day weekend spot shots – fantasy baseball
I'm not saying this motley crew of arms will jump you up three or four spots in the standings, but these dudes are hardly owned anywhere. Besides, it's no fun choosing the obvious ones. They might hook you up while you're outside grilling two dozen franks and 6 pounds of all-beef patties.
Speaking of, thanks for the invite, but I'm more in the mood for some filet mignon. Mmmm...
Jason Vargas, Mariners - Friday
Try just about anyone against the Giants. They have the fourth-least productive offense in the bigs and the worst road OPS in the league. Tap your mouse here for more »
Fantasy baseball news and notes
Fantasy baseball breakout candidate: Josh Johnson
KFFL's editors are busting out their top-fives in a variety of fantasy baseball categories. Make sure you check out our favorites for:
- Mr. Not-so-irrelevant (favorite reserve picks)
- The bad touch (players to avoid unless they fall)
- Bats bustin' loose (breakout hitters)
- Arms race aces (breakout pitchers)
The fantasy baseball gatekeeper
News: Eric Byrnes made his Spring Training debut recently. He went 3-for-3 this past Saturday and was thrown out while attempting to steal a base. Tap your mouse here for more »
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