Draft Reaction

There is no way for me to breakdown the draft the way Mel Kiper, Todd McShay and the others do. With the things that they come up with, they must spend 80 hours a week discussing players and watching film. I can't, I'm only part time. What I can do is to look and see if anything stands out to be positive or negative in the fantasy world. The first thing I'll say is don't bother with rookie QB's. There have been enough busts in the first five picks, and plenty of hall of famers in the late rounds to prove this is not an exact science. What I do know is that I don't care whether it's Matthew Stafford, Dan Orlovsky (Huskies!), John Kitna, or Joey Harrington, I don't worry about Calvin Johnson. Just throw it up and let him go get it.

Also in the top 10 picks were two offensive tackles. The Rams and Jags both upgraded this position and with that, also increased the stock of Steven Jackson and Maurice Jones Drew. Jackson has proven, if healthy, he can be the top back in fantasy football. That offensive line was in disarray last year and he still was solid when he was on the field. I'd go ahead and call Jackson a steal if you can get him in the bottom five picks of the 1st round. Jones Drew is the most intriguing back going into 2009 in my opinion. The Jax offensive line was very good two years ago and then decimated by injuries last year. Even with back ups on the line and Freddy T hanging around, he was still very good. With what he does rushing, receiving and near the goal line, I would not call you crazy for taking him first in standard drafts, that's right, even ahead of Peterson and Turner.

The Broncos took a running back, Knowshon Moreno, with their first pick and it might finally settle the confusion that has been their backfield since Clinton Portis left five year ago. If Kyle Orton can get the ball to Brandon Marshall and keep defenses honest, Moreno could be RB2 or RB1 material. Lets face it, the Raiders, Chiefs, and Chargers have to prove something about stopping the run before being taken seriously. Being an Adrian Peterson keeper league owner, I love the Percy Harvin pick. With Visanthe Shiancoe, Bernard Berrian, and Sidney Rice the Vikings have to be somewhat respected on offense. If they can find a QB...

The last intriguing first round pick with fantasy impact potential is Donald Brown. The Colts have finally agreed with what I have been saying for two years: Joseph Addai is not a feature back. From what I have seen from him, he's just not tough. He takes a medium to big hit and Addai owners hold their breath as they know his status will hover around "Questionable" throughout the next week. He sits on the field with that look on his face like someone was just holding him underwater. I see Brown being the feature with Addai playing on third downs and at the goal line. It won't be long before Brown takes over there as well.

Couple of updates on the Miceli Release Curse. Last week I dropped AJ Pierzynski, Randy Winn and Joe Saunders. Go sign em up!

Superstitions

Are you superstitious? Are superstitions possible? I don't know the answer, but I'll tell you what, strange things happen sometimes and if you believe that the spot you are sitting in can change the outcome of a sporting event, maybe you're right. I coach high school baseball and had a game this past Saturday. We were down 5-0 going into our last at bat and another one of the assistants looked at me and said, "Are you superstitious? I'm not, but maybe I'll stand out there for a while (referring to the 1B coaches box) and see what happens." I responded "I'm not either, but what the heck, shake it up, go ahead." We still lost, but the final score was 5-4 and the game ended with the bases loaded.

I remember in the 2003 ALCS I had watched the whole game and when Derek Jeter came up to bat in the 8th inning, for some reason I changed channels. I don't remember why or what I changed it to, but when I clicked back over a few seconds later, Jeter had doubled. Bernie Williams came up, change channels! Changed back, single! I've found the keys to the universe! If I don't watch, the Yankees are going to win! I watched the Little-Martinez exchange and Matsui dig in. Changed the channel. Clicked back, double. You know the rest of the story and I never watched any of it. I never watched a pitch after Jeter's double and when Aaron Boone homered in the 11th, I was watching a Seinfeld episode. Was it possible that me not watching changed the outcome of the 2003 ALCS? Not possible right? I don't think so, but that night I did, and I bet everyone at some point has switched seats, watched on a different tv, wore leopard print underwear (Jason Giambi), or something else ridiculous and thought it might have an effect on the outcome or their teams games.

I bring this up because if you read my blog last week I mentioned that I have a curse when dropping players. If anyone out there read it, believed it, and picked up Wandy Rodriguez, you are smiling today. For the record, he threw 7 innings, 2 hits, 10 Ks, 0 Rs, W. That's a great start. What is truly funny is that part of me actually believes I have an effect on this. It will be fun to keep track from now on and see if anyone else starts to believe. Unfortunately for you, no add/drops from me this week.

The NFL schedule was released last week. I don't think it's fair to really say a lot on it until after free agency and the draft are complete because so much can change. Two things I saw this week that made me think a little bit about the upcoming football season. Lance Moore had shoulder surgery to repair a torn labrum. I'm not willing to dump him, but this is the same, or at least similar to the injury Chad Johnson had last year. Also have to account for CJ having ankle and QB issues, but it's something to think about when ranking Moore. The other thing was that Torry Holt is on the verge of signing with Jacksonville. Holt was the first player I 'fell in love with' because of fantasy football. He's probably been one of the most underrated players in football over the last ten years and should be, without a doubt, a first ballot hall of famer. He has a knee injury that is not going to get better, but I think if he's in the right place, could be a very solid fantasy player again. I'll wait until he officially signs and the Jags (or whoever he plays for) free agency and draft moves are done.

One more thing, how many home runs would Josh Hamilton have hit in last summers home run derby if it were played in this Yankee stadium? I would guess at least 50.

Voight

I know this is off the sports subject, but how easy is it to hate John Voight? I know he is an actor and playing a role, but seriously, has Angelina got this guy pegged or what? Jonas Hodges and Bud Kilmer have got to be two of the most hated characters in history, and if I ever met the man, my first reaction would definitely be one of distaste. I guess that means he's good at what he does...

A few weeks ago I posted the results of our first annual injury draft. My nemesis and I both picked players we felt would eventually end up on the DL and developed a scoring system for it. At the end of the draft I decided to get cute and said, lets both pick players on each other's favorite team just for the heck of it. I took his man crush, Nick Markakis, and he took Mark Texeira... I hate him. It's no longer funny. He used to be my friend, but I've had enough. There is no rivalry between a hammer and a nail and with him, I have become the nail. It started out funny, but I no longer find humor in it. I will say one thing about him though, his wife is pretty cool.

I said when I started writing that I have a bit of a jinx when it comes to dropping the wrong players for fantasy purposes. When I drop someone, they explode! Beyond explode. They put up hall of fame numbers. Two examples: Last year I dropped John Lester in baseball and DeAngelo Williams in football. Yes, the DeAngelo Williams who scored 20 touchdowns. Same guy. In an attempt to help you, I'll post the players I drop throughout the year so you can win your league by picking them up. First this year is Wandy Rodriguez, SP Houston. Go get him. Don't wait. Go now.

I got an 8-2 win in my first week for baseball. Going into Sunday I had a 6-3-1 lead with really only 4 categories undecided. I had a small lead in K's and WHIP, my opponent in ERA and we were tied in steals. He had Santana and Becket going, I had Haren and Harang. I went back and forth on whether to pull my two starters, but finally I decided to throw them out there and hope for the best. I figured I was dead in ERA and WHIP and was hoping to pull out a victory by edging ahead in K's. Santana threw a gem but lost, Beckett got roughed up a bit, Haren was very good and Harang was outstanding. I am always one, when the choice is to pull or play starting pitchers, I throw them out there. I think it's because I feel I can take it a little easier if they are in and play bad than if they are out and play well.

Injury to monitor this week: Shoulder tightness for Brandon Webb. I am always very afraid of pitchers with shoulder problems, especially this early in the season. I'll be surprised if he fully recovers this year.

Opening Day!

If you read my post last week, then you probably know what kind of mood I'm in. UCONN was awful, Dale Jr. was worse, and I am currently watching Brian Bruney overthrow every pitch as the Yankees trail the Orioles in the late innings. Yes, they still have a team in Baltimore. I find it funny that these fans boo Mark Texeira and cheer Ray Lewis. Anyone see something wrong with this picture? In all fairness, I went to Camden Yards for the first time last summer and the atmosphere was awesome. I'll definitely go back...eventually.

I said it last week...Tom Izzo is officially the most underrated coach in sports. He's also much shorter than I thought. I think that will be the end for Jim Calhoun who certainly deserves enormous credit for building a great program from the ground up. Some of my fondest college memories are from watching his teams in Gampel Pavilion. I hope the university is careful to put the program in the best hands possible.

My fantasy draft was last Wednesday. It went well and I like my team. I had Miguel Cabrera fall to me at #10 which was awesome. Carlos Lee came all the way back to my third pick and I gambled with ARod in the fourth. I don't really know what to expect from his injury, but I think there is obviously tremendous offensive upside with him. I also took late gambles on injured pitchers John Lackey and Ervin Santana. They each have had some elbow issues which could lead to Dr. Andrews fantasy extinction lair, but I will always take a shot on the pitcher with elbow issues over one with a bum shoulder. I never touch Mark Prior or Chris Carpenter.

As in all drafts, the idiot who makes terrible picks showed up. He took Bengie Molina in the second round and Mike Mussina in about the 10th. For both picks the draftmaster paused the draft and asked the guy what he was doing. It's funny, no matter what kind of sport, or what level of competition, there is always a moron like this who shows up and makes these ridiculous picks. It has become a hobby of mine to try and pick out this person before the drafts starts. It's kind of like my own version of the TV show 'The Mole'.

Another one of my friends got laid off today. It's now officially effecting close friends and family. It's sad and I hope it turns around soon. Baseball season getting here is always a sign of hope that winter is over. Hopefully other things turn around with the season this year too.