Welcome loyal readers. Well since this is the first column that I will be writing of many I guess there cannot be too many loyal readers at this point BUT THERE WILL BE!!Here’s the mission statement of this column:
The Fantasy Sports Weekly Column…
(Play the following while reading)
…will bring you the most up to date weekly information on the Fantasy Sports that you love. We will not tell you the obvious, on the contrary, we will tell you what you need to know to field a sick fantasy team…nizzice…
So there it is. Write it down. Copy and Paste it to a word document and save it on your hard drive at work to look up and reference. Because I won’t be posting the mission statement ever again…Sweet. Let’s get down to business.
http://favewavs.com/wavs/misc/sony1.wav
In homage of SONY PLAYSTATION ONE. Yes I am paying homage to PS1. I know I know…this is what we love…
http://www.sportplanet.com/tsb/passtd.wav
Alright. I’ll get on topic.
We are in baseball season and I am dominating my 5 x 5 league. So let me share with you a few things at this point of the season as of JUNE 1st, 2004.
I. Players NOT to Trade and Why
II. Players to TRY and Trade for and Why
III. Players I hate that are on my team
I. Players NOT to Trade and Why
Javier Vasquez, NY SP
– Vasquez is filthy. Filthy. His record to date is not astounding (5-4) which will cause many not so bright fantasy owners to deal him prematurely. His ERA (Mid 3’s) and WHIP (Around 1.00) are excellent and his K numbers are very solid (50). The key with VASQUEZ is that he’ll be playing for the best team in baseball in a couple of months. The YANKS are about to get hot. And he’ll be the recipient. I was asked whether a guy should trade him for Danny Graves right now. No. No and No. Starting Pitching is golden and he’s a horse.
Oakland A’s Starting Pitchers
If history has taught us anything it’s that the A’s starting pitchers are going to get hot and the A’s are going to ride them. Mulder and Hudson are already doing well but Harden and Zito are really quite tempting to deal if someone comes with a solid offer. Don’t do it. Right now they are average.
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/teams/pitching?team=oak
But by the end of the season I’ll repost their stats and it will be impressive!
II. Players to TRY and Trade for and Why
These are players that people will be dumb enough to trade you and you should go get…TOMORROW AFTER THAT 9AM CONFERENCE CALL!
Billy Wagner, Phila RP
Wagner is one of the best closers this decade. He’s been sidelined by a groin injury but will come off the DL soon. When he does he’ll be eating up 3 Fantasy saves a week on average. The Phils are about to get hot like Yanks and Wagner will clean up. Some foolish owner will deal you WAGS for say…well…Mike Piazza or a Jeff Bagwell. And it’s worth it. Dominant closers are tough to find.
Troy Glaus, Anaheim 3B
Don’t give up much but I am a huge fan of finding star players on the DL, dealing players who look good early in the year (Say a Tim Worrell or Craig Wilson) and holding him for your stretch run.
NOTE: This is not recommended for those who cannot afford to get rid of depth!!
Danny Kolb, Milwaukee RP
I know. I know. Don’t ever trade for a BREWER. Well…Posednik is silly and Kolb is pitching real well. He’s a solid #3 closer on any fantasy team and I have him on my bench behind PERCIVAL, RIVERA and NATHAN. I’m thinking of benching PERCIVAL Kolb has been so nice so far. Check these numbers out:
13 Saves
0.97 WHIP
1.37 ERA
His K’s are low but he’s tough to hit. Opponents are hitting .232 against him.
Is he another Mike DeJean? Nope.
DISCLAIMER: If you haven’t noticed – players you should trade for and not trade…um…are basically the same concept! Nizzice.
Players I hate that are on my team (One a Week)
SIDNEY PONSON, Baltimore SP
This guy blows. I hate him. But I cannot cut him. He’s the ace on a nice offensive team and he’s been a stud before. Yet I trot him out there week after week and he gets lit up. He’s the Major League Baseball version of Eddie George. You can’t take him out but he’s a giant anchor on your team…man alive…
Well with that I’ll bid you a fond farewell but not without my weekly fantasy football sleeper for 2004. I won’t give a justification. Just a few names by position. Write it down. Live by it. I’ll do a different position each week leading up to the late July/Early August drafts.
NFL Fantasy Sleeper for 2004
June 1st: WR
June 8th: RB
June 15th: QB
June 22nd: TE
June 29th: D/ST
July 6th: Kicker
June 1st Pick: Wide Receiver
Charles Rogers, Detroit
Jerry Porter, Oakland
Peerless Price, Atlanta