MLB StoriesNews and Notes - Paper Tigers
April 4, 2008 - As noted in our American League Power Rankings a short while ago, the Detroit Tigers have a lineup that, on paper, could blow out every pitching staff in the league. The key words, of course, are “on paper”, and the Tigers have gotten off to the worst possible start in 2008. Steve Kwan Story
Santana the Savior
April 3, 2008 - If only the New York Mets could have had Johan Santana last September. Santana baffled the Florida Marlins for seven innings and guided the Mets to a 7-2 victory on Opening Day. Zach Freeman Story
Giants as Bad as Advertised
April 1, 2008 - Expectations were low for the San Francisco Giants this spring. The no-chance-to-compete, lucky-to-win-60-games kind of low. And yet, 15 minutes into their season opener at the Dodgers, the bar appeared to have been set too high. Dustin Hockensmith Story
Japan Baseball Experiment a Success
April 1, 2008 - The debut of our baseball team power rankings. The defending champion Boston Red Sox look to be the class of a deep group of American League contenders, and the new-look New York Mets grab the top spot in the National League. Zach Freeman Story
Japan Baseball Experiment a Success
March 26, 2008 - The 2008 Major League Baseball season opened in Japan with games on Tuesday and Wednesday and Manny Ramirez proved once again that he is one of the best players in baseball. Zach Freeman Story
Top Five National League Rotations
March 21, 2008 - The saying goes “defense wins championships," but in the National League a good starting rotation doesn’t hurt either. With American League aces Johan Santana and Dan Haren joining the NL this year, the rotations have only gotten stronger. Zach Freeman Story
Top Five American League Rotations
March 21, 2008 - Since most baseball fans can agree that the AL is the more fearsome of the two leagues in Major League Baseball, it may be surprising to see that many of the marquee 5-man rotations are actually in the NL. But at least five AL teams have done a remarkable job of stacking their starting pitching with quality from number 1 to number 5. Steve Kwan Story
Japan Baseball Experiment a Success
March 21, 2008 - With the regular season just around the corner, managers all around the majors are faced with tough decisions. Whether it is the batting order, keeping an up-and-coming star with the big team, or the pitching rotation, managers make many of their toughest decisions at the end of March. Zach Freeman Story
Shelley Duncan in the Wrong
March 13, 2008 - When Shelley Duncan slid spikes up into into Rays second baseman Akinori Iwamura on Wednesday, he did more than ignite a benchclearing brawl. He turned philosophical differences between the Yankees and Rays into an unwanted rivalry, all while managing to alienate himself from teammates and manager Joe Girardi. Dustin Hockensmith Story
Fantasy Vs. Reality: Primetime Players
There is a contrast between what's most valuable in fantasy baseball and real life. I think we all know and, to varying degress, acknowledge that. It's not always a stark difference, but not having to care about defense, leadership and other intangibles skews a fantasy gamer's perspective. Dustin Hockensmith Story
| | Fantasy ColumnsSori-Oh-No! - Braves Closer Place on DL
April 10, 2008 - Atlanta Braves closer Rafael Soriano was placed on the 15-day disabled list with elbow tendinitis on Wednesday evening, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported. Soriano has been nursing a sore elbow since spring training, but the decision to rest him was still made suddenly and as a last resort for Atlanta. Dustin Hockensmith Story
Week 2 Closer Report
April 9, 2008 - Injuries are the early story among closers, creating a handful of head-scratching committee situations and striking down the values of high picks J.J. Putz and Francisco Rodriguez. In our Closer Report debut, we put the closer situations of all 30 teams under the microscope and provide all of the necessary insurance information for those frightening relievers in your lineup. Steve Kwan and Zach Freeman Story
Torii Hunter's Disrespect
April 8, 2008 - New Los Angeles Angels outfielder Torii Hunter just doesn't get enough respect in fantasy circles. Even after he takes center stage in ESPN's Endless Drama promotional commercials, experts and publications have barely ranked him among the game's top 100 players. For the better part of two years now, I've been curious as to where the bias comes from. Dustin Hockensmith Story
Early Surprises and Disappointments
April 4, 2008 - Now is a tricky time of year in fantasy baseball. We, as owners, are tormented by hot and cold players alike, and we struggle to keep our eyes on the big picture. Sleepers and bust predictions are taking shape, but be sure and keep things in proper perspective. Let us help you with our list of surprises and disappointments. And for good measure, we'll give you some bullpen notes to ponder. Dustin Hockensmith Story
Free Agent Finder
April 3, 2008 - The madness has begun; the trends in fantasyland have started to shake and shift as baseball season grinds into full swing. From buzz names Kosuke Fukudome to Rich Harden, fantasy owners worldwide are jumping on the week-one bandwagons without thinking the hot starts will fizzle out -- a phenomenon known as “Shelton’s Law.” Steve Kwan Story
A's-Red Sox Series Notebook
March 26, 2008 - The 2008 MLB season is officially underway! And by the looks of the season opener between Boston and Oakland, we are already seeing some early trends play out. Those trends, plus other fantasy headlines generated by baseball's opening series in Japan.Steve Kwan Story
MLB Draft Kit Central
March 11, 2008 - The nuts and bolts of our 2008 Fantasy Baseball Draft Kit. Position previews, rankings, news, transactions and analysis. Start and finish all your predraft research with us, then get out there and dominate your opponents! READ MORE
Draft Day Dilemmas
Rankings are great in the days leading up to a fantasy draft, but the flurry of activities that takes place during it can render all your notes useless. Here's a helpful guide to prepare you for some of the more common dilemmas you could face. READ MORE
New Faces in New Places
New faces in new places, players who have either been traded or signed as free agents with new teams. Big-name new boys are always a risk; will new surroundings help them rebound from bad seasons (Andruw Jones)? Or was their contract year the last time they’ll ever put up big numbers (here’s looking at you, Adrian Beltre)? READ MORE
Prospects: Class of 2008
You can only have so many superstars on your fantasy baseball team, which is unfortunate because I’ve always dreamed of fielding an entire team of Ichiro clones. Steve Kwan Story
The Fantasy Baseball Alphabet
Tips and basic hints for fantasy baseball, in alphabet form. Know the rules of engagement and what you should be looking for, with these 26 rules of thumb. READ MORE |
