fantasy football preview

I am very happy that football is starting soon, as I know many of you are. Especially because of the 4 baseball leagues I am in, I am in first in one, last in another, and then lower third in the other two, plus I had a very very bad fantasy football year last year, and I am looking to make up for it. So I am pumped for this year, not that it will be much different, but you never know. The biggest problem I have in fantasy is sometimes I think with my heart and not my head, which is bad, you shouldn't do it, but I do it anyway, as you will find in my top ten list for fantasy positions, I am a Giants fan, so don't look for T.O. westbook, romo, mcnab, or barber, because you will not find them... anyway.... my fantasy top ten: with espn top 100 in ()

RB:
1) A Peterson (2)- I want to say sorry to LDT, I love you, the only reason I will put Ad one, of all the leagues I am in so far, three of them, they are all keepers, with two of them drafting for the first time this year, as keepers, and in both of those I want Peterson, in one I have the number one pick, because I won the mock draft competition, and I am going to take Peterson number one. I love LDT, and it will hurt me to do it, but in a keeper league it is just smarter
2) LDT (1)- you can't go wrong, he is great
3) Addai (4)- I am a fan oh his, even though 3 is too high, I will not put westbook on my list, so here you go
4)Jackson (5)- a semi risk, but I look for a great bounce back year for him
5) Portis (8)- he and s moss are the only redskins I have ever liked, it's all about the U.
6) Lynch (9)- not big on him, but he is solid
7) Mcgahee (13)- again, it's all about the U
8) M. J. Drew (20)- I like him on my team, I see big things for him, and the Jags this year, like his versatility
9) J Lewis (19)- I actually just switched him and jones drew, I am one of those who have not jumped on the browns bang wagon, and expect them to come back to earth this year... note, which is also why d anderson and b edwards will not be on my list
10) B Jacobs (25)- ok, so I am a Giants homer, leave me alone. He's the man

QB:
1) Brady (6)- do I really need to say anything
2) Manning (14)- again, come on.. and you know which one it is
3) Brees (30)- here is where you want to be in fantasy, get a top two rb, LDT or AD AP, and get brady or manning, cause then it is big question marks and a big drop off, I do think brees will have a nice year however
4)Palmer 38)- he hates osu, so do I.. that's enough for me
5) Big Ben (34)- not in love with him as much as some, but he is solid
6)eli (85)- as long as we have playoff eli, he should be a top 20 pick, if we have most of the season eli, watch out
7) Shaub (84)- how much you think ATl wish they didn't trade him right now
8) Garrad (95)- Again big things for the Jags
9) Rivers (na)- big question marks, I like him more then most
10) Cutler (60)- I think epsn has him ranked too high, but I will put him here, we shall see

WR:
1) R Moss (10)- I shouldn't need to tell you why
2) Wayne (18)- Always been a big fan, again... it is all about the U
3) A Johnson (22)- did I mention I like a lot of players who came from the U
4) L Fitzgerald (23)- stay healthy please
5) Burress (33)- yes my Giant homer is coming though again, to make it worse, plex went to msu, and I have been cheering for him since college
6) Wes (40)- might not have the same year as last year, but still good
6) S Moss (75)- I don't know if you know this... but it's all about the U
7) A Gonzalez (na)- with marvin not 100% look for better numbers from gonzo and him to have a good year
9) Bowe (67)- I hate to put him this high, as good as he is... he plays in KC
10)Boldin (51)- great player, I just want larry to get more catches

TE:
1) Gates (42)- Clear cut number one, we will see if his numbers will back it up
2) Clark (63)- A safer pick then.....
3) Winslow (52)- I hear he is a F ing solder
4)Cooley (70)- Usually a safe pick
5) Miller (78)- Big target for big ben
6) Heap (76)- Still going strong
7) Shockey (na)- here is the thing, I always loved him, and even though he is not on my Giants anymore, I expect a big year from him
8) Davis (90)- Still waiting for his big breakout year
9) Watson (na)- Pats will still be good, he is still a good pick
10) Daniels (na)- I like him better then any of the other TE's left, besides Witton, but we know I will not put a cowboy on my list.

D/ST:
1) Giants- Homer
2) Super Chagers- I know I am surprised by me too
3) Colts- can't go wrong
4) Bears- it's the only good part of their team
5) Pats- they are solid
6) Steelers- I like their D
7) Viks- Not a big fan, so I really don't know why
8) Jags- Expect big things from them
9) Bucks- still a good defense
10) Ravens- Yeah they are old, still top ten

K:
oh who cares.. draft them last, what ever...

You may have noticed besides cowboys and engles, there wasn't Tony G, or Larry Johnson, both are great players, but in KC, and getting older, and I don't trust them, basically my fantasy rules are:
1) get guys you don't mind cheering for
2) No cowboys
3) No engles
4) kickers last
5) Have at least two Giants
6) Talk trash even if your team sucks
7) Nobody from KC
8) RB over 32- pass or think really hard
9) Have your bye weeks in mind when drafting, i.e. know each teams bye week, and don't have all rb's and qb with the same bye week
10) try to win

I am really looking forward to football season, I think I will keep updating how my teams are doing, and even give out my team, once I have each draft, so everyone can mock me, when they suck. I'm right, you're wrong

so close, so far

after two very good, very entertaining baseball games the Tigers are now 7 and a half back. They could be 3 and a half back, and really they should be. But you got to give it to the white sox, they find ways to win. Two one run games, the tigers have many many chances in each, giving up a one run lead in the 9th in the first, and having the baseball loaded with one out in the 7th, and getting back to back strike outs, then in the 8th mags leads off with a double, and a strike out, pop up, and a strike out later, by 3 good fastball hitters, two of whom make a lot of money, and out of the innings, then granderson gets a double in the 9th, and another strike out ends the game. They have been great baseball games, but I don't want great baseball games, and Tiger losses, I want Tiger wins. They need, yes, NEED, to win this afternoon and get back to 6 and a half back. there are plenty more games to be played, but they need to win games in the central, especially against the sox and twins. Thank god for interleauge play or the Tigers would be way out of it. Minor has to find a way to have a good outing, and the Tigers have to come though.. got to have faith. Todd jones, Jermaine dye and bobby jenks are on my list of top 3 people I am not happy with right now... especially dye, he has killed us.. please stop. lets make it fun down to the wire. At least football will be starting soon, thank god for that. I'm right, you're wrong

just some thoughts

First I am glad I was wrong and the Tigers, after scoring 19 runs in game one, didn't slow down too much and put up 7 in each of the next two to sweep the royals. Big, big, big series coming up vs the white sox, in d town the Tigers need to win this series, a sweep would be great, that would put them only 2 and a half back... The offense is starting to click, verlander is pitching like he can, and we are showing signs. If only we didn't put ourselves in such a big hole, but there is still time to get out.

The wnba fight was great, but suspensions were a little much. 4 games for pierson who people say started it, when really she kind of went in to parker, and then candance took her down, as they got tangled, and then she did kind of go after her, But candance only got one game, mahorn got two, which is crazy, He is just a very very big man, and lisa leslie is skinny, he was holding her back and she fell. But I did enjoy it. It is bad press for the league, but it is press, so it is kind of good for them. One other quick note, I know no one cares, and really either do I, but I saw it and had to commit The Shocked signed nancy Liberman, who is 50 by the way, YES 50, to a 7 day contract.... wow, anyway, moving on

The Hawks now have to resign Josh Smith or they are in trouble and will not get back to the playoffs next year. Josh Childress signed a three year deal with a Greek team. He isn't a star but he averaged about 11 a game last year and was their key bench player. he is going to make 20 million after taxes, he does have the ability to opt out after each year, so we will see if he stays all three years. I am surprised by this, but I don't think the NBA is in trouble and going to lose a bunch of guys to foreign leagues.

Speaking of guys who should maybe be in foreign league. The star of though the fire, the great sebastian telfair got a two year deal with a player option for a third. That will turn out to be just a wonderful move for the T wolves... um, yeah, not so much. I am actually starting to feel bad for T wolves fans, if there are any left. First you trade KG, then watch him win a title, then you draft Oj mayo, who is sick, and could put butts in the seats, but then you trade him for kevin love, who I am a fan of, but love doesn't have the flash and will not be the box office hit mayo will be, then you re sign a guy who can't shoot, and is undersized. That is going to be their pg of the future.. good luck, good thing Al jefferson is good, or they would have nothing.

Thank you tribe for trading CC to the NL, so he can tear it up, and help my fantasy team. That is all.

well actually, one other quick CC thing. 3 complete games in a row, wow, it makes you wonder, is he just pitching better now, is the NL really just that much worse then the AL, or is he throwing too many pitches and it will come back to hunt the brew crew in the end.. stay turned.

NFL training camps are starting, oh happy day. I am a little sad about my giants trading shockey cause I have always liked him, but a 2 and a 5 is good value, and he is kind of a hot head, ok, not kind of, a big hot head, and boss really stepped up last year, so it will be fine. Just the timing of it, is a little odd.

One last thing.... would Brett Farve please go away, thank you. I'm right, you're wrong.

Why baseball is fun... but also sucks.. reason #43

Just so everyone is not confused, there is not blogs of 1-42, at this point, I really just threw out a random number, and maybe as more come to me, I will continue to do this.

anyway, so last night my beloved Tigers scored 19 runs against KC. And won 19-4 at KC, in the first of a 3 game set. Now of course, that doesn't suck, the fact they scored 11 runs in the first 6 games against KC does, and the fact that you just know tonight they are going to lose 2-1, or 3-2 or something like that. I know it is going to happen. You almost wish baseball had like a extra point for a series win. Like in a bowling league, you can win games 1, 2, 3, and then win the series. So even if you win the first game by 85 pins, and then lose the last two by 5 each, you still win the series. So lets say, if by chance KC wins tonight 2-1, and tomorrow afternoon, 4-3, the series total would still be 23-10 Tigers, even though they only won one game. I mean you drop two out of three but outscore a team by 13. I am sure it has happened before. I hope it doesn't happen to the Tigers, but I do have one of those feelings tonight they will lose the game 2-1. I hope I am wrong. I really really do.

For the record, I know nothing like this will ever happen in baseball, where you get an extra point for most runs in a series or anything... But it is interesting, and it would make for teams to keep adding on runs when they could, and a team who was down a lot to not give up at bats and try to get anything they could. Which I have to hand it to KC, they scored all 4 of their runs in the bottom of the 8th, after the tigers put up 10 in the top of the 8th. Other then that.. Football is getting closer by the day, and I am happy.... Oh the ESPY'S. I love JT, I am sorry, I do, he is funny, I know it wasn't him, he had good writers, but that was some good stuff..... my grandma can shoot free throws... I'm right, you're wrong.

How to score 6 runs in the first and loose

Wow, you know you try to have faith, you try to stay positive. But when you score 6 runs in the first, 10 runs in the game, and loose 11-10 in 10, what else is there to do. Up 6-0, then 6-2, then down 9-7. The up 10-9 from the 6th inning on, and on the first pitch of the 9th, leaving my boy zum zum in instead of putting in todd-o to close, HR to tie the game. Then the top of the 10th, poly gets called out at home, when he was safe, and then with one out in the bottom adam scott kills the ball. Now don't get me wrong, it isn't the ump's fault, if you are up 6 runs at any time in a game and score 10 runs, that is a game you need to win, but that was a really bad call. I still have faith the tigers can pull themselves out and make the playoffs. But mostly that is just because I am a fan, and I need a reason to justify watching the rest of the games this year. Other then that, I have just been playing a lot of ncaa 09, and waiting for football to start. Lets hope the tigers can win tomorrow and spilt the 4 game series, got to have faith. Go tigers. I'm right, you're wrong

worse day of the year over

After getting though yesterday, where there is nothing of the major sports, we had baseball again today. my Tigers started the second half off right with a nice 6-5 win, and I hope that is only a sign of things to come. Other then that, I am starting to get really pumped for football, and I might even be able to muster up some Olympic fever. The only other thing I want to say real quick in this post, Farve is starting to piss me off. I am so sick of it. This story is dead to me. He will end up coming back, to the Packers, and starting, and everything will be fine, they will sit down, talk it out, know that he isn't going to be released or trading to anyone in the nfc, or any team who is good, and it will be over, everyone will forget about it and move on. Or he just wants to play someone else, and they will not do it, and he will stay retired, and look really bad about the entire thing. Either way, I am tired of him, give me something else.. Lets go Tigers, second half is their time. I'm right, you're wrong

First half recap

Before I get in to the baseball I must say how happy I am Billy Packer will no longer be on CBS, thank god. I am not a fan of his at all, and this is long long over due. Clark Kellogg will be replacing him, which should be interesting, having him going from the studio to color, and I would prefer Gus Jonson, but Kellogg is good, and I would much rather have him then Billy Packer, so this is a great day. 34 years is way to much, by Billy, please go away.

Ok moving on to baseball. On August 30, 2008 I did the following predictions for the baseball season:

AL:
west- Angles tigers over angles MVP: Manny Jr
east- Bo sox sox over the tribe Cy Young- Verlander
central- tigers tigers over bo sox RC: C Buckholtz
wild card- tribe

NL:
west- LAD cubs over phills MVP: R Howard
east- mets mets over LAD CY young- Santana
central- cubs cubs over mets RC: H Bailey
wild card- phills

so as you can see, some of my predictions are ok, others, well, need some work. Manny jr is hitting 284, with 16 hr, and 57 rbi's, not even close to being in the MVP talk. Since first half AL MVP: J Hamilton, which is not only having a great year, but is a great story. As far as Cy young, since Verlander us 7-9 with a era over 4, um, yeah, not him. Right now I would have to give it to Dice K, I mean a 10-1 record would do that, though I know there are others, 10-1 is a nice first half. For Rookie of the year in the AL, Buckholtz has been up and down, and is only 2-4 with a 5.70 era, so not him. As far as teams, my wild card, tribe, nope, not happening. The Tigers still have a chance, yeah they are 7 games back, but being a fan, I am keeping up the faith. In the east the bo sox are back on top in the east, be it by a half game, but I see the rays being a nice story, but going away, and the red sox should win that easy. The Angles are also on top of the west, and I do feel good about them doing that. For the second half.. I will keep faith, and have the Tigers win the wild card, the white sox win the central, the angles win the west, and then red sox win the east.

As for the NL the Dogers are only a game back, so I have faith in that. The Mets are only a half game back, and I feel good with them and the phils both making the playoffs. The brew crew is coming on, but I think the Cubs can hold on. SO my NL predictions are looking ok. Minus the individual awards. MVP, Howard does have 28 hr, and 84 rbi, but is only hitting 234, so yeah, not him. IN fact right now, I would have H Ramiez, has over 20 hr and 20 sb already, the only problem, he plays in FL. but the fact that they are still in it, for power to him. As for the cy young, Santana is 8-7 with a 4.84 era and has not done what most thought he could do in the NL, and I was one of those people, so for the NL cy young right now might have to be Tim Lincecum with his 11-2 record, and a 2.57 era. The giants do suck, but Lincecum might deserve it. As for rookie of the year in the NL, my pick, was just called up, so Homer is not getting it. So take your pick. So my NL team predictions, I will stick with, the mets will win the east, cubs the central, LAD the west, and the phils win the wild card.

But it should be a good second half of the year. One final predictions, to keep up with the story I have J Hamilton winning the HR derby tonight, and the AL will win the All Star game, for I think the 11th year in a row now, I will go with 8-5. So it should be a fun rest of the summer, at least enough to get me through until college and pro football starts. Of course NCAA 09 coming out tomorrow, which will help a lot. God bless EA Sports. I'm right, you're wrong

What to do?

With the all star break fast approaching the question comes up, what to do with the next few days. As I am sure most, if not all, of you, know the day before the all star game, and the day after, are the only two days of the year with out any of the 4 major sports having games. Normally I would be worried about this, maybe even a little sad, wondering if there is enough bad reality shows to watch to keep me laughing. However, this year, no such problem. For on Tuesday one of the days of the year I look forward to the most is happening. Yes NCAA 09 college football comes out. I am so happy, no happy is not a strong enough word. Orgasmic, might be closer. I can't wait to play it mainly ever waking hour for the next few weeks. I am thinking weather or not to get it for the wii, or just keep rocking the old trusty ps2. Umm... tough one... any thoughts?

Other then that, tomorrow sometime I will be doing my first half baseball recap, as well as my second half predictions, I will include the predictions I had at the start of the year, and we will see how I am doing... I will give you a hint.. not too well. I'm right, you're wrong

July 4th weekend

I normally only write about sports, but with a week that saw my daughter baptised, I went to two funerals, being a Paul barrier in one of them, saw me bowl a 201 during my Wednesday night league, and had the 4th of July, what better then a weekend write up, timeline style.

Thursday:

7pm- the car is all packed and the fam, my finance, daughter, and dog, leave for Higgins Lake
7:02pm- stop for gas
7:30pm- stop for food in Claire
8:15pm- arrive at Higgins lake
8:30pm- I am swimming in Higgins lake
9-11pm- getting Hailey, my daughter, to sleep
11-11:20pm- drinking beer on the dock with Stephanie, my finance.
11:30pm- time for bed

Friday:

6:10am- Hailey thinks it is time to wake up
6:20am- I convince her it isn't, she goes back to bed, as do I
7:45am- no more false alarms she is up for good
8:30am- mourning swim in Higgins, or as I called it.. my bath
9-9:50am- getting ready to leave to go to my friend's Shelley's cottage
10am- want to leave by now
10:22am- we leave
10:24am- we stop to go back, we forget the beer
10:27- back to steph's grandparents at Higgins to get the beer
10:30am- we leave
10:35am- stop at gas station to get snacks for the day
11:59am- get to shell's
noon- beer number one is open
noon 20: second beer is open
1pm- leave out of the boat to the sand bar
1:05pm- get to the sand bar.. party is in full swing, people everyone drinking, laying around, having a great time
1:15pm- first jello shot of the day
1:20pm- first trip to the "deep end" to pee
1:30pm- second jello shot of the day
1:40pm- throw around the football a little with potta, kurt, and brem
1:50pm- second trip to "deep end"
2:00-4:00pm- several more beers, jello shots, and trips to the deep end, with some laying around and talking to people mixed in
4:00pm- asked by people we don't know who are close to us if we want in on a beer pong tournament... I do
4:30pm- me and kurt play our first round game, beat the defending champs, I make 7 out of our 10 cups... much rejoicing.. defending champs pissed, tell us, now we have to win. We get a bye to the semi finials
5:00pm- everyone we came with getting ready to leave
5:27pm- we start our semi final beer pong match
5:30pm- everyone we came with leaves.... me and kurt stay, the conversation goes something like this;
kurt: did they just leave
me: yeah it looks like it, we will just be on the next trip back
kurt: they said there is only one
me: oh, well lets win first, we will worry how to get back later
5:45pm- everyone is back at shell's... me and kurt win our semi final match
6:00pm- everyone at shell's is eating, me and kurt are waiting to see who we play in the finals
6:20pm- the finals of the beer pong tournament with the people we don't know is starting
6:40pm or so- we win, thanks to me being clutch and making every big shot, including the clinching shots each game.. I am voted mvp... I am happy, I drink another beer to celebrate.. we start to ask how we are getting home.. people say they will take us.. very nice losers
6:45pm- boat battery is dead, the pontoon is now getting pulled behind another boat.. we play pass back with a bottle of Merlot cause that is all that was left on the boat to drink
7pm- we get back to their house, it is close to where some people I know leave, but not too close to shell's cottage..... everyone still back at shell's, don't know where we are, some might be worried, steph is getting mad, thinking there is no chance we will leave by 8pm, like she wants too.
7:05pm- we are giving another beer and told someone will give us a ride back to where we were staying in the golf cart... great, we drink ours beers and go back home
7:20pm- we finally get back to shell's, the guy who drove us, comes in so we can give him a shot of weed, Jeremiah weed whiskey, if you never had it, I can't explain it to you.
7:30pm- quickly have dinner, why I say sorry to steph for leaving, and tell my friends what fun I had.. and how we were victorious in the beer pong tournament. They don't seem to care too much.
7:51pm- we leave shell's... with 9 minutes to spare.. I am good
7:55pm- stop to make sure we didn't leave anything... I find I left my single use camera... we keep going
8:31pm- we stop to change a Poppy diaper.. and by we, I mean me
8:33pm- back on the road
9pm- back to Higgins lake
10:00pm- Hailey is sleeping, I am happy
10-11:30pm- outside again drinking on the dock, more beer for me, steph actually had some rum and coke.. I was so proud of her. We were talking to some people she has known for a long time up there, very nice, and watching fire works.. Some people put on some really nice fireworks.
11:30am- I have a glass of water, with high hopes for a hangover free mourning

Saturday:

12:50am- Hailey wants to wake up for awhile, I don't
7:10am- Hailey wakes up, it is the weekend, which means it is moma's turn, I sleep
8:59- Hailey down for her nap, steph rejoins me in bed
10am- I get up to let Austin, the dog, out
10:45am- Hailey up from her nap, time for me to be up as well.. I feel good.. that glass of water must have helped
Noon- In Higgins for a swim
1pm- we attempt to get Steph's grandparents boat out, it is more then 30 years old
1:05pm- we find out the battery is dead
1:15pm- Lunch
2pm- swim in Higgins with steph, she thinks it is cold, so it takes us a while to get out there
2:05pm- we get out to the "deeper" part
2:06pm- she wants to snorkel
2:07pm- I go back in to get the snorkels
2:25pm- we are done, and back in.
2:30- I make a sand castle, I don't really know why
3pm- we lay out and I have my first beer of the day
5pm- we have dinner
6pm- the battery is charged and me and steph take a after dinner boat ride while her grandparents watch Hailey, I take a beer, while she has a glass of wine, she is very classy.
7:52pm- we leave Higgins to head back home.. I really want to have sex
9:05pm- we get home
9:06pm- realize we forget Austin's dog food back at Higgins
9:18pm- Hailey's bath
10:30pm- she goes to sleep.. that means fun time for me
10:50pm- I finally get to have sex, after not having it since Wednesday night.. I am happy
11:05pm- time for bed

Today was just church, get Hailey down for a nap, so I can nap, and now I am drinking a beer, watching the Tigers. Who need to win, and the sox and twins need to start loosing. That is all. I hope you enjoyed, if you just read that, let me know what you thought. I'm right, you're wrong.

some worries that I have

with inter league play over the Tigers have made up some ground by now comes the games that matter. Lots of games in the central and no more easy NL teams to beat up on. That is problem one, problem two, injuries, mags, manny jr, inge, bondo for the year, just got to keep plugging through, third the white sox are playing really well right now, that will make it harder to catch them, and four, to catch them we first need to catch the twins, who just won 2 of 3 from us at the dome. Depending on what the sox and tribe do tonight the tigers will be either 6 and a half, or back to a full 7 games back after tonight. Now the good thing with playing more teams from the central, if you win, you can make up more ground in a hurry, of course you need to win, a 5 or 6 game league could be down to 2 or 3 in a weekend. Of course that same lead could be up to 8 or 9 games as well, So the question remains with all those players, and with all that being said, do I still think the tigers can make the playoffs? Well of course I do, but manly because I am a fan, and with still some 77 games or so to go, if I already admitted it was over, what I would do for the rest of the year until football started. So I believe they will turn it around, get back to playing like they were last week, cause it was against easy NL teams, and they can still catch the sox. I am also planning on the sox to go on a long 8 game or so loosing streak, and the Tigers will just have to go on a nice 10 game winning streak.. there, that's not too hard, I feel better already.
Real quick, at least I will try to do it quick. Osi is getting a lot of slack for what he said about brady and tiger being up for best athlete in the epsy's. Mentioning how he can run faster then brady, and we all know he is stronger and things like that, and also a golfer should never win best athlete. Now tiger is not your average golfer, he is in great shape, and I would even say he is a good athlete, since I bet you could do a lot of other things well, but he is not the best athlete in the world. Brady isn't even close, the best qb in the nfl, sure, but the best athlete, nope. When I think best athlete I think a guy who is good at everyone, can do many things well, run, jump, is strong. Those people you hate cause they can just pick up any sport and do well in it. Those are great athletes. Some might wonder if it wasn't a member of my favorite team would I still stick up for him like this, I would like to think yes, cause I really do see great athletes as people who can do many things well, not just one thing great, but you never know, maybe I would let it go, if a member of the cowboys or skins said yet.

Non sports related I am really looking forward to this weekend. the 4th is always fun, manly cause it involves being on the water, and drinking a lot, two great things... on a sad note, even though he most likely will not read this. I am very said my old college rm who I lived with for two years, drew, his father passed away early Tuesday mourning from cancer. My thoughts and prayers go out to the entire kotowski family, and mr kotowski will be deeply missed. He was a great man, very funny, and just a great friends dad to have. RIP.... I'm right, you're wrong