Spring is here

(This is the first of who knows how many article type post that I write about my fantasy baseball teams that I will write that it is real life and it is really important, most will be about this league, but keeper league with some of my old CMU friends... cause if you can't be good in fantasy sports, what can you be good in?)



The snow melted and some golf courses opened up in mid Michigan, as the temperature got above 50, and then even 60 for the first time in months 10 brave men also got together via their computers for their annual baseball draft. I was able to catch up with most of the managers of these ten teams for a complete preview of the league. I will start with the defending champ Fishsticks managed by Matt Bremenour. After the draft I spoke to Mr Bremenour and he was happy with his teams chances to repeat.

"I feel like my team will once again compete, and have a chance to defend our championship." Matt added "we are stacked with SP and have some great guys that hit for average, with some power." While his entire team is stong, he did not need to think long about what the best part is.
"my keepers!" Bremenour continued "players like Albert Puhols, Kung Fu Panda (pablo sandaval), Ryan Braun and Brian Roberts really make for a great offensive season." While his team is strong, there is still some questions going in to the year. "Biggest question mark I have is if my pitchers can perform to their potential. We lack in RP, but we have good SP, so as long as we perform as we are projected to, we will have an excellent season." While Fishsticks are confident they know there are many other good teams in the league this year.
"Id have to say the team that scares me the most is Off In the Woods, Managed by the one and only Toph. He has a good combination of power and batting average." But Matt, still confident added. "If his team clicks on all cylinders this year. no one can stop him.. except for me of course"

The next team I was able to catch up with was Ball Bashers managed by Chaz Millard. Chaz wasn't confident with his team at first, but is starting to like what his team brings to the table.

"Well at first I wasn't sure, but upon further review I like it. Decent power, but what I am pumped about is a high BA and high OBP. RBIs and SB are decent too so my team doesn't look bad on offense. Plus if the young guys I picked up produce then I'm going to do really well." There is no question what the best part of his team is.

"It's easy to be confident with Lincecum and Cain on your staff. I like the rest of my starters and relievers. Very excited about my staff" Chaz does have some question marks this year, as he has drafted some young prospects.

"Will the youngsters step up and produce. If they do, my team could be scary." Chaz was quick to say that the defending champs look to be the best team

"Hard to pick against an offense with Pujols at the helm"

The Legends managed by Greg Morris was the next team I talked to. They were also happy with the new auction format of the draft and thought it played out well.

"I am very happy. I thought the draft played out the way I wanted. I conserved money to get certain players, and with my keepers it allowed for some flexibility. By keeping Wainwright and Hamels, I have two solidified starters, and with Ichiro and Morneau, I have solid hitting before I even drafted. My hope is that I compete with a shortened bench until Strasburg comes into play late in the season to give me a boost. If he doesn't, my team is still good enough to contend, but I wanted him for keeper purposes. Also, Martin Prado adds a, should I say, jenasaqua to my team. That's French for "Were going to lay the smack down on your sorry team."" While he liked his entire team, the pitching staff was his favorite part.

"My top three pitchers. Wainwright is going to fight for the Cy Young. Hamels will be great again after adding a cutter, and Tommy Hanson is awesome. And of course Ichiro....NUMBER 1! Martin Prado also agrees. I asked him." Greg isn't concerned about pitching, but hitting worries him a bit.

"Do I have enough power on the team? Four guys with 30+ hrs from last year, and one with 20, but the rest are in the teens. Some have power potential, but I am more of a run scoring base stealing type machine. Martin Prado has all those attributes, so beware of Martin Prado." Greg's love affair with Martin Prado was clear during the entire interview. Greg also thought that Off in the words was the best team besides his own.

"His lineup is pretty sweet with Fielder, Youk, and Victorino, plus, he has Roy Halladay anchoring his staff, and that makes for a solid squad. He doesn't have Martin Prado, but his team is still solid."

The next team I was able to talk with is the newest member of the league. Team Noddle Swingers lead by the great Sean T Johnston.

would be my pleasure to talk to you about the Swingers, our leagues newest expansion team.

"The Noodle Swingers roster reflects my personal philosophy of balance and diversification. I think they're a fantastic mix of power, speed and performance and have a legitimate chance to win any category any week." Sean was able to find the best and worst parts of his team however.

"Depth and Balance. There's no reason I shouldn't be able to field a complete team every day. On top of that, I have some excellent players in difficult statistical positions like Catcher (Victor Martinez) and Shortstop (Ben Zobrist), as for my biggest question mark, pitching. Aside from Verlander and Lee, my pitching rotation doesn't have a lot of punch to it. I paid too much for closers in Marmol and Broxton and didn't have enough salary to attract any solid second-tier starters to round out my pitching staff. Either way, like my offense, I think we'll be able to compete in just about every category." Sean didn't want to make anyone mad as he very politically answered the best team question.

"I think everyone has a pretty solid lineup. But I think 'Maggs Is Innocent' looks pretty stacked. Aside from the lack of multi-positional players, if that lineup stays healthy and active, it could make anyone poop their pants. Their pitching is a little thin though. Might be the Achilles heel on that beast."

I then caught up with Dominic D'Aguanno to talk about his team Aplha kappa gangster

"My team is very, very fast this year and I expect to have a lot of Stolen Bases. I also feel that I have a very good hitting team. It might not be the most powerful lineup, but I have 9 players that hit better than .285 last year." Dom feels his team will be able to get out and run very well this year.

"I think the best part of my team is definitely the speed. I don't expect to lose many match-ups this year in Stolen Bases, with a combined 239 SBs last year. I also have pretty prominent rookie by the name of Austin Jackson who should probably steal between 20-30 this year." Dom is feeling good about his team, but he still has questions about them going in to the year.

"The biggest question mark of my team will be my bullpen. I have Chad Qualls who saved 24 and Brad Lidge who saved 31 ball games last year respectively, however, Lidge is coming off a couple of surgeries and I'm not sure if the Diamondbacks are going to contend in enough games for Qualls to put up the same numbers." Dom feels the comishs' team will be very tough to beat this year.

"The team that I think will give me a run for my money this year is Inge's Good Knee. He has a lot of pitching and if he is able to win all of those categories and snag one of the hitting categories he will give a lot of teams trouble"

I then talked to Steve Schwanda who is the manage of Pumpmeup. Steve was happy about the draft.

"I like my team, I was worried about the auction format but I did some mock drafts, and I think they really helped me. I overpaid on a few guys, but I am happy with my team." Schwanda's team has a clear cut strong point.

"My offense, for sure, anytime you have Howard, Phillips, Hanley and Josh David Wright in your infield you are doing something good." Schwanda is worried though. " I am not crazy about my outfielders and I think my pitching staff, especially the relief pitchers are not strong. With Zach and Becket I have two stud pitchers, but depth to my staff is a concern." Schwanda also sees a lot of good teams in this league.

" I think a lot of teams are very strong, and you could tell certain managers wanted certain things. I really think it will come down to which team wins the areas they are not suppose to win. I like fishsticks to be there all year, they are very good."





I finally had the pleasure of talking to the commish, Rob Potter, to talk about his team, Inge's good knee and the rest of the league.

" I have a rather young team in regards to a fantasy team. Which could definitely benefit me in the long run. I was able to lock up both Adam Jones and Jon Lester before the draft for a lot less than they would have went for in auction. That allowed me to go after some of the larger names on my team (Adrian Gonzalez and Jimmy Rollins) who should have very good years." Potter likes the speed of his team the best.

"I think the best part of my team offensively is my speed, with my big 3 (Crawford, Rollins, Jones) i should easily rack up 100-120 SB's this season." Rob also likes his pitching staff however.

"Pitching wise, i think the ability for my SP to strike out people is going to be crucial. As a Tiger fan I already know what to expect from Porcello and Scherzer, you throw in Lester and the young Baltimore Pitcher Brian Matusz, but I dont see a week in which I lose the 'K' battle." The Commish still sees some things that worry him however.

"My biggest question mark is expectations. As I stated earlier I chose to keep some young guys and I also drafted some young guys. Whether they be a rookie, like Jason Heyward (who is starting the season in AAA)* Note Heyward was named the starting right fielder for the Braves today* or a sophomore like Porcello, I already have expectations of what they should be able to do." The Comish also has been working the free agents market since the draft.

"After the draft I picked up Brandon Webb and Carlos Beltran as free agents. Both are injured at the time and more than likely will start the season on the DL. But if they are able to return and produce they are both top #20 guys in the league." Potter is also worried about Magglio Ordonez having a bounce back season.

"I drafted him late in the draft because I knew Heyward was going to be starting in AAA and i needed a 3rd outfielder.(again, now not true) Magg's has been hitting the ball well this spring and hopefully will lead to a much better season than last year." The commish was quick to point out a few teams who he thought would have good season.

"Fishsticks is going to be tough, any team with Braun and Pujols is going to be hard to beat. He also was able to draft Jay Bruce as well as a pretty decent pitching staff. I also see Noodle Swingers coming out and surprising some people with how they do. He has a solid pitching staff." Potter added one more team.

"But I also think team Pumpmeup is going to have a good season. Potential for a good offensive and two stud pitchers (grinke and beckett) its gonna be tough to beat them, I am looking forward to a great season."

Maggs is innocent and clinky clinky both did not respond to my interview questions. But do not have bad teams either.


Schwanda Sports picks:

1) fishsticks
2) off in the woods
3) Inge's good knee
4) Pumpmeup
5) Ball Bashers
6) Noodle Swingers
7) Legends
8) Aphla Kappy Gangster
9) Maggs is innocent
10) clinky clinky


Playoffs:

fishsticks over pumpmeup
inge's good knee over off in the woods

fishsticks over inge's good knee
pumpmeup over off in the woods.