Jam it or Cram it: Rookies a Roll of the Dice

Source: Razzball by grey@razzball.com (Grey Albright)

It was either Kenny Rogers or Pete Rose that said, “Luck comes and goes. Knowledge stays forever.” Or maybe it was from the movie House of Games. I could see Joe Mantegna growling that. Either way, luck is fleeting but good when paired with a smart bet. Rolling the dice on rookies in fantasy baseball is a gamble some are not willing to take. If you’re one of the squeamish then you have already missed out on the likes of [player]Shelby Miller[/player], [player]Jedd Gyorko[/player], [player]Evan Gattis[/player], [player]Jurickson Profar[/player] and [player]Michael Wacha[/player].

The Wire Troll: The Dawn of the Nick Franklin Era

Source: RotoRob by Tim McLeod

Wil Myers is charging hard towards the bigs.

June has arrived, so we should start seeing the arrival of some prospects that have been held back because of service clock issues. The big name expected on the scene very shortly is Wil Myers, who should be producing in Tampa Bay as he’s simply playing too well to be calling Durham home.

In addition to last week’s the injuries in the closer ranks, we’ve also endured our share of less than inspiring performances. Brandon League can’t be long for the job in Dodgertown. Jose Valverde imploded against the O’s Friday, costing Max Scherzer the victory. Poor Jim Leyland will be chaining them

Mike Moustakas: Back in Business

Source: RotoWire.com MLB

Mike Moustakas: Moustakas (quadriceps) is back in the Royals' lineup Wednesday at St. Louis, the Kansas City Star reports. Visit RotoWire.com for more analysis on this update.

Moustakas (quad) back in Royals' lineup Wed. - Mike Moustakas | KC

Source: Rotoworld Baseball

Mike Moustakas (quad) is back in the Royals' starting lineup Wednesday night against the Cardinals.

Moustakas out Monday due to quad tightness - Mike Moustakas | KC

Source: Rotoworld Baseball

Mike Moustakas is out of the Royals' lineup Monday against the Cardinals due to quad tightness.

Shuffle Up: Manny Machado, ahead of schedule

Source: Roto Arcade by Scott Pianowski

Here are your Shuffle Up corners for the month of May. Dig into them, think about them, disagree with them. I'll be back with commentary later tonight.

Normal rules apply, of course. We're trying to project 5x5 value to come; what's happened to this point is an audition, not a mandate. Players at the same price are considered even. Don't worry about the prices in a vacuum - what matters is how the players relate to one another. Your intelligent and respectful disagreement is always welcome.

Please remember the golden rule of shuffling: a player doesn't gain (or lose) 15-20 percent of value simply because he's on your roster.

Courtesy injury ranks are at the bottom. I won't debate those (I'm generally not as

Over/Under: Where there’s a Wil, there’s a way

Source: Roto Arcade by Brad Evans

Fantasy is a speculative game. Predict the future, and you look like a genius. Don't, and you're painfully human. Gazing into the crystal ball, here's our view on 10 intriguing over/unders this week.

Top Tampa prospect Wil Myers, who is crushing in Durham, call-up date June 1

Andy – OVER. Or LATER. Or...well, you know what I mean. Never bet on the Rays to make things easy on the fantasy community.

Brandon – OVER. The Rays are frugal, which means they'll likely look to avoid Super 2 status for Myers, which means prolonging his arbitration eligibility arrival. So look for Myers in mid-June, which should keep the Rays safe of the dreaded Super

Mostly MLB Notes: Buying Matt Cain and examining what’s wrong with Eric Hosmer

Source: Roto Arcade by Dalton Del Don

Matt Cain entered this season having allowed 129 homers over 1,536.2 innings (0.76 HR/9). This year, he’s already served up nine home runs over 34.2 innings. Put differently, he’s allowed the same amount of long balls this month as he did all of the 2011 season, which spanned 221.2 innings. Cain has never had a season in which his HR/FB% was higher than 8.4. That number currently sits at 19.1% in 2013. While some could view this as regression hitting hard, Cain’s previous sample was too big to be written off as a fluke, and it’s worth pointing out just two of his six starts this year have come at home. Cain’s fastball velocity is down slightly in the early going (about 0.5 mph less compared to last

Shuffle Up: Michael Cuddyer gets his groove back

Source: Roto Arcade by Scott Pianowski

Today's ranking assignment takes us down on the corner, the first basemen and the third basemen. Settle in, settlers.

What you'll see below are prices for most of the Yahoo-eligible cornermen going forward. There are a few rules here: if you're in the minors or on the DL, you don't make this list. Too variable in worth, league to league. If you're catcher-eligible, you don't make the list – everyone's probably going to use you at catcher anyway. Don't obsess over the actual dollar amounts – what matters is how the players relate to one another. When players are at the same number, they're considered even.

The games to this point are merely an audition. We're trying to figure out who's worth the

Mostly MLB Notes: A 2013 Season Preview

Source: Roto Arcade by Dalton Del Don

Editor’s note: I wanted to get this posted much earlier, but I had my first kid recently (well, technically my wife had her), so that’s my excuse for the delay.

National League East

1. Washington Nationals
2. Atlanta Braves (WILD CARD)
3. Philadelphia Phillies
4. New York Mets
5. Miami Marlins

Comments/Fantasy Predictions: Both Stephen Strasburg and Bryce Harper are top-15 fantasy players, while Dan Haren is a top-25 starting pitcher. Ryan Zimmerman proves to be a better pick than Evan Longoria, while Drew

Fantasy Baseball 2013: The Hate List

Source: Roto Arcade by Andy Behrens

OK, so maybe "hate" isn't exactly the right word here. I'm fairly sure that no member of the Yahoo! fantasy staff actively hates anyone on the list below (except maybe Evans, with Hosmer. Something's up there). In fact, you might actually be able to field a middle-of-the-pack public league fantasy team from the names below. We're not discussing terrible players here.

But the draft-day price tags? Yup, those we hate. Here's a roster full of guys we're not buying...

[Baseball 2013 from Yahoo! Fantasy Sports: Join a league

A.L. Tout Wars recap: Pedroia, Longoria, Mo, Moose and an abundance of Astros

Source: Roto Arcade by Andy Behrens

First, some history: Back in 1887, at the inaugural Tout Wars auction (held at an opium parlor, now defunct), the first player nominated was Pretzels Getzien, staff ace of the Detroit Wolverines. Pretzels was coming off a 30-11 season. He went for $13, sold to Ernie Lanigan of the nascent Sporting News. It wasn't a great buy, but tolerable. Getzien won 29 games in '87, third highest total in the league, but his ratios were merely adequate.

Fortunately for Lanigan, he also spent $24 on right-hander

A.L. Tout Wars recap: Pedroia, Longoria, Mo, Moose, and an abundance of Astros

Source: Roto Arcade by Andy Behrens

First, some history: Back in 1887, at the inaugural Tout Wars auction (held at an opium parlor, now defunct), the first player nominated was Pretzels Getzien, staff ace of the Detroit Wolverines. Pretzels was coming off a 30-11 season. He went for $13, sold to Ernie Lanigan of the nascent Sporting News. It wasn't a great buy, but tolerable. Getzien won 29 games in '87, third highest total in the league, but his ratios were merely adequate.

Fortunately for Lanigan, he also spent $24 on right-hander

A.L. Tout Wars recap: Pedroia, Longoria, Mo, Moose, and more

Source: Roto Arcade by Andy Behrens

First, some history: Back in 1887, at the inaugural Tout Wars auction (held at an opium parlor, now defunct), the first player nominated was Pretzels Getzien, staff ace of the Detroit Wolverines. Pretzels was coming off a 30-11 season. He went for $13, sold to Ernie Lanigan of the nascent Sporting News. It wasn't a great buy, but tolerable. Getzien won 29 games in '87, third highest total

A.L. Tout Wars recap: Pedroia, Longoria, Mo, Moose and more

Source: Roto Arcade by Andy Behrens

First, some history: Back in 1887, at the inaugural Tout Wars auction (held at an opium parlor, now defunct), the first player nominated was Pretzels Getzien, staff ace of the Detroit Wolverines. Pretzels was coming off a 30-11 season. He went for $13, sold to Ernie Lanigan of the nascent Sporting News. It wasn't a great buy, but tolerable. Getzien won 29 games in '87, third highest total

Cactus Juice: Thumbs down on Chase Headley

Source: Roto Arcade by Scott Pianowski

Everyone needs a few simple rules and concepts to navigate through life. You don't tug on Superman's Cape. You don't play poker against anyone who's first name is a city. And in fantasy baseball, you don't mess with thumb injuries.

Sorry about that, Chase Headley. For the rest of March's draft season, you're just about dead to me.

[Play Tourney Pick'em on Yahoo! Fantasy Sports]

The Padres made the news official Monday: Headley has a small fracture on his left thumb and

Fantasy Baseball 2013: Third Base primer

Source: Roto Arcade by Andy Behrens

It seems highly doubtful that you'll be able to screw up this position, no matter how poorly you draft. Go ahead and try. Can't be done. Third base is uncommonly deep in 2013 — so deep, in fact, that the players we've slotted ninth and tenth in our preseason ranks, Chase Headley and Aramis Ramirez, both finished among the overall top-25 last season.

This position is so stacked that no one in the fantasy community even seems to care that we've lost Alex Rodriguez indefinitely — possibly for the entire season. We've buried A-Rod in the desert with Troy Glaus, Hank Blalock and Andy Marte. Thanks for the

Questions at Third Base

Source: Baseball Guys by Ray Flowers

Often times in fantasy baseball we focus too much on the top of drafts. Who should I take in the first round? At what point of the draft do I take my first pitcher? Those questions are the type I receive on a daily basis. While those questions must be asked, the fact of the matter is that most drafts aren’t won in the first five rounds. In my humble opinion, the way you win a draft is to be smart with trades, to work the waiver-wire aggressively, and to pay very close attention as

Over/Under: Young Cubs Rizzo, Castro are bears worth feeding

Source: Roto Arcade by Brad Evans

Fantasy is a speculative game. Predict the future, and you look like a genius. Don't, and you're painfully human. Gazing into the crystal ball, here's our view on nine intriguing over/unders entering spring training.

Eric Hosmer, who failed miserably to cash in on his spring success last year, home runs 19.5

Brandon – OVER. I definitely think Hos will rebound from a forgettable '12, and he's having a strong spring, but I doubt he ever gets too far above this number. It's just not his profile. I'm putting him down for 22 HRs for next year, and for the many years that follow.

Andy – OVER, but not by much. Hosmer is probably too much of a line-drive/ground-ball

2013 Royals Projected Lineup: Is this when vision meets reality?

Source: Fake Teams by Kenneth Arthur

Going into 2010, the Royals top prospect was lefty pitcher Mike Montgomery and John Sickels gave him a B+ grade. He was ahead of Mike Moustakas. He was ahead of Wil Myers. He was ahead of Eric Hosmer. Montgomery posted a 1.88 ERA that season with 65 K and 15 BB in 62 innings, and though he did suffer from an elbow injury it didn't change Sickels

2013 Rankings: Third Basemen

Source: Fantasy Baseball 365

The hot corner is a bit top heavy, but sprinkled in the middle are some hitters that are flawed but bring a carrying fantasy stat to the table. There are also some young players that have breakout potential beyond the upper tier. 

Rank First Name Last

Pressing Questions: The Kansas City Royals

Source: Roto Arcade by Brad Evans

Controversial, lopsided trades are a staple in baseball. Over the years, numerous unbalanced swaps have occurred, leaving fanbases both perplexed and pissed. Pittsburgh’s shipping of Jose Bautista to Toronto for ‘iconic’ catcher Robinzon Diaz back in 2008 immediately comes to mind.

Soon, Royals GM Dayton Moore’s December shipping of uber-prospect Wil Myers to Tampa, along with pitchers Mike Montgomery, Jake Odorizzi and Patrick Leonard, in exchange for James Shields and Wade Davis may be viewed with similar bewilderment.

Myers, the organization’s 2012 Minor League Player

The Debate: Give Me Moose Tacos Over Pedro At Third Base

Source: Fake Teams by Paul Rice

To say that Mike Moustakas and Pedro Alvarez have some similarities would be an understating things quite drastically. Moose Tacos was the second pick of the 2007 draft; Alvarez was the second pick in 2008. They're both Scott Boras clients, although only Alvarez gained industry-wide hate for his agent's signing deadline chicanery. They were both top ten prospects and former minor league stars. Lastly, they're both players who came off of disappointing 2011 seasons, and saw some of their fantasy stock diminish because of it.

Moustakas was seen as Kansas City's third baseman of the future and

Fake Teams 2013 Consensus Third Base Rankings: Part 2

Source: Fake Teams by Ray Guilfoyle

On Monday, I posted Part 1 of our 2013 Consensus Third Base Rankings, complete with player profiles for players ranked 1 - 13. Today, I provide you with Part 2 of our rankings with player profiles for players ranked 14 - 25.

The bottom half of our 2013 Third Base Rankings include two players who could leap into the Top 12 at the position in 2013-Pedro Alvarez and Mike Moustakas. Both have big power bats, but need to improve their plate discipline and contact rates

The Debate:Target Pedro Alvarez over Mike Moustakas

Source: Fake Teams by Ray Guilfoyle

I ranked Pirates third baseman Pedro Alvarez as my 14th ranked fantasy third baseman for 2013, two spots ahead of Royals third baseman Mike Moustakas. If I had to a chance to re-rank them, I would probably rank Alvarez a few spots higher, in the 11-12 range, as I like the power potential, and the fact that there is room for him to improve at the plate.

I ranked Royals third baseman Mike Moustakas as my 16th ranked fantasy third baseman for 2013, and love his

Top 20 3rd Basemen, 2012 Fantasy Baseball

Source: Razzball by grey@razzball.com (Grey Albright)

Third base finally showed signs of a glimmer in 2012 fantasy baseball.  There were a good ten 3rd basemen and another handful that could’ve covered your corner infidel slot.  The only shizzy thing was that there were more than a few complete curveballs.  Bautista, A-Rod, Moustakas, Reynolds and Sandoval, to name a few, were hot garbage and Headley, Encarnacion, Chris Davis and Pedro Alvarez came relatively out of nowhere.  Also, a lot of them were first basemen or 2nd basemen or shortstops, so it wasn’t like they were hanging out on waivers looking for room on peoples’ teams.  Then there’s Ryan Zimmerman who made me look smart in opposite world.  Also, to recap, this final ranking is from our

Your 2012 RCL Champions: Nobody’s Perfect

Source: Razzball by grey@razzball.com (Grey Albright)

Congratulations to the 2012 champions, RCL 40′s Rank Railheads. Co-managers Charley and JungleMike guided the Railheads to an incredible 119-point finish, missing out on perfection by a mere 3 stolen bases. While they had pretty much clinched their league title long ago, the overall title was up for grabs, and they continued to carefully make the moves necessary to stay ahead of the pack.

The Draft

I have included each player’s Razzball Player Rater rank [after the name]. The

Moustakas (groin) likely to be shut down - Mike Moustakas | KC

Source: Rotoworld Baseball

Mike Moustakas is likely to be shut down after aggravating a groin injury Monday.

Moustakas Out Of Beta

Source: Razzball by grey@razzball.com (Grey Albright)

Mike Moustakas left yesterday’s game with a groin injury that could end his season, which would also end his sophomore slump (the “o” is silent in sophomore, like when you make love to your woman — oofa!)  The 2nd season like the 2nd Greek letter is beta.  Beta is also a testing phase when the most kinks are found.  So, naturally, we should expect guys in beta to perform for stretches and then find they have serious compatibility issues with major league pitching, right?   Well, there’s no scientific evidence to support this.  Sure, Austin Jackson and Jason Heyward’s 2011 seasons were miserable and this year we got the same from Hosmer and Moustakas, but Gaby Sanchez was fine for two years, then hit a

Mike Moustakas: Says He's Fine After Leaving With Groin Tightness

Source: RotoWire.com MLB

Mike Moustakas: Moustakas (groin) said after Sunday's game that he's fine, Bob Dutton of the Kansas City Star reports. Visit RotoWire.com for more analysis on this update.

Mike Moustakas exits game with groin injury - Mike Moustakas | KC

Source: Rotoworld Baseball

Mike Moustakas left Sunday's game with tightness in his left groin.

The 2012 Razzball Prospect Awards Show

Source: Razzball by grey@razzball.com (Grey Albright)

Okay, it’s more of a blog post than an awards show, but it’s still really effing prestigious.  Well, maybe it’s not prestigious either, but no one watches sports award shows anyway, and I think we can all agree that the ESPY’s would be much better if it were simply a short-form blog post.  I’ll be digging into team-by-team 2013 previews in the coming weeks, so what we have for you here is one last look around the 2012 Minor League Baseball action.  Enjoy.

Notes on the qualifiers:  Award winners are limited to those players who will be retaining their prospect statuses for 2013.  Also, I’m not even gonna bother with RP’s on the All Razzball teams — the high leverage relievers of the future are probably

Sorry There Ol’ Chapman

Source: Razzball by grey@razzball.com (Grey Albright)

Aroldis Chapman is being shut down ‘for a couple of days’ with shoulder fatigue.  Dusty actually admitted  ”We’re lucky we got to this point” which made every Cub fan both nod and shake their heads.  To be fair to Dusty, his usage of Chapman seems reasonable.  64G/67 IP this year after 54 G/50 IP last year does not seem abusive.  Perhaps hurling a ball 100 MPH isn’t good for your arm.  In Chapman’s stead, Jonathon Broxton picked up the save.  Broxton should feel comfortable pitching for Dusty as he had the ultimate ‘pen melter in Joe Torre as a coach for 5 years (his 2007 usage – 83 G / 82 IP – makes my arm hurt).  Broxton is a must-own as I think it’s likely that Chapman is shut down for

Fantasy Baseball 2012: Top 10 Waiver-Wire Pickups for Week 23

Source: Bleacher Report MLB

The following slideshow touts the top 12 waiver-wire pickups right now, recognizing the best free agents from the majority of 12-team roto leagues.

For the most part, this list rewards players who have already fostered productive starts to the 2012 season.

Savvy readers will notice the rankings are different from last week's offering. These changes can be attributed to the waiver-wire graduations of Mitch Moreland, David Murphy, Sergio Romo, Mike Moustakas and Brett Anderson—forgotten (or largely ignored) assets on draft day, but now contributing pieces with their current teams.

That's how it should be with this countdown: Here today, gone tomorrow.

Enjoy

Mike Moustakas: Fantasy's Next Elite Third Baseman?

Source: Fake Teams by Alex Kantecki

Coming into 2012, the Royals Mike Moustakas was a trendy sleeper pick in fantasy drafts. "Moose Tacos," a variation on Moustakas that I can’t get enough of, had all the makings of the next great star as an above average, power-hitting third baseman smack in the middle of a young and talented Kansas City lineup.

As we all know, fantasy doesn’t always become reality, as is the case with the 2012 version of Moustakas. I wouldn’t blame you for not noticing the 23-year old for the better part of the last two months. Since the All-Star break, he’s hitting a

Moustakas plates three, including game winner - Mike Moustakas | KC

Source: Rotoworld Baseball

Mike Moustakas had three hits and drove home three runs, powering the Royals to a 9-8 victory over Justin Verlander and the Tigers on Tuesday.

Plouffe Positive

Source: Razzball by grey@razzball.com (Grey Albright)

Trevor Plouffe is returning from the DL and that’s big news because it’s big news.  If you would’ve jumped out of a DeLorean back in March and told me I’d actually be writing a lede for Trevor Plouffe, let alone just a lede because he’s returning from the DL, I would’ve told you there’s no way Plouffe would warrant a lede and this is the information you bring back from the future?  You couldn’t find anything more inane?  Like how about you tell me what day the barista doesn’t leave enough room in my coffee for milk?  As my bumper sticker says, “I love black people, I don’t love black coffee.”  Trevor Plouffe has 19 homers and he’s owned in 41% of ESPN leagues.  I’m guessing a few

Mike Moustakas: (Knee) MRI Clean

Source: RotoWire.com MLB

Mike Moustakas: Updating a previous item, Moustakas says the MRI on his knee came back clean and that he feels much better, reports Bob Dutton of the Kansas City Star on Twitter. Visit RotoWire.com for more analysis on this update.

Moustakas exits game with right knee sprain - Mike Moustakas | KC

Source: Rotoworld Baseball

Mike Moustakas was pulled from Saturday's game against the Mariners with a sprained right knee.

RCL Roundup: July 10

Source: Razzball by grey@razzball.com (Grey Albright)

The Fugs (Epic Beardmen Division) held on to the lead in the overall standings with an impressive 112 points, and are crowned the first half champions! Rank Railheads (RCL 40) pulled to within 1 with a 4-point gain. captainpyper (RCL 3) is 3rd with 108, followed by Beardcrabs (The Gaylords — Conshellation Prize) and panthers_freak (We’ve Got the Runs — Baseball Reasons), 1 point back. Chris (Retro Vertigo — ECFBL) grew his legend with a 9-point jump as he rocketed to 6th from 24th. Rounding out the top 10 are NYC Matthole (Ones are GOOD, right?), MattTruss223 (Rube Waddell’s Shiny Objects

Fantasy Baseball Top 100 for Second Half of 2012

Source: Razzball by grey@razzball.com (Grey Albright)

So it’s not really the 2nd half mark in the fantasy baseball season, but it’s the All-Star Break so what else are we going to talk about?  Hell’s Kitchen?  Is it even believable that these people would one day be in charge of a kitchen?  There’s Real World castmates who seem like they have their shizz together better than these schmohawks.  Clemenza t food in his own sweat, and he Okay, as with all of the other 2012 fantasy baseball rankings, take this list with a grain of salt.  If you need a 2nd baseman, but an outfielder is above him that doesn’t mean you can’t trade the outfielder for the 2nd baseman.  Also, things change in fantasy

Shuffle Up: Justin Morneau, part-time power

Source: Roto Arcade by Scott Pianowski

You should know the rules by now, but we'll offer a quick review. Today's assignment is to rank all the corner-eligible players going forward, 5x5 value for rotisserie leagues. What's happened to this point is an audition, not a stat mandate. Anyone in the minors or on the DL is not eligible for a rank; too much variance with the Optimism Parade.

I welcome your intelligent disagreement at all times, but you need to back your angle up with facts. No brief rants, amigos. You're better than that. Further the conversation. And remember the golden rule of roto: a player doens't get a 10-20 percent spike in value simply because he's on your roster. They produce in spite of you, not because of you.

The 1.0 phase is the

You Fly To Majors Now, Little Starling… Fly, Fly, Fly…

Source: Razzball by grey@razzball.com (Grey Albright)

The Pirates announced the time is nigh for Starling Marte.  The Pirates equipment manager, Buffalo Bill, has to start making a uniform made from Jose Tabata’s skin.  Put the lotion in the basket, Tabata!  Tabata, “I wanna go home!”  You won’t go home, ever.  Because you never get on base, that’s the first step to going home.  Tabata, “But I was a spring sleeper!”  They’re slaughtering the spring lambs.  Can’t you hear their screaming?  I call that piece, The Mash-Up of the Lambs.  I’m guessing Marte will get the call just after the All-Star break.  In Triple-A, he’s hitting .284 with 8 homers and 16 steals *quieter voice* and 12 times caught stealing.  So he’s a bit raw like your

Enormous & Andy Bamboozled By Injuries

Source: Razzball by grey@razzball.com (Grey Albright)

Yankee pitchers haven’t been hit this hard since Ed Whitson ran into a Billy Martin drinking jag.  You know, Yogi’s always the one quoted from the Yankee archives, but Billy had some good ones too.  Here’s my favorite, “I’d like to mouth f*** that bottle of whiskey.”  Before the Yankees game, CC Sabathia hit the DL with an abductor strain in his groin.  Someone’s got clams!  CC is supposed to be fine to go right after the All-Star break, as long as no one else tries to shuck his groin.  Then, once the game got going, Andy Pettitte was hit in the ankle with a comebacker.  Pettitte is supposed to be out for 6-8 weeks.  At least he didn’t pull a Zumaya during his retirement and hurt himself playing

Roto Roundup: Trevor Bauer, Mike Moustakas, Jason Heyward and Others

Source: Fake Teams by Ray Guilfoyle

Well, the consecutive inning scoreless streak for R.A. Dickey is now over as he gave up his first earned runs in the third inning of last night's game. His streak ends at 44.2 scoreless innings. Quite a feat for a 37 year old knuckle ball pitcher.

Diamondbacks pitching prospect Trevor Bauer will finally get the call on Thursday to make his first major league start. Thus far in 2012, he is 11-1 with a 2.19 ERA, 1.317 WHIP, and a 111-46 strikeout to walk ratio in 90.1 innings of work in AA and AAA this season. He has had trouble

Youkilis To Begin Dating Jay Cutler’s Sister

Source: Razzball by grey@razzball.com (Grey Albright)

The trade to the White Sox couldn’t have worked any better for Kevin Youkilis.  Now he can just chuck all of his clothes in with some bleach.  I imagine him and Ventura will get along thick as thieves.  They can bond over how they were both publicly beat up.  Ventura by Nolan and Youuuuuuuuk by the Red Sox.  Talk about a club turning on one of its biggest fan favorites.  I hope Bobby Valentine has the decency to help Youuuuuuuuuk pack up his locker in an easy-to-carry pita.  The Greek God Of Limps could see a boost in value if he can stay healthy.  That if is the size of Mumbai’s population.  Maybe the motivation of showing the Red Sox they shouldn’t have hurt his feelings will help him pick up his

Moustakas goes deep twice in loss to Cards - Mike Moustakas | KC

Source: Rotoworld Baseball

Mike Moustakas went 3-for-5 with a pair of home runs in Sunday's 11-8 loss to the Cardinals.

Noise: Tim Lincecum’s season-long fog is about to lift

Source: Roto Arcade by Brad Evans

One week ago at AT&T Park, the second-most dominating pitching performance in big league history occurred. 'Stros whiffed often. Cheers roared. Perfection was achieved. For the Giants zealots in attendance, it was an unforgettable night by one of the game's foremost workhorses.

Sadly, it wasn't twirled by Tim Lincecum.

As Matt Cain has anchored one of the finest rotations in the National League, the former Cy Young winner, once an invaluable K machine, has horrifically underperformed, leaving owner ERAs inflated, egos bruised and deficits deep. Because of his unsightly superficial numbers, many of his owners are THIS close to ending their misery. Still, based on his 95-percent

RCL Roundup: June 19

Source: Razzball by grey@razzball.com (Grey Albright)

There’s change once again at the top of the Master standings! The Fugs (Epic Beardmen Division) shot up from 11th to grab the lead with 109 points. Trini (Psychic Friends Network — RCL 22) moved back up the leaderboard and sits in second, just 1 behind. captainpyper (RCL 3) gained 1 position, and is now 3rd with 106 points. Achilles (Tennessee Mash — RCL 22) and Simply fred (The Fredsies — ECFBL) are next with 105, followed by Team Birdis (a second team in the top 10 for RCL 3), Pig Charmer (Grunge Ball — RCL 16), and Beardcrabs (The Gaylords — Conshellation Prize), another point back. NYC Matthole (Ones

Closing Time: Jim Thome would like your attention; Ubaldo Jimenez teases us; analyzing The Axman

Source: Roto Arcade by Scott Pianowski

It's a bit of a shame that Jim Thome landed in Philadelphia last winter. This sweet-swinging lefty could still be a solid full-time (or most-of-the-time) DH for an American League club — and he's emphatically proving it this week.

The Phillies are in the middle of an AL road trip and Thome has been front and center, enjoying the ride. He's on an 11-for-24 tear over the past six games, ripping three homers and driving in 13 runs. We can have some fun with this story through the weekend, when Thome and friends play at Toronto. Power lefty Ricky Romero could be a challenge in the Saturday matinee, but I like Thome's chances to connect against Drew Hutchinson on Friday or