Long time no see, friends, long time no see. I've been real busy with this camp business, and every summer it seems I get in a lull with this blog and forget to write for a while, or am just too lazy to do so after a long day of work. But checkin' in now cuz fantasy is getting pretty interesting.
First off, wanna recommend another book. Yea, yea, i kno, i've done that a bunch of times already, but for fantasy owners, nothing hits home as well as "Fantasyland" by Sam Walker, a chronicle of the author's journey through a full season of Tout wars, the premiere fantasy league in all of baseball. The thing is, i'd barely even heard of Tout Wars before reading the book, and there were some references to it in certain media outlets that made it seem like this mysterious, omnicient cult, but now I know what it is. And you will too after reading the book. But anyway, the book totally reflects everything that a fantasy owner goes through, from analysis of certain players to investing heavily in certain favorites to cursing managers for leaving pitchers in games to agonizing losses to the salivating before making a big trade you KNOW is favorable to you. O man, get it, get it.
Another recommendation if you're bored and are flipping through channels waiting for the September premieres of shows ( Btw, heroes: villains from what I hear will be awesome), check out a show called Total Drama Island on Cartoon Network. Very unconventional, I never thought i'd recommend anything on a kids show. But this show was made with adults in mind too, and it's more "Survivor" than "every cartoon show you've ever seen." It follows the reality TV show format, has great character development for a half-hour show, and makes some great jokes. Good entertainment. And you don't have to worry about someone stupid winning like Parvati did winning the last one. ( Urg, i so hated Cirie). Anyway, if you check out that show my favorite storyline is Duncan-Courtney. That budding romance is a great match.
Speaking of match(up)s, the last day of baseball before the all-star break has some marquee ones. Right now I'm following Cole Hamels vs. Brandon Webb in a 1-0 pitcher's duel, which has great fantasy implications, especially when it's ur fantasy pitcher vs. your closest rival's best pitcher. It really transcends into the fantasy world. Brandon Webb, btw, shares my birthday, giving him extra props in my book.
Later, it's Tim Lincecum vs. Ryan Dempster. O man Lincecum is turning out so nicely, it's a pleasure watching him grow into a future Hall-of-Fame pitcher.
At this point in the season, you are OBLIGATED as the manager of a fantasy team to sit down, assess and reasses your teams, come up with unbiased analysis of your team, the strengths and weaknesses, and address them. Have a game plan for the rest of the season. Know what you need. Go for the win. No more haggling along. If you're up 25 homers or more on the rest of the league, it's probably time to trade Ryan Howard for whatever else you need. You'll have to make a decision soon to pull the trigger, cuz half the season is gone. Then again, don't automatically assume if you're leading a category right now you'll just outright win it. Nothing hurts more than trading a guy who was nuts in a certain category, then watching everybody else in the league catch up to you in that cat by September. that's where that solid analysis comes in. Come up with a plan, make amends to it, make a move. Don't be afraid to consider all options, but don't make a desperate one.
Although, if you're in last place in your league, disregard all that advice you just received. You're probably toast already, my friend.
Who are the guys you should look out for to help your team down the stretch?
Volquez and Lee are the guys everybody sees as breakout pitchers this year, and rightly so, but Ervin Santana is now 11-3, a guy you coulda picked up off the waiver wire in late April. The guy's solid. I would ride him for the rest of the way as he and Lackey are the horses in that Angel pen. Joba Chamberlain is another guy who's fresh ( not too many innings worked) and has devastating stuff. He'll never really disappoint you cuz the strikeout numbers are there even if his peripherals suffer a little bit.
I was pumping francisco liriano before the season started only to see him go into a fantasy coma, but he should be back after the all-star and this time, it should be the real deal. If you need pitching help, you can't really let the chance that liriano has a 2006-like explosion on a good twins team go by the way side. Speaking of the twins, no one speaks of scott baker. He's probably the best pitcher on that staff.
For hitters, I would hang on to Ian Kinsler. That 1st half was no fluke, man can hit, and he's got some offensive juggernauts behind him, to say the least.
Watch the Arizona lineup. They started off all mashing, then went into a long flunk. Watch for them to break out of it w/ guys like Tracy, Reynolds, and Chris Young carrying the load.
No other 1st-round pick this season has disappointed more than Miguel Cabrera. I think he finally adjusts to America's armpit called Detroit and mashes to his usual tune the 2nd half.
Ryan Howard will have more than 45 homers again. That's almost a given in my mind unless he gets hurt.
If you can get Joe Mauer somehow, get him. He's good. He won't disappoint cuz he's just a sick ballplayer.
There will be some young hitter who tears up the league the 2nd half of the season as he rounds into shape. Candidates for that are Billy Butler, Adam Jones, Jay Bruce, and Mike Jacobs. Watch for those guys.
Biggest 2nd-half guy you should watch: Nick the Stick, Nick Markakis. Third-year player, historically good Augusts, this guy will be rewarding you tremendously soon.
Fantasize on,
Robert Yan
