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      Mets Solidify Bullpen Further With Putz; Yanks and Braves Chasing Burnett

      December 11, 2008 /

      Well, it turns out Mets’ GM Omar Minaya wasn’t messing around when it came to fixing his team’s biggest problem–the bullpen. A day after agreeing to terms with record breaking closer Francisco “K-Rod” Rodriguez, Minaya pulled the trigger on a blockbuster trade involving two other teams, Seattle and Cleveland. The Mets acquired Mariners’ closer JJ Putz and RHP Sean Green from Seattle and OF Jeremy Reed from Cleveland; they sent OF Endy Chavez, RHP Aaron Heilman, and minor leaguers Maikel Cleto, Ezequiel Carrera, Jason Vargas, and Mike Carp to Seattle and RHP Joe Smith to Cleveland; Cleveland sent IF Franklin Gutierrez to Seattle; and Seattle sent Luis Valbuena to Cleveland.

      Essentially what this means for the Mets is that they traded Heilman and Smith for Putz, while swapping marginal outfielders. The move is good for Seattle, who received a ton of young players, and for Cleveland, who now have a reliable sinker ball pitcher to put in front of new closer Kerry Wood. But it’s huge for the Mets, who will put Putz in the set-up role in front of K-Rod. Putz will earn just $5.5 million in 2009 and has a team option in 2010 for $9.1 million, and K-Rod’s contract also features a lot of money on the back end of his contract. That means Minaya and the Mets will have decisions to make in 2010 and beyond, but for 2009 in shiny new Citi Field, they have given themselves possibly the best one-two bullpen punch in the majors, and any lead after the seventh inning will almost certainly result in a win. Things still have to play out on the field, but that’s already a far cry from the two epic collapses of 2006 and 2007.

      Meanwhile, the Braves and Yankees appear to be in a bidding war for RHP A.J. Burnett. The Yankees were not satisfied with just C.C. Sabathia, and are looking to fortify their rotation with Burnett, and/or Ben Sheets, Andy Pettitte or Derek Lowe. The Braves offered four years with a fifth year option, all totaling $80 million, to Burnett; and since then, reports surfaced that the Yanks upped their offer to $91 million, but that was incorrect, and it’s said to be more in the same $80 to $85 million range the Braves are offering, but with five years guaranteed. It’s unclear if the Braves can win a real bidding war with New York, but with the numbers close, this one will surely be more a matter of where Burnett wants to live and work for the next few years.

      Bullz-Eye Sports Channel, Fantasy Baseball, MLB

      Love ‘Em & Leave ‘Em: Week 15

      December 10, 2008 /

      Every week, I highlight a few players to start and a few players to sit at each position. I’m a firm believer in starting your studs, so I won’t tell you about how Drew Brees or LaDainian Tomlinson has a tough matchup – just go ahead and start them. I’ll focus on the borderline guys – players you’ll only start under the right circumstances. It’s important to note that depending on your roster and situation, you may not be able to follow these recommendations. For example, if I suggest you bench a solid starter like Peyton Manning, only do so if you have a clearly better option on your bench.

      The “love ‘em” players are listed in the order that I’d start them this week.

      LOVE ‘EM

      QB: There are a number of so-so QBs with nice matchups this week. Phillip Rivers has a nice matchup with a Kansas City defense that is ranked 29th against the pass…. Tyler Thigpen has proven himself to be a capable fantasy QB, and his matchup with the Chargers 30th-ranked pass defense is a tasty one…Kyle Orton has been solid this year, and as long as the weather cooperates, he should be a good start against the Saints, who have struggled against the pass this season…Jason Campbell faces the Bengals, who have yielded 1.6 pass TD per game this year…Kerry Collins’ problem against the Lions was that Detroit couldn’t keep it close. Houston has more of an offensive backbone and I think Collins will have to pass to keep the chains moving to put points on the board…Seneca Wallace isn’t a bad play against the Rams…For the desperate, Tarvaris Jackson (or Gus Frerotte) and Marc Bulger have nice matchups with Arizona and Seattle, respectively.

      RB: Maurice Jones-Drew is an absolute must-start against a porous Packer rush defense, especially with the news that Fred Taylor is nicked up and might miss the game…Both Chris Johnson and LenDale White should be in lineups this week. Houston is pretty bad against the run so there should be enough touches to go around to allow both guys to be productive…Sammy Morris looks like a good start against an Oakland defense that is ranked 30th against the run…DeAngelo Williams has been absolutely tearing it up, and he’s a terrific start against a sketchy Denver rush defense this week, but given what Jonathan Stewart did last week against the Bucs, he’s worth a start as well. The guy is gold when he gets 14+ carries, but be warned that he has only received that many looks in six of 13 games this season…Kevin Smith should find room to run against the Colts, who are ranked 25th in the league against the run. Indy has been a little better of late, and if the Colts get out to a big lead the Lions might abandon the run, so this start is not without peril…If Joseph Addai doesn’t play, look for Dominic Rhodes to have a big day against the league’s worst rush defense. Even if Addai does play, Rhodes has a good shot to get plenty of garbage time carries as the Colts try to keep Addai fresh for the stretch run…For the desperate, Maurice Morris is a sneaky good start assuming he gets a majority of the carries like he did last week. The Rams have struggled against the run all season.

      WR: Santana Moss is a good start this week against the Bengals, who have been especially bad against the pass of late…Marques Colston and Lance Moore are both good starts against the Bears, who have yielded 234 pass yards per game this season…Bernard Berrrian is a great start against a Cardinals defense that has yielded the most pass TD in the league (27)…Marvin Harrison is playing at home, which is a great sign, especially since he’s playing the Lions. The only worry is that Detroit can’t score enough to force the Colts to stay aggressive…Isaac Bruce isn’t a bad start against a Dolphins defense that is much better against the run than they are against the pass…Devin Hester has a nice matchup with a shaky Saints pass defense, assuming the weather in Chicago isn’t too bad…If you’re desperate, Torry Holt and Donnie Avery have a nice matchup against the Seahawks, who have given up a league-worst 265 passing yards per game.

      LEAVE ‘EM

      QB: In that PIT/BAL matchup, both Ben Roethlisberger and Joe Flacco face tough tests this week. Big Ben is still startable, but if you have a better option, it would be a good time to utilize it…Matt Ryan is playing very well, but he’s a mediocre start this week against a good Bucs defense. Tampa Bay hasn’t played very well on the road, so Ryan should post decent numbers; just don’t expect him to set the world on fire…Lately, the Raiders and Broncos have been pretty decent against opposing QBs, so Matt Cassel and Jake Delhomme have so-so matchups this week…Matt Schaub should be benched if possible against the Titans who are ranked 3rd in pass defense.

      RB: Tim Hightower can still be started, but he faces a tough matchup with the Vikings’ 2nd-ranked rush defense this week…LeRon McClain should get most of the touches with Ray Rice and Willis McGahee nicked up, but I’m not optimistic about his potential against Pittsburgh’s #1 rush defense that was embarrassed last week against the Cowboys…Jamal Lewis has been pretty brutal all season and things aren’t going to get better this week against a good Philly rush defense…The Chargers have actually been pretty tough against the run of late, so be careful with Larry Johnson this week. If you have a good alternative, you may want to use it…Willie Parker and Mewelde Moore face a tough Ravens rush defense that has yielded an average of just 77 yards and 0.2 TD on the season…Unless Frank Gore makes a strong recovery this week, I’d bench him (and his balky ankle) against Miami, assuming I had another good option.

      WR: He’s still startable in PPR leagues, but Derrick Mason hasn’t caught a TD pass against the Steelers in 19-straight meetings. He did post 8-137 in the matchup earlier this season, so there is some reason for optimism…Braylon Edwards has two things working against him: 1) he faces the Eagles’ 6th-ranked pass defense this week and 2) he has Ken Dorsey throwing the ball to him. Bench him if you can…T.J. Houshmandzadeh is still starter-worthy, but you might want to leave Ocho Cinco on the bench with the Redskins’ 7th-ranked pass defense coming to town.

      THINKING DEFENSIVELY (DTBWW)

      Welcome to the world of Defensive Team By Waiver Wire (DTBWW). Each week, you pick up a defense, usually one playing at home against a bad offense. And each week, you get pretty good numbers out of your DT position. All teams are available in at least 40% of ESPN fantasy leagues.

      I’m moving this feature up from it’s normal slot in my Love ‘Em & Leave ‘Em feature because I realize that a lot of owners are playing the waiver wire right now trying to find a defense, so the earlier you can put your bids in the better.

      This week’s picks:

      Patriots (@ OAK)
      Redskins (@ CIN)

      (I’d grab the Colts, Dolphins and Cardinals – in that order – before the Pats and Redskins, but they are owned in more than 40% of ESPN fantasy leagues, so they aren’t eligible for DTBWW this week.)

      Last week’s picks:

      Colts: 3 PA + 5 SK + 3 INT + 1 INT RET TD + 1 FR = 23 fantasy points
      Chargers: 7 PA + 3 SK + 3 INT + 1 FR = 13 fantasy points

      Great week for DTBWW in crunch time.

      Fantasy Football, NFL

      Fantasy Football Podcast: Week 15

      December 10, 2008 /

      Listen in as Anthony Stalter and I discuss how it’s wrong to blame Aaron Rodgers for all that has gone wrong with the Green Bay Packers this season, how Clinton Portis’ outburst affects his prospects this week, and what to expect from the Cowboys/Giants tilt this Sunday. I’ll also throw out a few QB sleepers for fantasy owners in need.

      Click here to listen to the podcast.

      Fantasy Football, NFL, Podcasts

      Francisco Rodriguez signs with the only team that really wanted him: The New York Mets

      December 10, 2008 /

      K-RodAfter a record-setting 62-save season in 2008 with the Angels, Francisco Rodriguez has signed a three-year deal with the New York Mets. The $45 million contract, which includes an option for a fourth year, was reportedly the only offer from an organization other than the Angels.

      Owner Arte Moreno said the Angels made as many as six contract offers to Rodriguez over the years, the last one for three years and $34 million in November 2007.

      Rodriguez, believing his value was more in line with the three-year, $45-million deal Yankees closer Mariano Rivera signed that month, rejected the offer.

      Rodriguez was hoping to parlay his record-setting season into a five-year, $75-million deal, but with a glut of closers available and only one big-market team in the hunt for one, Rodriguez’s market was severely depressed this winter.

      Scioscia said the Angels wouldn’t necessarily enter 2009 with a set closer. Veteran setup man Scot Shields probably will be given the first crack at the job, and right-hander Jose Arredondo, coming off an impressive rookie season, will be considered.

      Veteran left-hander Darren Oliver could pitch later in games, and hard-throwing youngster Kevin Jepsen will probably play a more prominent role. The Angels are also talking to the agent for free-agent left-hander Brian Fuentes, who could close.

      Too bad K-Rod couldn’t just swallow his pride and stay with Angels, a team that will consistently have a shot at making the World Series. It seems like in the days of the modern bulky pitching contract (a la CC Sabathia), Rodriguez felt it with was about time he was given some monetary respect.

      The Angels still made the right move. Scot Shields is an effective set-up man and if they can land Brian Fuentes as a closer, they should be in good shape. But pitching was never the Angels’ problem. As seen in the last fall’s ALDS, the only person who drove some runs in was Mark Texiera, and it appears that he’s who they’re going after.

      And they should. Aside from Albert Pujols, Texiera is the best all-around first baseman in the game. He has a good attitude, a solid bat, and is a wall at first base. If I were Arte Moreno, the owner of the Angels, I’d sign this guy before Brian Cashman of the Yankees looks under his chair and finds $200 million that he had forgotten about after closing in on Sabathia earlier this morning.

      MLB

      Grizzlies trade Crittenton to the Wizards

      December 10, 2008 /

      Loaded with point guards, the Memphis Grizzlies decided to trade one away, according to reports.

      The Wizards will receive New Orleans’ Mike James and Memphis’ Javaris Crittenton in the exchange, with the Hornets acquiring Washington’s Antonio Daniels and the Grizzlies coming away with a future first-round pick. New Orleans also received a conditional second-round pick from Memphis.

      The pick is a conditional first-rounder that Memphis had sent to Washington in the trade to acquire Spanish guard Juan Carlos Navarro in the 2007 offseason. Navarro returned to club power FC Barcelona in his native country this season.

      This looks like a good deal for both the Wizards and the Grizzlies. The first round pick was originally the Grizzlies’; here are the details:

      Washington receives a 2009 Memphis first-round pick. (protected) top 16 in 2009, top 14 from 2010-12 and top 12 in 2013. (Juan Carlos Navarro trade 081607).

      So instead of hoping for the Grizzlies to finish outside the top 12-16 over the next five years, the Wizards decided to exchange that pick for a point guard prospect (Crittenton), who is most famous for being a part of the trade that sent Pau Gasol to the Lakers.

      It’s a good trade for the Grizzlies as well because they no longer have that first round pick hanging over their heads. It probably wouldn’t have mattered for the next couple of seasons, but if the Grizzlies were to turn into a playoff contender, they would lose that first round pick once they finished outside the top 12-16 picks in the draft, depending on the year.

      However, if Crittenton turns out to be a player, Chris Wallace will have some more egg on his face.

      Fantasy Basketball, NBA

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