The Mirages of Baseball: Soon to Disappoint

 
Chipper won’t be able to keep up the pace in the second half of 2008.
PHOTO BY ICON SMI

BY MICHAEL GANCI
Update Writer!

 

Every year in baseball, there are people who shock the world into thinking that they are breaking out into their prime, only to let their fantasy owners down in the second half. Last year, Jose Reyes may have been a perfect example. The following is a list of ten players who will not be worth the gamble in the second half.

BATTERS

1. CHRISTIAN GUZMAN, SS, Washington Nationals

Comment: The Nationals are making a big mistake by offering Guzman a multi-year contract extension. His numbers have been solid thus far. He is leading the league with 110 hits, and has opened a lot of eyes with his .313 average. He never walks, and that has hurt his on-base percentage. In fact, his career OBP is only .305, which is below average for a major league shortstop. Although he hit over .300 last year, remember that his season was cut short due to injury. He only played 46 games. The last time before last season that he hit over .300 was in 2001, when he was a member of the Minnesota Twins. My advice would be to sell high, because you can probably net a decent bounty before he comes back down to earth.

2. MILTON BRADLEY, OF, Texas Rangers

Comment: Texas made a risky investment when they signed Bradley in the offseason, but thus far, he is exceeding expectations by far. He is tied for the American League lead with a .323 average and has already belted 16 homers. He has an impressive .443 on base percentage, and is clearly the MVP on this Rangers team. So what’s the problem? The only time Milton Bradley has exceeded 500 at-bats was in 2004 when he was a member of the Los Angeles Dodgers. And, in that season, he only hit 19 homers. While his numbers when the season is all said and done might be above average, I think people need to think about the injury-risk. Bradley has spent plenty of time on the disabled list in the last few years, and he even injured himself while arguing with an umpire. Cash in while you can.

3. CHIPPER JONES, 3B, Atlanta Braves

Comment: Now, before people jump down my throat, let me explain. Chipper is hitting a nasty .394 with 16 homers and 46 RBI in 2008. He has also scored 48 runs and his ob-base percentage is .485. Currently, Chipper is battling injury. He sat out his eighth straight game recently and it is things like this that will prevent him from putting up the monster line when all is said and done. He is a mild tear, and who knows if that will hold up for the rest of the season? He could be one pull away from season-ending surgery. In 1996-2003, Chipper appeared in over 150 games each year. But, since then, he hasn’t accomplished that feat once. The most he appeared in was 137 in 2004. The wear and tear is starting to get to Chipper, and although this may be a hard decision for you to make, you need to deal him while you can, and especially in keeper leagues, because he could net you two or three young quality players.

4. SKIP SCHUMAKER, OF, St. Louis Cardinals

Comment: Schumaker has been a pleasant surprise for the Cardinals this season to go along with Ryan Ludwick. He is hitting .304 with six homers and 30 RBI in 276 at-bats thus far this season. His average is the 11 th best in the National League. The 28-year-old is a career minor leaguer who is performing for the first time at the big level, but no one in their right mind expects this to last. Odds are, if you have Schumaker on your team, you got him off the scrap heap. Now is the time to deal him for a pitcher, because pitchers are going to look at tape and find his vulnerability.

5. JORGE CANTU, 3B, Florida Marlins

Comment: Cantu has been impressive this season for the Marlins. He was recently in the midst of a slump, but he may have ended that with a game-winning hit on Sunday. He is currently hitting .278 on the season, with 14 homers and 47 RBI. This is a guy that was brought in to compete with other players for the starting job, and was also someone no one took seriously. He is a major part to why the Marlins are having the success that they are enjoying. His career year was in 2005 with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. He hit .286 and scorched 28 homers and 117 RBI. Since then, he has failed to eclipse 14 homers and 62 RBI. The Rays gave up on him, and so did the Reds. The reason is because he is not consistent enough to keep this going for an entire season. Thus, my recommendation would be to deal him for a more proven consistent player.

PITCHERS

1. BRADEN LOOPER, SP, St. Louis Cardinals

Comment: Looper has been a pleasant surprise for the Cardinals this season, as he sports a 9-5 record thus far. He was a 4.26 ERA in just under 100 innings thus far. He has only struck out 44 hitters. People need to remember that Looper has never thrown more 175 innings, and he only did that once. Before becoming a starter last season, his high was 86 innings with the 2002 Marlins. Looper doesn’t dazzle hitters, but he has been able to get good run support and has been able to wean his way out of jams. I don’t think his arm will last through the season, so my recommendation would be to sell high.

2. VICENTE PADILLA, SP, Texas Rangers

Comment: Padilla is on a roll right now on a Texas team that isn’t. He is 10-4 on the season, and has pitched at least six innings in six straight starts. Four of those were wins. But, don’t let the good overshadow the bad. Padilla has been maybe the most inconsistent pitcher in baseball over the last few years. First off, from 2004-2007, he exceeded nine wins only once. Secondly, he has given up 19 homers already, which means he is going to give up more homers than he ever has. That is almost a 40 pace. He has exceeded 200 innings only once since 2003, and is someone you most certainly should sell high on.

3. ANDY SONNASTINE, SP, Tampa Bay Rays

Comment: The 25-year old Sonnastine has had a nice first half after a subpar year of starting in which he went 6-10 with a 5.85 ERA last season. But, this year, he is sporting a 9-3 record and a 4.60 ERA to go along with 67 Ks in 101.2 innings. People need to remember the year he had last year, and also remember that he is only 25. He is not going to be a 20-game winner. His value right now is through the roof, and I don’t think I would be overreacting if I said that he probably went undrafted in 80 percent of leagues. If you are lucky enough to be benefitting from his excellent first half, field some offers, and if the right one comes around, don’t be afraid to deal him.

4. RYAN DEMPSTER, SP, Chicago Cubs

Comment: People often forget that Dempster was a starter for six years before being moved to the bullpen, and he was average at best. His record in those six years was 47-48 in the games he started. Then, he spent four years in the bullpen before being reinstated in the rotation in 2008. He is ten games under .500 for his career with almost a 5.00 ERA. This first half performance is surprising, but people need to remember that he gets tons of run support. It is time for the Dempster owner to think long and hard about the bounty they would be able to get for the Cubs starter, and see if it is worth it for your team, because I don’t think he will be this good in the second half.

5. TIM REDDING, SP, Washington Nationals

Comment: Before reading his name here, many of you probably didn’t realize that Redding was having a good first half. Well, he is. Currently, he has gone seven straight games in which he has gotten no-decisions. He is 6-3 on the year for a hopeless Nationals team. The journeyman was picked up in spring training to compete for a spot, and he was given his chance when John Patterson was cut and the wave of injuries hit. There is no way he is going to be this productive in the second half, and if you own him in a deep league, now is the time to cash in.

Stock Watch

BY CHRIS STARBONELL
Update! Writer

Every week UPDATE! will be putting together a list of note-worthy performances or events that have transpired in baseball. We’ll let you know what to get excited or nervous about while also providing fantasy insight.

 

BULLISH

A.J. BURNETT, Toronto Blue Jays, SP
Comment: When he gave up 18 runs in three games between June 7^th and 19^th, Burnett could not find any answers for his poor 2008 season. He was dejected, quiet and solemn following an 8 run drubbing at the hands of the Brewers, but since that start Burnett has looked like an ace. In his last two starts he has struck out 18 in 15 innings, securing 2 wins with a 0.60 ERA and 1.00 WHIP. His stuff has been dazzling and when one remembers his strong second-half in 2007 (5-2, 3.01 ERA, 1.09 WHIP, 70 SO in 71.2 IP), he makes a terrific trade target, especially if he is moved by Toronto to a better team before the trade deadline. He is likely to opt out of his deal following this season, so the rest of 2008 is an audition for a big contract in the off-season. Couple that with the fact that he has remained healthy all year thanks to a couple of mechanical tweaks prior to the season and we may be looking at a fantasy star the rest of the way.

 

BILLY BUTLER, Kansas City Royals, 1B/DH
Comment: After handling Triple-A pitching for a month with the greatest of ease, Billy Butler got the call over the weekend and returned to the Kansas City Royals. In 26 games in the minors, Butler batted .337 with a .417 OBP, 5 HR, 6 doubles and 18 runs. It is important for fantasy owners to keep their expectations in check. He’s not a big-time power hitter and is a plodder on the base-paths which will limit his run-scoring opportunities. That being said, the 22-year old could be of great help to your team in the batting average department and may even be a pretty good RBI producer depending on where he hits in the underrated Royals offense. AL-only leaguers should consider taking a flier on Butler while mixed-league players can probably afford to wait a few games before adding him.

 

CHRIS DAVIS, Texas Rangers, 3B

Comment: Davis made history over the weekend, becoming the first Rangers player to homer in the first two starts of his career. His minor-league stats indicate that Davis’ power is for real as he had 23 homers in 77 games between Triple- A and Double-A this season and 74 total home runs in 275 minor-league games during his professional career. The only problem with Davis is the expected return of Hank Blalock in a couple of weeks. However, if Davis rakes the ball, he could force the Rangers’ hand.

 

KEVIN SLOWEY, Minnesota Twins, SP
Comment: Over his past 4 starts, Slowey has been on an incredible roll. Over that span, he’s earned 3 wins with a 0.93 ERA, 0.72 WHIP and 24 whiffs in 29 innings. The most impressive aspect of this streak is the 2 walks allowed (both came on June 18). Slowey had a terrific minor-league career (13-8, 1.94 ERA, 0.85 WHIP, 361 SO in 366.2 IP) and the control pitcher has the goods to be a great back of the rotation option for fantasy owners that can be a strong asset in the WHIP category.

 

BEARISH

RYAN FRANKLIN, St. Louis Cardinals, RP
Comment: When Franklin assumed closing duties after Jason Isringhausen hit the disabled list with a lacerated hand, many of us wondered how long it would last. Well if his play of late is any indication, Franklin’s time as the primary ninth-inning option could be coming to a close. Since May 29^th, Franklin has failed to go more than 3 appearances without allowing an earned run and he lacks the type of stuff that most closers possess. His 1.44 WHIP this year suggests that his ERA is going to climb over its current 2.82 mark. Jason Isringhausen, who owns a 1.74 ERA and 9 strikeouts in 10.1 innings since his return from the DL, injured his knee on Thursday but the Cardinals expect him to be back sometime next week. While this may buy Franklin some time, it is probably a good idea to start shopping him around to any fantasy owners in need of saves.

 

MATT KEMP, Los Angeles Dodgers, OF
Comment: As hard as it is to believe, the Dodgers plan on platooning Matt Kemp and Andre Ethier in right-field once Andruw Jones returns to the lineup, opting to keep Juan Pierre in left. While it makes little sense to keep your best outfielder from getting full-time at-bats, Kemp appears headed for a reduction in playing time. He’s been a good all-around player for the Dodgers and fantasy owners alike with 7 HR, 43 RBI, 38 R, 16 SB and a .284 average in 282 at-bats this season. His value would clearly take a hit once the platoon is instituted but there is a glimmer of hope. Pierre injured his left knee on Sunday and while he is currently listed as day-to-day, a scheduled MRI could lead to a possible DL stint and keep Kemp in the starting lineup. Monitor this situation closely but if Kemp moves into a time-share in the outfield, make sure you have an outfielder lined up to replace him for at least his off-days.

 

MAGGLIO ORDONEZ, Detroit Tigers, OF
Comment: Ordonez hit the 15-day disabled list on Sunday with a strained oblique, leaving fantasy owners and Detroit with a hole in their outfield. He may not have been killing the ball as well as he was in 2007, when he batted .363 with 28 HR, 139 RBI and 117 runs, but Maggs was still enjoying a productive season, hitting .307 with 12 HR, 50 RBI and 42 runs in 80 games. Oblique injuries can sometimes linger, so one has to hope that Ordonez comes back in a timely manner. Matt Joyce was recalled from Triple-A and had 5 homers in 53 at-bats with Detroit earlier this season, though they came attached to a .208 batting average.

 

EDINSON VOLQUEZ, Cincinnati Reds, SP
Comment: Is the bloom coming off the Volquez rose? That may seem like a prudent question considering his outstanding start to the season but when you look at the poor start he endured on Thursday (when he gave up 5 earned runs in 4.1 innings with 6 hits, 3 walks and 0 strikeouts), one has to wonder if he is going to come back to Earth. Volquez has never pitched more than 144.2 innings in his professional career and is on pace for about 200 this season. He’s thrown over 100 pitches in 12 of his 16 starts this season and do not think that the young-arm destroying Dusty Baker will not continue to extend the talented 24-year old. Now might be a good time to see what you can get for Volquez if you own him as he will likely bring in a decent haul in return. If you can fill a couple of roster needs, pulling the trigger on a Volquez deal makes sense.

 

BUST

KENJI JOHJIMA, Seattle Mariners, C

Comment: Johjima spent a lot of time on the bench during inter-league play so Seattle could get a long look at Jeff Clement. While it is unlikely that Johjima will be a bench player this season, it has become clear that his time in the majors may be done after this season. He’s playing out the final year of his contract, but is batting .233 with a .274 OBP, 3 HR, 20 RBI and 16 runs. Not the type of performance you want to have in a walk year.

 

LASTINGS MILLEDGE, Washington Nationals, OF
Comment: Milledge injured his groin on Saturday and hit the disabled list over the weekend, but that is not why he is a bust. While many fantasy owners have held onto him because of his everyday at-bats and potential, Milledge actually enjoyed a better season in 2007. Despite playing in 21 more games this season than in ’07, Milledge has the same number of homers (7), just three more RBI (29 in 2007, 32 in 2008) and a worse batting average (.272 last year, .245 this season). Sure the 10 more steals in 2008 are a welcome sight, but Milledge should not really have a spot on anyone’s roster in most fantasy leagues.

 

MIKE RABELO, Florida Marlins, C
Comment: When Rabelo was acquired from Detroit; Marlins brass thought that he was capable of being a very good starting catcher. However, after batting .202 with just 10 RBI and 9 runs, Rabelo has been sent down to Triple-A. Besides the poor offensive totals, Rabelo also was a liability with men on base defensively, allowing players to steal successfully in 16 of 22 attempts this year. Even if he gets the call back up to the majors, feel free to pay him no mind in all fantasy leagues.

 

CHRIS SHELTON, Texas Rangers, 1B

Comment: Shelton was designated for assignment on Thursday and his days in the major leagues appear to be over. In April 2006, Shelton came out of nowhere for Detroit and belted 10 homers while batting .326. He was the flavor of the month at that time but in 2008, he found no success. He hit .184 against lefties and struck out 33 times in 97 at-bats this year, forming quite possibly the worst platoon in the history of baseball at first base with Ben Broussard (who was cut by the Rangers earlier in the season).

Subway Series Hangover

Well, going into this four-game series, I was like every other Mets fan that is irrational. I wanted to behead the Yankees, so to speak. The Phillies were on a downward spiral, and the Mets had the chance to close in, and the most important thing about this weekend is that the Mets did indeed gain ground on first place. The Phillies are in a downward spiral, as they have now lost 9 of their last 11 games. Utley and Howard have seemingly gone on vacation, and they are doing the Mets a favor by allowing them to get back in it. That’s the key at this point of the season. You need to be within a couple of games, and when you finally go on a hot streak, first place will be all but yours.

The Subway Series started off with a slugfest. The story was Carlos Delgado, who turned back the clock by crushing two bombs and knocking in 9 RBI on the day. The Mets cruised to a 15-6 victory to start their day on a high note.

The evening wasn’t as glorious for the Mets as the day-game was. Pedro Martinez started off well, and then he imploded. The Mets got pounded by the Yankees by the score of 9-0. The funny thing about Friday is that if you combine the scores, the total was 15-15.

Game three belonged to the Yankees, although the Mets had every chance to win it. Johan Santana allowed three walks, and they all came around to score. The Mets got homers from Castro and Wright, but Jose Reyes may have cost him the game when he got picked off with two on and David Wright coming up to end an inning.

The Sunday finale was the Oliver Perez show. He went seven innings without a walk and struck out eight. The only blemish on the day was a Wilson Betemit homer that hasn’t landed yet. The Mets got RBI from Luis Castillo, David Wright. Carlos Delgado hit his third homer of the series and that was all the Mets needed. The Yankees almost mounted a combeack in the ninth, but after a Jeter single, Wagner got A-Rod to fly out to the track on a ball he just missed, and then cruised from there.

Next for the Mets will be the St. Louis Cardinals and Albert Pujols. The Wild Card leaders should be a tough matchup for the Mets, but this is what it is all about. This is the Daily Stache, reminding you that until next time, let the truth be told!

–MICHAEL GANCI

To read more of Michael’s blogs, check out www.DailyStache.com.

NHL Free Agency Preview

 
Marian Hossa is the best player on the market. Who will sign him?
PHOTO BY ICON SMI

BY J.P. DELMONTE
Update! Writer

 

The most exciting part of the NHL season (outside of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, of course) is upon us – July 1^st. At 12 p.m. the free agent frenzy begins and this year should be one to remember. The big name free agent crop isn’t as big as it was last year or will be next year. However, that could work to our advantage as teams will likely be aiming for big time trades (as we’ve already seen at the NHL Draft this year.

Why don’t we have a look at the Free Agency field, shall we?

THE BIG NAMES

Before we get into all the big guns, let’s strike a couple off the market first…Joe Sakic, Peter Forsberg and Teemu Selanne. If these guys sign anywhere it’ll be with their respective teams. Or, as is very possible…retirement.

 

Now let’s take a look at the big names we all know so well.

Mats Sundin, C

Marian Hossa, RW

Jaromir Jagr, RW

Sean Avery, RW

Brendan Shanahan, LW

Pavol Demitra, LW

Markus Naslund, LW

Brian Campbell, D

Wade Redden, D

Adam Foote, D

Cristobal Huet, G

Olaf Kolzig, G

Jose Theodore, G

 

Out of that entire list I think you could only argue that Markus Naslund doesn’t truly belong. He’s a shell of his former self, marking a low point for him last year with only 55 points in 82 games. He’ll still get some offers but expect a huge pay cut. That group can be cut down even further to Mats Sundin, Marian Hossa, Jaromir Jagr, Pavol Demitra, Brian Campbell, and Wade Redden. Those are the biggest catches of the free agency period by far. Expect Hossa, Campbell and Redden to attract the biggest contracts of the summer while Sundin has limited himself to a small selection of teams (likely opting to sign with Montreal if he doesn’t retire.) Campbell will likely find himself somewhere in the (North) east while Redden and Hossa both go where the money flows.

 

Sean Avery is an odd selection for this list. He’s not quite a “big fish”…in fact, I wouldn’t even put him at the top of the Tier Two section below, but the fact that he’s a big name is undeniable. He’s the super-pest…Darcy Tucker on steroids. It wouldn’t surprise me if he was offered more money by than some of these big fishies. No matter where he goes, get ready to keep hating.

 

Olaf Kolzig and Jose Theodore are the big names for starting goalies out there and will find a home before July is over. That’s not to say anything bad against Crisotbal Huet; it’s just that he’s all but guaranteed to be back with Washington this season.

Now, these guys here are still the big fish.

 

TIER TWO

It could be argued that some of these guys could be placed in the Big Fish column. However, when matched up against the best of the best they still haven’t met expectations (or, in the case of Vaclav Prospal, shown consistency over the years). Some potential fire power dominates this list, such as Martin Straka, Kristian Huselius, Brian Rolston, and Andrew Brunette rounding out the main forward crop. Todd Bertuzzi’s recent buyout also offers a major bargain opportunity for a team willing to gamble. An incentive-laden contract could motivate Big Bert in the right location.

 

Kevyn Adams, C

Bryan Smolinski, C

Martin Straka, C

Brendan Morrison, C

Miroslav Satan, RW

Todd Bertuzzi, RW

Darcy Tucker, RW

Jason Williams, RW

Radim Vrbata, RW

Ryan Malone, LW

Kristian Huselius, LW

Brian Rolston, LW

Vaclav Prospal, LW

Andrew Brunette, LW

John-Michael Liles, D

Rob Blake, D

Mike Commodore, D

Michal Rozsival, D

Ron Hainsey, D

Alexei Zhitnik, D

Jason Smith, D

Brad Stuart, D

Mark Streit, D

Ty Conklin, G

Alex Auld, G

Curtis Joseph, G

 

This is a much deeper group and could be the route most GM’s would rather take. You might find a nice discount on some solid D-men like Ron Hainsey and Mike Commodore. But they could also easily overpay on some, like Brad Stuart and Michal Rozsival. Mark Streit is an interesting choice because his power play numbers really hide the fact that he was minus-6 on the season and historically does not play solid defense. Someone will likely overpay for him, much like they will a Michael Ryder (there IS potential consistent talent there…right?). But the defensive corps is so deep. John-Michael Liles could be a great pickup for any team but he’ll likely stay put in Colorado. Alexei Zhitnik might come at a great bargain price and could be worth the gamble.

 

The goaltending bunch really slows down now. We’re getting into backup territory here. Curtis Joseph won’t be finding the money but if he wants a job he’ll find a backup job on a team with a young goaltender. If anyone wants to take a flyer on Alex Auld I think they could do much, much worse. He had a very good season behind Tim Thomas in Boston and still has the potential to be a starter in the NHL.

 

RFA GEMS

This year should be no different than last year when it comes to teams restricted free agents. Will someone pull another Kevin Lowe? You can bet on it. The RFA crop is too good to ignore and a few GM’s will likely offer some big money to young player. Brian Burke might find another enemy if someone offers Corey Perry money Burke isn’t prepared to match. Or how about Buffalo’s Daniel Paille, he of the plus-9 rating and 19 goals in 77 games, earning Coach Lindy Ruff’s trust and gaining valuable ice time as the season came to a close. Colorado’s only RFA’s of note – Marek Svatos and Wojtek Wolski – are both players any team in the league would love.

Keep an eye on the Jay Bouwmeester situation as well; if Florida signs him it doesn’t mean they won’t trade him as he has the potential to be one of the league’s best D-men for years to come. Speaking of great young D, how about Washington’s Mike Green who stormed out of the gate and dominated the blue line and power play all season long?

 

There are plenty of offer sheets just waiting to be signed. These are just the tip of the iceberg.

 

Other RFA’s of note:

 

Matt Stajan, C, Toronto

Antoine Vermette, C, Ottawa

R.J. Umberger, C, Columbus

Valterri Filppula, C, DET

Rotislav Olesz, C, Florida

Patrick O’Sullivan, C, Los Angeles

Pierre-Marc Bouchard, C, Minnessota

Ryan Shannon, RW, Vancouver

Andrei Kostitsyn, LW, Montreal

Ryan Clowe, LW, San Jose

Christian Ehroff, D, San Jose

Dennis Wideman, D, Boston

Andrej Meszaros, D, Ottawa

Kari Lehtonen, G, Atlanta

Johan Holmqvist, G, Dallas

RED SOX: Okajima Falls Flat

Boston Red Sox reliever Hideki Okajima allowed the game winning run to score in a loss on Sunday versus the Astros.

BOTTOM LINE: Okajima has not been good of late, allowing 10 runs on 19 hits and five walks in his last 11 appearances.

ROYALS: Grudz Back Over .300

Kansas City Royals second basemen Mark Grudzielanek went 4-for-5 with three runs scored in Sunday’s loss to the Cardinals.

BOTTOM LINE: Gruzielanek had dropped his average to .298 beforehand, but this performance put him back over .300. He has been a consistent hitter, and the recent switch to the five hole should give him more RBI chances.

METS: Alou Still Not Ready

New York Mets outfielder Moises Alou isn’t ready yet to start a minor league rehab assignment after straining his left calf a few weeks ago. This was reported by the New York Daily News.

BOTTOM LINE: Jerry Manuel recently said that he might have Mosies Alou back by the weekend, but that seems like wishful thinking now. The Mets need to proceed without Alou, and if he is ever ready, that will just be an added bonus.

RED SOX: Pedroia On Fire

Boston Red Sox second basemen Dustin Pedroia went 2-for-5 with a homer and a stolen base Sunday in Boston’s loss to Houston.

BOTTOM LINE: PEdroia has been on fire during his seven-game hitting streak, going 19-32 over that span. He has watched his batting average jump from .260 to .304 in two weeks.

49ers: Gore is the Focal Point

San Francisco 49ers new offensive coordinator Mike Martz reports that Frank Gore has quickly picked up his complicated offense and will be the centerpiece of the 49ers’ offense this season, according to the Sacramento Bee.

BOTTOM LINE: Look for huge numbers this season if Gore can stay healthy. He will probably go high on all draft boards.

PACERS: Trade or Cut Tinsley

Indiana Pacers guard Jamaal Tinsley will be bought out if Larry Bird cannot find a taker for him, according to the New York Daily News.

BOTTOM LINE: T.J. Ford is the new man in Indiana, thanks to the Jermaine O’Neal trade. Rumors have linked Tinsley to the Knicks, but we will wait and see.

MAPLE LEAFS: A Cu-Jo Reunion?

Calgary Flames goaltender Curtis Joseph, who is a free agent on July 1, could be returning to Toronto to back up Vesa Toskala, reports Toronto’s FAN590.

BOTTOM LINE: They are looking for a one year stopgap option in Toronto, so Joseph is a logical choice. Justin Pogge should be ready for the 09-10 season. Don’t look at Joseph as a fantasy option.

RANGERS: Jagr Likely a Goner

New York Rangers winger Jaromir Jagr has a one-year $6 million offer on the table from the Rangers. He said he would rather remain with the Rangers, but he is more likely to take the three-year offer from a team in Europe.

BOTTOM LINE: The Rangers want the captain back, but only if he would sign the deal with incentives leading to a second year. We’ll see how this unfolds.

LIGHTNING: Malone Part of the Fold

Former Pittsburgh Penguins winger Ryan Malone has signed a seven year, $31 million contract to play for the Tampa Bay Lightning.

BOTTOM LINE: The second Penguin to defect from Pittsburgh. Gary Roberts was the first. Tampa should be an interesting project to watch next season.

2008 NBA Draft Recap

Derrick Rose and Michael Beasley were taken No. 1 and 2 in Thursday’s Draft.
Photo courtesy of Memphis and Kansas State Athletics

BY MICHAEL GANCI
UPDATE! Writer

The 2008 NBA draft was entertaining in more ways than one. For the first time in NBA Draft history, three freshmen were taken with the first three picks. There was a blockbuster trade involving the Grizzlies and Timberwolves. Check below.

DRAFT WINNERS

1) NEW JERSEY NETS

Comment: This is aside from the atrocious trade that brought in Yi Jianlian and Bobby Simmons. The Nets may have gotten the biggest steal of the draft when they were able to swipe Chris Douglas Roberts with the 40 th pick in Thursday’s NBA draft. They also got 7-0 Brook Lopez and Ryan Anderson. Overall, a very good job done by the boys in New Jersey.

 

2) MIAMI HEAT

Comment: The Heat silenced all of the rumors when they selected Michael Beasley with the second pick in the draft. They had also had their eye on Mario Chalmers, who they expected to be a late first round selection. He was available at pick No. 34, so the Heat swung a deal with the Timberwolves which allowed them to acquire the rights to Chalmers to fill up their gaping hole at point guard. They also added Darnell Jackson later in the draft.

 3) PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS

Comment: This was a heck of a draft for Portland. They swung a deal with the Indiana Pacers to acquire the rights to Jerryd Bayless, who is one of the more dynamic players in the draft. He has game-changing ability, and could be a real steal for this team. Darrell Arthur’s stock fell, as he was once considered a potential lottery pick, so it should be interesting to see if he was a steal and Dorsey will be an above average NBA defender. Well done Portland.

 

DRAFT LOSERS

1) BOSTON CELTICS

Comment: The defending NBA champions didn’t do much to ensure that they would have a nice group coming out of this year’s draft class. J.R. Giddens seems destined for the D-League and Semih Erdin will probably never make an impact at the NBA level. The one interesting pick they made was Bill Walker, who will be a project, but may develop into a quality bench player.

 

2) INDIANA PACERS

Comment: The Pacers pulled off an excellent trade before the draft that sent Jermaine O’Neal to the Raptors for T.J. Ford, Rasho Nesterovic, a first round pick and a player to be named. But, once that deal was completed, it only went downhill from there. Larry Bird made a big mistake by dealing Jerryd Bayless to Portland for Brandon Rush and others. I don’t expect much out of Hibbert, and Jawai may be a decent sleeper. We will see.

 

3) SACRAMENTO KINGS

Comment: Their infatuation with Jason Thompson is a little puzzling. He is a decent prospect, but nothing more than a mid-level player. Sacramento is hoping they could strike gold like they did with Kevin Martin. Singletary and Ewing Jr. shouldn’t develop into anything more than bench players.

 

IMMEDIATE IMPACT

1) MICHAEL BEASLEY, F, Miami Heat

Comment: Beasley is already going to be the front runner for the rookie of the year award. No one is discounting Derrick Rose, but scoring opportunities will come more to Beasley in Miami. He should be starting from the get go, and he should become a dynamic player in time.

 

2) BROOK LOPEZ, C, New Jersey Nets

Comment: The Nets filled many needs in Thursday’s draft, but this one might have been the biggest one. They have been lacking a low post threat for quite some time now, and Lopez is that guy. He can dominate the post when he is on, and he will definitely get the opportunity to start right away.

 

3) DANILO GALLINARI, F, New York Knicks

Comment: While some can understand the booing of the Knicks when the pick of Gallinari was announced, it was the right decision. Even though Eric Gordon was still on the board, one cannot ignore the versatility that Gallinari offers. He has been called the best foreign player to come to the states since Dirk Nowitzki. I think that is a pretty bold compliment. The Knicks should give him the opportunity to start right away, but if that doesn’t work out, he will play an important role off the bench until he reaches his potential.

 

 

Round 1

1.      Chicago Bulls: Derrick Rose, G

2.      Miami Heat: Michael Beasley, F

3.      Minnesota Timberwolve: O.J. Mayo, G

4.      Seattle Sonics: Russell Westbrook, G

5.      Memphis Grizzlies: Kevin Love, C

6.      New York Knicks: Danilo Gallinari, F

7.      Los Angeles Clippers: Eric Gordon, G

8.      Milwaukee Bucks: Joe Alexander, F

9.      Charlotte Bobcats: D.J. Augustin, G

10.    New Jersey Nets: Brook Lopez, C

11.    Indiana Pacers: Jerryd Bayless, G (Traded to Portland)

12.    Sacramento Kings: Jason Thompson, F

13.    Portland Trail Blazers: Brandon Rush, G (Traded to Indiana)

14.    Golden State Warriors: Anthony Randolph, F

15.    Phoenix Suns: Robin Lopez, F

16.    Philadelphia 76ers: Marreese Speights, C

17.    Indiana Pacers: Roy Hibbert, C

18.    Washington Wizards: JaVale McGee, C

19.    Cleveland Cavaliers: J.J. Hickson, F

20.    Charlotte Bobcats: Alexis Ajinca, F

21.    New Jersey Nets: Ryan Anderson, F

22.    Orlando Magic: Courtney Lee, G

23.    Utah Jazz: Kosta Koufos, C

24.    Seattle Sonics: Serge Ibaka, F

25.    Houston Rockets: Nicolas Batum, F

26.    San Antonio Spurs: George Hill, G

27.    New Orleans Hornets: Darrell Arthur, F

28.    Memphis Grizzlies: Donte Green, F

29.    Detroit Pistons: D.J. White, F

30.    Boston Celtics: J.R. Giddens, G

 

ROUND 2

31.   Minnesota Timberwolves: Nikola Pekovic, C

32.   Seattle Sonics: Walter Sharpe, F (Traded to Detroit)

33.   Portland Trail Blazers: Joe Dorsey, F

34.   Minnesota Timberwolves: Mario Chalmers, G (Traded to Miami)

35.   Los Angeles Clippers:DeAndre Jordan, C

36.   Portland Trail Blazers: Omer Asik, C (Traded to Chicago)

37.   Milwaukee Bucks: Luc Richard Mbah a Moute, F

38.   Charlotte Bobcats: Kyle Weaver, G

39.   Chicago Bulls: Sonny Weems, G

40.   New Jersey Nets: Chris Douglas-Roberts, G

41.   Indiana Pacers: Nathan Jawai, F

42.   Sacramento Kings: Sean Singletary, G

43.   Sacramento Kings: Patrick Ewing Jr., F

44.   Utah Jazz: Ante Tomic, C

45.   San Antonio Spurs: Goran Dragic, G

46.   Seattle Sonics: Trent Plaisted, C (Traded to Detroit)

47.   Washington Wizards: Bill Walker, F (Traded to Boston)

48.   Phoenix Suns: Malik Hairston, G

49.   Golden State Warriors: Richard Hendrix, F

50.   Seattle Sonics: DeVon Hardin, C

51.   Dallas Mavericks: Shan Foster, G

52.   Miami Heat: Darnell Jackson, F

53.   Utah Jazz: Tadija Dragicevic, F

54.   Houston Rockets: Maarty Leunen, F

55.   Portland Trail Blazers: Mike Taylor, G (Traded to Los Angeles Clippers)

56.   Seattle Sonics: Sasha Kaun, C

57.   San Antonio Spurs: James Gist, F

58.   Los Angeles Lakers: Joe Crawford, G

59.   Detroit Pistons: Deron Wasington, F

60.   Boston Celtics: Demih Erdin, F

The Lineup

BY CHRIS STARBONELL
Update! Writer

 

Every week, The Lineup will help you figure out who to start, sit and watch. Facts don’t lie and The Lineup is full of ‘em.  Here is your weekly digest of everything fantasy baseball. Projections for the week of 6/30/08-7/6/08. All stats up to and including 6/26/08.

 

Who’s Hot

 

 

BATTERS

 

 

CARL CRAWFORD

Tampa Bay Rays, OF

Stats: .360 AVG, 2 HR, 6 RBI, 5 R, 0 SB

Comment: Drove in a career-high 5 runners in Wednesday’s game against Florida.

 

ARAMIS RAMIREZ

Chicago Cubs, 3B

Stats: .435 AVG, 4 HR, 10 RBI, 6 R, 0 SB

Comment: Has not only been creaming the ball, he has been doing it in the clutch.

 

MARK TEIXEIRA

Atlanta Braves, 1B

Stats: .333 AVG, 4 HR, 7 RBI, 5 R, 0 SB

Comment: Has not had the explosive effort many predicted in his walk year thus far, but the second-half monster still has plenty of season to work with.

 

PITCHERS

 

 

JOHN MAINE